Description:
Federal fair lending enforcement actions against financial institutions may not be in the news today. But a poor program is still a risk to any lending institution. For a Bank it can effect’s its CRA program. For Credit Unions their standing in their communities.
The lack of clear enforcement is not a reason to back off a strong program. Enforcement is not limited to just one or two key issues; or a focus of just the Federal Regulators. If the past ten years has taught anything . Its that fair and equitable lending is the focus of the States, Attorney Generals, and Special Interest Groups. The lack of a clearly managed program has risk past, current, and future.
Fair Lending is far reaching. There is not just one guiding law it includes many parts; the Equal Credit Opportunity and Fair Housing Acts prohibit illegal discrimination on a prohibited basis. CRA is focused to income disparities, requiring financial institutions to meet the needs of their entire community, including low- and moderate-income areas.
In redlining cases, lending policies result in a lack of lending in certain areas. The financial institutions simply fail to meet the credit needs of its selected assessment area. The examples of fair lending enforcement are vast and provide reason why financial institutions need to understand the essential requirements to limit risk.
WHY?
Discrimination can be obvious, subtle, or unintended. Charges of discrimination can come from any direction. Risk comes in the form of penalties, regulatory enforcement actions, civil liability, or damage to a bank’s public image, to mention a few. The best defense to these threats and risks is developing and maintaining a sound fair lending compliance management system that works to ensure compliance will all laws.
Over the years Fair Lending violations have led to consent decrees that include:
• Significant civil monetary penalties.
• New location and employee requirements.
• Reimbursement to borrowers; and
• Burdensome remedial action to prevent further violations.
This program helps to understand the basics and provide sound practices for managing the risk.
PROGRAM CONTENT
Upon completion of this program, participants understand:
• Fair lending concepts.
• Laws and regulations.
• Bases of discrimination.
• Types of discrimination.
• How to mitigate fair lending risk:
• HMDA and CRA data.
• Marketing/Advertising.
• Recent Developments
• How Small Business Data Collection and Reporting (Section 1071)
• Redlining cases.
WHO?
This program is designed for members of the board of directors, managers of all lending departments, bank counsel, compliance officers, fair lending and CRA officers, loan officers, and auditors.
Presenters:
Kimberly Boatwright, CRCM, CAMS, FLE
Kimberly Boatwright is EVP and Director of Risk and Compliance at Compliance Resource, LLC and has more than a two decades of experience working in the financial services industry. Ms. Boatwright is a well-regarded financial industry risk and compliance professional with a strong background in program development and implementation. She is a thought leader who specializes in Fair Lending, Anti-Money Laundering, OFAC and consumer compliance. During her career she has worked for and consulted with all types of financial institutions helping to establish and evolve compliance and risk programs. She is a frequent public speaker, trainer, and author on compliance and risk management topics. Kimberly is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.
March 5, 2026