During a CNBC interview at the Independent Community Bankers of America’s (ICBA) national convention in Nashville, Tenn., Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director (CFPB) Richard Cordray highlighted some of the issues the bureau will be dealing with in the coming year.

During an interview, Cordray said the bureau has a lot of work to do. One of the bureau’s goals is to ensure that those in the mortgage market, whether a bank or nonbank, are treated equally.

Cordray also said the CFPB plans to continue its emphasis on the “Know Before You Owe effort, making prices and risks clear to consumers so that they can make better informed decisions.”

The bureau also plans to protect consumers by taking on predatory practices.  

“I think a lot of the predatory practices have been on the non-bank side, but there is some to go around,” Cordray said. “We’re concerned about any place where the market is not working properly. For example, in the mortgage market in the run up to the crisis, a lot of loans were being made without careful assessment of ability to repay.” Cordray indicated the bureau will be writing a rule clarifying ability to repay issues.

“We also see areas where people don’t have the ability to choose their provider. They can’t vote with their feet, and therefore, they’re more vulnerable than they would be otherwise,” Cordray said. “And we see areas where institutions are telling investors one thing about the products they’re producing and telling consumers something quite different. That’s always a concern to us as well.”

The CFPB opened its doors in July 2011 and has already started working on proposed regulations.