Introduction of Credit Scores and Subprime Lending in Minority Neighborhoods

How do technological advancements in credit markets affect minority communities? We use the endorsement of FICO credit scores by the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) in mortgage underwriting to answer this question. The use of credit scores led to the sorting of prime and subprime lenders across minority and non-minority neighborhoods. In minority neighborhoods prime lenders were substituted by subprime lenders and, as a result, the share of subprime lending in minority neighborhoods increased by 5 percentage points. Prime lenders with a stronger relationship with the GSEs reduced their lending in minority neighborhoods more. The level of securitization by the GSEs in minority neighborhoods also decreased.