I really need some interesting ideas for Fair Lending Training. Dawnie had mentioned sharing a Fair Lending Game after she did a CRA training early this month. Can I get some ideas?

Sorry, I don't have a game to offer to you, but you could easily take a jeopardy format or Bingo type and use Q&As. One idea that might be interesting is to divide your attendees into teams of four or five each. Then, let them decide on the best answer to each question. Under a category of Small business/farm loans you could ask which loans are eligible for reporting, is there a dollar limit, etc.

If you email me directly (check out my profile) I'll send you a game I have from an old conference. It will need editing, but it's pretty fun.

One of the fun questions concerns the challanges of predatory lending vs. grossing up income.

If you have an underwriting back end ratio limit of 50%, and have an individual with 55% debt to income, but the income is all non-taxable, do you gross up the income (so it's not disparate treatment) and a potential age issue, or deny the loan because of the DTI?

If anyone gives a solid answer (especially with predatory lending laws that cap the ratio at 50% for ability to repay) please let us know. I've seen the same examiner make opposite calls in the same examination for the same file.