Borrowers Beware! Payday and Other Storefront Loans: Convenient but Costly By Brent Adams Updated 3-31-20, 10am Woodstock continues to advocate for policies that would protect consumers from predatory loans that cost 300% APR or more. The average APR on...
Engage Bank Advisory Councils By Brent Adams Bank advisory councils are an ideal forum to have a thoughtful discussion on the OCC/FDIC Community Reinvestment Act Proposal. Advisory councils are meant, in part, to establish a bridge of communication between...
To better assess whether financial institutions meet the lending needs of communities, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) changed rules governing data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) in 2015. For the first time in September 2019,...
EARNcon 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Though the City of Pittsburgh is often lauded as “the most livable city in America,” in September of 2019, Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission released a report with an alarming finding: the city is the...
The Chicago Housing Policy Task Force, convened by Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, announced in July the selection of the Adaptable House by Perkins & Will architect Greg Tamborino, AIA, as the winner of the Disruptive Design competition from...
While there are many obstacles to advancing consumer protection policies at the federal level under the current administration, adopting policies at the local level is an option that is gaining traction. The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)...
From the Senior Vice President of Policy & Communication Consumer Wins (and Losses) in Springfield: Our Policy Progress in 2019 This year’s change in the Governor’s Office in Illinois profoundly changed the legislative atmosphere in Springfield. Broadly speaking, collaboration...
Community Investment Awards 2019: Advancing Equity Woodstock Institute gathered with our partners from banks, nonprofits, academia, and foundations on May 16, 2019, at the Fifth Third Bank Center to honor the accomplishments of leaders in our field. This year,...
From the Senior Vice President of Policy & Communication The Predatory Loan Battle Heats Up (Again) We have reached another crossroads in the battle to protect consumers from predatory payday and auto title loans. President Trump’s freshly appointed Director...
From the President 2019 NCRC Conference: A Rousing Successes Lately, fighting for financial justice feels a bit like yelling into the void. Policy decisions and industry practices have determined which groups are encouraged to build and acquire wealth, and...