Redlining refers to the practice of a financial institution denying or increasing the cost of banking to consumers based on the socio-demographic composition of their neighborhood. Historically, the term redlining originated when banks that purposefully avoided serving minority, low-income neighborhoods were said to have drawn a "red line" around these neighborhoods. Redlining violates the anti-discrimination provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as the provision of the Community Reinvestment Act that requires banks to adequately serve the needs of their geographic assessment areas.