Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 31.04 - Consumer Loan Act.
31.04.025 - Application of chapter.

RCW 31.04.025
Application of chapter.

(1) Each loan made to a resident of this state by a licensee, or persons subject to this chapter, is subject to the authority and restrictions of this chapter.
(2) This chapter does not apply to the following:
(a) Any person doing business under, and as permitted by, any law of this state or of the United States relating to banks, savings banks, trust companies, savings and loan or building and loan associations, or credit unions;
(b) Entities making loans under chapter 19.60 RCW (pawnbroking);
(c) Entities conducting transactions under chapter 63.14 RCW (retail installment sales of goods and services), unless credit is extended to purchase merchandise certificates, coupons, open or closed loop stored value, or other similar items issued and redeemable by a retail seller other than the retail seller extending the credit;
(d) Entities making loans under chapter 31.45 RCW (check cashers and sellers);
(e) Any person making a loan primarily for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes unless the loan is secured by a lien on the borrower's primary dwelling;
(f) Any person selling property owned by that person who provides financing for the sale when the property does not contain a dwelling and when the property serves as security for the financing. This exemption is available for five or fewer transactions in a calendar year. This exemption is not available to individuals subject to the federal S.A.F.E. act or any person in the business of constructing or acting as a contractor for the construction of residential dwellings;
(g) Any person making loans made to government or government agencies or instrumentalities or making loans to organizations as defined in the federal truth in lending act;
(h) Entities making loans under chapter 43.185 RCW (housing trust fund);
(i) Entities making loans under programs of the United States department of agriculture, department of housing and urban development, or other federal government program that provides funding or access to funding for single-family housing developments or grants to low-income individuals for the purchase or repair of single-family housing;
(j) Nonprofit housing organizations making loans, or loans made, under housing programs that are funded in whole or in part by federal or state programs if the primary purpose of the programs is to assist low-income borrowers with purchasing or repairing housing or the development of housing for low-income Washington state residents;
(k) Entities making loans which are not residential mortgage loans under a credit card plan;
(l) Individuals employed by a licensed residential mortgage loan servicing company engaging in activities related to servicing, unless licensing is required by federal law or regulation; and
(m) Entities licensed under chapter 18.44 RCW that process payments on seller-financed loans secured by liens on real or personal property.
(3) The director may, at his or her discretion, waive applicability of the consumer loan company licensing provisions of this chapter to other persons, not including individuals subject to the S.A.F.E. act, making or servicing loans when the director determines it necessary to facilitate commerce and protect consumers.
(4) The burden of proving the application for an exemption or exception from a definition, or a preemption of a provision of this chapter, is upon the person claiming the exemption, exception, or preemption.
(5) The director may adopt rules interpreting this section.

[ 2015 c 229 § 20. Prior: 2013 c 64 § 2; 2013 c 29 § 2; 2012 c 17 § 1; prior: 2011 c 191 § 1; prior: 2009 c 311 § 1; 2009 c 120 § 3; 2008 c 78 § 1; 2001 c 81 § 2; 1991 c 208 § 4.]
NOTES:

Findings—Declaration—2009 c 120: See note following RCW 31.04.015.


Severability—2008 c 78: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2008 c 78 § 5.]

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