The civil rights community has long recognized equal access to credit as an important step in helping minority families to move out of poverty and into the middle class and greater financial security. As you are well aware, rising delinquencies in the home, auto, and credit card markets are putting a strain on working families across the country. African American and Hispanic families, who are routine targets for unfair and abusive lending practices, are especially hard hit. Much like the targeting and discrimination that occurs with home loans, African Americans and Latinos are steered toward credit cards with the highest fees and interest rates and most complicated payment terms.