IMMEDIATE RELEASE        Contact: Pam Douglas (202) 874-4700

Date: March 20, 1996          
               
               
       OCC RELEASES CRA EVALUATIONS FOR 55 NATIONAL BANKS

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
(OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
performance evaluations that became public during the period of
February 15 through March 14.  The list contains only national
banks and insured federal branches of foreign banks that have
received ratings.  The possible ratings are outstanding,
satisfactory, needs to improve, and substantial noncompliance.

Of the 55 evaluations made public this month 11 were rated
outstanding and 44 were rated satisfactory.  Copies of the
actual evaluations may be obtained by writing to: the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency, ATTN; Pam Douglas,
Communications Division, Mailstop 3-2, Washington, D.C., 20219.

This month's list of ratings is attached.
                            








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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.