Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

10/15/04 11:38:35 AM

Mr. Robert E. Feldman

Executive Secretary

Attention: Comments/Legal ESS

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20429
RE: RIN 3064-AC50

Dear Mr. Feldman:

I am writing to request that you to withdraw your proposed changes to
the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations. My organization,
The Compass Center, knows firsthand that the CRA has been instrumental
in increasing homeownership, boosting economic development, and
expanding small businesses in the nation’s low- and moderate-income
communities.

The Community Reinvestment Act is a critical component of our community’s
affordable housing and community development solutions. For the past 85
years, The Compass Center, a Lutheran Organization has built, or remodeled
200 units of transitional and permanent housing for homeless people in our
community; improving the health of our entire community. Without strong
support from our financial institution partners, this work would not have
been possible.

The proposed FDIC rule would exempt many of our community’s key
financial partners from the effective and productive requirements
currently in place. We oppose any increase to the threshold of what
is considered to be a small bank,and we urge the FDIC withdraw its
proposed rule Sincerely,

MJ Kiser
The Compass Center
77 S. Washington
Seattle, WA 98104