--- title: "🚨 Redlining in L.A.: How a Big Bank Ignored Non-White Neighborhoods" description: Between 2017 and 2020, City National Bank did not open a single branch in any majority-Black or Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. Even worse, it gave out very few home loans in those areas—even though many people lived there and wanted to buy homes. image: https://theconstructivehouse.com/hubfs/City%20National%20Plaza.webp --- [![The Constructive House Channel Logo (2)](https://theconstructivehouse.com/hubfs/The%20Constructive%20House%20Channel%20Logo%20(2).png)](https://theconstructivehouse.com) ![menu](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7479797/menu.png) ![close_24px](https://7479797.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7479797/close_24px.svg) The Constructive House [Contact Us](https://theconstructivehouse.com/about-constructive-house) [Redlining](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/redlining) [Home Owner's Loan Corporation](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/home-owners-loan-corporation) [Fair Lending](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/fair-lending) [Behind the Lines](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/behind-the-lines) [Housing Discrimination](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/housing-discrimination) [Equal Credit Opportunity](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/equal-credit-opportunity) # 🚨 Redlining in L.A.: How a Big Bank Ignored Non-White Neighborhoods [The Constructive House](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/author/the-constructive-house) Oct 17, 2025 9:42:29 AM ![City National Plaza](https://theconstructivehouse.com/hs-fs/hubfs/City%20National%20Plaza.webp?width=1024&height=777&name=City%20National%20Plaza.webp) In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made history with a huge settlement against **City National Bank**, a big bank based in Los Angeles. The bank is known as the “**Bank to the Stars**” because many of its customers are wealthy celebrities. But while it helped the rich and famous, it **ignored** entire communities of color. ### 🏠 What Happened?![LA Redlining Map](https://theconstructivehouse.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LA%20Redlining%20Map.png?width=474&height=278&name=LA%20Redlining%20Map.png) Between **2017 and 2020**, City National Bank **did not open a single branch** in any **majority-Black or Hispanic neighborhoods** in Los Angeles County. Even worse, it gave out **very few home loans** in those areas—even though **many people lived there and wanted to buy homes**. The DOJ looked into this and found some big problems: - **No branches** in Black or Hispanic neighborhoods - **Almost no home loans** in those same communities - **No outreach or marketing** to people of color - Most loans went to **white, wealthy neighborhoods** ![HOLC LA Redlining Map](https://theconstructivehouse.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HOLC%20LA%20Redlining%20Map.png?width=1100&height=619&name=HOLC%20LA%20Redlining%20Map.png) This is a modern example of **redlining**, a harmful and illegal practice where banks **refuse to serve certain areas—usually based on race**. ### 💸 What Was the Result? ![City National Bank](https://theconstructivehouse.com/hs-fs/hubfs/City%20National%20Bank.jpg?width=474&height=266&name=City%20National%20Bank.jpg) City National Bank **agreed to pay $31 million** in a settlement. Here’s how the money is supposed to repair things: - **$29.5 million** will help Black and Hispanic families get home loans - **$1.75 million** will support **education and outreach** about fair lending - The bank also has to **open new branches** in underserved areas - They must hire **new mortgage officers** who focus on fair and equal lending ### 📢 Why This Matters This case is the **largest redlining settlement** in DOJ history (at the time). It showed that **even big, powerful banks** have to follow fair lending laws. City National didn’t say it broke any laws on purpose, but the numbers showed **clear neglect**—and that can be **just as harmful** as open discrimination. The message is clear: **Everyone deserves a fair chance to own a home, no matter where they live or what they look like.** ###### Topics - [Behind the Lines](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/behind-the-lines) - [Equal Credit Opportunity](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/equal-credit-opportunity) - [Fair Lending](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/fair-lending) - [Home Owner's Loan Corporation](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/home-owners-loan-corporation) - [Housing Discrimination](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/housing-discrimination) - [Redlining](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/tag/redlining) ###### Popular Post - [🚨 Redlining in L.A.: How a Big Bank Ignored Non-White Neighborhoods](https://theconstructivehouse.com/the-constructive-house-blog/redlining-in-l.a.-how-a-big-bank-ignored-non-white-neighborhoods) ###### Subscribe ### Subscribe Here! 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