CFPBFinal RuleOctober 2, 2025

Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B); Extension of Compliance Dates

Finance & BankingLabor & Workplace

Summary

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is giving banks and lenders more time to follow new rules about fair lending practices for small business loans. These rules are designed to prevent discrimination based on factors like race, gender, or national origin when businesses apply for credit.

Key Points

1The CFPB extended the deadline for lenders to comply with updated fair lending requirements under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
2Small business owners applying for loans are protected from discrimination in lending decisions and loan terms
3Banks and financial institutions now have additional time to update their systems and practices to track and report lending data properly
4The rule applies to lenders of all sizes and affects how they evaluate small business loan applications
5This helps ensure that small business owners get fair treatment regardless of their personal characteristics

Impact Assessment

If you are a financial institution, this means you have additional time to update your systems and processes to comply with fair lending requirements for small business loans.

Impact Level

Moderate

Geographic Scope

National

Compliance Cost

Minimal

Who is Affected

Financial InstitutionsSmall Businesses

Key Dates

Published

October 2, 2025

Regulatory Connections

Authorized By

Equal Credit Opportunity Act 15 U.S.C. § 1691

Amends CFR Sections

12 CFR Part 1002

Other Documents in This Rulemaking (CFPB-2025-0017)

CFPBFinance & Banking

Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)

Read on Federal Register View Docket

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.