Background: The Consumer Loan Act (CLA) authorizes the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to regulate consumer loan companies doing business in Washington. Consumer loan companies include mortgage lenders and consumer finance companies.

License Required. No person may engage in the business of making secured or unsecured loans of money, credit, or things in action unless licensed by the DFI under the CLA or exempt from licensure. The CLA provides exemptions from licensing for:

any person making loans primarily for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes, or making loans made to government or government agencies or instrumentalities, or to an organization as defined in the federal Truth in Lending Act;
an entity licensed as a bank, savings bank, trust company, savings and loan association, building and loan association, or credit union under state or federal law;
entities licensed as pawnbrokers;
entities making loans for retail installment sales of goods and services;
entities licensed as a check casher or seller;
entities making loans under the Housing Trust Fund;
entities making loans under programs of the federal government that provide funding or access to funding for single-family housing developments or grants to low-income individuals for the purchase or repair of single-family housing;
nonprofit housing organizations making loans, or loans made, under housing programs that are funded by federal or state programs if the primary purpose of the programs is to assist low-income borrowers with purchasing or repairing housing or the development of housing for low-income state residents; and
entities making loans which are not residential mortgage loans under a credit card plan.

An applicant for a license and any officers and principals of the applicant must undergo a background check. A licensee must maintain a surety bond or meet other specified financial requirements. The amount of the bond is based on the annual dollar amount of loans originated with a minimum amount of $30,000.

Powers of a CLA Licensee. A CLA licensee may:

lend money at a rate that does not exceed 25 percent per annum;
charge a borrower a nonrefundable, prepaid, loan origination fee limited to 4 percent of the first $20,000 loaned and 2 percent of any amount above $20,000. The fee may be included in the principal balance of the loan;
agree with the borrower for the payment of fees to third parties other than the licensee who provides goods or services to the licensee in connection with the preparation of the borrower's loan and may include such fees in the amount of the loan. However, no charge may be collected unless a loan is made, except for reasonable fees properly incurred in connection with the appraisal of property by a qualified, independent, professional, third-party appraiser;
in connection with a loan secured by real estate, agree with the borrower to pay a fee to a mortgage broker that is not owned by the licensee or under common ownership with the licensee and that performed services in connection with the origination of the loan. A licensee may not receive compensation as a mortgage broker in connection with any loan made by the licensee;
charge and collect a penalty of not more than 10 percent of any installment payment delinquent 10 days or more;
collect fees and expenses related to a collection when a debt is referred to an attorney who is not a salaried employee of the licensee;
make open-end loans as provided in the CLA;
charge a fee for dishonored checks; and
sell insurance covering real and personal property, covering the life or disability or both of the borrower, and covering the involuntary unemployment of the borrower.

Prohibited Practices. There are a variety of prohibited practices under the CLA to ensure fair, honest, and open practices.

Mortgage Loans and Mortgage Loan Servicing. In 2009 a law was enacted that regulates mortgage loan servicers under the CLA. In 2010 changes to the Escrow Act were made, including changes to the exemptions from regulation under the Escrow Act. As a result of the 2009 and 2010 legislation, a small group of people who service mortgage loans are regulated under the Escrow Act and the CLA.

The Director has the authority to waive licensing CLA provisions for persons making mortgage loans when the Director determines it is necessary to facilitate commerce and protect consumers.

Administrative Enforcement. The Director of the DFI (Director) may deny applications or renewals or suspend or revoke licenses for specified actions or failures to act by an applicant or licensee. The Director may impose fines for violations. The Director may issue an order directing the licensee, its employee or loan originator, or other person subject to the CLA to:

cease and desist from conducting business in a manner that is injurious to the public or violates any provision of the CLA;
take action necessary to comply with the CLA; or
make restitution to a borrower or other person who is injured by a CLA violation.

Penalties. Violations of the CLA are violations of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). The Office of the Attorney General may bring an action on behalf of persons injured by a violation of the CPA. A private party may also bring an action to enforce the CPA. The CPA allows an injured party to receive treble damages, up to a maximum of $25,000.

Certain violations are gross misdemeanors. A gross misdemeanor is punishable by:

imprisonment for not more than 12 months in jail;
a maximum fine of $5,000; or
a combination of imprisonment and a fine.

In 2009 the statute concerning the exemptions was amended in two different bills. The difference in language could not be reconciled by the Code Reviser. The result is two different, overlapping statutes in law.