Barefoot, Marrinan & Associates, the Columbus, Ohio-based compliance consulting firm, has published a new manual on fair lending.
"Fair Lending: A Guide to Lending that Benefits Customers, Communities, and Banks" was written for the Council for Ethics in Economics in Columbus. That group is a nonprofit association dedicated to strengthening ethics in business.
"Honesty and fairness play a crucial role in the long-term success of any organization," said Dr. Paul Minus, council president. "This guide shows bankers how to put those key values into action in regard to lending."
Richard Mizer, chief executive of Century Bank, Columbus, helped write the guide.
The 54-page softcover book is designed for senior management and bank directors. It focuses on 17 steps banks can take to develop a fair-lending program.
The guide also contains a section describing concepts, events, and players that are part of the fair-lending world; a model policy statement, and a resource list of publications and videos.
Jo Ann Barefoot, president of Barefoot Marrinan, said the manual is meant to show that applying fair-lending standards to credit applicants is at once ethical and the best defensive response to regulatory requirements.
"It is a good thing to do because lending, without bias, to anyone who can repay the loan is a win-win strategy that benefits borrowers, lenders, and their community," Ms. Barefoot said.
The guide costs $25. To order, or for more information, call 614-221- 9009.
