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 226.6—Initial Disclosure Statement   1.  Consistent terminology.  Language on the initial and periodic disclosure statements must be close enough in meaning to enable the consumer to relate the two sets of disclosures; however, the language need not be identical. For example, in making the disclosure under § 226.6(a)(3), the creditor may refer to the "outstanding balance at the end of the billing cycle," while the disclosure for § 226.7(i) refers to the "ending balance" or "new balance."   2.  Separate initial disclosures permitted.   In a certain open-end credit program involving more than one creditor--a card issuer of travel-and-entertainment cards and a financial institution--the consumer has the option to pay the card issuer directly or to transfer to the financial institution all or part of the amount owing. In this case, the creditors may send separate initial disclosure statements.   6(a) Finance charge.   Paragraph 6(a)(1)   1.  When finance charges accrue.  Creditors may provide a general explanation about finance charges beginning to run and need not disclose a specific date. For example, a disclosure that the consumer has 30 days from the closing date to pay the new balance before finance charges will accrue on the account would describe when finance charges begin to run.   2.  Free-ride periods.  In disclosing whether or not a free-ride period exists, the creditor need not use "free period," "free-ride period," or any other particular descriptive phrase or term. For example, a statement that "the finance charge begins on the date the transaction is posted to your account" adequately discloses that no free-ride period exists. In the same fashion, a statement that "finance charges will be imposed on any new purchases only if they are not paid in full within 25 days after the close of the billing cycle" indicates that a free-ride period exists in the interim.   Paragraph 6(a)(2).   1.  Range of balances.  The range of balances disclosure is inapplicable:   •  If only one periodic rate may be applied to the entire account balance.   •  If only one periodic rate may be applied to the entire balance for a feature (for example, cash advances), even though the balance for another feature (purchases) may be subject to two rates (a 1.5% periodic rate on purchase balances of $0-$500, while balances above $500 are subject to a 1% periodic rate). Of course, the creditor must give a range of balances disclosure for the purchase feature.   2.  Variable-rate disclosures--coverage.   This section covers open-end credit plans under which rate changes are part of the plan and are tied to an index or formula. A creditor would use variable-rate disclosures (and thus be excused from the requirement of giving a change-in-terms notice when rate increases occur as disclosed) for plans involving rate changes such as the following:   •  Rate changes that are tied to the rate the creditor pays on its 6-month money market certificates.   •  Rate changes that are tied to Treasury bill rates. {{4-30-98 p.6902.19}}   •  Rate changes that are tied to changes in the creditor's commercial lending rate.   In contrast, the creditor's contract reservation to increase the rate without reference to such an index or formula (for example, a plan that simply provides that the creditor reserves the right to raise its rates) would not be considered a variable-rate plan for Truth in Lending disclosure purposes. (See the rule in § 226.5b(f)(1) applicable to home equity plans, however, which prohibits 11rate reservation" clauses.) Moreover, an open-end credit plan in which the employee receives a lower rate contingent upon employment (that is, with the rate to be increased upon termination of employment) is not a variable-rate plan. (With regard to such employee preferential-rate plans, however, see comment 9(c)-1, which provides that if the specific change that would occur is disclosed on the initial disclosure statement, no notice of a change in terms need be given when the term later changes as disclosed.)   3.  Variable rate plan--rate(s) in effect.  In disclosing the rate(s) in effect at the time of the initial disclosures (as is required by § 226.6(a)(2)), the creditor may use an insert showing the current rate; may give the rate as of a specified date and then update the disclosure from time to time, for example, each calendar month; or may disclose an estimated rate under § 226.5(c).   4.  Variable rate plan--additional disclosures required.  In addition to disclosing the rates in effect at the time of the initial disclosures, the disclosures under footnote 12 also must be made.   5.  Variable rate plan--index.  The index to be used must be clearly identified; the creditor need not give, however, an explanation of how the index is determined or provide instructions for obtaining it.   6.  Variable rate plan--circumstances for increase.  Circumstances under which the rate(s) may increase include, for example:   • An increase in the Treasury bill rate.   • An increase in the Federal Reserve discount rate.   The creditor must disclose when the increase will take effect; for example,   • "An increase will take effect on the day that the Treasury bill rate increases," or   • "An increase in the Federal Reserve discount rate will take effect on the first day of the creditor's billing cycle."   7.  Variable rate plan--limitations on increase.  In disclosing any limitations on rate increases, limitations such as the maximum increase per year or the maximum increase over the duration of the plan must be disclosed. When there are no limitations, the creditor may, but need not, disclose that fact. (A maximum interest rate must be included in dwelling-secured open-end credit plans under which the interest rate may be changed. See § 226.30 and the commentary to that section.) Legal limits such as usury or rate ceilings under state or federal statutes or regulations need not be disclosed. Examples of limitations that must be disclosed include:   • "The rate on the plan will not exceed 25% annual percentage rate."   • "Not more than 1/2% increase in the annual percentage rate per year will occur."   8.  Variable rate plan--effects of increase.  Examples of effects that must be disclosed include:   • Any requirement for additional collateral if the annual percentage rate increases beyond a specified rate.   • Any increase in the scheduled minimum periodic payment amount.   9.  Variable rate plan--change-in-terms notice not required.  No notice of a change in terms is required for a rate increase under a variable rate plan as defined in comment 6(a)(2)--2.   10.  Discounted variable-rate plans.  In some variable-rate plans, creditors may set an initial interest rate that is not determined by the index or formula used to make later interest rate adjustments. Typically, this initial rate is lower than the rate would be if it were calculated using the index or formula.   • For example, a creditor may calculate interest rates according to a formula using the six-month Treasury bill rate plus a 2 percent margin. If the current Treasury bill rate {{4-30-98 p.6902.20}}is 10 percent, the creditor may forego the 2 percent spread and charge only 10 percent for a limited time, instead of setting an initial rate of 12 percent, or the creditor may disregard the index or formula and set the initial rate at 9 percent.   • When creditors use an initial rate that is not calculated using the index or formula for later rate adjustments, the initial disclosure statement should reflect: (1) The initial rate (expressed as a periodic rate and a corresponding annual percentage rate), together with a statement of how long it will remain in effect; (2) the current rate that would have been applied using the index or formula (also expressed as a periodic rate and a corresponding annual percentage rate); and (3) the other variable-rate information required by footnote 12 to § 226.6(a)(2).   • In disclosing the current periodic and annual percentage rates that would be applied using the index or formula, the creditor may use any of the disclosure options described in comment 6(a)(2)--3.   11.  Increased penalty rates.  If the initial rate may increase upon the occurrence of one or more specific events, such as a late payment or an extension of credit that exceeds the credit limit, the creditor must disclose the initial rate and the increased penalty rate that may apply. If the penalty rate is based on an index and an increased margin, the issuer must disclose the index and the margin. The creditor must also disclose the specific event or events that may result in the increased rate, such as "22% APR, if 60 days late." If the penalty rate cannot be determined at the time disclosures are given, the creditor must provide an explanation of the specific event or events that may result in the increased rate. At the creditor's option, the creditor may disclose the period for which the increased rate will remain in effect, such as "until you make three timely payments." The creditor need not disclose an increased rate that is imposed when credit privileges are permanently terminated.   Paragraph 6(a)(3).   1.  Explanation of balance computation method.  A shorthand phrase such as "previous balance method" does not suffice in explaining the balance computation method. (See appendix G--1 for model clauses.)   2.  Allocation of payments.  Disclosure about the allocation of payments and other credits is not required. For example, the creditor need not disclose that payments are applied to late charges, overdue balances, and finance charges before being applied to the principal balance; or in a multifeatured plan, that payments are applied first to finance charges, then to purchases, and then to cash advances. (See comment 7--1 for definition of multifeatured plan.)   Paragraph 6(a)(4).   1.  Finance charges.  In addition to disclosing the periodic rate(s) under § 226.6(a)(2), disclosure is required of any other type of finance charge that may be imposed, such as minimum, fixed, transaction, and activity charges; required insurance; or appraisal or credit report fees (unless excluded from the finance charge under § 226.4(c)(7).)   6(b) Other charges.   1.  General; examples of other charges.  Under § 226.6(b), significant charges related to the plan (that are not finance charges) must also be disclosed. For example:     i.  Late payment and over-the-credit-limit charges.     ii.  Fees for providing documentary evidence of transactions requested under § 226.13 (billing error resolution).     iii.  Charges imposed in connection with real estate transactions such as title, appraisal, and credit report fees (see § 226.4(c)(7)).     iv.  A tax imposed on the credit transaction by a state or other governmental body, such as a documentary stamp tax on cash advances (see the commentary to § 226.4(a)).     v.  A membership or participation fee for a package of services that includes an open-end credit feature, unless the fee is required whether or not the open-end credit feature is included. For example, a membership fee to join a credit union is not an "other charge," even if membership is required to apply for credit. For the fee to be excluded from disclosure as an "other charge," however, the package of services must have some {{6-30-05 p.6902.21}}substantive purpose other than access to the credit feature. For example, if the primary benefit of membership in an organization is the opportunity to apply for a credit card, and the other benefits offered (such as a newsletter or a member information hotline) are merely incidental to the credit feature, the membership fee would have to be disclosed as an "other charge."     vi.  Automated teller machine (ATM) charges described in comment 4(a)--4 that are not finance charges.     vii.  Charges imposed for the termination of an open-end credit plan.   2.  Exclusions.  The following are examples of charges that are not "other charges":       i.   Fees charged for documentary evidence of transactions for income tax purposes.       ii.  Amounts payable by a consumer for collection activity after default; attorney's fees, whether or not automatically imposed; foreclosure costs; post-judgment interest rates imposed by law; and reinstatement or reissuance fees.       iii.  Premiums for voluntary credit life or disability insurance, or for property insurance, that are not part of the finance charge.       iv.  Application fees under § 226.4(c)(1).       v.  A monthly service charge for a checking account with overdraft protection that is applied to all checking accounts, whether or not a credit feature is attached.       vi.  Charges for submitting as payment a check that is later returned unpaid (See the commentary to § 226.4(c)(2)).       vii.  Charges imposed on a cardholder by an institution other than the card issuer for the use of the other institution's ATM in a shared or interchange system. (See also comment 7(b)--2.)       viii.  Taxes and filing or notary fees excluded from the finance charge under § 226.4(e).       ix.  A fee to expedite delivery of a credit card, either at account opening or during the life of the account, provided delivery of the card is also available by standard mail service (or other means at least as fast) without paying a fee for delivery.       x.  A fee charged for arranging a single payment on the credit account, upon the consumer's request (regardless of how frequently the consumer requests the service), if the credit plan provides that the consumer may make payments on the account by another reasonable means, such as by standard mail service, without paying a fee to the creditor.   6(c) Security interests.   1.  General.  Disclosure is not required about the type of security interest, or about the creditor's rights with respect to that collateral. In other words, the creditor need not expand on the term "security interest." Also, since no specified terminology is required, the creditor may designate its interest by using, for example, "pledge," "lien," or "mortgage" (instead of "security interest").   2.  Identification of property.  Identification of the collateral by type is satisfied by stating, for example, "motor vehicle" or "household appliances." (Creditors should be aware, however, that the federal credit practices rules, as well as some state laws, prohibit certain security interests in household goods.) The creditor may, at its option, provide a more specific identification (for example, a model and serial number).   3.  Spreader clause.  The fact that collateral for pre-existing credit extensions with the institution is being used to secure the present obligation constitutes a security interest and must be disclosed. (Such security interests may be known as "spreader" or "dragnet" clauses, or as "cross-collateralization" clauses.) A specific identification of that collateral is unnecessary, but a reminder of the interest arising from the prior indebtedness is required. This may be accomplished by using language such as "collateral securing other loans with us may also secure this loan." At the creditor's option, a more specific description of the property involved may be given.   4.  Additional collateral.  If collateral is required when advances reach a certain amount, the creditor should disclose the information available at the time of the initial disclosures. For example, if the creditor knows that a security interest will be taken in household goods if the consumer's balance exceeds $ 1,000, the creditor should disclose accordingly. If the {{6-30-05 p.6902.22}}creditor knows that security will be required if the consumer's balance exceeds $1,000, but the creditor does not know what security will be required, the creditor must disclose on the initial disclosure statement that security will be required if the balance exceeds $1,000, and the creditor must provide a change-in-terms notice under § 226.9(c) at the time the security is taken. (See comment 6(c)--2.)   5.  Collateral from third party.  In certain situations, the consumer's obligation may be secured by collateral belonging to a third party. For example, an open-end credit plan may be secured by an interest in property owned by the consumer's parents. In such cases, the security interest is taken in connection with the plan and must be disclosed, even though the property encumbered is owned by someone other than the consumer.   6(d) Statement of billing rights.   See the commentary to appendix G--3. 6(e) Home Equity Plan Information   1.  Additional disclosures required. For home equity plans, creditors must provide several of the disclosures set forth in § 226.5b(d) along with the disclosures required under § 226.6. Creditors also must disclose a list of the conditions that permit the creditor to terminate the plan, freeze or reduce the credit limit, and implement specified modifications to the original terms. (See comment 5b(d)(iii)--1.)   2.  Form of disclosures. The home equity disclosures provided under this section must be in a form the consumer can keep, and are governed by § 226.5(a)(1). The segregation standard set forth in § 226.5b(a) does not apply to home equity disclosures provided under § 226.6.   3.  Disclosure of payment and variable-rate examples. The payment example disclosure in § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii) and the variable-rate information in § 226.5b(d)(12) (viii), (x), (xi), and (xii) need not be provided with the disclosures under § 226.6 if:   • The disclosures under § 226.5b(d) were provided in a form the consumer could keep; and   • The disclosures of the payment example under § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii), the maximum payment example under § 226.5b(d)(12)(x) and the historical table under § 226.5b(d)(12)(xi) included a representative payment example for the category of payment options the consumer has chosen. For example, if a creditor offers three payment options (one for each of the categories described in the commentary to § 226.5b(d)(5)), describes all three options in its early disclosures, and provides all of the disclosures in a retainable form, that creditor need not provide the § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii) or (d)(12) disclosures again when the account is opened. If the creditor showed only one of the three options in the early disclosures (which would be the case with a separate disclosure form rather than a combined form, as discussed under § 226.5b(a)), the disclosures under § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii) and (d)(12) (viii), (x), (xi) and (xii) must be given to any consumer who chooses one of the other two options. If the § 226.5b(d)(5)(iii) and (d)(12) disclosures are provided with the second set of disclosures, they need not be transaction-specific, but may be based on a representative example of the category of payment option chosen.   4.  Disclosures for the repayment period. The creditor must provide disclosures about both the draw and repayment phases when giving the disclosures under § 226.6. Specifically, the creditor must make the disclosures in § 226.6(e), state the corresponding annual percentage rate (as required in § 226.6(a)(2)) and provide the variable-rate information required in footnote 12 for the repayment phase. To the extent the corresponding annual percentage rate, the information in footnote 12, and any other required disclosures are the same for the draw and repayment phase, the creditor need not repeat such information, as long as it is clear that the information applies to both phases. References   Statute:  Section 127(a).   Other sections:  §§ 226.4, 226.5, 226.7, 226.9, 226.14, and appendix G.   Previous regulation:  § 226.7(a) and interpretation § 226.706.   1981 changes:  Section 226.6 implements the amended statute which requires disclosure of the fact that no free period exists. Disclosures about the minimum periodic payment and {{6-30-05 p.6902.23}}the Comparative Index of Credit Cost have been eliminated. The security interest disclosures have been simplified. "Other charges" no longer include voluntary credit life or disability insurance, required property insurance premiums, default charges, or fees for collection activity. Disclosures for variable rate plans are now required by the regulation, replacing Interpretation § 226.707. The regulation no longer specifies the exact language to be used for the billing rights notice; creditors may use any version "substantially similar" to the one in appendix G. {{4-30-98 p.6903}} Section 226.7—Periodic Statement   1.  Multifeatured plans.  Some plans involve a number of different features, such as purchases, cash advances, or overdraft checking. Groups of transactions subject to different finance charge terms because of the dates on which the transactions took place are treated like different features for purposes of disclosures on the periodic statements. The commentary includes some special rules for multifeatured plans.   2.  Separate periodic statements permitted.  In a certain open-end credit program involving more than one creditor--a card issuer of travel-and-entertainment cards and a financial institution--the consumer has the option to pay the card issuer directly or to transfer to the financial institution all or part of the amount owing. In this case, the creditors may send separate periodic statements that reflect the separate obligations owed to each.   3.  Deferred payment transactions.  Creditors offer a variety of payment plans for purchases that permit consumers to avoid finance charges if the purchase balance is paid in full by a certain date. The following provides guidance for one type of deferred payment plan where, for example, no finance charge is imposed on a $500 purchase made in January if the $500 balance is paid by March 31.   i.  Periodic rates.  Under § 226.7(d), creditors must disclose each periodic rate that may be used to compute the finance charge. Under some plans with a deferred payment feature, if the deferred payment balance is not paid by the payment due date, finance charges attributable to periodic rates applicable to the billing cycles between the date of purchase and the payment due date (January through March in this example) may be imposed. Periodic rates that may apply to the deferred payment balance ($500 in this example) if the balance is not paid in full by the payment due date must appear on periodic statements for the billing cycles between the date of purchase and the payment due date. However, if the consumer does not pay the deferred payment balance by the due date, the creditor is not required to identify, on the periodic statement disclosing the finance charge for the deferred payment balance, periodic rates that have been disclosed in previous billing cycles between the date of purchase and the payment due date.   ii.  Balances subject to periodic rates.  Under § 226.7(e), creditors must disclose the balances subject to periodic rates during a billing cycle. The deferred payment balance ($500 in this example) is not subject to a periodic rate for billing cycles between the date of purchase and the payment due date. Periodic statements sent for those billing cycles should not include the deferred payment balance in the balance disclosed under § 226.7(e). At the creditor's option, this amount may be disclosed on periodic statements provided it is identified by a term other than the term used to identify the balance disclosed under § 226.7(e) (such as "deferred payment balance"). During any billing cycle in which a periodic rate finance charge on the deferred payment balance is debited to the account, the balance disclosed under § 226.7(e) should include the deferred payment balance for that billing cycle.   iii.  Amount of finance charge.  Under § 226.7(f), creditors must disclose finance charges imposed during a billing cycle. For some deferred payment purchases, the creditor may impose a finance charge from the date of purchase if the deferred payment balance ($500 in this example) is not paid in full by the due date, but otherwise will not impose finance charges for billing cycles between the date of purchase and the payment due date. Periodic statements for billing cycles preceding the payment due date should not include in the finance charge disclosed under § 226.7(f) the amounts a consumer may owe if the deferred payment balance is not paid in full by the payment due date. In this example, the February periodic statement should not identify as finance charges interest attributable to the $500 January purchase. At the creditor's option, this amount may be disclosed on periodic statements provided it is identified by a term other than "finance charge" (such as "contingent finance charge" or "deferred finance charge"). The finance charge on a deferred payment balance should be reflected on the periodic statement under § 226.7(f) for the billing cycle in which the finance charge is debited to the account.   iv.  Free-ride period.  Assuming monthly billing cycles ending at month-end and a free-ride period ending on the 25th of the following month, here are four examples {{4-30-98 p.6904}}illustrating how a creditor may comply with the requirement to disclose the free-ride period applicable to a deferred payment balance ($500 in this example) and with the 14-day rule for mailing or delivering periodic statements before imposing finance charges (see § 226.5):   A.  The creditor could include the $500 purchase on the periodic statement reflecting account activity for February and sent on March 1 and identify March 31 as the payment due date for the $500 purchase. (The creditor could also identify March 31 as the payment due date for any other amounts that would normally be due on March 25.)   B.  The creditor could include the $500 purchase on the periodic statement reflecting activity for March and sent on April 1 and identify April 25 as the payment due date for the $500 purchase, permitting the consumer to avoid finance charges if the $500 is paid in full by April 25.   C.  The creditor could include the $500 purchase and its due date on each periodic statement sent during the deferred payment period (January, February, and March in this example).   D.  If the due date for the deferred payment balance is March 7 (instead of March 31), the creditor could include the $500 purchase and its due date on the periodic statement reflecting activity for January and sent on February 1, the most recent statement sent at least 14 days prior to the due date.   7(a) Previous balance.   1.  Credit balances.  If the previous balance is a credit balance, it must be disclosed in such a way so as to inform the consumer that it is a credit balance, rather than a debit balance.   2.  Multifeatured plans.  In a multifeatured plan, the previous balance may be disclosed either as an aggregate balance for the account or as separate balances for each feature (for example, a previous balance for purchases and a previous balance for cash advances). If separate balances are disclosed, a total previous balance is optional.   3.  Accrued finance charges allocated from payments.  Some open-end credit plans provide that the amount of the finance charge that has accrued since the consumer's last payment is directly deducted from each new payment, rather than being separately added to each statement and reflected as an increase in the obligation. In such a plan, the previous balance need not reflect finance charges accrued since the last payment.   7(b) Identification of transactions.   1.  Multifeatured plans.  In identifying transactions under § 226.7(b) for multifeatured plans, creditors may, for example, choose to arrange transactions by feature (such as disclosing sale transactions separately from cash advance transactions) or in some other clear manner, such as by arranging the transactions in general chronological order.   2.  Automated teller machine (ATM) charges imposed by other institutions in shared or interchange systems.  A charge imposed on the cardholder by an institution other than the card issuer for the use of the other institution's ATM in a shared or interchange system and included by the terminal-operating institution in the amount of the transaction need not be separately disclosed on the periodic statement.   7(c) Credits.   1.  Identification--sufficiency.  The creditor need not describe each credit by type (returned merchandise, rebate of finance charge, etc.)--" credit" would suffice--except if the creditor is using the periodic statement to satisfy the billing error correction notice requirement. (See the commentary to § 226.13(e) and (f).)   2.  Format.  A creditor may list credits relating to credit extensions (payments, rebates, etc.) together with other types of credits (such as deposits to a checking account), as long as the entries are identified so as to inform the consumer which type of credit each entry represents.   3.  Date.  If only one date is disclosed (that is, the crediting date as required by the regulation), no further identification of that date is necessary. More than one date may be disclosed for a single entry, as long as it is clear which date represents the date on which credit was given. {{4-30-98 p.6904.01}}   4.  Totals.  Where the creditor lists the credits made to the account during the billing cycle, the creditor need not disclose total figures for the amounts credited.   7(d) Periodic rates.   1.  Disclosure of periodic rates--whether or not actually applied.  Any periodic rate that may be used to compute finance charges (and its corresponding annual percentage rate) must be disclosed whether or not it is applied during the billing cycle. For example:   • If the consumer's account has both a purchase feature and a cash advance feature, the creditor must disclose the rate for each, even if the consumer only makes purchases on the account during the billing cycle.   • If the rate varies (such as when it is tied to a particular index), the creditor must disclose each rate in effect during the cycle for which the statement was issued.   2.  Disclosure of periodic rates required only if imposition possible.  With regard to the periodic rate disclosure (and its corresponding annual percentage rate), only rates that could have been imposed during the billing cycle reflected on the periodic statement need to be disclosed. For example:   • If the creditor is changing rates effective during the next billing cycle (either because it is changing terms or because of a variable rate plan), the rates required to be disclosed under § 226.7(d) are only those in effect during the billing cycle reflected on the periodic statement. For example, if the monthly rate applied during May was 1.5 percent, but the creditor will increase the rate to 1.8 percent effective June 1, 1.5 percent (and its corresponding annual percentage rate) is the only required disclosure under § 226.7(d) for the periodic statement reflecting the May account activity.   • If the consumer has an overdraft line that might later be expanded upon the consumer's request to include secured advances, the rates for the secured advance feature need not be given until such time as the consumer has requested and received access to the additional feature.   • If rates applicable to a particular type of transaction changed after a certain date, and the old rate is only being applied to transactions that took place prior to that date, the creditor need not continue to disclose the old rate for those consumers that have no outstanding balances to which that rate could be applied.   3.  Multiple rates--same transaction.  If two or more periodic rates are applied to the same balance for the same type of transaction (for example, if the finance charge consists of a monthly periodic rate of 1.5% applied to the outstanding balance and a required credit life insurance component calculated at 0.1% per month on the same outstanding balance), the creditor may do either of the following:   • Disclose each periodic rate, the range of balances to which it is applicable, and the corresponding annual percentage rate for each. (For example, 1.5% monthly, 18% annual percentage rate; 0.1% monthly, 1.2% annual percentage rate.)   • Disclose one composite periodic rate (that is, 1.6% per month) along with the applicable range of balances and corresponding annual percentage rate.   4.  Corresponding annual percentage rate.  In disclosing the annual percentage rate that corresponds to each periodic rate, the creditor may use " corresponding annual percentage rate," "nominal annual percentage rate," "corresponding nominal annual percentage rate," or similar phrases.   5.  Rate same as actual annual percentage rate.  When the corresponding rate is the same as the actual annual percentage rate (historical rate) required to be disclosed (§ 226.7(g)), the creditor need disclose only one annual percentage rate, but must use the phrase "annual percentage rate."   6.  Ranges of balances.  See comment 6(a)(2)-1.   7.  Deferred payment transactions.  See comment 7--3(i).   7(e)  Balance on which finance charge computed.   1.  Limitation to periodic rates.  Section 226.7(e) only requires disclosure of the balance(s) to which a periodic rate was applied and does not apply to balances on which other kinds of finance charges (such as transaction charges) were imposed. For example, if a consumer obtains a $1,500 cash advance subject to both a 1% transaction fee and a 1% {{4-30-98 p.6904.02}}monthly periodic rate, the creditor need only disclose the balance subject to the monthly rate (which might include portions of earlier cash advances not paid off in previous cycles).   2.  Split rates applied to balance ranges.  If split rates were applied to a balance because different portions of the balance fall within two or more balance ranges, the creditor need not separately disclose the portions of the balance subject to such different rates since the range of balances to which the rates apply has been separately disclosed. For example, a creditor could disclose a balance of $700 for purchases even though a monthly periodic rate of 1.5 percent applied to the first $500, and a monthly periodic rate of 1 percent to the remainder. This option to disclose a combined balance does not apply when the finance charge is computed by applying the split rates to each day's balance (in contrast, for example, to applying the rates to the average daily balance). In that case, the balances must be disclosed using any of the options that are available if two or more daily rates are imposed. (See comment 7(e)-5.)   3.  Monthly rate on average daily balance.  If a creditor computes a finance charge on the average daily balance by application of a monthly periodic rate or rates, the balance is adequately disclosed if the statement gives the amount of the average daily balance on which the finance charge was computed, and also states how the balance is determined.   4.  Multifeatured plans.  In a multifeatured plan, the creditor must disclose a separate balance (or balances, as applicable) to which a periodic rate was applied for each feature or group of features subject to different periodic rates or different balance computation methods. Separate balances are not required, however, merely because a "free-ride" period is available for some features but not others. A total balance for the entire plan is optional. This does not affect how many balances the creditor must disclose--or may disclose--within each feature. (See, for example, comment 7(e)-5.)   5.  Daily rate on daily balance.  If the finance charge is computed on the balance each day by application of one or more daily periodic rates, the balance on which the finance charge was computed may be disclosed in any of the following ways for each feature:   • If a single daily periodic rate is imposed, the balance to which it is applicable may be stated as:   -- A balance for each day in the billing cycle.   -- A balance for each day in the billing cycle on which the balance in the account changes.   -- The sum of the daily balances during the billing cycle.   -- The average daily balance during the billing cycle, in which case the creditor shall explain that the average daily balance is or can be multiplied by the number of days in the billing cycle and the periodic rate applied to the product to determine the amount of the finance charge.   • If two or more daily periodic rates may be imposed, the balances to which the rates are applicable may be stated as:   -- A balance for each day in the billing cycle.   -- A balance for each day in the billing cycle on which the balance in the account changes.   -- Two or more average daily balances, each applicable to the daily periodic rates imposed for the time that those rates were in effect, as long as the creditor explains that the finance charge is or may be determined by (1) multiplying each of the average balances by the number of days in the billing cycle (or if the daily rate varied during the cycle, by multiplying by the number of days the applicable rate was in effect), (2) multiplying each of the results by the applicable daily periodic rate, and (3) adding these products together.   6.  Explanation of balance computation method.  See the commentary to § 226.6(a)(3).   7.  Information to compute balance.  In connection with disclosing the finance charge balance, the creditor need not give the consumer all of the information necessary to compute the balance if that information is not otherwise required to be disclosed. For example, if current purchases are included from the date they are posted to the account, the posting date need not be disclosed. {{4-30-98 p.6905}}   8.  Nondeduction of credits.  The creditor need not specifically identify the total dollar amount of credits not deducted in computing the finance charge balance. Disclosure of the amount of credits not deducted is accomplished by listing the credits (§ 226.7(c)) and indicating which credits will not be deducted in determining the balance (for example, "credits after the 15th of the month are not deducted in computing the finance charge.")   9.  Use of one balance computation method explanation when multiple balances disclosed.   Sometimes the creditor will disclose more than one balance to which a periodic rate was applied even though each balance was computed using the same balance computation method. For example, if a plan involves purchases and cash advances that are subject to different rates, more than one balance must be disclosed even though the same computation method is used for determining the balance for each feature. In these cases, one explanation of the balance computation method is sufficient. Sometimes the creditor separately discloses the portions of the balance that are subject to different rates because different portions of the balance fall within two or more balance ranges, even when a combined balance disclosure would be permitted under comment 7(e)-2. In these cases, one explanation of the balance computation method is also sufficient (assuming, of course, that all portions of the balance were computed using the same method).   10.  Deferred payment transactions.  See comment 7--3(ii).   7(f)  Amount of finance charge.   1.  Total.  A total finance charge amount for the plan is not required.   2.  Itemization--types of finance charges.   Each type of finance charge (such as periodic rates, transaction charges, and minimum charges) imposed during the cycle must be separately itemized; for example, disclosure of only a combined finance charge attributable to both a minimum charge and transaction charges would not be permissible. Finance charges of the same type may be disclosed, however, individually or as a total. For example, five transaction charges of $1 may be listed separately or as $5.   3.  Itemization--different periodic rates.   Whether different periodic rates are applicable to different types of transactions or to different balance ranges, the creditor may give the finance charge attributable to each rate or may give a total finance charge amount. For example, if a creditor charges 1.5% per month on the first $500 of a balance and 1% per month on amounts over $500, the creditor may itemize the two components ($7.50 and $1.00) of the $8.50 charge, or may disclose $8.50.   4.  Multifeatured plans.  In a multifeatured plan, in disclosing the amount of the finance charge attributable to the application of periodic rates no total periodic rate disclosure for the entire plan need be given.   5.  Finance charges not added to account.  A finance charge that is not included in the new balance because it is payable to a third party (such as required life insurance) must still be shown on the periodic statement as a finance charge.   6.  Finance charges other than periodic rates.  See comment 6(a)(4)-1 for examples.   7.  Accrued finance charges allocated from payments.  Some plans provide that the amount of the finance charge that has accrued since the consumer's last payment is directly deducted from each new payment, rather than being separately added to each statement and therefore reflected as an increase in the obligation. In such a plan, no disclosure is required of finance charges that have accrued since the last payment.   8.  Start-up fees.  Points, loan fees, and similar finance charges relating to the opening of the account that are paid prior to the issuance of the first periodic statement need not be disclosed on the periodic statement. If, however, these charges are financed as part of the plan, including charges that are paid out of the first advance, the charges must be disclosed as part of the finance charge on the first period statement. However, they need not be factored into the annual percentage rate. (See footnote 33 in the regulation.)   9.  Deferred payment transactions.  See comment 7--3(iii).   7(g)  Annual percentage rate.   1.  Rate same as corresponding annual percentage rate.  See comment 7(d)-5.   2.  Multifeatured plans.  In a multifeatured plan, the actual annual percentage rate that reflects the finance charge imposed during the cycle may be separately stated for each {{4-30-98 p.6906}}feature, or may be described as a composite for the whole plan. If separate rates are given, a composite annual percentage rate for the entire plan is optional.   7(h)  Other charges.   1.  Identification.  In identifying any "other charges" actually imposed during the billing cycle, the type is adequately described as "late charge" or "membership fee," for example. Similarly, "closing costs" or "settlement costs," for example, may be used to describe charges imposed in connection with real estate transactions that are excluded from the finance charge under § 226.4(c)(7), if the same term (such as "closing costs") was used in the initial disclosures and if the creditor chose to itemize and individually disclose the costs included in that term. Even though the taxes and filing or notary fees excluded from the finance charge under § 226.4(e) are not required to be disclosed as "other charges" under § 226.6(b), these charges may be included in the amount shown as "closing costs" or "settlement costs" on the periodic statement, if the charges were itemized and disclosed as part of the "closing costs" or "settlement costs" on the initial disclosure statement. (See comment 6(b)--1 for examples of "other charges.")   2.  Date.  The date of imposing or debiting "other charges" need not be disclosed.   3.  Total.  Disclosure of the total amount of other charges is optional.   4.  Itemization--types of "other charges".   Each type of "other charge" (such as late payment charges, over-the-credit-limit charges, ATM fees that are not finance charges, and membership fees) imposed during the cycle must be separately itemized; for example, disclosure of only a total of "other charges" attributable to both an over-the-credit-limit charge and a late payment charge would not be permissible. "Other charges" of the same type may be disclosed, however, individually or as a total. For example, three ATM fees of $1 may be listed separately or as $3.   7(i)  Closing date of billing cycle; new balance.   1.  Credit balances.  See comment 7(a)-1.   2.  Multifeatured plans.  In a multifeatured plan, the new balance may be disclosed for each feature or for the plan as a whole. If separate new balances are disclosed, a total new balance is optional.   3.  Accrued finance charges allocated from payments.  Some plans provide that the amount of the finance charge that has accrued since the consumer's last payment is directly deducted from each new payment, rather than being separately added to each statement and therefore reflected as an increase in the obligation. In such a plan, the new balance need not reflect finance charges accrued since the last payment.   7(j)  Free-ride period.   1.  Wording.  Although the creditor is required to indicate any time period the consumer may have to pay the balance outstanding without incurring additional finance charges, no specific wording is required, so long as the language used is consistent with that used on the initial disclosure statement. For example, "To avoid additional finance charges, pay the new balance before    " would suffice.   2.  Deferred payment transactions.  See comment 7--3(iv).   7(k) Address for notice of billing errors.   1. Wording. The periodic statement must contain the address for consumers to use in asserting billing errors under § 226.13. Since all disclosures must be "clear," the statement should indicate the general purpose for the address, although no elaborate explanation or particular wording is required.   2. Telephone number. A telephone number may be included, but the address for billing error inquiries, which is the required disclosure, must be clear and conspicuous. One way to ensure that the address is clear and conspicuous is to include a precautionary instruction that telephoning will not preserve the consumer's billing error rights. Both of the billing rights statements in appendix G contain such a precautionary instruction, so that a creditor could, by including either of these statements with each periodic statement, ensure that the required address is provided in a clear and conspicuous manner. References   Statute: Section 127(b). {{4-30-98 p.6906.01}}   Previous regulation: § 226.7(b)(1) and interpretation §§ 226.701, 226.703, 226.706, and 226.707.   Other sections: §§ 226.4 through 226.6, 226.8, 226.14, and appendix G.   1981 changes: Under § 226.7, required terminology is no longer mandated except for the terms "finance charge" and "annual percentage rate." The requirement in the previous regulation about the location of disclosures has been deleted.   Under the revised § 226.7, disclosure of credits to the account no longer have to indicate the type of credit. A short disclosure for variable rate plans must be included on the periodic statement. Disclosures relating to multifeatured accounts have been clarified.   Section 226.7 now specifically requires a periodic statement disclosure of " other charges" (nonfinance charges related to the plan) that are actually imposed during the billing cycle.   Disclosures about minimum charges that might be imposed on the account and about the Comparative Index of Credit Cost have been deleted. Section 226.8--Identification of Transactions   1.  Application of identification rules.   Section 226.8 deals with the requirement (imposed by § 226.7(b)) for identification of each credit transaction made during the billing cycle. The rules for identifying transactions on periodic statements vary, depending on whether:   • The transaction involves sale credit (purchases) or nonsale credit (cash advances, for example).   • An actual copy of the credit document reflecting the transaction accompanies the statement (this is the distinction between so-called "country club" and "descriptive" billing).   • The creditor and seller are the same or related persons.   2.  Sale credit.  The term "sale credit" refers to a purchase in which the consumer uses a credit card or otherwise directly accesses an open-end line of credit (see comment 8-3 if access is by means of a check) to obtain goods or services from a merchant, whether or not the merchant is the card issuer. "Sale credit" even includes:   • Premiums for voluntary credit life insurance whether sold by the card issuer or another person.   • The purchase of funds-transfer services (such as telegrams) from an intermediary.   3.  Nonsale credit.  The term "nonsale credit" refers to any form of loan credit including, for example:   • Cash advances.   • Overdraft checking.   • The use of a "supplemental credit device" in the form of a check or draft or the use of the overdraft feature of a debit card, even if such use is in connection with a purchase of goods or services.   • Miscellaneous debits to remedy mispostings, returned checks, and similar entries.   4.  Actual copy.  An actual copy does not include a recreated document. It includes, for example, a duplicate, carbon, or photographic copy, but does not include a so-called "facsimile draft" in which the required information is typed, printed, or otherwise recreated. If a facsimile draft is used, the creditor must follow the rules that apply when a copy of the credit document is not furnished.   5.  Same or related persons.  For purposes of identifying transactions, the term "same or related persons" refers to, for example:   • Franchised or licensed sellers of a creditor's product or service.   • Sellers who assign or sell open-end sales accounts to a creditor or arrange for such credit under a plan that allows the consumer to use the credit only in transactions with that seller.   A seller is not related to the creditor merely because the seller and the creditor have an agreement authorizing the seller to honor the creditor's credit card.   6.  Transactions resulting from promotional material.  In describing transactions with third-party sellers resulting from promotional material mailed by the creditor, creditors may use the rules either for "related" or for "non-related" sellers and creditors. {{4-30-98 p.6906.02}}   7.  Credit insurance offered through the creditor.  When credit insurance that is not part of the finance charge (for example, voluntary credit life insurance) is offered to the consumer through the creditor, but is actually provided by another company, the creditor has the option of identifying the premiums in one of two ways on the periodic statement. The creditor may describe the premiums using either the rule in section 226.8(a)(2) for "related" sellers and creditors, or the rule in section 226.8(a)(3) for "non-related" sellers and creditors. This means, therefore, that the creditor may identify the insurance either by providing, under section 226.8(a)(2), a brief identification of the services provided (for example, "credit life insurance"), or by disclosing, under section 226.8(a)(3), the name and address of the company providing the insurance (for example, ABC Insurance Company, New York, New York). In either event, the creditor would, of course, also provide the amount and the date of the transaction.   8.  Transactions involving creditors and sellers with corporate connections.  In a credit card plan established for use primarily with sellers that have no corporate connection with the creditor, the creditor may describe all transactions under the plan by using the rules in § 226.8(a)(3)--creditor and seller not same or related persons--including transactions involving a seller that has a corporate connection with the creditor. In other credit card plans, the creditor may describe transactions involving a seller that has a corporate connection with the creditor, such as subsidiary-parent, using the rules in § 226.8(a)(3) where it is unlikely that the consumer would know of the corporate connection between the creditor and the seller--for example, where the names of the creditor and the seller are not similar, and the periodic statement is issued in the name of the creditor only.   8(a) Sale credit.   1.  Date--disclosure of only one date.  If only the required date is disclosed for a transaction, the creditor need not identify it as the "transaction date." If the creditor discloses more than one date (for example, the transaction date and the posting date), the creditor must identify each.   2.  Date--disclosure of month and day only.   The month and day are sufficient disclosure of the date on which the transaction took place, unless the posting of the transaction is delayed so long that the year is needed for a clear disclosure to the consumer.   3.  When transaction takes place.  If the consumer conducts the transaction in person, the date of the transaction is the calendar date on which the consumer made the purchase or order, or secured the advance. For transactions billed to the account on an ongoing basis (other than installments to pay a precomputed amount), the date of the transaction is the date on which the amount is debited to the account. This might include, for example, monthly insurance premiums. For mail or telephone orders, a creditor may disclose as the transaction date either the invoice date, the debiting date, or the date the order was placed by telephone. {{4-29-83 p.6907}}   4.  Transactions not billed in full.  If sale transactions are not billed in full on any single statement, but are billed periodically in precomputed installments, the first periodic statement reflecting the transaction must show either the full amount of the transaction together with the date the transaction actually took place; or the amount of the first installment that was debited to the account together with the date of the transaction or the date on which the first installment was debited to the account. In any event, subsequent periodic statements should reflect each installment due, together with either any other identifying information required by § 226.8(a) (such as the seller's name and address in a three-party situation) or other appropriate identifying information relating the transaction to the first billing. The debiting date for the particular installment, or the date the transaction took place, may be used as the date of the transaction on these subsequent statements.   8(a)(1) Copy of credit document provided.   1.  Format.  The information required by § 226.8(a)(1) may appear either on the copy of the credit document reflecting the transaction or on the periodic statement.   8(a)(2) Copy of credit document not provided--creditor and seller same or related person(s).   1.  Property identification--sufficiency of description.  The "brief identification" provision in § 226.8(a)(2) requires a designation that will enable the consumer to reconcile the periodic statement with the consumer's own records. In determining the sufficiency of the description, the following rules apply:   • While item-by-item descriptions are not necessary, reasonable precision is required. For example, "merchandise," "miscellaneous," "second-hand goods," or "promotional items" would not suffice.   • A reference to a department in a sales establishment that accurately conveys the identification of the types of property or services available in the department is sufficient--for example, "jewelry," "sporting goods."   2.  Property identification--number or symbol.  The "brief identification" may be made by disclosing on the periodic statement a number or symbol that is related to an identification list printed elsewhere on the statement.   3.  Property identification--additional document.  In making the "brief identification" required by § 226.8(a)(2), the creditor may identify the property by describing the transaction on a document accompanying the periodic statement (for example, on a facsimile draft). (See also footnote 17.)   4.  Small creditors.  Under footnote 18, which provides a further identification alternative to a creditor with fewer than 15,000 accounts, the creditor need count only its own accounts and not others serviced by the same data processor or other shared-service provider.   5.  Date of transaction--foreign transactions.  In a foreign transaction, the debiting date may be considered the transaction date.   8(a)(3) Copy of credit document not provided--creditor and seller not same or related person(s).   1.  Seller's name.  The requirement contemplates that the seller's name will appear on the periodic statement in essentially the same form as it appears on transaction documents provided to the consumer at the time of the sale. The seller's name may also be disclosed as, for example:   • A more complete spelling of the name that was alphabetically abbreviated on the receipt or other credit document.   • An alphabetical abbreviation of the name on the periodic statement even if the name appears in a more complete spelling on the receipt or other credit document. Terms that merely indicate the form of a business entity, such as "Inc.," "Co.," or "Ltd.," may always be omitted.   2.  Location of transaction.  The disclosure of the location where the transaction took place generally requires an indication of both the city, and the state or foreign country. If the seller has multiple stores or branches within that city, the creditor need not identify the specific branch at which the sale occurred. {{4-29-83 p.6908}}   3.  No fixed location.  When no meaningful address is available because the consumer did not make the purchase at any fixed location of the seller, the creditor:   •  May omit the address.   •  May provide some other identifying designation, such as "aboard plane," "ABC Airways Flight," "customer's home," "telephone order," or "mail order."   4.  Date of transaction--foreign transactions.  See comment 8(a)(2)-5.   8(b) Nonsale credit.   1.  Date of transaction.  If only one of the required dates is disclosed for a transaction, the creditor need not identify it. If the creditor discloses more than one date (for example, transaction date and debiting date), the creditor must identify each.   2.  Amount of transaction.  If credit is extended under an overdraft checking account plan or by means of a debit card with an overdraft feature, the amount to be disclosed is that of the credit extension, not the face amount of the check or the total amount of the debit/credit transaction.   3.  Amount--disclosure on cumulative basis.   If credit is extended under an overdraft checking account plan or by means of a debit card with an overdraft feature, the creditor may disclose the amount of the credit extensions on a cumulative daily basis, rather than the amount attributable to each check or each use of the debit/credit card.   4.  Identification of transaction type.  The creditor may identify a transaction by describing the type of advance it represents, such as cash advance, loan, overdraft loan, or any readily understandable trade name for the credit program.   References   Statute:  § 127(b)(2).   Previous regulation:  § 226.7(k).   Other sections:  §§ 226.7.   1981 changes:  Section 226.8 has been streamlined and reorganized to facilitate its use. Technical detail has been deleted from the regulation for inclusion in the commentary. The regulation implements the amended § 127(b)(2) of the act by providing for protection from civil liability under certain circumstances when required information is not provided and by reducing disclosure responsibilities for certain small creditors. For descriptive billing of nonsale transactions, the regulation now permits the use of the debiting date in all cases. [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