Predatory Lending Research

First Nations Development Institute provides several reports about predatory lending and tax products.

   
 

Building Trust: Consumer Protection in Native Communities (2011) (357 KB)
This report examines legislation that tribes can pass to defend their citizens against exploitative lending and consumer finance practices.

   
 

Borrowing Trouble: Predatory Lending in Native American Communities (2008) (3.4 MB)
With the collapse of the subprime mortgage lending market, predatory lending has become a significant national concern. In Native communities, however, predatory lending has been a major concern for years, since abusive lending practices have tended to proliferate in minority and low-income communities. This report provides an update to First Nations' 2003 report Predatory Lending in Native American Communities.

   
 

The New Money Changers (Indian Country Today April 28, 2008) (34 KB)
This article summarizes First Nations Development Institute's research on Predatory Lending in Indian Country.
 

   
 

Predatory Lending in Indian Country - Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs - United States Senate (2008) (3.3 MB)
First Nations presented testimony on "Preadatory Lending and its Impact on Native American Communities" before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on June 5, 2008. This is the transcript of that hearing.

   
 

Predatory Lending in Native American Communities (2003) (373 KB)
Predatory lending is one of many economic problems facing Native American families and communities. It is difficult to define and perhaps better described by its characteristics and effects of destabilizing families and communities. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) defines a predatory loan as "An unsuitable loan designed to exploit vulnerable and unsophisticated borrowers." This report provides an overview of predatory lending in Native communities.

   
 

High Cost Lending on Indian Reservations - Watch Out if You are Buying a Home (2003) (1.1 MB)
A Survey Report and Data Analysis by NAIHC and NCRC June 2003
In the Spring of 2003, the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) conducted a survey to generate perspectives from officials on Indian reservations regarding the extent of predatory lending. The survey results paint a troubling picture concerning the magnitude of abusive and high-cost lending targeted particularly to first-time homebuyers.