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Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017) |
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Title 10. Finance and Financial Institutions |
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Agency 5. State Corporation Commission |
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Chapter 160. Rules Governing Mortgage Lenders and Brokers |
Section 60. Advertising
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A. Every advertisement used by, or published on behalf of, a licensed mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information:
1. The name of the mortgage lender or mortgage broker as set forth in the license issued by the commission.
2. The abbreviation "NMLS ID #" followed immediately by both the unique identifier assigned by the Registry to the mortgage lender or mortgage broker and the address for the NMLS Consumer Access website in parenthesis. For example: NMLS ID # 999999 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
3. If an advertisement contains a rate of interest, a statement that the stated rate may change or not be available at the time of loan commitment or lock-in.
4. If an advertisement contains specific information about a consumer's existing mortgage loan and such information was not obtained from the consumer, a statement identifying the source of such information (e.g., public court records, credit reporting agency, etc.).
B. No mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall deceptively advertise a mortgage loan, make false or misleading statements or representations, or misrepresent the terms, conditions, or charges incident to obtaining a mortgage loan.
C. No mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall use or cause to be published an advertisement that states or implies the following:
1.The mortgage lender or mortgage broker is affiliated with, or an agent or division of, a governmental agency, depository institution, or other entity with which no such relationship exists; or
2. A consumer has been or will be "preapproved " or "pre-approved" for a mortgage loan, unless the mortgage lender or mortgage broker (i) discloses on the face of the advertisement in at least 14-point bold type that "THIS IS NOT A LOAN APPROVAL" and (ii) clearly and conspicuously discloses the conditions and/or qualifications associated with such preapproval. This provision is intended to supplement the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC § 1681 et seq., relating to firm offers of credit.
D. A mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall not use or cause to be published any advertisement that gives a consumer the false impression that the advertisement is being sent by the consumer's current noteholder or lienholder. If an advertisement contains the name of the consumer's current noteholder or lienholder, it shall not be more conspicuous than the name of the mortgage lender or mortgage broker using the advertisement.
E. A mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall not deliver or cause to be delivered to a consumer any envelope or other written material that gives the false impression that the mailing or written material is an official communication from a governmental entity, unless required by the United States Postal Service.
F. If an advertisement states or implies that a consumer can reduce his monthly payment by refinancing his current mortgage loan, but as a result of such refinancing, the consumer's total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan, a mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the consumer that by refinancing the consumer's existing loan, the consumer's total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan.
G. Every advertisement used by, or published on behalf of, a mortgage lender or mortgage broker shall comply with the disclosure requirements for advertisements contained in the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z, 12 CFR Part 226.
H. For purposes of this section, the term "clearly and conspicuously" means that a required disclosure is reasonably understandable, prominently located, and readily noticeable by a potential borrower of ordinary intelligence.
I. Every mortgage lender and mortgage broker shall retain for at least three years after it is last published, delivered, transmitted, or made available, an example of every advertisement used, including but not limited to solicitation letters, commercial scripts, and recordings of all radio and television broadcasts, but excluding copies of Internet web pages.
Historical Notes
Derived from Volume 22, Issue 18, eff. September 1, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 12, eff. January 28, 2013.