we are changing processors and the new one does not have a CRA input application. Where can I find a program to input Census Tract/Income. info......to sort and give me reports ?

We use CRA Wiz, rather costly but gets the job done well.

The FFIEC offers free software to input your CRA data but the reporting functionality is limited. It works well as long as you don't need to slice and dice too much.

My banks use CRA Wiz which is expensive but can slice and dice like a Ginzu knife.

They should throw in a free set of those with each CRA Wiz purchase!

If you are just looking for simple input, a reasonable price and some colorful reports for the BOD, CRA committies and examiners, check out CRA RELIEF at www.questsoft.com.

The software has assessment area setups and management reports so you can instantly view your data just like the examiners do. About 1/3 the costs of CRA Wiz. Integrated geocoding. In addition, sending info to examiners or the FRB is a simple, two minute process. It is an excellent and very popular option when you want to match up with the examiners but still live within the budget.

We used CRA Wiz for about 3 years and were looking for a less expensive alternative and came across CRA Relief. We used it for about 9 mopnths and went back to CRA Wiz. CRA relief did not have the flexability nor the expansive geo-coding capabilities our institution needed. I give CRA Wiz 2 thumbs up.

RE: HMDA is my life post.

First of all thank you for the post.

As I recall, you used CRA RELIEF in 2005 in its second year as a commercial product and left us just before we rewrote the Harland LaserPro interface. Since that time, we have alligned all of the reports to match with the Lending Tests of the examiners, changed our geoocoding to offer both Tele Atlas (PCi/FFIEC) and NAVTEQ (used by your GPS systems) data which finds far more rural areas which as I recall was your most pressing concern. We also have precise market data and mapping options now integrated. In fact, the loss of your account helped us identify and correct many things in our software.

I know there are some cases where our product still is not yet appropriate. However, in the past year we have helped many banks with very complex situations and large numbers of assessment areas get outstanding or high satisfactory ratings. While people who do HMDA and CRA everyday may like that CRA Wiz sharpens their Ginzu knives :-) (which by the way it probably does), there are hundreds of companies I have encountered that purchase CRA Wiz, not use it at all or have a personnel change, then ask us or consultants such as Len Suzio to help out at the last minute to get them ready for an exam. What good is that?

I admit, we do not do what PCi (CRAWiz) does nor will we probably ever. CRA Wiz is a VERY comprehensive program. It has hundreds (maybe thousands) of reports. But it also requires 3-5 days of training (vs. 1-2 hours for CRA RELIEF). We help banks that aren't in their CRA software every day figure out the ideal assessment area boundaries so they don't over commit themselves with their CRA programs. There is a place for each of us in the market. I believe there is no better option for banks with under $5 billion in assets than CRA RELIEF, expecially with all of the enhancements we have made in the past several years.

I again apologize for your experience back in 2005 and heartily invite you to give us another shot should you wish to re-consider a less expensive alternative again. Maybe we will get two thumbs way up this time.

Again, I thank you so much for your post and I am happy to hear that you have a very positive experience with your software. That is what all customers deserve.

Leonard Ryan - President, QuestSoft

Leonard, Your product is great and you all were wonderful to work with. I love the simplicity the software offers. CRA Wiz can be a bit overwhelming at times for the data collectors as that is what I do. We have two different departments doing CRA (data scrubbing and analyzing/CD Loans). I agree with your statement, "there is no better option for banks with under $5 billion in assets than CRA RELIEF." I can't attest to the enhancements, but I know you were in the process of some great ones when we were with you. Good luck and who knows what will happen in our future.