With today marking the last installment of SubPrime News Update for 2015, we conducted our own portfolio analysis to uncover what turned out to be the top 10 stories of the year stemming from online traffic to our website.

Not surprisingly, nearly all of the reports had some connection to a regulator; be it at the state level or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

As SubPrime Auto Finance News joins the rest of the industry in gearing up for 2016, here’s a recap of the top 10 stories of the year:

10. CFPB suing SNAAC over debt collections

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 17) — While officials said the complaint is not a finding or ruling that the finance company has actually violated the law, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Security National Automotive Acceptance Co. (SNAAC) for aggressive debt collection tactics against servicemembers.

In a complaint filed in federal court, the CFPB alleges that SNAAC used a combination of illegal threats and deceptive claims in order to collect debts. The CFPB said it is seeking compensation for harmed consumers, a civil penalty and an order prohibiting the company from committing future violations.

Through this lawsuit, the bureau indicated that it seeks to stop the alleged unlawful practices of the company. The bureau also requested that the court impose penalties on the company for its conduct and require that compensation be paid to consumers who have been harmed.

9. This year’s SubPrime Auto Finance Executive of the Year

CARY, N.C. (Oct. 26) — SubPrime Auto Finance News announced this year’s recipient of the SubPrime Auto Finance Executive of the Year Award, presented by Black Book Lender Solutions. The accolade is going to Dan Ulatowski, who is the chief sales officer at Credit Acceptance, one of the leading special finance companies in the industry.

Ulatowski has been with the company since 1996, holding a variety of different roles within that span. Credit Acceptance tapped him for his current post last January as the company has seen its GAAP net income per share grow at a compounded annual rate of 20.4 percent, with an average annual return on equity of 21.4 percent since becoming publicly traded 22 years ago.

8. 6 components of Santander’s latest enforcement action from Federal Reserve

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7) — Within a seven-day span that included the co-founder and chief executive officer resigning and the chief financial officer being promoted to take his place, Santander Consumer USA’s parent company reached an enforcement action agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Fed officials broke down a series of tasks Santander Holdings USA must complete within the next 60 days that fell under the categories of:

— Board oversight
— Risk management
— Capital planning
— Liquidity risk management
— Compliance with laws and regulations
— Progress reports

7. House passes CFPB reform bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 19) — To the delight of many in the automotive industry, the House of Representatives voted on and passed a bill aimed at altering the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s handling of indirect auto financing.

With a vote of 332 to 96, the House passed what the American International Automobile Dealers Association labeled a “common sense piece of legislation,” otherwise known as the Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act.

If it passes through the Senate and is signed by the president in its current state, the legislation will amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.

6. DOJ Issues CID to Springleaf about OneMain acquisition

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (May. 1) — Coinciding with the company offering more than 22.7 million shares of common stock to help to pay for the acquisition, Springleaf Holdings acknowledged that its intended purchase of fellow subprime institution OneMain Financial Holdings is running into some regulatory hurdles.

In a filing sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Springleaf indicated it was notified by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice on March 22, stating that the agency would be reviewing the proposed transaction, which was first announced back on March 2 and included an aggregate purchase price of $4.25 billion in cash.

Company officials explained that DOJ would be reviewing the proposed acquisition from an antitrust perspective.

5. Fifth Third Bank ordered to pay $18M, reduce mark-up to 1.25% or less

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 28) — First Ally Financial, then American Honda Finance Corp., and now, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau added Fifth Third Bank to its list of recipients of multi-million-dollar actions for what the regulators determined to be discrimination in vehicle financing.

As part of its $18 million penalty in the auto space, the CFPB and Department of Justice ordered Fifth Third Bank to substantially reduce or eliminate entirely dealer discretion. Officials told the bank to pay that $18 million to “harmed” African-American and Hispanic borrowers. Meanwhile the dealer participation stipulations included in the agreement are similar to what Honda Finance is being forced to do.

According to second quarter data from Experian Automotive, Fifth Third Bank tied for No. 15 in overall market share, holding 0.99 percent with fellow Midwestern commercial bank Huntington and USAA.

4. CFPB action against Westlake tops $44M

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Oct. 1) — The second significant Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforcement action of the week in the auto finance space hit one of the largest players in the subprime market — Westlake Financial Services.

CFPB punished Westlake and its auto title lending subsidiary Wilshire Consumer Credit for pressuring borrowers using what officials deemed to be illegal debt collection tactics.

The bureau indicated that it found Westlake to have committed several infractions, including:

— Deceived consumers by calling under false pretenses and using phony caller ID information

— Falsely threatened to refer borrowers for investigation or criminal prosecution

— Illegally disclosed information about debts to borrowers’ employers, friends, and family.

3. $500K ad campaign against CFPB launches

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 10) — For dealership principals and finance company executives who might be watching the fourth Republican presidential primary debate, they might not want to step away during a commercial break: an advertisement is planned to highlight the position against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The American Action Network (AAN) — an organization that says it creates, encourages and promotes center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism and strong national security — is launching a $500,000 ad campaign against the CFPB.

AAN officials explained the national ad buy will run throughout the evening on Fox Business, the host of the fourth GOP primary debate.

2. 22 vehicles that might work better for longer-term contracts

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 16) — With contract terms continuing to lengthen, perhaps this year’s contingent of Best Resale Value Awards from Kelley Blue Book might provide finance companies with vehicles to enhance underwriting and origination decisions.

The 2016 model-year brand and category winners of the annual award program recognizes vehicles for their projected retained value through the initial five-year ownership period.

“KBB Best Resale Value Award winners are great for long-term financing because they increase the odds that the vehicle will have equity should the customer or the finance company have to sell the asset prematurely,” said Eric Ibara, director of residual values at Kelley Blue Book.

1. NY regulators shut down Condor Capital

NEW YORK (Jan. 2) — Condor Capital is no longer originating and servicing vehicle installment contracts for dealers who cater to subprime customers in New York or more than two dozen other states.

Just before the holiday, the New York Department of Financial Services submitted a final consent judgment to be approved by the Empire State’s court system to settle the department’s lawsuit against Condor Capital that first sprouted last spring.

New York Superintendent of Financial Services Benjamin Lawsky sent the order against, Condor, a subprime auto finance company based in Long Island, and its sole shareholder, Stephen Baron.

Among other violations, Lawsky claimed the defendants deceptively retained millions of dollars owed to vulnerable borrowers and overcharged them for interest in violation of the Truth in Lending Act.