Patterns of bias in lending persist.

Preliminary studies of 1992 HMDA data show the disparities in lending between whites and minorities have not improved substantively over the 1990 and 1991 data.

The first comprehensive study of HMDA data was released Oct. 12 by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

The group surveyed 120 financial institutions in 23 cities across the nation.

"The study finds that disparities in lending ... remain significant and have not been materially reduced relative to figures from 1990 or 1991," the ACORN report states.

"Most alarming," ACORN found, is that "the disparity between the rejection rate of blacks and Hispanics vs. whites decreased by only 3.6% between 1990 and 1992," but actually increased by 2.3% over 1991 levels.

Among the group's findings:

/ Blacks and Hispanics were rejected 2.67 times as often as whites, compared with 2.61 in 1991 and 2.77 in 1990;

/ Black applicants were rejected 2.86 times as often as whites in 1992-an increase from 2.72 in 1991 but a decrease from 2.91 in 1990;

/ Hispanic applicants were rejected 2.38 times as often as whites in 1992, a decrease from 2.45 in 1991 and 2.52 in 1990;

"There are many banks who consumers advocates will admit are reaching out into their communities and, as a result, have seen their numbers worsen," the American Bankers Association responded.

"In fact, the harder some banks try, the worse their HMDA numbers will get because less creditworthy consumers may feel encouraged to apply for the first time."

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