WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans.
Garland has prioritized civil rights prosecutions since becoming attorney general in 2021, and the current administration has put a higher priority on redlining cases than before.
The anti-redlining effort has now secured $107 million in relief, including the Ameris settlement, which a judge must approve.
A $31 million settlement with Los Angeles-based City National in January was the largest for the department.
The Ameris case is the first brought by the department in Florida, said Roger Handberg, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Persons:
Biden, General Merrick Garland, “ Redlining, ” Garland, Garland, redlining, Roger Handberg, ”, Kristen Clarke, Ken Sweet
Organizations:
WASHINGTON, Justice, Ameris Bank, Ameris, National, Middle, Middle District of, ___ Associated Press
Locations:
Black, Jacksonville , Florida, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Homeownership, Los Angeles, Florida, U.S, Middle District, Middle District of Florida, ”, ___, New York