I am trying to draft a Community Needs Assessment in preparation for our CRA exam. Does anyone know what the examiners will be looking for? Any suggestions or assistance will be appreciated!

Their position is that a bank can't know if it is meeting the needs of the entire community unless it has some idea what those needs are.

Here are some resources you may be able to get your hands on to determine you areas needs:

..The local United Way should be assessing the communities' needs on a 3 to 5 year overlapping basis. They usually identify education, health and financial stability needs of the low income community (along with transportation and living wage jobs).

..Each city receiving community block grant money from the feds should be creating a 5 year plan on the best way to support the underserved community needs in that MSA and how best to invest the CBG money.

..Go to CFED and review your states' report card. That will give you a very good idea of a state's needs.

..Do you own survey of community needs by asking your non-profit partners what your community needs are for their clients. Most likely it will focus on affordable housing, jobs, transportation, child care, education, financial education, healthcare, health insurance.....

As stated, contact local non-profits (the leading groups), enterprise development groups, etc. (you can see this discussed in examiners reports as actions they take) and ask what do they see as the primary needs in the community, also the needs that are not being met.

Small business lending has always been a commonly cited need as well as low income housing.

Document the name of the organization and with whom you spoke and write it up.

stupid question here: what is CFED?

sorry, CFED is the Center For Enterprise Development - it is one of the leading thought leaders on asset building and other services to help underserved communities.

http://www.cfed.org/


annually is rates each state on a number of parameters, it is a very good resource .....you should be able to see a link to the State scorecard on the home page....

thanks!

Thanks for the information Pale! I appreciate you taking the time to help me!

Thanks Ms Kaybee - good information as always!