SECTION 511—Business
and Agricultural Loans (a) If the applicable
rate prescribed in this section exceeds the rate a person would be
permitted to charge in the absence of this section, such person may
in the case of a business or agricultural loan in the amount of $1,000
or more, notwithstanding any State constitution or statute which is
hereby preempted for the purposes of this section, take, receive,
reserve, and charge on any such loan, interest at a rate of not more
than 5 per centum in excess of the discount rate, including any surcharge
thereon, on ninety-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve
bank in the Federal Reserve district where the person is located.
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(b) For the purpose of this section—
(1) the term “loan” includes all secured
and unsecured loans, credit sales, forbearances, advances, renewals
or other extensions of credit made by or to any person or organization
for business or agricultural purposes;
(2) the term “interest” includes any compensation,
however denominated, for a loan;
(3) the term “organization” means a corporation,
government or governmental subdivision or agency, trust, estate, partnership,
co-operative, association, or other entity, and
(4) the term “person” means a natural person
or organization.
(c) If the rate prescribed
in subsection (a) of this section exceeds the rate such person would
be permitted to charge in the absence of this section, and such State
imposed rate is thereby preempted by the rate described in subsection
(a) of this section, the taking, receiving, reserving, or charging
a greater rate than is allowed by subsection (a) of this section, when knowingly
done, shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest which the
loan carries with it, or which has been agreed to be paid thereon.
If such greater rate of interest has been paid, the person who paid
it may recover, in a civil action commenced in a court of appropriate
jurisdiction not later than two years after the date of such payment,
an amount equal to twice the amount of interest paid from the person
taking, receiving, reserving, or charging such interest.
[12 USC 86a. As amended
by act of Oct. 8, 1980 (94 Stat. 1648). ]