Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in 49 states, an electronic signature can be legally binding if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions such as wills may not be covered.

When must a paper option be offered?

Consumer-facing financial records may require a consumer disclosure and an option to receive paper per ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001(c)). Follow disclosure steps and a demonstrable access check before relying solely on electronic delivery.

What if the published rate is incorrect?

Correct promptly, publish a new version with a clear effective date, notify affected customers, and document the correction and approvals to limit disputes or refund exposure.

Do schedules usually require notarization or witnesses?

Most Finance Rate Schedules do not require notarization or witnesses. Notarization is typically necessary only if the schedule is attached to a document that itself requires acknowledgment, such as certain deeds or powers of attorney.

How long should signed schedules be kept?

Keep signed schedules at least as long as required by applicable law: IRS records for 3 years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA for 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer where state rules apply.

Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?

Many states permit permanent RON with identity-proofing and audio-video recording requirements. Check the state notary commission rules before relying on RON for any notarizations required by attached documents.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Finance Rate Schedule

Finance Rate Schedule

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FINANCE RATE SCHEDULE

This Finance Rate Schedule establishes the rates, fees, and terms applicable to financial products and services provided by the Issuer to the Client as set forth below. This Schedule is incorporated by reference into any governing agreement between the parties and controls rate calculations, adjustments, and remedies described herein.

Parties and Effective Date

Issuer Name:

Issuer Contact Information

Client Name:

Client Contact Information

Effective Date: Schedule Reference No.:

Rate Schedule — Products and Rates

The table below identifies each product or facility, the applicable rate structure, and calculation parameters. Rates are expressed as annual percentage rates (APR) unless otherwise specified.

Product / Facility	Rate Type	Index / Reference	Margin (%)	Floor (%)	Cap (%)	Initial Rate (%)	Term

Fees, Charges and Payment Terms

Origination Fee Late Payment Fee Returned Payment Fee Other Recurring Fees Payment Terms and Methods

Rate Calculation; Adjustments; Index

Calculation basis: interest shall be calculated on a day basis and compounded unless the product row specifies otherwise. For variable-rate products, rate adjustments shall occur on each adjustment date set forth in the governing agreement or as set forth in the product row.

Index provider or reference for adjustments: . Margin is added to the index per product row. Where a floor or cap is specified, such floor or cap controls in the event the calculated rate would otherwise fall outside those bounds.

Default; Remedies; Acceleration

Upon an event of default as defined in the governing agreement or under applicable law, the Issuer may apply a default rate equal to the applicable rate plus an additional default margin of percentage points, subject to any maximums permitted by law. The default rate applies from the date of default until cure or acceleration.

Amendment; Notice

This Schedule may be amended only by a written instrument signed by both parties. Issuer may provide notice of routine rate resets or index changes in writing pursuant to the notice provisions of the governing agreement; material changes to fee structures or base terms shall require the Client's written acceptance to become effective.

Representations; Governing Law

Each party represents and warrants that it has authority to enter into this Schedule and that the information provided is accurate and complete as of the Effective Date. This Schedule shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

Governing Law (State/Country)

Additional Terms and Notes

By signing below, the parties acknowledge and agree that this Finance Rate Schedule accurately sets forth the rates and fees to be applied to the identified products and that these terms are binding as of the Effective Date when executed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Issuer Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Title / Capacity:

Client Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Title / Capacity:

What a Finance Rate Schedule Is and when it applies

Finance Rate Schedule is a formal record that lists applicable interest rates, fees, and related charge terms applied to loans, leases, invoices, or other financed transactions. It maps rates by product, customer class, collateral type, term length, and includes effective and expiration dates, renewal rules, and version identifiers. Organizations attach the schedule to contracts, invoices, or policy manuals so pricing is consistently applied, disclosed to counterparties, and auditable for internal controls and regulatory review when compliance or dispute questions arise.

Why documenting rates in a schedule matters

A clear Finance Rate Schedule reduces pricing errors, supports consistent contract language, and documents the basis for consumer or commercial disclosures. It strengthens internal controls, speeds approvals, and creates an auditable record useful for compliance reviews and dispute resolution.

Who prepares and relies on a Finance Rate Schedule

Internal teams and external parties need a consistent schedule to apply uniform pricing and verify obligations.

Finance teams — maintain rate tables, version control, and audit history for compliance and forecasting.
Lenders and lessors — apply indexed or fixed rates by product and document exceptions for special cases.
Contract managers — attach the schedule to agreements and confirm signer acknowledgement and version acceptance.

Sharing the schedule with contract signers and finance auditors ensures alignment across sales, credit, and legal functions.

Typical signatories and approvers

CFO — Chief Financial Officer

Signs or approves the master schedule to confirm rates align with company policy. Responsible for control oversight, delegation of approval authority, and ensuring schedules are retained per the recordkeeping policy.

Pricing Manager — Finance Operations

Maintains rate tables and publishes revisions. Ensures product mappings, tier definitions, and effective dates are accurate and coordinates distribution to sales, collections, and contracting teams.

Core fields required on the Finance Rate Schedule

Schedule Name: Unique identifier

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Rate Type: Fixed, variable, index-linked

Tier Definitions: Customer/class mapping

Fees and Charges: Late, origination, other

Approval Signature: Authorized signer name

Step-by-step: completing a Finance Rate Schedule

Follow these sequential steps to assemble, approve, and publish a Finance Rate Schedule that is accurate, auditable, and enforceable.

01

Gather Data: Collect product codes, historical rates, fee structures, and approval records.
02

Set Effective Date: Choose MM/DD/YYYY effective date and define renewal rules.
03

Define Rate Tiers: Specify customer classes, collateral categories, and calculation methods.
04

Approve and Publish: Obtain authorized signatory, record version, and distribute schedule.

Recommended digital workflow settings for e-submission

Configure the workflow to ensure authentication, version control, and auditability when you send the schedule electronically.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link or SMS code; use stronger methods for consumer-facing records
Notifications	Enable signer and sender notifications for each signature event
Version Control	Require revision notes and auto-numbering on publish
Retention Policy	Capture signed PDF and audit trail; set retention per company policy

Digital signing workflow overview

A typical eSigning flow captures signer actions, enforces authentication, and stores a tamper-evident record for future reference.

Upload Document: Import PDF or DOCX of the schedule to the platform.
Add Fields: Place signature, date, and approval fields where required.
Send to Signers: Provide email or link with signing instructions and disclosure.
Complete and Store: Signer completes; system saves signed PDF and audit trail.

Formats and integrations for sharing the schedule

Choose formats and integrations that match existing systems to minimize rekeying and ensure accessibility.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
File formats: PDF, DOCX, Excel
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger methods

Timing considerations and effective dates

Track effective dates, publication windows, and notification periods so signers and operations apply the correct rates at the right time.

Publication Window:

Publish before effective date to allow notice periods

Consumer Disclosures:

Provide required disclosures before consumer-facing rates take effect

Contract Attachment:

Attach the signed schedule to new contracts executed on or after the effective date

Version Archival:

Archive prior versions with retention metadata and approval records

Change Notices:

Notify impacted parties per contractual notice periods

Key milestones in schedule lifecycle

Sequential stages from drafting to archival ensure approvals, distribution, and record integrity are completed in order.

01

Drafting and Review

Legal and finance review rate calculations and disclosure language.

02

Executive Approval

Authorized signer approves and signs the schedule for publication.

03

Distribution

Send the signed schedule to procurement, sales, and customer-service teams.

04

Archival

Store signed PDF and audit trail under retention policy controls.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Using inconsistent product codes across the schedule and billing systems leads to misapplied rates and refunds.
Failing to record version numbers or approval metadata makes it difficult to resolve disputes about which rates applied.
Omitting renewal or grandfathering rules causes unexpected charge changes for existing customers and potential legal claims.
Not aligning customer-class definitions with credit policies can result in incorrect tiering and compliance concerns.

Risks and consequences of an incorrect schedule

Contract Disputes: Refunds and litigation risk

Regulatory Exposure: Fines or enforcement actions

Tax Consequences: Incorrect reporting or withholding

Operational Delays: Billing reconciliation delays

Customer Claims: Chargeback or consumer restitution

Reputational Harm: Loss of trust and referrals

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot for rate schedules

Basic pricing and feature indicators for common eSignature vendors to consider when sending and storing Finance Rate Schedules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Practical tips to ensure accuracy and reduce disputes

Adopt processes that combine clear drafting, version control, and consistent distribution to reduce errors and contested charges.

Standardize product and customer codes across systems

Use a canonical product and customer code list stored in a single source of truth. Map billing, CRM, and contract systems to that canonical list to prevent mismatches during invoicing or reporting; reconcile monthly.

Include an explicit revision and approval log

Record who approved each version, the effective date, and a brief note describing changes. Make the approval log part of the signed package to establish intent and authorization for auditors and counterparties.

Provide required consumer disclosures when applicable

For consumer-facing rates, supply an electronic disclosure that offers a paper option and confirms the consumer can access records in electronic form per 15 U.S.C. §7001 requirements.

Automate distribution and archival

Use automated distribution to affected teams and store signed PDFs with complete audit trails in a secure archive to support quick retrieval during billing disputes or regulatory exams.

Real-world examples of Finance Rate Schedule usage

Practical examples show how organizations apply schedules to reduce friction, preserve compliance, and improve turnaround on contracts.

Optica Ventures — Brian Fitzgibbons

Optica attached a versioned schedule to every invoice to standardize pricing and reduce disputes.

They used digital distribution and audit logs.
This approach simplified reconciliations, reduced rate-related inquiries, and provided a clear history for internal audits and external reviewers.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

Martin Properties published tiered lease finance rates with effective dates for seasonal adjustments.

Signatures captured electronically across devices.
The result was consistent tenant billing, faster lease execution, and defensible records when tenant questions arose about rate changes.

Frequently asked questions about Finance Rate Schedules

Answers to typical questions about creation, eSigning, retention, and legal enforceability for Finance Rate Schedules.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in 49 states, an electronic signature can be legally binding if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions such as wills may not be covered.
When must a paper option be offered?
Consumer-facing financial records may require a consumer disclosure and an option to receive paper per ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001(c)). Follow disclosure steps and a demonstrable access check before relying solely on electronic delivery.
What if the published rate is incorrect?
Correct promptly, publish a new version with a clear effective date, notify affected customers, and document the correction and approvals to limit disputes or refund exposure.
Do schedules usually require notarization or witnesses?
Most Finance Rate Schedules do not require notarization or witnesses. Notarization is typically necessary only if the schedule is attached to a document that itself requires acknowledgment, such as certain deeds or powers of attorney.
How long should signed schedules be kept?
Keep signed schedules at least as long as required by applicable law: IRS records for 3 years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA for 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer where state rules apply.
Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?
Many states permit permanent RON with identity-proofing and audio-video recording requirements. Check the state notary commission rules before relying on RON for any notarizations required by attached documents.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now