Chillicothe — Ch. 50 Human Rights § 50-132
Exemptions
Operative Text
Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit: (1) 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) 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 creditworthiness as provided in state regulations. b. Using any empirically derived credit system which considers age if such system is demonstrably and statistically sound in accordance with state regulations, 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) 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 which meets standards prescribed by state regulations. State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 725 ILCS 5/1-104.
Chillicothe Ch. 50 § 50-132 carves out specific situations where the article's human-rights lending rules do not apply. 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 violations. The exemption also allows age-related inquiries and credit-scoring models when they meet state regulatory standards, provided that applicants over 62 may never be penalized solely for their age. Additionally, institutions may decline to extend credit when a special-purpose or credit-assistance program, whether government-backed or nonprofit-administered, is expressly designed for economically disadvantaged groups.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chillicothe Ch. 50 § 50-132, financial institutions operating in the lending space—including those that finance property purchases—are generally permitted to apply conventional underwriting standards without running afoul of the article's anti-discrimination provisions. Compliant lenders typically document that any age-related inquiry or credit-scoring methodology is empirically grounded and consistent with state regulations, and they ensure that applicants over 62 are never assigned a negative factor based on age alone. Operators involved in special-purpose credit programs should confirm that those programs meet the criteria outlined in § 50-132 and applicable state rules.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chillicothe Ch. 50 § 50-132 defines the boundaries of permissible lender conduct, which in turn helps tenants and prospective borrowers understand when a financial institution's actions fall outside the article's protections. If a lender's decision appears to go beyond the narrow exemptions described in § 50-132—for example, by using an age-based scoring model that penalizes applicants over 62—that conduct may not be shielded by this provision. Individuals who believe a lender has exceeded these exemptions may consider filing a complaint with the Chillicothe human-rights authority or consulting a tenant-rights or fair-lending organization for general information about available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation