California Financing Law: consumer loans: charges.

(1) The California Financing Law (CFL) provides for the licensure and regulation of finance lenders and brokers by the Commissioner of Business Oversight. The CFL prohibits anyone from engaging in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license. A willful violation of the CFL is a crime, except as specified. Under existing law, a licensee who lends any sum of money is authorized to contract for and receive charges at a maximum rate that does not exceed specified sums on the unpaid principal balance per month, ranging from 2 12% to 1%, based on the consumer loan amount, as specified. This provision, however, does not apply to any loan of a bona fide principal amount of $2,500 or more, as determined in accordance with a provision governing regulatory ceilings and evasion of the CFL. The CFL also authorizes a licensee, as an alternative to the above-described rate charges for consumer loan amounts, to instead contract for and receive charges at the greater of a rate not exceeding 1.6% per month on the unpaid principal balance or a rate not exceeding 56 of 1% per month, plus a specified percentage per month, as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, on advances to member banks under federal law, or if there is no single determinable rate, the closest counterpart of this rate. Under existing law, these provisions do not apply to a loan of a bona fide principal amount of $2,500 or more, as specified. The CFL authorizes a licensee to contract for and receive an administrative fee of a specified amount that varies with the bona fide principal amount of the loan, including authorizing a licensee to receive an administrative fee of $75 with respect to a loan of a bona fide principal amount in excess of $2,500. This bill would authorize a licensee, with respect to a loan of a bona fide principal amount of $2,500 or more but less than $5,000, to contract for or receive no more than moneys paid for specified insurance and for charges, inclusive of an administrative fee that does not exceed $75, which in the aggregate amount exceed an annual simple interest rate of 36%. The bill would also authorize a licensee, as an alternative to these provisions, to contract for or receive no more than moneys paid for an administrative fee that does not exceed $90 and for charges, which in the aggregate amount do not exceed an annual simple interest rate of 36% or the sum of 30.75% plus the United States Prime Rate. (2) Existing law prohibits licensees subject to the CFL from entering into a contract for a consumer loan that provides for a scheduled repayment of principal over more than the maximum terms set forth in relation to the respective size of the loan. Among other things, this provision prohibits a loan of $3,000 but less than $5,000 from exceeding a maximum term of 60 months and 15 days. This bill would increase the maximum principal loan amount under the above schedule to $10,000. The bill would also prohibit a licensee from entering into a contract for a consumer loan that is in excess of $2,500 but less than $10,000 that provides for a scheduled repayment of principal that is less than 12 months. By expanding the application of the CFL to cover more loans, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (3) The CFL requires a statement showing in clear and distinct terms specified information relating to the loan to be delivered to the buyer when it is made. This bill would also require each licensee, prior to disbursement of loan proceeds in connection with certain loans exceeding $2,500 but less than $10,000, to offer a free credit education program or seminar to each borrower in accordance with certain conditions. (4) The CFL requires a licensed finance lender to permit payment to be made in advance in any amount on any contract of any loan at any time and authorizes the licensee to apply that payment first to any agreed prepayment penalty. This bill would prohibit a licensee from charging, imposing, or receiving any penalty for the prepayment of a loan, except as specified, and would make conforming changes to that effect. The bill would also make certain moneys paid to, and commissions and benefits received by, a licensee in connection with a loan that a buyer separately authorized as optional subject to adjustment and rebate if a loan contract is paid in full, as prescribed. (5) The CFL defines charges for its purposes to include aggregate interest, fees, bonuses, commissions, brokerage, discounts, expenses, and other forms of costs charged, contracted for, or received by a licensee or any other person in connection with the investigating, arranging, negotiating, procuring, guaranteeing, making, servicing, collecting, and enforcing of a loan or forbearance of money, credit, goods, or things in action, or any other service rendered. Existing law also specifies that charges do not include, among other things, fees paid to a licensee for the privilege of participating in an open-end-credit program, which fees are to cover administrative costs and are imposed upon executing the open-end loan agreement and on annual renewal dates or anniversary dates. This bill would delete the above exception for fees paid to a licensee for the privilege of participating in an open-end credit program, as specified. (6) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.