Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

From: Marla Wiltse [mailto:marlawiltse@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 5:04 PM
To: Comments
Subject: 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 $250 million to $1 billion in assets. This proposal will result in fewer home and small business loans to low- and moderate-income borrowers and fewer community development loans and investments in low- and moderate-incomecommunities.

In addition, you propose that all FDIC-supervised 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,your proposal to change the CRA regulation will result in fewer loans, investments, and branches in low- and moderate-income communities. Please withdraw your harmful proposal.

Sincerely,

Marla Wiltse
80 Newcastle Road
Rochester, NY 14610