FinTech Compliance: What You Need to Know

As the fintech industry continues to grow, so does regulatory scrutiny. To navigate this complex landscape, it’s important to have a solid understanding of fintech compliance. 

In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of fintech compliance, why it’s important, and how to mitigate compliance risk across consumer marketing channels.

What does fintech compliance mean?

Fintech compliance refers to the process of ensuring that a fintech company adheres to the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to its business operations. 

This includes compliance with laws and regulations related to consumer protection, lending, anti-money laundering, data privacy, and cybersecurity, and more.

What are the regulations for FinTech?

The regulations for fintech companies vary depending on the specific products or services services they offer. 

But, in general, fintechs are subject to the same regulations as traditional financial institutions, including consumer protection laws for fair lending, UDAAP,  data privacy and security, dispute resolution procedures, and more. 

Fintechs are also subject to product-specific regulations, including those for credit products, mortgage products, loan products, etc.

Who regulates fintechs in the United States?

Fintech companies are regulated by a number of different agencies, depending on the specific products and services they offer. 

Some of the main regulators of fintech companies in the United States include:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• State Attorneys General

What is an example of a fintech compliance violation?

One example of a compliance violation would be if a fintech company makes false or misleading claims about its services, such as promising guaranteed approvals or falsely advertising its ability to impact credit scores. 

This would be considered a violation of consumer protection laws, specifically unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP).

Why is fintech compliance important? What are the advantages of fintech compliance?

Fintech compliance is important for organizations to mitigate risk, protect their brand, and protect consumers. 

Some advantages of fintech compliance include increased trust and credibility with customers and investors, protection against legal and regulatory penalties, improved operational efficiency, and better alignment with industry standards and best practices. 

Additionally, fintech compliance can help companies stay ahead of emerging risks and adapt to changing regulatory environments.

How important is compliance for fintech partnerships?

Compliance is crucial for fintech partnerships to mitigate risk. By prioritizing compliance in fintech partnerships, companies can build trust with each other and with customers, reduce potential legal and financial risks, and enhance the overall success of their collaborative efforts.

Why do fintechs need to monitor for marketing compliance ?

Fintechs need to monitor for marketing compliance to ensure that their advertising and promotional activities adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards that are set forth to protect consumers from deceptive or misleading advertising practices.

Failing to comply with marketing regulations can result in legal and financial consequences, as well as reputational damage. 

By monitoring for marketing compliance, fintech companies can avoid these risks, build trust with customers, and establish themselves as responsible and trustworthy players in the financial industry.

PerformLine: The Trusted Platform for Fintech Compliance

PerformLine’s omni-channel compliance monitoring solution was built to automate the monitoring and remediation of regulatory and brand compliance violations, on all internal and external channels including web, messaging, calls, email, documents, and social media. Our turn-key industry rulebooks are built on years of experience working with regulators and industry clients.

Speak to one of our experts today to learn more about mitigating your risk and ensuring brand safety so that your partnerships can thrive.