Center for Responsible Lending | Center for Community Self Help

Advancing economic justice for all

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a nonprofit supporting organization for the Center for Community Self-Help and was founded in 2002.

CRL is a non-partisan, nonprofit research and policy advocacy organization working to create financial fairness and economic opportunity for all, end predatory lending, and close the racial wealth gaps.

About CRL

The Center for Responsible Lending is a well-respected, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses trusted expertise, groundbreaking research, and fact-based advocacy to create an inclusive financial marketplace, because too many hard-working Americans are targeted by dishonest and harmful wealth-extraction schemes.

CRL works to ensure a fair, inclusive financial marketplace that creates opportunities for all families and individuals, regardless of their income.

CRL is independently funded through contributions from individuals, grants from philanthropic organizations, and special awards.

The issues

CRL communicates complex issues in ways that are compelling and accessible so that policymakers and the public have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Clean Energy Transition

Consumer Finance

Debt Collection

Mortgage Lending

Overdraft Fees

Payday and Other Small Dollar Loans

Small Business

Student Loans

CRL's approach

Research

CRL conducts high-quality research that quantifies and highlights the financial realities of everyday Americans to help inform policy-making.

Coalition-Building

CRL partners with national and local consumer and civil rights organizations to advance financial fairness and economic opportunity for all.

Advocacy

CRL uses fact-based advocacy to push for fairer financial laws, policies and practices.

Putting communities in the driver's seat

In 2024, CRL launched the Julian Bond Initiative (JBI). JBI’s mission is to conduct research — like the 2050 Survey — that elevates the financial needs, challenges, and opportunities presented by our increasingly diverse nation to effectively design a financial market for the future.

JBI places communities who will make up a majority of the future financial marketplace in the driver’s seat.

Learn More About JBI

CRL's origins and impact

2002

Self-Help leaders launched CRL in 2002 in response to blatant abuses in the mortgage market that were eroding homeownership for people in low-wealth communities.

Since then, CRL has been a leader in quantifying and spotlighting the problem of predatory practices in mortgage lending, payday loans, student loans and more.

2008

CRL was the first organization to warn the nation of the 2008 subprime mortgage crash.

After the crash, our research and policy recommendations helped inform the creation of the Dodd- Frank Act, and, ultimately, the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Today

CRL’s efforts to reform lending laws and eliminate abusive charges has been instrumental in saving billions of dollars for American families.

For example, CRL’s work with partners to eliminate abusive overdraft fees has saved working families between $3 and $4 billion.

Connecting the dots to our mission

Self-Help takes a three-pronged approach to pursuing our mission:

We provide responsible financial services through our credit unions and mortgage lending to help individuals and families reach their financial goals.
We invest in communities through lending, partnerships, and real estate development.
We advocate for large-scale policy changes that will make a difference to millions of everyday Americans seeking a better economic life.

CRL's impactful work over the last 25 years has been critical to creating and protecting economic opportunity — not just for Self-Help's members and communities, but for all Americans.

Want to Learn More About the Fight for Financial Fairness?

Dig into the issues, see the impact CRL has had, or sign up for updates on CRL's website.

Explore CRL's Work

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