The project design combined grant funds with an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan to soften lending terms with the overarching objective of poverty reduction.

And because Latinos earn on average less than whites, and may not have a credit history in the United States, they are not always eligible for the most attractive interest rates and lending terms.

Even so, the Banks insisted that they would still make decisions "on commercial terms", despite making promises to keep lending to small businesses and homeowners.