Texas Adds Flexibility to Increase Fees and Charges on Consumer Loans, Cash Advances

Consumer Lending

On June 14, Texas enacted SB 1251, which grants the state Finance Commission authority to set maximum amounts for (i) administrative fees charged on consumer loans and (ii) acquisition charges on cash advances. Those maximum amounts have not been updated in the state in more than 10 years and 20 years, respectively. The bill makes certain other changes related to the computation of interest charges on cash advances and the application of an alternate interest charge computation methodology to a borrower’s account. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2013.