Analysis and points of view on research, trends, issues, ideas and opportunities.
The nation’s bank branch network lost ground in the third quarter of 2026 with 313 openings and 446 closings, a net loss of 133 branches. That ends a three-quarter run of net gains, the first such run since 2009, which we reported in our second-quarter article. Even though openings were the highest in any quarter
“We are all victimized by a system that puts money before everything else,” said Amos Favorite, a long-time resident of Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.” “That’s the way it is today when we got stuff in the water and air [that] we can’t even see that can kill us deader than we ever thought we could die.”
Priced Out or Polluted: The Unfair Dilemma Facing Disinvested Neighborhoods Read More »
As investor purchases of single family homes have increased over the last several years, so have concerns about the potential negative effects on communities. Black communities in particular have become hotspots for investor activity. Using data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) that contains a record of over 90% of all mortgages, we can
These are challenging times for the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Today, CRA will celebrate its 49th birthday. The following day, the middle-aged CRA will have an existential moment. Comment letters are due on October 13 regarding the proposed rule by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
As the first state established in the US, Delaware has long been recognized for its role in shaping the nation’s history. It has since emerged as a major hub for the financial services industry – becoming home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of financial institutions. In fact, two-thirds of America’s Fortune 500 companies
On September 22, community development leaders, housing advocates, financial institutions and policymakers gathered in Tacoma for the sold-out Reinvest Washington summit. The day began with a blessing and welcome dance from members of the Puyallup Tribe, the original stewards of the land on which Tacoma stands, a powerful reminder of who came before and why
The rise of artificial intelligence has brought fears of a potential collapse of the Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Technology (STEM) professional job market. In this month’s Race, Jobs and Economy update, we will look at the change in STEM employment for different racial groups and how these changes intersect with AI developments and other major
Washington State has one of the most complex housing ecosystems in the country. Increasing tech salaries has driven some of the highest cost-of-living rates in the nation, while homeownership has become unaffordable for 80% of households. Low- and moderate-income residents face rising housing costs, displacement pressures, widening wealth gaps and uneven access to capital. As
Vanessa Jackson never imagined herself as a homeowner. Even with a full-time job at a local nonprofit, all the moving parts of buying a home felt overwhelming. That was until Jackson took Benjamin Rose’s homebuyer education courses. Benjamin Rose, a Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit founded in 1908, helps aging Americans build the knowledge, skills and access
Investing in community: Benjamin Rose unlocks homeownership for aging Ohioans Read More »
The strategic plan provisions in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed CRA rule have received less attention than the proposal’s headline changes. However, combined with the OCC’s December 2025 guidance, it could make it easier for banks to pass CRA exams while providing less community development financing than they have historically.
CRA’s New Benchmark Could Put 85% of Current Community Development Activity at Risk Read More »
The strategic plan provisions in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed CRA rule have received less attention than the proposal’s headline changes. However, combined with the OCC’s December 2025 guidance, it could make it easier for banks to pass CRA exams while providing less community development financing than they have historically.
The Proposed CRA Rule’s Strategic Plans: A More Predictable Path to Doing Less Read More »
Annually, these agencies serve over 85,000 households across the United States, with over 63,000 of those households falling under 80% of their regional median income levels. This grant funding will fuel their critical services, empowering families across the country to achieve housing stability and homeownership.
“We are deeply saddened by Irvin’s sudden passing,” said Jesse Van Tol, NCRC’s president and CEO. “As one of the founding board members of NCRC, he played a pivotal role in shaping our organization and was a tireless champion of our cause.”
NCRC Mourns Loss of Board Vice Chair Irvin Henderson Read More »
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule would weaken bank obligations to invest, lend and provide services in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, while reducing transparency and accountability.
The Proposed 2026 CRA Rollbacks: Key Takeaways and Why it Matters Read More »
Like most states, Minnesota is facing an affordable housing shortage with over 100,000 residences needed for low-income residents. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), a network of community development organizations, is working to fill this gap. MCCD advocates statewide for equitable housing and economic policies that generate wealth for people of color (BIPOC) and
