The CFPB’s new ruling aims to empower consumers by making it easier to switch to providers offering better rates and services, thereby enhancing competition in loans and improving customer service across payments, credit, and banking markets. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra emphasized that many Americans are stuck with financial products that have poor rates and service, and the new provisions will give consumers more control over their financial choices. The ruling allows consumers to access and share data linked to various financial products, such as bank accounts, credit cards, and payment apps, without incurring fees. This data includes transaction history, account balances, bill information, and basic account verification details.

The rule also ensures that third parties collecting consumer data can only use it for the specific products requested by consumers, preventing misuse for unrelated purposes like targeted advertising. According to Chopra, the final rule on Personal Financial Data Rights is a step towards creating a competitive, safe, and reliable 'open banking' system in the U.S. Compliance will be rolled out gradually, with larger financial firms required to meet the rule by April 2026, while smaller institutions have until April 2030 to comply.