[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: 12CFR226.18]



[Page 299-301]

 

                       TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING

 

                   CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

 

PART 226_TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z)--Table of Contents

 

                       Subpart C_Closed-End Credit

 

Sec. 226.18  Content of disclosures.



    For each transaction, the creditor shall disclose the following 

information as applicable:

    (a) Creditor. The identity of the creditor making the disclosures.

    (b) Amount financed. The amount financed, using that term, and a 

brief description such as the amount of credit provided to you or on 

your behalf. The amount financed is calculated by:

    (1) Determining the principal loan amount or the cash price 

(subtracting any downpayment);

    (2) Adding any other amounts that are financed by the creditor and 

are not part of the finance charge; and

    (3) Subtracting any prepaid finance charge.

    (c) Itemization of amount financed. (1) A separate written 

itemization of the amount financed, including:\40\

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    \40\ Good faith estimates of settlement costs provided for 

transactions subject to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (12 

U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) may be substituted for the disclosures required by 

paragraph (c) of this section.

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    (i) The amount of any proceeds distributed directly to the consumer.

    (ii) The amount credited to the consumer's account with the 

creditor.

    (iii) Any amounts paid to other persons by the creditor on the 

consumer's behalf. The creditor shall identify those persons.\41\

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    \41\ The following payees may be described using generic or other 

general terms and need not be further identified: public officials or 

government agencies, credit reporting agencies, appraisers, and 

insurance companies.

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    (iv) The prepaid finance charge.

    (2) The creditor need not comply with paragraph (c)(1) of this 

section if the creditor provides a statement that the consumer has the 

right to receive a written itemization of the amount financed, together 

with a space for the consumer to indicate whether it is desired, and the 

consumer does not request it.

    (d) Finance charge. The finance charge, using that term, and a brief 

description such as ``the dollar amount the credit will cost you.''

    (1) Mortgage loans. In a transaction secured by real property or a 

dwelling, the disclosed finance charge and other disclosures affected by 

the disclosed finance charge (including the amount financed and the 

annual percentage rate) shall be treated as accurate if the amount 

disclosed as the finance charge:

    (i) Is understated by no more than $100; or

    (ii) Is greater than the amount required to be disclosed.



[[Page 300]]



    (2) Other credit. In any other transaction, the amount disclosed as 

the finance charge shall be treated as accurate if, in a transaction 

involving an amount financed of $1,000 or less, it is not more than $5 

above or below the amount required to be disclosed; or, in a transaction 

involving an amount financed of more than $1,000, it is not more than 

$10 above or below the amount required to be disclosed.

    (e) Annual percentage rate. The annual percentage rate, using that 

term, and a brief description such as ``the cost of your credit as a 

yearly rate.'' \42\

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    \42\ For any transaction involving a finance charge of $5 or less on 

an amount financed of $75 or less, or a finance charge of $7.50 or less 

on an amount financed of more than $75, the creditor need not disclose 

the annual percentage rate.

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    (f) Variable rate. (1) If the annual percentage rate may increase 

after consummation in a transaction not secured by the consumer's 

principal dwelling or in a transaction secured by the consumer's 

principal dwelling with a term of one year or less, the following 

disclosures:\43\

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    \43\ Information provided in accordance with Sec. Sec. 226.18(f)(2) 

and 226.19(b) may be substituted for the disclosures required by 

paragraph (f)(1) of this section.

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    (i) The circumstances under which the rate may increase.

    (ii) Any limitations on the increase.

    (iii) The effect of an increase.

    (iv) An example of the payment terms that would result from an 

increase.

    (2) If the annual percentage rate may increase after consummation in 

a transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling with a term 

greater than one year, the following disclosures:

    (i) The fact that the transaction contains a variable-rate feature.

    (ii) A statement that variable-rate disclosures have been provided 

earlier.

    (g) Payment schedule. The number, amounts, and timing of payments 

scheduled to repay the obligation.

    (1) In a demand obligation with no alternate maturity date, the 

creditor may comply with this paragraph by disclosing the due dates or 

payment periods of any scheduled interest payments for the first year.

    (2) In a transaction in which a series of payments varies because a 

finance charge is applied to the unpaid principal balance, the creditor 

may comply with this paragraph by disclosing the following information:

    (i) The dollar amounts of the largest and smallest payments in the 

series.

    (ii) A reference to the variations in the other payments in the 

series.

    (h) Total of payments. The total of payments, using that term, and a 

descriptive explanation such as ``the amount you will have paid when you 

have made all scheduled payments.'' \44\

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    \44\ In any transaction involving a single payment, the creditor 

need not disclose the total of payments.

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    (i) Demand feature. If the obligation has a demand feature, that 

fact shall be disclosed. When the disclosures are based on an assumed 

maturity of 1 year as provided in Sec. 226.17(c)(5), that fact shall 

also be disclosed.

    (j) Total sale price. In a credit sale, the total sale price, using 

that term, and a descriptive explanation (including the amount of any 

downpayment) such as ``the total price of your purchase on credit, 

including your downpayment of $----.'' The total sale price is the sum 

of the cash price, the items described in paragraph (b)(2), and the 

finance charge disclosed under paragraph (d) of this section.

    (k) Prepayment. (1) When an obligation includes a finance charge 

computed from time to time by application of a rate to the unpaid 

principal balance, a statement indicating whether or not a penalty may 

be imposed if the obligation is prepaid in full.

    (2) When an obligation includes a finance charge other than the 

finance charge described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section, a 

statement indicating whether or not the consumer is entitled to a rebate 

of any finance charge if the obligation is prepaid in full.

    (l) Late payment. Any dollar or percentage charge that may be 

imposed before maturity due to a late payment, other than a deferral or 

extension charge.

    (m) Security interest. The fact that the creditor has or will 

acquire a security interest in the property purchased as



[[Page 301]]



part of the transaction, or in other property identified by item or 

type.

    (n) Insurance and debt cancellation. The items required by Sec. 

226.4(d) in order to exclude certain insurance premiums and debt 

cancellation fees from the finance charge.

    (o) Certain security interest charges. The disclosures required by 

Sec. 226.4(e) in order to exclude from the finance charge certain fees 

prescribed by law or certain premiums for insurance in lieu of 

perfecting a security interest.

    (p) Contract reference. A statement that the consumer should refer 

to the appropriate contract document for information about nonpayment, 

default, the right to accelerate the maturity of the obligation, and 

prepayment rebates and penalties. At the creditor's option, the 

statement may also include a reference to the contract for further 

information about security interests and, in a residential mortgage 

transaction, about the creditor's policy regarding assumption of the 

obligation.

    (q) Assumption policy. In a residential mortgage transaction, a 

statement whether or not a subsequent purchaser of the dwelling from the 

consumer may be permitted to assume the remaining obligation on its 

original terms.

    (r) Required deposit. If the creditor requires the consumer to 

maintain a deposit as a condition of the specific transaction, a 

statement that the annual percentage rate does not reflect the effect of 

the required deposit.\45\

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    \45\ A required deposit need not include, for example: (1) An escrow 

account for items such as taxes, insurance or repairs; (2) a deposit 

that earns not less than 5 percent per year; or (3) payments under a 

Morris Plan.



[46 FR 20892, Apr. 7, 1981; 46 FR 29246, June 1, 1981, as amended at 52 

FR 48670, Dec. 24, 1987; 61 FR 49246, Sept. 19, 1996]