Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

The CRA requires federal banking agencies to

• assess the institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including LMI neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of such institution, and
• take such record into account in its evaluation of an application for a deposit facility by such institution.

On October 24, 2023, the OCC, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) jointly issued a final rule to strengthen and modernize the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations to better achieve the purpose of the CRA.

Note: The OCC continues to assess banks' CRA performance under the 1995/2021 regulatory framework. The text of the 1995/2021 regulation can be found in: (i) the 2022, 2023, or 2024 bound versions of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations; (ii) the historical version of the OCC's CRA regulation as of March 29, 2024, in the eCFR; (iii) appendix G to 12 CFR 25 in the eCFR; or (iv) PDF form.

2023 Interagency Final Rule on CRA

• News Release 2024-32, Agencies Extend Applicability Date of Certain Provisions of their Community Reinvestment Act Final Rule
• OCC Bulletin 2024-9, Community Reinvestment Act: Supplemental Final Rule
• OCC Bulletin 2023-32, Interagency Final Rulemaking to Implement the CRA
• Community Reinvestment Act Final Rule
• News Release 2023-117, Agencies Issue Final Rule to Strengthen and Modernize Community Reinvestment Act Regulations
• Community Reinvestment Act Final Rule Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Interagency Overview of the Community Reinvestment Act Final Rule (PDF)
• News Release 2023-119, Acting Comptroller Issues Statements at FDIC Board Meeting on CRA, Special Assessments and Climate-Related Financial Risk Management
• Interagency Questions and Answers on Community Reinvestment applicable to Appendix G

Top Tasks

Handbook, Procedures, and Guidance

• OCC Comptroller's Handbook, CRA Examination Procedures
• CRA Examination Procedures for Small Institutions (PDF)
• CRA Examination Procedures for Intermediate Small Banks (PDF)
• CRA Examination Procedures for Large Banks (PDF)
• CRA Examination Procedures for Limited Purpose and Wholesale Institutions (PDF)
• CRA Examination Procedures for Institutions With Strategic Plans (PDF)
• CRA Small Bank Compliance Guide (PDF)

Additional Resources

National Banks Evaluated on the Basis of a Strategic Plan Under the CRA
Get a list of national banks operating under approved CRA strategic plans and a reference to the authorizing regulation.

Wholesale and Limited Purpose Banks
Get a list of banks designated as wholesale or limited purpose, definitions for these terms, and a reference to the authorizing regulation.

Community Affairs
Get information about best practices and investment opportunities on a broad range of community development topics and access training, workshops and conferences conducted by Community Affairs Officers.

2021 CRA Final Rule (PDF)

OCC Bulletin 2021-5, Community Reinvestment Act: Bank Type Determinations, Distressed and Underserved Areas, and Banking Industry Compensation Provisions of the June 2020 CRA

CRA 2020 Final Rule
(The 2020 CRA Rule applied to activities between October 2020 and December 2021.)

CRA Illustrative List of Qualifying Activities (PDF)

OCC Questions and Answers on CRA for Bank Customers

OCC Frequently Asked Questions for Banks Regarding COVID-19

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) CRA Page