Military Lending Act Limitations on Terms of Consumer Credit Extended to Service Members and Dependents

The Department of Defense (Department) is interpreting its regulation implementing the Military Lending Act (the MLA). The MLA as implemented by the Department, limits the military annual percentage rate (MAPR) that a creditor may charge to a maximum of 36 percent, requires certain disclosures, and provides other substantive consumer protections on "consumer credit" extended to Service members and their families. On July 22, 2015, the Department amended its regulation primarily for the purpose of extending the protections of the MLA to a broader range of closed-end and open-end credit products (the July 2015 Final Rule). This interpretive rule provides guidance on certain questions the Department has received regarding compliance with the July 2015 Final Rule.