Community Reinvestment Act

Congress enacted the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) in 1977. The act requires regulated financial institutions to demonstrate that their deposit and credit services meet the convenience and needs of the local communities where they are chartered. The CRA further requires the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to assess each state member bank's performance in its local communities under the CRA consistent with safe and sound operation. The sections below contain resources, tools, and examiner tips and best practices to assist state member banks with understanding regulatory requirements, assessing performance context factors, and enhancing the effectiveness and quality of their CRA programs. The goal of providing this information is to support state member banks with identifying needs and opportunities within their assessment areas and to streamline the CRA evaluation process.

Services & Resources

Examiner Tips and Sound Practices

Highlight the impact of your bank's community development activities and strengthen your CRA program

Performance Context

Performance context can include a broad range of economic, demographic, and institution- and community-specific information that an institution and examiners can both use to understand the context in which a bank's performance should be evaluated.

Preparing for a CRA Examination

Determine how your institution will be evaluated and which activities can be considered.