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HomeFinancial CodeDiv. 9Ch. 2Art. 3§ 22301 Loan Interest And Fees

§ 22301 Loan Interest And Fees

Financial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 22301 Loan Interest And Fees

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't charge interest or fees for a loan of $5,000 or more unless the loan actually happens.
  • •If the loan doesn't happen because the borrower didn't tell the truth about their debts or didn't finish the loan paperwork, the lender can ask for money back to cover their actual costs.
  • •The lender can only ask for the real costs they spent getting ready to make the loan, not extra fees or interest.

Example

You apply for a $6,000 loan to buy a used car. The lender checks your info and gets everything ready, but you forget to tell them about another loan you have. Because of that, the lender says no to the loan.

The lender can ask you to pay back the money they spent on things like credit checks or paperwork, but they can't charge you interest or extra fees just because the loan didn't happen.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 22301 Loan Interest And Fees

(a) No licensee shall directly or indirectly charge, contract for, or receive any interest or charge of any nature with respect to a loan of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more unless the loan is made. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), whenever a loan of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more is not consummated because of the borrower’s failure to disclose outstanding liens or other information essential to making the loan or solely because of the borrower’s failure to complete the loan in accordance with the loan application, a licensee may charge, contract for, and receive an amount equal to the actual expenses incurred by the licensee in connection with the preparation for the loan. (Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1115, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995. Operative July 1, 1995, by Sec. 5 of Ch. 1115.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

licenseeloan of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or moreactual expenses incurred

Related Statutes

  • § 22300 Loan Interest Charging Rules
  • § 22303 Loan Interest Rate Limits
  • § 22304 Alternative Loan Interest Rates
  • § 22307.5 Loan Prepayment Penalties Prohibited
  • § 22310 Loan Rebate Exemption Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Financial Code. Section 22301.
View Official Source