Woodstock Institute

05/07/2026

Groups Urge Lawmakers to Reject Enova and OppFi’s National Bank Applications and to Support State and Federal Interest Rate Limits WASHINGTON – Today, nearly 100 consumer, civil rights, and community organizations sent a letter urging members of Congress to stop predatory bank loans by opposing ...

05/06/2026

05/05/2026

Woodstock Director of Applied Research Serrater Chapman appeared on WVON 1690AM - The Talk of Chicago to discuss dramatic small business lending disparities in Illinois and Chicago.

"Across Illinois from 2018 to 2024, businesses in upper-income neighborhoods received about twice as much small business lending as businesses in lower-income neighborhoods, even though they both have a similar share of businesses in both places… Whether we look at this by income across Illinois or by race in Chicago, the story is consistent."

Listen to the full segment here: https://woodstockinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WVON-April-29-2026-interview.mp4

Access more Woodstock Report episodes here: https://woodstockinst.org/woodstock-updates/the-woodstock-report-on-wvon-spring-2026/

04/22/2026

Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to scale back its plans that would severely reduce staffing, undermine the agency’s statutory obligation to supervise financial institutions, weaken enforcement, and result in less relief and protection for consumers.

Read more here: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-calls-on-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-to-abandon-plan-to-decimate-enforcement-consumer-protection

04/14/2026

Calling Illinois mortgage licensees! Illinois regulators are hosting two virtual trainings covering the Illinois Mortgage Community Reinvestment Act exam.

Wednesday, May 20, 9-10am: https://illinois.webex.com/webappng/sites/illinois/meeting/register/7745e641c8bd45069a7a36e46af1011d?ticket=4832534b000000086e5fe82da3b184cdf967a1180f956fd14fcd5e101d6db37036acddba4b35dab1×tamp=1776191546124&RGID=r3451260a178f5bfd0b3438fdcbfb159a&isAutoPopRegisterForm=false

Thursday, May 21, 2-3pm: https://illinois.webex.com/webappng/sites/illinois/meeting/register/6fc22c6886e84ea692e1bc919a506e3f?ticket=4832534b00000008ede4c9fe744504f5d5a534253fbd46fb93fd043258c2b1c781fb1d57a912ebd5×tamp=1776191560912&RGID=r31b6aa6873dd0a31669de04c0e76e97e&isAutoPopRegisterForm=false

04/09/2026

A small business owner impacted by a predatory loan joined Woodstock’s Brent Adams to discuss why we need .

“There is something [in the contract] that looks like APR but it's some other percentage number. To me it signified APR but it wasn't. The people at Woodstock helped me figure out the interest and it was around 300%. It was crazy," said the small business owner.

Small businesses often turn to non-bank lenders to borrow money, but hidden terms mean those businesses often have to pay back more than what they borrowed i...

04/02/2026

"...calling EWA a payday loan is not the answer."

Woodstock's Brent Adams refutes claims equating earned wage access (EWA) products with predatory payday loans in a letter to the editor published by the Chicago Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/23/letters-032326-loyola-student/

03/31/2026

TOMORROW, Wednesday April 1, on WVON 1690AM - The Talk of Chicago!

Nikki Bravo, co-founder of Momentum Coffee and Coworking, and Geri Sanchez Aglipay from Small Business Majority will discuss why Illinois small businesses need APR for All.

The Small Business Financing Transparency Act (HB744 HA #1) would require non-bank lenders to disclose APRs to small business borrowers, allowing entrepreneurs to make informed financial decisions, protect their employees, and keep wealth in communities.

Tune in here at 8:15AM! https://www.iheart.com/live/wvon-1690am-5304/

03/31/2026

03/26/2026

H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly) is hiring for a Community Programs Director!

Check out this role and other open positions here:

We strive to promote a culture of warmth and caring for the older adults and multigenerational residents we serve, and we extend the same respect to the incredible employees that make our work possible.

03/25/2026

APR For All!

Advocates came to Springfield yesterday to urge Illinois lawmakers to pass HB 744 HA #1, the Small Business Financing Transparency Act, legislation that would require non-bank lenders to disclose the Annual Percentage Rate of loans offered to small businesses.

Illinois small businesses lose an estimated $1.25 million every day to nontransparent loans that obscure the true cost of borrowing. Those losses represent dollars that should be going toward hiring, expansion and local investment — not hidden fees and invisible interest.

Huge thank you to chief bill sponsor State Representative Mary Beth Canty, Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), Small Business Majority, Momentum Coffee, Working Credit, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Advocacy Council, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Women Employed, and the Cook County Government Bureau of Economic Development for their support yesterday!

Learn more and tell your Illinois legislators to support APR for All: https://aprforall.com/