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The Impact of Minority Representation at Mortgage Lenders

Author

Listed:
  • W. Scott Frame
  • Ruidi Huang
  • Erik J. Mayer
  • Adi Sunderam

Abstract

We study links between the labor market for loan officers and access to mortgage credit. Using novel data matching the (near) universe of mortgage applications to loan officers, we find that minorities are significantly underrepresented among loan officers. Minority borrowers are less likely to complete mortgage applications, have completed applications approved, and to ultimately take-up a loan. These disparities are significantly reduced when minority borrowers work with minority loan officers. Minority borrowers working with minority loan officers also have lower default rates. Our results suggest that minority underrepresentation among loan officers has adverse effects on minority borrowers’ access to credit.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Scott Frame & Ruidi Huang & Erik J. Mayer & Adi Sunderam, 2022. "The Impact of Minority Representation at Mortgage Lenders," NBER Working Papers 30125, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30125
    Note: CF
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    Cited by:

    1. Greenwald, Daniel L. & Howell, Sabrina T. & Li, Cangyuan & Yimfor, Emmanuel, 2024. "Regulatory arbitrage or random errors? Implications of race prediction algorithms in fair lending analysis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Neil Bhutta & Aurel Hizmo & Daniel R. Ringo, 2024. "How Much Does Racial Bias Affect Mortgage Lending? Evidence from Human and Algorithmic Credit Decisions," Working Papers 24-09, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
    3. Ivan Lim & Duc Duy Nguyen & Linh Nguyen & John O.S. Wilson, 2025. "Proximity to Bank Headquarters and Branch Efficiency: Evidence from Mortgage Lending," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 57(6), pages 1465-1508, September.
    4. Neil Bhutta & Aurel Hizmo & Daniel R. Ringo, 2022. "How Much Does Racial Bias Affect Mortgage Lending? Evidence from Human and Algorithmic Credit Decisions," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-067, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    5. James Conklin & Kristopher Gerardi & Lauren Lambie-Hanson, 2022. "Can Everyone Tap Into the Housing Piggy Bank? Racial Disparities in Access to Home Equity," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 2022-17, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    6. Hurtado, Agustin & Sakong, Jung, 2022. "The effect of minority bank ownership on minority credit," Working Papers 325, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
    7. Conklin, James N. & Gerardi, Kristopher & Lambie-Hanson, Lauren, 2025. "Can everyone tap into the housing piggy bank? Racial disparities in access to home equity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    8. Byeongchan An & Robert Bushman & Anya Kleymenova & Rimmy E. Tomy, 2024. "Bank Supervision and Organizational Capital: The Case of Minority Lending," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 62(2), pages 505-549, May.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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