WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve Board proposed Tuesday changes that would protect consumers from "unscrupulous" mortgage lending and advertising practices.

If adopted, the rule would restrict some practices and require certain disclosures to be provided earlier in the mortgage application process, the Fed said in a news release.

"Our goal is to promote responsible mortgage lending, for the benefit of individual consumers and the economy," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said. "We want consumers to make decisions about home mortgage options confidently, with assurance that unscrupulous home mortgage practices will not be tolerated."

The four lending areas that would be governed by the proposal include:

-- Prohibiting creditors from extending credit without considering the borrowers' ability to repay.