NR 97-1
  January 9, 1997
  
  OCC Publishes Revised Community Development Reference Booklet
                                 
  WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Office of the Comptroller of the
  Currency (OCC) today announced the publication of a revised
  edition of Community Development Finance: Tools and Techniques
  for National Banks, a reference work on community development
  first published by the agency in 1989.
  
  "We've updated Tools and Techniques with examples of the basic
  strategies national banks use to cultivate community
  development lending and investment opportunities," said
  Comptroller Eugene A. Ludwig.
  
  National banks of all sizes throughout the country are
  supporting a variety of community based partnerships that
  provide special financing for low- and moderate-income housing,
  small and minority business development, neighborhood and
  commercial revitalization, and industrial development.  The new
  Tools and Techniques includes new information on safe and sound
  approaches to meeting community development credit and
  investment needs in today's evolving financial services
  marketplace and a listing of community development resources.  
  
  "Since 1993, national banks and their community development
  partners have made targeted investments of over $4 billion in
  community development investments alone," Ludwig added, 
  "And we hope the publication of this updated reference will
  continue to stimulate creative and profitable community
  development lending to complement banks' investments." 
                                
                                 Copies of Community Development Finance: Tools and Techniques
  for National Banks, were mailed to all national banks in late
  December.  Additional copies may be ordered for $15.00 each
  from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Post Office
  Box 70004, Chicago, IL 60673-0004. 
  
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  The OCC charters, regulates and supervises approximately 2,800 national
  banks and 66 federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the U.S.,
  accounting for more than half the nation's banking assets.  Its mission is
  to ensure a safe, sound and competitive national banking system that
  supports the citizens, communities and economy of the United States.