FDIC settles with Higher One, Bancorp Bank over student account practices

Abstract

The consent order requires Bancorp Bank to increase board oversight of all compliance matters, improve its compliance management system, enhance its audit program, correct all violations, significantly increase its management of third-party risk and provide to the FDIC details relating to the termination of its relationship with Higher One.

The FDIC on Aug. 8 announced settlements with New Haven, Conn.-based Higher One Holdings Inc. and Wilmington, Del.-based Bancorp Inc. unit Bancorp Bank for alleged unfair and deceptive practices in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Higher One is an institution-affiliated party of Bancorp Bank.

Under the settlements, both Higher One and Bancorp Bank agreed to consent orders and Higher One agreed to provide restitution of $11 million to approximately 60,000 students.

In addition, the FDIC imposed civil money penalties of $110,000 for Higher One and $172,000 for Bancorp Bank.

Among other things, the FDIC found that Higher One and Bancorp Bank were charging student account holders multiple nonsufficient fund fees, or NSF fees, from a single merchant transaction, allowing these accounts to remain in overdrawn status over long periods of time and allowing fees to continue accruing. Fees were allegedly collected from subsequent deposits to the students' accounts.

Bancorp Bank, as issuer of the OneAccount debit card, was responsible for ensuring that Higher One operated the OneAccount program in compliance with all applicable laws.

The consent order requires Higher One to change the manner in which it imposes NSF fees. It is required to not charge NSF fees to accounts that have been in a continuous negative balance for more than 60 days, to not charge more than three NSF fees on any single day to a single account and to not charge more than one NSF fee with respect to a single automated clearing house transaction that is returned unpaid within any 21-day period.

In addition, Higher One is required not to make misleading or deceptive representations or omissions in its marketing materials or disclosures and to institute a sound compliance management system.

Higher One agreed to make restitution to eligible OneAccount holders for certain NSF fees for a period beginning July 16, 2008, to such time as Higher One ceased charging the fees in question.

Restitution may be in the form of credits to current account holders and charged-off accounts, and by check where the account is closed, to the extent that the credit exceeds any charged off amount owed to Higher One.

The consent order requires Bancorp Bank to increase board oversight of all compliance matters, improve its compliance management system, enhance its audit program, correct all violations, significantly increase its management of third-party risk and provide to the FDIC details relating to the termination of its relationship with Higher One.

In addition, if Higher One fails to complete restitution, the FDIC may require Bancorp Bank to establish a restitution account in the amount of restitution unpaid by Higher One.

In agreeing to the issuance of the consent orders, neither Bancorp Bank nor Higher One admits or denies any liability.