Fair Lending Developments: Redlining Enforcement Continues to Flourish.

The article focuses on the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) ongoing efforts to combat redlining and discrimination in mortgage lending, highlighting various enforcement actions against banks and financial institutions. Key cases include settlements with the American Bank of Oklahoma, Washington Trust Company, and Ameris Bank, all of which were accused of violating the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by failing to provide mortgage services in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. The DOJ's initiatives have resulted in over $137 million in relief under its Combatting Redlining Initiative, alongside other actions addressing predatory lending practices and discrimination based on national origin. The article also discusses challenges faced by private litigants in proving discrimination claims under the ECOA and other federal laws. [Extracted from the article]