TITLE 12 - BANKS AND BANKING

CHAPTER II - FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

SUBCHAPTER A - BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

PART 226 - TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z)

subpart b - OPEN - END CREDIT

226.5 - General disclosure requirements.

  (a) Form of disclosures. (1) The creditor shall make the disclosures required by this subpart clearly and conspicuously in writing, 7 in a form that the consumer may keep. 8 7 The disclosure required by 226.9(d) when a finance charge is imposed at the time of a transaction need not be written.

8 The disclosures required under 226.5a for credit and charge card applications and solicitations, the home equity disclosures required under 226.5b(d), the alternative summary billing rights statement provided for in 226.9(a)(2), the credit and charge card renewal disclosures required under 226.9(e), and the disclosures made under 226.10(b) about payment requirements need not be in a form that the consumer can keep.

  (2) The terms finance charge and annual percentage rate, when required to be disclosed with a corresponding amount or percentage rate, shall be more conspicuous than any other required disclosure. 9 9 The terms need not be more conspicuous when used under 226.5a generally for credit and charge card applications and solicitations under 226.7(d) on periodic statements, under 226.9(e) in credit and charge card renewal disclosures, and under 226.16 in advertisements.

(But see special rule for annual percentage rate for purchases, 226.5a(b)(1).) (3) Certain disclosures required under 226.5a for credit and charge card applications and solicitations must be provided in a tabular format or in a prominent location in accordance with the requirements of that section.

  (4) For rules governing the form of disclosures for home equity plans, see 226.5b(a).

  (5) Electronic communication. For rules governing the electronic delivery of disclosures, including the definition of electronic communication, see 226.36.

  (b) Time of disclosures(1) Initial disclosures. The creditor shall furnish the initial disclosure statement required by 226.6 before the first transaction is made under the plan.

  (2) Periodic statements. (i) The creditor shall mail or deliver a periodic statement as required by 226.7 for each billing cycle at the end of which an account has a debit or credit balance of more than $1 or on which a finance charge has been imposed. A periodic statement need not be sent for an account if the creditor deems it uncollectible, or if delinquency collection proceedings have been instituted, or if furnishing the statement would violate Federal law.

  (ii) The creditor shall mail or deliver the periodic statement at least 14 days prior to any date or the end of any time period required to be disclosed under 226.7(j) in order for the consumer to avoid an additional finance or other charge. 10 A creditor that fails to meet this requirement shall not collect any finance or other charge imposed as a result of such failure.

10 This timing requirement does not apply if the creditor is unable to meet the requirement because of an act of God, war, civil disorder, natural disaster, or strike.

  (3) Credit and charge card application and solicitation disclosures. The card issuer shall furnish the disclosures for credit and charge card applications and solicitations in accordance with the timing requirements of 226.5a.

  (4) Home equity plans. Disclosures for home equity plans shall be made in accordance with the timing requirements of 226.5b(b).

  (c) Basis of disclosures and use of estimates. Disclosures shall reflect the terms of the legal obligation between the parties. If any information necessary for accurate disclosure is unknown to the creditor, it shall make the disclosure based on the best information reasonably available and shall state clearly that the disclosure is an estimate.

  (d) Multiple creditors; multiple consumers. If the credit plan involves more than one creditor, only one set of disclosures shall be given, and the creditors shall agree among themselves which creditor must comply with the requirements that this regulation imposes on any or all of them. If there is more than one consumer, the disclosures may be made to any consumer who is primarily liable on the account. If the right of rescission under 226.15 is applicable, however, the disclosures required by 226.6 and 226.15(b) shall be made to each consumer having the right to rescind.

  (e) Effect of subsequent events. If a disclosure becomes inaccurate because of an event that occurs after the creditor mails or delivers the disclosures, the resulting inaccuracy is not a violation of this regulation, although new disclosures may be required under 226.9(c).

[Reg. Z, 46 FR 20892, Apr. 7, 1981, as amended at 54 FR 13865, Apr. 6, 1989; 54 FR 24686, June 9, 1989; 65 FR 58908, Oct. 3, 2000; 66 FR 17338, Mar. 30, 2001]