This Member Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between American Association of Private Lenders, LLC (“AAPL”) and the individual applying for Member status (the “Member”). Membership in AAPL is a privilege and not a property right or contractual entitlement. AAPL may suspend or terminate membership whenever it reasonably determines that continuation of membership could adversely affect AAPL’s reputation, credibility, mission, members, partners, or the public.

1. Member Benefits. Member is granted access to AAPL programs, educational resources, networking opportunities, publications, member services, professional recognition, and other AAPL-administered benefits (together, the “Benefits”). Certain Benefits may also include discounts or services offered by participating third-party vendors.

“Application” means any request submitted through a process authorized by AAPL for Member status. Upon AAPL’s receipt of the Application, Member receives access to Benefits in accordance with this Agreement. Certain Benefits, including public directory listings, designations, or other public recognition of Member status, may be withheld until screening has been successfully completed.

Benefits are offered as a convenience to Member and may be modified, suspended, replaced, or discontinued at AAPL’s discretion. Availability of any specific Benefit is not guaranteed.

Benefits are provided subject to this Agreement and continued compliance with AAPL’s eligibility requirements, Code of Ethics, and other applicable AAPL policies.

2. Eligibility. Continued access to Benefits is available only if Member satisfies AAPL’s eligibility requirements. Submission of an Application, payment of any applicable Member Dues, or participation in the screening process does not guarantee continued Member status or continued eligibility for any particular Benefit. Member has a continuing obligation to remain eligible throughout the Benefit Period. AAPL may approve, deny, condition, suspend, revoke, or decline to renew Member status in accordance with this Agreement.

3. Dues and Renewal. The Benefit Period commences upon AAPL’s receipt of the Application and continues for 365 days. Benefits renew automatically every 365 days until Member cancels. Member authorizes AAPL to charge any applicable Member Dues on the supplied credit card or debit card at the time of Application and at each automatic renewal.

AAPL is not responsible for any fees or penalties associated with insufficient funds, bounced checks, or any other form of fee resulting from a charge of the Member Dues to a debit or credit card provided by the Member.

4. Cancellation. Member may cancel automatic renewal at any time via e-mail to contact@aaplonline.com. If Member cancels before the end of the Benefit Period for which Member has paid Member Dues, Member will not receive a refund of such Member Dues nor any portion thereof, and will retain Benefits until the end of their Benefit Period. Member will be removed from automatic renewal. Cancellations must be received seven days prior to the current Benefit Period expiration.

5. Screening and Member Status. As part of the Application and renewal process, AAPL may conduct one or more screening procedures designed to evaluate continued eligibility for Member status and Benefits.

Member authorizes AAPL and its designated service provider(s) to obtain, review, and analyze information relevant to eligibility. AAPL may conduct additional screening during the Benefit Period whenever reasonably necessary, including but not limited to renewal; ethics, fraud, or policy investigations; or member-reported changes.

AAPL retains sole discretion to approve, deny, revoke, or condition Member status based upon information obtained through these reviews, together with any additional information deemed relevant by AAPL.

Any Member status, designation, credential, badge, or other form of recognition issued by AAPL reflects only that the Member satisfied AAPL’s requirements at the time it was issued. Third parties should not rely upon Member status, designation, credential, badge, or other form of recognition as evidence of endorsement, guarantee, certification of financial condition, legal compliance, creditworthiness, business practices, future conduct, or suitability for any transaction.

6. Member Representations. Member represents that all information submitted in the Application is complete, accurate, and current, and that Member has authority to submit any company information provided in connection with the Application. Member acknowledges that AAPL may rely upon the accuracy and completeness of information submitted in connection with the Application and throughout the Benefit Period.

7. Code of Ethics and Enforcement. Member shall comply with AAPL’s Code of Ethics, as published and amended from time to time on the AAPL website at aaplonline.com. Membership in AAPL is a privilege and not a right, and no Member has any vested right to obtain, maintain, renew, or continue Member status, Benefits, or participation in AAPL programs.

AAPL may investigate alleged or suspected violations of the Code of Ethics, this Agreement, or any other AAPL policy, as well as complaints, reports, suspected fraud, identity misrepresentation, misuse of Association resources, failure to cooperate with an investigation, or any other conduct that AAPL reasonably believes may adversely affect AAPL, its members, industry stakeholders, or the public. AAPL may consider and rely upon information from any source it reasonably deems reliable, including member complaints, third-party reports, public records, court filings, regulatory actions, criminal proceedings, media reports, and information provided by the Member or others.

Conduct that, in AAPL’s sole judgment, is dishonest, fraudulent, unethical, misleading, abusive, unlawful, unprofessional, or likely to harm AAPL’s reputation, mission, credibility, members, industry stakeholders, or the public may constitute grounds for disciplinary action. AAPL may make disciplinary determinations based on a preponderance of the evidence or any other standard it deems appropriate and shall not be required to apply judicial or administrative rules of evidence or procedure.

During an investigation or review, AAPL may immediately suspend, restrict, condition, or revoke Member status, Benefits, participation rights, or access to AAPL resources as AAPL deems appropriate. Following review, AAPL may, in its sole discretion, issue warnings; require corrective action; impose conditions on membership; restrict participation in AAPL programs or events; suspend or revoke Member status or Benefits on a temporary or permanent basis; deny renewal; prohibit future applications for membership; or impose any other remedy or disciplinary measure deemed appropriate.

AAPL may designate any termination, suspension, or revocation as permanent and may prohibit future membership applications, participation in AAPL programs, attendance at AAPL events, or access to AAPL resources indefinitely.

AAPL is not required to provide notice, a hearing, an appeal, reconsideration, or any other procedural process before or after taking disciplinary action. If AAPL elects to provide any review, reconsideration, or appeal process, such process shall be entirely discretionary and shall not create any right or entitlement to continued membership, Benefits, participation, or reinstatement.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Member waives and releases any claims against AAPL and its directors, officers, committee members, employees, volunteers, agents, contractors, and participants arising from or relating to good-faith investigations, screening activities, ethics reviews, disciplinary proceedings, membership decisions, or related communications.

Upon suspension, revocation, expiration, or termination of Member status, the Member shall immediately cease representing themselves as an AAPL member and shall discontinue and remove all references to AAPL membership, Benefits, designations, credentials, badges, logos, trademarks, emblems, certifications, and other indicia of affiliation with AAPL from all websites, marketing materials, social media accounts, business records, and communications.

Decisions made by AAPL under this Section shall be final and binding.

8. Duty to Update. Member must maintain accurate contact information in the online Member Dashboard. If unwilling or unable to update through the Member Dashboard, Member will contact AAPL immediately at contact@aaplonline.com.

Member shall promptly notify AAPL of any material change affecting the company or brand identity associated with Member status, including changes affecting directory listings, Benefits, or other AAPL records. If Member is no longer affiliated with the company or brand identity previously associated with the Member, AAPL may, at its discretion, permit reassignment of certain Benefits in accordance with its then-current policies.

Member shall promptly notify AAPL of material events that may affect continued eligibility under this Agreement or the AAPL Code of Ethics. Such events include, without limitation: (i) criminal indictments or felony charges involving fraud, theft, financial crimes, or lending-related conduct; (ii) regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, license suspensions, or license revocations relating to lending or financial services; (iii) final civil judgments involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, securities violations, or similar misconduct; and (iv) placement on a governmental sanctions or watchlist. Failure to provide timely notice may constitute an independent basis for review under this Agreement and the AAPL Code of Ethics and may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or termination of Member status.

9. Duty to Cooperate. Member will cooperate with reasonable requests for information relating to ethics investigations, member screening, fraud prevention, or compliance reviews. Failure to cooperate may result in suspension or termination of Member status and/or Benefits.

10. Intellectual Property. Only the Proud Member Emblem is designated for Member use. All other uses must be authorized in writing by AAPL. Members receive a limited, revocable, non-exclusive license to use only those AAPL trademarks, logos, badges, or emblems specifically designated by AAPL for member use and only in accordance with guidelines provided to Member. This license terminates immediately upon expiration, suspension, or termination of Member status.

11. Confidentiality and Member Credentials. Member may not share any confidential or proprietary information supplied by AAPL, including but not limited to their account login, coupon codes, discounts, proprietary materials, and/or other Benefits; excepting the account login for use to access the Member Job Posting service for the purpose of posting a job on behalf of Member’s registered company.

Member agrees the Benefits are not assignable without the express written consent of AAPL. Member status is personal to the Member. Benefits may be used only in connection with one company or brand identity identified by the Member through ownership or employment. AAPL treats each company name or brand identity as a separate company for purposes of eligibility and Benefits, regardless of DBA status or entity structure.

12. VerifyDial Directory Participation. Member authorizes AAPL to share information with VerifyDial for the limited purposes of consumer verification, fraud prevention, directory services, and related fraud-monitoring activities. Member information that may be shared includes the Member’s designated company or contact name, primary phone number, headquartered state, Member status, and opt-in status. Member may update or change this information at any time through their AAPL account profile. Member may opt-out at any time. AAPL will provide updated information, Member status, and/or opt-in status to VerifyDial using commercially reasonable efforts and on a periodic basis.

13. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability. AAPL shall have no liability in regard to any services provided, or to be provided, by any third-party sponsor, affiliate, and/or vendor (“Vendor”). AAPL shall have no liability in regard to any Benefits provided, or to be provided, by any Vendor. Member agrees that claims with regard to services shall be made against the Vendor providing or performing such services and not AAPL. Member understands and acknowledges that AAPL cannot force vendors to provide any product, service or promotion and that Vendors are free to run their businesses as they see fit and begin/halt such efforts at their own discretion.

All products, services, advice, merchandise and information available to Member are provided on an “As is”, “As available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Without limiting the above, no warranty or guaranty is given regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability or quality of any information, content, data, service, advice, product or merchandise provided or available to, or purchased by, Member through Benefits or other participation with AAPL.

14. Amendments. AAPL may modify this Agreement from time to time. Continued access to Benefits after the effective date of any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Agreement, except where additional consent is required by applicable law.

15. Electronic Disclosure and Consent. Member consents to receive all notices electronically unless otherwise required by applicable law. Member must take appropriate action to ensure the aaplonline.com domain is whitelisted with their email provider.

16. Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement, and the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida. Any dispute arising between Member and AAPL will be submitted to arbitration in the State of Florida in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Nothing herein stated shall deprive Member of the benefits of Member’s state’s consumer protection laws.

17. General Release. Member expressly waives any claim for damages, compensation, equitable relief, or other remedy arising from the denial, suspension, restriction, revocation, non-renewal, or termination of membership or Benefits, including any claim based upon alleged loss of business opportunities, customers, contracts, referrals, profits, revenues, goodwill, professional standing, reputation, or future economic advantage. Member acknowledges that membership in AAPL is a privilege and not a right and agrees that AAPL’s membership and disciplinary decisions, when made in good faith and pursuant to this Agreement, shall not give rise to liability.

Member’s sole remedy under this Agreement shall be cancellation of membership and discontinuation of participation in AAPL programs and Benefits.

18. Entire Agreement. The foregoing Agreement represents the entire Agreement in connection with Member’s participation in AAPL. No representations, inducements, promises or agreement, or otherwise, between AAPL and Member not included herein, shall be of any force or effect. If any of the foregoing provisions shall be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected.

19. Binding Effect. The foregoing Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of AAPL and the Member as well as their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Updated 2026.7.17