The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) was enacted in 1977 to prevent redlining and to encourage banks and savings associations (collectively, banks) to help meet the credit needs of all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and individuals. Today, CRA and its implementing regulations require federal banking regulators to assess the record of each bank in fulfilling its obligation to the community and to consider that record in evaluating and approving applications for charters, bank mergers, acquisitions, and branch openings.
Continue Reading The Trump Administration to Seek Changes to the Community Reinvestment Act
New OCC Guidance on Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Ratings
On October 12, 2017, the OCC issued OCC Bulletin 2017-40 announcing the release of its Policies and Procedures Manual 5000-43 (PPM 5000-43), which outlines the OCC’s policy and framework for how the agency determines Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) ratings when there’s evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices directly related to a bank’s CRA