Household to Lend to Low-Income Borrowers

Household International Inc., the second-largest consumer finance company in the U.S., agreed to lend $3 billion to low- and moderate-income borrowers over three years to satisfy community groups opposed to its Beneficial Corp. acquisition. Household, based in Prospect Heights, Ill., said its Household Finance unit will create lower-rate mortgage loan programs for borrowers with better than sub-prime credit records, after negotiating with New York-based Inner City Press/Community on the Move and Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council. Household will also spend $1.25 million on consumer credit counseling over the next five years. The community groups, which asked regulators to block the Beneficial acquisition, agreed to drop their opposition. Last month Household agreed to buy Wilmington, Del.-based Beneficial for about $8.25 billion, creating one of the largest consumer lenders in the U.S., with $62 billion in outstanding loans.