ABSTRACT
Changes in the financial and mortgage lending landscape over the past three decades have impacted rural communities and consumers. Bank and financial institution mergers have occurred at a fast pace, transforming the rural mortgage marketplace. The decreasing numbers of financial institutions potentially limits credit options available to rural borrowers. Bank mergers and consolidations may impact rural communities in other ways as well. Large banks serving places far from their home offices may not be as attached to the communities they serve as smaller, local banks would. As a result, large banks do not fully know their new customer base, and they may make fewer loans and be less involved in the community.
