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2022-CFPB-0004-Bank of America N.A. - Consent Order

Date
2025-10-17

Summary

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau consent order in the administrative proceeding In the Matter of Bank of America, N.A., File No. 2022-CFPB-0004, issued July 14, 2022 and filed on October 17, 2025 as Document 591-102 in Case 3:21-md-02992-GPC-MSB, where it is labeled exhibit DX 42. The Bureau identifies violations concerning unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders who filed notices of error about alleged unauthorized EFTs, citing 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (c), 5536(a)(1)(B) and 15 U.S.C. §§ 1693f and 1693g. The Bureau finds that from September 28, 2020 the bank used an automated Fraud Filter to determine no error had occurred and froze or blocked accounts. The respondent consented without admitting or denying the findings, and the order is signed by Rohit Chopra as Director of the Bureau.

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                             DX 42
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                   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
             CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 2022-CFPB-0004


 In the Matter of:

                                              CONSENT ORDER



 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.




      The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) has reviewed the

administration of unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cards by Bank of

America, N.A. (Respondent, as defined below) and has identified the following

law violations in connection with Respondent’s treatment of unemployment

insurance benefit recipients who filed notices of error concerning alleged

unauthorized electronic fund transfers (EFTs): (1) Respondent engaged in unfair

acts or practices by determining no error had occurred and freezing cardholder

accounts based solely on the results of Respondent’s automated Fraud Filter, in

violation of Sections 1031 and 1036 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of

2010 (CFPA), 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (c), 5536(a)(1)(B); (2) Respondent failed

to conduct reasonable investigations of unemployment insurance benefit prepaid
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debit cardholders’ notices of error, in violation of Sections 908 and 909 of the

Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1693f and 1693g, and Section

1005.11 of Regulation E; and (3) Respondent engaged in abusive acts or practices

by retroactively applying its automated Fraud Filter to reverse permanent credits

for unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders whose notices of

error Respondent had previously investigated and paid, in violation of Sections

1031 and 1036 of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (d)(2)(B), 5536(a)(1)(B).

The Bureau has also identified that: (4) Respondent engaged in unfair acts or

practices by impeding unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders’

efforts to file notices of error and seek liability protection from unauthorized EFTs,

in violation of Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (c),

5536(a)(1)(B); and (5) Respondent failed to timely investigate and resolve

unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders’ notices of error

concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs, in violation of EFTA, 15 U.S.C. §

1693f(a), (c), and Section 1005.11(c)(2)-(3) of Regulation E. Under Sections 1053

and 1055 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA), 12 U.S.C. §§

5563, 5565, the Bureau issues this Consent Order (Consent Order).

                                          I.

                                    Jurisdiction
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1.    The Bureau has jurisdiction over this matter under Sections 1053 and 1055

      of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5563 and 5565, and Section 918(a)(5) of EFTA,

      15 U.S.C. § 1693o(a)(5).

                                        II.

                                   Stipulation

2.    Respondent has executed a “Stipulation and Consent to the Issuance of a

      Consent Order,” dated July 13, 2022 (Stipulation), which is incorporated by

      reference and is accepted by the Bureau. By this Stipulation, Respondent has

      consented to the issuance of this Consent Order by the Bureau under

      Sections 1053 and 1055 of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5563, 5565, without

      admitting or denying any of the findings of fact or conclusions of law, except

      that Respondent admits the facts necessary to establish the Bureau’s

      jurisdiction over Respondent and the subject matter of this action.

                                        III.

                                    Definitions

3.    The following definitions apply to this Consent Order:

      a. “Affected Consumers” means a consumer who during the Relevant

         Period: (1) qualified for and received government unemployment

         insurance benefit payments electronically through prepaid debit cards

         issued by Respondent; (2) filed a notice of error concerning alleged
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         unauthorized EFTs with Respondent; and (3) for whom Respondent

         incorrectly determined, based solely on the results of Respondent’s Fraud

         Filter, that no error occurred, and, as a result, Respondent (i) denied the

         consumer’s error claim or reversed permanent credits previously granted

         to the consumer and (ii) froze or, after March 17, 2021, blocked the

         consumer’s unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card account.

      b. “Board” means Respondent’s duly-elected and acting Board of Directors

         or a committee thereof.

      c. “Consequential Harm” means the financial harm Affected Consumers

         incurred due to the time their unemployment insurance benefit prepaid

         debit card account remained frozen or blocked after Respondent

         incorrectly determined that no error occurred on the consumer’s

         unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card account, based solely

         on the results of Respondent’s Fraud Filter.

      d. “EDD” means the California Employment Development Department.

      e. “EDD Cardholder” means a consumer who received an EDD Prepaid

         Debit Card.

      f. “EDD Prepaid Debit Cards” means Respondent-issued and Respondent-

         administered unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cards linked

         to individual EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts.
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      g. “EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts” means depository accounts

         maintained by Respondent for the Prepaid Card Unemployment

         Insurance Benefits Program and holding unemployment insurance and

         other public benefits from EDD for consumers.

      h. “Effective Date” means the date on which the Consent Order is entered

         on the administrative docket.

      i. “Electronic Fund Transfer” or “EFT” means “any transfer of funds, other

         than a transaction originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument,

         which is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephonic instrument,

         or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct, or authorize a

         financial institution to debit or credit an account.” 15 U.S.C. § 1693a(7).

      j. “Enforcement Director” means the Assistant Director of the Office of

         Enforcement for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or his or her

         delegate.

      k. “Error Resolution Investigation” means the procedures and duties

         required of financial institutions as described in 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11.

      l. “Fraud Filter” means the automated fraud detection process that

         Respondent used to investigate unemployment insurance benefit prepaid

         card notices of error between September 28, 2020 and June 8, 2021.
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      m. “OCC Consent Order” means the Consent Order issued by the Office of

         the Comptroller of the Currency against Respondent on July 14, 2022.

      n. “Prepaid Card Unemployment Insurance Benefits Program” means the

         program through which Respondent issued and administered prepaid

         debit cards and associated accounts containing unemployment insurance

         benefits granted to consumers in certain states.

      o. “Regional Director” means the Regional Director for the Southeast

         Region for the Office of Supervision for the Consumer Financial

         Protection Bureau, or his or her delegate.

      p. “Related Consumer Action” means a private action by or on behalf of

         one or more consumers or an enforcement action by another

         governmental agency brought against Respondent based on substantially

         the same facts as described in Section IV of this Consent Order.

      q. “Relevant Period” means March 1, 2020 to June 8, 2021.

      r. “Respondent” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors and

         assigns.

                                        IV.

                       Bureau Findings and Conclusions

      The Bureau finds the following:
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4.    Respondent is a national bank headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina

      with branches and ATMs located in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

      As of December 31, 2021, Respondent had $2.5 trillion in consolidated

      assets, which makes it an insured depository institution with assets greater

      than $10,000,000,000 within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. § 5515(a).

5.    Respondent is a “covered person” under 12 U.S.C. § 5481(6) because it

      “engages in offering or providing a consumer financial product or service,”

      including by engaging in deposit-taking activities, transmitting or

      exchanging funds, or otherwise acting as a custodian of funds or any

      financial instrument for use by consumers primarily for personal, family, or

      household purposes. 12 U.S.C. § 5481(15)(A)(iv).

6.    Respondent is a “financial institution” under EFTA and Regulation E

      because it is a national bank holding consumer deposit accounts. 15 U.S.C. §

      1693a(9).

7.    During the Relevant Period, Respondent had contracts with 12 states,

      including California, to deliver unemployment insurance and other

      government benefit payments to consumers through prepaid debit cards and

      accounts.

8.    For each consumer deemed eligible by the relevant state unemployment

      agency who elected to receive their benefit payments through a prepaid debit
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      card during the Relevant Period, the state notified Respondent, funded a

      prepaid debit card account with Respondent, and Respondent issued a

      prepaid debit card to the consumer.

9.    In each of those states, Respondent was responsible for loading

      unemployment and other government benefit payments onto prepaid debit

      cards and for servicing consumers’ prepaid debit card accounts.

10.   The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 led to a surge in

      consumers seeking unemployment insurance benefits. These programs

      provide a temporary partial wage or income replacement for consumers who,

      through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs. Payments are made

      directly to unemployed consumers, so that consumers can continue to pay

      for the necessities of life while they search for work. The national

      unemployment rate in April 2020 was 14.7%, and it remained at

      significantly elevated levels through 2020. Millions of consumers were

      newly unemployed. They sought the benefits to which they were legally

      entitled via Respondent’s prepaid debit cards.

 Respondent’s Strategy for Prepaid Debit Cardholders Filing Notices of Error
                      and Seeking Liability Protection

11.   When notified by a consumer of an error such as an unauthorized EFT on

      their account, a financial institution must investigate the alleged error,
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      determine whether an error has occurred, and report the results of its

      investigation and determination to the consumer pursuant to the

      requirements in Sections 908 and 909 of EFTA, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1693f and

      1693g, and Section 1005.11 of Regulation E.

12.   From January 2020 until late-September 2020, upon receiving a notice of

      error from an unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholder

      concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs, Respondent would conduct an

      investigation that could include, among other steps: comparing the location

      of the transaction with the consumer’s residence or habitual transactions;

      accessing ATM camera footage (if the alleged unauthorized activity

      occurred at a Respondent ATM); and contacting the cardholder for further

      information.

13.   Following a surge in notices of error filed by unemployment insurance

      benefit prepaid debit cardholders nationwide throughout the summer of

      2020, Respondent changed its practices for investigating unemployment

      insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholder notices of error.

14.   Under its new strategy, which Respondent implemented on September 28,

      2020 for all of its state unemployment insurance benefit prepaid programs,

      Respondent only ran cardholders’ notices of error concerning alleged

      unauthorized EFTs through its newly developed automated Fraud Filter, and
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      for notices of error that met any indicator used by the Fraud Filter ceased

      taking the steps described in Paragraph 12, above, as part of its investigation.

15.   Beginning on September 28, 2020, for notices of error submitted by

      unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders concerning

      alleged unauthorized EFTs that met any of the three indicators used by

      Respondent’s new Fraud Filter, Respondent automatically determined that

      no error had occurred.

16.   Between September 28, 2020 and June 8, 2021, for notices of error

      submitted by unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders

      concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs that met any of the three indicators

      used by Respondent’s Fraud Filter, along with determining no error had

      occurred, Respondent froze or, after March 17, 2021, blocked the

      consumer’s prepaid debit card account.

17.   The only exception was from October 4, 2020 through December 2, 2020,

      when unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card accounts flagged

      by Respondent’s new Fraud Filter were not frozen as Respondent had

      intended. After Respondent discovered the issue, it froze those flagged

      unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card accounts on or about

      December 17, 2020, excluding accounts where a reconsideration request
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      from a consumer was pending or where Respondent had reversed its initial

      determination that no error had occurred.

18.   A consumer whose unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card

      account is frozen cannot access the government benefits in their account.

19.   Respondent also will not accept new benefits payments for deposit into a

      frozen unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card account.

20.   When Respondent blocks an unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit

      card, no transactions are permitted. But unlike an account freeze,

      Respondent permits cardholders with blocks on their unemployment

      insurance benefit prepaid debit card to verify their identity directly with

      Respondent. Upon verification, Respondent releases the block, and the

      unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card becomes usable again.

21.   Before implementing the Fraud Filter on September 28, 2020, Respondent

      knew, or should have known, that the Fraud Filter would, in certain cases,

      incorrectly determine that no error had occurred.

22.   Likewise, before implementing the Fraud Filter, Respondent knew, or

      should have known, that not all unemployment insurance benefit prepaid

      accounts meeting its Fraud Filter indicators would be fraudulent and

      therefore should be frozen. Indeed, in an internal September 2020

      presentation, Respondent acknowledged, “Fraudulent determinations would
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      require a detailed review of specific accounts, which given the volume, is

      unmanageable.”

23.   For notices of error meeting any of its Fraud Filter indicators, Respondent

      continued with its nationwide strategy of automatically determining no error

      occurred and freezing the cardholder’s unemployment insurance benefit

      prepaid debit card account based solely on the Fraud Filter from September

      28, 2020 to March 17, 2021.

24.   Consumers whose unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card

      accounts Respondent froze through its Fraud Filter went weeks, and in some

      cases months, without access to their unemployment insurance benefits.

25.   Some consumers whose prepaid debit card accounts Respondent froze

      incurred late fees and interest charges on their other accounts, and also

      missed phone and utility bill payments. Some consumers with frozen prepaid

      debit card accounts also faced other financial impacts, including foreclosure,

      eviction, and car repossession.

26.   Beginning on March 18, 2021, for notices of error for which it determined

      no error had occurred based solely on the results of its Fraud Filter,

      Respondent blocked the cardholder’s unemployment insurance benefit

      prepaid debit card, rather than freezing the cardholder’s account.
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27.   For notices of error submitted by over 100,000 unemployment insurance

      benefit prepaid debit cardholders concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs that

      met one or more of the Fraud Filter indicators, Respondent continued to rely

      solely on the results of its Fraud Filter to determine no error had occurred

      until June 8, 2021.

            Respondent’s Strategy as Applied to EDD Cardholders

28.   Eligible California consumers may receive their EDD unemployment

      insurance benefit payments through a check mailed by EDD or through EDD

      Prepaid Debit Cards and EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts.

29.   During the Relevant Period, most eligible California consumers received

      their EDD unemployment insurance benefit payments through EDD Prepaid

      Debit Cards and Accounts.

30.   From September 28, 2020 to March 17, 2021, for EDD Cardholders whose

      notices of error Respondent determined no error occurred through its Fraud

      Filter, Respondent sent denial notices reflecting Respondent’s determination

      that the EDD Cardholder’s Account or notice of error had been the subject

      of fraudulent or suspicious activity. Respondent’s denial notices failed to

      mention that Respondent had also frozen the consumer’s EDD Prepaid Debit

      Card Account.
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31.   Beginning in December 2020 and continuing to March 17, 2021,

      Respondent sent an additional letter notifying affected EDD Cardholders of

      their account freeze several days after the EDD Prepaid Debit Card Account

      freeze had gone into effect. In some cases, Respondent failed to notify

      affected EDD Cardholders that their EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts had

      been frozen at all.

32.   EDD Cardholders seeking to file a notice of error with Respondent to seek

      liability protection spent hours a day on the phone attempting to notify

      Respondent that their EDD Prepaid Debit Card Account had been subject to

      unauthorized EFTs.

33.   EDD Cardholders whose EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts Respondent

      froze based solely on its Fraud Filter spent hours a day on the phone with

      Respondent attempting to seek information regarding how to regain access

      to their frozen Account. Along with long hold times, Cardholders with EDD

      Prepaid Debit Card Accounts frozen as a result of the Fraud Filter were

      subject to disconnections, transfers, and inaccurate information from

      Respondent and its vendor agents, including that their Accounts had been

      frozen at the direction of EDD rather than by Respondent.

34.   From September 28, 2020 to March 17, 2021, Respondent generally required

      EDD Cardholders with frozen EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts to reverify
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      their identity through EDD (rather than with Respondent) to regain access to

      their Account.

35.   Respondent knew, or should have known, that EDD would not be able to

      handle the burden of quickly reverifying eligible EDD Cardholders whose

      EDD Prepaid Debit Card Accounts Respondent had frozen through its new

      strategy beginning on September 28, 2020.

36.   During the summer of 2020, Respondent met with EDD dozens of times,

      often weekly, and was in telephone or email contact even more often.

37.   In July 2020, EDD had approximately 1,400 staff to handle an average of

      6.7 million consumer calls per week. In August 2020, EDD was answering

      and resolving only 1% of incoming calls.

38.   Respondent did not inform EDD that it would be using a Fraud Filter and

      freezing unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card accounts before

      implementing that strategy on September 28, 2020.

39.   Until March 18, 2021, the only exception to Respondent’s requirement that

      EDD Cardholders reverify their identity through EDD to regain access to

      their frozen EDD Prepaid Debit Card Account was limited to Cardholders

      who filed a complaint asserting a particular hardship with Respondent

      through a state or congressional representative, a legal aid group or private

      attorney, or the media that reached the attention of Respondent’s executives.
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  Findings and Conclusions as to Respondent’s Strategy in California (Unfair
                                  Practice)

40.   Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA prohibit a “covered person” from

      engaging in any “unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice” in connection

      with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or

      service, or the offering of a consumer financial product or service. 12 U.S.C.

      §§ 5531(a), 5536(a)(1)(B).

41.   An act or practice is unfair if it causes or is likely to cause substantial injury

      to consumers, which is not reasonably avoidable by consumers, and such

      substantial injury is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers

      or to competition. 12 U.S.C. § 5531(c).

42.   From September 28, 2020 to March 17, 2021, Respondent automatically

      determined, without any further investigation, that no error had occurred for

      any EDD Cardholder notice of error concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs

      that met any of the three indicators in Respondent’s Fraud Filter. During

      most of this period, when Respondent determined no error had occurred

      through its Fraud Filter, Respondent also froze the cardholder’s EDD

      Prepaid Debit Card Account.

43.   This caused substantial injury to consumers. Not only did Respondent,

      through its Fraud Filter, incorrectly and automatically determine no error

      had occurred for tens of thousands of EDD Cardholders who had filed
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      notices of error, but Respondent also froze those cardholders’ EDD Prepaid

      Debit Card Accounts (except as stated in Paragraph 17), meaning those EDD

      Cardholders could not receive or access the unemployment insurance benefit

      funds in their Accounts.

44.   This substantial injury was not reasonably avoidable by EDD Cardholders.

      During this period, Respondent generally required EDD Cardholders whose

      Accounts were frozen through its strategy to reverify their identity through

      EDD to regain access to their Accounts.

45.   EDD Cardholders received conflicting and delayed information from

      Respondent regarding the reasons for their EDD Prepaid Debit Card

      Account freeze, and the steps they needed to take to unfreeze their Account.

46.   This substantial injury was not outweighed by any countervailing benefits to

      consumers or to competition.

47.   As a result, Respondent engaged in unfair acts or practices, in violation of

      Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA. 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (c),

      5536(a)(1)(B).

  Findings and Conclusions as to Respondent’s Retroactive Application of Its
                      Fraud Filter (Abusive Practice)

48.   An act or practice is abusive if it, among other things, takes unreasonable

      advantage of the inability of a consumer to protect their interests in selecting

      or using a consumer financial product or service. 12 U.S.C. § 5531(d)(2)(B).
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49.   In late September 2020 or early October 2020, Respondent also applied its

      Fraud Filter to more than 11,000 notices of error concerning alleged

      unauthorized EFTs submitted by EDD Cardholders between April 1, 2020

      and September 27, 2020 for which Respondent had previously provided the

      EDD Cardholder a permanent credit.

50.   For those more than 11,000 notices of error, Respondent retroactively

      determined that no error had occurred based on the results of its Fraud Filter,

      and reversed those EDD Cardholders’ permanent credits.

51.   Affected EDD Cardholders were unable to protect their interests because

      they could not control how and when Respondent would investigate and

      resolve their notices of error.

52.   Until at least December 2021, Respondent did not correct its reversals of

      these more than 11,000 previously-investigated-and-paid notices of error

      without an EDD Cardholder’s request for reconsideration.

53.   By reversing the permanent credits for EDD Cardholders who had already

      received notice from Respondent that their error claim had been investigated

      and paid, Respondent took unreasonable advantage of EDD Cardholders’

      inability to protect their interests.
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54.   As a result, Respondent engaged in abusive acts or practices, in violation of

      Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA. 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (d)(2)(B),

      5536(a)(1)(B).

 Findings and Conclusions as to Respondent’s Failure to Conduct Reasonable
          Error Resolution Investigations (EFTA and Regulation E)

55.   Under EFTA, upon receiving notices of error, financial institutions may not

      determine no error had occurred without conducting a “good faith

      investigation of the alleged error” and without “a reasonable basis for

      believing that the consumer’s account was not in error.” 15 U.S.C. §

      1693f(e).

56.   Further, under Regulation E, when conducting an Error Resolution

      Investigation, a financial institution must conduct, at minimum, a “review of

      its own records regarding [the] alleged error.” 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(c)(4),

      and the Error Resolution Investigation “must be reasonable,” 71 Fed. Reg.

      1638, 1654 (Jan. 10, 2006).

57.   From September 28, 2020 to June 8, 2021, Respondent used its Fraud Filter

      to determine no error had occurred for approximately 188,000 notices of

      error submitted by Affected Consumers nationwide concerning alleged

      unauthorized EFTs, without any further investigation or considering any

      other information relevant to Affected Consumers’ notices.
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58.   As a result, Respondent violated the requirement to conduct a reasonable

      Error Resolution Investigation under Sections 908 and 909 of EFTA, 15

      U.S.C. §§ 1693f and 1693g, and Section 1005.11 of Regulation E.

Findings and Conclusions as to Respondent Impeding EDD Cardholders from
 Filing Notices of Error and Seeking Liability Protection from Unauthorized
                           EFTs (Unfair Practices)

59.   Throughout the Relevant Period, Respondent and EDD both directed EDD

      Cardholders to contact Respondent to file a telephonic notice of error.

60.   Throughout the Relevant Period, EDD Cardholders could not file notices of

      error with Respondent online, through Respondent’s other (non-prepaid)

      customer service divisions, or in person at Respondent’s branches.

61.   EDD Cardholders who called for assistance after their EDD Prepaid Debit

      Card Account was subject to unauthorized EFTs were required to navigate

      Respondent’s prepaid call center divisions staffed by vendor agents.

62.   Throughout the Relevant Period, Respondent represented on its EDD Debit

      Card FAQ webpage that it would provide EDD Cardholders with “dedicated

      customer service representatives” who are “available 24 hours a day, 7 days

      a week” to help EDD Cardholders “investigate transactions.”

63.   Respondent further advised consumers in its EDD Cardholder Agreement,

      which Respondent mailed to all new EDD Cardholders, that “Telephoning is

      the best way of keeping your possible losses down.”
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64.   Under Respondent’s “Zero Liability” guarantee, which Respondent also

      includes in its EDD Cardholder Agreement, Respondent represents that

      EDD Cardholders will incur no liability for unauthorized use of their EDD

      Prepaid Debit Card up to the amount of the unauthorized transactions,

      provided they notify Respondent within a reasonable amount of time.

65.   For much of 2020, EDD Cardholders faced long hold times when attempting

      to file a notice of error with Respondent over the phone and take advantage

      of Respondent’s “Zero Liability” guarantee for unauthorized use of

      cardholders’ EDD Prepaid Debit Cards.

66.   Throughout the Relevant Period, EDD Cardholders were required to first

      speak with an agent in Respondent’s main prepaid call center before being

      transferred to Respondent’s prepaid claims initiation division, which was the

      only division authorized to accept EDD Cardholders’ notices of error over

      the phone.

67.   From May 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020, prepaid debit cardholders nationwide had

      to wait on average nearly two hours to speak with an agent in Respondent’s

      prepaid claims initiation division.

68.   From September 1 to December 1, 2020, prepaid debit cardholders

      nationwide had to wait on average over an hour to speak with an agent in

      Respondent’s prepaid claims initiation division.
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69.   Unlike Respondent’s main prepaid call center, throughout the Relevant

      Period Respondent’s prepaid claims initiation division was not available 24

      hours a day, 7 days a week, but instead kept the following business hours:

      Monday to Friday, 5am PT to 7pm PT; Saturday, 6:30am PT to 5pm PT; and

      closed on Sundays.

70.   Through September 2020, Respondent’s prepaid claims initiation division

      was still staffed by fewer than 300 vendor agents to assist unemployment

      insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders nationwide with filing their

      notices of error.

71.   Throughout 2020, certain EDD Cardholders remained on hold with

      Respondent’s prepaid call center divisions for hours daily, over the course of

      weeks, in attempts to file notices of error.

72.   EDD Cardholders were also subject to transfers, dropped calls, and

      misinformation from Respondent’s prepaid call center agents, all of which

      further impeded their ability to successfully file notices of error with

      Respondent.

73.   EDD Cardholders could not reasonably avoid the harm caused by extensive

      hold times, dropped calls, and misinformation from Respondent’s prepaid

      call center agents because, among other reasons, Respondent directed EDD

      Cardholders to file notices of error by contacting Respondent by phone.
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74.   This substantial injury to EDD Cardholders was not outweighed by any

      countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition.

75.   As a result, Respondent engaged in unfair acts or practices, in violation of

      Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA. 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531(a) and (c),

      5536(a)(1)(B).

  Findings and Conclusions as to Respondent’s Failure to Timely Investigate
 EDD Cardholders’ Notices of Error Concerning Alleged Unauthorized EFTs
                         (EFTA and Regulation E)

76.   For timely-submitted consumer notices of error, EFTA requires financial

      institutions to “investigate the alleged error, determine whether an error has

      occurred, and report or mail the results of such investigation and

      determination to the consumer within ten business days.” 15 U.S.C. §

      1693f(a).

77.   A financial institution may extend that 10-business-day investigation

      deadline to 45 calendar days if it provisionally credits the consumer’s

      account in the amount of the alleged error within 10 business days of

      receiving the error notice. 15 U.S.C. § 1693f(c); 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(c)(2).

78.   This 45-day investigation deadline may be extended to 90 calendar days if a

      notice of error involves an EFT that was not initiated within a state; resulted

      from a point-of-sale debit card transaction; or occurred within 30 days of the

      first deposit to the account. 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(c)(3)(ii).
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79.   This extended 90-day investigation deadline does not apply to transactions at

      an ATM, including ATMs located at merchant locations. Official

      Interpretation Comment 11(c)(3)-1, 12 C.F.R. Pt. 1005, Supp. I.

80.   In certain instances, for notices of error concerning alleged unauthorized

      EFTs submitted by EDD Cardholders during the Relevant Period,

      Respondent failed to complete its investigation within 10 business days and

      Respondent did not issue a provisional credit (or issued a provisional credit

      after 10 business days).

81.   In certain instances, for notices of error concerning alleged unauthorized

      EFTs relating to ATM transactions submitted by EDD Cardholders during

      the Relevant Period, Respondent failed to complete its investigation within

      45 calendar days.

82.   In certain instances, for notices of error concerning alleged unauthorized

      EFTs submitted by EDD Cardholders during the Relevant Period,

      Respondent failed to complete its investigation within 90 calendar days.

83.   As a result, Respondent violated EFTA and Regulation E by failing to timely

      investigate EDD Cardholders’ notices of error concerning alleged

      unauthorized EFTs. 15 U.S.C. § 1693f(a), (c); 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(c)(2)-(3).

                            CONDUCT PROVISIONS

                                        V.
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        IT IS ORDERED, under Sections 1053 and 1055 of the CFPA, that:

  84.    Respondent and its officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys

         who have actual notice of this Consent Order, whether acting directly or

         indirectly, may not violate Sections 1031 and 1036 of the CFPA, 12

         U.S.C. §§ 5531 and 5536, Sections 908 and 909 of EFTA, 15 U.S.C. §§

         1693f and 1693g, and Section 1005.11 of Regulation E, in connection with

         administering unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cards and

         accounts, including in connection with receiving, investigating, and

         resolving notices of error submitted by unemployment insurance benefit

         prepaid debit cardholders concerning alleged unauthorized EFTs.

  85.    Respondent and its officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys

         who have actual notice of this Consent Order, whether acting directly or

         indirectly, in connection with administering unemployment insurance

         benefit prepaid debit cards and accounts, must take the following

         affirmative actions:

        a. Respondent must not determine no error occurred solely based on the

           results of an automated fraud filter for notices of error submitted by

           unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholders;
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      b. Respondent must not freeze an unemployment insurance benefit prepaid

         debit card account solely based on the results of an automated fraud

         filter;

      c. Respondent must, during the course of an Error Resolution Investigation,

         reasonably consider all information relevant to the unemployment

         insurance benefit prepaid debit cardholder’s notice of error, including,

         but not limited to, information within Respondent’s own records;

      d. Respondent must not condition access to an open EDD Prepaid Debit

         Card Account for an existing EDD Cardholder on reverifying their

         identity through EDD, and must allow EDD Cardholders to attempt to

         verify their identity directly with Respondent, except in the cases where

         (i) EDD disqualified the EDD Cardholder or requested that the EDD

         Prepaid Debit Card Account be frozen, or (ii) reverification through EDD

         is requested by EDD or is required by law;

      e. Respondent must allow EDD Cardholders to attempt to reverify their

         identity in order to unblock their EDD Prepaid Debit Card Account in

         person at Respondent’s financial center branches. Respondent’s financial

         center branches must have processes and procedures in place to facilitate

         telephonic submission of notices of error by EDD Cardholders; and
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        f. Respondent must conduct a risk assessment of its Prepaid Card

           Unemployment Insurance Benefits Program, including an assessment of

           risks associated with increased volumes of unemployment insurance

           benefit prepaid debit cardholders in the future. This requirement may be

           performed as part of the Program Risk Assessment required of

           Respondent by Article V of the OCC Consent Order.

  86.    Respondent must provide the appropriate staffing and resources necessary

         to comply with Paragraphs 87–89.

                                         VI.

                                 Compliance Plan

        IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  87.    Within 60 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must submit to the

         Regional Director for review and determination of non-objection a

         comprehensive compliance plan designed to ensure that Respondent’s

         administration of unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cards and

         accounts complies with all applicable laws that the Bureau enforces,

         including Federal consumer financial laws, and the terms of this Consent

         Order (Compliance Plan). The Compliance Plan must include, at a

         minimum:
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             a. detailed steps for addressing each action required by this Consent

                Order as set forth in Paragraphs 84–85; and

             b. specific timeframes and deadlines for implementation of the steps

                described above.

  88.    The Regional Director will have the discretion to make a determination of

         non-objection to the Compliance Plan or direct Respondent to revise it. If

         the Regional Director directs Respondent to revise the Compliance Plan,

         Respondent must revise and resubmit the Compliance Plan to the Regional

         Director within 30 days.

  89.    After receiving notification that the Regional Director has made a

         determination of non-objection to the Compliance Plan, Respondent must

         implement and adhere to the steps, recommendations, deadlines, and

         timeframes outlined in the Compliance Plan.

                                         VII.

                                 Role of the Board

        IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  90.    The Board, or a committee thereof, must review all submissions (including

         plans, reports, programs, policies, and procedures) required by this

         Consent Order prior to submission to the Bureau.
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  91.    Although this Consent Order requires Respondent to submit certain

         documents for review or non-objection by the Regional Director or

         Enforcement Director, the Board, or a committee thereof, will have the

         ultimate responsibility for proper and sound management of Respondent

         and for ensuring that Respondent complies with the laws that the Bureau

         enforces, including Federal consumer financial laws and this Consent

         Order.

  92.    In each instance that this Consent Order requires the Board to ensure

         adherence to, or perform certain obligations of Respondent, the Board, or a

         committee thereof, must:

        a. Authorize whatever actions are necessary for Respondent to fully comply

           with the Consent Order;

        b. Require timely reporting by management to the Board on the status of

           compliance obligations; and

        c. Require timely and appropriate corrective action to remedy any material

           non-compliance with Board directives related to this Section.

                           MONETARY PROVISIONS

                                         VIII.

                               Order to Pay Redress

        IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
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  93.   Respondent shall provide redress to Affected Consumers, which shall

        include (i) compensation for the value of unauthorized EFTs alleged by

        Affected Consumers in notices of error that Respondent incorrectly denied

        through its Fraud Filter; (ii) compensation to Affected Consumers for

        related Consequential Harm, as required by this Section; and (iii)

        compensation to Affected Consumers through an individualized review

        process, as required by this Section. Respondent will not be required to

        pay redress to consumers meeting the definition of Affected Consumers as

        of the Effective Date for whom (i) the state benefit granting agency has

        determined or later determines should have been initially disqualified for

        unemployment insurance benefit payments, or (ii) whose unemployment

        insurance benefit prepaid debit card account is or becomes frozen,

        blocked, or closed by Respondent at the request of the state benefit

        granting agency, or due to suspected fraud, anti-money laundering, or

        financial crimes inquiries or determinations made in conjunction with law

        enforcement, or due to an independent legal requirement such as receipt of

        legal process or orders.

  94.   Within 90 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must submit to the

        Enforcement Director for review and non-objection a comprehensive

        written plan for providing redress consistent with this Consent Order
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         (Redress Plan). The Enforcement Director will have the discretion to make

         a determination of non-objection to the Redress Plan or direct Respondent

         to revise it. If the Enforcement Director directs Respondent to revise the

         Redress Plan, Respondent must revise and resubmit the Redress Plan to the

         Enforcement Director within 30 days. After receiving notification that the

         Enforcement Director has made a determination of non-objection to the

         Redress Plan, Respondent must implement and adhere to the steps,

         recommendations, deadlines, and timeframes outlined in the Redress Plan.

  95.    The Redress Plan must include:

        a. A description of the methodology Respondent will use to identify

           Affected Consumers, including Affected Consumers who no longer have

           active unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card accounts with

           Respondent;

        b. A description of the procedures and process Respondent will use to

           remediate each Affected Consumer, which shall include: (i) calculating

           the value of unauthorized EFTs alleged by Affected Consumers in

           notices of error that Respondent incorrectly denied through its Fraud

           Filter; (ii) calculating the lump sum Consequential Harm payment; and

           (iii) an individualized review process administrated by an independent

           third-party payment administrator that allows Affected Consumers to
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         seek additional redress compensation by submitting evidence of financial

         harm exceeding Consequential Harm-related payments;

      c. A description of the methodology Respondent will use to calculate the

         amount of remediation to be paid as Consequential Harm for each

         Affected Consumer;

      d. A description of the methodology Respondent will use to identify

         compensable financial impacts to Affected Consumers for the purpose of

         additional redress compensation exceeding Consequential Harm-related

         payments in connection with the individualized review process;

      e. A description of the type of supporting documentation that will be

         required for Affected Consumers seeking additional financial redress

         compensation exceeding Consequential Harm-related payments in

         connection with the individualized review process;

      f. A description of the procedures for issuing and tracking redress payments

         to Affected Consumers;

      g. A description of the plan for developing communications that will be sent

         to notify Affected Consumers of their redress under the Redress Plan

         (Redress Notification). The Redress Notification must include a

         statement that the redress is being paid in accordance with terms of this

         Consent Order;
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        h. A description of the processes for handling any redress funds for

           Affected Consumers that remain unclaimed; and

        i. The procedures, deadlines, and timeframes for completing each step of

           the Redress Plan, consistent with the terms of this Consent Order.

  96.    Following the implementation of the Redress Plan, Respondent must

         submit a report that:

        a. Identifies each Affected Consumer evaluated as part of the Redress Plan;

        b. States the amount of redress Respondent provided to each Affected

           Consumer for (i) notices of error that Respondent incorrectly denied; (ii)

           Consequential Harm; and (iii) pursuant to the individualized review

           process (if applicable);

  97.    Respondent must make reasonable attempts to obtain a current physical

         address for any Affected Consumer (i) before sending any redress payment

         required under this Section VIII and (ii) for a period of 360 days from the

         date the redress was initially sent to the Affected Consumer upon receipt

         of returned mail or failure to negotiate a check that is issued to the

         consumer.

  98.    Respondent may not condition the payment of any redress to any Affected

         Consumer under this Consent Order on that Affected Consumer waiving

         any right.
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                                           IX.

                         Order to Pay Civil Money Penalty

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  99.    Under § 1055(c) of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. § 5565(c), by reason of the

         violations of law described in Section IV of this Consent Order,

         Respondent must pay a civil money penalty of $100 million to the Bureau.

  100. Within 10 business days of the Effective Date, Respondent must pay the

         civil money penalty by wire transfer to the Bureau or to the Bureau’s agent

         in compliance with the Bureau’s wiring instructions.

  101. The civil money penalty paid under this Consent Order will be deposited

         in the Civil Penalty Fund of the Bureau as required by § 1017(d) of the

         CFPA, 12 U.S.C. § 5497(d).

  102. Respondent, for all purposes, must treat the civil money penalty paid under

         this Consent Order as a penalty paid to the government. Regardless of how

         the Bureau ultimately uses those funds, Respondent may not:

        a. Claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction, tax credit, or any other tax

           benefit for any civil money penalty paid under this Consent Order; or

        b. Seek or accept, directly or indirectly, reimbursement or indemnification

           from any source, including but not limited to payment made under any
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         insurance policy, with regard to any civil money penalty paid under this

         Consent Order.

  103. To preserve the deterrent effect of the civil money penalty in any Related

       Consumer Action, Respondent may not argue that Respondent is entitled

       to, nor may Respondent benefit by, any offset or reduction of any

       compensatory monetary remedies imposed in the Related Consumer

       Action because of the civil money penalty paid in this action or because of

       any payment that the Bureau makes from the Civil Penalty Fund. If the

       court in any Related Consumer Action offsets or otherwise reduces the

       amount of compensatory monetary remedies imposed against Respondent

       based on the civil money penalty paid in this action or based on any

       payment that the Bureau makes from the Civil Penalty Fund, Respondent

       must, within 30 days after entry of a final order granting such offset or

       reduction, notify the Bureau, and pay the amount of the offset or reduction

       to the U.S. Treasury. Such a payment will not be considered an additional

       civil money penalty and will not change the amount of the civil money

       penalty imposed in this action.

                                         X.

                        Additional Monetary Provisions

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
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  104. In the event of any default on Respondent’s obligations to make payment

       under this Consent Order, interest—computed under 28 U.S.C. § 1961, as

       amended—will accrue on any outstanding amounts not paid from the date

       of default to the date of payment, and will immediately become due and

       payable.

  105. Respondent must relinquish all dominion, control, and title to the funds

       paid to the fullest extent permitted by law and no part of the funds may be

       returned to Respondent.

  106. Under 31 U.S.C. § 7701, Respondent, unless it already has done so, must

       furnish to the Bureau its taxpayer-identification numbers, which may be

       used for purposes of collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount

       arising out of this Consent Order.

  107. Within 30 days of the entry of a final judgment, consent order, or

       settlement in a Related Consumer Action, Respondent must notify the

       Enforcement Director of the final judgment, consent order, or settlement in

       writing. That notification must indicate the amount of redress, if any, that

       Respondent paid or is required to pay to consumers and describe the

       consumers or classes of consumers to whom that redress has been or will

       be paid.

                        COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS
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                                        XI.

                            Reporting Requirements

      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  108. Respondent must notify the Bureau of any development that may affect

       compliance obligations arising under this Consent Order, including but not

       limited to a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that

       would result in the emergence of a successor company; the creation or

       dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or

       practices subject to this Consent Order; the filing of any bankruptcy or

       insolvency proceeding by or against Respondent; or a change in

       Respondent’s name or address. Respondent must provide this notice, if

       practicable, at least 30 days before the development, but in any case no

       later than 14 days after the development.

  109. Within 7 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must designate at least

       one telephone number and email, physical, and postal addresses as points

       of contact that the Bureau may use to communicate with Respondent.

  110. Respondent must report any change in the information required to be

       submitted under Paragraph 109 at least 30 days before the change or as

       soon as practicable after the learning about the change, whichever is

       sooner.
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  111. Within 90 days of the Effective Date, and again one year after the

       Effective Date, Respondent must submit to the Regional Director an

       accurate written compliance progress report (Compliance Report) that has

       been approved by the Board or a committee thereof, sworn to under

       penalty of perjury, which, at a minimum:

      a. Lists each applicable paragraph and subparagraph of the Order and

         describes in detail the manner and form in which Respondent has

         complied with each such paragraph and subparagraph of the Consent

         Order;

      b. Describes in detail the manner and form in which Respondent has

         complied with the Redress Plan and Compliance Plan; and

      c. Attaches a copy of each Order Acknowledgment obtained under Section

         XII, unless previously submitted to the Bureau.

                                      XII.

                   Order Distribution and Acknowledgment

   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  112. Within 7 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must submit to the

       Enforcement Director an acknowledgment of receipt of this Consent

       Order, sworn under penalty of perjury.
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  113. Within 30 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must deliver a copy of

       this Consent Order to each of its Board members and executive officers, as

       well as to any managers, employees, service providers, or other agents and

       representatives who have responsibilities related to the subject matter of

       the Consent Order.

  114. For 5 years from the Effective Date, Respondent must deliver a copy of

       this Consent Order to any business entity resulting from any change in

       structure referred to in Section XI, any future Board members and

       executive officers, as well as to any managers, employees, service

       providers, or other agents and representatives who will have

       responsibilities related to the subject matter of the Consent Order before

       they assume their responsibilities.

  115. Respondent must secure a signed and dated statement acknowledging

       receipt of a copy of this Consent Order, ensuring that any electronic

       signatures comply with the requirements of the E-Sign Act, 15 U.S.C. §

       7001 et seq., within 30 days of delivery, from all persons receiving a copy

       of this Consent Order under this Section.

  116. Within 90 days of the Effective Date, Respondent must provide the Bureau

       with a list of all persons and their titles to whom this Consent Order was

       delivered through that date under Paragraphs 112–114 and a copy of all
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       signed and dated statements acknowledging receipt of this Consent Order

       under Paragraph 115.

                                       XIII.

                                 Recordkeeping

      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  117. Respondent must create and retain the following business records:

      a. All documents and records necessary to demonstrate full compliance with

         each provision of this Consent Order, including all submissions to the

         Bureau;

      b. All documents and records pertaining to the Redress Plan, described in

         Section VIII above;

      c. All documents and records pertaining to the Compliance Plan, described

         in Section VI above;

      d. For each individual Affected Consumer:

               i. the consumer’s name, address, and, if available to Respondent,

                   phone number, and email address;

               ii. the date(s) the consumer submitted a notice of error concerning

                   alleged unauthorized EFTs that Respondent wrongly

                   determined no error occurred based solely on the results of

                   Respondent’s Fraud Filter;
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              iii. the value of alleged unauthorized EFTs in the consumer’s

                   notice(s) of error that Respondent wrongly determined no error

                   occurred based solely on the results of Respondent’s Fraud

                   Filter; and

              iv. the length of time that Respondent froze or blocked the

                   consumer’s unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit card

                   account due to Respondent’s determination that no error

                   occurred based solely on the results of Respondent’s Fraud

                   Filter.

      e. All consumer complaints and refund requests (whether received directly

         or indirectly, such as through a third party) regarding Respondent’s

         administration of unemployment insurance benefit prepaid debit cards

         and accounts relating to government benefit payments, and any responses

         to those complaints or requests.

      f. Records showing, for each Respondent employee or agent providing

         material services related to Respondent’s unemployment insurance

         benefit prepaid debit card programs, that person’s name, telephone

         number, email, physical, and postal address, job title or position, dates of

         service, and, if applicable, the reason for termination.

      g. Records showing, for each service provider providing services related to
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        Respondent’s administration of unemployment insurance benefit prepaid

        debit cards and accounts, the name of a point of contact, and that

        person’s telephone number, email, physical, and postal address, job title

        or position, dates of service, and, if applicable, the reason for termination.

  118. Respondent must make the documents identified in Paragraph 117

       available to the Bureau upon the Bureau’s request.

                                       XIV.

                                     Notices

      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  119. Unless otherwise directed in writing by the Bureau, Respondent must

       provide all submissions, requests, communications, or other documents

       relating to this Consent Order in writing, with the subject line, “In re Bank

       of America, N.A., File No. 2022-CFPB-0004,” and send them by

       overnight courier or first-class mail to the below addresses and

       contemporaneously by email to Enforcement_Compliance@cfpb.gov and

       Southeastregion@cfpb.gov:

           Regional Director, Bureau Southeast Region
           Peachtree Summit Building
           401 W. Peachtree Street
           Atlanta, GA 30308

           Assistant Director for Enforcement
           Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
           ATTENTION: Office of Enforcement
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            1700 G Street, N.W.
            Washington D.C. 20552


                                      XV.

                         Cooperation with the Bureau

      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  120. Respondent must cooperate fully to help the Bureau determine the identity

       and location of, and the amount of injury sustained by, each Affected

       Consumer. Respondent must provide such information in its or its agents’

       possession or control within 14 days of receiving a written request from

       the Bureau.

                                      XVI.

                            Compliance Monitoring

      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  121. Within 14 days of receipt of a written request from the Bureau,

       Respondent must submit additional Compliance Reports or other requested

       information, which must be made under penalty of perjury; provide sworn

       testimony; or produce documents.

  122. Respondent must permit Bureau representatives to interview any employee

       or other person affiliated with Respondent who has agreed to such an
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       interview regarding: (a) this matter; (b) anything related to or associated

       with the conduct described in Section IV; or (c) compliance with the

       Consent Order. The person interviewed may have counsel present.

  123. Nothing in this Consent Order will limit the Bureau’s lawful use of civil

       investigative demands under 12 C.F.R. § 1080.6 or other compulsory

       process.

                                      XVII.

                   Modifications to Non-Material Requirements

     IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  124. Respondent may seek a modification to non-material requirements of this

       Consent Order (e.g., reasonable extensions of time and changes to

       reporting requirements) by submitting a written request to the Enforcement

       Director.

  125. The Enforcement Director may, in his or her discretion, modify any non-

       material requirements of this Consent Order (e.g., reasonable extensions of

       time and changes to reporting requirements) if he or she determines good

       cause justifies the modification. Any such modification by the

       Enforcement Director must be in writing.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

                                      XVIII.
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     IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

  126. The provisions of this Consent Order do not bar, estop, or otherwise

       prevent the Bureau from taking any other action against Respondent,

       except as described in Paragraph 127 below. Further, for the avoidance of

       doubt, the provisions of this Consent Order do not bar, estop, or otherwise

       prevent any other person or governmental agency from taking any action

       against Respondent.

  127. The Bureau releases and discharges Respondent from all potential liability

       for law violations that the Bureau has or might have asserted based on the

       practices described in Section IV of this Consent Order, to the extent such

       practices occurred before the Effective Date and the Bureau knows about

       them as of the Effective Date. The Bureau may use the practices described

       in this Consent Order in future enforcement actions against Respondent

       and its affiliates, including, without limitation, to establish a pattern or

       practice of violations or the continuation of a pattern or practice of

       violations or to calculate the amount of any penalty. This release does not

       preclude or affect any right of the Bureau to determine and ensure

       compliance with the Consent Order, or to seek penalties for any violations

       of the Consent Order.
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  128. This Consent Order is intended to be, and will be construed as, a final

       Consent Order issued under § 1053 of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. § 5563, and

       expressly does not form, and may not be construed to form, a contract

       binding the Bureau or the United States.

  129. This Consent Order will terminate on the later of 5 years from the

       Effective Date or 5 years from the most recent date that the Bureau

       initiates an action alleging any violation of the Consent Order by

       Respondent, if such action is initiated within 5 years of the Effective Date.

       If such action is dismissed or the relevant adjudicative body rules that

       Respondent did not violate any provision of the Consent Order, and the

       dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the

       Consent Order will terminate as though the action had never been filed.

       The Consent Order will remain effective and enforceable until such time,

       except to the extent that any provisions of this Consent Order have been

       amended, suspended, waived, or terminated in writing by the Bureau or its

       designated agent.

  130. Calculation of time limitations will run from the Effective Date and be

       based on calendar days, unless otherwise noted.

  131. Should Respondent seek to transfer or assign all or part of its operations

       that are subject to this Consent Order, Respondent must, as a condition of
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       sale, obtain the written agreement of the transferee or assignee to comply

       with all applicable provisions of this Consent Order.

  132. The provisions of this Consent Order will be enforceable by the Bureau.

       For any violation of this Consent Order, the Bureau may impose the

       maximum amount of civil money penalties allowed under Section 1055(c)

       of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. § 5565(c). In connection with any attempt by the

       Bureau to enforce this Consent Order in federal district court, the Bureau

       may serve Respondent wherever Respondent may be found and

       Respondent may not contest that court’s personal jurisdiction over

       Respondent.

  133. This Consent Order and the accompanying Stipulation contain the

       complete agreement between the parties. The parties have made no

       promises, representations, or warranties other than what is contained in

       this Consent Order and the accompanying Stipulation. This Consent Order

       and the accompanying Stipulation supersede any prior oral or written

       communications, discussions, or understandings.

  134. Nothing in this Consent Order or the accompanying Stipulation may be

       construed as allowing Respondent, its Board, officers, or employees to

       violate any law, rule, or regulation.
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 IT IS SO ORDERED, this 14th day of July, 2022.



                                    t
                                    ____________________________
                                            f
                                    Rohit Chopra
                                    Director
                                    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau


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