Naomi Ellsworth
Naomi Ellsworth writes for Kredo Review and other Independent Journal publications, covering bank regulation and consumer credit and broker-dealer compliance and FINRA. Reporting under this byline is prepared by the Independent Journal editorial desk from primary sources, with AI assistance, and reviewed under our editorial policy.
7 articles
What the CFPB does: a guide to the consumer finance regulator
What the CFPB does, from rulemaking and supervision to enforcement, complaint handling and consumer education, and how it fits with other financial regulators.
Know-your-customer (KYC) requirements explained
Know-your-customer (KYC) requirements explained: customer identification, the FinCEN customer due diligence rule, beneficial ownership and ongoing monitoring.
Fed prohibition orders target embezzlement, check fraud, conflicts
The Fed barred three former bank and card-company employees from the industry over embezzlement, a check-fraud ring and an undisclosed conflict of interest.
FinCEN guidance flags $12.7 billion tied to digital asset scams
FinCEN's September 3, 2026 trend analysis tied about $12.7 billion in BSA-reported activity to suspected digital asset scams run from overseas compounds.
Fed written agreement restricts SouthPoint; Deutsche order ends
The Fed signed a written agreement with SouthPoint Bancshares limiting dividends and debt, and ended a 2017 cease and desist order against Deutsche Bank units.
Consumer credit regulation: CFPB presses Bilt to repay fee-hit users
On June 2, 2026, the CFPB said it directed Bilt to give full redress after a bank-partner switch caused fees; over $264,000 went to over 2,000 consumers.
AML compliance: FinCEN proposes overhaul of program requirements
FinCEN's April 7, 2026 proposed rule would refocus AML/CFT programs on risk, separate design flaws from execution lapses, and limit examiner second-guessing.