Federal Reserve System December 20, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The OCC, the Board, the FDIC, and the OTS (collectively, ``the agencies'') are adopting revisions to our rules implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The agencies are revising the term ``community development'' to include loans, investments, and services by financial institutions that support, enable, or facilitate projects or activities that meet the ``eligible uses'' criteria described in Section 2301(c) of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), as amended, and are conducted in designated target areas identified in plans approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The final rule provides favorable CRA consideration of such activities that, pursuant to the requirements of the program, benefit low-, moderate-, and middle-income individuals and geographies in NSP target areas designated as ``areas of greatest need.'' Covered activities are considered both within an institution's assessment area(s) and outside of its assessment area(s), as long as the institution has adequately addressed the community development needs of its assessment area(s). Favorable consideration under the revised rule will be available until no later than two years after the last date appropriated funds for the program are required to be spent by the grantees. The agencies will provide reasonable advance notice to institutions in the Federal Register regarding termination of the rule once a date certain has been identified.