In determing whether to issue a loan banks are not allowed to ask about an applicant

Country of origin

Explanation:

This restriction is created by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), which is a law that created to ensure that people are not discriminated to obtain loans based on their gender, race, ethnicity or religion.

Asking information about country of origin can be interpreted as an effort to distinguish the consumers race & ethnicity. ECOA wanted to ensure that the decision made by the bank only based on the person's ability to repay the credit.