(Charlotte, NC) – Bank of America and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (“NACA”) today announced the extension of their national affordable homeownership mortgage program, with a goal of providing $15 billion in mortgages to low-to-moderate income and predominately minority homebuyers through May 2027. This partnership continues to be instrumental in providing wealth to those historically locked out of affordable homeownership thus reducing the racial disparity gap.
For 25 years, the NACA/Bank of America Homeownership Program has provided mortgages for families and properties in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods with over 85% of the loans going to minority homebuyers. The mortgages come with a below market interest rate, no down payment is required, and Bank of America pays non-recurring closing costs. This partnership has provided affordable homeownership to more than 9,100 households over the last two years and over 40,000 mortgages through the program since 1996.
“Expanding this relationship enables Bank of America to provide more mortgages to families at a time of substantial need in America,” said Andrew Plepler, global head of Environment, Social, and Governance at Bank of America. “We are focused on helping stabilize neighborhoods, maximize homeownership opportunities for working people and families, and build generational wealth through homeownership.”
Bruce Marks, NACA Chief Executive Officer states “Bank of America has been NACA’s biggest and most important partner in providing our Best in America Mortgage nationwide. All low- and moderate-income borrowers and others purchasing in a lower income area receive the same incredible terms: No down payment, No closing costs, No mortgage insurance, at a below market fixed rate (2.0% 30-year fixed APR and 1.375% 15-year APR as of 5/6/21), without consideration of their credit score. The performance is one of the best in the industry. This private sector partnership has transformed lives and has set the national standard for affordable homeownership.”
NACA is the largest HUD approved counseling agency, providing more than 31% of the housing counseling in the country. These services include homebuyer education classes, financial management and individual comprehensive counseling. NACA has eliminated the barriers to affordable homeownership: 1. Significant Savings 2. Unaffordable Terms 3. Restrictive Underwriting, and 4. Racism and Bias.
Extending Bank of America’s Commitment
Bank of America’s work with NACA is one of several initiatives reflecting the company’s commitment to racial equality and homeownership opportunities.
In February 2021, Bank of America announced the expansion of its Community Homeownership Commitment to $15 billion through 2025. Launched in 2019 as a $5 billion initiative, the Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment® helps low- and moderate-income homebuyers across the country begin to build their personal wealth and family legacy through the power of homeownership through education, low-rate mortgages and down payment and closing cost grants which don’t require repayment.
More broadly, Bank of America has made a 5-year, $1.25 billion commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity in the areas of affordable housing as well as health, jobs/reskilling, and small business through direct actions, investments and work to catalyze similar efforts across the private sector.
NACA (NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA (www.naca.com)
Started in 1988, NACA is the largest HUD-Certified nonprofit, community advocacy and homeownership organization in the United States with over three million members. NACA has been the forefront in fighting predatory lending and has been the most effective organization in providing affordable solutions to over 250,000 homeowners. NACA provides its Best in America Mortgage nationwide through its 48 offices and counseling center. NACA’s founder and CEO Bruce Marks was named Bostonian of the Year for 2007 for his work in getting the major lenders and servicers to modify unaffordable and predatory home loans. He has also testified before Congress on numerous occasions including September 10, 2000, being one of the few to sound the alarm of the pending mortgage crisis. For more information, please visit www.naca.com.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, including approximately 2,700 lending centers, 2,600 financial centers with a Consumer Investment Financial Solutions Advisor and approximately 2,400 business centers; approximately 17,000 ATMs; and award-winning digital banking with approximately 39 million active users, including approximately 31 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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