April 10, 2013

CFTC and SEC Approve Joint Final Rule Governing Identity Theft

Washington, DC - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (together, the Commissions) today are jointly issuing final rules and guidelines to require certain regulated entities to establish programs to address risks of identity theft.  These rules and guidelines implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which amended section 615(e) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and directed the Commissions to adopt rules requiring entities that are subject to the Commissions’ respective enforcement authorities to address identity theft.  The CFTC’s rules would apply to CFTC-regulated entities that qualify as “financial institutions” or “creditors” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Specifically, the rules require financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with certain existing accounts or the opening of new accounts.  The rules include guidelines to assist entities in the formulation and maintenance of programs that would satisfy the requirements of the rules.  Further, the rules establish special requirements for any credit and debit card issuers that are subject to the Commissions’ respective enforcement authorities, to assess the validity of notifications of changes of address under certain circumstances.

The CFTC voted 5 to 0 via seriatim to approve the final regulations, which will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Last Updated: April 10, 2013