Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Advocates welcomed reports that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to appoint a new acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), replacing Blake Paulson, in light of the highly deceptive and false claims that the agency, under Paulson’s leadership, put forward as Congress debates overturning the OCC’s “fake lender” rule. The fake lender...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last Friday, credit unions and advocates registered their strong opposition to a proposal by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) that would allow credit union subsidiaries to engage in predatory lending that is explicitly illegal for federal credit unions. The proposal by NCUA, which regulates credit unions across the country, would do significant harm by permitting high-cost...

Video highlights, below, on the harms of predatory rent-a-bank schemes WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development held a hearing, “The Reemergence of Rent-a-Bank?,” focused on legislation to rescind a bank regulator rule that facilitates this predatory lending scheme. The regulation, issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), can...

Data reflects dire need for down payment assistance and student debt relief that would help support path to homeownership WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) released a new report “ Hardship for Renters: Too Many Years to Save for Mortgage Down Payment and Closing Costs.” The report calculates how long it would take for a typical...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Gupta is the first woman of color to hold the position. Center for Responsible Lending President Michael Calhoun issued the following statement: Vanita Gupta is an accomplished advocate and litigator who has led the Civil Rights Division at...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a jury convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd, finding him guilty on all three counts. Center for Responsible Lending President Michael Calhoun issued the following statement: We all watched in horror last year as Derek Chauvin denied George Floyd the breath of life with a knee to his neck. While...

Washington, D.C. – Former Vice President Walter Mondale, an outspoken supporter of civil rights and co-author of the landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968, which sought to end racial discrimination in housing and create inclusive communities, died yesterday at the age of 93. Center for Responsible Lending Executive Vice President Nikitra Bailey issued the following statement: Vice President Walter Mondale...

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee this week heard testimony from Kristen Clarke, President Biden’s nomination for Justice Department Civil Rights Chief. Ms. Clarke, who appeared Wednesday during a 2 1/2-hour nomination hearing, is president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She would be the first Black woman to hold the position since the Justice...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), led by Secretary Marcia Fudge, announced steps to restore two key fair housing rules that the Trump Administration had gutted: (1) a regulation on the "disparate impact" standard for proving discrimination and (2) a regulation for the dismantling of segregation, as required by the Affirmatively Furthering Fair...

Washington, D.C. — Today, over 415 organizations sent an updated letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, calling on them to use executive authority to cancel federal student debt immediately. In the letter, the 416 advocacy groups highlight that cancelling student debt would stimulate the economy, help reduce racial wealth gaps, and could have a positive impact on health...