Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA, P.L. 95-128, 91 Stat. 1147, title VIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, 12 U.S.C. § 2901 et seq.) is a United States federal law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Congress passed the Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods, a practice known as redlining.
Other short titles | Indian and Alaska Native Community Development Act |
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Long title | An Act to amend certain Federal laws pertaining to community development, housing, and related programs. |
Nicknames | Housing and Community Development Act of 1977 |
Enacted by | the 95th United States Congress |
Effective | October 12, 1977 |
Citations | |
Public law | 95-128 |
Statutes at Large | 91 Stat. 1111 |
Codification | |
Titles amended | 42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Social Welfare |
U.S.C. sections amended | 42 U.S.C. ch. 69 § 5301 |
Legislative history | |
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The Act instructs the appropriate federal financial supervisory agencies to encourage regulated financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered, consistent with safe and sound operation (Section 802.) To enforce the statute, federal regulatory agencies examine banking institutions for CRA compliance, and take this information into consideration when approving applications for new bank branches or for mergers or acquisitions (Section 804.)