A recent seminar discussed the findings from an Urban Institute report [1], commissioned by the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders [2] that analyzes data on recent lending practices subject and not subject to CRA—including single and multifamily housing, community development, small business, and small farm loans.
The seminar focused on the changes that have taken place in lending since the mid-1990s. However, the panel also noted that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations have lagged behind in the face of modernization. It also touched upon the revisions to the CRA regulatory framework.
Panelists also discussed the importance of banks to communities, especially those in the low- and moderate-income bracket, differences in lending behaviors between banks, and nonbank lenders. The seminar also elucidated on the implications of the study’s findings for CRA policy as well as ways to enable lenders to serve community needs in a more modern, effective way.
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