Chapter 138

138.052(5m)(b) (b)

138.052(5m)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (e), if an escrow is required to assure the payment of property taxes, a bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association or mortgage banker which originates a loan on or after July 1, 1988, shall, before the loan closing, provide the borrower with a written notice clearly stating that the borrower may require the escrow agent to make payments in any manner specified in subd. 3. from the amount escrowed to pay property taxes and the responsibilities of the borrower and escrow agent as provided in subds. 4. and 5.

138.052(5m)(b)2. 2. Except as provided in par. (e), if an escrow is required to assure the payment of property taxes for a loan originated before July 1, 1988, the escrow agent shall send, by November 15, 1988, written notice to the borrower clearly stating that the borrower may require the escrow agent to make payments in any manner specified in subd. 3. from the amount escrowed to pay property taxes and the responsibilities of the borrower and escrow agent as provided in subds. 4. and 5.

138.052(5m)(b)3. 3. Except as provided in par. (e), a borrower may require an escrow agent who receives escrow payments to assure the payment of the borrower’s property taxes to do any of the following, if the borrower notifies the escrow agent as provided in subd. 4. and if the borrower is current in his or her loan payments:

138.052(5m)(b)3.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 3m., by December 20, send to the borrower a check in the amount of the funds held in escrow for the payment of property taxes, made payable to the borrower and the town, city or village treasurer authorized to collect the tax.

138.052(5m)(b)3.b. b. Pay the property taxes by December 31, if the escrow agent has received a tax statement for that property by December 20.

138.052(5m)(b)3.c. c. Pay the property taxes when due.

138.052(5m)(b)3m. 3m. In its sole discretion, an escrow agent may send a check under subd. 3. a. that is made payable only to the borrower.

138.052(5m)(b)4. 4. To require the escrow agent to make payments in any of the manners specified in subd. 3., the borrower shall send, by November 1, written notice to the escrow agent specifying the manner, from the 3 choices under subd. 3., that the borrower wants the escrow agent to make payments. Except as provided in subd. 5. b., once notified, the escrow agent shall annually make payments in that manner unless the borrower is not current in his or her loan payments or unless otherwise notified in writing by the borrower by November 1.

138.052(5m)(b)5. 5.

138.052(5m)(b)5.a. a. If the borrower chooses to receive payments as provided in subd. 3. a. or receives payment under subd. 3m., the borrower shall annually, by March 31, send to the person to whom the borrower makes his or her loan payments a copy of the receipt for paid property taxes.

138.052(5m)(b)5.b. b. If the borrower fails to comply with subd. 5. a., the borrower loses the option of receiving payments that year in the manner specified in subd. 3. a. During the next year, the borrower may again receive payments under subd. 3. a. if the borrower renotifies the escrow agent by sending written notice to the escrow agent by November 1 of the next year and if the borrower is current in his or her loan payments.

138.052(5m)(b)6. 6. If the borrower sends the check received under subd. 3. a. to the town, city or village treasurer after the county has assumed responsibility for collecting property taxes, the town, city or village treasurer shall accept the check and pay over to the county treasurer the amount of the check. If the amount of the check sent by the borrower to the town, city or village treasurer exceeds the amount of property taxes owed by the borrower, the town, city or village treasurer shall refund the excess amount to the borrower and, if the county has assumed responsibility for collecting property taxes, pay over to the county treasurer the remaining amount of the check.

138.052(5m)(c) (c) A borrower may establish an escrow account required for the payment of taxes and insurance in a financial institution, as defined in s. 710.05 (1) (c), of the borrower’s choice if the escrow agent fails to comply with par. (b) 3., unless the lender or person to whom the loan is sold or released demonstrates that the financial institution is incapable of servicing the escrow account.

138.052(5m)(d) (d) If a borrower establishes an escrow account under par. (c), the borrower shall annually, by March 31, send to the person to whom the borrower makes his or her loan payments verification of the amounts which the borrower deposited in the escrow account during the previous 12 months and copies of receipts for taxes and insurance paid during the previous 12 months.

138.052(5m)(e) (e) Paragraphs (b) to (d) do not apply to an escrow required in connection with a loan to assure the payment of property taxes, whether the loan is originated before, on or after May 3, 1988, if it is the practice of the escrow agent to, by December 20, pay to the borrower the amount held in escrow for the payment of property taxes or to send the borrower a check in the amount of the funds held in escrow for the payment of property taxes, made payable to the borrower and the treasurer authorized to collect the tax. If the escrow agent in any year chooses not to make the payment by December 20 for any reason other than because the borrower is not current in his or her loan payments, the escrow agent shall send, by October 15 of that year, written notice to the borrower clearly stating that the borrower may require the escrow agent to make payments in any manner specified in par. (b) 3. from the amount escrowed to pay property taxes and the responsibilities of the borrower and escrow agent as provided in par. (b) 4. and 5.

138.052(6) (6) The parties may agree to imposition of a late payment charge not exceeding 5 percent of the unpaid amount of any installment not paid on or before the 15th day after its due date. For purposes of this subsection, payments are applied first to current installments and then to delinquent installments. A delinquency charge may be imposed only once on any installment.

138.052(7) (7) Interest imposed on the amount due after acceleration or maturity of a loan may not exceed the contract rate.

138.052(7s) (7s) A person who receives loan or escrow payments on behalf of itself or another person shall do all of the following:

138.052(7s)(a) (a) Respond to a borrower’s inquiry within 15 days after receiving the inquiry.

138.052(7s)(b) (b) Consider that a loan payment by check, or other negotiable or transferable instrument, is made on the date on which the check or instrument is physically received, except that the person may charge back an uncollected loan payment.

138.052(8) (8) This section does not apply to a loan insured, or committed to be insured, or secured by mortgage or trust deed insured by the U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, insured, guaranteed or committed to be insured or guaranteed under 38 USC 3701 to 3727 or insured or committed to be insured under 7 USC 1921 to 1995.

138.052(9) (9) Chapters 421 to 427 and subch. I of ch. 428 do not apply to the refinancing, modification, extension, renewal or assumption of a loan which had an original principal balance in excess of $25,000 if the unpaid principal balance of the loan has been reduced to $25,000 or less.

138.052(10) (10) This section does not apply to any of the following:

138.052(10)(a) (a) A loan to a corporation or a limited liability company.

138.052(10)(b) (b) A loan that is primarily for a business purpose or for an agricultural purpose, as defined in s. 421.301 (4).

138.052(11) (11) The contract rate is not subject to rate limitations imposed under this chapter or ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 or under s. 422.201.

138.052(12) (12) 

138.052(12)(a) (a) Any lender violating sub. (2) (b), (5), (5m) (b) 1., (6), (7), or (7s), or an escrow agent, as defined in sub. (5m) (a), violating sub. (5m) (b) 2., is liable to the borrower for $500 plus actual damages, costs and reasonable attorney fees.

138.052(12)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an unintentional mistake corrected by the lender on demand.

138.052(13) (13) 

138.052(13)(a) (a) In this subsection:

138.052(13)(a)1. 1. “Financial institution” means a bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, mortgage banker, or any other lender that receives an application for, services, or enforces the terms of a loan.

138.052(13)(a)2. 2. “Local governmental unit” means a city, village, town, or county, or any other local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a), but does not include a 1st class city.

138.052(13)(b) (b) A local governmental unit may not enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that does any of the following:

138.052(13)(b)1. 1. Imposes any fee or tax on any financial institution in connection with servicing, or enforcing the terms of, a loan.

138.052(13)(b)2. 2. Delays any financial institution in enforcing the terms of a loan.

138.052(13)(b)3. 3. Affects any financial institution’s servicing, or enforcement of the terms of, a loan.

138.052(13)(b)4. 4. Regulates any financial institution with respect to the lending practices or financial services of the financial institution as it relates to loans.

138.052(13)(c) (c) If a local governmental unit has in effect on July 2, 2013, an ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent with par. (b), the ordinance or resolution does not apply and may not be enforced.

138.052(13)(d) (d) Except in a 1st class city, the servicing of loans and enforcement of loan terms are matters of statewide concern for which uniformity in regulation is necessary and are subject only to applicable state and federal laws and not to local regulation.

138.052 History History: 1981 c. 45, 100, 314; 1987 a. 359, 360, 403; 1989 a. 31, 56; 1991 a. 90, 92; 1993 a. 68, 112; 1995 a. 27, 336; 1999 a. 9, 31; 2003 a. 33, 257; 2007 a. 11, 20, 97; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 340; 2023 a. 128.

138.052 Annotation Federal law preemption of this section as applied to federally chartered savings institutions regulated by the federal home loan bank board is discussed. Wisconsin League of Financial Inst. v. Galecki, 707 F Supp. 401 (W.D. Wis. 1989).

138.053 138.053 Regulation of interest adjustment provisions.

138.053(1) (1) Required contract provisions. No contract between a borrower and a lender secured by a first lien real estate mortgage on, or an equivalent security interest in, an owner-occupied residential property containing not more than 4 dwelling units may authorize the lender to increase the borrower’s contractual rate of interest unless the contract provides that:

138.053(1)(a) (a) No increase may occur until 3 years after the date of the contract;

138.053(1)(b) (b) No increase may occur unless the borrower is given at least 4 months’ written notice of the lender’s intent to increase the rate of interest, during which notice period the borrower may repay his or her obligation without penalty;

138.053(1)(c) (c) The amount of the initial interest rate increase may not exceed $1 per $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance;

138.053(1)(d) (d) The amount of any subsequent interest rate increase may not exceed $1 per $200 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance;

138.053(1)(e) (e) The interest rate may not be increased more than one time in any 12-month period; and

138.053(1)(f) (f) The loan may be prepaid without penalty at any time at which the interest rate in effect exceeds the originally stated interest rate by more than $2 per $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance.

138.053(2) (2) Disclosures required. No lender may make a loan secured by a first lien real estate mortgage on, or an equivalent security interest in, an owner-occupied residential property containing not more than 4 dwelling units providing for prospective changes in the rate of interest unless it has clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the borrower in writing:

138.053(2)(a) (a) That the interest rate is prospectively subject to change;

138.053(2)(b) (b) That notice of any interest adjustment must be given 4 months prior to any increase; and

138.053(2)(c) (c) Any prepayment rights of the borrower upon receiving notice of such change.

138.053(3) (3) Notice of interest adjustment. Notices provided under sub. (2) shall be mailed to the borrower at his or her last-known post-office address and shall clearly and concisely disclose:

138.053(3)(a) (a) The effective date of the interest rate increase;

138.053(3)(b) (b) The increased interest rate and the extent to which the increased rate will exceed the interest rate in effect immediately before the increase;

138.053(3)(c) (c) The amount of the borrower’s contractual monthly principal and interest payment before and after the effective date of the increase;

138.053(3)(d) (d) Any right of the borrower to voluntarily increase his or her contractual principal and interest payment;

138.053(3)(e) (e) Whether as a result of the increase a lump sum payment may be necessary at the end of the loan term;

138.053(3)(f) (f) Whether an additional number of monthly payments may be required; and

138.053(3)(g) (g) The borrower’s right to prepay within 4 months without a prepayment charge.

138.053(4) (4) Applicability.

138.053(4)(a) (a) This section does not apply to variable rate contracts, nor to loans or forbearances to corporations or limited liability companies.

138.053(4)(b) (b) This section applies only to transactions initially entered into on or after June 12, 1976 and before November 1, 1981.

138.053 History History: 1975 c. 387; 1981 c. 45; 1993 a. 112.

138.053 Annotation “Due on sale” provision of note and mortgage was enforceable. Mutual Fed. S. & L. Asso. v. Wisconsin Wire Wks. 71 Wis. 2d 531, 239 N.W.2d 20.

138.055 138.055 Variable rate contracts.

138.055(1) (1) Required contract provisions. No contract between a borrower and a lender secured by a first lien real estate mortgage on, or an equivalent security interest in, an owner-occupied residential property containing not more than 4 dwelling units may contain a variable interest rate clause unless the contract provides that:

138.055(1)(a) (a) When an increase in the interest rate is permitted by a movement upward of a prescribed index, a decrease in the interest rate is also required by a downward movement of the prescribed index subject to pars. (b) to (f);

138.055(1)(b) (b) The rate of interest shall not change more than once during any 6-month period;

138.055(1)(c) (c) Any singular change in the interest rate shall not exceed the rate of $1 per $200 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance and the total variance in such rate shall at no time exceed a rate equal to $2.50 per $100 for one year computed on the declining principal balance greater or lesser than the rate originally in effect;

138.055(1)(d) (d) Decreases required by the downward movement of the prescribed index shall be mandatory. Increases permitted by the upward movement of the prescribed index shall be optional with the lender. Changes in the interest rate shall only be made when the prescribed index changes a minimum of one-tenth of one percent;

138.055(1)(e) (e) The fact that a lender may not have invoked an increase, in whole or in part, shall not be deemed a waiver of the lender’s right to invoke an increase at any time thereafter within the limits imposed by this section;

138.055(1)(f) (f) The rate shall not change during the first semiannual period of the loan; and

138.055(1)(g) (g) The borrower may prepay the loan in whole or in part within 90 days of notification of any increase in the rate of interest without a prepayment charge.

138.055(2) (2) Disclosures required. No lender may make a loan secured by a first lien real estate mortgage on, or an equivalent security interest in, an owner-occupied residential property containing not more than 4 dwelling units containing a variable interest rate provision unless it has clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the borrower in writing prior to execution of the loan documents:

138.055(2)(a) (a) That the loan contract contains a variable interest rate;

138.055(2)(b) (b) The index used in applying any variable interest rate changes contemplated in the note and its current base; and

138.055(2)(c) (c) Any prepayment rights of the borrower upon receiving notice of any such change.

138.055(3) (3) Notice of interest adjustment. When a change in the interest rate is required or permitted by a movement in the prescribed index, the lender shall give notice to the borrower by mail, addressed to the borrower’s last-known post-office address, not less than 30 days prior to any change in interest rate, which notice shall clearly and concisely disclose:

138.055(3)(a) (a) The effective date of the interest rate change;

138.055(3)(b) (b) The interest rate change, and if an increase, the extent to which the increased rate will exceed the rate in effect immediately before the increase;

138.055(3)(c) (c) The changes in the index which caused the interest rate change;

138.055(3)(d) (d) The amount of the borrower’s contractual monthly principal and interest payments before and after the effective date of the change in the interest rate;

138.055(3)(e) (e) Whether as a result of an increase in the interest rate a lump sum payment may be necessary at the end of the loan term; and

138.055(3)(f) (f) The borrower’s right to prepay the loan within 90 days after said notice without a prepayment charge if the notice required an increase in interest rate.

138.055(4) (4) Index. In determining any variable interest rate changes permitted under this section, a lender shall use either the index published by the federal home loan bank of Chicago based on the cost of all funds to Wisconsin member institutions or an index approved by: