Beverly, an African-American woman, has applied for a mortgage on a new home. She has a reliable job as a court reporter and has
been employed for ten years. Her income is substantial enough to pay a mortgage, in her budget, and still have seventy percent of her income remaining. She has, however, been at least ninety days late on several bills one year ago. Beverly has since caught up on her credit card bills, paid them on time, and reduced their balances by half. She has just been turned down for a mortgage by her bank. Has she been discriminated against?
Though Beverly has been prompt at paying her dues and settling her payments in the past, her recent record has not been strong enough to comply with the norms of the bank she is seeking a mortgage from.
A period of 90 days is a substantially long period when it comes to payment of dues, which is reason enough for the bank to deny her mortgage.
