U.S. Agencies Impose Penalties on Higher One

The Federal Reserve Board and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. last month ordered Higher One to repay millions of dollars to students who had financial aid disbursement accounts with the company and to pay a $2.2 million fine for what the government agencies called deceptive practices. Higher One has been under increasing federal and state scrutiny in recent years for fees it charges to students and for how clearly it makes its fees and policies known to consumers, and the latest findings by the two federal agencies add to its woes.

The company announced on Dec. 15 that it was selling its disbursement business to Customers Bank.