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The Bureau’s Complaint alleged violations of the Consumer Financial Protection Act and other federal consumer financial laws. The Bureau alleged that the defendants obtained consumers’ sensitive personal and financial information from third-party data brokers, and used that information to access consumers’ bank accounts without authorization. According to the Bureau’s complaint, the Hydra Group deposited loans in consumers’ bank accounts, then debited biweekly “finance charges” indefinitely. In many cases, the Bureau alleged, consumers never saw loan agreements and were not aware of the account activity until after the loan was deposited and finance charges were withdrawn. Additionally, the Bureau alleged that, even when consumers did receive loan documents, the written disclosures misrepresented the price terms and repayment obligations of the purported loan.


Under the terms of the consent order, the defendants will be banned from the industry, forfeit approximately $14 million in assets, and pay a $1 civil money penalty. The civil penalty amount is based in part on the defendants’ limited ability to pay. The order imposes a judgment for $69 million for purposes of paying consumer redress, but, in light of the defendants’ limited ability to pay, the judgment will be suspended upon compliance with other requirements.

The consent order is available at:

