Final answer:
According to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the lender is not allowed to inquire about an applicant's religion (C. Religion) when making credit decisions. Option C
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a federal law prevents lenders from using certain personal information to make credit decisions. The ECOA specifically prohibits discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, and religion among other factors.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is C. Religion. Lenders are allowed to inquire about marital status and age within certain guidelines, but they are not permitted to inquire about an applicant's religion when making a credit decision.
It's important to note that while lenders might ask for certain information for government monitoring purposes, they cannot use that information to discriminate against potential borrowers. Option C