Each depositor insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank

Winter 2010/2011

New Rules, Notices About Credit Decisions

New rules, effective January 1, 2011, from the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Trade Commission require lenders to provide new information to credit-seeking consumers under certain conditions.

For consumers who are offered credit on terms less favorable than those offered to other consumers, lenders would provide a “risk-based pricing notice.” This may occur because of negative information in a consumer’s credit report. Consumers can then request a free credit report from the credit bureau identified in the notice to evaluate its accuracy.

Some lenders will provide “credit score notices” to all credit applicants with their credit scores and information about how their scores compare to those of other consumers. Not all lenders provide a credit score notice.

To learn more about the new rules, including guidance on how to dispute credit report errors, see a new online publication from the Federal Reserve at www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_notices.htm.