Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§3806 Adjustable rate mortgage caps

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 39— - ALTERNATIVE MORTGAGE TRANSACTIONS › § 3806

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Every adjustable-rate mortgage must include a limit on the highest interest rate that can be charged during the loan. The Federal Reserve Board must write rules to enforce this. Breaking the rule counts as a violation of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and can lead to administrative action under section 108 (15 U.S.C. 1607), civil damages under section 130 (15 U.S.C. 1640), or both. Effective 120 days after August 10, 1987. Definitions: "creditor" — a person who regularly lends for personal, family, or household use. "Adjustable-rate mortgage loan" — a consumer loan secured by a lien on a one- to four-family dwelling (including condos, co-ops, or mobile homes) where the lender can change the interest rate.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §3806

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any adjustable rate mortgage loan originated by a creditor shall include a limitation on the maximum interest rate that may apply during the term of the mortgage loan.
(b)The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.
(c)Any violation of this section shall be treated as a violation of the Truth in Lending Act [15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.] and shall be subject to administrative enforcement under section 108 [15 U.S.C. 1607] or civil damages under section 130 [15 U.S.C. 1640] of such Act, or both.
(d)For the purpose of this section—
(1)the term “creditor” means a person who regularly extends credit for personal, family, or household purposes; and
(2)the term “adjustable rate mortgage loan” means any consumer loan secured by a lien on a one- to four-family dwelling unit, including a condominium unit, cooperative housing unit, or mobile home, where the loan is made pursuant to an agreement under which the creditor may, from time to time, adjust the rate of interest.
(e)This section shall take effect upon the expiration of 120 days after August 10, 1987.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Truth in Lending Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is title I of Pub. L. 90–321, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 146, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1601 et seq.) of chapter 41 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 15 and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987, and not as part of the Alternative Mortgage Transaction Parity Act of 1982 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 102–550 substituted “any consumer loan” for “any loan”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 3806

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73