NR 96-65
  June 3, 1996
  
         OCC Announces CRA Data Base on World Wide Web
                                 
  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Office of the Comptroller of the
  Currency (OCC) today announced the availability of a Community
  Reinvestment Act (CRA) public data base located at the agency's
  World Wide Web site ( http://www.occ.treas.gov).
  
  "Our goal is to make it easier for the general public to find
  the particular CRA document or data they are seeking by putting
  it all in one location," said OCC Director of Communications
  Ellen Stockdale.   "The OCC is the only bank regulatory agency
  to offer online access to such a complete package of CRA-related information."
  
  The CRA information module is the latest example of the OCC's
  use of communications technology to give the public broader
  access to information about the national banking industry.  The
  module includes:
  
    A searchable list of all public CRA ratings for national
       banks;
    Quarterly CRA examination schedules;
    Viewable and downloadable text of public CRA evaluations,
       beginning with those released in May 1996;      
    A listing of national banks that have received "wholesale"
       or "limited purpose" designations under CRA;
    Viewable copies of OCC legal interpretations relating to
       CRA;
    A hyper-text linked version of the CRA regulation.
  
  Downloadable documents are available to any Internet user in
  WordPerfect for Windows  format.  The database of  CRA
  evaluations also has a "mailto:" address so that users can
  request evaluations completed prior to May 1996 electronically
  from the search page.  
  
  Questions about accessing information on the OCC web site may
  be e-mailed to Webmaster@occ.treas.gov, or directed to (202)
  874-4700.  Many public documents, including those related to
  the CRA, can also be obtained by automated fax service from the
  OCC's Information Line at (202) 479-0141.
  
                             # # #
  
  The OCC charters, regulates and examines approximately 2,800 national banks
  and 70 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 the safety and soundness of the national banking system.