Origination fee
An upfront fee some states let lenders charge outside the interest rate — quietly raising the real cost.
What "origination fee" means
An origination fee is a charge for making the loan, taken upfront or added to the balance. Some state laws (Louisiana's is a clear example) explicitly say origination and documentation fees are not "interest," which lets a lender stay under a rate cap on paper while the true APR climbs well above it.
Watch for it because it makes rate comparisons misleading: two loans at the same stated rate can cost very differently once origination fees are counted. Always compare the total finance charge, not just the interest rate.