Chapter 203

CHAPTER 203

EARNED WAGE ACCESS SERVICES

203.01   Definitions.

203.02   Powers of the division.

203.03   Licensure.

203.04   Provider requirements; limitations.

203.06   Reporting requirements; books and records.

203.07   Suspension or revocation of license.

203.08   Violations and enforcement.

203.01 203.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

203.01(1) (1) “Business entity” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other commercial entity.

203.01(2) (2) “Consumer” means an individual who resides in this state.

203.01(3) (3) “Consumer-directed wage access services” means the business of delivering to consumers access to earned but unpaid income that is based on the consumer’s representations and the provider’s reasonable determination of the consumer’s earned but unpaid income.

203.01(4) (4) “Division” means the division of banking.

203.01(5) (5) “Earned but unpaid income” means salary, wages, compensation, or other income that a consumer or an employer has represented, and that a provider has reasonably determined, has been earned or accrued to the benefit of the consumer in exchange for the consumer’s provision of services to the employer or on behalf of the employer, including on an hourly, project-based, piecework, or other basis and including circumstances in which the consumer is acting as an independent contractor of the employer, but has not, at the time of the payment of proceeds, been paid to the consumer by the employer.

203.01(6) (6) “Earned wage access service” means the business of providing consumer-directed wage access services or employer-integrated wage access services, or both.

203.01(7) (7) 

203.01(7)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “employer” means any of the following:

203.01(7)(a)1. 1. A person who employs a consumer.

203.01(7)(a)2. 2. Any other person who is contractually obligated to pay a consumer earned but unpaid income in exchange for the consumer’s provision of services to the employer or on behalf of the employer including on an hourly, project-based, piecework, or other basis and including circumstances in which the consumer is acting as an independent contractor with respect to the employer.

203.01(7)(b) (b) “Employer” does not include any of the following:

203.01(7)(b)1. 1. A customer of an employer.

203.01(7)(b)2. 2. Any other person whose obligation to make a payment of salary, wages, compensation, or other income to a consumer is not based on the provision of services by that consumer for or on behalf of the person.

203.01(8) (8) “Employer-integrated wage access services” means the business of delivering to consumers access to earned but unpaid income that is based on employment, income, or attendance data obtained directly or indirectly from an employer.

203.01(9) (9) 

203.01(9)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “fee” includes any of the following:

203.01(9)(a)1. 1. A fee imposed by a provider for delivery or expedited delivery of proceeds to a consumer.

203.01(9)(a)2. 2. A subscription or membership fee imposed by a provider for a bona fide group of services that include earned wage access services.

203.01(9)(b) (b) “Fee” does not include a voluntary tip, gratuity, or other donation.

203.01(10) (10) “Licensee” means a business entity that is licensed by the division under s. 203.03 (1) as an earned wage access services provider.

203.01(11) (11) “Nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry” has the meaning given in 12 USC 5102 (6).

203.01(12) (12) “Outstanding proceeds” means proceeds remitted to a consumer by a provider that have not yet been repaid to the provider.

203.01(13) (13) “Proceeds” means a payment in U.S. dollars to a consumer by a provider that is based on earned but unpaid income.

203.01(14) (14) 

203.01(14)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “provider” means a business entity that is in the business of providing earned wage access services to consumers.

203.01(14)(b) (b) “Provider” does not include any of the following:

203.01(14)(b)1. 1. A service provider, such as a payroll service provider, whose role may include verifying the available earnings but that is not contractually obligated to fund proceeds delivered as part of an earned wage access service.

203.01(14)(b)2. 2. An employer that offers a portion of salary, wages, or compensation directly to its employees or independent contractors prior to the normally scheduled pay date.

203.01 History History: 2023 a. 131.

203.02 203.02 Powers of the division.

203.02(1) (1) The division may issue any general or special order in execution of or supplementary to this chapter.

203.02(2) (2) The division may promulgate such rules as it considers necessary for the administration of this chapter.

203.02(3) (3) The division has the same power to conduct hearings, take testimony, and secure evidence as is provided in ss. 217.17 and 217.18.

203.02 Note NOTE: Sections 217.17 and 217.18 were repealed by 2023 Wis. Act 267.

203.02(4) (4) The division for the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter may investigate the business of a licensee that is transacted under this chapter and shall investigate convictions reported to the division by any district attorney for violation by a provider of this chapter. The place of business, if any, books of account, papers, records, safes, and vaults of a licensee shall be open to inspection and examination by the division for the purpose of such investigation, and the division may examine under oath all persons whose testimony the division may require relative to such investigation.

203.02(5) (5) The cost of any investigation, examination, or hearing, including witness fees or any other expenses, conducted by the division under this chapter involving a provider shall be paid by the provider within 30 days after demand therefor by the division, and the state may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs and expenses.

203.02(6) (6) Actual costs incurred by the division to examine books and records maintained outside this state shall be paid by the provider.

203.02 History History: 2023 a. 131.

203.03 203.03 Licensure.

203.03(1) (1) 

203.03(1)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), a provider, including a provider that is not physically located in this state, may not provide earned wage access services in this state unless the provider has been issued a license by the division.

203.03(1)(b) (b) This section does not apply to banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, or any of their affiliates.

203.03(2) (2) A provider required to be licensed under sub. (1) shall apply to the division for a license on a form and in the manner prescribed by the division. The application shall include all of the following information:

203.03(2)(a) (a) The name of the provider.

203.03(2)(b) (b) The name under which the provider transacts business, if different from par. (a).

203.03(2)(c) (c) The address of the provider’s principal office, which may be outside this state.

203.03(2)(d) (d) The addresses of all of the provider’s offices or retail stores, if any, in this state.

203.03(2)(e) (e) If the provider provides earned wage access services at a location that is not an office or retail store in this state, a brief description of the manner in which the provider provides earned wage access services.