From: beckleyr@mail.umich.edu
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 11:09 AM
To: Comments
Subject: Change in FDIC rules

As an urban planner and educator I have seen how important inner city banks
have been to preventing blight and encouraging community renewal. The
FDIC's proposal to allow banks with assets above $250 million to be
examined as small banks under the Community Reinvestment Act will
discourage banks from making a commitment to inner cities. This policy
would reduce lending, investments and services in low-income communities
and should not be adopted.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Beckley
Professor and Dean Emeritus
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI