Bank Accused Of Racist Lending Practices Settles Suit With New York State

Evans Bank on Thursday settled a lawsuit in which the state of New York accused the bank of racist practices, including denying loans to residents of predominantly black neighborhoods in Buffalo.

The suit, filed in 2014 by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, accused the Buffalo-based bank of intentionally not making loans in eastern parts of the city due to their racial composition, regardless of applicants' creditworthiness, a practice known as "redlining."

As part of the settlement, Evans Bank agreed to expand its lending area to include the neighborhoods in question and to create an $825,000 fund to boost homeownership and lending in those areas.

The state also accused Evans of refusing to solicit customers, market mortgages or provide banking facilities such as branch offices and ATMs in those areas.

"It is essential that all New Yorkers, regardless of the color of their skin or the racial makeup of their neighborhoods, be afforded equal access to our banking systems -- and the basic benefits of obtaining a mortgage," Schneiderman said in a statement provided to The Huffington Post on Thursday.

“That we continue to see systematic racial and housing discrimination in New York in 2015 is shocking. I will not stand for it," he continued.

Evans Bank disputed the underlying premise of the suit in a statement emailed to HuffPost, saying it was "based upon unsubstantiated information."

"Regardless, Evans believes that this settlement is in the best interests of the community and our shareholders to end this unfortunate matter," David J. Nasca, the bank's president and chief executive, said in the statement.

“We look forward to working with the Mayor and other organizations in these neighborhoods on projects and initiatives that will improve the quality of life and economic well-being of the community at large,” he added.

This story has been updated with comments from Evans Bank.