Are people with a disability one of the protected classes under ECOA?

Asked by: Mr. Boris Pacocha Jr.  |  Last update: February 3, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (59 votes)

These protections are included under the Fair Housing Act in order to prevent discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings. The ECOA also aims to prevent discrimination in credit transactions, but its protections do not extend to familial status and handicap/disability.

What are the protected classes under ECOA?

This Act (Title VII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, receipt of public assistance, or good faith exercise of any rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

Which of the following is not a protected class under ECOA?

Final answer: Social Security is NOT included as a protected class under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, making option D the correct answer.

Who is covered by ECOA?

Regulation B, issued by the CFPB to implement ECOA, applies to all persons who are creditors, meaning persons who, in the ordinary course of business, regularly participate in credit decisions, set the terms of credit, or refer applicants to creditors.

What is not prohibited under ECOA?

A creditor's consideration of state property laws that affect creditworthiness (directly or indirectly) does not constitute unlawful discrimination under ECOA.

The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes: Disability

17 related questions found

What are three categories under ECOA on which creditors may not base credit decisions?

Except as otherwise permitted or required by law, a creditor shall not consider race, color, religion, national origin, or sex (or an applicant's or other person's decision not to provide the information) in any aspect of a credit transaction.

What is an example of an ECOA violation?

Imposing unfair terms or conditions on a loan (such as lower loan amount or higher interest rates) based on personal characteristics protected under the ECOA. Asking detailed personal information regarding marital status, such as whether you are widowed or divorced.

Who falls under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

The law applies to any person who, in the ordinary course of business, regularly participates in a credit decision, including banks, retailers, bankcard companies, finance companies, and credit unions.

Which of the following does ECOA apply to?

ECOA prohibits discrimination in all aspects of a credit transaction and applies to any organization that extends credit—including banks, small loan and finance companies, retail stores, credit card companies, and credit unions. It also applies to anyone involved in the decision to grant credit or set credit terms.

What are the three types of fair lending discrimination?

The courts have recognized three methods of proof of lending discrimination under the ECOA and the FHAct: Overt evidence of disparate treatment; • Comparative evidence of disparate treatment; and • Evidence of disparate impact.

What are not protected classes?

What Is Not Considered a Protected Class? Groups not explicitly outlined in federal anti-discrimination laws do not fall under protected classes. For example, discrimination based on political affiliation, physical appearance, or income level is generally not protected under federal law.

What are the 7 federal protected classes?

Applicants, employees and former employees are protected from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history).

What questions should you avoid on the ECOA?

Any questions about your race, ethnicity and gender cannot be used as a reason to approve or deny your credit application. Creditors have to provide equal information to all borrowers throughout the entire transaction.

What are 4 examples of protected classes?

Protected Classes
  • Race.
  • Color.
  • Religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices)
  • Sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/ or related medical conditions)
  • Gender identity, gender expression.
  • Sexual orientation.
  • Marital status.

What are the types of discrimination in mortgage lending?

Examples of Lending Discrimination

Providing a different customer service experience to mortgage applicants depending on their race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin or disability.

What credit types are subject to ECOA and Reg B?

Regulation B covers the actions of a creditor before, during, and after a credit transaction. The CFPB protects the following credit applications and transactions for consumers: Consumer credit. Business credit.

Which of the following is a protected class under the ECOA?

A protected class under ECOA includes race or color, religion, national origin, and sex. So those are the same things that we started out the Fair Housing Act list with, but ECOA has a couple of different ones. In fact, they do not include handicap just like the Fair Housing Act did.

What is considered an application under ECOA?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) via Regulation B Section 202.2 defines application as follows: “Application means an oral or written request for an extension of credit that is made in accordance with procedures established by a creditor for the type of credit requested.

What does ECOA not discriminate against?

prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, because an applicant receives income from a public assistance program, or because an applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection ...

What falls under equal opportunity?

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is fair treatment in employment, promotion, training, and other personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, and physical or mental disability.

What is a red flag for an Equal Credit Opportunity Act violation?

Look for red flags, such as: Treated differently in person than on the phone or online. Discouraged from applying for credit. Encouraged or told to apply for a type of loan that has less favorable terms (for example, a higher interest rate)

Which of the following is not a prohibited basis under ECOA?

An example that is NOT a prohibited basis for the Equal Credit Opportunity Act is annual income and military status. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination in credit transactions on the basis of race and skin color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, religion, and other protected attributes.

Which activities are prohibited under ECOA?

The FHAct prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing ...

What is overt discrimination under ECOA?

Overt evidence of discrimination exists when a lender openly discriminates on a prohibited basis. Example. A lender offers a credit card with a limit of up to $750 for applicants age 21–30 and $1,500 for applicants over 30. This policy violates the ECOA's prohibition on discrimination on the basis of age.

What is a disparate impact under ECOA?

Disparate treatment occurs when a lender treats a credit applicant differently based on one of the prohibited bases under FHA and/or ECOA. It does not require any showing that the treatment was motivated by prejudice or a conscious intention to discriminate against a person beyond the difference in treatment itself.