Understanding the “Why” of Regulation B
The purpose of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) is just as it sounds…equal credit opportunities for everyone. In other words, institutions should not illegally discriminate against any creditworthy applicant with regard to either consumer or commercial credit. It is illegal to discriminate based on the following factors under Regulation B:
- Race or Color
- Religion
- National Origin
- Sex (including Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)
- Marital Status
- Age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract)
- The applicant’s receipt of income derived from any public assistance program
- The applicant’s exercise, in good faith, of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
Kevin explains more in the video.
Published 2026/05/13
Kevin Edwards
Kevin brings years of experience and a unique perspective on regulatory matters to our clients. A self-proclaimed geek and accredited CRCM, Kevin is also a recovering attorney with experience as in-house counsel for a large regional bank and one of the leading national title insurance providers. For reasons unknown, Kevin decided to leave the safety and serenity of his desk job to seek fortune and glory as a wandering adventurer. Like a bank compliance version of Kwai Chang Caine, The Man with No Name or Don Quixote, he now travels the land seeking to help those in need and righting compliance wrongs, wherever he may find them. Kevin lives in Sioux Falls with his two children, who are surprisingly normal after having endured their father’s vivid imagination for their entire lives. He won’t admit to having any hobbies, because apparently “Regulations never sleep.” (While he does say this in his Batman voice, we’re pretty sure he’s joking.) From the looks of his Facebook page, he likes the outdoors and spending time with his large extended family (who seem like relatively normal people).