Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

From: Laura Berry [mailto:lberry@cfgnh.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:29 AM
To: Comments
Subject: Community Reinvestment -- RIN 3064-AC50

Please know I oppose the FDIC’s recommendation/proposal entitled Community Reinvestment 12 CFR Part 345, to allow banks with assets above $250 million to be examined as small banks under the Community Reinvestment Act. This policy would reduce lending, investments and services in low-income communities.

There are to few opportunities to encourage lending and investment in low-income communities and this is a fundamental role that government policy should encourage. Policy needs to reinforce the philosophy of encouraging enterprise to offer a “hand up” to low-income communities, otherwise we will need to return to “hand out’s” which benefits no one.

Thank you
Laura Berry
VP for Development
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
70 Audubon Street
New Haven, CT 06510