15 USC § 1642 - Issuance of credit cards

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1642"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1642 - Issuance of credit cards"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1642"
section_name: "Issuance of credit cards"
chapter_number: 41
chapter_name: "CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "CONSUMER CREDIT COST DISCLOSURE"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Credit Transactions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 132, as added Pub. L. 91–508, title V, § 502(a), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1126.)"
---


# § 1642. Issuance of credit cards

No credit card shall be issued except in response to a request or application therefor. This prohibition does not apply to the issuance of a credit card in renewal of, or in substitution for, an accepted credit card.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 132, as added Pub. L. 91–508, title V, § 502(a), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1126.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

> “Section 132 of such Act [this section] takes effect on date of enactment of this title [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that: