The below analysis is from attorneys at Ballard Spahr:

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a settlement with Community Bank of St. Charles, Michigan, in a federal lending discrimination lawsuit filed by DOJ against the bank. The settlement, announced on January 15, 2013, serves as a reminder that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other regulators view the concept of “fair lending” as not only prohibiting discrimination, but also ensuring equal access to credit.