FDIC Federal Register Citations

Rural Opportunities

From: Tracey Gebhart [mailto:tgebhart@ruralinc.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 1:07 PM
To: Comments
Subject: Concerned citizen re CRA proposal

Dear Mr. Feldman:

I am a concerned citizen strongly opposed to your proposal to significantly weaken the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). You propose much easier CRA requirements for banks between $500 million to $1 billion in assets. This proposal will result in much fewer home and small business loans to low- and moderate-income borrowers and much fewer community development loans and investments in low- and moderate-income communities. In addition, you propose that banks can earn CRA points by financing community development projects that benefit affluent residents in rural areas, instead of low- and moderate-income consumers and communities in rural America. This is directly contrary to CRA’s focus on meeting credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities. In sum, all of your proposals will result in much fewer loans, investments, and branches in low- and moderate-income communities. Please withdraw your harmful proposal.

Sincerely,
Tracey Gebhart
Deputy for Program Administration
Rural Opportunities, Inc.
400 East Avenue
Rochester, NY