(1) All contracts for the payment of interest upon any loan, advance of money, line of credit, or forbearance to enforce the collection of any debt, or upon any obligation whatever, at a higher rate of interest than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest are hereby declared usurious. However, if such loan, advance of money, line of credit, forbearance to enforce the collection of a debt, or obligation exceeds $500,000 in amount or value, then no contract to pay interest thereon is usurious unless the rate of interest exceeds the rate prescribed in s. 687.071.
(2) As amended by chapter 79-592, Laws of Florida, chapter 79-274, Laws of Florida, which amended subsection (1):
(a) Shall apply only to loans, advances of credit, or lines of credit made on or subsequent to July 1, 1979, and to loans, advances of credit, or lines of credit made prior to that date if the lender has the legal right to require full payment or to adjust or modify the interest rate, by renewal, assumption, reaffirmation, contract, or otherwise; and
(b) Shall not be construed as diminishing the force and effect of any laws applying to loans, advances of credit, or lines of credit, other than to those mentioned in paragraph (a), completed prior to July 1, 1979.
History.—s. 1, ch. 4022, 1891; GS 3104; s. 1, ch. 5960, 1909; RGS 4850; CGL 6937; s. 1, ch. 29705, 1955; s. 1, ch. 73-298; ss. 12, 15, ch. 79-274; s. 1, ch. 79-592; s. 1, ch. 80-310.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XXXIX - Commercial Relations
Chapter 687 - Interest and Usury; Lending Practices
687.01 - Rate of Interest in Absence of Contract.
687.02 - “Usurious Contracts” Defined.
687.03 - “Unlawful Rates of Interest” Defined; Proviso.
687.0303 - “Line of Credit” Defined.
687.031 - Construction, Ss. 687.02 and 687.03.
687.04 - Penalty for Usury; Not to Apply in Certain Situations.
687.05 - Provisions for Payment of Attorney’s Fees.
687.071 - Criminal Usury, Loan Sharking.
687.12 - Interest Rates; Parity Among Licensed Lenders or Creditors.
687.125 - Compounding of Interest.
687.13 - International Transactions.
687.141 - Loan Brokers; Prohibited Acts.
687.142 - Responsibility of Principals.
687.143 - Loan Brokers; Investigations; Cease and Desist Orders; Administrative Fines.
687.144 - Investigations; Examinations; Subpoenas; Hearings; Witnesses.
687.145 - Injunction to Restrain Violations.
687.147 - Actions for Damages.
687.148 - Duties and Powers of the Commission and Office.
687.15 - Benchmark Replacements for the London Interbank Offered Rate.