Episode
Earned Wage Access in the Crosshairs of the Center for Responsible Lending
- Podcast
- Consumer Finance Monitor
- Published
- Jan 29, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3344
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/consumer-finance-monitor-71869/episodes/earned-wage-access-in-the-crosshairs-of-the-center-for-responsible-lending/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/consumer-finance-monitor-71869/earned-wage-access-in-the-crosshairs-of-the-center-for-responsible-lending.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
In this episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast, we examine one of the most closely watched and increasingly controversial developments in consumer finance: earned wage access (EWA) products. EWA products allow workers to access a portion of wages they have already earned before their scheduled payday. Proponents describe these products as a valuable financial tool that helps consumers manage cash-flow shortfalls without resorting to traditional payday loans. Critics, including the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), argue that EWA products function as high-cost credit, often involving opaque fees that can trap consumers in cycles of debt. Our panel brings together industry and advocacy perspectives to explore the research, legal arguments, and regulatory uncertainty surrounding EWA, a market that has grown rapidly but remains unevenly regulated. Meet the Speakers · Alan Kaplinsky – Host and moderator. Founder and former Practice Group Leader of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group; now Senior Counsel. · Lucia Constantine – Senior Researcher at the Center for Responsible Lending, focusing on mortgage lending and predatory debt practices. · Yasmin Farahi – Deputy Director of State Policy and Senior Policy Counsel at CRL, specializing in small-dollar lending and state consumer protection initiatives. · Joseph Schuster – Partner in Consumer Financial Services Group at Ballard Spahr, with extensive experience advising on earned wage access products and their legal and regulatory treatment. Key Topics Covered in the Episode · What Is Earned Wage Access? An overview of EWA products, how they operate, and why they have become a focal point for regulators and consumer advocates. · Consumer Protection vs. Industry Innovation CRL presents research suggesti…