Went to a Wells Fargo Branch to apply for a HELOC. The Loan Officer asked me some questions regarding the amount I owed on my home and how much I thought it was worth. I responded the best I could with XXXX amounts. The Loan Officer ( XXXX XXXX from the XXXX XXXX informed me that I would not qualify for a HELOC as my Loan to Value ratio was too high based on the estimates I provided ( Wells Fargo HELOC caps at 85 % LTV ). He quickly offered another product ( non-collateralized personal loan ) for which he did take a complete application. Ultimately I was declined based on my Credit Bureau score being out of range for the product. I subsequently went to another bank, where I made the exact same request for a HELOC. The Loan officer there immediately began the process of taking an application for the HELOC, which incidentally I was conditionally approved. I am not sure how Wells Fargo knew that I would n't qualify without taking an application for a HELOC, but decided to take the application for the personal line of credit. I did some investigation and found that under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( Regulation B ) that the answer I received from XXXX XXXX regarding a HELOC would constitute a Declination without an application. Additionally, moving me to the personal Line of credit without taking an application for the HELOC would constitute steering, which is prohibited. It is also my understanding that these actions would be a violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act ( Title XXXX of the Civil Rights act of 1968 ). I am an XXXX XXXX Female, and feel based on the actions presented that Wells Fargo is in violation of both ECOA and FHA based on discrimination based on race and gender. 
