(a) Application of performance tests and strategic plans—(1) Large banks or savings associations. To evaluate the performance of a large bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency applies the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23, the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24, and the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25.

(2) Intermediate banks or savings associations—(i) In general. To evaluate the performance of an intermediate bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency applies the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22 and either the Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test in § 25.30(a)(2) or, at the bank's or savings association's option, the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24.

(ii) Intermediate banks or savings associations evaluated under § 25.24. If an intermediate bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the intermediate bank or savings association for the evaluation period preceding the bank's or savings association's next CRA examination pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24 and continues evaluations pursuant to this performance test for subsequent evaluation periods until the bank or savings association opts out. If an intermediate bank or savings association opts out of the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24, the appropriate Federal banking agency reverts to evaluating the bank or savings association pursuant to the Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test in § 25.30(a)(2), starting with the evaluation period preceding the bank's or savings association's next CRA examination.

(iii) Additional consideration. An intermediate bank or savings association may request additional consideration pursuant to § 25.30(b).

(3) Small banks or savings associations—(i) In general. To evaluate the performance of a small bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency applies the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test in § 25.29(a)(2), unless the bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22.

(ii) Small banks or savings associations evaluated under the Retail Lending Test. If a small bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, the following applies:

(A) The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the small bank or savings association using the same provisions used to evaluate intermediate banks or savings associations pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22.

(B) The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the small bank or savings association for the evaluation period preceding the bank's or savings association's next CRA examination pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22 and continues evaluations under this performance test for subsequent evaluation periods until the bank or savings association opts out. If a small bank or savings association opts out of the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, the appropriate Federal banking agency reverts to evaluating the bank or savings association pursuant to the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test in § 25.29(a)(2), starting with the evaluation period preceding the bank's or savings association's next CRA examination.

(iii) Additional consideration. A small bank or savings association may request additional consideration pursuant to § 25.29(b).

(4) Limited purpose banks or savings associations—(i) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a limited purpose bank or savings association pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations in § 25.26.

(ii) Additional consideration. A limited purpose bank or savings association may request additional consideration pursuant to § 25.26(b)(2).

(5) Military banks or savings associations—(i) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a military bank or savings association pursuant to the applicable performance tests described in paragraph (a) of this section.

(ii) Evaluation approach for military banks or savings associations operating under § 25.16(d). If a military bank or savings association delineates the entire United States and its territories as its sole facility-based assessment area pursuant to § 25.16(d), the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank or savings association exclusively at the institution level based on its performance in its sole facility-based assessment area.

(6) Banks and savings associations operating under a strategic plan. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the performance of a bank or savings association that has an approved strategic plan pursuant to § 25.27.

(b) Loans, investments, services, and products of operating subsidiaries and other affiliates—(1) In general. In the performance evaluation of a bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers the loans, investments, services, and products of a bank's or savings association's operating subsidiaries and other affiliates, as applicable, as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, so long as no other depository institution claims the loan, investment, service, or product for purposes of this part or 12 CFR part 228 or 345.

(2) Loans, investments, services, and products of operating subsidiaries. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the loans, investment, services, and products of a bank's or savings association's operating subsidiaries under this part, unless an operating subsidiary is independently subject to the CRA. The bank or savings association must collect, maintain, and report data on the loans, investments, services, and products of its operating subsidiaries as provided in § 25.42(c).

(3) Loans, investments, services, and products of other affiliates. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the loans, investments, services, and products of affiliates of a bank or savings association that are not operating subsidiaries, at the bank's or savings association's option, subject to the following:

(i) The affiliate is not independently subject to the CRA.

(ii) The bank or savings association collects, maintains, and reports data on the loans, investments, services, or products of the affiliate as provided in § 25.42(d).

(iii) Pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, if a bank or savings association opts to have the appropriate Federal banking agency consider the closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, small farm loans, or automobile loans that are originated or purchased by one or more of the bank's or savings association's affiliates in a particular Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency will consider, subject to paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, all of the loans in that product line originated or purchased by all of the bank's or savings association's affiliates in the particular Retail Lending Test Area.

(iv) Pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, if a large bank or savings association opts to have the appropriate Federal banking agency consider the closed-end home mortgage loans or small business loans that are originated or purchased by any of the bank's or savings association's affiliates in any Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency will consider, subject to paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, the closed-end home mortgage loans or small business loans originated by all of the bank's or savings association's affiliates in the nationwide area when delineating retail lending assessment areas pursuant to § 25.17(c).

(v) Pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24, the Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations in § 25.26, the Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test in § 25.30(a)(2), or pursuant to an approved strategic plan in § 25.27, the appropriate Federal banking agency will consider, at the bank's or savings association's option, community development loans or community development investments that are originated, purchased, refinanced, or renewed by one or more of the bank's or savings association's affiliates, subject to paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.

(c) Community development lending and community development investment by a consortium or a third party. If a bank or savings association invests in or participates in a consortium that originates, purchases, refinances, or renews community development loans or community development investments, or if a bank or savings association invests in a third party that originates, purchases, refinances, or renews community development loans or community development investments, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider, at the bank's or savings association's option, either those loans or investments, subject to the limitations in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this section, or the investment in the consortium or third party.

(1) The bank or savings association must collect, maintain, and report the data pertaining to the community development loans and community development investments as provided in § 25.42(e), as applicable;

(2) If the participants or investors choose to allocate community development loans or community development investments among themselves for consideration under this section, no participant or investor may claim a loan origination, loan purchase, or investment for community development consideration if another participant or investor claims the same loan origination, loan purchase, or investment; and

(3) The bank or savings association may not claim community development loans or community development investments accounting for more than its percentage share (based on the level of its participation or investment) of the total loans or investments made by the consortium or third party.

(d) Performance context information considered. When applying performance tests and strategic plans pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, and when determining whether to approve a strategic plan pursuant to § 25.27(h), the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider the following performance context information to the extent that it is not considered as part of the performance tests as provided in paragraph (a) of this section:

(1) Any information regarding a bank's or savings association's institutional capacity or constraints, including the size and financial condition of the bank or savings association, safety and soundness limitations, or any other bank-specific factors that significantly affect the bank's or savings association's ability to provide retail lending, retail banking services and retail banking products, community development loans, community development investments, or community development services;

(2) Any information regarding the bank's or savings association's past performance;

(3) Demographic data on income levels and income distribution, nature of housing stock, housing costs, economic climate, or other relevant data;

(4) Any information about retail banking and community development needs and opportunities provided by the bank or savings association or other relevant sources, including, but not limited to, members of the community, community organizations, State, local, and tribal governments, and economic development agencies;

(5) Data and information provided by the bank or savings association regarding the bank's or savings association's business strategy and product offerings;

(6) The bank's or savings association's public file, as provided in § 25.43, including any written comments about the bank's or savings association's CRA performance submitted to the bank or savings association or the appropriate Federal banking agency and the bank's or savings association's responses to those comments; and

(7) Any other information deemed relevant by the appropriate Federal banking agency.

(e) Conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions to a large bank's or savings association's or limited purpose bank's or savings association's performance on the applicable tests described in paragraph (a) of this section pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions to a small bank's or savings association's or intermediate bank's or savings association's performance on the applicable tests described in paragraph (a) of this section pursuant to § 25.28 and appendices C and E to this part. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions to a bank or savings association that has an approved strategic plan pursuant to § 25.28 and paragraph g of appendix C to this part.

(2) Ratings. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns an overall CRA performance rating to a bank or savings association in each State or multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution pursuant to § 25.28 and appendices D and E to this part.

(f) Safe and sound operations. The CRA and this part do not require a bank or savings association to originate or purchase loans or investments or to provide services that are inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices, including underwriting standards. Banks and savings associations are permitted to develop and apply flexible underwriting standards for loans that benefit low- or moderate-income individuals, small businesses or small farms, and low- or moderate-income census tracts, only if consistent with safe and sound operations.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]

Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024.

(a) Retail Lending Test—(1) In general. Pursuant to § 25.21, the Retail Lending Test evaluates a bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community through the bank's or savings association's origination and purchase of home mortgage loans, multifamily loans, small business loans, and small farm loans.

(2) Automobile loans. The Retail Lending Test evaluates a bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community through the bank's or savings association's origination and purchase of automobile loans if the bank or savings association is a majority automobile lender. A bank or savings association that is not a majority automobile lender may opt to have automobile loans evaluated under this section.

(b) Methodology overview—(1) Retail Lending Volume Screen. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates whether a bank or savings association meets or surpasses the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in each facility-based assessment area pursuant to the Retail Lending Volume Screen as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) Retail lending distribution analysis. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the geographic and borrower distributions of each of a bank's or savings association's major product lines in each Retail Lending Test Area, as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.

(3) Retail Lending Test recommended conclusions. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section for each Retail Lending Test Area.

(4) Retail Lending Test conclusions. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency's determination of a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test conclusion for a Retail Lending Test Area is informed by the bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for the Retail Lending Test Area, performance context factors provided in § 25.21(d), and the additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(5) Exceptions—(i) No major product line. If a bank or savings association has no major product line in a facility-based assessment area, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns the bank or savings association a Retail Lending Test conclusion for that facility-based assessment area based upon its performance on the Retail Lending Volume Screen pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, performance context factors provided in § 25.21(d), and the additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(ii) Banks and savings associations that lack an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a Retail Lending Test conclusion for a facility-based assessment area in which a bank or savings association lacks an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold as provided in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section.

(c) Retail Lending Volume Screen—(1) Retail Lending Volume Threshold. A bank or savings association meets or surpasses the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area if the bank or savings association has a Bank Volume Metric of 30 percent or greater of the Market Volume Benchmark for that facility-based assessment area. The appropriate Federal banking agency calculates the Bank Volume Metric and the Market Volume Benchmark pursuant to section I of appendix A to this part.

(2) Banks and savings associations that meet or surpass the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area. If a bank or savings association meets or surpasses the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for the facility-based assessment area pursuant to paragraphs (d) through (f) of this section.

(3) Banks and savings associations that do not meet the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area—(i) Acceptable basis factors. If a bank or savings association does not meet the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency determines whether the bank or savings association has an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in the facility-based assessment area by considering:

(A) The bank's or savings association's dollar volume of non-automobile consumer loans;

(B) The bank's or savings association's institutional capacity and constraints, including the financial condition of the bank or savings association;

(C) The presence or lack of other lenders in the facility-based assessment area;

(D) Safety and soundness limitations;

(E) The bank's or savings association's business strategy; and

(F) Any other factors that limit the bank's or savings association's ability to lend in the facility-based assessment area.

(ii) Banks and savings associations that have an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area. If, after reviewing the factors described in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency determines that a bank or savings association has an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for the facility-based assessment area in the same manner as for a bank or savings association that meets or surpasses the Retail Lending Volume Threshold under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(iii) Banks and savings associations that lack an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area—(A) Large banks or savings associations. If, after reviewing the factors in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency determines that a large bank or savings association lacks an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns the bank or savings association a Retail Lending Test conclusion of “Needs to Improve” or “Substantial Noncompliance” for that facility-based assessment area. In determining whether “Needs to Improve” or “Substantial Noncompliance” is the appropriate conclusion, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers:

(1) The bank's or savings association's retail lending volume and the extent by which it did not meet the Retail Lending Volume Threshold;

(2) The bank's or savings association's distribution analysis pursuant to paragraphs (d) through (f) of this section;

(3) Performance context factors provided in § 25.21(d); and

(4) Additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(B) Intermediate or small banks or savings associations. If, after reviewing the factors in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency determines that an intermediate bank or savings association, or a small bank or savings association that opts to be evaluated under the Retail Lending Test, lacks an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold in a facility-based assessment area, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for the facility-based assessment area pursuant to paragraphs (d) through (f) of this section. The appropriate Federal banking agency's determination of a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test conclusion for the facility-based assessment area is informed by:

(1) The bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for the facility-based assessment area;

(2) The bank's or savings association's retail lending volume and the extent by which it did not meet the Retail Lending Volume Threshold;

(3) Performance context factors provided in § 25.21(d); and

(4) Additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(d) Scope of Retail Lending Test distribution analysis—(1) Product lines evaluated in a Retail Lending Test Area. In each applicable Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates originated and purchased loans in each of the following product lines that is a major product line, as described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section:

(i) Closed-end home mortgage loans in a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and, as applicable, retail lending assessment areas and outside retail lending area;

(ii) Small business loans in a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and, as applicable, retail lending assessment areas and outside retail lending area;

(iii) Small farm loans in a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and, as applicable, outside retail lending area; and

(iv) Automobile loans in a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and, as applicable, outside retail lending area.

(2) Major product line standards—(i) Major product line standard for facility-based assessment areas and outside retail lending areas. In a facility-based assessment area or outside retail lending area, a product line is a major product line if the bank's or savings association's loans in that product line comprise 15 percent or more of the bank's or savings association's loans across all of the bank's or savings association's product lines in the facility-based assessment area or outside retail lending area, as determined pursuant to paragraph II.b.1 of appendix A to this part.

(ii) Major product line standards for retail lending assessment areas. In a retail lending assessment area:

(A) Closed-end home mortgage loans are a major product line in any calendar year in the evaluation period in which the bank or savings association delineates a retail lending assessment area based on its closed-end home mortgage loans as determined by the standard in § 25.17(c)(1); and

(B) Small business loans are a major product line in any calendar year in the evaluation period in which the bank or savings association delineates a retail lending assessment area based on its small business loans as determined by the standard in § 25.17(c)(2).

(e) Retail Lending Test distribution analysis. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test performance in each of its Retail Lending Test Areas by considering the geographic and borrower distributions of a bank's or savings association's loans in its major product lines.

(1) Distribution analysis in general—(i) Distribution analysis for closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans. For closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans, respectively, the appropriate Federal banking agency compares a bank's or savings association's geographic and borrower distributions to performance ranges based on the applicable market and community benchmarks, as provided in paragraph (f) of this section and section V of appendix A to this part.

(ii) Distribution analysis for automobile loans. For automobile loans, the appropriate Federal banking agency compares a bank's or savings association's geographic and borrower distributions to the applicable community benchmarks, as provided in paragraph (f) of this section and section VI of appendix A to this part.

(2) Categories of lending evaluated—(i) Geographic distributions. For each major product line in each Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the geographic distributions separately for the following categories of census tracts:

(A) Low-income census tracts; and

(B) Moderate-income census tracts.

(ii) Borrower distributions. For each major product line in each Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the borrower distributions separately for, as applicable, the following categories of borrowers:

(A) Low-income borrowers;

(B) Moderate-income borrowers;

(C) Businesses with gross annual revenues of $250,000 or less;

(D) Businesses with gross annual revenues greater than $250,000 but less than or equal to $1 million;

(E) Farms with gross annual revenues of $250,000 or less; and

(F) Farms with gross annual revenues greater than $250,000 but less than or equal to $1 million.

(3) Geographic distribution measures. To evaluate the geographic distributions in a Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers the following measures:

(i) Geographic Bank Metric. For each major product line, a Geographic Bank Metric, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.a of appendix A to this part;

(ii) Geographic Market Benchmark. For each major product line except automobile loans, a Geographic Market Benchmark, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.b of appendix A to this part for facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas, and paragraph III.d of appendix A to this part for outside retail lending areas; and

(iii) Geographic Community Benchmark. For each major product line, a Geographic Community Benchmark, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.c of appendix A to this part for facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas, and paragraph III.e of appendix A to this part for outside retail lending areas.

(4) Borrower distribution measures. To evaluate the borrower distributions in a Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers the following measures:

(i) Borrower Bank Metric. For each major product line, a Borrower Bank Metric, calculated pursuant to paragraph IV.a of appendix A to this part;

(ii) Borrower Market Benchmark. For each major product line except automobile loans, a Borrower Market Benchmark, calculated pursuant to paragraph IV.b of appendix A to this part for facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas, and paragraph IV.d of appendix A to this part for outside retail lending areas; and

(iii) Borrower Community Benchmark. For each major product line, a Borrower Community Benchmark, calculated pursuant to paragraph IV.c of appendix A to this part for facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas, and paragraph IV.e of appendix A to this part for outside retail lending areas.

(f) Retail Lending Test recommended conclusions—(1) In general. Except as described in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) and (c)(3)(iii)(A) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion for each of a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test Areas based on the distribution analysis described in paragraph (e) of this section and using performance ranges, supporting conclusions, and product line scores as provided in sections V through VII of appendix A to this part. For each major product line, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops a separate supporting conclusion for each category of census tracts and each category of borrowers described in paragraphs V.a and VI.a of appendix A to this part.

(2) Geographic distribution supporting conclusions—(i) Geographic distribution supporting conclusions for closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans. To develop supporting conclusions for geographic distributions of closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank's or savings association's performance by comparing the Geographic Bank Metric to performance ranges, based on the Geographic Market Benchmark, the Geographic Community Benchmark, and multipliers, as described in paragraphs V.b and V.c of appendix A to this part.

(ii) Geographic distribution supporting conclusions for automobile loans. To develop supporting conclusions for geographic distributions for automobile loans, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank's or savings association's performance by comparing the Geographic Bank Metric to the Geographic Community Benchmark, as described in paragraph VI.b of appendix A to this part.

(3) Borrower distribution supporting conclusions—(i) Borrower distribution supporting conclusions for closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans. To develop supporting conclusions for borrower distributions of closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, and small farm loans, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank's or savings association's performance by comparing the Borrower Bank Metric to performance ranges, based on the Borrower Market Benchmark, Borrower Community Benchmark, and multipliers, as described in paragraphs V.d and V.e of appendix A to this part.

(ii) Borrower distribution supporting conclusions for automobile loans. To develop supporting conclusions for borrower distributions for automobile loans, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank's or savings association's performance by comparing the Borrower Bank Metric to the Borrower Community Benchmark, as described in paragraph VI.c of appendix A to this part.

(4) Development of Retail Lending Test recommended conclusions—(i) Assignment of performance scores. For each supporting conclusion developed pursuant to paragraphs (f)(2) and (3) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a corresponding performance score as described in sections V and VI of appendix A to this part.

(ii) Combination of performance scores. As described in section VII of appendix A to this part, for each Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency:

(A) Combines the performance scores for each supporting conclusion for each major product line into a product line score; and

(B) Calculates a weighted average of product line scores across all major product lines.

(iii) Retail Lending Test recommended conclusions. For each Retail Lending Test Area, the appropriate Federal banking agency develops the Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion that corresponds to the weighted average of product line scores developed pursuant to paragraph (f)(4)(ii)(B) of this section, as described in section VII of appendix A to this part.

(g) Additional factors considered when evaluating retail lending performance. The factors in paragraphs (g)(1) through (7) of this section, as appropriate, inform the appropriate Federal banking agency's determination of a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test conclusion for a Retail Lending Test Area:

(1) Information indicating that a bank or savings association purchased closed-end home mortgage loans, small business loans, small farm loans, or automobile loans for the sole or primary purpose of inappropriately enhancing its retail lending performance, including, but not limited to, information indicating subsequent resale of such loans or any indication that such loans have been considered in multiple depository institutions' CRA evaluations, in which case the appropriate Federal banking agency does not consider such loans in the bank's or savings association's performance evaluation;

(2) The dispersion of a bank's or savings association's closed-end home mortgage lending, small business lending, small farm lending, or automobile lending within a facility-based assessment area to determine whether there are gaps in lending that are not explained by performance context;

(3) The number of lenders whose home mortgage loans, multifamily loans, small business loans, and small farm loans and deposits data are used to establish the applicable Retail Lending Volume Threshold, geographic distribution market benchmarks, and borrower distribution market benchmarks;

(4) Missing or faulty data that would be necessary to calculate the relevant metrics and benchmarks or any other factors that prevent the appropriate Federal banking agency from calculating a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion. If unable to calculate a Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a Retail Lending Test conclusion based on consideration of the relevant available data;

(5) Whether the Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion does not accurately reflect the bank's or savings association's performance in a Retail Lending Test Area in which one or more of the bank's or savings association's major product lines consists of fewer than 30 loans;

(6) A bank's or savings association's closed-end home mortgage lending, small business lending, small farm lending, or automobile lending in distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income census tracts where a bank's or savings association's nonmetropolitan facility-based assessment area or nonmetropolitan retail lending assessment area includes very few or no low- and moderate-income census tracts; and

(7) Information indicating that the credit needs of the facility-based assessment area or retail lending assessment area are not being met by lenders in the aggregate, such that the relevant benchmarks do not adequately reflect community credit needs.

(h) Retail Lending Test performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions—(i) In general. Pursuant to § 25.28, section VIII of appendix A to this part, and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test performance in each Retail Lending Test Area, State, and multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution.

(ii) Retail Lending Test Area conclusions. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a Retail Lending Test conclusion for each Retail Lending Test Area based on the Retail Lending Test recommended conclusion, performance context factors provided in § 25.21(d), and the additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section, except as provided in paragraphs (h)(1)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section:

(A) Facility-based assessment areas with no major product line. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a Retail Lending Test conclusion for a facility-based assessment area in which a bank or savings association has no major product line based on the bank's or savings association's performance on the Retail Lending Volume Screen pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, performance context information provided in § 25.21(d), and the additional factors provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(B) Facility-based assessment areas in which a bank or savings association lacks an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a Retail Lending Test conclusion for a facility-based assessment area in which a bank or savings association lacks an acceptable basis for not meeting the Retail Lending Volume Threshold as provided in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section.

(2) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates a bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test conclusions into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating.

(a) Retail Services and Products Test—(1) In general. Pursuant to § 25.21, the Retail Services and Products Test evaluates the availability of a bank's or savings association's retail banking services and retail banking products and the responsiveness of those services and products to the credit needs of the bank's or savings association's entire community, including low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households, low- and moderate-income census tracts, small businesses, and small farms. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the bank's or savings association's retail banking services, as described in paragraph (b) of this section, and the bank's or savings association's retail banking products, as described in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) Main offices. For purposes of this section, references to a branch also include a main office that is open to, and accepts deposits from, the general public.

(3) Exclusion. If the appropriate Federal banking agency considers services under the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25, the appropriate Federal banking agency does not consider those services under the Retail Services and Products Test.

(b) Retail banking services—(1) Scope of evaluation. To evaluate a bank's or savings association's retail banking services, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's branch availability and services provided at branches, remote service facility availability, and digital delivery systems and other delivery systems, as follows:

(i) Branch availability and services. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the branch availability and services provided at branches of banks or savings associations that operate one or more branches pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(ii) Remote service facility availability. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the remote service facility availability of banks or savings associations that operate one or more remote service facilities pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this section.

(iii) Digital delivery systems and other delivery systems. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the digital delivery systems and other delivery systems of banks or savings associations pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section, as follows:

(A) The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the digital delivery systems and other delivery systems of the following banks or savings associations:

(1) Large banks or savings associations that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years; and

(2) Large banks or savings associations that had assets less than or equal to $10 billion as of December 31 in either of the prior two calendar years and that do not operate branches.

(B) For a large bank or savings association that had assets less than or equal $10 billion as of December 31 in either of the prior two calendar years and that operates at least one branch, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers the bank's or savings association's digital delivery systems and other delivery systems at the bank's or savings association's option.

(2) Branch availability and services. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's branch availability and services in a facility-based assessment area based on the following:

(i) Branch distribution. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's branch distribution using the following:

(A) Branch distribution metrics. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the number and percentage of the bank's or savings association's branches within low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts.

(B) Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency's consideration of the branch distribution metrics is informed by the following benchmarks:

(1) Percentage of census tracts in the facility-based assessment area that are low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts;

(2) Percentage of households in the facility-based assessment area that are in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts;

(3) Percentage of total businesses in the facility-based assessment area that are in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts; and

(4) Percentage of all full-service depository institution branches in the facility-based assessment area that are in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts.

(C) Additional geographic considerations. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the availability of branches in the following geographic areas:

(1) Middle- and upper-income census tracts in which a branch delivers services to low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households to the extent that these individuals, families, or households use the services offered;

(2) Distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income census tracts; and

(3) Native Land Areas.

(ii) Branch openings and closings. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's record of opening and closing branches since the previous CRA examination to inform the degree of accessibility of services to low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households, small businesses, and small farms, and low- and moderate-income census tracts.

(iii) Branch hours of operation and services. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the following:

(A) The reasonableness of branch hours in low- and moderate-income census tracts compared to middle- and upper-income census tracts, including, but not limited to, whether branches offer extended and weekend hours.

(B) The range of services provided at branches in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts, respectively, including, but not limited to:

(1) Bilingual and translation services;

(2) Free or low-cost check cashing services, including, but not limited to, check cashing services for government-issued and payroll checks;

(3) Reasonably priced international remittance services; and

(4) Electronic benefit transfers.

(C) The degree to which branch-provided retail banking services are responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households in a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas.

(3) Remote service facility availability. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's remote service facility availability in a facility-based assessment area based on the following:

(i) Remote service facility distribution. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's remote service facility distribution using the following:

(A) Remote service facility distribution metrics. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the number and percentage of the bank's or savings association's remote service facilities within low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts.

(B) Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency's consideration of the remote service facility distribution metrics is informed by the following benchmarks:

(1) Percentage of census tracts in the facility-based assessment area that are low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts;

(2) Percentage of households in the facility-based assessment area that are in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts; and

(3) Percentage of total businesses in the facility-based assessment area that are in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts.

(C) Additional geographic considerations. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the availability of remote service facilities in the following geographic areas:

(1) Middle- and upper-income census tracts in which a remote service facility delivers services to low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households to the extent that these individuals, families, or households use the services offered;

(2) Distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income census tracts; and

(3) Native Land Areas.

(ii) Access to out-of-network ATMs. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers whether the bank or savings association offers customers fee-free access to out-of-network ATMs in low- and moderate-income census tracts.

(4) Digital delivery systems and other delivery systems. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the availability and responsiveness of a bank's or savings association's digital delivery systems and other delivery systems, including to low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households at the institution level by considering:

(i) The range of retail banking services and retail banking products offered through digital delivery systems and other delivery systems;

(ii) The bank's or savings association's strategy and initiatives to serve low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households with digital delivery systems and other delivery systems as reflected by, for example, the costs, features, and marketing of the delivery systems; and

(iii) Digital delivery systems and other delivery systems activity by individuals, families or households in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts as evidenced by:

(A) The number of checking and savings accounts opened each calendar year during the evaluation period digitally and through other delivery systems in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts;

(B) The number of checking and savings accounts opened digitally and through other delivery systems and that are active at the end of each calendar year during the evaluation period in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts; and

(C) Any other bank or savings association data that demonstrates digital delivery systems and other delivery systems are available to individuals and in census tracts of different income levels, including low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households and low- and moderate-income census tracts.

(c) Retail banking products evaluation—(1) Scope of evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's retail banking products offered in the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and nationwide, as applicable, at the institution level as follows:

(i) Credit products and programs. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's credit products and programs pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(ii) Deposit products. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's deposit products pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this section as follows:

(A) For large banks or savings associations that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years; and

(B) For large banks or savings associations that had assets less than or equal to $10 billion as of December 31 in either of the prior two calendar years, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's deposit products only at the bank's or savings association's option.

(2) Credit products and programs. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates whether a bank's or savings association's credit products and programs are, consistent with safe and sound operations, responsive to the credit needs of the bank's or savings association's entire community, including the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households, residents of low- and moderate-income census tracts, small businesses, or small farms. Responsive credit products and programs may include, but are not limited to, credit products and programs that:

(i) Facilitate home mortgage and consumer lending targeted to low- or moderate-income borrowers;

(ii) Meet the needs of small businesses and small farms, including small businesses and small farms with gross annual revenues of $250,000 or less;

(iii) Are conducted in cooperation with MDIs, WDIs, LICUs, or CDFIs;

(iv) Are low-cost education loans; or

(v) Are special purpose credit programs pursuant to 12 CFR 1002.8.

(3) Deposit products. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates the availability and usage of a bank's or savings association's deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households as follows:

(i) Availability of deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the availability of deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households based on the extent to which a bank or savings association offers deposit products that, consistent with safe and sound operations, have features and cost characteristics responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households. Deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households include but are not limited to, deposit products with the following types of features:

(A) Low-cost features, including, but not limited to, deposit products with no overdraft or insufficient funds fees, no or low minimum opening balance, no or low monthly maintenance fees, or free or low-cost check-cashing and bill-pay services;

(B) Features facilitating broad functionality and accessibility, including, but not limited to, deposit products with in-network ATM access, debit cards for point-of-sale and bill payments, and immediate access to funds for customers cashing government, payroll, or bank-issued checks; or

(C) Features facilitating inclusivity of access by individuals without banking or credit histories or with adverse banking histories.

(ii) Usage of deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the usage of a bank's or savings association's deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households based on the following information:

(A) The number of responsive deposit accounts opened and closed during each year of the evaluation period in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income census tracts;

(B) In connection with paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(A) of this section, the percentage of responsive deposit accounts compared to total deposit accounts for each year of the evaluation period;

(C) Marketing, partnerships, and other activities that the bank or savings association has undertaken to promote awareness and use of responsive deposit accounts by low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households; and

(D) Optionally, any other information the bank or savings association provides that demonstrates usage of the bank's or savings association's deposit products that have features and cost characteristics responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households and low- and moderate-income census tracts.

(d) Retail Services and Products Test performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for a bank's or savings association's Retail Services and Products Test performance in each facility-based assessment area, State and multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution. In assigning conclusions under this performance test, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d). The evaluation of a bank's or savings association's retail banking products under paragraph (c) of this section may only contribute positively to the bank's or savings association's Retail Services and Products Test conclusion.

(2) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates a bank's or savings association's Retail Services and Products Test conclusions into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating.

(a) Community Development Financing Test—(1) In general. Pursuant to § 25.21, the Community Development Financing Test evaluates the bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community through community development loans and community development investments (i.e., the bank's or savings association's community development financing performance).

(2) Allocation. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers community development loans and community development investments allocated pursuant to paragraph I.b of appendix B to this part.

(b) Facility-based assessment area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a facility-based assessment area using the metric in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, benchmarks in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and a review of the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and assigns a conclusion for a facility-based assessment area pursuant to paragraph d.1 of appendix C to this part.

(1) Bank Assessment Area Community Development Financing Metric. The Bank Assessment Area Community Development Financing Metric measures the dollar volume of a bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a facility-based assessment area compared to deposits in the bank or savings association that are located in the facility-based assessment area, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.a of appendix B to this part.

(2) Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Bank Assessment Area Community Development Financing Metric to the following benchmarks:

(i) Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark. For each of a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas, the Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve the facility-based assessment area for all large depository institutions compared to deposits located in the facility-based assessment area for all large depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.b of appendix B to this part.

(ii) MSA and Nonmetropolitan Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmarks. (A) For each of a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas within an MSA, the MSA Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve MSAs in the nationwide area for all large depository institutions compared to deposits located in the MSAs in the nationwide area for all large depository institutions.

(B) For each of a bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas within a nonmetropolitan area, the Nonmetropolitan Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve nonmetropolitan areas in the nationwide area for all large depository institutions compared to deposits located in nonmetropolitan areas in the nationwide area for all large depository institutions.

(C) The appropriate Federal banking agency calculates the MSA and Nonmetropolitan Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmarks pursuant to paragraph II.c of appendix B to this part.

(3) Impact and responsiveness review. The appropriate Federal banking agency reviews the impact and responsiveness of a bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a facility-based assessment area, as provided in § 25.15.

(c) State evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a State, pursuant to §§ 25.19 and 25.28(c), using the two components in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section and assigns a conclusion for each State based on a weighted combination of those components pursuant to paragraph II.p of appendix B to this part.

(1) Component one—weighted average of facility-based assessment area performance conclusions in a State. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the weighted average of the performance scores corresponding to the bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test conclusions for its facility-based assessment areas within the State, pursuant to section IV of appendix B to this part.

(2) Component two—State performance. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a State using the metric and benchmarks in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section and a review of the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section.

(i) Bank State Community Development Financing Metric. The Bank State Community Development Financing Metric measures the dollar volume of a bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of a State compared to deposits in the bank or savings association that are located in the State, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.d of appendix B to this part.

(ii) Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Bank State Community Development Financing Metric to the following benchmarks:

(A) State Community Development Financing Benchmark. The State Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of a State for all large depository institutions compared to deposits located in the State for all large depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.e of appendix B to this part.

(B) State Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark. The State Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark is the weighted average of the bank's or savings association's Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmarks for each facility-based assessment area within the State, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.f of appendix B to this part.

(iii) Impact and responsiveness review. The appropriate Federal banking agency reviews the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a State, as provided in § 25.15.

(d) Multistate MSA evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a multistate MSA, pursuant to §§ 25.19 and 25.28(c), using the two components in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section and assigns a conclusion in each multistate MSA based on a weighted combination of those components pursuant to paragraph II.p of appendix B to this part.

(1) Component one—weighted average of facility-based assessment area performance in a multistate MSA. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the weighted average of the performance scores corresponding to the bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test conclusions for its facility-based assessment areas within the multistate MSA, calculated pursuant to section IV of appendix B to this part.

(2) Component two—multistate MSA performance. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a multistate MSA using the metric and benchmarks in paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section and a review of the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section.

(i) Bank Multistate MSA Community Development Financing Metric. The Bank Multistate MSA Community Development Financing Metric measures the dollar volume of a bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a multistate MSA compared to deposits in the bank or savings association located in the multistate MSA, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.g of appendix B to this part.

(ii) Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Bank Multistate MSA Community Development Financing Metric to the following benchmarks:

(A) Multistate MSA Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Multistate MSA Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a multistate MSA for all large depository institutions compared to deposits located in the multistate MSA for all large depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.h of appendix B to this part.

(B) Multistate MSA Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Multistate MSA Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark is the weighted average of the bank's or savings association's Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmarks for each facility-based assessment area within the multistate MSA, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.i of appendix B to this part.

(iii) Impact and responsiveness review. The appropriate Federal banking agency reviews the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a multistate MSA, as provided in § 25.15.

(e) Nationwide area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in the nationwide area, pursuant to § 25.19, using the two components in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section and assigns a conclusion for the institution based on a weighted combination of those components pursuant to paragraph II.p of appendix B to this part.

(1) Component one—weighted average of facility-based assessment area performance in the nationwide area. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the weighted average of the performance scores corresponding to the bank's or savings association's conclusions for the Community Development Financing Test for its facility-based assessment areas within the nationwide area, calculated pursuant to section IV of appendix B to this part.

(2) Component two—nationwide area performance. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in the nationwide area using the metrics and benchmarks in paragraphs (e)(2)(i) through (iv) of this section and a review of the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments in paragraph (e)(2)(v) of this section.

(i) Bank Nationwide Community Development Financing Metric. The Bank Nationwide Community Development Financing Metric measures the dollar volume of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area compared to deposits in the bank or savings association located in the nationwide area, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.j of appendix B to this part.

(ii) Community Development Financing Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Bank Nationwide Community Development Financing Metric to the following benchmarks:

(A) Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Nationwide Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area for all large depository institutions compared to the deposits located in the nationwide area for all large depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.k of appendix B to this part.

(B) Nationwide Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Nationwide Weighted Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmark is the weighted average of the bank's or savings association's Assessment Area Community Development Financing Benchmarks for each facility-based assessment area within the nationwide area, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.l of appendix B to this part.

(iii) Bank Nationwide Community Development Investment Metric. For a large bank or savings association that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years, the Bank Nationwide Community Development Investment Metric measures the dollar volume of the bank's or savings association's community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area, excluding mortgage-backed securities, compared to the deposits in the bank or savings association located in the nationwide area, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.m of appendix B to this part.

(iv) Nationwide Community Development Investment Benchmark. (A) For a large bank or savings association that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years, the appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Bank Nationwide Community Development Investment Metric to the Nationwide Community Development Investment Benchmark. This comparison may only contribute positively to the bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test conclusion for the institution.

(B) The Nationwide Community Development Investment Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area, excluding mortgage-backed securities, of all large depository institutions that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years compared to deposits located in the nationwide area for those depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph II.n of appendix B to this part.

(v) Impact and responsiveness review. The appropriate Federal banking agency reviews the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve the nationwide area, as provided in § 25.15.

(f) Community Development Financing Test performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for a bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test performance in each facility-based assessment area, each State or multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution. In assigning conclusions under this performance test, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(2) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates a bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test conclusions into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]

(a) Community Development Services Test—(1) In general. Pursuant to § 25.21, the Community Development Services Test evaluates a bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the community development services needs of its entire community.

(2) Allocation. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers information provided by the bank or savings association and may consider publicly available information and information provided by government or community sources that demonstrates that a community development service benefits or serves a facility-based assessment area, State, or multistate MSA, or the nationwide area.

(b) Facility-based assessment area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development services performance in a facility-based assessment area and assigns a conclusion for a facility-based assessment area, by considering one or more of the following:

(1) The number of community development services attributable to each type of community development described in § 25.13(b) through (l);

(2) The capacities in which a bank's or savings association's or its affiliate's board members or employees serve (e.g., board member of a nonprofit organization, technical assistance, financial education, general volunteer);

(3) Total hours of community development services performed by the bank or savings association;

(4) Any other evidence demonstrating that the bank's or savings association's community development services are responsive to community development needs, such as the number of low- and moderate-income individuals that are participants, or number of organizations served; and

(5) The impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development services that benefit or serve the facility-based assessment area, as provided in § 25.15.

(c) State, multistate MSA, or nationwide area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's community development services performance in a State or multistate MSA, as applicable, or nationwide area, and assigns a conclusion for those areas, based on the following two components:

(1) Component one—weighted average of facility-based assessment area performance in a State, multistate MSA, or nationwide area. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers the weighted average of the performance scores corresponding to the bank's or savings association's Community Development Services Test conclusions for its facility-based assessment areas within a State, multistate MSA, or the institution pursuant to section IV of appendix B to this part.

(2) Component two—evaluation of community development services outside of facility-based assessment areas. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust upwards the conclusion based on the weighted average derived under paragraph (c)(1) of this section and an evaluation of the bank's or savings association's community development services performed outside of its facility-based assessment areas pursuant to § 25.19, which may consider one or more of the factors in paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this section.

(d) Community Development Services Test performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for a bank's or savings association's Community Development Services Test performance in each facility-based assessment area, each State or multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution. In assigning conclusions under this performance test, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(2) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates a bank's or savings association's Community Development Services Test conclusions into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating.

(a) Bank and savings association request for designation as a limited purpose bank or savings association. To receive a designation as a limited purpose bank or savings association, a bank or savings association must file a written request with the appropriate Federal banking agency at least 90 days prior to the proposed effective date of the designation. If the appropriate Federal banking agency approves the designation, it remains in effect until the bank or savings association requests revocation of the designation or until one year after the appropriate Federal banking agency notifies a limited purpose bank or savings association that the appropriate Federal banking agency has revoked the designation on the appropriate Federal banking agency's own initiative.

(b) Performance evaluation—(1) In general. To evaluate a limited purpose bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency applies the Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations as described in paragraphs (c) through (f) of this section.

(2) Additional consideration—(i) Community development services. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust a limited purpose bank's or savings association's institution rating from “Satisfactory” to “Outstanding” where a bank or savings association requests and receives additional consideration for services that would qualify under the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25.

(ii) Additional consideration for low-cost education loans. A limited purpose bank or savings association may request and receive additional consideration at the institution level for providing low-cost education loans to low-income borrowers pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 2903(d), regardless of the limited purpose bank's or savings association's overall institution rating.

(c) Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations—(1) In general. Pursuant to § 25.21, the Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations evaluates a limited purpose bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community through community development loans and community development investments (i.e., the bank's or savings association's community development financing performance).

(2) Allocation. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers community development loans and community development investments allocated pursuant to paragraph I.b of appendix B to this part.

(d) Facility-based assessment area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in a facility-based assessment area and assigns a conclusion in the facility-based assessment area based on the appropriate Federal banking agency's:

(1) Consideration of the dollar volume of the limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve the facility-based assessment area; and

(2) A review of the impact and responsiveness of the limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve a facility-based assessment area, as provided in § 25.15.

(e) State or multistate MSA evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in each State or multistate MSA, as applicable pursuant to §§ 25.19 and 25.28(c), and assigns a conclusion for the bank's or savings association's performance in the State or multistate MSA based on the appropriate Federal banking agency's consideration of the following two components:

(1) Component one—facility-based assessment area performance conclusions in a State or multistate MSA. A limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in its facility-based assessment areas in the State or multistate MSA; and

(2) Component two—State or multistate MSA performance. The dollar volume of the limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve the State or multistate MSA and a review of the impact and responsiveness of those loans and investments, as provided in § 25.15.

(f) Nationwide area evaluation. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in the nationwide area, pursuant to § 25.19, and assigns a conclusion for the institution based on the appropriate Federal banking agency's consideration of the following two components:

(1) Component one—facility-based assessment area performance. The limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in all of its facility-based assessment areas; and

(2) Component two—nationwide area performance. The limited purpose bank's or savings association's community development financing performance in the nationwide area based on the following metrics and benchmarks in paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (iv) of this section and a review of the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments in paragraph (f)(2)(v) of this section.

(i) Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Financing Metric. The Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Financing Metric measures the dollar volume of a bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area compared to the bank's or savings association's assets calculated pursuant to paragraph III.a of appendix B to this part.

(ii) Community Development Financing Benchmarks. The appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Financing Metric to the following benchmarks:

(A) Nationwide Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Nationwide Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments of depository institutions designated as limited purpose banks or savings associations or savings associations pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or designated as limited purpose banks or savings associations pursuant to 12 CFR 228.26(a) or 345.26(a) reported pursuant to § 25.42(b) or 12 CFR 228.42(b) or 345.42(b) that benefit and serve all or part of the nationwide area compared to assets for those depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.b of appendix B to this part; and

(B) Nationwide Asset-Based Community Development Financing Benchmark. The Nationwide Asset-Based Community Development Financing Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area of all depository institutions that reported pursuant to § 25.42(b) or 12 CFR 228.42(b) or 345.42(b) compared to assets for those depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.c of appendix B to this part.

(iii) Limited Purpose Bank and savings association Community Development Investment Metric. For a limited purpose bank or savings association that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years, the Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Investment Metric measures the dollar volume of the bank's or savings association's community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area, excluding mortgage-backed securities, compared to the bank's or savings association's assets, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.d of appendix B to this part.

(iv) Nationwide Asset-Based Community Development Investment Benchmark. (A) For a limited purpose bank or savings association that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years, the appropriate Federal banking agency compares the Limited Purpose Bank Community Development Investment Metric to the Nationwide Asset-Based Community Development Investment Benchmark. This comparison may only contribute positively to the bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations conclusion for the institution.

(B) The Nationwide Asset-Based Community Development Investment Benchmark measures the dollar volume of community development investments that benefit or serve all or part of the nationwide area, excluding mortgage-backed securities, of all depository institutions that had assets greater than $10 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years, compared to assets for those depository institutions, calculated pursuant to paragraph III.e of appendix B to this part.

(v) Impact and responsiveness review. The appropriate Federal banking agency reviews the impact and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments that benefit or serve the nationwide area, as provided in § 25.15.

(g) Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for a limited purpose bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations performance in each facility-based assessment area, each State or multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution. In assigning conclusions under this performance test, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(2) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates a limited purpose bank's or savings association's Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations conclusions into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]

(a) Alternative election. Pursuant to § 25.21, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community under a strategic plan, if:

(1) The appropriate Federal banking agency has approved the plan pursuant to this section;

(2) The plan is in effect; and

(3) The bank or savings association has been operating under an approved plan for at least one year.

(b) Data requirements. The appropriate Federal banking agency's approval of a plan does not affect the bank's or savings association's obligation, if any, to collect, maintain, and report data as required by § 25.42.

(c) Plans in general—(1) Term. A plan may have a term of not more than five years.

(2) Performance tests in plan. (i) A bank's or savings association's plan must include the same performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan, except as provided in paragraph (g)(1) of this section.

(ii) Consistent with paragraph (g) of this section, a bank's or savings association's plan may include optional evaluation components or eligible modifications and additions to the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan.

(3) Assessment areas and other geographic areas—(i) Multiple geographic areas. A bank or savings association may prepare a single plan or separate plans for its facility-based assessment areas, retail lending assessment areas, outside retail lending area, or other geographic areas that would be evaluated in the absence of an approved plan.

(ii) Geographic areas not included in a plan. Any facility-based assessment area, retail lending assessment area, outside retail lending area, or other geographic area that would be evaluated in the absence of an approved plan, but is not included in an approved plan, will be evaluated pursuant to the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan.

(4) Operating subsidiaries and affiliates—(i) Operating subsidiaries. The loans, investments, services, and products of a bank's or savings association's operating subsidiary must be included in the bank's or savings association's plan, unless the operating subsidiary is independently subject to CRA requirements.

(ii) Affiliates—(A) Optional inclusion of other affiliates' loans, investments, services, and products. Consistent with § 25.21(b)(3), a bank or savings association may include loans, investments, services, and products of affiliates of a bank or savings association that are not operating subsidiaries in a plan, if those loans, investments, services, and products are not included in the CRA performance evaluation of any other depository institution.

(B) Joint plans. Affiliated depository institutions supervised by the same Federal financial supervisory agency may prepare a joint plan, provided that the plan includes, for each bank or savings association, the applicable performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan. The joint plan may include optional evaluation components or eligible modifications and additions to the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan.

(C) Allocation. The inclusion of an affiliate's loans, investments, services, and products in a bank's or savings association's plan, or in a joint plan of affiliated depository institutions, is subject to the following:

(1) The loans, investments, services, and products may not be included in the CRA performance evaluation of another depository institution; and

(2) The allocation of loans, investments, services, and products to a bank or savings association, or among affiliated banks or savings associations, must reflect a reasonable basis for the allocation and may not be for the sole or primary purpose of inappropriately enhancing any bank's or savings association's CRA evaluation.

(d) Justification and appropriateness of plan election—(1) Justification requirements. A bank's or savings association's plan must provide a justification that demonstrates the need for the following aspects of a plan due to the bank's or savings association's business model (e.g., its retail banking services and retail banking products):

(i) Optional evaluation components pursuant to paragraph (g)(1) of this section;

(ii) Eligible modifications or additions to the applicable performance tests pursuant to paragraph (g)(2) of this section;

(iii) Additional geographic areas pursuant to paragraph (g)(3) of this section; and

(iv) The conclusions and ratings methodology pursuant to paragraph (g)(6) of this section.

(2) Justification elements. Each justification must specify the following:

(i) Why the bank's or savings association's business model is outside the scope of, or inconsistent with, one or more aspects of the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan;

(ii) Why an evaluation of the bank or savings association pursuant to any aspect of a plan in paragraph (d)(1) of this section would more meaningfully reflect a bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its community than if it were evaluated under the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan; and

(iii) Why the optional performance components and eligible modifications or additions meet the standards of paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section, as applicable.

(e) Public participation in initial draft plan development—(1) In general. Before submitting a draft plan to the appropriate Federal banking agency for approval pursuant to paragraph (h) of this section, a bank or savings association must:

(i) Informally seek suggestions from members of the public while developing the plan;

(ii) Once the bank or savings association has developed its initial draft plan, formally solicit public comment on the initial draft plan for at least 60 days by:

(A) Submitting the initial draft plan for publication on the appropriate Federal banking agency's website and by publishing the initial draft plan on the bank's or savings association's website, if the bank or savings association maintains one; and

(B)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(B)(2) of this section, publishing notice in at least one print newspaper of general circulation (if available, otherwise a digital publication) in each facility-based assessment area covered by the plan; and

(2) For a military bank or savings association, publishing notice in at least one print newspaper of general circulation targeted to members of the military (if available, otherwise a digital publication targeted to members of the military); and

(iii) Include in the notice required under paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section a means by which members of the public can electronically submit and mail comments to the bank or savings association on its initial draft plan.

(2) Availability of initial draft plan. During the period when the bank or savings association is formally soliciting public comment on its initial draft plan, the bank or savings association must make copies of the initial draft plan available for review at no cost at all offices of the bank or savings association in any facility-based assessment area covered by the plan and provide copies of the initial draft plan upon request for a reasonable fee to cover copying and mailing, if applicable.

(f) Submission of a draft plan. The bank or savings association must submit its draft plan to the appropriate Federal banking agency at least 90 days prior to the proposed effective date of the plan. The bank or savings association must also submit with its draft plan:

(1) Proof of notice publication and a description of its efforts to seek input from members of the public, including individuals and organizations the bank or savings association contacted and how the bank or savings association gathered information;

(2) Any written comments or other public input received;

(3) If the bank or savings association revised the initial draft plan in response to the public input received, the initial draft plan as released for public comment with an explanation of the relevant changes; and

(4) If the bank or savings association did not revise the initial draft plan in response to suggestions or concerns from public input received, an explanation for why any suggestion or concern was not addressed in the draft plan.

(g) Plan content. In addition to meeting the requirements in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, the plan must meet the following requirements:

(1) Applicable performance tests and optional evaluation components. A bank or savings association must include in its plan a focus on the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households, low- and moderate-income census tracts, and small businesses and small farms. The bank or savings association must describe how its plan is responsive to the characteristics and credit needs of its facility-based assessment areas, retail lending assessment areas, outside retail lending area, or other geographic areas served by the bank or savings association, considering public comment and the bank's or savings association's capacity and constraints, product offerings, and business strategy. As applicable, a bank or savings association must specify components in its plan for helping to meet:

(i) The retail lending needs of its facility-based assessment areas, retail lending assessment areas, and outside retail lending area that are covered by the plan. A bank or savings association that originates or purchases loans in a product line evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22 or originates or purchases loans evaluated pursuant to the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test in § 25.29(a)(2) must include the applicable test in its plan, subject to eligible modifications or additions specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this section.

(ii) The retail banking services and retail banking products needs of its facility-based assessment areas and at the institution level that are covered by the plan.

(A) A large bank or savings association that maintains delivery systems evaluated pursuant to the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23(b) must include this component of the test in its plan, subject to eligible modifications or additions specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this section.

(B) A large bank or savings association that does not maintain delivery systems evaluated pursuant to the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23(b) may include retail banking products components in § 25.23(c) and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(C) A bank or savings association other than a large bank or savings association may include components of retail banking services or retail banking products and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(iii) The community development loan and community development investment needs of its facility-based assessment areas, States, or multistate MSAs, as applicable, and the nationwide area that are covered by the plan. Subject to eligible modifications or additions as provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section:

(A) A large bank or savings association must include the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24 in its plan.

(B) An intermediate bank or savings association must include either the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24 or the Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test in § 25.30(a)(2) in its plan.

(C) A limited purpose bank or savings association must include the Community Development Financing Test for Limited Purpose Banks and Savings Associations in § 25.26 in its plan.

(D) A small bank or savings association may include a community development loan or community development investment component and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(iv) The community development services needs of its facility-based assessment areas served by the bank or savings association that are covered by the plan.

(A) A large bank or savings association must include the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25 in its plan, subject to eligible modifications or additions as provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, for each facility-based assessment area where the bank or savings association has employees.

(B) A bank or savings association other than a large bank or savings association may include a community development services component and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(2) Eligible modifications or additions to applicable performance tests—(i) Retail lending. (A) For a bank or savings association that the appropriate Federal banking agency would otherwise evaluate pursuant to the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test in § 25.29(a)(2):

(1) A bank or savings association may omit, as applicable, the evaluation of performance criteria related to the loan-to-deposit ratio or the percentage of loans located in the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment area(s).

(2) A bank or savings association may add annual measurable goals for any aspect of the bank's or savings association's retail lending.

(B) For a bank or savings association the appropriate Federal banking agency would otherwise evaluate pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22:

(1) A bank or savings association may add additional loan products, such as non-automobile consumer loans or open-end home mortgage loans, or additional goals for major product lines, such as closed-end home mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers, with accompanying annual measurable goals.

(2) Where annual measurable goals for additional loan products or additional goals for major product lines have been added pursuant to paragraph (g)(2)(i)(B)(1) of this section, a bank or savings association may provide different weights for averaging together the performance across these loan products and may include those loan products in the numerator of the Bank Volume Metric.

(3) A bank or savings association may use alternative weights for combining the borrower and geographic distribution analyses for major product line(s) or other loan products.

(ii) Retail banking services and retail banking products. (A) A large bank or savings association may add annual measurable goals for any component of the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23.

(B) A large bank or savings association may modify the Retail Services and Products Test by removing a component of the test.

(C) A large bank or savings association may assign specific weights to applicable components in paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(A) of this section in reaching a Retail Services and Products Test conclusion.

(D) A bank or savings association other than a large bank or savings association may include retail banking services or retail banking products component(s) and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(iii) Community development loans and community development investments. (A) A bank or savings association may specify annual measurable goals for community development loans, community development investments, or both. The bank or savings association must base any annual measurable goals as a percentage or ratio of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments for all or certain types of community development described in § 25.13(b) through (l), presented either on a combined or separate basis, relative to the bank's or savings association's capacity and should account for community development needs and opportunities.

(B) A bank or savings association may specify using assets as an alternative denominator for a community development financing metric if it better measures a bank's or savings association's capacity.

(C) A bank or savings association may specify additional benchmarks to evaluate a community development financing metric.

(D) A small bank or savings association may include community development loans, community development investments, or both, and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(iv) Community development services. (A) A bank or savings association may specify annual measurable goals for community development services activity, by number of activity hours, number of hours per full-time equivalent employee, or some other measure.

(B) A bank or savings association other than a large bank or savings association may include a community development services component and accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan.

(v) Weights for assessing performance across geographic areas. A bank or savings association may specify alternative weights for averaging test performance across assessment areas or other geographic areas. These alternative weights must be based on the bank's or savings association's capacity and community needs and opportunities in specific geographic areas.

(vi) Test weights. For ratings at the State, multistate MSA, and institution levels pursuant to § 25.28(b) and paragraph g.2 of appendix D to this part, as applicable:

(A) A bank or savings association may request an alternate weighting method for combining performance under the applicable performance tests and optional evaluation components. In specifying alternative test weights for each applicable test, a bank or savings association must emphasize retail lending, community development financing, or both. Alternative weights must be responsive to the characteristics and credit needs of a bank's or savings association's assessment areas and public comments and must be based on the bank's or savings association's capacity and constraints, product offerings, and business strategy.

(B) A bank or savings association that requests an alternate weighting method pursuant to paragraph (g)(2)(vi)(A) of this section must compensate for decreasing the weight under one test by committing to enhance its efforts to help meet the credit needs of its community under another performance test.

(3) Geographic coverage of plan. (i) A bank or savings association may incorporate performance evaluation components and accompanying annual measurable goals for additional geographic areas but may not eliminate the evaluation of its performance in any geographic area that would be included in its performance evaluation in the absence of an approved plan.

(ii) If a large bank or savings association is no longer required to delineate a retail lending assessment area previously identified in the plan as a result of not meeting the required retail lending assessment area thresholds pursuant to § 25.17, the appropriate Federal banking agency will not evaluate the bank or savings association for its performance in that area for the applicable years of the plan in which the area is no longer a retail lending assessment area.

(iii) A bank or savings association that includes additional performance evaluation components with accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan must specify the geographic areas where those components and goals apply.

(4) Confidential information. A bank or savings association may submit additional information to the appropriate Federal banking agency on a confidential basis, but the goals stated in the plan must be sufficiently specific to enable the public and the appropriate Federal banking agency to judge the merits of the plan.

(5) “Satisfactory” and “Outstanding” performance goals. A bank or savings association that includes modified or additional performance evaluation components with accompanying annual measurable goals in its plan must specify in its plan annual measurable goals that constitute “Satisfactory” performance and may specify annual measurable goals that constitute “Outstanding” performance.

(6) Conclusions and rating methodology. A bank or savings association must specify in its plan how all elements of a plan covered in paragraphs (g)(1) through (5) of this section, in conjunction with any other applicable performance tests not included in an approved strategic plan, should be considered to assign:

(i) Conclusions. Pursuant to § 25.28 and appendix C to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for each facility-based assessment area, retail lending assessment area, outside retail lending area, State, and multistate MSA, as applicable, and the institution. In assigning conclusions under a strategic plan, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(ii) Ratings. Pursuant to § 25.28 and paragraph f of appendix D to this part, the appropriate Federal banking agency incorporates the conclusions of a bank or savings association evaluated under an approved plan into its State or multistate MSA ratings, as applicable, and its institution rating, accounting for paragraph g.2 of appendix D to this part, as applicable.

(h) Draft plan evaluation—(1) Timing. The appropriate Federal banking agency seeks to act upon a draft plan within 90 calendar days after the appropriate Federal banking agency receives the complete draft plan and other materials required pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section. If the appropriate Federal banking agency does not act within this time period, the appropriate Federal banking agency will communicate to the bank or savings association the rationale for the delay and an expected timeframe for a decision on the draft plan.

(2) Public participation. In evaluating the draft plan, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers:

(i) The public's involvement in formulating the draft plan, including specific information regarding the members of the public and organizations the bank or savings association contacted and how the bank or savings association collected information relevant to the draft plan;

(ii) Written public comments and other public input on the draft plan;

(iii) Any response by the bank or savings association to public input on the draft plan; and

(iv) Whether to solicit additional public input or require the bank or savings association to provide any additional response to public input already received.

(3) Criteria for evaluating plan for approval. (i) The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates all plans using the following criteria:

(A) The extent to which the plan meets the standards set forth in this section; and

(B) The extent to which the plan has adequately justified the need for a plan and each aspect of the plan as required in paragraph (d) of this section.

(ii) The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a plan under the following criteria, as applicable, considering performance context information pursuant to § 25.21(d):

(A) The extent and breadth of retail lending or retail lending-related activities to address credit needs, including the distribution of loans among census tracts of different income levels, businesses and farms of different sizes, and individuals of different income levels, pursuant to §§ 25.22, and 25.29, as applicable;

(B) The effectiveness of the bank's or savings association's systems for delivering retail banking services and the availability and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's retail banking products, pursuant to § 25.23, as applicable;

(C) The extent, breadth, impact, and responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's community development loans and community development investments, pursuant to §§ 25.24, 25.26, and 25.30, as applicable; and

(D) The number, hours, and types of community development services performed and the extent to which the bank's or savings association's community development services are impactful and responsive, pursuant to §§ 25.25 and 25.30, as applicable.

(4) Plan decisions—(i) Approval. The appropriate Federal banking agency may approve a plan after considering the criteria in paragraph (h)(3) of this section and if it determines that the bank or savings association has provided adequate justification for the plan and each aspect of the plan as required in paragraph (d) of this section.

(ii) Denial. The appropriate Federal banking agency may deny a bank's or savings association's request to be evaluated under a plan for any of the following reasons:

(A) The Agency determines that the bank or savings association has not provided adequate justification for the plan and each aspect of the plan as required pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section;

(B) The appropriate Federal banking agency determines that evaluation under the plan would not provide a more meaningful reflection of the bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of the bank's or savings association's community;

(C) The plan is not responsive to public comment received pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section;

(D) The appropriate Federal banking agency determines that the plan otherwise fails to meet the requirements of this section; or

(E) The bank or savings association fails to provide information requested by the appropriate Federal banking agency that is necessary for the appropriate Federal banking agency to make an informed decision.

(5) Publication of approved plan. The appropriate Federal banking agency will publish an approved plan on the appropriate Federal banking agency's website.

(i) Plan amendment—(1) Mandatory plan amendment. During the term of a plan, a bank or savings association must submit to the appropriate Federal banking agency for approval an amendment to its plan if a material change in circumstances:

(i) Impedes its ability to perform at a satisfactory level under the plan, such as financial constraints caused by significant events that impact the local or national economy; or

(ii) Significantly increases its financial capacity and ability to engage in retail lending, retail banking services, retail banking products, community development loans, community development investments, or community development services referenced in an approved plan, such as a merger or consolidation.

(2) Elective plan amendment. During the term of a plan, a bank or savings association may request the appropriate Federal banking agency to approve an amendment to the plan in the absence of a material change in circumstances.

(3) Requirements for plan amendments—(i) Amendment explanation. When submitting a plan amendment for approval, a bank or savings association must explain:

(A) The material change in circumstances necessitating the amendment; or

(B) Why it is necessary and appropriate to amend its plan in the absence of a material change in circumstances.

(ii) Compliance requirement. An amendment to a plan must comply with all relevant requirements of this section, unless the appropriate Federal banking agency waives a requirement as not applicable.

(j) Performance evaluation under a plan—(1) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank's or savings association's performance under an approved plan based on the performance tests that would apply in the absence of an approved plan and any optional evaluation components or eligible modifications and additions to the applicable performance tests set forth in the bank's or savings association's approved plan.

(2) Goal considerations. If a bank or savings association established annual measurable goals and does not meet one or more of its satisfactory goals, the appropriate Federal banking agency will consider the following factors to determine the effect on a bank's or savings association's CRA performance evaluation:

(i) The degree to which the goal was not met;

(ii) The importance of the unmet goals to the plan as a whole; and

(iii) Any circumstances beyond the control of the bank or savings association, such as economic conditions or other market factors or events, that have adversely impacted the bank's or savings association's ability to perform.

(3) Ratings. The appropriate Federal banking agency rates the performance of a bank or savings association under this section pursuant to appendix D to this part.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended by 89 FR 22067, Mar. 29, 2024]

(a) Conclusions—(1) State, multistate MSA, and institution test conclusions and performance scores—(i) In general. For each of the applicable performance tests pursuant to §§ 25.22 through 25.26 and 25.30, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions and associated test performance scores of “Outstanding,” “High Satisfactory,” “Low Satisfactory,” “Needs to Improve,” or “Substantial Noncompliance” for the performance of a bank or savings association in each State and multistate MSA, as applicable pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, and for the institution.

(ii) Small banks or savings associations. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions of “Outstanding,” “Satisfactory,” “Needs to Improve,” or “Substantial Noncompliance” for the performance of a small bank or savings association evaluated under the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test in § 25.29(a)(2) in each State and multistate MSA, as applicable pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, and for the institution pursuant to § 25.29 and appendix E to this part.

(iii) Banks and savings associations operating under a strategic plan. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for the performance of a bank or savings association operating under a strategic plan pursuant to § 25.27 in each State and multistate MSA, as applicable pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, and for the institution in accordance with the methodology of the plan and appendix C to this part.

(2) Bank and savings association performance in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 2906, the appropriate Federal banking agency provides conclusions derived under this part separately for metropolitan areas in which a bank or savings association maintains one or more domestic branch offices and for the nonmetropolitan area of a State if a bank or savings association maintains one or more domestic branch offices in such nonmetropolitan area.

(b) Ratings—(1) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a rating for a bank's or savings association's overall CRA performance of “Outstanding,” “Satisfactory,” “Needs to Improve,” or “Substantial Noncompliance” in each State and multistate MSA, as applicable pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, and for the institution, as provided in this section and appendices D and E to this part. The ratings assigned by the appropriate Federal banking agency reflect the bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the bank or savings association.

(2) State, multistate MSA, and institution ratings and overall performance scores. (i) For large banks or savings associations, intermediate banks or savings associations, small banks or savings associations that opt into the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, and limited purpose banks or savings associations, the appropriate Federal banking agency calculates and discloses the bank's or savings association's overall performance score for each State and multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution. The appropriate Federal banking agency uses a bank's or savings association's overall performance scores described in this section to assign a rating for the bank's or savings association's overall performance in each State and multistate MSA, as applicable, and for the institution, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.

(ii) Overall performance scores are based on the bank's or savings association's performance score for each applicable performance test and derived as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, as applicable, and appendix D to this part.

(3) Weighting of performance scores. In calculating a large bank's or savings association's or intermediate bank's or savings association's overall performance score for each State and multistate MSA, as applicable, and the institution, the appropriate Federal banking agency weights the performance scores for the bank or savings association for each applicable performance test as provided in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.

(i) Large bank or savings association performance test weights. The appropriate Federal banking agency weights the bank's or savings association's performance score for the performance tests applicable to a large bank or savings association as follows:

(A) Retail Lending Test, 40 percent;

(B) Retail Services and Products Test, 10 percent;

(C) Community Development Financing Test, 40 percent; and

(D) Community Development Services Test, 10 percent.

(ii) Intermediate bank or savings association performance test weights. The appropriate Federal banking agency weights the bank's or savings association's performance score for the performance tests applicable to an intermediate bank or savings association as follows:

(A) Retail Lending Test, 50 percent; and

(B) Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test or Community Development Financing Test, as applicable, 50 percent.

(4) Minimum conclusion requirements—(i) Retail Lending Test minimum conclusion. An intermediate bank or savings association or a large bank or savings association must receive at least a “Low Satisfactory” Retail Lending Test conclusion for the State, multistate MSA, or institution to receive, respectively, a State, multistate MSA, or institution rating of “Satisfactory” or “Outstanding.”

(ii) Minimum of “Low Satisfactory” overall facility-based assessment area and retail lending assessment area conclusion. (A) For purposes of this paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(A), the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a large bank or savings association an overall conclusion for each facility-based assessment area and, as applicable, each retail lending assessment area, as provided in paragraph g.2.ii of appendix D to this part.

(B) Except as provided in § 25.51(e), a large bank or savings association with a combined total of 10 or more facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas in any State or multistate MSA, as applicable, or for the institution may not receive a rating of “Satisfactory” or “Outstanding” in that State or multistate MSA, as applicable, or for the institution, unless the bank or savings association receives an overall conclusion of at least “Low Satisfactory” in 60 percent or more of the total number of its facility-based assessment areas and retail lending assessment areas in that State or multistate MSA, as applicable, or for the institution.

(c) Conclusions and ratings for States and multistate MSAs—(1) States—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank or savings association and assigns conclusions and ratings for any State in which the bank or savings association maintains a main office, branch, or deposit-taking remote service facility.

(ii) States with rated multistate MSAs. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank or savings association and assigns conclusions and ratings for a State only if the bank or savings association maintains a main office, branch, or deposit-taking remote service facility outside the portion of the State comprising any multistate MSA identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. In evaluating a bank or savings association and assigning conclusions and ratings for a State, the appropriate Federal banking agency does not consider activities to be in the State if those activities take place in the portion of the State comprising any multistate MSA identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(iii) States with non-rated multistate MSAs. If a facility-based assessment area of a bank or savings association comprises a geographic area spanning two or more States within a multistate MSA that is not identified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers activities in the entire facility-based assessment area to be in the State in which the bank or savings association maintains, within the multistate MSA, a main office, branch, or deposit-taking remote service facility. In evaluating a bank or savings association and assigning conclusions and ratings for a State, the appropriate Federal banking agency does not consider activities to be in the State if those activities take place in any facility-based assessment area that is considered to be in another State pursuant to this paragraph (c)(1)(iii).

(iv) States with multistate retail lending assessment areas. In assigning Retail Lending Test conclusions for a State pursuant to § 25.22(h), the appropriate Federal banking agency does not consider a bank's or savings association's activities to be in the State if those activities take place in a retail lending assessment area consisting of counties in more than one State.

(2) Rated multistate MSAs. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a bank or savings association and assigns conclusions and ratings under this part in any multistate MSA in which the bank or savings association maintains a main office, a branch, or a deposit-taking remote service facility in two or more States within that multistate MSA.

(d) Effect of evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices—(1) Scope. For each State and multistate MSA, as applicable, and the institution, the appropriate Federal banking agency's evaluation of a bank's or savings association's performance under this part is adversely affected by evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices, as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. The appropriate Federal banking agency considers evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices described in this section by:

(i) The bank or savings association, including by an operating subsidiary of the bank or savings association; or

(ii) Any other affiliate related to any activities considered in the evaluation of the bank or savings association.

(2) Discriminatory or other illegal credit practices. For purposes of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, discriminatory or other illegal credit practices consist of the following:

(i) Discrimination on a prohibited basis, including in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) or the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.);

(ii) Violations of the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1639);

(iii) Violations of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45);

(iv) Violations of section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536);

(v) Violations of section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);

(vi) Violations of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);

(vii) Violations of the Military Lending Act (10 U.S.C. 987);

(viii) Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.); and

(ix) Any other violation of a law, rule, or regulation consistent with the types of violations in paragraphs (d)(2)(i) through (viii) of this section, as determined by the appropriate Federal banking agency.

(3) Agency considerations. In determining the effect of evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section on the bank's or savings association's assigned State, multistate MSA, and institution ratings, the appropriate Federal banking agency will consider:

(i) The root cause or causes of any such violations of law, rule, or regulation;

(ii) The severity of any harm to any communities, individuals, small businesses, and small farms resulting from such violations;

(iii) The duration of time over which the violations occurred;

(iv) The pervasiveness of the violations;

(v) The degree to which the bank or savings association, operating subsidiary, or affiliate, as applicable, has established an effective compliance management system across the institution to self-identify risks and to take the necessary actions to reduce the risk of noncompliance and harm to communities, individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and

(vi) Any other relevant information.

(e) Consideration of past performance. When assigning ratings, the appropriate Federal banking agency considers a bank's or savings association's past performance. If a bank's or savings association's prior rating was “Needs to Improve,” the appropriate Federal banking agency may determine that a “Substantial Noncompliance” rating is appropriate where the bank or savings association failed to improve its performance since the previous evaluation period, with no acceptable basis for such failure.

(a) Small bank or savings association performance evaluation—(1) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates a small bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community pursuant to the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, unless the small bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22.

(2) Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test. A small bank's or savings association's retail lending performance is evaluated pursuant to the following criteria:

(i) The bank's or savings association's loan-to-deposit ratio, adjusted for seasonal variation, and, as appropriate, other retail and community development lending-related activities, such as loan originations for sale to the secondary markets, community development loans, or community development investments;

(ii) The percentage of loans and, as appropriate, other retail and community development lending-related activities located in the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas;

(iii) The bank's or savings association's record of lending to and, as appropriate, engaging in other retail and community development lending-related activities for borrowers of different income levels and businesses and farms of different sizes;

(iv) The geographic distribution of the bank's or savings association's loans; and

(v) The bank's or savings association's record of taking action, if warranted, in response to written complaints about its performance in helping to meet credit needs in its facility-based assessment areas.

(b) Additional consideration—(1) Small banks or savings associations evaluated pursuant to the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust a small bank or savings association rating from “Satisfactory” to “Outstanding” at the institution level where the bank or savings association requests and receives additional consideration for the following activities, without regard to whether the activity is in one or more of the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas, as applicable:

(i) Making community development investments;

(ii) Providing community development services; and

(iii) Providing branches and other services, digital delivery systems and other delivery systems, and deposit products responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or households, residents of low- and moderate-income census tracts, small businesses, and small farms.

(2) Small banks or savings associations that opt to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust a small bank or savings association rating from “Satisfactory” to “Outstanding” at the institution level where the bank or savings association requests and receives additional consideration for activities that would qualify pursuant to the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23, the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24, or the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25.

(3) Additional consideration for activities with MDIs, WDIs, and LICUs, and for providing low-cost education loans. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, a small bank or savings association may request and receive additional consideration at the institution level for activities with MDIs, WDIs, and LICUs pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 2903(b) and 2907(a) and for providing low-cost education loans to low-income borrowers pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 2903(d), regardless of the small bank's or savings association's overall institution rating.

(c) Small bank or savings association performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. Except for a small bank or savings association that opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for the performance of a small bank or savings association evaluated under this section as provided in appendix E to this part. If a bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Retail Lending Test, the appropriate Federal banking agency assigns conclusions for the bank's or savings association's Retail Lending Test performance as provided in appendix C to this part. In assigning conclusions for a small bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(2) Ratings. For a small bank or savings association evaluated under the Small Bank and Savings Association Lending Test, the appropriate Federal banking agency rates the bank's or savings association's performance under this section as provided in appendix E to this part. If a small bank or savings association opts to be evaluated under the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22, the appropriate Federal banking agency rates the performance of a small bank or savings association as provided in appendix D to this part.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]

(a) Intermediate bank or savings association performance evaluation—(1) In general. The appropriate Federal banking agency evaluates an intermediate bank's or savings association's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community pursuant to the Retail Lending Test in § 25.22 and the Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, unless an intermediate bank or savings association opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24.

(2) Intermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test. (i) An intermediate bank's or savings association's community development performance is evaluated pursuant to the following criteria:

(A) The number and dollar amount of community development loans;

(B) The number and dollar amount of community development investments;

(C) The extent to which the bank or savings association provides community development services; and

(D) The bank's or savings association's responsiveness through such community development loans, community development investments, and community development services to community development needs. The appropriate Federal banking agency's evaluation of the responsiveness of the bank's or savings association's activities is informed by information provided by the bank or savings association, and may be informed by the impact and responsiveness review factors described in § 25.15(b).

(ii) The appropriate Federal banking agency considers an intermediate bank's or savings association's community development loans, community development investments, and community development services without regard to whether the activity is made in one or more of the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas. The extent of the appropriate Federal banking agency's consideration of community development loans, community development investments, and community development services outside of the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas will depend on the adequacy of the bank's or savings association's responsiveness to community development needs and opportunities within the bank's or savings association's facility-based assessment areas and applicable performance context information.

(b) Additional consideration—(1) Intermediate banks or savings associations evaluated pursuant to theIntermediate Bank and Savings Association Community Development Test. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust the rating of an intermediate bank or savings association evaluated as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section from “Satisfactory” to “Outstanding” at the institution level where the bank or savings association requests and receives additional consideration for activities that would qualify pursuant to the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23.

(2) Intermediate banks or savings associations evaluated pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test. The appropriate Federal banking agency may adjust the rating of an intermediate bank or savings association that opts to be evaluated pursuant to the Community Development Financing Test in § 25.24 from “Satisfactory” to “Outstanding” at the institution level where the bank or savings association requests and receives additional consideration for activities that would qualify pursuant to the Retail Services and Products Test in § 25.23, the Community Development Services Test in § 25.25, or both.

(3) Additional consideration for low-cost education loans. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, an intermediate bank or savings association may request and receive additional consideration at the institution level for providing low-cost education loans to low-income borrowers pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 2903(d), regardless of the intermediate bank's or savings association's overall institution rating.

(c) Intermediate bank or savings association performance conclusions and ratings—(1) Conclusions. The appropriate Federal banking agency assigns a conclusion for the performance of an intermediate bank or savings association evaluated pursuant to this section as provided in appendices C and E to this part. In assigning conclusions for an intermediate bank or savings association, the appropriate Federal banking agency may consider performance context information as provided in § 25.21(d).

(2) Ratings. The appropriate Federal banking agency rates the performance of an intermediate bank or savings association evaluated under this section as provided in appendix D to this part.

[89 FR 7165, Feb. 1, 2024, as amended at 89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]

(a) CRA performance. Among other factors, the appropriate Federal banking agency takes into account the record of performance under the CRA of each applicant bank or savings association, and for applications under 10(e) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(e)), of each proposed subsidiary savings association, in considering an application for:

(1) The establishment of:

(i) A domestic branch for insured banks; or

(ii) A domestic branch or other facility that would be authorized to take deposits for savings associations;

(2) The relocation of the main office or a branch;

(3) The merger or consolidation with or the acquisition of assets or assumption of liabilities of an insured depository institution requiring approval under the Bank Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c));

(4) The conversion of an insured depository institution to a national bank or Federal savings association charter; and

(5) Acquisitions subject to section 10(e) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(e)).

(b) Charter application. (1) An applicant (other than an insured depository institution) for a national bank charter must submit with its application a description of how it will meet its CRA objectives. The OCC takes the description into account in considering the application and may deny or condition approval on that basis.

(2) An applicant for a Federal savings association charter must submit with its application a description of how it will meet its CRA objectives. The appropriate Federal banking agency takes the description into account in considering the application and may deny or condition approval on that basis.

(c) Interested parties. The appropriate Federal banking agency takes into account any views expressed by interested parties that are submitted in accordance with the applicable comment procedures in considering CRA performance in an application listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Denial or conditional approval of application. A bank's or savings association's record of performance may be the basis for denying or conditioning approval of an application listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

(e) Insured depository institution. For purposes of this section, the term “insured depository institution” has the meaning given to that term in 12 U.S.C. 1813.

[89 FR 7167, Feb. 1, 2024]