Financial Justice Organizer
New Jersey Citizen Action
Beverly Brown Ruggia is the Financial Justice Organizer for New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA). Beverly advocates for consumer finance protections and regulatory reforms and policies, which seek to end unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices in banking, mortgage servicing, foreclosure, and in all forms of lending and finance. Beverly leads the NJCA debt table and consumer protection coalition of state organizations working to combat student debt, medical debt, and all forms of predatory lending. Beverly represents NJCA in the multi-state anti-payday lending coalition, “Paydayfreelandia,” which advocated for a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau payday loan rule on behalf of states where high interest rate loans are not permitted, and has been vocal about predatory lenders and of “fintech” companies circumventing and undermining state consumer finance protections.
Beverly led NJCA’s successful campaign to divest $86 million of state pension dollars from a payday lending company, and ultimately, to block an additional $150 million investment in the same equity firm that owned the payday company. Beverly also advocates for the Community Reinvestment Act, fair housing, and access to financial services, including credit and savings, and mortgage finance. She represents NJCA in state and regional negotiations for community benefits agreements in partnership with NCRC, and with NJ State and regional organizations. Beverly has testified before the New Jersey State Legislature as well as before various county and municipal officials in the state. She has been a presenter and speaker at events held by the Center for Responsible Lending, the Consumer Federation of America, Peoples Action, Americans for Financial Reform and Netroots Nation. She has published editorials in the Star Ledger, Daily Record, Asbury Park Press, and the American Banker.