[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 12, Volume 3]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 12CFR226.16]



[Page 296-297]

 

                       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\

---------------------------------------------------------------------------



    \36d\ The disclosures given in accordance with Sec. 226.5a do not 

constitute advertising terms for purposes of the requirements of this 

section.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------



    (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 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



[[Page 297]]



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\

---------------------------------------------------------------------------



    \36e\ See footnote 10b.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------



    (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]