Equal Housing Lender is a term that is used by financial institutions to indicate that they are in compliance with the Federal Fair Lending Laws, under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it is illegal, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status to: Deny a loan for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling, or deny any loan secured by a dwelling; or discriminate in fixing the amount, interest rate, duration, application procedures or other terms or conditions of such a loan, or in appraising property.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes it illegal to discriminate in any credit transaction on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, or age; because income is from public assistance; or because a right has been exercised under the Consumer Protection Act. Bank Independent is proud to be an Equal Housing Lender and we are fully committed to practices that support a fair and equitable housing market. Here are five key points to understand about Equal Housing Lender:
Equal Housing Lender is a commitment to fairness and equality in lending. By using this term, financial institutions are pledging to provide equal access to credit for all qualified borrowers, regardless of their background or personal characteristics. - Equal Housing Lender is a requirement for financial institutions. All regulators are required to monitor for this, and it requires that financial institutions that are subject to its regulation use the Equal Housing Lender logo and make this commitment to fair lending.
- Equal Housing Lender is a way for borrowers to know that they are dealing with a lender that is committed to fair lending practices. By looking for the Equal Housing Lender logo, borrowers can be confident that they will be treated fairly and that they will have the same access to credit as any other qualified borrower.
- Equal Housing Lender is an important part of the broader effort to promote equality and fairness in the financial system. By requiring financial institutions to make this commitment to fair lending, the government is helping to ensure that all qualified borrowers have equal access to credit, regardless of their background or personal characteristics. This is an essential step towards building a more inclusive and equitable financial system.
