Traditional Loans Remain Elusive for Owners of Color, but Banks, Lenders are Doing More Outreach

Washington Business Journal
Friday, May 14, 2021

A white loan applicant and Black loan applicant each walked into a D.C.-area bank. But there's little humor to their outcomes — what one walked out with was far different from the other, per a study last year done at the height of the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program. It was in early in the second round of PPP funding, which started April 27, 2020. Both applicants were seeking information on the crucial forgivable loans that were keeping so many small businesses alive through the pandemic. Yet, the Black applicant was told by a local bank representative that no PPP information could be provided and was instead referred to another branch. The white applicant? Got a recommendation for a business line of credit and instructions on how to apply for a business credit card with the bank — a "great option," the bank representative said. City First Bank is mentioned.