California’s DFPI reached a $1 million settlement with Yotta Technologies over alleged false FDIC insurance representations connected to the Synapse bankruptcy, signaling heightened state scrutiny of fintech-bank partnerships and banking-as-a-service models.
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) on April 4, 2025, issued its formal notice of rulemaking for digital financial business regulation, following receipt of two sets of 2024 comments on its draft proposed rules for California’s “Digital Finance Assets Law” (DFAL) (AB 39 and SB 401, 2023).
Continue Reading California DFPI Issues Formal Rulemaking for Digital Financial Asset Regulation
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) requiring all money services businesses (MSBs) located in 30 ZIP codes across California and Texas to, among other things, report and maintain records of cash transactions exceeding $200 (up to $10,000), and to verify the identity of persons presenting such transactions
Continue Reading Effective April 14: FinCEN GTO Requires MSBs Along US Southwest Border to Report Transactions in Currency of More than $200
In October 2024, the California DFPI finalized regulations for providers of income-based advances (Earned Wage Access or EWA), clarifying registration requirements under the California Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL). These changes impose new compliance obligations for businesses offering EWA products to California consumers.
This GT Alert summarizes the regulation’s highlights.
On Feb. 15, 2024, California Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 1201 (SB 1201 or the Bill), which would impose new disclosure requirements on California companies. Amended May 16, 2024, the Bill passed in the Senate May 23, 2024.
On May 8, 2024, the California Attorney General released a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help businesses comply with SB 478, California’s soon-to-be effective “Hidden Fees Statute,” a law intended to address so-called “junk fees” by prohibiting “drip pricing.”
On April 1, 2024, California’s legislature introduced Assembly Bill 2863, which proposes amendments to California’s Automatic Renewal Law. If enacted, the proposed amendments would introduce stricter mandates for disclosures, consent, and cancellation processes and further align California’s ARL with the FTC’s proposed changes to its Negative Option Rule.
Continue Reading California Proposes Revisions to Autorenewal Law
Timothy A. Butler, a shareholder in GT’s Financial Regulatory & Compliance Practice, is quoted in a Los Angeles Times article titled “Perch charges diners ‘security’ fee at downtown L.A. rooftop spot, sparking outrage.” The article discusses California’s upcoming ban on “junk fees,” previously reported in an October 2023 GT Alert.
On Oct. 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed CA AB39, the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL), which is the first comprehensive framework to regulate the digital asset market in the state of California. As such, California joins New York and Louisiana as the third state to have a virtual currency specific regulatory licensing