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HomeFinancial CodeDiv. 7Ch. 3Art. 2§ 18211 Loan Commitment Fees

§ 18211 Loan Commitment Fees

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

§ 18211 Loan Commitment Fees

This law says lenders can't charge fees unless they actually give out a loan, except for certain big loans or leases over $5,000. They can charge a fee for promising to make a big loan or for processing a big loan application, but they have to tell you how much the fee is.

Key Takeaways

  • •Lenders can't charge fees unless they actually give out a loan.
  • •For loans or leases over $5,000, lenders can charge a fee for promising to make the loan or for processing the application.
  • •Lenders must tell you how much the fee is.
  • •The fee for a consumer loan can't be more than the actual expenses the lender has.

Example

You want to buy a house and need a loan of $300,000.

The bank can charge you a fee just for promising to give you the loan, even if you don't end up taking it. They can also charge you a fee for processing your loan application, but they have to tell you how much it is.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18211 Loan Commitment Fees

No charge shall be collected unless a loan is made, except that an industrial loan company may charge, contract for, and receive a fee in connection with making a written commitment to make a loan, secured by real property having a face amount in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) whether or not the loan is consummated, or in connection with the purchase, sale, or origination of a lease as lessor and may charge, contract for, and receive an application fee for a loan having an original principal balance in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or for a lease which payments are in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000), provided, however, that a disclosure statement setting forth the amount of the fee, which may be reviewed by the commissioner as to form and content, shall be provided to each person to whom an application fee is charged. The commitment fee or the loan application fee with respect to a consumer loan shall be limited to the actual expenses incurred. (Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 790, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

industrial loan companycommitment feeapplication feedisclosure statementconsumer loanactual expenses incurred

Related Statutes

  • § 18207 Consumer Loan Term Limits
  • § 18208 Industrial Loan Collateral Requirements
  • § 18205 Loan Repayment Term Limits
  • § 18205.5 Unequal Payment Property Loans
  • § 18209 Federal Insured Loan Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Financial Code. Section 18211.
View Official Source