53-244.116. Disciplinary authority.

(a) The Commissioner may, by order:

(1) Take any action authorized under G.S. 53-244.113.

(2) Impose a civil penalty upon a licensee, registrant, individual, or person subject to this Article, or upon any partner, officer, director, or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions on behalf of a licensee, registrant, or other person subject to this Article for any violation of or failure to comply with this Article. The civil penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation of or failure to comply with this Article. Each violation of or failure to comply with this Article shall be a separate and distinct violation.

(3) Impose a civil penalty upon a licensee, registrant, individual, or person subject to this Article, or upon any partner, officer, director, or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions on behalf of a licensee, registrant, or other person subject to this Article for any violation of or failure to comply with any directive or order of the Commissioner. The civil penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation of or failure to comply with any directive or order of the Commissioner. Each violation of or failure to comply with any directive or order of the Commissioner shall be a separate and distinct violation.

(4) Require a licensee, registrant, individual, or person subject to this Article to disgorge and pay to a borrower or other individual any amounts received by the licensee, registrant, individual, or person subject to the Article, including any employee of the person, to the extent that the amounts were collected in violation of Chapter 24 of the General Statutes or in excess of those allowed by law.

(5) Prohibit licensees or registrants under this Article from engaging in acts and practices in connection with residential mortgage loans that the Commissioner finds to be unfair, deceptive, designed to evade the laws of this State, or that are not in the best interest of the borrowing public.

(b) When a licensee or registrant is accused of any act, omission, or misconduct that would subject the licensee or registrant to disciplinary action, the licensee or registrant, with the consent and approval of the Commissioner, may surrender the license or registration and all the rights and privileges pertaining to it. A person who surrenders a license shall not be eligible for or submit any application for licensure under this Article during any period specified by the Commissioner, and a person who surrenders a registration shall not be eligible for or submit any application for registration under this Article during any period specified by the Commissioner.

(c) The requirements of this Article apply to any person who seeks to avoid its application by any device, subterfuge, or pretense whatsoever, including structuring a loan in a manner to avoid classification of the loan as a residential mortgage loan.