Knealson Advisory Group offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower financial institutions in navigating the evolving landscape of financial regulations and risk management effectively. Here’s a breakdown of our key benefits:




Services

Fair Lending Program Review

Our Fair Lending Program Review is an in-depth, comprehensive assessment aimed at strengthening your institution’s compliance structure and proactively reducing regulatory risk. This in-depth review aligns your fair lending program  with legal standards and industry best practices, while equipping your institution to respond to evolving regulatory demands. Here’s how we ensure your compliance excellence:

  • Thorough Oversight and Governance Evaluation: We assess the roles and responsibilities of your board and senior management to ensure effective oversight of fair lending practices. This includes reviewing governance structures, compliance reporting channels, and accountability measures, making sure leadership is fully engaged and equipped to manage fair lending risks proactively.
  • Policy and Procedure Effectiveness: Our team reviews your fair lending policies and procedures to verify they are up-to-date, comprehensive, and clearly aligned with current regulatory requirements. We examine the clarity and applicability of these policies across departments, identifying areas where enhancements can mitigate risk and support consistent, compliant practices.
  • In-Depth Risk Monitoring and Controls: Effective risk monitoring is at the core of a resilient fair lending program. We analyze your institution’s existing risk monitoring mechanisms, including data collection and analysis, to identify potential risk indicators. Our review ensures these controls are robust, enabling timely detection and resolution of fair lending risks that could expose your institution to regulatory scrutiny.
  • Actionable Improvement Recommendations: Based on our comprehensive review, we deliver a set of tailored, actionable recommendations that address any compliance gaps and strengthen your fair lending framework. These insights are designed to not only elevate your institution’s immediate compliance status but also build a foundation for sustainable, long-term regulatory adherence.

Data Analysis

Our data analysis services equip your institution with precise, actionable insights to effectively manage fair lending risks. Our expertise in identifying patterns and potential risk areas strengthens your institution's compliance posture and supports proactive risk mitigation. 

  • Comprehensive Pricing and Underwriting Regression Analysis: We conduct thorough regression analyses on your institution’s pricing and underwriting data to identify potential fair lending risks. This detailed analysis helps detect any patterns or disparities in lending decisions, equipping you with the insights needed to address potential issues that could lead to regulatory scrutiny.
  • Redlining and Lending Pattern Analysis: Our team analyzes lending patterns across geographic regions to assess and mitigate redlining risks and uncover any disparities. By identifying areas with low lending penetration or uneven service distribution, we help your institution ensure fair access to credit and build stronger community relationships.
  • Insightful Demographic and Trend Analysis: We examine borrower demographics, loan performance, and other key indicators to provide a holistic view of your institution’s lending practices. This analysis helps uncover trends that may signal emerging risks, allowing your management team to make proactive adjustments to policies or strategies.
  • Clear, Visualized Reporting for Decision-Makers: We present our findings in user-friendly, easy-to-interpret reports featuring visual elements like maps, tables, and charts. This clarity allows management at all levels to quickly grasp key insights and translate them into practical action steps that align with your fair lending goals and compliance needs.
  • Customizable, Actionable Recommendations: Based on our data analysis, we provide tailored recommendations specific to your institution’s risk profile and operational goals. These insights are designed not only to address current risks but also to build a framework for sustainable, data-driven compliance in fair lending practices.

Special Purpose Credit Programs

Our Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCP) service provides financial institutions with the guidance and expertise to design, implement, and manage credit programs that serve the unique needs of underserved communities. These programs not only support compliance with fair lending regulations but also amplify your institution’s community impact and commitment to inclusive banking. By aligning social responsibility with strategic objectives, SPCPs can foster stronger community relationships and create new growth avenues for your institution. Here’s how we help bring these programs to life:

  • Customized Program Design and Development: We work closely with your institution to design SPCPs that are tailored to the specific financial needs and challenges of underserved communities. This process includes defining program goals, eligibility criteria, and product structures that comply with regulatory guidelines while maximizing community reach and impact.
  • Comprehensive Regulatory Guidance and Compliance: Ensuring compliance with fair lending laws and regulatory expectations is paramount for SPCPs. We provide expert guidance on structuring these programs to meet all applicable legal requirements, including those set by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). This approach protects your institution from regulatory risks while fostering sustainable program success.
  • Community Needs Assessment and Market Research: We conduct thorough market research and community needs assessments to identify specific gaps in credit access and to understand the unique challenges faced by underserved populations. This data-driven approach enables us to help you create programs that are responsive to real community needs, positioning your institution as a trusted financial partner within these areas.
  • Effective Program Implementation and Staff Training: From program rollout to ongoing management, we support the entire implementation process, ensuring that your SPCP is effectively integrated into your institution’s operations. Our team can also provide targeted training for staff, helping them understand the program’s goals and equipping them with the skills to engage with underserved clients effectively.
  • Impact Measurement and Reporting: Measuring the success and community impact of your SPCP is critical. We assist in setting up performance metrics and impact measurement frameworks that track program effectiveness and social outcomes. This data allows your institution to communicate program success to stakeholders, demonstrating both regulatory compliance and meaningful community contributions.

Tailored Fair Lending Training Programs

Our training programs are crafted to meet the unique compliance needs of your institution, equipping staff at all levels with essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage fair lending risks. From board members to loan officers, each session is customized to ensure a deep understanding of fair lending principles, fostering a proactive approach to risk management and a culture of compliance that strengthens your institution’s reputation. Here’s how our training can transform your compliance framework:

  • Comprehensive, Role-Specific Training Modules: Our training sessions are tailored to address the specific roles and responsibilities of your team members, from executive leadership to frontline staff. Each module focuses on the fair lending concepts most relevant to their function, ensuring that all employees are equipped with practical knowledge to uphold compliance in their day-to-day activities.
  • In-Depth Understanding of Fair Lending Laws and Regulations: We provide thorough instruction on key fair lending regulations, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). By breaking down complex legal requirements into clear, actionable insights, our training sessions empower your staff to understand and apply regulatory guidelines with confidence, reducing the risk of non-compliance.
  • Case Studies and Real-World Scenarios: Our training incorporates case studies and real-world scenarios that illustrate fair lending challenges and the potential consequences of non-compliance. This hands-on approach enables participants to recognize risks in practical settings, equipping them with the skills to make compliant decisions under varying circumstances.
  • Ongoing Support and Knowledge Reinforcement: We believe in the importance of continuous learning. Following our training sessions, we offer additional resources, periodic refreshers, and ongoing support to reinforce fair lending principles. This ensures that fair lending awareness remains an active part of your institution’s culture, allowing staff to stay updated on regulatory changes and best practices.