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Providing equal credit opportunities (ECOA)

Resources to help industry understand, implement, and comply with the fair lending requirements of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B.

Featured topics

On May 3, 2022, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that lenders will be required to use the Supplemental Consumer Information Form, which asks about consumers’ language preference, as part of the application process for loans that will be sold to the Enterprises. Consistent with the Bureau’s Nov. 2017 approval, creditors do not violate the ECOA or Regulation B when they collect the language preference of an applicant or borrower.

On April 29, 2022, the Bureau issued Spanish translations of certain sample forms in Appendix C of Regulation B.

On May 6, 2020, the Bureau issued FAQs that clarify responsibilities of creditors collecting Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program loan applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rules and notices

Browse the 2021 Interpretive Rule providing that the prohibition against sex discrimination encompasses sexual orientation discrimination and gender identity discrimination.

Browse the 2017 final rule to see Regulation B amendments relating to the collection of ethnicity and race information.

Browse the 2017 notice regarding the redesign of the uniform residential loan application.

Browse the 2016 notice regarding the uniform residential loan application.

Browse the 2013 ECOA valuation final rule to see amendments to Regulation B relating to the disclosure and delivery of appraisals and other valuations.

Regulations and official interpretations

Browse Regulation B (12 CFR 1002) on: Interactive Bureau Regulations | eCFR

Guides

Supervision and examination materials

Guides to how the Bureau will supervise and examine entities under its jurisdiction for compliance with Federal consumer financial law.

Browse ECOA examination procedures

Browse ECOA baseline review modules

Browse Supervisory Highlights

Compliance bulletins

CFPB 2019 statement on collection of demographic information by community development financial institutions

CFPB Bulletin 2015-02: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program

CFPB Bulletin 2014-03: Social Security Disability Income Verification

CFPB Bulletin 2012-04: Lending discrimination

Annual reports

The Bureau files an annual report to Congress describing the administration of its functions under ECOA, among other items.

2018 Fair lending annual report to Congress

2017 Fair lending annual report to Congress

2016 Fair lending annual report to Congress

2015 Fair lending annual report to Congress

2014 Fair lending annual report to Congress

2013 Fair lending annual report to Congress

Quick references

Other references

ECOA Valuations rule implementation

Forms

Browse model and sample forms that were published in Regulation B.

Additional materials

Some of the resources listed below are provided by other federal agencies and may not represent the Bureau’s views or interpretations.

2016 Bureau Letter to Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) addressing coverage of sex discrimination involving sexual orientation and gender identity under ECOA

Interagency Statement on Fair Lending Compliance and the Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage Standards Rule (October 2013)

Browse FFIEC Interagency Fair Lending Examination Procedures (August 2009)

Browse the FFIEC Interagency Fair Lending Procedures Appendix (August 2009)