Building on 2025 successes and progress, AFC calls for legislative focus on increased regulatory clarity, modernized supervision, and policies that expand access to safe and affordable financial products

AFC stands in support of Chairman Hill and Subcommittee Chairman Barr’s recently announced community banking package

Washington, D.C. (January 8, 2026) – The American Fintech Council (AFC), the premier industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, today announced its 2026 federal legislative priorities, reaffirming its commitment to advancing responsible innovation and ensuring consumers have access to affordable, transparent, and modern financial products. AFC’s priorities build on strong momentum in the 119th Congress and reflect the continued need for pragmatic, bipartisan solutions.

“As consumers increasingly rely on innovative financial tools to manage everyday expenses, our 2026 agenda is focused on delivering regulatory clarity, strengthening bank-fintech partnerships, and modernizing oversight frameworks to reflect how financial services are actually delivered today,” said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. “These priorities are essential to ensuring that responsible innovation continues to expand access to safe and affordable financial products, particularly for working families and underserved communities who need them most.”

AFC looks forward to continued collaboration with Chairman French Hill (R-AR) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) of the House Financial Services Committee, as well as Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in the Senate Banking Committee. As the 119th Congress begins its second session, AFC urges thoughtful consideration and swift passage of three crucial pieces of legislation:

● True Lender Legislation: AFC urges action on legislation that provides clear federal standards for bank-fintech partnerships, including true lender clarity, to preserve access to responsible and affordable credit nationwide. In 2025, AFC was encouraged by the withdrawal of the FDIC amicus brief in its Colorado DIDMCA lawsuit, a crucial dissenting opinion, and an outpouring of amicus briefs from the FDIC, OCC, 12 Attorneys General, and multiple industry associations. These actions place lawmakers in a strong position to pass true lender legislation and prevent a patchwork of state laws from creating ambiguity in bank-fintech partnerships.

● Innovative Community Banking Agenda: AFC will continue to advocate for passage of the House Financial Services Committee’s package of innovative community banks bills, which would codify improvements to bank examination processes. These bills were reported favorably out of Committee – most with bipartisan support. AFC also applauds the work already done by the regulators to implement Chairman Hill and Subcommittee Chairman Barr’s community banking agenda and recognizes the importance of passing legislation to ensure long-term and sustainable durability.

● The Earned Wage Access (EWA) Consumer Protection Act: AFC supports a bespoke federal framework that recognizes EWA for what it is—a non-credit product that allows workers to access wages they have already earned—and ensures these tools remain available, consumer-friendly, and subject to appropriate guardrails. Clear policy in this area is critical to preventing misclassification that could eliminate safe options and push consumers toward high-cost alternatives. The CFPB’s new Advisory Opinion on EWA was a constructive first step to bring greater clarity to a product that millions of workers rely on to manage their finances. By formally rescinding the 2024 proposed interpretive rule, which never had legal standing, the CFPB appropriately acknowledged the inaccuracies in that proposal and provided the perfect opportunity for Congress to codify strong industry rules in 2026.

“Sound public policy starts with meeting consumers where they are and protecting access to affordable, innovative products while making sure policy is clear, consistent, and built for how modern financial services actually work,” said Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at the American Fintech Council. “We look forward to continuing to work with federal regulators and legislators to clarify rules, modernize supervision, and encourage continued, responsible innovation in financial services.”

In addition, AFC strongly supports a slate of AI-related bills introduced by the House Financial Services Committee in late 2025 and applauds the committee’s ongoing, pragmatic approach to policy around responsible AI implementation. In 2026, AFC will build further on the previous year’s progress regarding digital asset regulation as well as the congressional role in the ongoing conversation around data privacy and open banking.

A standards-based organization, AFC is the premier trade association representing the largest financial technology (Fintech) companies and innovative banks offering embedded finance solutions. AFC’s mission is to promote a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.

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