Collapse to view only § 1665a. Use of annual percentage rate in oral disclosures; exceptions

§ 1661. Catalogs and multiple-page advertisements

For the purposes of this part, a catalog or other multiple-page advertisement shall be considered a single advertisement if it clearly and conspicuously displays a credit terms table on which the information required to be stated under this part is clearly set forth.

(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 141, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 158.)
§ 1662. Advertising of downpayments and installments
No advertisement to aid, promote, or assist directly or indirectly any extension of consumer credit may state
(1) that a specific periodic consumer credit amount or installment amount can be arranged, unless the creditor usually and customarily arranges credit payments or installments for that period and in that amount.
(2) that a specified downpayment is required in connection with any extension of consumer credit, unless the creditor usually and customarily arranges downpayments in that amount.
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 142, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 158.)
§ 1663. Advertising of open end credit plans
No advertisement to aid, promote, or assist directly or indirectly the extension of consumer credit under an open end credit plan may set forth any of the specific terms of that plan unless it also clearly and conspicuously sets forth all of the following items:
(1) Any minimum or fixed amount which could be imposed.
(2) In any case in which periodic rates may be used to compute the finance charge, the periodic rates expressed as annual percentage rates.
(3) Any other term that the Bureau may by regulation require to be disclosed.
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 143, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 158; Pub. L. 96–221, title VI, §§ 613(f), 619(a), Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 177, 183; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1664. Advertising of credit other than open end plans
(a) Exclusion of open end credit plans
(b) Advertisements of residential real estate
(c) Rate of finance charge expressed as annual percentage rate
(d) Requisite disclosures in advertisement
If any advertisement to which this section applies states the amount of the downpayment, if any, the amount of any installment payment, the dollar amount of any finance charge, or the number of installments or the period of repayment, then the advertisement shall state all of the following items:
(1) The downpayment, if any.
(2) The terms of repayment.
(3) The rate of the finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate.
(e) Credit transaction secured by principal dwelling of consumer
Each advertisement to which this section applies that relates to a consumer credit transaction that is secured by the principal dwelling of a consumer in which the extension of credit may exceed the fair market value of the dwelling, and which advertisement is disseminated in paper form to the public or through the Internet, as opposed to by radio or television, shall clearly and conspicuously state that—
(1) the interest on the portion of the credit extension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and
(2) the consumer should consult a tax adviser for further information regarding the deductibility of interest and charges.
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 144, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 158; Pub. L. 96–221, title VI, § 619(b), Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 183; Pub. L. 109–8, title XIII, § 1302(b)(2), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 209; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1665. Nonliability of advertising media

There is no liability under this part on the part of any owner or personnel, as such, of any medium in which an advertisement appears or through which it is disseminated.

(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 145, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 159.)
§ 1665a. Use of annual percentage rate in oral disclosures; exceptions

In responding orally to any inquiry about the cost of credit, a creditor, regardless of the method used to compute finance charges, shall state rates only in terms of the annual percentage rate, except that in the case of an open end credit plan, the periodic rate also may be stated and, in the case of an other than open end credit plan where a major component of the finance charge consists of interest computed at a simple annual rate, the simple annual rate also may be stated. The Bureau may, by regulation, modify the requirements of this section or provide an exception from this section for a transaction or class of transactions for which the creditor cannot determine in advance the applicable annual percentage rate.

(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 146, as added Pub. L. 93–495, title IV, § 401(a), Oct. 28, 1974, 88 Stat. 1517; amended Pub. L. 96–221, title VI, § 623(a), Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 185; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1665b. Advertising of open end consumer credit plans secured by consumer’s principal dwelling
(a) In general
(1) Loan fees and opening cost estimates
(2) Periodic rates
(3) Highest annual percentage rate
(4) Other information
(b) Tax deductibility
(1) In general
(2) Credit in excess of fair market value
Each advertisement described in subsection (a) that relates to an extension of credit that may exceed the fair market value of the dwelling, and which advertisement is disseminated in paper form to the public or through the Internet, as opposed to by radio or television, shall include a clear and conspicuous statement that—
(A) the interest on the portion of the credit extension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and
(B) the consumer should consult a tax adviser for further information regarding the deductibility of interest and charges.
(c) Certain terms prohibited
(d) Discounted initial rate
(1) In general
(2) Quoted rate must be reasonably current
(3) Period during which initial rate is in effect
(e) Balloon payment
(f) “Balloon payment” defined
For purposes of this section and section 1637a of this title, the term “balloon payment” means, with respect to any open end consumer credit plan under which extensions of credit are secured by the consumer’s principal dwelling, any repayment option under which—
(1) the account holder is required to repay the entire amount of any outstanding balance as of a specified date or at the end of a specified period of time, as determined in accordance with the terms of the agreement pursuant to which such credit is extended; and
(2) the aggregate amount of the minimum periodic payments required would not fully amortize such outstanding balance by such date or at the end of such period.
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 147, as added Pub. L. 100–709, § 2(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4730; amended Pub. L. 109–8, title XIII, § 1302(a)(2), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 208; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1665c. Interest rate reduction on open end consumer credit plans
(a) In general
(b) Requirements
With respect to any credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan, the creditor shall—
(1) maintain reasonable methodologies for assessing the factors described in subsection (a);
(2) not less frequently than once every 6 months, review accounts as to which the annual percentage rate has been increased since January 1, 2009, to assess whether such factors have changed (including whether any risk has declined);
(3) reduce the annual percentage rate previously increased when a reduction is indicated by the review; and
(4) in the event of an increase in the annual percentage rate, provide in the written notice required under section 1637(i) of this title a statement of the reasons for the increase.
(c) Rule of construction
(d) Rulemaking
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 148, as added Pub. L. 111–24, title I, § 101(c), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1737; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1665d. Reasonable penalty fees on open end consumer credit plans
(a) In general
(b) Rulemaking required
(c) Considerations
In issuing rules required by this section, the Bureau shall consider—
(1) the cost incurred by the creditor from such omission or violation;
(2) the deterrence of such omission or violation by the cardholder;
(3) the conduct of the cardholder; and
(4) such other factors as the Bureau may deem necessary or appropriate.
(d) Differentiation permitted
(e) Safe harbor rule authorized
(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 149, as added Pub. L. 111–24, title I, § 102(b)(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1740; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)
§ 1665e. Consideration of ability to repay

A card issuer may not open any credit card account for any consumer under an open end consumer credit plan, or increase any credit limit applicable to such account, unless the card issuer considers the ability of the consumer to make the required payments under the terms of such account.

(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 150, as added Pub. L. 111–24, title I, § 109(a), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1743.)