[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 12, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 12CFR226.16]

[Page 279-280]
 
                       TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING
 
                   CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
 
PART 226--TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z)--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart B--Open-End Credit
 
Sec. 226.16  Advertising.

    (a) Actually available terms. If an advertisement for credit states 
specific credit terms, it shall state only those terms that actually are 
or will be arranged or offered by the creditor.
    (b) Advertisement of terms that require additional disclosures. If 
any of the terms required to be disclosed under Sec. 226.6 is set forth 
in an advertisement, the advertisement shall also clearly and 
conspicuously set forth the following:\36d\
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    \36d\ The disclosures given in accordance with Sec. 226.5a do not 
constitute advertising terms for purposes of the requirements of this 
section.
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    (1) Any minimum, fixed, transaction, activity or similar charge that 
could be imposed.
    (2) Any periodic rate that may be applied expressed as an annual 
percentage rate as determined under Sec. 226.14(b). If the plan provides 
for a variable periodic rate, that fact shall be disclosed.
    (3) Any membership or participation fee that could be imposed.
    (c) Catalogs or other multiple-page advertisements; electronic 
advertisements. (1) If a catalog or other multiple-page advertisement, 
or an advertisement using electronic communication, gives information in 
a table or schedule in sufficient detail to permit determination of the 
disclosures required by paragraph (b) of this section, it shall be 
considered a single advertisement if:
    (i) The table or schedule is clearly and conspicuously set forth; 
and
    (ii) Any statement of terms set forth in Sec. 226.6 appearing 
anywhere else in the catalog or advertisement clearly refers to the page 
or location where the table or schedule begins.
    (2) A catalog or other multiple-page advertisement or an 
advertisement using electronic communication complies with this 
paragraph if the table or schedule of terms includes all appropriate 
disclosures for a representative scale of amounts up to the level of the 
more commonly sold higher-priced property or services offered.
    (d) Additional requirements for home equity plans--(1) Advertisement 
of terms that require additional disclosures. If any of the terms 
required to be disclosed under Sec. 226.6(a) or (b) or the payment terms 
of the plan are set forth, affirmatively or negatively, in an 
advertisement for a home equity plan subject to

[[Page 280]]

the requirements of Sec. 226.5b, the advertisement also shall clearly 
and conspicuously set forth the following:
    (i) Any loan fee that is a percentage of the credit limit under the 
plan and an estimate of any other fees imposed for opening the plan, 
stated as a single dollar amount or a reasonable range.
    (ii) Any periodic rate used to compute the finance charge, expressed 
as an annual percentage rate as determined under section Sec. 226.14(b).
    (iii) The maximum annual percentage rate that may be imposed in a 
variable-rate plan.
    (2) Discounted and premium rates. If an advertisement states an 
initial annual percentage rate that is not based on the index and margin 
used to make later rate adjustments in a variable-rate plan, the 
advertisement also shall state the period of time such rate will be in 
effect, and, with equal prominence to the initial rate, a reasonably 
current annual percentage rate that would have been in effect using the 
index and margin.
    (3) Balloon payment. If an advertisement contains a statement about 
any minimum periodic payment, the advertisement also shall state, if 
applicable, that a balloon payment may result.\36e\
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    \36e\ See footnote 10b.
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    (4) Tax implications. An advertisement that states that any interest 
expense incurred under the home equity plan is or may be tax deductible 
may not be misleading in this regard.
    (5) Misleading terms. An advertisement may not refer to a home 
equity plan as ``free money'' or contain a similarly misleading term.

[Reg. Z, 46 FR 20892, Apr. 7, 1981, as amended at 54 FR 13867, Apr. 6, 
1989; 54 FR 24688, June 9, 1989; 54 FR 28665, July 7, 1989; 58 FR 40583, 
July 29, 1993; 59 FR 40204, Aug. 5, 1994; 59 FR 63715, Dec. 9, 1994; 66 
FR 17338, Mar. 30, 2001]