What is this map?

The maps and tables give detail all of the loans we have made and where by Borough and at Ward level since we launched in April 2005. The tabs allow navigation by Borough, offer further details on our growth rates and give the viewer a breakdown of our clients by gender and ethnicity.

The maps are split by both our Personal Loans which we use to tackle usurious and unfair lenders, and by our Business Loans, which we use to create enterprises in deprived communities. You can view the maps by loan numbers and by volume.

We plan to update this map every month so you can see the growth and impact of Fair Finance over time.

This is the first attempt at online disclosure map and we have been limited by data protection, cost, and the availability of data, but over time we hope to make improvements and increase the scope of this work.

Why did we do it?

We believe that we have nothing to hide about who or where we lend. Anyone can come to Fair Finance and will not be excluded by their gender, race or postcode. Our loans are based on the ability to repay and ensure that everyone has an equal chance of access.

We believe that by sharing this information with the public we are being transparent in our activities and accountable to the public. It is as much a tool for us to see where we are active, as it is for policy makers and people who care about tackling financial exclusion. We would ask you to demand the same level of transparency and accountability from other lenders. If they have nothing to hide then they should comply.

If you are interested in being a transparent and accountable lending institution we would be happy to share our experiences and technology in helping you create something similar.

What has disclosure achieved?

Mandatory lending disclosure is a feature of the US Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977, banks must by disclose annually where and who they lend to. The data is broken down by geography, ethnicity, and gender and cross referenced by what the lenders charge on average to each of these communities, all of which is publicly available. This data has been used to identify communities and geographies that have limited access to financial services, and helped community organisations and leaders work with Banks and Government to create solutions for them.

Under the CRA these partnerships have levered over $2trillion in safe and sound lending to support to communities in creating jobs, owning homes, building financial skills and accessing affordable credit. It has been an agent for positive change and given communities the power information to make a measurable difference.

In the UK the Social Investment Taskforce, commissioned by Gordon Brown, recommended that Banks in the UK disclose their lending data in 2000. This call was repeated in 2005. To date no Bank has regularly produced this data of all their portfolio.

Want to know more?

The Power of Information: Opportunities for Disclosure by Barclays Bank and New Economics Foundation, which looked at practical ways to use bank information. and was the first disclosure of lending by a Bank in the UK in a limited area. See more at www.barclays.com/financialinclusion.

Enterprising Communities: Wealth Beyond Welfare by Social Investment Taskforce: Wealth beyond Welfare, and additional updates. The first report to actively point to the importance of disclosure.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition: a network body for over 500 community organisations that produces easy to digest reports on bank lending activity in all communities in America.

The Woodstock Institute: A US nonprofit organisation formed in 1973 with a mission to research, develop and promote ways to bring economic resources to lower-income and minority families and communities.

Debt On Our Doorstep: a campaign group of grassroots activists and community organisations aiming to end extortionate lending and ensure universal access to affordable credit and other financial services.