Is there a law that limits credit card interest rates for servicemembers? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

Is there a law that limits credit card interest rates for servicemembers? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

The Military Lending Act caps the amount of interest that active duty servicemembers and covered dependents can be charged for consumer credit, in most cases, at 36%.

Servicemembers on active military status are entitled to a number of protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and one important one is a 6 percent rate on credit card debt and other loans.

The interest rate includes interest and other charges or fees applied to the loan. During periods of qualifying active duty military service, the interest rate on the eligible loan will not exceed 6%. If the interest rate is already below 6%, the loan will retain the lower interest rate.

There is no federally mandated maximum interest rate for credit cards. For credit cards, the CARD Act offers various protections and provides more transparency when it comes to rates.

If you took out an automobile, home, or student loan or incurred credit card debt prior to becoming a servicemember (also known as a “pre-service obligation”), or if you took out such a loan jointly with your spouse, then you are entitled to have your interest rate reduced to a maximum of 6 percent per year.

If the debt is a mortgage, the reduced rate extends for one year after active military service. The reduced interest rate applies to credit card debts, car loans, business obligations, some student loans and other debts, as well as fees, service charges and renewal fees.

SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT (SCRA)

Joint loans qualify if the active duty servicemember is one of the owners and the loan was incurred before entering active duty. During active duty, any interest charged over and above 6 percent must be forgiven.

The Military Lending Act1 (MLA), enacted in 2006 and implemented by the Department of Defense (DoD), protects active duty members of the military, their spouses, and their dependents from certain lending practices. The DoD regulation2. implementing the MLA. contains limitations on and requirements for certain.

The Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 is pitting retailers against banks. Proponents say it'll benefit merchants by lowering some of their operating costs, enabling them to reduce prices.

Your credit card company cannot increase your rate for the first 12 months after you open an account. There are some exceptions: If your card has a variable interest rate tied to an index; your rate can go up whenever the index goes up.

Who controls credit card interest rates? ›

In most cases, the law of the state where the credit card company has its headquarters generally determines the maximum interest rate the card issuer can charge.

Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT ACT requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account or changes an existing account. This federal requirement applies to all new customers and current customers.

New loans or debt: Contracts entered into during your service are not protected by the SCRA. This act applies specifically to loans taken out prior to active service.

You can request an interest rate reduction from your lender at any time while you are serving on active duty and up to 180 days after release from active duty. A lender can't revoke your loan or credit account, change the terms of your credit, or refuse to grant you credit just because you exercised your SCRA rights.

Reservists or National Guard personnel not in an active-duty status are not covered under the SCRA. Also, the statute does not protect retired personnel. Servicemembers who may fall under the SCRA's protections, may lose those shields due to the servicemember's own misconduct.

The SCRA covers all active duty service members, reservists, and members of the National Guard while on active duty.