Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

October 15, 2004

Robert E. Feldman
Executive Secretary
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 29429
Re: RIN number 3064–AC50

Dear Mr. Feldman:

The New Jersey League of Community Bankers* (“the League”) is pleased to comment in strong support of the proposal issued by the FDIC that would amend the definition of a small institution to be a bank that is under $1 billion in assets and establish mandatory community development performance criterion for banks between $250 million and $1 billion in assets.

The League believes that this change will provide much needed regulatory burden relief for community bankers. It will allow their limited resources to be better utilized to serve their communities rather than collecting and maintaining data and documents to prove to examiners that they are meeting the needs of their communities.

League members are community banks that strongly believe in reinvesting in the communities they serve. Raising the threshold will not dampen that commitment to their communities.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment. If there are any questions or a need for clarification, please contact me at 908 272 8500, ext. 614.

Sincerely,

James M. Meredith
Senior Vice President
New Jersey League of Community Bankers
411 North Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016