Advocacy, Coalitions, Community Benefits
The Community Reinvestment Act was a landmark civil rights law passed in 1977 to end discrimination that was once common in America’s banking and housing markets. NCRC leads campaigns, community coalitions, advocacy with federal policy makers and negotiations with lenders to fulfill their obligations under the law.
Our #TreasureCRA campaign seeks to strengthen and modernize it.
Since 2016, banks have pledged more than $84 billion in lending and philanthropy through community benefits agreements negotiated with NCRC. We also serve as watchdogs, analyzing essential data to identify misbehaving financial institutions in our member communities.
Completed CBAs
- KeyBank in March 2016 for $16.5 billion.
- Huntington Bancshares in May 2016 for $16.1 billion.
- Fifth Third Bank in November 2016 for $30 billion.
- First Financial Bank in October 2017 for $1.7 billion.
- Santander Bank in November 2017 for $11 billion.
- IBERIABANK in November 2017 for $6.7 billion.
- First Tennessee Bank in April 2018 for $4 billion.
- Wells Fargo & Company (DC) in October 2018 for $1.6 billion
- Fifth Third updated agreement in October 2018 for an additional $2 billion.
- Truist in July 2019 for $60 billion.
What is the CRA?
The CRA is a law that requires banks to serve the credit needs of communities where they take deposits, including low- and moderate-income communities. The law was passed in 1977 to reverse redlining patterns, and promotes neighborhood revitalization. CRA makes wealth building more accessible by creating access to responsible home ownership opportunities, basic banking services, and capital for small businesses. The CRA also calls on banks to support affordable housing, small business development, social services and neighborhood stabilization in low- and moderate-income communities. Since its inception, advocates such as NCRC, have used the CRA to secure trillions of reinvestment dollars for underserved communities.
Click here for a manual on the CRA and here to learn more about the CRA’s widespread benefits.
Community Reinvestment Summits
NCRC hosts community reinvestment summits where stakeholders get together to discuss the most important issues facing their community and how to productively address them through working in coalitions. We have recently convened summits in Oregon, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, and Louisiana.
How can you use the CRA?
NCRC offers crucial support to our members on how to use the CRA. NCRC provides research on bank behavior in your community, strategic consulting on how to approach banks, and other assistance to our members that increases their power to create positive outcomes for the neighborhoods they serve. We have brought hundreds of community groups into community benefits agreements with financial institutions.
Please contact NCRC for more information and to learn about the benefits of NCRC membership.
Policy Work
NCRC also works with legislators and regulators to strengthen the CRA, so that underserved communities have greater access to credit and capital.
Recent news on CRA:
Principles for CRA Reform: Strengthen Communities, Exams and Accountability
The following are principles of reform; if the agencies contradict or contravene these principles, we will oppose any additional regulatory changes just as we have opposed the OCC final rule. Reforming CRA must not become a pretext for relaxing CRA. ...
Some common views on CRA reform among community groups and industry, but differences need to be resolved
In a previous article, I described how some big issues on reforming the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exposed a considerable difference of views among community groups and the banking industry. However, there was some convergence of views on a series of other important issues, including performance measures and ratings categories. On these issues, the remaining differences appear to be manageable. ...
CRA Overhaul Comments to the Federal Reserve: Banks say, “No, We Can’t” and community groups say “Yes, You Can”
Reading the comment letters from industry and community groups regarding the Federal Reserve Board’s (board) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), I am reminded of the childhood tale of the "Little Engine that Could," ...
Civil rights, fair lending and consumer rights organizations call on the Federal Reserve to strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act
More than 100 national and local civil rights, fair lending and consumer rights organizations have urged the Federal Reserve to strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a key anti-redlining and civil rights law. ...
NCRC comment on Federal Reserve Board’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Community Reinvestment Act – February 2021
DOWNLOAD FULL COMMENT Overview and introduction Docket Number R-1723 and RIN Number 7100-AF94 To Whom it May Concern: The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) appreciates the thoughtfulness of the Federal Reserve Board’s (Board) approach to modernizing the regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). NCRC is an association of community-based organizations whose mission is to … NCRC comment on Federal Reserve Board’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Community Reinvestment Act – February 2021 Read More » ...
Over 100 groups call on Federal Reserve to Strengthen CRA
(Download) Docket Number R-1723 and RIN Number 7100-AF94 To Whom it May Concern: The Federal Reserve Board (Fed) must strengthen the rigor of CRA exams to promote recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fed has described approaches in its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on CRA that will make CRA exams more objective and … Over 100 groups call on Federal Reserve to Strengthen CRA Read More » ...
Civil Rights, Fair Lending And Consumer Rights Organizations Urge A More Race-Conscious CRA
(Download) February 16, 2021 Ann E. Misback, Secretary Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 20th Street and Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20551 RE: Docket Number R-1723 and RIN Number 7100-AF94 Dear Ms. Misback: In its October 2020 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) invited public comment on … Civil Rights, Fair Lending And Consumer Rights Organizations Urge A More Race-Conscious CRA Read More » ...
