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.

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