Redesigning Wealth Access: A Blueprint for Racial Equity in Lending
This article is based on the latest industry practices and data, last updated in April 2026.Introduction: The Fault Lines in Our Lending SystemIn my 12 years as a senior consultant specializing in equitable lending, I've witnessed how deeply ingrained biases in financial systems continue to widen the racial wealth gap. The problem isn't just about access—it's about design. Traditional lending models were built on assumptions that exclude communities of color, using metrics like credit scores tha