ECOA (Equal Credit Opportunity Act)
Also known as: Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Regulation B
The federal law that prohibits lender discrimination based on race, religion, sex, marital status, age, national origin, or receipt of public assistance.
Full definition
The federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), implemented by Regulation B, prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (if the applicant has the capacity to contract), or because all or part of the applicant's income comes from a public-assistance program. ECOA is enforced by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
- Written by
- Get Advance Loan Editorial Team
- Reviewed by
- Compliance Review
- Published
- January 15, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 22, 2026
- TILA (Truth in Lending Act)The federal law that requires lenders to disclose loan terms, APR, fees, and the schedule of payments before a borrower signs.
- FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)The federal law that governs credit reports and credit-bureau practices, including your right to a free annual report and to dispute errors.
- MLA (Military Lending Act)Federal law capping consumer-credit APRs to active-duty service members and their dependents at 36% (the Military APR, or MAPR).
- CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)The federal agency that supervises and enforces consumer financial-protection laws across most U.S. lenders.
- TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act)The federal law governing telemarketing calls and texts, including the prior-express-written-consent requirement for autodialed marketing.
- GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)The federal law requiring financial institutions to disclose their information-sharing practices and safeguard customer data.
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