UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 97-CV-1206
ALBANK, FSB, and
ALBANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
Defendants.
_______________________________
CONSENT DECREE
- INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
The United States has entered into this Consent Decree with
defendants ALBANK, FSB and its parent corporation ALBANK
Financial Corporation (collectively, "Albank" or "the lender"),
simultaneously with the United States' filing of its Complaint
alleging that Albank has violated the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
§§ 3601-3619) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
(15 U.S.C. §§ 1691-1691f) ("ECOA").
Albank is a federally chartered savings bank with $3.5
billion in assets headquartered in Albany, New York. Albank
makes slightly more than half of its home mortgage loans through
"correspondents" -- mortgage bankers or brokers.(1) It has made
mortgage loans in Connecticut and in Westchester County, New
York, since the late 1980's, entirely through correspondents.
The United States' Complaint alleges that Albank gave its
correspondents oral and written instructions that Albank would
not fund loans from Westchester County below Interstate 287 and
certain cities and other areas in the State of Connecticut, each
of which areas contains communities that are identifiable as
African American or Hispanic.(2)
In Connecticut, Albank explicitly stated that it would not
fund loans secured by residential properties located within the
five cities of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, New Britain, and
Waterbury. In three of these cities, African Americans and
Hispanics approach or exceed a majority of the population
(Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport); in two of these cities,
African Americans and Hispanics constitute approximately 25
percent of the population (New Britain and Waterbury). Albank
also would not fund loans secured by residential properties
located in the corridor along Interstate 95 and Long Island
Sound. This area includes the cities of Stamford and Norwalk,
Connecticut, where African Americans and Hispanics constitute
approximately 25 percent of the population. In Westchester
County, New York, Albank excluded the part of the county south of
Interstate 287, where more than 75 percent of the county's
African American residents live and where more than 66 percent of
the county's Hispanic residents live. When Albank made
exceptions to these policies in Westchester County or
Connecticut, it did so predominately for white borrowers.
The United States contends that the defendants' refusal to
fund loans secured by residential properties in the identifiably
African American and Hispanic geographic areas has no sound
business justification, and, in fact, departs from what the
United States contends are accepted mortgage banking and loan
purchase practices regarding the location and type of residential
properties that may secure residential mortgage loans. For
example, the restrictions established non-contiguous enclaves
within the geographic area where the bank otherwise funded loans,
and persons residing within such enclaves were not eligible to
obtain Albank residential mortgage loans, without regard to their
qualifications for credit or the values of their homes. The
United States contends that the redlining policies, and the
exceptions to those policies, were implemented with the purpose
of discriminating on the basis of race and national origin in the
extension of residential mortgage financing.
Albank denies that any act or omission on its part as
alleged in the government's complaint or this Consent Decree as
violative of federal law was motivated or influenced in any
manner by discriminatory intent or considerations of race or
national origin of any kind, including, but not limited to,
racial or ethnic bias. Albank has agreed to the undertakings set
forth in this Consent Decree to settle the government's claims
against it and because it believes the affirmative mortgage
activities and practices described will assist in better serving
all members of the communities where it funds mortgages through
its correspondents and because it believes that such actions and
practices are consistent with Albank's practices in the areas in
which it has a physical presence and is actually located.
There has been no factual finding or adjudication with
respect to any matter alleged in the Complaint. The parties
enter into this Consent Decree to resolve voluntarily the claims
raised in this suit in order to avoid litigation, and agree that
the terms of this Decree provide a reasonable means of addressing
the concerns of the United States and Albank. The entry of this
Consent Decree is not and is not to be considered an admission or
finding of any violation of law by Albank.
Through this Consent Decree, Albank states its commitment to
make its business decisions without regard to race, color, or
national origin and to serve all communities in the areas in
which it does business, regardless of the race, color, or
national origin of those residential areas' residents. To
provide increased access to credit opportunities for individuals
in the previously excluded areas, Albank has devised a remedial
special mortgage lending program which includes homebuyer
counseling and marketing tailored to the communities that
previously were excluded. Albank also will implement a program
to underwrite approximately $55 million in residential mortgage
financing in the previously excluded communities and to offer
such financing at interest rates below the market. Albank has
also initiated a bank-wide Fair Lending Action Plan that is
incorporated in this Decree. The United States agrees that
Albank's subsidy for the special lending program, which
approximates $8.2 million, together with Albank's plan for
providing its mortgage loan products to the previously excluded
communities, constitutes an appropriate remedy for the violation
alleged in the complaint.
Now, therefore, on the basis of the foregoing
representations of the United States and Albank, it is hereby
ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED, as follows:
- GENERAL INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
- Albank and all officials, employees, agents and
successors thereof, including such newly formed affiliated
entities as ALBANK Commercial, are permanently enjoined from
engaging in any act or practice that discriminates on the basis
of race, color, or national origin in any aspect of residential
real estate-related transactions, in violation of the Fair
Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619, and in any aspect of credit
transactions, in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act,
15 U.S.C. §§ 1691-1691f. This injunction includes, but is not
limited to, any use of race, color, or national origin in
defining a market area and determining geographic areas from
which Albank will accept loan applications.
- Albank shall permanently remove all geographic
limitations on the scope of its mortgage lending activities in
Connecticut and in Westchester County. In expanding its lending
business into new territories, Albank shall select and define its
markets in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, or national origin.
- SPECIAL MORTGAGE LENDING PROGRAM FOR PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED AREAS
- To provide increased access to credit opportunities for
individuals in the previously excluded areas, Albank will
implement a special mortgage lending program which includes
outreach to the excluded minority areas, homebuyer education and
counseling services, and a commitment of $55 million of below-market loans in these areas.(3)
- To implement the special mortgage lending program,
Albank will institute a targeted marketing program in designated
census tracts of the cities of Hartford, New Britain, Stamford,
Norwalk, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury in Connecticut and
in southern Westchester County, New York.
- The targeted marketing program in the designated Census
tracts will include the following:
- Albank will advertise the availability of its
residential mortgage loan products, through mortgage bankers and
brokers and directly, in media directed to members of minority
communities in the designated census tracts. Advertisement in
these media will note the availability of the discounted mortgage
loan product and the method of accessing the product, i.e.,
through mortgage broker and mortgage banker correspondents.
Albank will create a brochure describing the special mortgage
lending program to be distributed primarily through mortgage
brokers, mortgage bankers, real estate agents, community groups,
and churches; and Albank will utilize direct mail to target
borrowers in the designated census tracts.
- Albank will contact community housing,
neighborhood preservation and community development organizations
to build awareness of, and support for, the special lending
program. Albank will work through the applicable real estate
brokers and agents to disseminate information about the special
mortgage lending program. This will include direct mail to real
estate brokers and agents serving the targeted communities,
offers by Albank mortgage personnel to speak at organization
events and print ads in the organization newsletter. An Albank
mortgage loan officer also will personally visit each
correspondent mortgage broker and mortgage banker serving the
designated census tracts to explain and promote the discount
mortgage loan program.
- Albank will implement a homebuyer education and
counseling program designed to assist residents of the listed
Census tracts in obtaining mortgage loans. As described below,
Albank has agreed to contribute $350,000 for homebuyer counseling
to assist prospective loan applicants in the targeted Census
tracts in Connecticut and Westchester County, and to expend
internally, principally in the form of services, at least an
additional $350,000 in implementing the lender's own homebuyer
education programs in these designated areas.
- Albank's own homebuyer education program shall consist
of sponsoring, on its own, or with its correspondents or
community organizations, as it deems appropriate, "Homebuyers
Seminars", on a semi-annual basis during the five-year period
covered by the Consent Decree, in each of the following areas:
Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury, Stamford
and Norwalk, in Connecticut; and Yonkers, Mt. Vernon and New
Rochelle, in Westchester County, New York. These seminars will
include presentations by attorneys, real estate agents, consumer
debt counselors and property inspectors, and include such topics
as buying versus renting, how to determine how much home a buyer
can afford, qualifying for a home mortgage loan, the credit
approval process, and working with a real estate agent or a
"buyer's broker".
- Albank will also provide longer term, more in-depth
educational services to potential homebuyers in designated census
tracts through organizations providing homebuyer education and
assistance, debt counseling and/or similar services in a
comprehensive, individualized, and situation specific manner.
Within 90 days of the entry of this Consent Decree, Albank will
submit to the United States for approval, a list of
organizations proposed to provide the education and counseling
services and a description of the programs to be provided.
- Over the next five years Albank shall make at least $55
million in loans in designated Census tracts (see Attachments A-C) within the previously excluded areas in Connecticut and
Westchester County. These loans shall have an interest rate 1.5
percentage points below the interest rate the lender would
otherwise charge. Such loans shall be available to any qualified
borrower seeking to obtain a mortgage loan (including purchase
money or refinancing loans) up to $214,600 in value, to be
secured by a home located in a designated Census tract. Loans
made by any subsidiary of Albank in accordance with the
parameters of the special mortgage lending program will also
count toward the $55 million goal. All loans will be
underwritten consistent with the safety and soundness of the
lender.
- Albank shall make at least $20 million in below-market
loans as described above on properties located in majority
minority Census tracts south of Interstate 287 in Westchester
County, New York (see Attachment A). These loans shall be made
within 26 months of the date this Decree is entered. Albank
shall use its best efforts to make at least $10 million of such
loans within the first 14 months and $10 million within the next
12 months.(4)
- Albank shall make at least $35 million in below-market
loans as described above, on properties located in Census tracts
within the cities of Hartford, New Haven, New Britain, Waterbury,
Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk, and which are located in 25%
or greater non-white Census tracts. (See Attachments B-C). These
loans shall be made within five years of the date this Decree is
entered. Albank shall use its best efforts to make at least $7
million of such loans in each of the five years. Further, at
least 40% of the $35 million in loans shall be made in listed
Census tracts within the cities of Hartford, Bridgeport, and New
Haven (Attachment C.)
- The total value of Albank's below-market loan program
under this Decree represents (over the average life of these
loans) a cost to Albank of $3.3 million for Westchester County
and $4.9 million for Connecticut. If, at the end of the relevant
time period (26 months for Westchester County, five years for
Connecticut), Albank has not made the requisite amount of below-market loans ($20 million in Westchester County, $35 million in
Connecticut) in the designated census tracts, it shall make a
contribution, in an amount equal to the remaining balance of the
total value of the program as calculated above, to community
organizations dedicated to the improvement of housing or home
ownership in the relevant area.(5) If a contribution is required
by this paragraph, Albank shall make a proposal, within 60 days
after the expiration of the relevant time period as described
above, to the United States for approval. This proposal shall
identify the dollar amount of the contribution, the organizations
selected, the projected use of the funds, and the fund
disbursement schedule.
- Albank will retain discretion to implement additional
actions that it believes appropriate to achieve the remedial
goal, without prior approval of the United States or this Court
except as otherwise provided in this Order.
- ALBANK'S FAIR LENDING ACTION PLAN
- Albank is committed to fair lending throughout its
institution as demonstrated by its Fair Lending Action Plan. In
conjunction with the fair lending and community reinvestment
programs already undertaken by Albank as described in Attachment
D, Albank will implement the Fair Lending Action Plan that its
Board of Directors approved and proposed to the Office of Thrift
Supervision in early 1997. The Fair Lending Action Plan includes
the following components:
- Albank will appoint one or more fair lending officers
and create a fair lending committee and appropriate subcommittees
to oversee all efforts regarding the implementation of the Fair
Lending Action Plan, development of a fair lending policy
statement, training, demographic research, and affirmative
marketing.
- The fair lending committee will review all lending-related policies and procedures to ensure that the bank's
policies do not have the purpose or effect of discriminating
against particular racial or ethnic groups and also that all
standards and practices are supported by legitimate business
needs. Within 45 days of the entry of this Decree, Albank will
adopt a fair lending policy statement and submit it for approval
by counsel for the United States. The statement shall be
distributed to all employees whose responsibilities include
contacts with customers or correspondents, within 30 days of the
United States' approval of the statement.
- Albank will conduct demographic research to identify the
credit needs of all the communities in the previously excluded
areas and determine the mortgage loan product or programs that
will best meet the needs of each area. Albank will also develop
marketing strategies designed to ensure its products are
available to all segments of the markets it serves and monitor
the effectiveness of these strategies. These strategies will
include the following: advertising in media directed to members
of racial and ethnic minority communities; including equal
housing opportunity logotypes, statements, or slogans in its
advertisements that are consistent with the standards specified
in 12 C.F.R. 338.1-338.4; ensuring that the use of human models
in advertisements will reasonably represent all races residing in
areas where Albank's loans are marketed; identifying mortgage
bankers and brokers that serve racial and ethnic minority
communities; and contacting real estate brokers and agents,
community groups, neighborhood preservation groups, and community
development organizations that serve racial and ethnic minority
communities.
- Albank's training subcommittee and the corporate
training and development department have begun implementing a
fair lending training program. Within 90 days from the entry of
this Decree, Albank will fully implement this program by training
all personnel whose assigned duties include contacting customers
or correspondents, as well as all personnel responsible for
making underwriting decisions and determining the regions where
Albank will market its products. The program will include
training of new employees and officers to develop their
understanding of fair lending laws and regulations before
providing services on Albank's behalf. This training will
include specific components designed according to a staff
member's level of need and involvement in the lending process.
However, each individual who participates in the training will
receive, at a minimum, the following: Albank's fair lending
policy statement; a copy of this Consent Decree; instruction
regarding the obligations of Albank and its employees pursuant to
this Decree; and instruction regarding all applicable federal
laws, including the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair
Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Community
Reinvestment Act. In addition, Albank's training program will
establish a standard and consistent manner in which to treat all
customers; educate employees to respond to the needs of customers
in racially and ethnically diverse markets; and counsel employees
as to the potential individual and bank penalties for
discriminatory behavior or violations of this Decree, including
Albank's disciplinary policy for violations of fair lending laws
and regulations.
- Within 60 days of the entry of this order, Albank shall
implement procedures to monitor and assess the progress of the
Fair Lending Action Plan, including requiring regular written
reports to the fair lending committee.
- NOTIFICATION AND EDUCATION OF CORRESPONDENTS
- Within 30 days of the entry of this Decree, Albank shall
inform the mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers with whom it
does business of Albank's commitment to fair lending. All of
Albank's contracts with its correspondents will be amended to
reference the parties' respective obligations under fair lending
laws as well as to reiterate Albank's commitment to fair lending
practices and its expectation of a similar commitment from the
correspondents. To further ensure that Albank's correspondents
are aware of Albank policies, Albank's fair lending policy
statement shall be provided to them in writing prior to entering
a business relationship. Existing correspondents shall also be
provided with a copy of this policy statement. Albank will make
available to its correspondents Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data
regarding their own lending activity in order to assist such
entities with their own self-assessment.
- Albank will make fair lending training and informational
materials, obtained from organizations such as the Mortgage
Bankers Association, available to its correspondents and
encourage them to utilize these materials. These will consist of
items such as manuals, videos, regulatory information and similar
materials.
- All existing correspondents in Connecticut and
Westchester County, New York, have been informed that no
geographic restrictions are in effect. Albank mortgage
origination staff will utilize their best efforts to meet on a
quarterly basis with mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers
providing loans in the designated census tracts. Albank staff
will utilize these meetings to reiterate Albank's commitment to
fair lending, to provide appropriate training and information on
the special lending program and to assess existing efforts to
implement the program and meet the program goals.
- RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING
- During the term of this Consent Decree and for two years
thereafter, Albank shall retain all records relating to its
obligations or compliance with this Decree, including its lending
in the affected areas, notice to employees and correspondents,
marketing and advertising, and training. This includes itemized
accounts of all expenditures made pursuant to this Decree,
including, but not limited to, the $700,000 required to be
expended for the homeownership counseling programs. The United
States shall have the right to review and copy such records upon
request.
- Albank shall provide the United States annually for the
duration of the Consent Decree, on magnetic tape in standard
EBCDIC format, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data provided by
it to the OTS within 30 days of providing such data to the OTS.
The data provided to the United States shall be augmented to add
the following information to the database: a) whether a loan was
made directly by Albank or through a correspondent; b) if through
a correspondent, which correspondent; c) the interest rate for
each loan; and d) whether a loan was made pursuant to the special
lending program loan described above.
- Albank shall submit annual reports to the United States,
during the life of the Decree, with an information copy to OTS,
detailing its progress in complying with the Decree's terms. The
annual reports shall cover the 12 month periods starting from the
entry of the Decree, and shall be submitted within 30 days of the
close of the applicable reporting period. The reports shall take
the form of a paragraph-by-paragraph summation of Albank's
efforts in complying with each requirement of the Decree and an
assessment of the extent to which the requirement was met.
- All notices, correspondence, reports or documents
required to be provided under this Consent Decree will be mailed
to the following addresses:
Chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 65998
Washington, DC 20530-5998
(202) 514-4713
FAX: (202) 514-1116
Freling H. Smith
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
ALBANK, FSB
10 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 445-2077
FAX: (518) 445-2140
- ADMINISTRATION OF CONSENT DECREE
- The Court shall retain jurisdiction for the purpose of
enforcing the terms of the Decree for a period of six years from
the date this Consent Decree is entered by the Court, or until
the final disbursement of funds pursuant to paragraph III.10,
whichever is later. The Consent Decree shall be binding on
Albank and any of their employees, agents, representatives,
officers, heirs, assigns, subsidiaries, or successors in
interest. All provisions of this Decree except Section III shall
apply to every geographic region where Albank does business,
directly or through correspondents.
- The parties to this Consent Decree shall endeavor in good
faith to resolve informally any differences regarding
interpretation of and compliance with this Consent Decree prior
to bringing such matters to the Court for resolution. This
Consent Decree may be modified by written agreement of Albank and
the United States Department of Justice. Any such modification
must promptly be submitted to the Court for approval, and shall
be deemed effective immediately upon execution by the parties
until such time, if any, that the Court indicates a lack of such
approval.
- At any time prior to sixty (60) days after counsel for
the United States receives Albank's final report submitted
pursuant to Section VI, the United States may file a motion with
the Court for an extension of this Decree. If no such motion is
filed or if the United States files such motion but fails to
demonstrate why the Decree should be extended, the Decree shall
terminate and the case shall be dismissed with prejudice.
- Each party to this litigation will bear its own costs.
It is so ORDERED this ___ day of _________, 1997.
_____________________________
United States District Judge
JANET RENO
ATTORNEY GENERAL
ISABELLE KATZ PINZLER
ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOAN A. MAGAGNA
Acting Chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
ALEXANDER C. ROSS
VALERIE R. O'BRIAN
STEVEN J. MULROY
ANTHONY H. GRUMBACH
Attorneys, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 65998
Washington, D.C. 20035-5998
(202) 514-9821
FRELING H. SMITH
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
ALBANK, FSB
10 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 445-2077
Bar #501056
ATTACHMENT A
Targeted Census Tracts in Westchester County, New York
South of I-287
1.01 1.03 1.04 2.01 3 4.01 4.02 5 7.02 10 11.01 12 13.03 18 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 40 41 63 64 65 92 93 109.02 109.03 110
ATTACHMENT B
Targeted Census Tracts in Connecticut
City of New Britain
4159 4161 4162 4165 4166 4167 4171
City of Norwalk
432 434 437 438 440 441 442 444 445
City of Stamford
201 213 214 215 216 217 218 220 221 222 223
City of Waterbury
3501 3502 3503 3504 3505 3506 3507 3508 3511 3512 3514 3517 3522 3524
ATTACHMENT C
Targeted Census Tracts in Connecticut
City of Bridgeport
702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 724 727 728 729 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744
City of Hartford
5001 5002 5003 5004 5005 5006 5007 5008 5009 5010 5011 5012 5013 5014 5015 5016 5017 5018 5019 5020 5021 5022 5024 5025 5027 5028 5029 5030 5031 5032 5033 5034 5035 5036 5037 5038 5039 5040 5041 5042 5043 5044 5045 5046 5047 5049
City of New Haven
1401 1402 1403 1404 1405 1406 1407 1408 1409 1412 1413 1414 1415 1416 1417 1418 1421 1423 1424 1425
ATTACHMENT D
Albank has voluntarily been involved in a variety of
efforts geared to fair lending performance, most of which predate
the United States' investigation, which began in May of 1997.
Over the past few years Albank has continuously both
developed and participated in programs designed to meet the
credit needs of all segments of the community, including minority
neighborhoods and areas, which are located in and are a part of
Albank's Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") Assessment Area.
Albank received "outstanding" ratings in each of its last three
biannual CRA examinations.
Since 1994 Albank has offered a proprietary
affordable housing program, Albank Community Home Investment
Program (CHIP). This program is designed for first time homebuyers
whose household income is 80% or less of the median income for
the county where the mortgaged property is located.
Since 1987, Albank has been an active participant in
the Affordable Housing Partnership and its funding arm, the
Capital Affordable Housing Corporation, both of which serve the
Capital Region of New York State. The Partnership offers mortgage
loans to low-and moderate-income homebuyers and to affordable
housing projects that cannot qualify for conventional financing.
Albank provides both below market rate loan funds and serves as
the servicing agent for the loans. Albank personnel have also
served on the boards of directors, and as officers, of these
groups.
Since March of 1994 Albank has been a participant in
the Utica Housing Partnership, a public/private partnership to
provide affordable permanent financing for dwellings in the city
of Utica which the city constructs or rehabilitates in certain
targeted areas. Albank provides contributions to the group's
operating expenses as well as making loan funds available.
Available loans require low down payments and no private mortgage
insurance. Albank has participated in mortgage loan programs
through a variety of community agencies and governmental entities
including: Inter-Faith Homes Inc.; Better Albany Living; Capital
Hill Improvement Corporation; Rockland County Rehabilitation and
Grant Program; Beacon Community Development Agency; Kingston
Council; Newburgh Community Development Department; and the City
of Oneida's Block Grant Program.
Albank has participated in a variety of other
programs including: the City of Albany's Capital City Housing
Development Fund, Inc., which has consistently had Albank
personnel on its board of directors and which has received
assistance for its affordable housing development activities, as
well as funds for permanent financing for scattered site housing;
the Capitol District Community Loan Fund, to which Albank has
been both an equity contributor and a lender; the Albany
Community Land Trust, a group for which Albank served as a
conduit for two Federal Home Loan Bank grants; the Albany
Development Corporation, for which Albank similarly served as a
conduit for Federal Home Loan Bank funds; the New York Business
Development Corp., which received funds for a line of credit to
be used for loans to small businesses; the Orange County Minority
and Women Business Revolving Loan Fund, to which Albank and other
Orange County lenders each committed $30,000; the Mid-Hudson
Small Business Loan Fund, to which Albank committed funds to
guarantee a portion of each loan made by the fund; the Madison
County First Time Home Ownership Assistance Program; the Saratoga
County Economic Development Fund; the Community Commercial
Assistance MicroLoans Fund in Johnstown, New York; the Rensselaer
County Business Assistance Fund; and the Herkimer County Chamber
of Commerce Loan Fund.
Albank granted the first mortgages for rehabilitation
of older properties in Arbor Hill, an African-American community
in Albany, NY. Albank also financed the first low/moderate income
housing project in Albany, with low down payment mortgages
through the FHA Sections 221(d) and 235 programs.
In 1995, Highwick Financial Corporation was retained
to assist in the expansion of Albank's participation in the U.S.
Small Business Administration guaranteed loan program. Also in
1995, Albank restructured its Commercial Loan Department into a
"Commercial Loan Group" and a separate "Community Lending Group".
The members of the latter have particular expertise in community
lending needs.
In general, Albank advertises over its entire CRA
Assessment Area without regard to community racial or ethnic
composition in terms of geographic focus. However, some
advertising dollars have been devoted to periodicals and radio
stations that are directed to predominately minority communities,
especially those consisting of majority African-American,
Portuguese and Hispanic persons. These advertising vehicles and
efforts include target marketing in the Springfield,
Massachusetts area through home equity and auto loan
advertisements over a local Spanish language radio station and
advertising in the yellow pages of the Spanish telephone
directory. Advertising in that area has also targeted the
Portuguese members of the community through advertisements in
LUSO, the local Portuguese language newspaper. Loan products are
also advertised in the Hudson Valley Black Press, a Newburgh, New
York based publication.
Albank sponsors periodic seminars on home buying.
These are frequently targeted to low/moderate income and minority
communities and have titles such as "How To Own A Home of Your
Own" featuring a panel of housing and real estate experts and
also offer advice to persons with past credit problems.
1. Albank solicits home mortgage loan applications through
its own loan officers and through independent loan brokers and
bankers (called "correspondents") that submit applications to
Albank for underwriting and, if approved, for funding (or
"purchase") by Albank.
2. In early 1997, the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
conducted a special fair lending examination of Albank, focusing
on Albank's geographic restrictions for correspondent loans. OTS
found reason to believe that Albank had engaged in a pattern or
practice of discrimination and referred the matter to the
Department of Justice.
3. Albank presently has no branches or offices in
Connecticut or southern Westchester County. Nothing in this
Consent Decree requires Albank to establish any office or branch.
4. In March 1997, Albank Financial Corporation submitted an
application to the Banking Board of the State of New York to
organize a New York State-chartered commercial bank, ALBANK
Commercial. The Superintendent of Banks of New York State has
the authority under section 296-a of the New York Executive Law
to remediate discriminatory practices in relation to credit. As
part of its review of the charter request, the New York State
Banking Department (NYSBD) reviewed OTS's findings concerning
Albank's geographic lending restrictions in Westchester County
and conducted its own analysis. NYSBD and Albank Financial
recently entered into a "Remediation Agreement" resolving NYSBD's
concerns regarding this issue. This paragraph of the Consent
Decree incorporates the component from the Remediation Agreement
pertaining to the below-market lending requirements in
Westchester County.
5. This balance for each region shall be calculated as
proportional to the amount of lending "shortfall" (the difference
between the required amount and the amount Albank lent) in each
region. Thus, if Albank fails to make $20 million in below-
market Westchester County loans within 26 months, the Westchester
County contribution shall equal [{amount of shortfall}/$20
million] multiplied by $3.3 million. Similarly, if Albank fails
to make $35 million in below-market Connecticut loans within five
years, the Connecticut contribution shall equal [{amount of
shortfall}/$35 million] multiplied by $4.2 million.