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It's a new war on predatory lending in Iowa.

Iowa Citizen's for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) has reaped a series of victories since its Sep. 6 hearing with the Federal Trade Commission, the Iowa Attorney General's office, and the Iowa Division of Banking, including:

l The Attorney General's office and the Division of Banking have followed through on their commitments to work with CCI on a series of statewide forums on predatory lending. The first public forum will be held in Des Moines on February 5, 2002. The forums will focus on educating consumers and legislators on the practices of predatory lenders and what can be done to stop them from feeding on Iowa's communities.

l Brian Corey, Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel for Conseco Finance, will be in Des Moines to meet with CCI on Jan. 16. Iowa CCI has named Conseco Finance as public enemy number one in their fight to stop predatory lending. Due to constant pressure from Iowa CCI, Superintendent of Banking Holmes Foster told Conseco Finance officials that they had to meet with Iowa CCI.

"I believe we have made significant progress in our fight against predatory lending," said Sally Riggs of Iowa CCI's Predatory Lending Task Force. "With the support of the Attorney General's Office and the Superintendent of Banking we finally have our meeting that we have been demanding for almost a year. Once we get Conseco to the table, I am confident that they will realize how their lending practices have damaged families. Conseco must work with us to form a new relationship for the benefit of all Iowans."

l Iowa CCI has invited the AARP and ICUL to join them in developing anti-predatory lending legislation. Several state legislators have contacted CCI seeking input on what can be done legislatively. Meetings are planned for December and January to solidify a legislative agenda for this campaign.

l Iowa CCI has also received Fannie Mae approval for the CCI Anti-Predatory Refinance Initiative and will be meeting with local banks in December to offer them the opportunity to participate. The product will be the first of its kind in Iowa, and will offer real help to families who have been trapped by predatory lenders.