Hispanic ethnicity. If an applicant self-identifies as “Hispanic or Latino” under the category of “Ethnicity,” what options under “Race” are available?
The applicant should be asked to identify a race or races from among the five choices available. See question below on Definitions of races and Hispanic ethnicity. If a lender is face-to-face with an applicant who (1) has self-identified as “Hispanic or Latino” (or whom the lender has identified as of that ethnicity because the applicant has declined to self-identify) and (2) has not identified a race, the lender must identify whatever race or races the lender believes apply, based on surname and visual observation. In those circumstances, the lender may not indicate “NA” in the race field. “NA” is used in the race field only if (1) the applicant is not a natural person, (2) the HMDA reporter has purchased, not originated, the loan, or (3) an application taken in 2003 reached final action in 2004 (see comment 203.4(a)(iv)(B)(3)).
