I am looking for information to get me acquainted with CRA.

Any suggestions?

There are a lot of suggestions I could give you, but it would help to know what your exposure to CRA will be so you don't get bogged down with technical stuff you don't want...or you do get bogged down with technical stuff

Are you a consumer wanting to learn more?

Banker responsible for ?????

Etc.?

I'd be glad to post some information that will help if you just point me in the right direction!

Ok then, more technical than the average bear works for you I'll cut and paste from my training materials "best sources" list for you. Some of this is old (I didn't update the materials for 2005 since I was put on "no fly" due to pregnancy and haven't taught any classes). Most of it is still valid though (99%) especially the first two links to the OCC's examination book and the FFIEC's Getting it Right (GIR). On the FFIEC's site you'll also see the particular section of the call report that pertains to reporting. This is worth downloading with GIR as it covers the nitty gritty details of CRA reporting.

http://www.bankersonline.com/
My favorite compliance resource for questions that perplex me!! The Bankers Threads is a bankers chat area to post questions and receive informative information about what's happening in all areas of compliance. If you’re stumped, someone else will be there who has been stumped in the past, but has finally done all the research you’re trying to avoid. They even have a special CRA thread for those of us who specialize in this unique regulatory world.

http://www.ffiec.gov/cra/guide.htm
A guide to getting CRA data reporting right. Your daily resource for quick CRA reporting answers.

http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/bulletin/2000-35a.pdf
The OCC's Large Bank CRA Exam Guide. The handbook for a complex CRA exam. This is my bible. I recommend it for any and all financial institutions regulated under CRA. If you can meet the OCC’s standard, you can meet anyone’s.

http://www.bankersonline.com/tools/tools_compliance.html#cdforms
You will find both PDF and Word copies of the CD tracking sheets provided in class today available for download. The forms are listed as Community Development Tracking Forms supplied under my previous name.

http://www.ncrc.org/
If you want to see how the CRA is being used by outside agencies, visit this site. They specialize in encouraging banks to comply with CRA and while they’re not always subtle, they are a valuable resource to judge the pulse of your community by. They also provide banks with interesting resources that aid in compliance.

http://www.census.gov./
The Census Bureau, a must for any CRA professional.

http://www.dallasfed.org/ca/pubs/craloan.pdf
CRA Loan Data Collection Grid. This handy four-page document is a great training tool for lenders.

http://www.ffiec.gov/cra/guide.htm
A guide to getting CRA data reporting right. Your daily resource for quick CRA reporting answers.

http://www.ffiec.gov/PDF/FFIEC_forms/ffiec031_041_200303_i.pdf
Call Report Instructions. When all else fails the answer is somewhere in this [censored] of paper. If you haven’t had to review this at some time in your submission career, you’re probably facing a few data integrity issues you aren’t even aware of.

http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke_brochur...od=display_body
Your Bank's CRA Performance a publication by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Intended for the public, the document provides a prospective on how a consumer can review a bank.

http://www.ffiec.gov/cracf/crarating/Rtg_spec.cfm
This page provides links to all of the CRA agencies exams. See the bottom of the page for the links to each agency.

http://www.fdic.gov/quicklinks/bankers.html
The FDIC's bankers links. A valuable resource for many CRA questions.

http://www2.fdic.gov/sod/sodMarketBank.asp?barItem=2
Market Share information from the FDIC. A must have pre-exam. Competitive data in a clean and easy format.

http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/guide.htm
A guide to HMDA filing produced by the FFIEC. Watch the year of the publication. As we all know, the rules change daily.

http://www.frbsf.org
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Federal Reserve Banks provide fabulous resources to support any financial institutions CRA programs. The FRBSF has a wonderful program focused on lending on Native lands. I highly recommend reviewing it.

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/cbd/commdb/CF_COMDB.htm
The Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development. Provided as an example. Search the data base for the type of economic data that you can find from other DCED's throughout the nation. Find your local information through links on this site.

http://www.cdfifund.gov/overview/index.asp
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund through the Treasury Department. Learn about Bankers Enterprise Award, CDFI's in your area and other programs offered to serve the goals of CRA. In particular, read about the new and innovative New Markets Tax Credit program.

http://www.fhlbsea.com/fhlbsea/
Seattle Federal Home Loan Bank. Find your local FHLB and review the Community Development programs they offer to members. A prime resource for CD Service credit.

http://www.guidestar.org/
A national listing of non-profits. I find this helpful when reviewing donation requests as well as determining the correct way to report many of my small loans. (Often those small non-profits slip into your LR without you’re knowing about it).

Thank you for the help, Dawnie. It is appreciated.

Has anyone heard if the Dallas Fed is going to update their CRA banker's guide?

Dawnie you are awwwwwwsome. Your list of sites....you are the CRA Queen.

No anon, haven't heard much out of them. You'll have to buy my book instead

Thanks Skyline I live to research LOL

HRH Dawnie, you ROCK!! Thanks for this websites.