From: Szw5@aol.com [mailto:Szw5@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 3:19 AM
To: Comments
Subject: Community Reinvestment -- RIN 3064-AC50
Since 1989, our nonprofit organization has worked in the very-low and
low-income neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Community Reinvestment Act has been a monumental catalyst to
Florida's affordable housine and community development solutions. While
we usually would applaud strengthening and reinforcing the existing CRA
language, our experience has been that small banks have played a
significant role in providing us with banking services, lending
opportunities and access to credit, which thereby allows us to provide
much needed affordable housing. Obviously, the CRA has been an effective
incentive for these small banks to work with our organization and in the
lower income neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale. Many times, these small
banks step forward by working through a consortium of other like-minded
lenders and because of their philosophy to improve the neighborhoods of
their local market.
Because we find the existing standards for small banks effective, we
oppose the proposed increases to the thresholds of a "small bank". This
proposed FDIC rule would exempt many of our community's essential
partners from effective and productive requirements now in place. Please
withdraw the proposed rule pertaining to small banks.
Suzanne Weiss
Executive Director
Fort Lauderdale Community Development Corporation
PO Box 1238
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302
954/463-3850 954/494-4632 cell szw5@aol.com
