NR 98-48
May 1, 1998

         OCC Economics Unit Will Focus on Fair Lending Exams
                                  
WASHINGTON, DC -- Acting Comptroller of the Currency Julie L.
Williams announced the formation of a new unit in the OCC's
Economics Department that will assist in examining banks for
compliance with fair lending rules.   In addition to assigning
economists to examination teams, the unit will undertake
research on other compliance issues and on access to financial
services.  

"This unit will help the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency accomplish a core aspect of our mission -- assuring
fair access to financial services for all Americans," said Ms.
Williams.  

"This will provide special focus on the pioneering work our
economists have been doing to help our examiners evaluate bank-
wide fair lending models and apply sophisticated statistical
techniques to screen for disparate treatment of minorities,
women or other protected groups," she added.  "Their efforts
will also help us target resources where they are most needed,
and perform fair lending exams more efficiently."

In addition, the unit is conducting research on the financial
services needs of households that do not have banking
relationships and innovative practices banks have used to
reach out to these households.  Other topics include analysis
of data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and
the small business data collected under the revised CRA
regulation.  

Senior Deputy Comptroller for Economic and Policy Analysis
James D. Kamihachi announced that Irene Fang was selected
to head the Financial Access and Compliance unit.  She was
formally Deputy Director and Acting Director of the
Economics and Evaluation Division.  Ms. Fang joined the
OCC in 1988.  She has a B.A. in Economics from Yale
University, and an M.A. and a Ph.D in Economics from the
University of Michigan.
                                  

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The OCC charters, regulates and examines approximately 2,600
national banks and 66 federal branches and agencies of
foreign banks in the United States, accounting for 58% of
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.