Enter Search TextSubmitSearch Advanced Search     Home     Deposit Insurance     Consumer Protection     Industry Analysis     Regulations & Examinations     Asset Sales     News & Events     About FDIC

		Home > Regulation & Examinations > Laws & Regulations > FDIC Law, Regulations, Related Acts

FDIC Law, Regulations, Related Acts

[Main Tabs]     [Table of Contents - 6500]     [Index]     [Previous Page]     [Next Page]     [Search] 6500 - Consumer Protection Section 226.9—Subsequent Disclosure Requirements   9(a)  Furnishing statement of billing rights.   9(a)(1)  Annual statement.   1.  General.  The creditor may provide the annual billing rights statement:   •  By sending it in one billing period per year to each consumer that gets a periodic statement for that period; or   •  By sending a copy to all of its account holders sometime during the calendar year but not necessarily all in one billing period (for example, sending the annual notice in connection with renewal cards or when imposing annual membership fees).   2.  Substantially similar.  See the commentary to appendix G-3.   9(a)(2)  Alternative summary statement.   1.  Changing from long-form to short-form statement and vice versa.   If the creditor has been sending the long-form annual statement, and subsequently decides to use the alternative summary statement, the first summary statement must be sent no later than 12 months after the last long-form statement was sent. Conversely, if the creditor wants to switch to the long-form, the first long-form statement must be sent no later than 12 months after the last summary statement.   2.  Substantially similar.  See the commentary to appendix G-4.   9(b)  Disclosures for supplemental credit devices and additional features.   1.  Credit device--examples.   "Credit device" includes, for example, a blank check, payee-designated check, blank draft or order, or authorization form for issuance of a check; it does not include a check issued payable to a consumer representing loan proceeds or the disbursement of a cash advance. {{10-29-04 p.6909}}   2.  Credit feature--examples.  A new credit "feature" would include, for example:   •  The addition of overdraft checking to an existing account (although the regular checks that could trigger the overdraft feature are not themselves "devices").   •  The option to use an existing credit card to secure cash advances, when previously the card could only be used for purchases.   Paragraph 9(b)(1).   1.  Same finance charge terms.  If the new means of accessing the account is subject to the same finance charge terms as those previously disclosed, the creditor:   •  Need only provide a reminder that the new device or feature is covered by the earlier disclosures. (For example, in mailing special checks that directly access the credit line, the creditor might give a disclosure such as "Use this as you would your XYZ card to obtain a cash advance from our bank"); or   •  May remake the § 226.6(a) finance charge disclosures.   Paragraph 9(b)(2).   1.  Different finance charge terms.  If the finance charge terms are different from those previously disclosed, the creditor may satisfy the requirement to give the finance charge terms either by giving a complete set of new initial disclosures reflecting the terms of the added device or feature or by giving only the finance charge disclosures for the added device or feature.   9(c)  Change in terms.   1.  "Changes" initially disclosed.  No notice of a change in terms need be given if the specific change is set forth initially, such as: rate increases under a properly disclosed variable-rate plan, a rate increase that occurs when an employee has been under a preferential rate agreement and terminates employment, or an increase that occurs when the consumer has been under an agreement to maintain a certain balance in a savings account in order to keep a particular rate and the account balance falls below the specified minimum. In contrast, notice must be given if the contract allows the creditor to increase the rate at its discretion, but does not include specific terms for an increase (for example, when an increase may occur under the creditor's contract reservation right to increase the periodic rate). The rules in § 226.5b(f) relating to home equity plans, however, limit the ability of a creditor to change the terms of such plans.   2.  State law issues.  Examples of issues not addressed by § 226.9(c) because they are controlled by state or other applicable law include:   •  The types of changes a creditor may make.   •  How changed terms affect existing balances, such as when a periodic rate is changed and the consumer does not pay off the entire existing balance before the new rate takes effect.   3.  Change in billing cycle.  Whenever the creditor changes the consumer's billing cycle, it must give a change-in-terms notice if the change either affects any of the terms required to be disclosed under § 226.6 or increases the minimum payment, unless an exception under § 226.9(c)(2) applies; for example, the creditor must give advance notice if the creditor initially disclosed a 25-day free-ride period on purchases and the consumer will have fewer days during the billing cycle change.   9(c)(1)  Written notice required.   1.  Affected consumers.  Change-in-terms notices need only go to those consumers who may be affected by the change. For example, a change in the periodic rate for check overdraft credit need not be disclosed to consumers who do not have that feature on their accounts.   2.  Timing--effective date of change.  The rule that the notice of the change in terms be provided at least 15 days before the change takes effect permits mid-cycle changes when there is clearly no retroactive effect, such as the imposition of a transaction fee. Any change in the balance computation method, in contrast, would need to be disclosed at least 15 days prior to the billing cycle in which the change is to be implemented. {{10-29-04 p.6910}}   3.  Timing--advance notice not required.   Advance notice of 15 days is not necessary--that is, a notice of change in terms is required, but it may be mailed or delivered as late as the effective date of the change--in two circumstances:   •  If there is an increased periodic rate or any other finance charge attributable to the consumer's delinquency or default.   •  If the consumer agrees to the particular change. This provision is intended for use in the unusual instance when a consumer substitutes collateral or when the creditor can advance additional credit only if a change relatively unique to that consumer is made, such as the consumer's providing additional security or paying an increased minimum payment amount. Therefore, the following are not "agreements" between the consumer and the creditor for purposes of section 226.9(c)(1): the consumer's general acceptance of the creditor's contract reservation of the right to change terms; the consumer's use of the account (which might imply acceptance of its terms under state law); and the consumer's acceptance of a unilateral term change that is not particular to that consumer, but rather is of general applicability to consumers with that type of account.   4.  Form of change-in-terms notice.  A complete new set of the initial disclosures containing the changed term complies with § 226.9(c) if the change is highlighted in some way on the disclosure statement, or if the disclosure statement is accompanied by a letter or some other insert that indicates or draws attention to the term change.   5.  Security interest change--form of notice.  A copy of the security agreement that describes the collateral securing the consumer's account may be used as the notice, when the term change is the addition of a security interest or the addition or substitution of collateral.   6.  Changes to home equity plans entered into on or after November 7, 1989. Section 226.9(c) applies when, by written agreement under § 226.5b(f)(3)(iii), a creditor changes the terms of a home equity plan--entered into on or after November 7, 1989--at or before its scheduled expiration, for example, by renewing a plan on terms different from those of the original plan. In disclosing the change:   •  If the index is changed, the maximum annual percentage rate is increased (to the limited extent permitted by § 226.30), or a variable-rate feature is added to a fixed-rate plan, the creditor must include the disclosures required by § 226.5b(d)(12)(x) and (d)(12)(xi), unless these disclosures are unchanged from those given earlier.   •  If the minimum payment required is changed, the creditor must include the disclosures required by § 226.5(b)(d)(5)(iii) (and, in variable-rate plans, the disclosures required by section 226.5b (d)(12)(x) and (d)(12)(xi)) unless the disclosures given earlier contained representative examples covering the new minimum payment requirement. (See the commentary to § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii), (d)(12)(xi) for a discussion of representative examples.)   When the terms are changed pursuant to a written agreement as described in § 226.5b(f)(3)(iii), the advance-notice requirement does not apply.   9(c)(2) Notice not required.   1.  Changes not requiring notice.  The following are examples of changes that do not require a change-in-terms notice:   •  A change in the consumer's credit limit.   •  A change in the name of the credit card or credit card plan.   •  The substitution of one insurer for another.   •  A termination or suspension of credit privileges.   •  Changes arising merely by operation of law; for example, if the creditor's security interest in a consumer's car automatically extends to the proceeds when the consumer sells the car.   2.  Skip features.  If a credit program allows consumers to skip or reduce one or more payments during the year, or involves temporary reductions in finance charges, no notice of the change in terms is required either prior to the reduction or upon resumption of the higher rates or payments if these features are explained on the initial disclosure statement {{4-30-91 p.6910.01}}(including an explanation of the terms upon resumption). For example, a merchant may allow consumers to skip the December payment to encourage holiday shopping, or a teacher's credit union may not require payments during summer vacation. Otherwise, the creditor must give notice prior to resuming the original schedule or rate, even though no notice is required prior to the reduction. The change-in-terms notice may be combined with the notice offering the reduction. For example, the periodic statement reflecting the reduction or skip feature may also be used to notify the consumer of the resumption of the original schedule or rate, either by stating explicitly when the higher payment or charges resume, or by indicating the duration of the skip option. Language such as "You may skip your October payment," or "We will waive your finance charges for January," may serve as the change-in-terms notice. {{4-30-90 p.6911}}   9(c)(3) Notice for Home Equity Plans.   1.  Written request for reinstatement.  If a creditor requires the request for reinstatement of credit privileges to be in writing, the notice under § 226.9(c)(3) must state that fact.   2.  Notice not required.  A creditor need not provide a notice under this paragraph if, pursuant to the commentary to § 226.5b(f)(2), a creditor freezes a line or reduces a credit line rather than terminating a plan and accelerating the balance.   9(d)  Finance charge imposed at time of transaction.   1.  Disclosure prior to imposition.  A person imposing a finance charge at the time of honoring a consumer's credit card must disclose the amount of the charge, or an explanation of how the charge will be determined, prior to its imposition. This must be disclosed before the consumer becomes obligated for property or services that may be paid for by use of a credit card. For example, disclosure must be given before the consumer has dinner at a restaurant, stays overnight at a hotel, or makes a deposit guaranteeing the purchase of property or services. 9(e) Disclosures Upon Renewal of Credit or Charge Card   1.  Coverage. This paragraph applies to credit and charge card accounts of the type subject to 226.5a. (See § 226.5a(a)(3) and the accompanying commentary for discussion of the types of accounts subject to § 226.5a.) The disclosure requirements are triggered when a card issuer imposes any annual or other periodic fee on such an account, whether or not the card issuer originally was required to provide the application and solicitation disclosures described in § 226.5a.   2.  Form. The disclosures under this paragraph must be clear and conspicuous, but need not appear in a tabular format or in a prominent location. The disclosures need not be in a form the cardholder can retain.   3.  Terms at renewal. Renewal notices must reflect the terms actually in effect at the time of renewal. For example, a card issuer that offers a preferential annual percentage rate to employees during their employment must send a renewal notice to employees disclosing the lower rate actually charged to employees (although the card issuer also may show the rate charged to the general public).   4.  Variable rate. If the card issuer cannot determine the rate that will be in effect if the cardholder chooses to renew a variable-rate account, the card issuer may disclose the rate in effect at the time of mailing or delivery of the renewal notice. Alternatively, the card issuer may use the rate as of a specified date (and then update the rate from time to time, for example, each calendar month) or use an estimated rate under § 226.5(c).   5.  Renewals more frequent than annual. If a renewal fee is billed more often than annually, the renewal notice should be provided each time the fee is billed. In this instance, the fee need not be disclosed as an annualized amount. Alternatively, the card issuer may provide the notice no less than once every twelve months if the notice explains the amount and frequency of the fee that will be billed during the time period covered by the disclosure, and also discloses the fee as an annualized amount. The notice under this alternative also must state the consequences of a cardholder's decision to terminate the account after the renewal notice period has expired. For example, if a $2 fee is billed monthly but the notice is given annually, the notice must inform the cardholder that the monthly charge is $2, the annualized fee is $24, and $2 will be billed to the account each month for the coming year unless the cardholder notifies the card issuer. If the cardholder is obligated to pay an amount equal to the remaining unpaid monthly charges if the cardholder terminates the account during the coming year but after the first month, the notice must disclose that fact.   6.  Terminating credit availability. Card issuers have some flexibility in determining the procedures for how and when an account may be terminated. However, the card issuer must clearly disclose the time by which the cardholder must act to terminate the account to avoid paying a renewal fee. State and other applicable law govern whether the card issuer may impose requirements such as specifying that the cardholder's response be in writing or that the outstanding balance be repaid in full upon termination.   7.  Timing of termination by cardholder. When a card issuer provides notice under § 226.9(e)(1), a cardholder must be given at least 30 days or one billing cycle, whichever is {{4-30-90 p.6912}}less, from the date the notice is mailed or delivered to make a decision whether to terminate an account. When notice is given under § 226.9(e)(2), a cardholder has 30 days from mailing or delivery to decide to terminate an account.   8.  Timing of notices. A renewal notice is deemed to be provided when mailed or delivered. Similarly, notice of termination is deemed to be given when mailed or delivered.   9.  Prompt reversal of renewal fee upon termination. In a situation where a cardholder has provided timely notice of termination and a renewal fee has been billed to a cardholder's account, the card issuer must reverse or otherwise withdraw the fee promptly. Once a cardholder has terminated an account, no additional action by the cardholder may be required. 9(e)(3) Notification on Periodic Statements   1.  Combined disclosures. If a single disclosure is used to comply with both §§ 226.9(e) and 226.7, the periodic statement must comply with the rules in §§ 226.5a and 226.7. For example, the words "grace period" must be used and the name of the balance calculation method must be identified (if listed in § 226.5a(g)) to comply with the requirements of § 226.5a, even though the use of those terms would not otherwise be required for periodic statements under § 226.7. A card issuer may include some of the renewal disclosures on a periodic statement and others on a separate document so long as there is some reference indicating that they relate to one another. All renewal disclosures must be provided to a cardholder at the same time.   2.  Preprinted notices on periodic statements. A card issuer may preprint the required information on its periodic statements. A card issuer that does so, however, using the advance notice option under § 226.9(e)(1), must make clear on the periodic statement when the preprinted renewal disclosures are applicable. For example, the card issuer could include a special notice (not preprinted) at the appropriate time that the renewal fee will be billed in the following billing cycle, or could show the renewal date as a regular (preprinted) entry on all periodic statements. 9(f) Change in Credit Card Account Insurance Provider   1.  Coverage. This paragraph applies to credit card accounts of the type subject to § 226.5a if credit insurance (typically life, disability, and unemployment insurance) is offered on the outstanding balance of such an account. (Credit card accounts subject to § 226.9(f) are the same as those subject to § 226.9(e); see comment 9(e)--1.) Charge card accounts are not covered by this paragraph. In addition, the disclosure requirements of this paragraph apply only where the card issuer initiates the change in insurance providers. For example, if the card issuer's current insurance provider is merged into or acquired by another company, these disclosures would not be required. Disclosures also need not be given in cases where card issuers pay for credit insurance themselves and do not separately charge the cardholder.   2.  No increase in rate or decrease in coverage. The requirement to provide the disclosure arises when the card issuer changes the provider of insurance, even if there will be no increase in the premium rate charged the consumer and no decrease in coverage under the insurance policy.   3.  Form of notice. If a substantial decrease in coverage will result from the change in providers, the card issuer either must explain the decrease or refer to an accompanying copy of the policy or group certificate for details of the new terms of coverage. (See the commentary to appendix G--13.)   4.  Discontinuation of insurance. In addition to stating that the cardholder may cancel the insurance, the card issuer may explain the effect the cancellation would have on the consumer's credit card plan.   5.  Mailing by third party. Although the card issuer is responsible for the disclosures, the insurance provider or another third party may furnish the disclosures on the card issuer's behalf. 9(f)(3) Substantial Decrease in Coverage   1.  Determination. Whether a substantial decrease in coverage will result from the change in providers is determined by the two-part test in § 226.9(f)(3): First, whether the {{4-30-90 p.6913}}decrease is in a significant term of coverage; and second, whether the decrease might reasonably be expected to affect a cardholder's decision to continue the insurance. If both conditions are met, the decrease must be disclosed in the notice.   Statute:  Section 127(a)(7).   Other sections:  Sections 226.4 through 226.7 and appendix G.   Previous regulation:  Section 226.7(d) through (f) and (j) and interpretation §§ 226.705 and 226.708.   1981 changes:  Section 226.9(a) implements the statutory change that the long-form statement of billing rights be provided only once a year. The provision now permits two rather than one means of providing the long-form statement to consumers. The verbatim text of the annual statement is no longer required; creditors may use any version "substantially similar" to the one in appendix G. If the creditor elects to use the alternative summary statement, the new regulation no longer requires that the long-form statement be sent upon receiving a billing error notice and at the consumer's request. The rules in § 226.708 on switching the type of billing rights statement used have been modified.   Under § 226.9(b) disclosure requirements have been streamlined when supplemental credit devices or new credit features are added to an existing open-end plan.   Section 226.9(c) substantially changes the change-in-terms rules. Change-in-terms disclosures must now be made 15 days before the effective date of the change, rather than 15 days before the billing cycle in which the change will take effect. The kinds of changes that will trigger disclosures have been reduced: change-in-terms notices are no longer required for the types of changes described in § 226.9(c)(2). But the provision reverses interpretation § 226.705, which indicated that certain changes in the balance computation method did not require disclosure because they could result in lowered finance charges; now, any change in the balance computation method requires disclosure.   When a finance charge is imposed at the time of a transaction, § 226.9(d) only requires disclosure of the finance charge at point of sale; the amount financed and annual percentage rate figured in accordance with the closed-end credit provisions need no longer be disclosed. Furthermore, the finance charge disclosure now may be made orally by the person honoring the card. Section 226.10—Prompt Crediting of Payments.   10(a)  General rule.   1.  Crediting date.  Section 226.10(a) does not require the creditor to post the payment to the consumer's account on a particular date; the creditor is only required to credit the payment as of the date of receipt.   2.  Date of receipt.  The "date of receipt" is the date that the payment instrument or other means of completing the payment reaches the creditor. For example:   •  Payment by check is received when the creditor gets it, not when the funds are collected.   •  In a payroll deduction plan in which funds are deposited to an asset account held by the creditor, and from which payments are made periodically to an open-end credit account, payment is received on the date when it is debited to the asset account (rather than on the date of the deposit), provided the payroll deduction method is voluntary and the consumer retains use of the funds until the contractual payment date.   •  If the consumer elects to have payment made by a third-party payor such as a financial institution, through a preauthorized payment or telephone bill-payment arrangement, payment is received when the creditor gets the third-party payor's check or other transfer medium, such as an electronic fund transfer, as long as the payment meets the creditor's requirements as specified under § 226.10(b).   10(b) Specific requirements for payments.   1.  Payment requirements.  The creditor may specify requirements for making payments, such as: {{4-30-90 p.6914}}   •  Requiring that payments be accompanied by the account number or the payment stub.   •  Setting a cut-off hour for payment to be received, or set different hours for payment by mail and payments made in person.   •  Specifying that only checks or money orders should be sent by mail.   •  Specifying that payment is to be made in U.S. dollars.   •  Specifying one particular address for receiving payments, such as a post office box.   The creditor may be prohibited, however, from specifying payment by preauthorized electronic fund transfer. (See § 913 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.)   2.  Payment requirements--limitations.   Requirements for making payments must be reasonable; it should not be difficult for most consumers to make conforming payments. For example, it would not be reasonable to require that all payments be made in person between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., since this would require consumers to take time off from their jobs to deliver payments.   3.  Acceptance of non-conforming payments.  If the creditor accepts a non-conforming payment (for example, payment at a branch office, when it had specified that payment be sent to headquarters), finance charges may accrue for the period between receipt and crediting of payments.   4.  Implied guidelines for payments.  In the absence of specified requirements for making payments (see § 226.10(b)):   •  Payments may be made at any location where the creditor conducts business.   •  Payments may be made any time during the creditor's normal business hours.   •  Payments may be made by cash, money order, draft, or other similar instrument in properly negotiable form, or by electronic fund transfer if the creditor and consumer have so agreed. References   Statute:  § 164.   Other sections:  § 226.7.   Previous regulation:  § 226.7(g).   1981 changes:  Much of the explanatory detail of the previous regulation is now in the commentary. The revised regulation gives the creditor five days in which to credit non-conforming payments, whereas the previous regulation required the crediting of such payments promptly, with an outside limit of five days. The five days in which to credit are available whenever the creditor accepts payment that does not conform to the creditor's disclosed specifications, in contrast to the previous regulation, which only allowed deferred crediting for payments made at the wrong location. Section 226.11—Treatment of Credit Balances   1.  Timing of refund.  The creditor may also fulfill its obligations under § 226.11 by:   •  Refunding any credit balance to the consumer immediately.   •  Refunding any credit balance prior to receiving a written request (under § 226.11(b)) from the consumer.   •  Making a good faith effort to refund any credit balance before six months have passed. If that attempt is unsuccessful, the creditor need not try again to refund the credit balance at the end of the six-month period.   2.  Amount of refund.  The phrase "any part of the credit balance remaining in the account" in § 226.11(b) and (c) means the amount of the credit balance at the time the creditor is required to make the refund. The creditor may take into consideration intervening purchases or other debits to the consumer's account (including those that have not yet been reflected on a periodic statement) that decrease or eliminate the credit balance.   Paragraph 11(b).   1.  Written requests--standing orders.  The creditor is not required to honor standing orders requesting refunds of any credit balance that may be created on the consumer's account. {{4-30-99 p.6915}}   Paragraph 11(c).   1.  Good faith effort to refund.  The creditor must take positive steps to return any credit balance that has remained in the account for over six months. This includes, if necessary, attempts to trace the consumer through the consumer's last known address or telephone number, or both.   2.  Good faith effort unsuccessful.  Section 226.11 imposes no further duties on the creditor if a good faith effort to return the balance is unsuccessful. The ultimate disposition of the credit balance (or any credit balance of $1 or less) is to be determined under other applicable law. References   Statute:  Section 165.   Previous regulation:  § 226.7(h).   1981 changes:  Under the previous regulation, the creditor's duty to refund credit balances applied only to "excess payments"; § 226.11 of the revised regulation implements the amendments to § 165 of the statute which impose refunding duties on the creditor whatever the source of the credit balance. The revised regulation permits the creditor, in computing the refund, to take account of intervening debits, not just the difference between the previous balance and the overpayment as is provided in the previous regulation. The revised regulation gives the creditor seven business days in which to make the refund after receiving the consumer's written request, whereas the previous regulation required the creditor to make the refund promptly, with an outside limit of five business days. This provision also implements the amended statute by requiring a good faith effort to refund the credit balance after six months. [Main Tabs]     [Table of Contents - 6500]     [Index]     [Previous Page]     [Next Page]     [Search]

regs@fdic.gov

Home    Contact Us    Search    Help    SiteMap    Forms Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service Center    Website Policies    USA.gov

FDIC Office of Inspector General