The Equal Credit Opportunity Act does not guarantee that you will get credit. You must still pass the creditor's tests of creditworthiness. But the creditor must apply these tests fairly and impartially. The act bars discrimination based on age, gender, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin. The act also bars discrimination because you receive public income such as veterans benefits, welfare or social security, or because you exercise your rights under Federal credit laws such as filing a billing error notice with a creditor. This protection means that a creditor may not use any of those grounds as a reason to:

-- discourage you from applying for a loan;

-- refuse you a loan if you quality;

-- lend you money on terms different from those granted another person with similar income, expenses, credit history, and collateral

-- close an existing account because of age, gender, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, receipt of public income or because you execise your rights under federal credit laws.

Although creditors may not discriminate on the basis of national origin, they may consider your immigration status when making a loan decision.