This landmark law, passed in 1977, requires banks to meet the credit needs of all communities, especially in low- and moderate-income areas. It was enacted in response to the existence of “redlining” (denial of loans and services) in low-income and minority communities by lending institutions.
Statements and Letters
In response to recent coordinated efforts in the media and elsewhere to hold the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) responsible for the current financial crisis, NCRC, along with a coalition of civil rights, consumer, community development and housing groups are working together to call attention to the real reason for the crisis: failed regulatory oversight. More than 100 organizations have signed on to a joint statement in support of the Community Reinvestment Act. Click here to read the statement.
Additional Statements
Statement on the CRA by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
CRA Research and Resources
Regulatory Failure as Cause of Financial Crisis
CRA: Myth and Fact (The National Community Reinvestment Coalition)
Why We Need the CRA (A National Community Reinvestment Coalition Video)
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has encouraged an extraordinary level
of collaboration between community groups and banks across the country. One
form of collaboration is known as a CRA agreement.
NCRC’s Research department provides the latest updates and analyses of
legislative and regulatory developments affecting fair lending laws and
regulations. View
NCRC’s Online Research Library
Additional CRA Resources:
On March 18th, 2016 NCRC, it’s members and KeyBank signed a landmark $16.5 billion community benefits agreement at NCRC’s annual conference. This agreement will increase capital and bank services for the under served and is a great example of the victories you can achieve by using the Community Reinvestment Act. NCRC is a leader in […]
Community Reinvestment Act Organizing Read More »
Myth: The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) caused the foreclosure crisis. Facts: The majority of subprime loans were originated by non-CRA covered financial institutions. In fact, only about 25 percent of sub-prime loans were made by institutions covered by CRA.¹ CRA was passed in 1977. The explosive growth in subprime lending occurred more than two decades
CRA Myth and Fact Read More »
How to Use the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to Promote Housing and Economic Opportunity in Your Community  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
Community Reinvestment Act Q & A Read More »
Since it was passed in 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has helped infuse trillions of dollars in community reinvestment dollars into minority and lower income neighborhoods. But, despite the benefits of CRA, recent changes will decrease its effectiveness and result in fewer loans and investments in low-income and minority communities. Instead, CRA needs to
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Read More »
Passed by Congress in 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) states that “regulated financial institutions have continuing and affirmative obligations to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered.” The act then establishes a regulatory regime for monitoring the level of lending, investments, and services in low- and moderate-income
A Brief Description of CRA Read More »
In the early years of CRA, community activists, lenders, and regulators focused on home lending activity. This was partly because HMDA data was available and because neighborhood organizing usually started with the issues of housing, crime prevention, and other community empowerment endeavors. As CRA enforcement and activism evolved over the years, the importance of small
The CRA Small Business Data Read More »
NCRC Organizes Community Groups to Protest Venture Bank’s Payday Lending NCRC Comments on Staten Island NCRC Comments on NetBank’s CRA Strategic Plan NCRC Organizes Community Groups to Protest Venture Bank’s Payday Lending The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), the Consumer Federation of American (CFA), the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina (CRA*NC) and 65 other
NCRC Comments on CRA Exam Read More »
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a remarkable law. Not only does it prohibit discrimination against working class and minority neighborhoods, it also imposes an affirmative obligation on banks to serve these communities. It is not good enough for a bank to establish branches and passively wait for customers to walk into branches. Instead, banks
