Title 12—Banks and Banking--Volume 1
PART 626—NONDISCRIMINATION IN LENDING
§ 626.6000   Definitions.
For the purpose of this subpart, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Applicant means any person who requests or who has received an extension of credit from a creditor and includes any person who is or may become contractually liable regarding an extension of credit.
(b) Dwelling means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof.
(c) Familial status means one or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with:
(1) A parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
(2) The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person.
The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.
(d) Handicap means, with respect to a person:
(1) A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities,
(2) A record of having such an impairment, or
(3) Being regarded as having such an impairment,
(e) Residential real estate-related transaction means any of the following:
(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:
(i) For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or
(ii) Secured by residential real estate.
(2) The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.
§ 626.6005   Nondiscrimination in lending and other services.
(a) No Farm Credit institution may discriminate in making credit or other financial assistance available in a residential real estate-related transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
(b) No Farm Credit institution may discriminate in any aspect of a credit transaction or a financial service involving a credit transaction because of:
(1) Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided that the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract); or
(2) The fact that all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program; or
(3) The fact that the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under title VII (Equal Credit Opportunity Act) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
(c) Prohibited practices under this section include, but are not limited to, discrimination in fixing the amount, interest rate, duration, or other terms or conditions of any loan or a financial service involving a credit transaction or in the purchase of loans and securities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status (having one or more children under the age of 18), marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract), or national origin.
(d) Nothing in this subpart shall be deemed to change the eligibility requirements imposed by the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended, or any Farm Credit Administration regulation adopted pursuant thereto.
§ 626.6010   Nondiscrimination in applications.
(a) No Farm Credit institution may discourage or refuse to allow, receive, or consider any application, request, or inquiry regarding an eligible loan or other eligible credit service or discriminate in imposing conditions upon, or in processing, any such application, request, or inquiry on the basis of:
(1) Race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age (provided that the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract), or national origin, as prescribed under title VII (the Equal Credit Opportunity Act) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, as amended by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's implementing regulation (12 CFR part 202); and
(2) Race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or familial status, as prescribed under title VIII (the Fair Housing Act) of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq. ), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's implementing regulations (24 CFR part 100).
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section shall apply whenever:
(1) An application is made for any such loan or other credit service; or
(2) A request is made for forms or papers to be used to make application for any such loan or other credit service; or
(3) An inquiry is made about the availability of such loan or other credit service.
§ 626.6015   Nondiscriminatory appraisal.
No Farm Credit institution shall discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin when conducting, using, or relying upon an appraisal of residential real property that is subject to sale, rental, or other financing transaction.
§ 626.6020   Nondiscriminatory advertising.
(a) A Farm Credit institution that directly or through third parties engages in any form of advertising shall not use words, phrases, symbols, directions, forms, or models in such advertising which express, imply or suggest a policy of discrimination or exclusion in violation of the provisions of title VIII (the Fair Housing Act) of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3601-3631); the Department of Housing and Urban Development's implementing regulations (24 CFR parts 100 and 109), and title VII (the Equal Credit Opportunity Act) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, as amended by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments of 1976 (15 U.S.C. 1691-1691f); and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's implementing regulation (12 CFR part 202), or this subpart.
(b) Written advertisements relating to dwellings shall include a facsimile of the following logotype and legend:
§ 626.6025   Equal housing lender poster.
(a) Each Farm Credit institution that makes loans for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling or any loan secured by a dwelling shall post and maintain an Equal Housing Lender Poster in the lobby of each of its offices. The poster shall be in a prominent place readily apparent to all persons seeking such loans.
(b) The Equal Housing Lender Poster shall be at least 11 inches by 14 inches in size, and shall bear the logotype and legend set forth in § 626.6020(b) of this subpart and the following text:
(The Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988)
UNDER THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT, IT IS ILLEGAL, ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, HANDICAP, OR FAMILIAL STATUS (HAVING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18), TO:
• Deny a loan for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling, or deny any loan secured by a dwelling; or
• Discriminate in fixing the amount, interest rate, duration, application procedures, or other terms or conditions of such a loan, or in appraising property.
(The Consumer Credit Protection Act, as amended by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments of 1976)
• On the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, or age,
• Because income is from public assistance, or
• Because a right was exercised under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
§ 626.6030   Complaints.
(a) Complaints regarding discrimination in lending by a Farm Credit institution under the Fair Housing Act shall be referred to the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410, and to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia 22102-5090.
(b) Complaints regarding discrimination in lending by a Farm Credit institution under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act shall be referred to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia 22102-5090.