Individuals who obtained an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) from Chase ( either JP Morgan Chase Bank or Chase Home Finance) before April 2006 are seeking compensation as part of a class action lawsuit.  This is happening only in California at the moment – though borrowers in other states can instigate legal action if Chase set their interest rate wrong.

The loan documents stated that the initial interest rate  would be the sum of a specified Index plus a set Margin or, a rate less than that sum.  The documents also stated  “Your interest rate will be based on the weekly average yield on United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of 1 year (the ‘Index’) plus an amount called a ‘Margin.’”

Later in the document, the disclosures stated that “Your initial interest rate may be discounted and will not be tied to the Index.”   Thus the bank allegedly charged the borrowers an initial interest rate higher than the sum of the Index and Margin.