WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Financial Services Committee passed the STOP Payments Fraud Act, legislation led by Representative Young Kim (CA-40) to protect consumers and financial institutions from the rising threat of check and wire transfer fraud.
Check fraud has surged in recent years, with criminals stealing more than $1.3 billion from consumers and financial institutions in 2023 and 2024 alone. Under current law, financial institutions are required to make funds available within a prescribed timeframe, even when a transaction raises red flags. As a result, institutions may be forced to release funds before they can fully investigate suspicious checks or wire transfers, creating opportunities for fraudsters to exploit the system.
The STOP Payments Fraud Act closes this gap by allowing financial institutions additional time to investigate flagged checks and wire transfers before funds are released, helping prevent fraud before consumers suffer financial losses.
Read bill text HERE and watch Rep. Kim speak in support of the bill HERE.
