References
The Consumer Compliance Task Force of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) promotes consistency in the implementation of the CRA Regulation by periodically publishing Interagency Questions and Answers, Interagency Interpretive Letters, Examination Procedures, and by facilitating uniform data reporting. The FDIC also issues separate guidance aimed at enhancing examination processes and the quality of public evaluations.
Statute: Community Investment Act, 12 USC 2901
Regulation: Community Investment Act, 12 CFR Part 345
Preamble to the 1995 CRA Regulation
Technical Changes to CRA Regulations to conform with OMB and Census Changes
Preamble to the 2005 Regulation Change
2010 Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment
2013 Supplementary Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment
Consolidated Guidance for Preparing CRA Examinations and Performance Evaluations
CRA Amendments in the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (IBBEA)
Explanation of the Community Reinvestment Act Asset-Size Threshold Change
CRA Interpretive Letters
FFIEC CRA Interpretive Letters
CRA Qualified Investment Fund
Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) Letter
CRA-Related Financial Institution Letters (FIL)
FIL 3-96: Designations as Wholesale or Limited Purpose Institutions; Submissions of Strategic Plans
FIL 26-98: Guidelines for Strategic Plan Submissions
Job Aids
FFIEC CRA Website: About CRA, How to File, Public Data
CRA Performance Ratings (FFIEC and FDIC website)
CRA Examination Schedule (FDIC website)
A Guide to CRA Data Collection and Reporting
All state member banks, state nonmember banks, national banks, and savings associations, except small institutions, are subject to data collection and reporting requirements. A small institution is a bank or thrift that, as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, had total assets of less than $1 billion. All institutions that are subject to the data collection and reporting requirements must report the data for a calendar year by March 1 of the subsequent year, reporting in electronic format: 1) a transmittal sheet, 2) a definition of its assessment area(s), and 3) a record of its Community Development (CD) loans. In addition, any institution that wants to be evaluated under the Large Bank evaluation method must also collect and report CRA loan data.
Using the loan data submitted by the financial institutions, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) creates aggregate and disclosure reports for each metropolitan area (MA). These reports are made available to the public each summer. The MA aggregate and disclosure reports for calendar years since 1996 are available on the FFIEC’s CRA web site at http://www.ffiec.gov/cra. The FFIEC also provides to the public various electronic, paper and magnetic media items.
Approved CRA Wholesale and Limited Purpose Banks, Banks Operating Under Strategic Plans, and Special Purpose Banks
Applications Subject to CRA and Public Comments
Census Information: Available from the FFIEC CRA website
Counties Located in Non-Metro Areas Listing
HUD Estimated Metropolitan Area Median Family Income Listing
Underserved and Distressed Geographies
FFIEC Geocoding/Mapping System: A web-based tool designed to help institutions report information on mortgage, business, and farm loans. Geocoding refers to the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), State, County, Census Tract combination (address information) that must be provided for each reported loan. The system allows institutions to enter a street address, and it then determines the census tract. When an address is not found, the mapping feature enables the user to determine the property location based on known landmarks, without resorting to a paper map. The system also provides Census demographic information about a particular census tract, including income, population, and housing data. Institutions use this information to assess whether they are meeting the credit needs of the communities in which they operate.
OMB Bulletin No. 03-04: June 2003 changes in Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) boundaries and terminology
- A five-digit MSA code from the new list of MSAs is to be used for 2004 CRA data. Use the five-digit code for Metropolitan Divisions when available.
- A four-digit MSA code from the old list of MSAs is to be used for 2003 CRA data.