Good (Compliance) Help is Hard to Find – Is Outsourcing the Answer?
November 16th, 2021
This month, our experts Maddaux and Penny meet with the Aux Compliance team to get a refresher on the rules regarding Equal Housing Opportunity and Equal Housing Lender statements and logos. Equal Housing regulations have been around for some time, but it makes sense every once in a while to check in and make sure you aren’t missing anything. Maybe you are new to the credit union world? Welcome, and check out this handy article on Equal Housing.
February 2022: Ask Maddaux
Q: Can I have refresher on Equal Housing Opportunity/Equal Housing Lender logo rules?
Of course! If you have created an ad for a home loan, it is likely that you have received a recommendation to include an Equal Housing Opportunity or Equal Housing Lender statement or logo on the ad itself. Furthermore, if the logotype is used, you may have read that it must be large enough to be clear and easily readable. But what does that mean and how large should it be? For clarification, we look to the Housing of Urban Development (HUD). While HUD does not require the use of the logotype or statement, the usage shows commitment to fair housing practices and is an industry standard.
According to HUD, for state-chartered credit unions, all advertising of residential real estate for sale, rent, or financing should contain an equal housing opportunity logotype, statement, or slogan as a means of educating the homeseeking public that the property is available to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. If the advertisement is one half of a page or larger, the Equal Housing Opportunity logotype should be 2×2 inches in size. For advertisements of one eighth of a page to one half of a page, the logotype should be 1×1 inch in size. For advertisements four column inches to one eighth of a page, the logotype should be 1/2 x 1/2 inch in size. If the advertisement is smaller than four column inches, the statement “Equal Housing Opportunity” should be used instead.
If other logotypes are used in the advertisement, then the Equal Housing Opportunity logo should be of a size at least equal to the largest of the other logotypes; if no other logotypes are used, then the type should be bold display face which is clearly visible.
Generally, federal credit unions use the term Equal Housing Lender, though they may opt to use Equal Housing Opportunity as well. NCUA Regulations Section 701.31(d) discusses nondiscrimination requirements for advertising and requires that when the logotype is used, it be clearly visible to the general public.
Have additional compliance questions? Confused about something you’ve read in the news? Drop us a line at hello@auxteam.com
