By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Compass Bank will pay up to one-point-75 (m) million dollars plus interest to non-married car loan customers who were charged higher interest rates than married couples. The move settles federal complaints of lending discrimination. A consent decree, which federal judge must still approve, says Compass promised it will not discriminate on the basis of marital status in any aspect of its automobile lending. Ed Bilek, a Compass senior vice president, said the bank acknowledged no wrongdoing and noted that the loans in question occurred between May 2001 and May 2003.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)