What questions should you avoid on the ECOA?

Asked by: Wilmer Kassulke IV  |  Last update: August 23, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (55 votes)

Because of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), lenders are prohibited from discriminating against you because of your age, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and if you receieve income from public assistance programs.

What questions should you avoid asking under ECOA?

Consumer Protections Under the ECOA

There are certain restrictions as to what information creditors are permitted to gather from you when you apply for credit. Discouraging you from applying for credit based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because you receive public assistance.

What questions cannot be asked by the loan officer?

Mortgage lenders should base their lending decisions on objective financial criteria, such as credit history, income, employment status, and debt-to-income ratio. Questions about personal characteristics, gender identity, or sexual orientation are considered invasive and unrelated to a borrower's creditworthiness.

What are the prohibited factors of ECOA?

The Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract); because all or part of the applicant's income derives ...

Which of these questions would a lender be prohibited by the ECOA from asking a borrower?

a loan originator should never ask a borrower whether any portion of his income is derived from alimony, child support, or public assistance. borrower has 90 days to request a copy/Lender has 30 days deliver. race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because they receive public assistance.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS! (How to ANSWER this Tricky Interview Question!)

33 related questions found

Which of these can a lender not ask a potential borrower about?

Lenders are not permitted to ask any questions that would discourage an applicant. Further, government regulations prevent mortgage lenders from denying loans based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because you receive public assistance.

Which is an example of an illegal question to ask at a mortgage application?

Mortgage lenders are also legally allowed to ask about an applicant's ethnicity and marital or divorce status. One question a lender may ask is whether you are part of a lawsuit. Lenders are not allowed to ask if you are planning to start a family or ask about the status of your health.

Which of the following is a prohibited basis 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 true concerning ECOA?

Which of the following is not true concerning ECOA? The answer is it requires the disclosure of the APR on all advertisements which contain an interest rate.

What is the ECOA rule?

'' Moreover, the statute makes it unlawful for ''any creditor to discriminate against any applicant with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction (1) on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to con tract); (2) because all or part ...

What can a lender not ask?

In addition, although a lender can gather factual information about some things (your gender and marital status), under the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, it can't discriminate based on race, religion, color, age, marital status, sex or national origin.

Which is not a question a loan originator may ask a borrower in order to comply with HMDA?

In order to comply with HMDA, a loan originator may ask a borrower about each of the following EXCEPT what? Religion may not be asked about, since it is in no way included in government monitoring under the guidelines of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

What question should you ask a lender?

Questions to ask a lender
  • What loan products do you offer?
  • Do you offer any first-time homebuyer programs or down payment assistance programs?
  • What are your turnaround times for pre-approval, appraisal, and closing?
  • What interest rates do you offer, and what is your annual percentage rate (APR)?

What is the ECOA guideline?

The purpose of ECOA is to promote the availability of credit to all creditworthy applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract); because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance ...

What must be included in an ECOA adverse action?

A statement of action taken by the creditor. Either a statement of the specific reasons for the action taken or a disclosure of the applicant's right to a statement of specific reasons and the name, address, and telephone number of the person or office from which this information can be obtained.

Can a lender ask about dependents?

A creditor such as a lender may ask about the number and ages of your dependents. A lender may also ask about dependent-related financial obligations or expenses. However, a lender may do so only if the creditor asks for this information without regard to sex or marital status (or any other prohibited basis).

What questions should you avoid asking based on ECOA?

According to the ECOA, two things you should avoid asking June are her marital status and age. Additionally, three facts that should not influence the loan decision include her receipt of public assistance, her national origin, and her gender.

What questions are prohibited by ECOA?

We recommend that you avoid asking applicants about personal characteristics that are protected by law, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age.

What is prohibited by ECOA?

ECOA prohibits discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction. It applies to any extension of credit, including extensions of credit to small businesses, corporations, partnerships, and trusts.

What information must be included in an adverse action notice?

This final adverse action notice must include the name, phone number, and address of the CRA that completed the report, language around the fact that candidates have the right to dispute the accuracy of results and can obtain an additional free report within 60 days, and confirmation that the CRA did not make the ...

What can lenders not do according to ECOA?

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 is the 30 day rule for ECOA?

A creditor must notify an applicant of action taken on the applicant's request for credit, whether favorable or adverse, within 30 days after receiving a completed application.

What are unlawful questions?

You may find an employer asking you an illegal question in an interview. These questions may ask you to reveal your age, race, national origin, citizenship, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or arrest record. Knowing how to identify and respond effectively to these questions is important.

Why can't you talk to an underwriter?

It is important to note that underwriters should not be in actual contact with you. All questions and discussions should be handled through your lender or loan officer. An underwriter talking to you directly, or even knowing you personally, is a conflict of interest.

Which of the following is an illegal question?

This means questions covering such topics as age, family, gender, marriage, nationality and religion are illegal questions to ask in an interview.