Katie BaileyThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finalized changes to its Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) rules, giving credit unions greater flexibility in managing automated calls and text messages while maintaining consumer opt-out protections.
Under the revised rules, credit unions may treat opt-out requests for informational messages as applying only to a specific category of communications. For example, a member who opts out of payment reminders may still receive fraud alerts or other important notifications. However, opt-outs from advertising or telemarketing communications will continue to apply to all future marketing calls and texts from that caller.
The changes also allow credit unions to designate specific methods for receiving opt-out requests and expand an existing exemption for certain financial institution fraud alerts sent to wireless numbers obtained from reliable sources.
The new rules will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Credit unions should review their consent and opt-out procedures, evaluate how communications are categorized, and coordinate with vendors to prepare for the changes.
