With new information in HMDA data concerning high-cost loans, NCRC has created a series of studies documenting that minorities, women and the elderly receive a disproportionate amount of high-cost or subprime loans. When a group of borrowers receives a disproportionate amount of such loans, excessive fees, interest rates and other unfair practices become more likely, […]
National Studies of Lending Trends Read More »
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are known as Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) because of considerable benefits, such as tax exemptions, that they receive from the Federal government. The GSEs serve a critical function as they buy loans from banks, enabling banks to make more loans. With GSE reform as a major priority for Congress, NCRC will
Government Sponsored Enterprises Reform Read More »
Enacted by Congress in 1975, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) requires banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions to publicly report detailed data on their home lending activity. Over the years, community organizations and concerned citizens have used HMDA data as a tool to determine which banks are lending in their community.
HMDA Data Enhancements Read More »
Data disclosures must be enhanced for small business lending so that the public can thoroughly assess financial institutions’ lending practices to women, minorities, and working-class Americans. With enhanced data disclosure, regulatory agencies can more effectively enforce fair lending laws and banks are generally more motivated to serve overlooked small businesses. NCRC applauds Congress for passing
Small Business Data Read More »
Since it was passed in 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has helped infuse trillions of dollars in community reinvestment dollars into minority and lower income neighborhoods. But, despite the benefits of CRA, recent changes will decrease its effectiveness and result in fewer loans and investments in low-income and minority communities. Instead, CRA needs to
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Read More »
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a law that requires banks to serve the credit needs of communities where they are chartered, including low- and moderate-income communities. The law promotes neighborhood revitalization and equity building by creating access to responsible homeownership opportunities, basic banking services and capital for small businesses. The CRA also calls on
Community Reinvestment Act Organizing Read More »
Since the last review of the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) by the Federal Reserve Board, the home mortgage market has changed considerably. Subprime lending has become a dominant force, unregulated mortgage brokers now originate a large part of the mortgages, and exotic mortgages with exploding interest rates have become a common occurrence.
Anti-Predatory Lending and Sustainable Homeownership Read More »
Passed by Congress in 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) states that “regulated financial institutions have continuing and affirmative obligations to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered.” The act then establishes a regulatory regime for monitoring the level of lending, investments, and services in low- and moderate-income
A Brief Description of CRA Read More »
In the early years of CRA, community activists, lenders, and regulators focused on home lending activity. This was partly because HMDA data was available and because neighborhood organizing usually started with the issues of housing, crime prevention, and other community empowerment endeavors. As CRA enforcement and activism evolved over the years, the importance of small
The CRA Small Business Data Read More »
NCRC Organizes Community Groups to Protest Venture Bank’s Payday Lending NCRC Comments on Staten Island NCRC Comments on NetBank’s CRA Strategic Plan NCRC Organizes Community Groups to Protest Venture Bank’s Payday Lending The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), the Consumer Federation of American (CFA), the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina (CRA*NC) and 65 other
NCRC Comments on CRA Exam Read More »
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a remarkable law. Not only does it prohibit discrimination against working class and minority neighborhoods, it also imposes an affirmative obligation on banks to serve these communities. It is not good enough for a bank to establish branches and passively wait for customers to walk into branches. Instead, banks
