Why is the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) important?

CRA is a federal law that imposes an affirmative obligation on banks to serve the credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities and to take steps to provide equal access to responsible financial products and services to traditionally underserved populations.  Thanks to CRA, banks have actively promoted housing and economic opportunity for underserved groups by providing affordable mortgage programs, small business loan products, community development financing, funding for non-profit housing and economic development programs, etc.

Banks are regularly examined by the federal government to determine if they are meeting their CRA obligations.  Because an unsatisfactory CRA rating or questions about CRA performance can result in delays or denials of mergers, acquisitions or the expansion of services, banks often look for ways to maintain or improve their CRA records.


How can I or my agency maximize the benefits of CRA to promote housing and economic opportunity in my community?

To maximize the benefits of CRA within local communities, NCRC encourages community stakeholders to develop a CRA strategy that involves a combination of any or all of the following activities:

• Submit written comments on the community reinvestment performance of banks in your local area when these banks undergo their regular CRA examinations;
• Monitor bank mergers, acquisitions and expansions to identify strategic opportunities to encourage banks in your local area to improve their community reinvestment records;
• Meet periodically with banks operating in your local area, even if they are performing well on their CRA exams, to discuss your community’s credit/capital/bank service needs and to suggest actions a bank can take to better meet those needs;
• Meet with bank regulators to discuss the performance of specific banks, as well as improvements to the CRA exam process;
• Encourage your local government or other local institutions with substantial bank accounts (e.g., churches, foundations, etc.) to establish a linked deposit program to ensure that only those banks with reasonable community reinvestment records are eligible to benefit from a financial relationship with major local depositors; and
• Become a shareholder advocate – owning even a small number of shares in a publicly-held bank allows you to introduce, vote on and/or speak at shareholder meetings about shareholder resolutions that address community reinvestment concerns.

Remember to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need assistance implementing any of these CRA-related activities.


How can I or my agency participate in the CRA exam process to benefit my community and clients?

Comments made by community stakeholders (including non-profits, local government agencies and individuals) that highlight strengths or weaknesses in a bank’s performance with regard to lending, investments or service provision that benefit underserved groups can have a strong influence on a bank’s CRA rating, as well as on the ongoing actions a bank takes to promote housing, financial and economic opportunity for traditionally underserved populations.

You can submit comments on a bank’s community reinvestment performance at any time.  If a bank is not undergoing a CRA exam at the time you submit your comments, simply instruct the bank and its federal regulator to place your CRA comments in the bank’s public file.  The next time a CRA exam occurs, the federal examiner is required to look at comments in the public file and the bank is required to report how it responded to any concerns raised.

NCRC can provide guidance and data analysis to help you develop your comments on a bank’s CRA record.


Why should community stakeholders meet regularly with banks to discuss CRA-related activities?

Community agencies and other stakeholders can approach banks, particularly those that receive poor CRA ratings, to suggest ways that financial institutions can improve their community reinvestment performance.  The development of mutually beneficial relationships between banks and community stakeholders has resulted in funding for housing counseling programs; new loan products that better serve small business entrepreneurs; increases in the number of bank branches in underserved neighborhoods; investments in local community and economic development loan programs and projects; financing for affordable mortgage products; sound credit alternatives to predatory payday loan products; etc.

To see if there are any specific issues you may want to discuss with a bank, you can check the results of that bank’s last CRA exam at http://www.ffiec.gov/craratings/default.aspx or you can contact NCRC for an analysis of a bank’s CRA-related performance.  NCRC can also help you prepare for your meetings with banks.


Why do bank mergers, acquisitions and expansions present a strategic opportunity to encourage banks to enhance their product/service offerings and/or to support programs that benefit traditionally underserved groups?

If valid questions about a bank’s CRA performance record are raised when financial institutions are engaged in a merger, acquisition or expansion process (particularly if the bank received a low CRA score on it’s last exam) federal regulators may delay or deny the merger, acquisition or expansion application involving that bank.  To avoid such costly delays, the financial institution(s) involved will often work with community stakeholders to develop a community reinvestment plan that addresses the problem(s) and that identifies specific funding and/or new products, services or investments the bank will offer in order to promote housing and economic opportunity for traditionally underserved groups.

To find out if there are any pending merger, acquisition or expansion applications that may impact your community and/or for assistance in preparing your response, call NCRC’s Membership Department at (202) 628-8866.


How can NCRC help me or my agency prepare CRA-related comments or engage in CRA-related discussions with banks?

NCRC can provide a detailed analysis of a financial institution’s community reinvestment record that addresses how well the bank serves the needs of low- and moderate-income and/or minority households through its basic banking, lending and investment services.  This analysis is provided FREE to NCRC members.

NCRC staff can also provide guidance on how to prepare CRA-related comment letters and engage in negotiations with financial institutions to secure funding, products and services that promote housing and economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income and minority clients.  Staff can help members frame and support their appeal and determine what community investment commitments it might be appropriate to ask a bank to make (e.g., develop new products that better serve small business entrepreneurs, fund housing counseling programs, invest in a housing/community development or small business loan fund, etc.).

In addition, NCRC members can communicate with other coalition members via our listserv to find out what has worked in other communities, see examples of comment letters written to regulatory bodies and, of course, elicit support from other allies for their CRA-related activities.


How can I or my agency get help from NCRC to support our CRA-related activities?

Staff from NCRC’s Membership, Research and Legislative/Regulatory Affairs Departments are available to provide you with the support you need to utilize CRA to promote housing and economic opportunity in your community.  To start the process, contact NCRC’s Regional Organizer, Ian Keller at (202) 628-8866 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NCRC extends its small business development initiatives to Houston via newly opened Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center

Houston, TX— The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) announced today the opening of the Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center (HMBEC). Located downtown in the Houston Technology Center at 410 Pierce Street, the HMBEC will provide training and technical assistance to minority-owned businesses. Aligned with NCRC's mission to promote access to credit and capital to underserved communities, the Houston MBEC will join NCRC's two thriving business development initiatives: the DC Minority Business Enterprise Center (DC MBEC) and the DC Women's Business Center (DC WBC).

"We are proud that we can bring to Houston what our DC Minority Business Enterprise Center has been successfully providing to minority businesses in the Washington, DC region: the tools they need to access capital, and to create and sustain business growth," said Owen Jackson, Vice President for Business Development at NCRC.

The Houston center is headed by Director Christopher Bilton. Joining Bilton on the HMBEC staff are Mark Praigg, Business Consultant, and Janet Murillo, Administrative Assistant & Business Consultant.

Christopher Bilton, Director of HMBEC said, "We're confident that the HMBEC will be a standout in the region and of real service to the business community in Greater Houston. We look forward to advancing NCRC's work, by creating the conditions for business growth and ensuring the economic sustainability of minority business enterprises in the Houston area."

The Houston MBEC is operated by NCRC and funded in part by a grant from the Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Comparable to the DC MBEC, the Houston MBEC will offer professional services and expert advice to existing minority business enterprises grossing $500,000 or more in annual revenue. HMBEC offers advice on access to capital, finance, accounting, business management and development, government contracting, marketing, strategic planning, and bonding and venture capital investing.

For media inquiries, please contact Jesse Van Tol at 202-464-2709 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text24677 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information about the HMBEC, please contact Christopher Bilton, Director, at (713) 357-9559 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition is an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services, including credit and savings, to create and sustain affordable housing, job development, and vibrant communities for America's working families. http://www.ncrc.org/

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Washington, DC -- Today, Owen Jackson, Vice President of Business Development at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) will give testimony before the Congressional Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies and will call upon Congress to reverse proposed cuts to the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).

MBDA supports Business Centers across the nation. These centers help minority-owned small businesses gain access to capital, contracts and financing. The current budget proposal reduces the MBDA’s funding by $1.5 million in 2013.

“Less funding for MBDA Business Centers means fewer resources for small businesses,” said Jackson. “A key part of our economic recovery lies in our willingness to invest in America’s small businesses in order to spur job creation.”

In the past three years, MBDA Business Centers have helped small businesses obtain $10 billion in contracts and create 15,000 net new jobs.The program has generated a 125 percent return on investment for every dollar of funding.

NCRC has called on Congress to budget $32 million for the MBDA in 2013, which would match the 2008 funding level. NCRC President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement:

“These budget cuts would undermine a successful program that has a proven track record at creating jobs and helping small businesses grow,” said Taylor. “Small businesses create two out every three new jobs, and are integral to the nation’s economic recovery. We urge Congress to restore funding so this program can enable additional economic growth.”

NCRC is the only non-profit organization in the country that operates three MBDA Business Centers, with centers in Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and Houston, TX. NCRC also manages a Women’s Business Center and Small Business Teaming Center sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a small business development loan fund.

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Washington, DC – Today, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) announced that the NCRC Community Development Fund has received certification from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

“We are very excited to receive CDFI certification,” said NCRC President and CEO John Taylor. “This certification will allow NCRC to further build out our financial and technical assistance services for small businesses and minority- and women-owned small businesses.”

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition operates three U.S. Department of Commerce-sponsored Minority Business Centers (in Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Houston, TX), a Women’s Business Center sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and an SBA Small Business Teaming Center. The NCRC Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF) is a small business investment fund that measures the success of its investments by financial return, positive social impact, and environmental benefits in its current target market of the District of Columbia, with plans to serve women- and minority-owned businesses nationwide in the future.

To date, NCRC CDF, through the Fund and the NCRC Small Business Center affiliates, has counseled and provided technical assistance to over 1,500 small businesses, assisted in securing over $2 billion in financing and contracts, created over 150 new jobs, and directly lent $150,000 to women, minority, and low-income owned businesses in the District of Columbia Metro area.

About the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC):

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition is an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services, including credit and savings, to create and sustain affordable housing, job development, and vibrant communities for America's working families.

New York City, NY -- This month, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition's (NCRC) New York City Minority Business Center will begin a working collaboration with the National Minority Angel Network (NMAN), a new organization dedicated to fostering investment in minority-led and owned start-up businesses. To kick off this new collaborative initiative to connect minority-led and owned businesses with investors, the New York City Minority Business Center and NMAN will cohost a reception for potential investors on May 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm.

NCRC's New York City Minority Business Center provides management and business consulting services to minority business enterprises, and utilizes strategic partnerships to improve minority-owned companies' performance and profitability. NMAN works to provide mentorship, educational events, and capital to minority-led and owned startups across America. The New York Minority Business Center will work with NMAN to identify appropriate minority-led and owned businesses and connect them with "angel investors" who will commit capital and resources to those businesses.

NCRC President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement: "We are excited to bring people together to create jobs and build opportunities for small business owners through this new initiative. Allowing full participation in business creation and development is an important part of economic justice, and NCRC is dedicated to leveling the playing field, and ensuring that everyone gets a fair shot to prosper and thrive."

Timothy Reese, Founder and Principal of NMAN said: "We are excited about our New York City launch in partnership with NCRC. We believe recent activity for high-growth startups in New York provides ideal conditions to be launching our program here at this time before rolling out to other regions in the U.S."

The reception will be held on May 30, 2012 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the New York City Minority Business Center. The New York City Minority Business Center is located at 114 West 47th Street, 19th Floor. This event is open to press. For more information please contact Eric Hersey at 202-524-4880.

NCRC is the only non-profit organization in the nation that operates three MBDA Business Centers, with centers in Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and Houston, TX. NCRC also manages a Women's Business Center and Small Business Teaming Center sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a small business development loan fund.

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Washington, DC -- On Tuesday, July 24, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition's Small Business Teaming Center will hold an event to introduce the procurement community to the concept of small business teaming, and give small business owners the opportunity to network. NCRC's Small Business Teaming Center puts together teams of small businesses with complementary capabilities to allow them to compete for large federal contracts they would not be able to win individually. The center is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and managed by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

"Small business teaming is an innovative concept that will open up lucrative opportunities for small businesses. We are excited to be on the cutting edge, promoting and facilitating small business growth in a new way," said NCRC President and CEO John Taylor.

The event will be attended by small business owners, corporate small business liaisons and representatives from government agencies, and will feature remarks from senior Small Business Administration officials.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at SunTrust Bank on 1445 New York Avenue NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC. It is open to members of the press. For more information contact Eric Hersey at (202) 524-4880 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In addition to its Business Teaming Center, NCRC is the only non-profit organization in the country that operates three MBDA Business Centers, with centers in Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and Houston, TX. NCRC also manages a Women's Business Center sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a small business development loan fund.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition is an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services, including credit and savings, to create and sustain affordable housing, job development and vibrant communities for America's working families. To find out more, visit http://www.ncrc.org.

Dear Chairman Frank:

First, we would like to congratulate you and thank you for your leadership in enacting financial regulatory reform that will go a long way towards leveling the playing field for consumers, increasing the safety and soundness of our financial system and helping to curb the worst abuses that caused the economic collapse. We want to thank you in particular for including enhancements to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and small business lending data in financial reform.