Which of the following does NOT fall under the prohibited factors in ECOA?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is designed to promote fair lending by prohibiting discrimination in credit transactions based on certain protected characteristics. These prohibited factors include aspects such as race, color, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, and age.

In this context, credit score does not qualify as a prohibited factor under the ECOA. Credit scores are based on an individual's credit history and are used to assess creditworthiness. They are objective measures of a borrower's capacity to repay a loan, rather than a characteristic of the borrower themselves. While lenders must ensure that their criteria for credit approval are applied fairly and without discrimination, credit scores themselves as a numerical assessment do not discriminate based on any of the prohibited factors outlined by the ECOA.

In contrast, color, national origin, and sex are all explicitly mentioned as prohibited factors under the ECOA, meaning that discrimination based on these characteristics when making lending decisions is unlawful. Thus, credit score stands apart as a factor that does not fall under the prohibited categories. Understanding this distinction is crucial for ensuring compliance with the ECOA and promoting equitable treatment in lending practices.