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 from any public assistance program; or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

Lending institutions are prohibited from bringing up, in the taking of applications for loans, certain specific subjects which lend themselves to discrimination. They are as follows:

Lending institutions must take and report action on your application "within a reasonable time." If the application is denied, reasons MUST be given if requested.