Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

From: shel1457@bellsouth.net [mailto:shel1457@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:34 PM
To: comments@FDIC.gov.
Subject: RIN 3064-AC50

Dear Mr. Feldman,

I live in South Louisiana and am a concerned citizen opposed to watering down Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements for mid-sized banks. There are only four banks in Louisiana with assets of more than $1 billion. In a state such as ours where there are many rural areas the impact of what your are proposing seems such an injustice to our state and the millions that have benefited from the Community Reinvestment Act. However, it seems your proposal will halt the progress that has been made.

What is being proposed will result in significantly fewer loans and investments in rental housing, health clinics, community centers and economic development. The effects will ravage our state, a state that is already dealing with high numbers of people living in poverty and too many barriers to available resources.

You also propose that community development activities in rural areas should be given to a group of individuals instead of only low and mnoderate income individuals. Banks will be able to cherry-pick and focus on affluent residents of rural areas rather than lower income consumers CRA targets. Finally, you would eliminate public datea on the small business lending of mid-sized banks. Without data, communities and citizens cannot hold banks accountable for lenging to small businesses in neighborhoods.

Thoughtfully,

Ashley K. Shelton
Baton Rouge, Louisiana