Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
(1) The interest rate on any credit union loan hereafter made shall not exceed eighteen per cent per year on the unpaid balance, may be fixed or variable, and may provide for a balloon payment. A variable rate may be based upon an index, the prime rate, or some other objective factor, so that the interest rate will increase or decrease according to such factor.(2) The commissioner, without regard to chapter 91, may establish an interest rate ceiling exceeding the eighteen per cent per year for periods not to exceed eighteen months, if the commissioner determines that prevailing interest rate levels threaten the safety and soundness of credit unions.(b) The board may also authorize any refund of interest on such classes of loans and under such conditions as it prescribes.(c) If a greater rate of interest than that permitted under this article is contracted for in any loan under this article, the loan shall not, by reason thereof, be void. But, if in any action on the loan, proof is made that a greater rate of interest than that permitted by law has been directly or indirectly contracted for, the credit union shall only recover the amount actually received by the borrower in cash, credit or the equivalent thereof plus the charges, if any, which were properly charged to the borrower and which have not been deducted from the principal amount of the contract or otherwise paid by the borrower. The borrower shall only recover costs. If interest has been paid, judgment shall be for the recoverable amount less the amount of interest paid. Sections 478-5 and 478-6 shall not apply to loans made under this article by credit unions.
