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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
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FEDERAL COURT / S Bronx, March 27 – Whether or not the U.S. Community Reinvestment Act will be again enforced until the new Administration and its regulators is an open question. And the proposed merger of two redlining banks, M&T and People's United, will be the litmus test.

  On March 27, Fair Finance Watch and Inner City Press on the FOIA filed a challenge with the Federal Reserve to the banks' application: "This is a timely first comment opposing and requesting an extension of the FRB's public comment period on the Applications by M&T Bank Corporation to acquire People's United Financial.   

   The applicant M&T in New York State in 2019 made 8,613 home loans to whites and only 629 to African Americans.  M&T in New York State in 2019 made 3.4 loans to whites for each denial to whites. It made only 1.4 loans to African Americans for every denial to African Americans.  

 This is totally unacceptable.       

  The applicant M&T in Connecticut in 2019 made 251 home loans to whites and only 27 to African Americans.  M&T in Connecticut in 2019 made 2 loans to whites for each denial to whites. It made only 1.28 loans to African Americans for every denial to African Americans.    This is unacceptable. 

        The applicant M&T in Pennsylvania in 2019 made 3565 home loans to whites and only 106 to African Americans.

 M&T in Pennsylvania in 2019 made 2.52 loans to whites for each denial to whites. It made only 1.15 loans to African Americans for every denial to African Americans. 

  This is totally unacceptable.

     Meanwhile, People's says it will close some 140 branches.   

    FFW and Inner City Press have been deeply concerned about the rush by the FRS' penchant to rubberstamp mergers by redliners, particularly during the pandemic. We note the Fed's recent website statement that a comment period has been extended to allow participation amid the Coronavirus crisis. This should be done, by the Fed's logic, on this and other applications. We timely request public hearings.  

 The hearings, and your review, should also address M&T's discrimation, see, e.g., (EEOC v. Manufacturers and Traders Trust Co., d/b/a M&T Bank., Civil Action No. 1:16-cv-03180-ELH) in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division.  See also, this.

  The comment period should be extended; evidentiary hearings should be held; and on the current record, the application should not be approved.

 Meanwhile in Federal court, PNC Bank and its Midland Loan Services have been sued for usury, predatory lending and civil conspiracy, under New York and Federal law.  

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