We may see a modern version of the David versus Goliath story as Marilyn Evans, executive director of Communities United For Action (CUFA) takes on what she calls loan sharks - companies that practice what she calls predatory lending by talking mostly elderly people into loans they can't afford.

        Mrs. Evans is directing her attack at Citigroup, a New York firm that owns 15 branches of Citifinancial in Greater Cincinnati.

        CUFA is joining with community groups nationwide, trying to get a meeting with Robert Rubin, chairman of Citigroup's executive committee.

        “We are joining this effort because of the dramatic increase of loan sharks in our communities in Cincinnati in recent years,” Mrs. Evans said.

        She said low-income or elderly homeowners are targeted.

        Mrs. Evans and the other community groups want Citigroup to stop what they call predatory lending practices and offer equal access to affordable loans.

        The real battle may never happen because Mr. Rubin has not agreed to a meeting.

        CUFA and the other community groups don't have a bag of stones and a slingshot for their battle, but they have put together a portfolio documenting what they call scurrilous practices, and not just by Citigroup.

        Examples:

        • A Northside woman wanted to borrow $1,000 for minor repairs. She was asked to refinance her house, consolidating another loan plus the $1,000 for a total of $77,800.

        • An elderly woman whose house was paid for wanted to borrow $10,000 to get her plumbing fixed. She was talked into a $35,000 loan.

        • Another woman wanted money to get security doors, windows and wall-to-wall carpeting. A remortgage saw her payment go from $445 a month to $885.

        Leah Johnson, director of public affairs for Citigroup, thinks it may be picked on because it is the largest.

        “We agree with what the community groups are saying, because we are against the predatory practices,” Ms. Johnson said. “We have gone across the country, talking with community groups to help develop the best policy. We disagree that we should not be in the communities, because we have been the one to pave the way to give loans to people who don't qualify for prime rates. And we have programs in place to promote them to prime rate status.”

        Judge Joe Brown will step out of his role as the tough-talking TV judge presiding over the Judge Joe Brown show, and offer some advice as the keynote speaker at a teen conference in Northside on March 31.

        The judge will speak at the Setting the Standards Conference 200l at Greater Cincinnati Community Academy Inc., 4781 Hamilton Ave.,8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

        The conference will also feature workshops, seminars and symposiums; vendors; a teen summit and forum with a simulated courtroom show; and live entertainment.

        For more information, call 821-3300.

        The Mark L. Pastor Black Book Fair continues through Sunday at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center.

        The fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It is free.
       
       Allen Howard's column runs on Saturdays. Call: 768-8362. Mail: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

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