Bulletin # 3077 - Week Ending February 10, 2023

This bulletin constitutes the only official notification you will receive from this office concerning any of the following applications.  Any observations you may have are solicited.  Any comments should be in writing to Jorge L. Perez, Banking Commissioner, Department of Banking, 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103-1800.  Written comments will be considered only if they are received within ten business days from the date of this bulletin.

CONSUMER CREDIT ACTIVITY

Consent Order

On February 2, 2023, the Commissioner entered into a Consent Order with Harris & Harris, Ltd., NMLS # 959452 (“Harris 1”) and Harris & Harris of Illinois, Ltd., NMLS # 2038270 (“Harris 2”), both of Chicago, Illinois (collectively, “Respondents”). The Consent Order was based on an investigation and examination by the Consumer Credit Division. As a result of such investigation and examination, the Commissioner alleged that: (1) between December 31, 2020 to June 13, 2022, Harris 1 acted as a consumer collection agency in Connecticut without a consumer collection agency license, in violation of Section 36a-801(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes in effect at such time; and (2) between January 1, 2021 to June 13, 2022, Harris 2, by engaging the services of Harris 1 for the purposes of collection activities when Harris 1 was unlicensed, acted in violation of Section 36a-806(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, and, by transferring money through Harris 1’s trust account, acted in violation of Section 36a-811(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes in effect at such time. As part of the Consent Order, Respondents paid $10,000 as a civil penalty.