Dis-Credited: Disparate Access to Credit for Businesses in the Chicago Six County Region

This report examines geographic patterns of access to bank capital for businesses in the Chicago six-county region, with a focus on smaller loans and other types of credit, amounts under $1 million, that are more likely to benefit smaller, local businesses that create economic opportunity within neighborhoods. For small neighborhood businesses to grow, they need to be able to access capital, and one common source of capital for small businesses are loans, lines of credit, and business credit cards (collectively, "small loans") issued by banks and other financial institutions