State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Illinois > Chapter815 > 2322

    (815 ILCS 205/0.01) (from Ch. 17, par. 6400)
    Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Interest Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

    (815 ILCS 205/1) (from Ch. 17, par. 6401)
    Sec. 1. The rate of interest upon the loan or forbearance of any money, goods or thing in action, shall be five dollars ($5) upon one hundred dollars ($100) for one year, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
(Source: Laws 1891, p. 149.)

    (815 ILCS 205/2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6402)
    Sec. 2. Creditors shall be allowed to receive at the rate of five (5) per centum per annum for all moneys after they become due on any bond, bill, promissory note, or other instrument of writing; on money lent or advanced for the use of another; on money due on the settlement of account from the day of liquidating accounts between the parties and ascertaining the balance; on money received to the use of another and retained without the owner's knowledge; and on money withheld by an unreasonable and vexatious delay of payment. In the absence of an agreement between the creditor and debtor governing interest charges, upon 30 days' written notice to the debtor, an assignee or agent of the creditor may charge and collect interest as provided in this Section on behalf of a creditor.
(Source: P.A. 90‑417, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4)(from Ch. 17, par. 6404)
    Sec. 4. General interest rate.
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.05, in all written contracts it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that 9% per annum, or any less sum of interest, shall be taken and paid upon every $100 of money loaned or in any manner due and owing from any person to any other person or corporation in this state, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
    The maximum rate of interest that may lawfully be contracted for is determined by the law applicable thereto at the time the contract is made. Any provision in any contract, whether made before or after July 1, 1969, which provides for or purports to authorize, contingent upon a change in the Illinois law after the contract is made, any rate of interest greater than the maximum lawful rate at the time the contract is made, is void.
    It is lawful for a state bank or a branch of an out‑of‑state bank, as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Banking Act, to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate or rates agreed upon by the bank or branch and the borrower. It is lawful for a savings bank chartered under the Savings Bank Act or a savings association chartered under the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to receive or contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate agreed upon by the savings bank or savings association and the borrower.
    It is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges as authorized by this Act and as authorized by the Consumer Installment Loan Act and by the "Consumer Finance Act", approved July 10, 1935, as now or hereafter amended, or by the Payday Loan Reform Act. It is lawful to charge, contract for, and receive any rate or amount of interest or compensation with respect to the following transactions:
        (a) Any loan made to a corporation;
        (b) Advances of money, repayable on demand, to an
    amount not less than $5,000, which are made upon warehouse receipts, bills of lading, certificates of stock, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange, bonds or other negotiable instruments pledged as collateral security for such repayment, if evidenced by a writing;
        (c) Any credit transaction between a merchandise
    wholesaler and retailer; any business loan to a business association or copartnership or to a person owning and operating a business as sole proprietor or to any persons owning and operating a business as joint venturers, joint tenants or tenants in common, or to any limited partnership, or to any trustee owning and operating a business or whose beneficiaries own and operate a business, except that any loan which is secured (1) by an assignment of an individual obligor's salary, wages, commissions or other compensation for services, or (2) by his household furniture or other goods used for his personal, family or household purposes shall be deemed not to be a loan within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further that a loan which otherwise qualifies as a business loan within the meaning of this subsection shall not be deemed as not so qualifying because of the inclusion, with other security consisting of business assets of any such obligor, of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence. The term "business" shall be deemed to mean a commercial, agricultural or industrial enterprise which is carried on for the purpose of investment or profit, but shall not be deemed to mean the ownership or maintenance of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence;
        (d) Any loan made in accordance with the provisions
    of Subchapter I of Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code, which is designated as "Housing Renovation and Modernization";
        (e) Any mortgage loan insured or upon which a
    commitment to insure has been issued under the provisions of the National Housing Act, Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code;
        (f) Any mortgage loan guaranteed or upon which a
    commitment to guaranty has been issued under the provisions of the Veterans' Benefits Act, Subchapter II of Chapter 37 of Title 38 of the United States Code;
        (g) Interest charged by a broker or dealer registered
    under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or registered under the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, approved July 13, 1953, as now or hereafter amended, on a debit balance in an account for a customer if such debit balance is payable at will without penalty and is secured by securities as defined in Uniform Commercial Code‑Investment Securities;
        (h) Any loan made by a participating bank as part of
    any loan guarantee program which provides for loans and for the refinancing of such loans to medical students, interns and residents and which are guaranteed by the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation;
        (i) Any loan made, guaranteed, or insured in
    accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act of 1949, Subchapter III of Chapter 8A of Title 42 of the United States Code and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Subchapters I, II, and III of Chapter 50 of Title 7 of the United States Code;
        (j) Any loan by an employee pension benefit plan, as
    defined in Section 3 (2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1002), to an individual participating in such plan, provided that such loan satisfies the prohibited transaction exemption requirements of Section 408 (b) (1) (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1108 (b) (1)) or Section 2003 (a) (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 4975 (d) (1)) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
        (k) Written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed
    providing for installment purchase of real estate;
        (1) Loans secured by a mortgage on real estate;
        (m) Loans made by a sole proprietorship, partnership,
    or corporation to an employee or to a person who has been offered employment by such sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation made for the sole purpose of transferring an employee or person who has been offered employment to another office maintained and operated by the same sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation;
        (n) Loans to or for the benefit of students made by
    an institution of higher education.
    (2) Except for loans described in subparagraph (a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (i) of subsection (1) of this Section, and except to the extent permitted by the applicable statute for loans made pursuant to Section 4a or pursuant to the Consumer Installment Loan Act:
        (a) Whenever the rate of interest exceeds 8% per
    annum on any written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, or on any loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, it shall be unlawful to provide for a prepayment penalty or other charge for prepayment.
        (b) No agreement, note or other instrument evidencing
    a loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, or written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, may provide for any change in the contract rate of interest during the term thereof. However, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lender to enter, within limitations, into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, any person, firm, corporation or other entity not otherwise prohibited from entering into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in Illinois may enter into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, within the same limitations.
    (3) In any contract or loan which is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or conveyance in the nature of a mortgage, on residential real estate, the interest which is computed, calculated, charged, or collected pursuant to such contract or loan, or pursuant to any regulation or rule promulgated pursuant to this Act, may not be computed, calculated, charged or collected for any period of time occurring after the date on which the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties, is paid in full.
    (4) For purposes of this Section, a prepayment shall mean the payment of the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties if incurred or charged, on any date before the date specified in the contract or loan agreement on which the total indebtedness shall be paid in full, or before the date on which all payments, if timely made, shall have been made. In the event of a prepayment of the indebtedness which is made on a date after the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged, or collected but before the next date on which interest on the indebtedness was to be calculated, computed, charged, or collected, the lender may calculate, charge and collect interest on the indebtedness for the period which elapsed between the date on which the prepayment is made and the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged or collected at a rate equal to 1/360 of the annual rate for each day which so elapsed, which rate shall be applied to the indebtedness outstanding as of the date of prepayment. The lender shall refund to the borrower any interest charged or collected which exceeds that which the lender may charge or collect pursuant to the preceding sentence. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1985 shall apply only to contracts or loans entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, but shall not apply to contracts or loans entered into on or after that date that are subject to Section 4a of this Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, or the Retail Installment Sales Act, or that provide for the refund of precomputed interest on prepayment in the manner provided by such Act.
    (5) For purposes of items (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section, a rate or amount of interest may be lawfully computed when applying the ratio of the annual interest rate over a year based on 360 days. The provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly are declarative of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07; 96‑1421, eff. 8‑3‑10.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.05)
    Sec. 4.05. Military personnel on active duty; limitation on interest rate.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive order of the President of the United States, an act of the Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor.
    "Obligation" means any retail installment sales contract, other contract for the purchase of goods or services, or bond, bill, note, or other instrument of writing for the payment of money arising out of a contract or other transaction for the purchase of goods or services.
    "Service member" means a member of the armed services or reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois National Guard.
    (b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of State law, but subject to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, no creditor in connection with an obligation entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, but prior to a service member's deployment on active duty, shall charge or collect from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, interest or finance charges exceeding 6% per annum during the period that the service member is deployed on active duty.
    (c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, interest or finance charges in excess of 6% per annum that otherwise would be incurred but for the prohibition in subsection (b) are forgiven.
    (d) The amount of any periodic payment due from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, under the terms of the obligation shall be reduced by the amount of the interest and finance charges forgiven under subsection (c) that is allocable to the period for which the periodic payment is made.
    (e) In order for an obligation to be subject to the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, shall provide the creditor with written notice of and a copy of the military or gubernatorial orders calling the service member to active duty and of any orders further extending the service member's period of active duty, not later than 180 days after the date of the service member's termination of or release from active duty.
    (f) Upon receipt of the written notice and a copy of the orders referred to in subsection (e), the creditor shall treat the obligation in accordance with subsection (b), effective as of the date on which the service member is deployed to active duty.
    (g) A court may grant a creditor relief from the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, if, in the opinion of the court, the ability of the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, to pay interest or finance charges with respect to the obligation at a rate in excess of 6% per annum is not materially affected by reason of the service member's deployment on active duty.
    (h) A violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    All proceeds from the collection of any civil penalty
     imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.
(Source: P.A. 94‑635, eff. 8‑22‑05; 94‑802, eff. 5‑26‑06; 95‑392, eff. 8‑23‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1)(from Ch. 17, par. 6405)
    Sec. 4.1. The term "revolving credit" means an arrangement, including by means of a credit card as defined in Section 2.03 of the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act between a lender and debtor pursuant to which it is contemplated or provided that the lender may from time to time make loans or advances to or for the account of the debtor through the means of drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments, whether or not negotiable, signed by the debtor or by any person authorized or permitted so to do on behalf of the debtor, which loans or advances are charged to an account in respect of which account the lender is to render bills or statements to the debtor at regular intervals (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "billing cycle") the amount of which bills or statements is payable by and due from the debtor on a specified date stated in such bill or statement or at the debtor's option, may be payable by the debtor in installments. A revolving credit arrangement which grants the debtor a line of credit in excess of $5,000 may include provisions granting the lender a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust to secure amounts of credit extended by the lender. Credit extended or available under a revolving credit plan operated in accordance with the Illinois Financial Services Development Act shall be deemed to be "revolving credit" as defined in this Section 4.1 but shall not be subject to Sections 4.1a, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof.
    Whenever a lender is granted a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust, the lender shall disclose the existence of such interest to the borrower in compliance with the Federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, and shall agree to pay all expenses, including recording fees and otherwise, to release any such security interest of record whenever it no longer secures any credit under a revolving credit arrangement. A lender shall not be granted a security interest in any real property or in any beneficial interest in a land trust under a revolving credit arrangement, or if any such security interest exists, such interest shall be released, if a borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance due under the revolving credit arrangement and requests in writing to reduce the line of credit below that amount for which a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust may be required by a lender. Any request by a borrower to release a security interest under a revolving credit arrangement shall be granted by the lender provided the borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance as required by this Section before the security interest of record may be released.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1a)(from Ch. 17, par. 6406)
    Sec. 4.1a. Charges for and cost of the following items paid or incurred by any lender in connection with any loan shall not be deemed to be charges for or in connection with any loan of money referred to in Section 6 of this Act, or charges by the lender as a consideration for the loan referred to in this Section:
        (a) hazard, mortgage or life insurance premiums,
     survey, credit report, title insurance, abstract and attorneys' fees, recording charges, escrow and appraisal fees, and similar charges.
        (b) in the case of construction loans, in addition
     to the matters referred to in clause (a) above, the actual cost incurred by the lender for services for making physical inspections, processing payouts, examining and reviewing contractors' and subcontractors' sworn statements and waivers of lien and the like.
        (c) in the case of any loan made pursuant to the
     provisions of the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 (Section 313 of the National Housing Act, Chapter B of Title 12 of the United States Code), in addition to the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section all charges required or allowed by the Government National Mortgage Association, whether designated as processing fees, commitment fees, loss reserve and marketing fees, discounts, origination fees or otherwise designated.
        (d) in the case of a single payment loan, made for a
     period of 6 months or less, a regulated financial institution or licensed lender may contract for and receive a maximum charge of $15 in lieu of interest. Such charge may be collected when the loan is made, but only one such charge may be contracted for, received, or collected for any such loan, including any extension or renewal thereof.
        (e) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     a charge not to exceed the rate permitted under Section 3‑806 of the Uniform Commercial Code‑Commercial Paper for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said agreement which is unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository institution.
        (f) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     for each loan installment in default for a period of not less than 10 days, a charge in an amount not in excess of 5% of such loan installment. Only one delinquency charge may be collected on any such loan installment regardless of the period during which it remains in default. Payments timely received by the lender under a written extension or deferral agreement shall not be subject to any delinquency charge.
    Notwithstanding items (k) and (l) of subsection (1) of Section 4 of this Act, the lender, in the case of any nonexempt residential mortgage loan, as defined in Section 1‑4 of the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987, shall have the right to include a prepayment penalty that extends no longer than the fixed rate period of a variable rate mortgage provided that, if a prepayment is made during the fixed rate period and not in connection with the sale or destruction of the dwelling securing the loan, the lender shall receive an amount that is no more than:
        (1) 3% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the first 12‑month period following the date the loan was made;
        (2) 2% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the second 12‑month period following the date the loan was made; or
        (3) 1% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the third 12‑month period following the date the loan was made, if the fixed rate period extends 3 years.
    This Section applies to loans made, refinanced, renewed, extended, or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
    Where there is a charge in addition to the stated rate of interest payable directly or indirectly by the borrower and imposed directly or indirectly by the lender as a consideration for the loan, or for or in connection with the loan of money, whether paid or payable by the borrower, the seller, or any other person on behalf of the borrower to the lender or to a third party, or for or in connection with the loan of money, other than as hereinabove in this Section provided, whether denominated "points," "service charge," "discount," "commission," or otherwise, and without regard to declining balances of principal which would result from any required or optional amortization of the principal of the loan, the rate of interest shall be calculated in the following manner:
    The percentage of the principal amount of the loan represented by all of such charges shall first be computed, which in the case of a loan with an interest rate in excess of 8% per annum secured by residential real estate, other than loans described in paragraphs (e) and (f) of Section 4, shall not exceed 3% of such principal amount. Said percentage shall then be divided by the number of years and fractions thereof of the period of the loan according to its stated maturity. The percentage thus obtained shall then be added to the percentage of the stated annual rate of interest.
(Source: P.A. 95‑691, eff. 6‑1‑08.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6407)
    Sec. 4.2. Revolving credit; billing statements; disclosures. On a revolving credit which complies with subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 4.2, it is lawful for any bank that has its main office or, after May 31, 1997, a branch in this State, a state or federal savings and loan association with its main office in this State, a state or federal credit union with its main office in this State, or a lender licensed under the Consumer Finance Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act or the Sales Finance Agency Act, as such Acts are now and hereafter amended, to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in any amount or at any rate agreed upon by the parties to the revolving credit arrangement. It is lawful for any other lender to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in an amount not in excess of 1 1/2% per month of either the average daily unpaid balance of the principal of the debt during the billing cycle, or of the unpaid balance of the debt on approximately the same day of the billing cycle. If a lender under a revolving credit arrangement notifies the debtor at least 30 days in advance of any lawful increase in the amount or rate of interest to be charged under the revolving credit arrangement, and the debtor, after the effective date of such notice, incurs new debt pursuant to the revolving credit arrangement, the increased interest amount or rate may be applied only to any such new debt incurred under the revolving credit arrangement. For purposes of determining the balances to which the increased interest rate applies, all payments and other credits may be deemed to be applied to the balance existing prior to the change in rate until that balance is paid in full. The face amount of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt, or similar written instruments received by the lender in connection with the revolving credit, less the amounts applicable to principal from time to time paid thereon by the debtor, are the unpaid balance of the debt upon which the interest is computed. If the billing cycle is not monthly, the maximum interest rate for the billing cycle is the percentage which bears the same relation to the monthly percentage provided for in the preceding sentence as the number of days in the billing cycle bears to 30. For the purposes of the foregoing computation, a "month" is deemed to be any time of 30 consecutive days. In addition to the interest charge provided for, it is lawful to receive, contract for or collect a charge not exceeding 25 cents for each transaction in which a loan or advance is made under the revolving credit or in lieu of this additional charge an annual fee for the privilege of receiving and using the revolving credit in an amount not exceeding $20. In addition, with respect to revolving credit secured by an interest in real estate, it is also lawful to receive, contract for or collect fees lawfully paid to any public officer or agency to record, file or release the security, and costs and disbursements actually incurred for any title insurance, title examination, abstract of title, survey, appraisal, escrow fees, and fees paid to a trustee in connection with a trust deed.
    (a) At or before the date a bill or statement is first rendered to the debtor under a revolving credit arrangement, the lender must mail or deliver to the debtor a written description of the conditions under which a charge for interest may be made and the method, including the rate, of computing these interest charges. The rate of interest must be expressed as an annual percentage rate.
    (b) If during any billing cycle any debit or credit entry is made to a debtor's revolving credit account, and if at the end of that billing cycle there is an unpaid balance owing to the lender from the debtor, the lender must give to the debtor the following information within a reasonable time after the end of the billing cycle:
        (i) the unpaid balance at the beginning of the
     billing cycle;
        (ii) the date and amount of all loans or advances
     made during the billing cycle, which information may be supplied by enclosing a copy of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments presented to the lender during the billing cycle;
        (iii) the payments by the debtor to the lender and
     any other credits to the debtor during the billing cycle;
        (iv) the amount of interest and other charges, if
     any, charged to the debtor's account during the billing cycle;
        (v) the amount which must be currently paid by the
     debtor and the date on which that amount must be paid in order to avoid delinquency;
        (vi) the total amount remaining unpaid at the end of
     the billing cycle and the right of the debtor to prepay that amount in full without penalty; and
        (vii) information required by (iv), (v) and (vi)
     must be set forth in type of equal size and equal conspicuousness.
    (c) The revolving credit arrangement may provide for the payment by the debtor and receipt by the lender of all costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the lender in legal proceedings to collect or enforce the debt in the event of delinquency by the debtor or in the event of a breach of any obligation of the debtor under the arrangement.
    (d) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement may provide credit life insurance or credit accident and health insurance, or both, with respect to the debtor and may charge the debtor therefor. Credit life insurance and credit accident and health insurance, and any charge therefor made to the debtor, shall comply with Article IX 1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, and all lawful requirements of the Director of Insurance related thereto. This insurance is in force with respect to each loan or advance made under a revolving credit arrangement as soon as the loan or advance is made. The purchase of this insurance from an agent, broker or insurer specified by the lender may not be a condition precedent to the revolving credit arrangement or to the making of any loan or advance thereunder.
    (e) Whenever interest is contracted for or received under this Section, no amount in addition to the charges authorized by this Act may be directly or indirectly charged, contracted for or received whether as interest, service charges, costs of investigations or enforcements or otherwise.
    (f) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement must compute at year end the total amount charged to the debtor's account during the year, including service charges, finance charges, late charges and any other charges authorized by this Act, and upon request must furnish such information to the debtor within 30 days after the end of the year, or if the account has been terminated during such year, may give such requested information within 30 days after such termination. The lender shall annually inform the debtor of his right to obtain such information.
    (g) A lender who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
    (h) Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lenders to enter, within limitations, into a revolving credit arrangement secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, any person, firm, corporation or other entity, not otherwise prohibited by the Congress of the United States or any federal agency from entering into revolving credit arrangements secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, may enter into such arrangements within the same limitations.
(Source: P.A. 89‑208, eff. 9‑29‑95.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6408)
    Sec. 4.2a. If a lender or creditor, within 30 days from receiving a written letter, in clear and definitive terms, signed by the debtor, including his or her name, address, and account number, sent within 60 days after mailing by the lender or creditor of the statement on which the alleged error first appears, concerning an alleged error in a revolving credit account fails to answer the specific question concerning such error in clear and definitive terms, for that 30 day period and for any further period that the lender fails to provide a clear and definitive answer, the debtor shall not be required to pay any service charge on the disputed amount.
    A lender or creditor who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 82‑169.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.3) (from Ch. 17, par. 6409)
    Sec. 4.3. Whenever interest received or contracted to be received by the lender on a revolving credit as defined in Section 4.1 hereof is lawful only under the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, no provision contained in any contract or agreement respecting a revolving credit or in any draft, item, order for the payment of money, evidence of debt or similar written instruments which is used in connection with such revolving credit shall be enforceable, which
    (i) provides that in the absence of debtor's breach or default the lender may arbitrarily and without reasonable cause accelerate the maturity of any amount or part owing thereunder;
    (ii) purports to waive any provisions of this Act; or
    (iii) provides for any amount to be added to the account each month for the privilege of having the revolving credit account provided there is no unpaid balance at that time.
(Source: P.A. 83‑944.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6410)
    Sec. 4a. Installment loan rate.
    (a) On money loaned to or in any manner owing from any person, whether secured or unsecured, except where the money loaned or in any manner owing is directly or indirectly for the purchase price of real estate or an interest therein and is secured by a lien on or retention of title to that real estate or interest therein, to an amount not more than $25,000 (excluding interest) which is evidenced by a written instrument providing for the payment thereof in 2 or more periodic installments over a period of not more than 181 months from the date of the execution of the written instrument, it is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect either:
        (i) interest in an amount equivalent to interest
     computed at a rate not exceeding 9% per year on the entire principal amount of the money loaned or in any manner owing for the period from the date of the making of the loan or the incurring of the obligation for the amount owing evidenced by the written instrument until the date of the maturity of the last installment thereof, and to add that amount to the principal, except tha

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Illinois > Chapter815 > 2322

    (815 ILCS 205/0.01) (from Ch. 17, par. 6400)
    Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Interest Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

    (815 ILCS 205/1) (from Ch. 17, par. 6401)
    Sec. 1. The rate of interest upon the loan or forbearance of any money, goods or thing in action, shall be five dollars ($5) upon one hundred dollars ($100) for one year, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
(Source: Laws 1891, p. 149.)

    (815 ILCS 205/2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6402)
    Sec. 2. Creditors shall be allowed to receive at the rate of five (5) per centum per annum for all moneys after they become due on any bond, bill, promissory note, or other instrument of writing; on money lent or advanced for the use of another; on money due on the settlement of account from the day of liquidating accounts between the parties and ascertaining the balance; on money received to the use of another and retained without the owner's knowledge; and on money withheld by an unreasonable and vexatious delay of payment. In the absence of an agreement between the creditor and debtor governing interest charges, upon 30 days' written notice to the debtor, an assignee or agent of the creditor may charge and collect interest as provided in this Section on behalf of a creditor.
(Source: P.A. 90‑417, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4)(from Ch. 17, par. 6404)
    Sec. 4. General interest rate.
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.05, in all written contracts it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that 9% per annum, or any less sum of interest, shall be taken and paid upon every $100 of money loaned or in any manner due and owing from any person to any other person or corporation in this state, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
    The maximum rate of interest that may lawfully be contracted for is determined by the law applicable thereto at the time the contract is made. Any provision in any contract, whether made before or after July 1, 1969, which provides for or purports to authorize, contingent upon a change in the Illinois law after the contract is made, any rate of interest greater than the maximum lawful rate at the time the contract is made, is void.
    It is lawful for a state bank or a branch of an out‑of‑state bank, as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Banking Act, to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate or rates agreed upon by the bank or branch and the borrower. It is lawful for a savings bank chartered under the Savings Bank Act or a savings association chartered under the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to receive or contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate agreed upon by the savings bank or savings association and the borrower.
    It is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges as authorized by this Act and as authorized by the Consumer Installment Loan Act and by the "Consumer Finance Act", approved July 10, 1935, as now or hereafter amended, or by the Payday Loan Reform Act. It is lawful to charge, contract for, and receive any rate or amount of interest or compensation with respect to the following transactions:
        (a) Any loan made to a corporation;
        (b) Advances of money, repayable on demand, to an
    amount not less than $5,000, which are made upon warehouse receipts, bills of lading, certificates of stock, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange, bonds or other negotiable instruments pledged as collateral security for such repayment, if evidenced by a writing;
        (c) Any credit transaction between a merchandise
    wholesaler and retailer; any business loan to a business association or copartnership or to a person owning and operating a business as sole proprietor or to any persons owning and operating a business as joint venturers, joint tenants or tenants in common, or to any limited partnership, or to any trustee owning and operating a business or whose beneficiaries own and operate a business, except that any loan which is secured (1) by an assignment of an individual obligor's salary, wages, commissions or other compensation for services, or (2) by his household furniture or other goods used for his personal, family or household purposes shall be deemed not to be a loan within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further that a loan which otherwise qualifies as a business loan within the meaning of this subsection shall not be deemed as not so qualifying because of the inclusion, with other security consisting of business assets of any such obligor, of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence. The term "business" shall be deemed to mean a commercial, agricultural or industrial enterprise which is carried on for the purpose of investment or profit, but shall not be deemed to mean the ownership or maintenance of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence;
        (d) Any loan made in accordance with the provisions
    of Subchapter I of Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code, which is designated as "Housing Renovation and Modernization";
        (e) Any mortgage loan insured or upon which a
    commitment to insure has been issued under the provisions of the National Housing Act, Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code;
        (f) Any mortgage loan guaranteed or upon which a
    commitment to guaranty has been issued under the provisions of the Veterans' Benefits Act, Subchapter II of Chapter 37 of Title 38 of the United States Code;
        (g) Interest charged by a broker or dealer registered
    under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or registered under the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, approved July 13, 1953, as now or hereafter amended, on a debit balance in an account for a customer if such debit balance is payable at will without penalty and is secured by securities as defined in Uniform Commercial Code‑Investment Securities;
        (h) Any loan made by a participating bank as part of
    any loan guarantee program which provides for loans and for the refinancing of such loans to medical students, interns and residents and which are guaranteed by the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation;
        (i) Any loan made, guaranteed, or insured in
    accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act of 1949, Subchapter III of Chapter 8A of Title 42 of the United States Code and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Subchapters I, II, and III of Chapter 50 of Title 7 of the United States Code;
        (j) Any loan by an employee pension benefit plan, as
    defined in Section 3 (2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1002), to an individual participating in such plan, provided that such loan satisfies the prohibited transaction exemption requirements of Section 408 (b) (1) (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1108 (b) (1)) or Section 2003 (a) (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 4975 (d) (1)) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
        (k) Written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed
    providing for installment purchase of real estate;
        (1) Loans secured by a mortgage on real estate;
        (m) Loans made by a sole proprietorship, partnership,
    or corporation to an employee or to a person who has been offered employment by such sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation made for the sole purpose of transferring an employee or person who has been offered employment to another office maintained and operated by the same sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation;
        (n) Loans to or for the benefit of students made by
    an institution of higher education.
    (2) Except for loans described in subparagraph (a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (i) of subsection (1) of this Section, and except to the extent permitted by the applicable statute for loans made pursuant to Section 4a or pursuant to the Consumer Installment Loan Act:
        (a) Whenever the rate of interest exceeds 8% per
    annum on any written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, or on any loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, it shall be unlawful to provide for a prepayment penalty or other charge for prepayment.
        (b) No agreement, note or other instrument evidencing
    a loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, or written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, may provide for any change in the contract rate of interest during the term thereof. However, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lender to enter, within limitations, into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, any person, firm, corporation or other entity not otherwise prohibited from entering into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in Illinois may enter into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, within the same limitations.
    (3) In any contract or loan which is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or conveyance in the nature of a mortgage, on residential real estate, the interest which is computed, calculated, charged, or collected pursuant to such contract or loan, or pursuant to any regulation or rule promulgated pursuant to this Act, may not be computed, calculated, charged or collected for any period of time occurring after the date on which the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties, is paid in full.
    (4) For purposes of this Section, a prepayment shall mean the payment of the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties if incurred or charged, on any date before the date specified in the contract or loan agreement on which the total indebtedness shall be paid in full, or before the date on which all payments, if timely made, shall have been made. In the event of a prepayment of the indebtedness which is made on a date after the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged, or collected but before the next date on which interest on the indebtedness was to be calculated, computed, charged, or collected, the lender may calculate, charge and collect interest on the indebtedness for the period which elapsed between the date on which the prepayment is made and the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged or collected at a rate equal to 1/360 of the annual rate for each day which so elapsed, which rate shall be applied to the indebtedness outstanding as of the date of prepayment. The lender shall refund to the borrower any interest charged or collected which exceeds that which the lender may charge or collect pursuant to the preceding sentence. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1985 shall apply only to contracts or loans entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, but shall not apply to contracts or loans entered into on or after that date that are subject to Section 4a of this Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, or the Retail Installment Sales Act, or that provide for the refund of precomputed interest on prepayment in the manner provided by such Act.
    (5) For purposes of items (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section, a rate or amount of interest may be lawfully computed when applying the ratio of the annual interest rate over a year based on 360 days. The provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly are declarative of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07; 96‑1421, eff. 8‑3‑10.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.05)
    Sec. 4.05. Military personnel on active duty; limitation on interest rate.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive order of the President of the United States, an act of the Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor.
    "Obligation" means any retail installment sales contract, other contract for the purchase of goods or services, or bond, bill, note, or other instrument of writing for the payment of money arising out of a contract or other transaction for the purchase of goods or services.
    "Service member" means a member of the armed services or reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois National Guard.
    (b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of State law, but subject to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, no creditor in connection with an obligation entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, but prior to a service member's deployment on active duty, shall charge or collect from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, interest or finance charges exceeding 6% per annum during the period that the service member is deployed on active duty.
    (c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, interest or finance charges in excess of 6% per annum that otherwise would be incurred but for the prohibition in subsection (b) are forgiven.
    (d) The amount of any periodic payment due from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, under the terms of the obligation shall be reduced by the amount of the interest and finance charges forgiven under subsection (c) that is allocable to the period for which the periodic payment is made.
    (e) In order for an obligation to be subject to the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, shall provide the creditor with written notice of and a copy of the military or gubernatorial orders calling the service member to active duty and of any orders further extending the service member's period of active duty, not later than 180 days after the date of the service member's termination of or release from active duty.
    (f) Upon receipt of the written notice and a copy of the orders referred to in subsection (e), the creditor shall treat the obligation in accordance with subsection (b), effective as of the date on which the service member is deployed to active duty.
    (g) A court may grant a creditor relief from the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, if, in the opinion of the court, the ability of the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, to pay interest or finance charges with respect to the obligation at a rate in excess of 6% per annum is not materially affected by reason of the service member's deployment on active duty.
    (h) A violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    All proceeds from the collection of any civil penalty
     imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.
(Source: P.A. 94‑635, eff. 8‑22‑05; 94‑802, eff. 5‑26‑06; 95‑392, eff. 8‑23‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1)(from Ch. 17, par. 6405)
    Sec. 4.1. The term "revolving credit" means an arrangement, including by means of a credit card as defined in Section 2.03 of the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act between a lender and debtor pursuant to which it is contemplated or provided that the lender may from time to time make loans or advances to or for the account of the debtor through the means of drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments, whether or not negotiable, signed by the debtor or by any person authorized or permitted so to do on behalf of the debtor, which loans or advances are charged to an account in respect of which account the lender is to render bills or statements to the debtor at regular intervals (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "billing cycle") the amount of which bills or statements is payable by and due from the debtor on a specified date stated in such bill or statement or at the debtor's option, may be payable by the debtor in installments. A revolving credit arrangement which grants the debtor a line of credit in excess of $5,000 may include provisions granting the lender a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust to secure amounts of credit extended by the lender. Credit extended or available under a revolving credit plan operated in accordance with the Illinois Financial Services Development Act shall be deemed to be "revolving credit" as defined in this Section 4.1 but shall not be subject to Sections 4.1a, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof.
    Whenever a lender is granted a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust, the lender shall disclose the existence of such interest to the borrower in compliance with the Federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, and shall agree to pay all expenses, including recording fees and otherwise, to release any such security interest of record whenever it no longer secures any credit under a revolving credit arrangement. A lender shall not be granted a security interest in any real property or in any beneficial interest in a land trust under a revolving credit arrangement, or if any such security interest exists, such interest shall be released, if a borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance due under the revolving credit arrangement and requests in writing to reduce the line of credit below that amount for which a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust may be required by a lender. Any request by a borrower to release a security interest under a revolving credit arrangement shall be granted by the lender provided the borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance as required by this Section before the security interest of record may be released.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1a)(from Ch. 17, par. 6406)
    Sec. 4.1a. Charges for and cost of the following items paid or incurred by any lender in connection with any loan shall not be deemed to be charges for or in connection with any loan of money referred to in Section 6 of this Act, or charges by the lender as a consideration for the loan referred to in this Section:
        (a) hazard, mortgage or life insurance premiums,
     survey, credit report, title insurance, abstract and attorneys' fees, recording charges, escrow and appraisal fees, and similar charges.
        (b) in the case of construction loans, in addition
     to the matters referred to in clause (a) above, the actual cost incurred by the lender for services for making physical inspections, processing payouts, examining and reviewing contractors' and subcontractors' sworn statements and waivers of lien and the like.
        (c) in the case of any loan made pursuant to the
     provisions of the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 (Section 313 of the National Housing Act, Chapter B of Title 12 of the United States Code), in addition to the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section all charges required or allowed by the Government National Mortgage Association, whether designated as processing fees, commitment fees, loss reserve and marketing fees, discounts, origination fees or otherwise designated.
        (d) in the case of a single payment loan, made for a
     period of 6 months or less, a regulated financial institution or licensed lender may contract for and receive a maximum charge of $15 in lieu of interest. Such charge may be collected when the loan is made, but only one such charge may be contracted for, received, or collected for any such loan, including any extension or renewal thereof.
        (e) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     a charge not to exceed the rate permitted under Section 3‑806 of the Uniform Commercial Code‑Commercial Paper for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said agreement which is unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository institution.
        (f) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     for each loan installment in default for a period of not less than 10 days, a charge in an amount not in excess of 5% of such loan installment. Only one delinquency charge may be collected on any such loan installment regardless of the period during which it remains in default. Payments timely received by the lender under a written extension or deferral agreement shall not be subject to any delinquency charge.
    Notwithstanding items (k) and (l) of subsection (1) of Section 4 of this Act, the lender, in the case of any nonexempt residential mortgage loan, as defined in Section 1‑4 of the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987, shall have the right to include a prepayment penalty that extends no longer than the fixed rate period of a variable rate mortgage provided that, if a prepayment is made during the fixed rate period and not in connection with the sale or destruction of the dwelling securing the loan, the lender shall receive an amount that is no more than:
        (1) 3% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the first 12‑month period following the date the loan was made;
        (2) 2% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the second 12‑month period following the date the loan was made; or
        (3) 1% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the third 12‑month period following the date the loan was made, if the fixed rate period extends 3 years.
    This Section applies to loans made, refinanced, renewed, extended, or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
    Where there is a charge in addition to the stated rate of interest payable directly or indirectly by the borrower and imposed directly or indirectly by the lender as a consideration for the loan, or for or in connection with the loan of money, whether paid or payable by the borrower, the seller, or any other person on behalf of the borrower to the lender or to a third party, or for or in connection with the loan of money, other than as hereinabove in this Section provided, whether denominated "points," "service charge," "discount," "commission," or otherwise, and without regard to declining balances of principal which would result from any required or optional amortization of the principal of the loan, the rate of interest shall be calculated in the following manner:
    The percentage of the principal amount of the loan represented by all of such charges shall first be computed, which in the case of a loan with an interest rate in excess of 8% per annum secured by residential real estate, other than loans described in paragraphs (e) and (f) of Section 4, shall not exceed 3% of such principal amount. Said percentage shall then be divided by the number of years and fractions thereof of the period of the loan according to its stated maturity. The percentage thus obtained shall then be added to the percentage of the stated annual rate of interest.
(Source: P.A. 95‑691, eff. 6‑1‑08.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6407)
    Sec. 4.2. Revolving credit; billing statements; disclosures. On a revolving credit which complies with subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 4.2, it is lawful for any bank that has its main office or, after May 31, 1997, a branch in this State, a state or federal savings and loan association with its main office in this State, a state or federal credit union with its main office in this State, or a lender licensed under the Consumer Finance Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act or the Sales Finance Agency Act, as such Acts are now and hereafter amended, to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in any amount or at any rate agreed upon by the parties to the revolving credit arrangement. It is lawful for any other lender to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in an amount not in excess of 1 1/2% per month of either the average daily unpaid balance of the principal of the debt during the billing cycle, or of the unpaid balance of the debt on approximately the same day of the billing cycle. If a lender under a revolving credit arrangement notifies the debtor at least 30 days in advance of any lawful increase in the amount or rate of interest to be charged under the revolving credit arrangement, and the debtor, after the effective date of such notice, incurs new debt pursuant to the revolving credit arrangement, the increased interest amount or rate may be applied only to any such new debt incurred under the revolving credit arrangement. For purposes of determining the balances to which the increased interest rate applies, all payments and other credits may be deemed to be applied to the balance existing prior to the change in rate until that balance is paid in full. The face amount of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt, or similar written instruments received by the lender in connection with the revolving credit, less the amounts applicable to principal from time to time paid thereon by the debtor, are the unpaid balance of the debt upon which the interest is computed. If the billing cycle is not monthly, the maximum interest rate for the billing cycle is the percentage which bears the same relation to the monthly percentage provided for in the preceding sentence as the number of days in the billing cycle bears to 30. For the purposes of the foregoing computation, a "month" is deemed to be any time of 30 consecutive days. In addition to the interest charge provided for, it is lawful to receive, contract for or collect a charge not exceeding 25 cents for each transaction in which a loan or advance is made under the revolving credit or in lieu of this additional charge an annual fee for the privilege of receiving and using the revolving credit in an amount not exceeding $20. In addition, with respect to revolving credit secured by an interest in real estate, it is also lawful to receive, contract for or collect fees lawfully paid to any public officer or agency to record, file or release the security, and costs and disbursements actually incurred for any title insurance, title examination, abstract of title, survey, appraisal, escrow fees, and fees paid to a trustee in connection with a trust deed.
    (a) At or before the date a bill or statement is first rendered to the debtor under a revolving credit arrangement, the lender must mail or deliver to the debtor a written description of the conditions under which a charge for interest may be made and the method, including the rate, of computing these interest charges. The rate of interest must be expressed as an annual percentage rate.
    (b) If during any billing cycle any debit or credit entry is made to a debtor's revolving credit account, and if at the end of that billing cycle there is an unpaid balance owing to the lender from the debtor, the lender must give to the debtor the following information within a reasonable time after the end of the billing cycle:
        (i) the unpaid balance at the beginning of the
     billing cycle;
        (ii) the date and amount of all loans or advances
     made during the billing cycle, which information may be supplied by enclosing a copy of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments presented to the lender during the billing cycle;
        (iii) the payments by the debtor to the lender and
     any other credits to the debtor during the billing cycle;
        (iv) the amount of interest and other charges, if
     any, charged to the debtor's account during the billing cycle;
        (v) the amount which must be currently paid by the
     debtor and the date on which that amount must be paid in order to avoid delinquency;
        (vi) the total amount remaining unpaid at the end of
     the billing cycle and the right of the debtor to prepay that amount in full without penalty; and
        (vii) information required by (iv), (v) and (vi)
     must be set forth in type of equal size and equal conspicuousness.
    (c) The revolving credit arrangement may provide for the payment by the debtor and receipt by the lender of all costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the lender in legal proceedings to collect or enforce the debt in the event of delinquency by the debtor or in the event of a breach of any obligation of the debtor under the arrangement.
    (d) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement may provide credit life insurance or credit accident and health insurance, or both, with respect to the debtor and may charge the debtor therefor. Credit life insurance and credit accident and health insurance, and any charge therefor made to the debtor, shall comply with Article IX 1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, and all lawful requirements of the Director of Insurance related thereto. This insurance is in force with respect to each loan or advance made under a revolving credit arrangement as soon as the loan or advance is made. The purchase of this insurance from an agent, broker or insurer specified by the lender may not be a condition precedent to the revolving credit arrangement or to the making of any loan or advance thereunder.
    (e) Whenever interest is contracted for or received under this Section, no amount in addition to the charges authorized by this Act may be directly or indirectly charged, contracted for or received whether as interest, service charges, costs of investigations or enforcements or otherwise.
    (f) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement must compute at year end the total amount charged to the debtor's account during the year, including service charges, finance charges, late charges and any other charges authorized by this Act, and upon request must furnish such information to the debtor within 30 days after the end of the year, or if the account has been terminated during such year, may give such requested information within 30 days after such termination. The lender shall annually inform the debtor of his right to obtain such information.
    (g) A lender who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
    (h) Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lenders to enter, within limitations, into a revolving credit arrangement secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, any person, firm, corporation or other entity, not otherwise prohibited by the Congress of the United States or any federal agency from entering into revolving credit arrangements secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, may enter into such arrangements within the same limitations.
(Source: P.A. 89‑208, eff. 9‑29‑95.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6408)
    Sec. 4.2a. If a lender or creditor, within 30 days from receiving a written letter, in clear and definitive terms, signed by the debtor, including his or her name, address, and account number, sent within 60 days after mailing by the lender or creditor of the statement on which the alleged error first appears, concerning an alleged error in a revolving credit account fails to answer the specific question concerning such error in clear and definitive terms, for that 30 day period and for any further period that the lender fails to provide a clear and definitive answer, the debtor shall not be required to pay any service charge on the disputed amount.
    A lender or creditor who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 82‑169.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.3) (from Ch. 17, par. 6409)
    Sec. 4.3. Whenever interest received or contracted to be received by the lender on a revolving credit as defined in Section 4.1 hereof is lawful only under the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, no provision contained in any contract or agreement respecting a revolving credit or in any draft, item, order for the payment of money, evidence of debt or similar written instruments which is used in connection with such revolving credit shall be enforceable, which
    (i) provides that in the absence of debtor's breach or default the lender may arbitrarily and without reasonable cause accelerate the maturity of any amount or part owing thereunder;
    (ii) purports to waive any provisions of this Act; or
    (iii) provides for any amount to be added to the account each month for the privilege of having the revolving credit account provided there is no unpaid balance at that time.
(Source: P.A. 83‑944.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6410)
    Sec. 4a. Installment loan rate.
    (a) On money loaned to or in any manner owing from any person, whether secured or unsecured, except where the money loaned or in any manner owing is directly or indirectly for the purchase price of real estate or an interest therein and is secured by a lien on or retention of title to that real estate or interest therein, to an amount not more than $25,000 (excluding interest) which is evidenced by a written instrument providing for the payment thereof in 2 or more periodic installments over a period of not more than 181 months from the date of the execution of the written instrument, it is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect either:
        (i) interest in an amount equivalent to interest
     computed at a rate not exceeding 9% per year on the entire principal amount of the money loaned or in any manner owing for the period from the date of the making of the loan or the incurring of the obligation for the amount owing evidenced by the written instrument until the date of the maturity of the last installment thereof, and to add that amount to the principal, except tha

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Illinois > Chapter815 > 2322

    (815 ILCS 205/0.01) (from Ch. 17, par. 6400)
    Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Interest Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

    (815 ILCS 205/1) (from Ch. 17, par. 6401)
    Sec. 1. The rate of interest upon the loan or forbearance of any money, goods or thing in action, shall be five dollars ($5) upon one hundred dollars ($100) for one year, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
(Source: Laws 1891, p. 149.)

    (815 ILCS 205/2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6402)
    Sec. 2. Creditors shall be allowed to receive at the rate of five (5) per centum per annum for all moneys after they become due on any bond, bill, promissory note, or other instrument of writing; on money lent or advanced for the use of another; on money due on the settlement of account from the day of liquidating accounts between the parties and ascertaining the balance; on money received to the use of another and retained without the owner's knowledge; and on money withheld by an unreasonable and vexatious delay of payment. In the absence of an agreement between the creditor and debtor governing interest charges, upon 30 days' written notice to the debtor, an assignee or agent of the creditor may charge and collect interest as provided in this Section on behalf of a creditor.
(Source: P.A. 90‑417, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4)(from Ch. 17, par. 6404)
    Sec. 4. General interest rate.
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.05, in all written contracts it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that 9% per annum, or any less sum of interest, shall be taken and paid upon every $100 of money loaned or in any manner due and owing from any person to any other person or corporation in this state, and after that rate for a greater or less sum, or for a longer or shorter time, except as herein provided.
    The maximum rate of interest that may lawfully be contracted for is determined by the law applicable thereto at the time the contract is made. Any provision in any contract, whether made before or after July 1, 1969, which provides for or purports to authorize, contingent upon a change in the Illinois law after the contract is made, any rate of interest greater than the maximum lawful rate at the time the contract is made, is void.
    It is lawful for a state bank or a branch of an out‑of‑state bank, as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Banking Act, to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate or rates agreed upon by the bank or branch and the borrower. It is lawful for a savings bank chartered under the Savings Bank Act or a savings association chartered under the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to receive or contract to receive and collect interest and charges at any rate agreed upon by the savings bank or savings association and the borrower.
    It is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect interest and charges as authorized by this Act and as authorized by the Consumer Installment Loan Act and by the "Consumer Finance Act", approved July 10, 1935, as now or hereafter amended, or by the Payday Loan Reform Act. It is lawful to charge, contract for, and receive any rate or amount of interest or compensation with respect to the following transactions:
        (a) Any loan made to a corporation;
        (b) Advances of money, repayable on demand, to an
    amount not less than $5,000, which are made upon warehouse receipts, bills of lading, certificates of stock, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange, bonds or other negotiable instruments pledged as collateral security for such repayment, if evidenced by a writing;
        (c) Any credit transaction between a merchandise
    wholesaler and retailer; any business loan to a business association or copartnership or to a person owning and operating a business as sole proprietor or to any persons owning and operating a business as joint venturers, joint tenants or tenants in common, or to any limited partnership, or to any trustee owning and operating a business or whose beneficiaries own and operate a business, except that any loan which is secured (1) by an assignment of an individual obligor's salary, wages, commissions or other compensation for services, or (2) by his household furniture or other goods used for his personal, family or household purposes shall be deemed not to be a loan within the meaning of this subsection; and provided further that a loan which otherwise qualifies as a business loan within the meaning of this subsection shall not be deemed as not so qualifying because of the inclusion, with other security consisting of business assets of any such obligor, of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence. The term "business" shall be deemed to mean a commercial, agricultural or industrial enterprise which is carried on for the purpose of investment or profit, but shall not be deemed to mean the ownership or maintenance of real estate occupied by an individual obligor solely as his residence;
        (d) Any loan made in accordance with the provisions
    of Subchapter I of Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code, which is designated as "Housing Renovation and Modernization";
        (e) Any mortgage loan insured or upon which a
    commitment to insure has been issued under the provisions of the National Housing Act, Chapter 13 of Title 12 of the United States Code;
        (f) Any mortgage loan guaranteed or upon which a
    commitment to guaranty has been issued under the provisions of the Veterans' Benefits Act, Subchapter II of Chapter 37 of Title 38 of the United States Code;
        (g) Interest charged by a broker or dealer registered
    under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or registered under the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, approved July 13, 1953, as now or hereafter amended, on a debit balance in an account for a customer if such debit balance is payable at will without penalty and is secured by securities as defined in Uniform Commercial Code‑Investment Securities;
        (h) Any loan made by a participating bank as part of
    any loan guarantee program which provides for loans and for the refinancing of such loans to medical students, interns and residents and which are guaranteed by the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation;
        (i) Any loan made, guaranteed, or insured in
    accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act of 1949, Subchapter III of Chapter 8A of Title 42 of the United States Code and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Subchapters I, II, and III of Chapter 50 of Title 7 of the United States Code;
        (j) Any loan by an employee pension benefit plan, as
    defined in Section 3 (2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1002), to an individual participating in such plan, provided that such loan satisfies the prohibited transaction exemption requirements of Section 408 (b) (1) (29 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1108 (b) (1)) or Section 2003 (a) (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 4975 (d) (1)) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
        (k) Written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed
    providing for installment purchase of real estate;
        (1) Loans secured by a mortgage on real estate;
        (m) Loans made by a sole proprietorship, partnership,
    or corporation to an employee or to a person who has been offered employment by such sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation made for the sole purpose of transferring an employee or person who has been offered employment to another office maintained and operated by the same sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation;
        (n) Loans to or for the benefit of students made by
    an institution of higher education.
    (2) Except for loans described in subparagraph (a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (i) of subsection (1) of this Section, and except to the extent permitted by the applicable statute for loans made pursuant to Section 4a or pursuant to the Consumer Installment Loan Act:
        (a) Whenever the rate of interest exceeds 8% per
    annum on any written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, or on any loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, it shall be unlawful to provide for a prepayment penalty or other charge for prepayment.
        (b) No agreement, note or other instrument evidencing
    a loan secured by a mortgage on residential real estate, or written contract, agreement or bond for deed providing for the installment purchase of residential real estate, may provide for any change in the contract rate of interest during the term thereof. However, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lender to enter, within limitations, into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, any person, firm, corporation or other entity not otherwise prohibited from entering into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in Illinois may enter into mortgage contracts or written contracts, agreements or bonds for deed in which the rate of interest may be changed during the term of the contract, within the same limitations.
    (3) In any contract or loan which is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or conveyance in the nature of a mortgage, on residential real estate, the interest which is computed, calculated, charged, or collected pursuant to such contract or loan, or pursuant to any regulation or rule promulgated pursuant to this Act, may not be computed, calculated, charged or collected for any period of time occurring after the date on which the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties, is paid in full.
    (4) For purposes of this Section, a prepayment shall mean the payment of the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties if incurred or charged, on any date before the date specified in the contract or loan agreement on which the total indebtedness shall be paid in full, or before the date on which all payments, if timely made, shall have been made. In the event of a prepayment of the indebtedness which is made on a date after the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged, or collected but before the next date on which interest on the indebtedness was to be calculated, computed, charged, or collected, the lender may calculate, charge and collect interest on the indebtedness for the period which elapsed between the date on which the prepayment is made and the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged or collected at a rate equal to 1/360 of the annual rate for each day which so elapsed, which rate shall be applied to the indebtedness outstanding as of the date of prepayment. The lender shall refund to the borrower any interest charged or collected which exceeds that which the lender may charge or collect pursuant to the preceding sentence. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1985 shall apply only to contracts or loans entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, but shall not apply to contracts or loans entered into on or after that date that are subject to Section 4a of this Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, or the Retail Installment Sales Act, or that provide for the refund of precomputed interest on prepayment in the manner provided by such Act.
    (5) For purposes of items (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section, a rate or amount of interest may be lawfully computed when applying the ratio of the annual interest rate over a year based on 360 days. The provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly are declarative of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07; 96‑1421, eff. 8‑3‑10.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.05)
    Sec. 4.05. Military personnel on active duty; limitation on interest rate.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Active duty" means active duty pursuant to an executive order of the President of the United States, an act of the Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor.
    "Obligation" means any retail installment sales contract, other contract for the purchase of goods or services, or bond, bill, note, or other instrument of writing for the payment of money arising out of a contract or other transaction for the purchase of goods or services.
    "Service member" means a member of the armed services or reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois National Guard.
    (b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of State law, but subject to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, no creditor in connection with an obligation entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, but prior to a service member's deployment on active duty, shall charge or collect from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, interest or finance charges exceeding 6% per annum during the period that the service member is deployed on active duty.
    (c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, interest or finance charges in excess of 6% per annum that otherwise would be incurred but for the prohibition in subsection (b) are forgiven.
    (d) The amount of any periodic payment due from a service member who is deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, under the terms of the obligation shall be reduced by the amount of the interest and finance charges forgiven under subsection (c) that is allocable to the period for which the periodic payment is made.
    (e) In order for an obligation to be subject to the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, shall provide the creditor with written notice of and a copy of the military or gubernatorial orders calling the service member to active duty and of any orders further extending the service member's period of active duty, not later than 180 days after the date of the service member's termination of or release from active duty.
    (f) Upon receipt of the written notice and a copy of the orders referred to in subsection (e), the creditor shall treat the obligation in accordance with subsection (b), effective as of the date on which the service member is deployed to active duty.
    (g) A court may grant a creditor relief from the interest and finance charges limitation of this Section, if, in the opinion of the court, the ability of the service member deployed on active duty, or the spouse of that service member, to pay interest or finance charges with respect to the obligation at a rate in excess of 6% per annum is not materially affected by reason of the service member's deployment on active duty.
    (h) A violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    All proceeds from the collection of any civil penalty
     imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.
(Source: P.A. 94‑635, eff. 8‑22‑05; 94‑802, eff. 5‑26‑06; 95‑392, eff. 8‑23‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1)(from Ch. 17, par. 6405)
    Sec. 4.1. The term "revolving credit" means an arrangement, including by means of a credit card as defined in Section 2.03 of the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act between a lender and debtor pursuant to which it is contemplated or provided that the lender may from time to time make loans or advances to or for the account of the debtor through the means of drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments, whether or not negotiable, signed by the debtor or by any person authorized or permitted so to do on behalf of the debtor, which loans or advances are charged to an account in respect of which account the lender is to render bills or statements to the debtor at regular intervals (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "billing cycle") the amount of which bills or statements is payable by and due from the debtor on a specified date stated in such bill or statement or at the debtor's option, may be payable by the debtor in installments. A revolving credit arrangement which grants the debtor a line of credit in excess of $5,000 may include provisions granting the lender a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust to secure amounts of credit extended by the lender. Credit extended or available under a revolving credit plan operated in accordance with the Illinois Financial Services Development Act shall be deemed to be "revolving credit" as defined in this Section 4.1 but shall not be subject to Sections 4.1a, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof.
    Whenever a lender is granted a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust, the lender shall disclose the existence of such interest to the borrower in compliance with the Federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, and shall agree to pay all expenses, including recording fees and otherwise, to release any such security interest of record whenever it no longer secures any credit under a revolving credit arrangement. A lender shall not be granted a security interest in any real property or in any beneficial interest in a land trust under a revolving credit arrangement, or if any such security interest exists, such interest shall be released, if a borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance due under the revolving credit arrangement and requests in writing to reduce the line of credit below that amount for which a security interest in real property or in a beneficial interest in a land trust may be required by a lender. Any request by a borrower to release a security interest under a revolving credit arrangement shall be granted by the lender provided the borrower renders payment of the total outstanding balance as required by this Section before the security interest of record may be released.
(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.1a)(from Ch. 17, par. 6406)
    Sec. 4.1a. Charges for and cost of the following items paid or incurred by any lender in connection with any loan shall not be deemed to be charges for or in connection with any loan of money referred to in Section 6 of this Act, or charges by the lender as a consideration for the loan referred to in this Section:
        (a) hazard, mortgage or life insurance premiums,
     survey, credit report, title insurance, abstract and attorneys' fees, recording charges, escrow and appraisal fees, and similar charges.
        (b) in the case of construction loans, in addition
     to the matters referred to in clause (a) above, the actual cost incurred by the lender for services for making physical inspections, processing payouts, examining and reviewing contractors' and subcontractors' sworn statements and waivers of lien and the like.
        (c) in the case of any loan made pursuant to the
     provisions of the Emergency Home Purchase Assistance Act of 1974 (Section 313 of the National Housing Act, Chapter B of Title 12 of the United States Code), in addition to the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section all charges required or allowed by the Government National Mortgage Association, whether designated as processing fees, commitment fees, loss reserve and marketing fees, discounts, origination fees or otherwise designated.
        (d) in the case of a single payment loan, made for a
     period of 6 months or less, a regulated financial institution or licensed lender may contract for and receive a maximum charge of $15 in lieu of interest. Such charge may be collected when the loan is made, but only one such charge may be contracted for, received, or collected for any such loan, including any extension or renewal thereof.
        (e) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     a charge not to exceed the rate permitted under Section 3‑806 of the Uniform Commercial Code‑Commercial Paper for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said agreement which is unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository institution.
        (f) if the agreement governing the loan so provides,
     for each loan installment in default for a period of not less than 10 days, a charge in an amount not in excess of 5% of such loan installment. Only one delinquency charge may be collected on any such loan installment regardless of the period during which it remains in default. Payments timely received by the lender under a written extension or deferral agreement shall not be subject to any delinquency charge.
    Notwithstanding items (k) and (l) of subsection (1) of Section 4 of this Act, the lender, in the case of any nonexempt residential mortgage loan, as defined in Section 1‑4 of the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987, shall have the right to include a prepayment penalty that extends no longer than the fixed rate period of a variable rate mortgage provided that, if a prepayment is made during the fixed rate period and not in connection with the sale or destruction of the dwelling securing the loan, the lender shall receive an amount that is no more than:
        (1) 3% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the first 12‑month period following the date the loan was made;
        (2) 2% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the second 12‑month period following the date the loan was made; or
        (3) 1% of the total loan amount if the prepayment is
     made within the third 12‑month period following the date the loan was made, if the fixed rate period extends 3 years.
    This Section applies to loans made, refinanced, renewed, extended, or modified on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
    Where there is a charge in addition to the stated rate of interest payable directly or indirectly by the borrower and imposed directly or indirectly by the lender as a consideration for the loan, or for or in connection with the loan of money, whether paid or payable by the borrower, the seller, or any other person on behalf of the borrower to the lender or to a third party, or for or in connection with the loan of money, other than as hereinabove in this Section provided, whether denominated "points," "service charge," "discount," "commission," or otherwise, and without regard to declining balances of principal which would result from any required or optional amortization of the principal of the loan, the rate of interest shall be calculated in the following manner:
    The percentage of the principal amount of the loan represented by all of such charges shall first be computed, which in the case of a loan with an interest rate in excess of 8% per annum secured by residential real estate, other than loans described in paragraphs (e) and (f) of Section 4, shall not exceed 3% of such principal amount. Said percentage shall then be divided by the number of years and fractions thereof of the period of the loan according to its stated maturity. The percentage thus obtained shall then be added to the percentage of the stated annual rate of interest.
(Source: P.A. 95‑691, eff. 6‑1‑08.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2) (from Ch. 17, par. 6407)
    Sec. 4.2. Revolving credit; billing statements; disclosures. On a revolving credit which complies with subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 4.2, it is lawful for any bank that has its main office or, after May 31, 1997, a branch in this State, a state or federal savings and loan association with its main office in this State, a state or federal credit union with its main office in this State, or a lender licensed under the Consumer Finance Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Act or the Sales Finance Agency Act, as such Acts are now and hereafter amended, to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in any amount or at any rate agreed upon by the parties to the revolving credit arrangement. It is lawful for any other lender to receive or contract to receive and collect interest in an amount not in excess of 1 1/2% per month of either the average daily unpaid balance of the principal of the debt during the billing cycle, or of the unpaid balance of the debt on approximately the same day of the billing cycle. If a lender under a revolving credit arrangement notifies the debtor at least 30 days in advance of any lawful increase in the amount or rate of interest to be charged under the revolving credit arrangement, and the debtor, after the effective date of such notice, incurs new debt pursuant to the revolving credit arrangement, the increased interest amount or rate may be applied only to any such new debt incurred under the revolving credit arrangement. For purposes of determining the balances to which the increased interest rate applies, all payments and other credits may be deemed to be applied to the balance existing prior to the change in rate until that balance is paid in full. The face amount of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt, or similar written instruments received by the lender in connection with the revolving credit, less the amounts applicable to principal from time to time paid thereon by the debtor, are the unpaid balance of the debt upon which the interest is computed. If the billing cycle is not monthly, the maximum interest rate for the billing cycle is the percentage which bears the same relation to the monthly percentage provided for in the preceding sentence as the number of days in the billing cycle bears to 30. For the purposes of the foregoing computation, a "month" is deemed to be any time of 30 consecutive days. In addition to the interest charge provided for, it is lawful to receive, contract for or collect a charge not exceeding 25 cents for each transaction in which a loan or advance is made under the revolving credit or in lieu of this additional charge an annual fee for the privilege of receiving and using the revolving credit in an amount not exceeding $20. In addition, with respect to revolving credit secured by an interest in real estate, it is also lawful to receive, contract for or collect fees lawfully paid to any public officer or agency to record, file or release the security, and costs and disbursements actually incurred for any title insurance, title examination, abstract of title, survey, appraisal, escrow fees, and fees paid to a trustee in connection with a trust deed.
    (a) At or before the date a bill or statement is first rendered to the debtor under a revolving credit arrangement, the lender must mail or deliver to the debtor a written description of the conditions under which a charge for interest may be made and the method, including the rate, of computing these interest charges. The rate of interest must be expressed as an annual percentage rate.
    (b) If during any billing cycle any debit or credit entry is made to a debtor's revolving credit account, and if at the end of that billing cycle there is an unpaid balance owing to the lender from the debtor, the lender must give to the debtor the following information within a reasonable time after the end of the billing cycle:
        (i) the unpaid balance at the beginning of the
     billing cycle;
        (ii) the date and amount of all loans or advances
     made during the billing cycle, which information may be supplied by enclosing a copy of the drafts, items, orders for the payment of money, evidences of debt or similar written instruments presented to the lender during the billing cycle;
        (iii) the payments by the debtor to the lender and
     any other credits to the debtor during the billing cycle;
        (iv) the amount of interest and other charges, if
     any, charged to the debtor's account during the billing cycle;
        (v) the amount which must be currently paid by the
     debtor and the date on which that amount must be paid in order to avoid delinquency;
        (vi) the total amount remaining unpaid at the end of
     the billing cycle and the right of the debtor to prepay that amount in full without penalty; and
        (vii) information required by (iv), (v) and (vi)
     must be set forth in type of equal size and equal conspicuousness.
    (c) The revolving credit arrangement may provide for the payment by the debtor and receipt by the lender of all costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the lender in legal proceedings to collect or enforce the debt in the event of delinquency by the debtor or in the event of a breach of any obligation of the debtor under the arrangement.
    (d) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement may provide credit life insurance or credit accident and health insurance, or both, with respect to the debtor and may charge the debtor therefor. Credit life insurance and credit accident and health insurance, and any charge therefor made to the debtor, shall comply with Article IX 1/2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, and all lawful requirements of the Director of Insurance related thereto. This insurance is in force with respect to each loan or advance made under a revolving credit arrangement as soon as the loan or advance is made. The purchase of this insurance from an agent, broker or insurer specified by the lender may not be a condition precedent to the revolving credit arrangement or to the making of any loan or advance thereunder.
    (e) Whenever interest is contracted for or received under this Section, no amount in addition to the charges authorized by this Act may be directly or indirectly charged, contracted for or received whether as interest, service charges, costs of investigations or enforcements or otherwise.
    (f) The lender under a revolving credit arrangement must compute at year end the total amount charged to the debtor's account during the year, including service charges, finance charges, late charges and any other charges authorized by this Act, and upon request must furnish such information to the debtor within 30 days after the end of the year, or if the account has been terminated during such year, may give such requested information within 30 days after such termination. The lender shall annually inform the debtor of his right to obtain such information.
    (g) A lender who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
    (h) Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Congress of the United States or any federal agency authorizes any class of lenders to enter, within limitations, into a revolving credit arrangement secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, any person, firm, corporation or other entity, not otherwise prohibited by the Congress of the United States or any federal agency from entering into revolving credit arrangements secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property, may enter into such arrangements within the same limitations.
(Source: P.A. 89‑208, eff. 9‑29‑95.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.2a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6408)
    Sec. 4.2a. If a lender or creditor, within 30 days from receiving a written letter, in clear and definitive terms, signed by the debtor, including his or her name, address, and account number, sent within 60 days after mailing by the lender or creditor of the statement on which the alleged error first appears, concerning an alleged error in a revolving credit account fails to answer the specific question concerning such error in clear and definitive terms, for that 30 day period and for any further period that the lender fails to provide a clear and definitive answer, the debtor shall not be required to pay any service charge on the disputed amount.
    A lender or creditor who complies with the federal Truth in Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulations issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 82‑169.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4.3) (from Ch. 17, par. 6409)
    Sec. 4.3. Whenever interest received or contracted to be received by the lender on a revolving credit as defined in Section 4.1 hereof is lawful only under the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, no provision contained in any contract or agreement respecting a revolving credit or in any draft, item, order for the payment of money, evidence of debt or similar written instruments which is used in connection with such revolving credit shall be enforceable, which
    (i) provides that in the absence of debtor's breach or default the lender may arbitrarily and without reasonable cause accelerate the maturity of any amount or part owing thereunder;
    (ii) purports to waive any provisions of this Act; or
    (iii) provides for any amount to be added to the account each month for the privilege of having the revolving credit account provided there is no unpaid balance at that time.
(Source: P.A. 83‑944.)

    (815 ILCS 205/4a) (from Ch. 17, par. 6410)
    Sec. 4a. Installment loan rate.
    (a) On money loaned to or in any manner owing from any person, whether secured or unsecured, except where the money loaned or in any manner owing is directly or indirectly for the purchase price of real estate or an interest therein and is secured by a lien on or retention of title to that real estate or interest therein, to an amount not more than $25,000 (excluding interest) which is evidenced by a written instrument providing for the payment thereof in 2 or more periodic installments over a period of not more than 181 months from the date of the execution of the written instrument, it is lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect either:
        (i) interest in an amount equivalent to interest
     computed at a rate not exceeding 9% per year on the entire principal amount of the money loaned or in any manner owing for the period from the date of the making of the loan or the incurring of the obligation for the amount owing evidenced by the written instrument until the date of the maturity of the last installment thereof, and to add that amount to the principal, except tha