CHICAGO Illinois Gov. George Ryan has announced a plan to crack down on predatory lending in the state.
Gov. Ryan, a Republican, unveiled regulations Thursday that would prohibit the financing of credit insurance, fraudulent or deceptive practices, loan flipping, and negative amortization and that would require lenders to verify borrowers ability to pay. The proposed regulations go to the state General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative Rulemaking for final approval.
The rules are based on an ordinance recently adopted by the Chicago City Council, requiring financial institutions that want to do business with the city to sign a pledge that they refrain from predatory lending.
Gov. Ryan has also directed the Office of Banks and Real Estate to draft legislation for this spring that would license loan officers and regulate them in the same way as insurance agents.
