---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1646"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1646"
heading: "Dissemination of annual percentage rates; implementation, etc."
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1646"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection"
  - "Subchapter I — Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure"
  - "Part B — Credit Transactions"
---

# §1646. Dissemination of annual percentage rates; implementation, etc.

- (a) **Annual percentage rates—** The [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) shall collect, publish, and disseminate to the public, on a demonstration basis in a number of standard metropolitan statistical areas to be determined by the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b), the annual percentage rates charged for representative types of nonsale [credit](/usc/15/1602.md?p=f) by [creditors](/usc/15/1602.md?p=g) in such areas. For the purpose of this section, the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) is authorized to require [creditors](/usc/15/1602.md?p=g) in such areas to furnish information necessary for the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) to collect, publish, and disseminate such information.
- (b) **Credit card price and availability information—**
  - (1) **Collection required—** The [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) shall collect, on a semiannual basis, [credit card](/usc/15/1602.md?p=l) price and availability information, including the information required to be disclosed under [section 1637(c) of this title](/usc/15/1637.md?p=c), from a broad sample of [financial institutions](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=t) which offer [credit card](/usc/15/1602.md?p=l) services.
  - (2) **Sample requirements—** The broad sample of [financial institutions](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=t) required under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include—
    - (A) the 25 largest issuers of [credit cards](/usc/15/1602.md?p=l); and
    - (B) not less than 125 additional [financial institutions](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=t) selected by the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) in a manner that ensures—
      - (i) an equitable geographical distribution within the sample; and
      - (ii) the representation of a wide spectrum of institutions within the sample.
  - (3) **Report of information from sample—** Each [financial institution](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=t) in the broad sample established pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#b-2) shall report the information to the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) in accordance with such regulations or orders as the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) may prescribe.
  - (4) **Public availability of collected information; report to Congress—** The [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) shall—
    - (A) make the information collected pursuant to this subsection available to the public upon request; and
    - (B) report such information semiannually to Congress.
- (c) **Implementation—** The [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) is authorized to enter into contracts or other arrangements with appropriate [persons](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e), [organizations](/usc/15/1602.md?p=d), or [State](/usc/15/1602.md?p=s) agencies to carry out its functions under subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) and to furnish financial assistance in support thereof.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 136, as added Pub. L. 96–221, title VI, § 618(a), Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 183; amended Pub. L. 100–583, § 5, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 2967; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–203 substituted “Bureau” for “Board” wherever appearing.

1988—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 100–583 added subsec. (b), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c), and substituted “subsections (a) and (b)” for “subsection (a)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the designated transfer date, see section 1100H of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 552a of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Effective Date

Section effective on expiration of two years and six months after Mar. 31, 1980, with all regulations, forms, and clauses required to be prescribed to be promulgated at least one year prior to such effective date, and allowing any creditor to comply with any amendments, in accordance with the regulations, forms, and clauses prescribed by the Board prior to such effective date, see section 625 of Pub. L. 96–221, set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 1602 of this title.