Diversity and equality

More than 180 community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions will receive the federal funds under a pandemic-era program. “It’s a lifesaver,” a credit union CEO said.

The organizations have created the Racial Equity Accelerator for Homeownership, a two-year incubator for the development of innovations to address racial inequality in wealth and housing.

The proposal calls for a 20-year mortgage with Ginnie Mae and Treasury participation, but critics suggest that other measures would be more effective in bridging the gap in home equity.

Sandra Thompson, who has been acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency since June, has won backing from the mortgage industry and community groups for the experience she brings to the role. The push comes as the administration is said to be considering Mike Calhoun of the Center for Responsible Lending.

The chair of the House Financial Services Committee endorsed acting Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson as rumors abound that the administration is considering someone else for the job.

In a recent securitization with Capital One, RBC Capital Markets gave a bigger role to small firms owned by minorities and women. It’s one example of how banks are striving to be more inclusive.

Despite “color blind” underwriting algorithms, loan denial rates on mortgages that were not backed by the Federal Housing Administration and the VA skewed heavily toward minority groups, according to a study by The Markup.

In late July, the Justice Department notified the Houston bank of a potential lawsuit alleging violations between 2013 and 2017, according to a securities filing. Cadence said that its prospective merger partner, BancorpSouth, supports the settlement discussions.

With a steady stream of Senate hearings held on the racial wealth gap and inequities in the financial system, the new chairman has set a consumer-focused agenda that leans further left than even past Democratic chairs.

Interim CFPB Director Dave Uejio expressed concern that financial institutions have dragged their feet in resolving disputes with consumers for service issues during the pandemic.