Center For Responsible Lending

Programs: Technical assistance provided legal analysis and market insight on debt collection and abusive lending practices in the areas of mortgage, small loans, and student and auto loans. Proposed policy solutions to consumer and community groups and policymakers in the states and at the federal level. Primary focus was on policies and market changes that would stop lending abuses that prevent low- and moderate-income families and communities of color from building wealth.

research services published research reports and analysis describing how much consumers save in states that do not allow payday lending, outline abuses by for-profit colleges in colorado, maine, and connecticut, and looking at public perspectives on regulating debt buyers in colorado. Other research described abusive practices related to checking accounts, auto lending, and debt collection, updated new data on banks that engage in payday lending through their deposits, describing payday lending in colorado, and published national analysis of home mortgage disclosure act data.

outreach/communications raised visibility of abusive small dollar loan predatory lending issues among national, statewide, and local groups, e. G. Civil rights, faith-based, and other grassroots organizations. Similarly brought attention to need for increasing access to responsible mortgage credit, and disparities in mortgage lending by race, ethnicity and income. Highlighted impact of unfair debt collection practices, weakness of for-profit college programs and other needed reforms for student lending practices at origination and student loan servicing. Presented at over 150 workshops and conferences, educating thousands of individuals about abusive financial services. Communications resulted in thousands of citations by the media covering financial abuses that impact borrowers and mentioning crls research and policy work.