In the deal that broke the filibuster logjam in the Senate, Richard Cordray was confirmed last week as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — two years after his nomination by President Obama. Republicans had blocked a vote in an attempt to weaken the portion of the Dodd-Frank law that established the bureau. In explaining why 12 of them finally joined 54 Democrats to approve Mr. Cordray, Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, told The Wall Street Journal that some Republicans had realized that “maybe” it wasn’t right to hold up a qualified nominee because you don’t like the law.

With a confirmed director, the agency can build on its already notable accomplishments, including a crackdown on abusive credit card tactics that has refunded more than $400 million to six million customers. Other projects, including the regulation of credit reporting agencies and debt collectors, can be ramped up because Mr. Cordray’s confirmation removes lingering legal uncertainty over the bureau’s reach. Here are some areas for action:

PAYDAY LOANS The bureau has issued a report showing how payday loans entrap consumers in endless cycles of high-cost debt. Now it needs to stop the abuses it has identified through bans on deceptive advertising, balloon payments and lending without regard to ability to repay.

OVERDRAFT FEES Rules are needed to ensure that banks don’t use overdraft protection as a profit center, but as a way to cover occasional shortfalls when deposited checks haven’t cleared. Overdraft fees on checking accounts need to be reasonable and proportional. And overdraft protection should not be offered at all on A.T.M., debit and prepaid cards because there is no delay between swiping a card and accessing an account.

MORTGAGES Recent rules from the bureau to govern lenders’ treatment of troubled borrowers were too weak. There needs to be a mandate that any borrower who qualifies for a loan modification be offered one and a clear ban on “dual tracking,” the bank tactic of pursuing foreclosure while evaluating a borrower for new loan terms.