Fair Access

CFPB: Pilot Study Finds Differential Treatment in Small Business Lending Markets

Lenders less likely to encourage Black entrepreneurs and more often steer them toward alternative financing Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a study revealing significant disparities in how lenders treat Black and white small business owners seeking loans. The research found that Black entrepreneurs received less encouragement to apply for a loan and…

OCC: Fair Access Rule Put on Hold

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced it has paused publication of its rule to ensure large banks provide all customers fair access to their services. The agency proposed the rule in November 2020 to codify more than a decade of OCC guidance stating that banks should conduct risk assessments of individual customers,…

OCC: Final Rule Requiring Large Banks to Provide Fair Access to Bank Services, Capital, and Credit Effective April 1, 2021

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released its finalized rule to ensure fair access to banking services provided by large national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign bank organizations. The rule codifies more than a decade of OCC guidance stating that banks should conduct risk assessment…

CFPB: Advisory Opinion Issued to Help Expand Fair, Equitable and Nondiscriminatory Access to Credit

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) issued an advisory opinion to address regulatory uncertainty regarding Regulation B, which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), as it applies to certain aspects of special purpose credit programs (SPCPs). The ECOA and Regulation B prohibit discrimination on certain prohibited bases in any aspect of a credit…

OCC: Proposed Rule Would Ensure Fair Access to Bank Services, Capital and Credit

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today proposed a rule to ensure fair access to banking services provided by national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign bank organizations. The proposal would codify more than a decade of OCC guidance stating that banks should provide access to services,…