Indepth analysis of persistant problems in the field of community development. Woodstock's research reports contribute to the body of knowledge used by policymakers and community development practitioners.
This report demonstrates that measuring how well a bank provides basic banking services to low-wealth consumers could be done using existing data. Using proprietary data collected from two bank branches located in low-wealth communities, it shows that the type of transaction level data, previously thought to be unavailable to regulators and costly to collect for financialinstitutions, is routinely collected by at least one large bank for marketing purposes.
This report analyzes 2007
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data and finds that, in low- and moderate-income
communities, depositories with CRA obligations originate a far smaller share of
higher-cost loans than lenders not subject to CRA. It also finds that lenders
covered by CRA are much less likely to make higher-cost loans in communities of
color than lenders not covered by CRA.
Geoff Smith, Sean Zielenbach, Jennifer Newon, and Sarah Duda
This study examines the nature of the interaction of banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in small business lending. We examine the experience of six different CDFIs that vary by size, corporate structure, and market. We explore how they both collaborate and compete with regulated lenders, and how changes in local and national market dynamics affect their activities. Our case studies are not necessarily representative of the CDFI industry, but they offer insights on the factors that shape CDFIs’ interactions with and responses to more mainstream institutions. Our findings are therefore more descriptive than prescriptive, although we offer suggestions for both CDFI practice and future research.
This report analyzes detailed, loan level data and describes the terms and conditions, borrower demographics, and default characteristics of loans made by consumer installment lenders in Illinois.
This report summarizes key
foreclosure trends in the Chicago region for 2008
and updates Woodstock Institute reports and fact sheets
released previously that illustrated key aspects of the foreclosure
crisis such as the spread of the crisis to
suburban communities, the potential impact of the foreclosures
on Chicago’s
affordable rental housing market, and the growing number of foreclosures that
were becoming bank-owned properties and likely
sitting vacant. The report includes detailed appendices with data
for City of Chicago community areas
and municipalities in the Chicago Six County Area.
