Pittsburgh Independent Media Center Pittsburgh based PNC Bank, which supports

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Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank, which supports predatory that is high-cost loan providers, now really wants to purchase Riggs Bank, that is embroiled in a cash laundering scandal involving, and others, Pinochet of Chile, the oil dictator of Equatorial Guinea, together with Saudi Arabian embassy. Inner City Press / Fair Finance Watch has filed opposition to PNC’s application for regulatory approval, covered (begrudgingly) into the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette plus in greater level on www.innercitypress.org/finwatch.html

Inner City Press / Fair Finance Watch Files Challenges to PNC’s Applications to Acquire Scandal-Plagued Riggs nationwide Corporation, towards the Federal Reserve and OCC, considering read what he said Unresolved Riggs Issues, PNC’s Lending Disparities and PNC’s Funding of Predatory Payday Lenders

The customers’ and community company Inner City Press

/ Fair Finance Watch (ICP) has filed two 21-page challenges to applications because of the PNC Financial Services Group to obtain the Riggs National that is scandal-plagued Corporation. The proposed acquisition, for $779 million, had been established on July 16; now a credit card applicatoin for regulatory is pending in the Federal Reserve Board, the approval of this workplace for the Comptroller associated with the Currency is likewise needed. ICP’s reviews, filed aided by the FRB and OCC, consist of proof that PNC funds lenders that are payday as Check n’ Go of Washington DC, Inc. and elsewhere; ICP contrasts this with PNC’s peer SunTrust’s July 12, 2004 reaction to ICP’s comments, that SunTrust will no more investment payday loan providers. See, e.g., “SunTrust pledges to drop ties to payday & title loan providers,” http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=22274151&brk=1

ICP’s opinions use recently-released 2003 home loan financing data to show that PNC disproportionately excludes American that is african and candidates from the financing. ICP’s reviews evaluate PNC’s recently-released 2003 Residence Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) information, and indicate as an example that within the Newark, NJ Metropolitan Statistical region (MSA), for mainstream house purchase loans, PNC Bank N.A. in 2003 denied loan requests from Latinos 4.71 times with greater regularity than applications from whites. PNC’s disparity for African Us citizens had been incalculable in 2003: PNC made no home that is conventional loans to African Us citizens in 2003 within the MSA of Newark, NJ.

PNC claims to help make up for the not enough house purchase financing to folks of color along with its home enhancement financing. However in the Newark MSA in 2003 with this style of loan, PNC Bank N.A. denied the applications of Latinos 3.16 times with greater regularity than whites, and rejected African People in the us 2.84 times more often than whites.

In its house MSA of Pittsburgh, PNC Bank NA in 2003 denied the traditional home purchase applications of African People in america 4.62 times with greater regularity compared to those of whites. Once more, PNC’s not enough house purchase financing to individuals of color had not been composed because of its house enhancement financing: into the Pittsburgh MSA in 2003 because of this style of loan, PNC Bank N.A. denied the applications of Latinos 2.11 times more often than whites, and rejected African People in the us 2.43 times more often than whites.

PNC Bank N.A. has 100% denial prices for African Americans’ applications for do it yourself loans into the Jersey City NJ and Newburg, brand brand brand New York MSAs in 2003. It absolutely was hardly better in its house state of Pennsylvania. Within the state money, the Harrisburg MSA, PNC Bank N.A. for house enhancement loans rejected the applications of Latinos 3.28 times with greater regularity than whites, and denied the applications of African People in america 2.93 times with greater regularity than whites. Into the Philadelphia MSA, for refinance loans, PNC Bank N.A. denied the applications of Latinos 2.45 times with greater regularity than whites, and denied the applications of African Americans 2.64 times with greater regularity than whites. In this Philadelphia MSA for do it yourself loans, PNC Bank N.A. denied the applications of Latinos 2.72 times with greater regularity than whites, and denied the applications of African Us americans 3.06 times more often than whites.

PNC’s other bank, PNC Bank Delaware, in 2003 into the Wilmington DE MSA for main-stream house purchase loans denied 100% regarding the applications it received from Latinos. For refinance loans in this MSA, PNC Bank Delaware denied the applications of Latinos 2.93 times more often than whites, and denied the applications of African People in america 2.02 times more often than whites. For do it yourself loans in this MSA, PNC Bank Delaware denied the applications of Latinos 2.73 times with greater regularity than whites, and denied the applications of African Us americans 2.22 times with greater regularity than whites.

ICP’s comments declare that, offered these financing disparities, with this ground alone the general public will be ill-served by permitting PNC to obtain Riggs as well as its branches. And to be looked at, including during the requested hearing, is issue of reductions in solution, which happened, including via branch closings, after PNC – United. The Washington Post of 26, 2004, reported: “Brian Goerke, a spokesman for PNC, said the company will initially operate all 51 Riggs branches july. Long-lasting choices about historic structures for instance the Corcoran branch. haven’t been made, he stated.” The United states Banker magazine of 19, 2004, reported that “executives suggested that about 50per cent of Riggs’ 1,400 workers could be cut. july” Staff cuts of 50% is inconsistent with customer solution, and then make a contrast that is troubling the windfall anticipated by those accountable for Riggs’ techniques. The Washington Post of 13, 2004 reports that “”Robert L. Allbritton is slated to received $850,000 august. Nine other officers that are executive get an overall total of $4 million.” ICP has asking for general general general public hearings about this ground and particularly on PNC’s money of problematic lenders that are payday. As documented because of the Uniform Commercial Code filings ICP has submitted and obtained, PNC funds and allows as an example: