Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

From: Veralee Liban [mailto:vliban@dbconsultinggroup.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:44 AM
To: Comments
Subject: CRA
Importance: High

Dear Mr. Feldman:

I am a concerned citizen that is 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 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 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 much fewer loans, investments, and branches in low- and moderate-income communities. Please withdraw your harmful proposal.

Sincerely,

Veralee Liban
4015 Heathfield Rd
Rockville, MD 20853
301-460-4299