Advertising & The Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in a financial institution’s advertising. Specifically, it applies to any advertisement for a loan to purchase, construct, improve, repair or maintain a dwelling or any loan secured by a dwelling. This means a financial institution must include either the Equal Housing Lender logo or the Equal Housing Opportunity logo (which depends on your regulator) in applicable print advertisements (newspaper, online, billboards, etc.), and it must be clearly visible. Stating “Equal Housing Lender” or “Equal Housing Opportunity” is also required to be stated in applicable verbal advertisements (radio, etc.).

David explains more in the video.


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Video Highlights:

  • The complete logo consists of both the house icon and the accompanying wording.
  • Whether Equal Housing Opportunity or Equal Housing Lender should be used depends on a financial institution’s regulator.
  • Technically, OCC-regulated institutions are not required to use the logo in advertisements, as this requirement was removed in 1996.

Published
2023/12/15

 
David Dickinson

David Dickinson

David’s banking career began as a field examiner for the FDIC in 1990. He later became a Compliance Officer and Loan Officer for a small bank. In 1993, he established Banker’s Compliance Consulting. Along with his amazingly talented Team, he has written numerous compliance articles for prestigious banking publications and has developed compliance seminars that Banker’s Compliance Consulting produces.

He is an expert in compliance regulations. He is also a motivational speaker and innovative educator. His quick wit and sense of humor transforms the usually tiring topic of compliance into an enjoyable educational experience. David is on the faculty of the American Bankers Association National Compliance Schools and has served on the faculty of the Center for Financial Training for many years. He also is a frequent speaker at the ABA’s Regulatory Compliance Conference. He is also a trainer for hundreds of webinars, is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) and has been a BankersOnline Guru for many years. The American Bankers Association honored David with their Distinguished Service Award in 2016.

David and his wife Karen have three adult children, four grandchildren (none of whom live at home!) and two cats (of which Dave is allergic … the cats, not the children!). They recently moved to an acreage outside of Lincoln, Nebraska where he gets to play with his tractor. When possible David can be found fishing, making sawdust in his shop, or playing the guitar and piano. He also enjoys leading worship at his church.

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