Equal credit opportunity act explained

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is a United States law enacted on October 28, 1974, that prohibits any creditor from discriminating against any applicant on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract); the applicant’s use of a public assistance programme to receive all or part of their income; or the applicant’s previous credit history. The law applies to anybody who routinely engages in a credit decision in the ordinary course of business, including banks, retailers, bankcard businesses, financing firms, and credit unions.

Requirements of equal credit opportunity act 

Unless specified circumstances apply, provide the applicant with a notification of action taken within 30 calendar days of receiving a completed application. In some circumstances, written notices of actions performed are required, whereas in others, oral notifications are sufficient.

Give the exact reason(s) (or instruct the applicant on how to obtain the reason(s)) why a candidate is denied credit or is granted credit in a manner that differs from the terms under which they applied. If a creditor closes an account, refuses to increase a line of credit, makes a negative change in the terms of the credit but does not make the same change for other customers, or refuses to give credit at the same, or nearly the same, terms as when the credit was first applied for, the same rule applies.

Equal credit opportunity act process

Title 15 of the United States Code details the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which was enacted in 1974. 3 Individuals asking for loans and other forms of credit can only be evaluated using characteristics directly connected to their creditworthiness, according to the legislation, as applied by Regulation B. It forbids creditors and lenders from taking into account non-creditworthy circumstances, including the following protected classes:

• Race

• Color

• Religion

• National origin

• Sex 

• Marital status

• Age

List of agencies who supervises the Equal Credit Opportunity Act

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) develops rules to implement the ECOA and monitors organisations (such as banks and lending companies) to ensure compliance with the law. Several other government agencies are responsible for ensuring compliance, including:

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)

• Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

The CFPB works with the agencies named above, as well as the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, to enforce the ECOA. 

If you have any other questions regarding the ECOA or for any of your mortgage needs contact the mortgage experts at 864-397-8500 or click Mortgage Rates Today!