Belvidere — Ch. 62 Human Relations § 62-62
Exemptions
Operative Text
Nothing contained in this division shall prohibit: (1) Sound underwriting practices. A financial institution from considering sound underwriting practices in contemplation of any loan to any person. Such practices shall include: a. The willingness and the financial ability of the borrower to repay the loan. b. The market value of any real estate or other item of property proposed as security for any loan. c. Diversification of the financial institution's investment portfolio. (2) Credit-worthiness information; credit systems. A financial institution from: a. Making an inquiry of the applicant's age, permanent residence, immigration status, or any additional information if such inquiry is for the purpose of determining the amount and probable continuance of income levels, credit history, or other pertinent element of credit-worthiness as provided in regulations of the state department of human rights; b. Using any empirically derived credit system which considers age if such system is demonstrably and statistically sound in accordance with regulations of the state department of human rights, except that in the operation of such system the age of an applicant over the age of 62 years may not be assigned a negative factor or value. (3) Special credit programs. A financial institution from refusing to extend credit when required to by or pursuant to any: a. Credit assistance program expressly authorized by law for an economically disadvantaged class of persons. b. Credit assistance program administered by a nonprofit organization for its members of an economically disadvantaged class of persons. c. Special-purpose credit program offered by a profit-making organization to meet special social needs that meets standards prescribed by the state department of human rights in its regulations. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/4-104.
Belvidere Ch. 62 § 62-62 carves out specific activities that the division's fair lending rules do not prohibit. Financial institutions are permitted to apply standard underwriting criteria—such as a borrower's repayment ability, collateral value, and portfolio diversification—without those practices being treated as discriminatory. Similarly, gathering certain applicant information to assess creditworthiness, using statistically validated credit-scoring systems (with protections for applicants over 62), and participating in special credit assistance programs for economically disadvantaged groups all remain permissible under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who work with financial institutions on mortgage or lending matters should be aware that § 62-62 identifies specific underwriting and credit-evaluation practices that fall outside the division's anti-discrimination prohibitions. Compliant lenders generally document that any inquiry into age, residency, or immigration status is tied solely to assessing income continuity or creditworthiness, and that any credit-scoring model relying on age is empirically validated and does not penalize applicants over 62. Operators involved in special credit programs—whether through nonprofit or for-profit channels—typically ensure those programs meet the standards set by the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Belvidere Ch. 62 § 62-62, tenants and prospective borrowers should understand that not every lending practice that considers personal characteristics constitutes a violation of the division's protections. The exemptions are narrowly defined: a lender's use of age in a credit model, for example, is only permitted if the model is statistically sound and does not penalize applicants older than 62. If you believe a financial institution has gone beyond these permitted exemptions, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Belvidere Human Relations Commission, contacting the Illinois Department of Human Rights (which is referenced in the provision), or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair-lending organization for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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