Fair Lending Appendices Flashcards
True or false:
The absence of policies and practices that prevent disparate treatment can itself result in a fair lending violation.
False: There is no legal or agency requirement for banks to have policies or practices that prevent disparate treatment. The absences of policies and practices is never, by itself, a violation.
What is a self-test?
What type of data does it use?
What is important about the results?
Program, practice or study that is designed and used to assess the bank’s compliance with ECOA and FHA.
It creates data and info that is not otherwise available from loan, applications, or other credit records.
The report results are privileged unless a bank voluntarily discloses them or forfeits the privileges’.
What is a self-evaluation?
What type of data does it use?
Same as a self test, to evaluate a bank’s compliance of fair lending laws.
Does not create new data. uses data from loan applications and other credit records.
What should examiners identify when reviewing a customized credit scoring model, scorecard for any product, or credit scoring model for portfolio products? (11)
- The # and interrelationship of each model/scorecard applied to each product
- Purpose for each scorecard (approval decision, set credit limits, set pricing, processing requirements)
- Developer for each scorecard (in-house, third party)
- Type and frequency of monitoring reports
- Applicable policies
- Training for applicable employees and third parties
- Actions taken to revalidate/ re-calibrate an model and why
- # of high side and low side overrides for each override type and guidance on overrides.
- All cutoffs used for each score card, reasons for any cutoffs or changes.
- All variables scored for each product and permitted values
- method for disclosing adverse action reasons arising from the model or scorecard.
What should examiners identify when reviewing a judgmental underwriting system that includes a standard credit bureau or standard credit score as an underwriting criterion? (4)
- vendor of each credit score and any vendor guidance on the usage of the score relied upon
- bank’s basis for using a particular bureau or score, and the cutoff standards for each products underwriting system, reason for cutoffs, and any cutoff changes since LX.
- # of exceptions made to credit score component of underwriting criteria, basis for exceptions, and any guidance given to employees
- types and frequency of monitoring reports
What must be disclosed on the Adverse Action notice for an applicant, where a credit score was used to differentiate application processing and the applicant was denied for failure to attain a judgmental underwriting standard, that would not have applied if the applicant had a better credit score?
Must disclose the bases on which the applicant failed to attain the credit score required for consideration in the less stringent processing group.
When reviewing for disparate treatment in the application of credit scoring programs, what should examiners identify? (4)
- controls and policies management has in place to ensure credit scoring models or criteria are not applied in a discriminatory manner.
- if bases for granting credit to control group applicants who are low-side overrides are applicable to any prohibited basis denials whose credit score was equal to or greater than the lowest score among the low-side overrides.
- if bases for denying credit to any prohibited basis applicants who are high-side overrides are applicable to any control group approvals whose credit score is equal to or less than the highest score among the prohibited bases high-side overrides.
- if credit scores are used to segment applicants into groups that receive different processing or underwriting requirements. Perform a comparative file review if needed.
What are the two ways a credit scoring system can consider age?
- system splits into different scorecards depending on the age of the applicant
- age may be directly scored as a variable.
What does regulation B require of all credit scoring systems that consider age? (3)
They require initial validation and periodic revalidation to ensure the system is EDDSS
- Empirically derived
- Demonstrably
- Statistically Sound
If a credit scoring system splits applications into only two cards, one card covers a wide age range (62 and older), is this system scoring age?
No, this system is treated as considering but not scoring age.
In an age-split credit scoring system, what is the younger scorecard (applicants under a specific age between 25 and 30) typically used for?
To de-emphasize factors such as the number of trade lines, length of employment, and increases negative weight of any derogatory information on the credit report.
Is this credit scoring system treated as scoring age?
Age is directly scored as a variable in an age split system
Yes
Is this credit scoring system treated as scoring age?
Elderly applicants are included in a scorecard with a narrow age range
Yes
What must a bank ensure regarding elderly applicants if a scorecard scores age directly and meets the EDDSS requirement?
Creditor must ensure the age of the elderly applicant is not assigned a negative factor or value.
i.e. a factor, value or weight that is less favorable than the creditor experience warrants or is less favorable than would be assigned to the most favored age group below 62
How should examiners evaluate the following response to evidence of disparate treatment: (3)
The employees were unaware of the prohibited basis identity of the applicant
- Ask the bank to show that the application was processed in such a way that the employees could not have learned the identity of the applicant
- if GMI is collected or the surname was recognizable as proxy assume employees could have taken those facts into account
- if the racial character of the community is in question, as the bank to provide evidence of how its staff would not know the character of any community in the AA.
How should examiners evaluate the following response to evidence of disparate treatment: (4)
The difference in treatment was justified by difference in the applicants (ie applicants are not “similarly situated”)
-ask the bank to account for the difference in treatment by pointing out specific differences between the applicants’ qualifications or other factors taken into account. (cannot be a meaningless difference)
- verify not similarly situated explanations for consistency
- Evaluate other not similarly situated explanations by other means.
- Follow up with customer contacts
Factors commonly cited to show applicants are not similarly situated fall into two groups, what are they?
- factors that can be evaluated by how consistently they are handled in other transactions
- those that cannot be evaluated for consistency.
What factors should be evaluated for consistency to show applicants when cited by a bank are not similarly situated? (6)
- Customer Relationship
- loan not saleable or insurable
- differences in standards or procedures between branches or underwriters
- differences in applying the same standard (differences in strictness)
- standards or procedures changed during the period reviewed
- Employee misunderstood standard or procedure.
When a bank cites customer relationship as an explanation for apparent disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency?
-Ask the bank to document that a customer relationship was also sometimes considered to the benefit of prohibited basis applicants and/or the absence worked against control group applicants.
When a bank cites loan not saleable or insurable as an explanation for apparent disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency? (2)
- if the file review is still in progress, look for loans approved despite the claimed fatal problem.
- Ask the bank to produce the text of the secondary market or insurer’s requirement in question.
When a bank cites difference in standards or procedures between branches or underwriters as an explanation for apparent disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency?
-ask the bank to provide transactions documenting that each of the branches or underwriters applied its standards/ procedures consistently to both prohibited basis and control group applicants, and that each served similar proportions of the target group.
When a bank cites differences in applying the same standard (difference in strictness) as an explanation for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency?
-ask the bank to provide transaction documenting that the stricter employee, branch was strict for both target and control group applicants and that the other was lenient for both groups.
Best evidence: target group who received favorable treatment from the lenient branch and control group applicants who received less favorable treatment from the strict branch.
When a bank cites standards or procedures changed during the review period as an explanation for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency?
-ask the bank to provide transactions documenting that during each period the standards were applied consistently to both applicant groups.
When a bank cites employee misunderstood standard or procedures as an explanation for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate this factor for consistency?
- ask the bank to provide transactions documenting that the misunderstanding influenced both target and control group applications.
- no violation if the misunderstanding is a reasonable mistake.
How can examiners validate factors cited for disparate treatment that cannot be validated through consistency? (4)
- if the factor is documented to exist in or be absent from the transactions, as claimed by the bank
- if the factor is one a prudent bank would consider and is consistent with the bank’s policies/procedures
- file review found no evidence that the factor is applied selectively
- if the bank’s description of the transaction is generally reasonable and consistent.
What types of factors cannot be compared for consistency when cited by a bank for apparent disparate treatment? (5)
- unusual underwriting standard
- Close calls
- Character loans
- Accommodation Loan
- Gut feeling
When a bank cites unusual underwriting standard as an explanation for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate the response? (2)
- Ask the bank to show the standard is prudent.
- Accept the explanation if the standard is prudent and not inconsistent with other info even if there is no documentation it is used consistently.
When a bank cites close call as an explanation for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate the response? (3)
- discretion resulting in differences in underwriting for similar applicants should not be second guessed
- Discretion resulting in differences in underwriting for identical applicants is not an acceptable explanation unless the applicants have different strengths and weaknesses that may be weighed differently by underwriters.
- don’t except the explanation if other files reveal strengths and weaknesses are counted or ignored selectively on a prohibited basis.
When a bank cites character loan for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate the response?
-expect the bank to identify a specific history or facts that make the applicant treated favorably a better risk than those treated less favorably.
When a bank cites accommodation loan for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate the response? (2)
- be skeptical when a bank cites reasons for accommodations that a prudent institution would not value
- Legitimate reasons for an accommodation are not illegal even if they make the loan to an unqualified control group applicant who has an accommodation while denying a loan to a similar target group applicant who does not have one.
- -Accommodations can include: customer is related or referred by an important customer, is a politician or entertainment figure who would bring prestige to the bank, is an employee of an important business customer, etc.
When a bank cites gut feeling for disparate treatment, how should examiners validate the response?
- be skeptical when bank’s justify based on perception of a customer as it may be linked to a racial or other stereotype that cannot influence credit decisions
- ask what generated the reaction to make them confident or uncomfortable about the customer.
- no discrimination if the reason is creditable and the bank did not apply any factor selectively on a prohibited basis.
When should examiners consider contacting customers to verify bank descriptions?
If the bank’s explanation of handling a particular transaction is based on consumer traits, actions, or desires not evident from the file.
Such contacts need not be limited to possible victims of discriminations, but can include control group applicants or other witnesses.
How should examiners assess descriptive references in bank responses to overt evidence of disparate treatment?
A reference to race, gender, etc. does not constitute a violation if it is merely descriptive (i.e the applicant was young)
Conversely, if the reference reveals the prohibited factor influenced the bank’s decisions or the customers behavior, treat the situation as an apparent violation to which the bank must respond.
How should examiners assess personal opinions in bank responses to overt evidence of disparate treatment?
If an employee involved in credit availability states unfavorable views based on a prohibited factor but does not explicitly relate those views to credit decisions, review that employee’s credit decisions for possible disparate treatment.
With no instances of disparate treatment, treat the employee’s views as personal opinion and inform the bank that such views create a risk of future violations.
How should examiners assess stereotypes related to credit decisions in bank responses to overt evidence of disparate treatment?
Apparent violation when a prohibited factor influences a credit decision through a stereotype related to creditworthiness. (i.e a single woman could not maintain a large house)
If the stereotype is offered as an explanation for unfavorable treatment it is an apparent violation.
If it is only a general observation, review the employee’s credit decisions for possible disparate treatment and inform the bank that such views create a risk of future violations.
How should examiners assess an indirect reference to a prohibited factor in bank responses to overt evidence of disparate treatment?
Determine if the terms would be commonly understood as surrogates for prohibited factors. if so treat it as if a prohibited factor was used. (i.e. its too risky to lend north of 110th street)
In what scenarios can a bank lawfully use a prohibited factor overtly? (3)
- Special purpose credit program
- Second Review Program
- Affirmative marketing program
What is a special purpose credit program (SPCP)?
Program under Regulation B to provide credit to specific groups that is accompanied by a defined and written plan written prior to accepting applications.
What 2 elements must be included as part of the written plan for a Special purpose credit program?
The written plan must:
- Demonstrate that the program will benefit persons who would otherwise be denied credit or receive credit on less favorable terms
- state the time period the program will be in effect or when it will be re-evaluated.
When would a Secondary review programs that uses a prohibited factor be permissible?
if the program does no more than ensure that lending standards are applied fairly and uniformly to all applicants. (i.e. an internal comparative file review for a specific group to determine if applicants were evaluated consistently)
When would affirmative marketing programs be permissible?
if they do not involve application of different lending standards they are permissible under both ECOA and FHA. i.e special outreach to a minority community.