In Brief: Centrax Offers Software for Bias Self-Testing

Centrax Group, Dallas, has released software meant to help bankers comply with fair-lending laws.

The software, called Fairtrax, runs on a personal computer and finds borderline loan applicants that banks can use to test for discrimination.

Regulators have encouraged banks to check their own loan files for evidence of bias.

The product makes self-testing more efficient and accurate, according to Les Kassing, principal of Centrax.

"As banks and thrifts perform fair-lending reviews, Fairtrax will quickly direct them to the files that meet their definition of marginal," he said.

The software works by using a copy of the bank's Home Mortgage Disclosure Act report. Fairtrax walks users through the process of setting up criteria for marginal applicants.

Centrax said Faifax's pricing, which now ranges from $975 for smaller banks to $2,195 for big ones, will rise to $1,765 to $3,425.

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