CRA Related News Releases

May 12, 1999

OTS 99-29 - CRA Ratings and Evaluations Now Available on Web Site

Office of Thrift Supervision

FOR RELEASE at 1:00 p.m. EDT			For further information
Wednesday, May 12, 1999			Contact: Ella Allen
OTS 99-29			202/906-6924

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CRA Ratings and Evaluations now Available on Web Site

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 12, 1999 -- The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) today announced the addition of a new Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) page on the OTS Web site that provides on-line access to savings association CRA ratings and recent CRA public evaluations. Visitors may access the web page at http://www.ots.treas.gov/cra.html.

The CRA requires financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of their local community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound lending practices. CRA performance evaluation is part of each financial institution's compliance examination.

The OTS CRA Web page includes a link to the OTS CRA search form database. The database includes a complete list of public CRA performance ratings for savings associations regulated by the OTS along with access to the most recent and any immediately prior public evaluation for each savings association. The page also includes links to CRA-related press releases, including national CRA ratings and quarterly CRA examination schedules, testimony and speeches.

OTS will continue to make lists of institutions' CRA ratings available to the public through the Information Management and Services Division, Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20552, or telephone (202) 906-6677. Copies of individual CRA performance evaluations are also available directly from the institutions or through the OTS regional offices.

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The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury, regulates and supervises the nation's thrift industry. OTS' mission is to ensure the safety and soundness of thrift institutions and to support their role as home mortgage lenders and providers of other community credit and financial services. For copies of news releases or other documents call PubliFax at 202/906-5660, or visit the OTS web page at www.ots.treas.gov.

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