Payday lenders seek emergency court help, fearing U.S. cutoff

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Fri Nov 25, 2016 | 4:38pm EST

Payday lenders seek emergency court help, fearing U.S. cutoff

By Jonathan Stempel

Payday lenders asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., for emergency relief to stop what they called a coordinated effort by U.S. regulators to stop banks from doing business with them, threatening their survival.

In Wednesday night filings, the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) and payday lender Advance America, Cash Advance Centers Inc said a preliminary injunction was needed to end the "back-room campaign" of coercion by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Advance America said its own situation became dire after five banks decided in the last month to cut ties, including a 14-year relationship with U.S. Bancorp, putting it "on the verge" of being unable even to hold a bank account.

Payday lenders make small short-term loans that can help tide over cash-strapped borrowers.

But critics say fees can drive effective interest rates well into three digits, and trap borrowers into an endless debt cycle in which they use new payday loans to repay older loans.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-paydaylenders-advanceamerica-idUSKBN13K2BD

[pscot]

1. They'll be just fine

now the the Republicans are in charge