Last week the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment on reforming the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting wrote in an op-ed that the ANPR seeks stakeholder input on: clarifying and expanding what qualifies for CRA consideration; establishing metrics-based thresholds for CRA performance ratings; making CRA performance evaluation more timely and useful; and revisiting how the regulators define the communities that banks serve. A notable proposal in the ANPR involves creating a ratio test to rate banks’ CRA activity: it would compare a bank’s total CRA-qualified investments against a measure of the bank’s capacity to lend (for example, total assets). This simple ratio proposal could have significant implications on the scope of investment in affordable housing and community development programs. Comments are due 75 days after the ANPR is formally published in the Federal Register. Enterprise is committed to ensuring that any reforms to CRA retain a robust affordable housing and community development system.
OCC Requests Public Comments on Overhauling the Community Reinvestment Act
Published by Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing
The vision of OCAH: That all Oklahomans have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy and affordable homes. Our Mission: To lead the movement to ensure that all residents of the state of Oklahoma flourish in safe, affordable homes and to help communities develop safe and affordable housing options for all of their residents. We reach our mission through advocacy, education and practical training to foster the production and maintenance of affordable housing throughout the state. View all posts by Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing