{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-commercial-law-12-1501","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Commercial Law § 12–1501","heading":"","body":"(a) In this subtitle the following terms have the meanings indicated.\n(b) “Bank” has the meaning stated in § 1–201 of this article.\n(c) “Consumer–directed earned wage access” means delivery to a consumer of access to unpaid but earned wages:\n(1) That is provided to a consumer by a third party who does not have a relationship with the consumer’s employer;\n(2) That is based on employment, income, or attendance data obtained directly from the consumer; and\n(3) Where the consumer does not pay the provider interest.\n(d) “Consumer reporting agency” has the meaning stated in § 14–1201 of this article.\n(e) “Earned wage” means salary, wages, compensation, or other income earned:\n(1) On an hourly, project–based, piecework, or other basis; or\n(2) Through services rendered as an independent contractor.\n(f) “Earned wage access” means:\n(1) Consumer–directed earned wage access; or\n(2) Employer–integrated earned wage access.\n(g) “Employer–integrated earned wage access” means delivery of unpaid but earned wages:\n(1) That are provided to a consumer directly by a person the employer has contracted to provide the service;\n(2) That are determined based on employment, income, or attendance data obtained directly or indirectly from the consumer’s employer, including a payroll service provider; and\n(3) Where the consumer does not pay the provider interest.\n(h) (1) “Fee” means:\n(i) A fee imposed by a provider for delivery or expedited delivery of earned wage access to a consumer; or\n(ii) A subscription or membership fee imposed by a provider for a group of services that includes earned wage access.\n(2) “Fee” does not include a voluntary tip, gratuity, or other donation.\n(i) (1) “Interest” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this title.\n(2) “Interest” does not include a fee imposed by an earned wage access provider licensed under Title 11, Subtitle 2 of the Financial Institutions Article.\n(j) (1) “Loan” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this title.\n(2) “Loan” includes earned wage access, subject to the provisions of this subtitle.\n(k) “Payroll period” means a period of time during which a consumer earns wages that an employer owes to the employee at the end of the period.\n(l) “Proceeds” means a payment to a consumer by a provider that is based on unpaid but earned wages.\n(m) (1) “Provider” means a person who provides to consumers either consumer–directed earned wage access or employer–integrated earned wage access.\n(2) “Provider” does not include:\n(i) A service provider, such as a payroll service provider, that may verify the available earnings of a consumer but that is not contractually obligated to fund any proceeds delivered as part of an earned wage access service; or\n(ii) An employer that offers a portion of salary, wages, or other compensation directly to its employees or independent contractors before a normally scheduled pay date for a payroll period.\n(n) “Tip” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this title.\n(o) “Wages” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this title.","path":["Article - Commercial Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcl\u0026section=12-1501","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:56:33Z","sha256":"1e41937f95026d424535a4cf00eb0d96cb8589376ffba7c0f3d08d8861e81338","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-commercial-law-12-1404","next":"us-md/md.-code-commercial-law-12-1502"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}