CARROLLTON BANK Discrimination in home loan mortgage CARROLLTON Illinois

My partner and I applied for a home loan in person at the bank and spent several hours with the VP/Loan Officer. He explained that after looking at all the numbers, credit report and financial situation, that the loan should not be a problem, with or without my partner on the loan. I was told that loan officer would get back to me by the end of the week. I heard nothing. I called three times on Friday and was told he was busy or not available. My partner called him on Saturday and spoke with the loan officer. My partner explained that he was concerned that the loan officer had not called as he had stated he would. The loan officer said he was waiting on the decision of another loan officer. My partner explained to the loan officer that we are domestic partners and that both our names should be on the mortgage. The loan officer explained that they are a very conservative organization and that may be a problem. He also stated that it would be necessary to have a life insurance policy issued to the bank should one of us die. My partner asked if that was the normal policy and was told only in "special" cases. I received a call the following Tuesday from the loan officer, he stated that they would not be able to accomodate us, because they are very conservative and don't choose to deal with people like us, and because I had filed bankruptcy over seven years ago, that I could not be trusted to pay for a mortgage, even though my credit has been perfect since. I feel that this pollyanna bank feels that by claiming they are "conservative" gives them the right to discriminate against the "wrong" kind of people and to deny credit under the guise of poor credit. My "poor credit" made no difference to the loan officer until after he found out I was gay. Then I just wasn't "white enough" for their organization. Get out your pointy hats and sheets, we can't have gays moving into our town!

Charlie
Jerseyville, Illinois
U.S.A.