Which criteria is NOT considered under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is designed to protect consumers from discrimination in lending practices. It outlines specific criteria that lenders cannot use as a basis for discrimination when evaluating creditworthiness. The criteria covered by the ECOA include aspects such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, and age.

Among these criteria, credit score is not protected under the ECOA because it is considered an objective measurement of an applicant's creditworthiness based on their financial history. Lenders may use credit scores to assess risk, but they cannot use sensitive personal information such as age, marital status, or religion to determine whether to grant credit. Therefore, while lenders may consider credit scores as part of their decision-making process, it is not categorized as a criteria under the ECOA that would influence or prohibit fair lending practices. This distinction is essential to understanding the protections the ECOA offers to those seeking credit.