Final answer:
The lender is not permitted to inquire about race, religion, and national origin according to the ECOA. Marital status is allowed to be inquired, as long as it is not used for discrimination. The ECOA prohibits the use of gender, race, ethnicity, and age in making credit decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the lender is not permitted to inquire about race, religion, and national origin. However, the lender is allowed to inquire about marital status as long as they do not discriminate based on that information. The ECOA prohibits lenders from using factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, and age in making decisions regarding the extension of credit.