Are subprime loans an unethical financial instrument, or are they ethical but misused in a way that created ethical issues? Solution Subprime lending means making loans to people who may have difficulty maintaining the repayment schedule, sometimes reflecting setbacks, such as unemployment, divorce etc. These loans are not an unethical financial instrument. It beacame a tool for unethical people in the mortgage industry, but overall it is good for people who took loan in rough situations or for a home buyer who maybe had gone through bad phase of life.The problem arises only whenb borrower fails to meet the obligations. Unfortunately there were some unethical originators pushing people who did not need these loans into them, but the loans are not unethical. In my opinion, I believe that the subprime loan is applied as it was designed to be applied, is an ethical financial instrument that was unfortunately misused in a way that created ethical issues. .