{"id":284487,"date":"2026-03-30T10:37:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/?p=284487"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:44:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T20:44:48","slug":"making-cra-strategic-plans-work-a-framework-for-meaningful-community-reinvestment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/making-cra-strategic-plans-work-a-framework-for-meaningful-community-reinvestment\/","title":{"rendered":"Making CRA Strategic Plans Work: A Framework for Meaningful  Community Reinvestment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"284487\" class=\"elementor elementor-284487\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f96c559 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f96c559\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cee4a81 e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cee4a81\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:750}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94004c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"94004c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Making CRA Strategic Plans Work: <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1fc192 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d1fc192\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Framework for Meaningful Community Reinvestment<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7afd065 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7afd065\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>March 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-778db8a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"778db8a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" 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\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4097b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e4097b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36ea140 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36ea140\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2eac60f elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"2eac60f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Purpose\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-805e3ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"805e3ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Purpose of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5e7e36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b5e7e36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), enacted in 1977, requires banks to meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods. Congress designed the CRA to combat discriminatory lending practices, such as redlining, and ensure that banks meet their obligation to serve the communities in which they operate. Federal banking regulators\u2014the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)\u2014evaluate institutions&#8217; records of community lending and assign performance ratings that can affect merger and acquisition approvals, branch applications, and overall regulatory standing.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CRA regulations establish five methods for evaluating how banks meet community credit needs, one of which is the strategic plan. Banks may elect this option with regulatory approval by replacing standard CRA tests with tailored performance goals developed through community consultation and public comment.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f713b8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"f713b8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"What\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a3936a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a3936a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a CRA Strategic Plan?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef49cf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef49cf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A CRA strategic plan allows a bank to propose its own measurable goals for CRA responsibilities to meet community credit needs in lieu of being evaluated under the standard lending, investment, and service tests. Under the CRA regulations (12 CFR \u00a7 25.27, 228.27, and 345.27), an institution may develop and submit a strategic plan to its primary federal regulator for approval. If approved, the plan serves as the bank&#8217;s CRA evaluation framework for a defined period of typically three to five years.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strategic plan option is intended to provide institutions with additional flexibility and clarity in how they demonstrate their CRA compliance. Specifically, a well-designed strategic plan can:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create advance agreement on performance standards among regulators, institutions, and\u00a0communities;<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allow customization to align with the bank&#8217;s unique business model, geographic footprint, and assessment area characteristics; and<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure accountability through measurable, transparent performance standards that are subject to public comment and regulatory oversight.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7e1357 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"c7e1357\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Regulatory\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-896afb8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"896afb8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Regulatory Requirements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-361b6f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"361b6f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regulatory framework for CRA strategic plans is set forth in 12 CFR \u00a7 25.27, 228.27 and 345.27, which establishes the specific content, process, and approval requirements that institutions must satisfy.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02ec7ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"02ec7ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Plan\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-393b62e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"393b62e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Plan Content and Scope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-619c7a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"619c7a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An institution\u2019s strategic plan must include:<\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><li>Measurable annual goals for helping to meet credit needs in each assessment area, particularly for low- and moderate-income geographies and\u00a0individuals;<\/li><li>An evaluation period not exceeding five\u00a0years;<\/li><li>Performance context factors, including community needs, the bank&#8217;s capacity and constraints, product offerings, and prior\u00a0performance;<\/li><li>Defined assessment areas, including geographies where the institution maintains its main office, branches, and deposit-taking remote service facilities; and<\/li><li>Goals specific to each assessment area covered by the plan.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc987c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"cc987c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Public\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c337849 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c337849\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Public Participation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc5c178 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc5c178\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An important component of drafting a strategic plan is the requirement that the process includes opportunity for a public review and comment period. As part of this requirement, the bank must:<\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><li>Formally solicit public comment on the draft plan for at least 30 days before\u00a0submission;<\/li><li>Provide the plan to the public upon\u00a0request;<\/li><li>Document how public feedback was considered; and<\/li><li>Submit all public comments to the bank&#8217;s CRA regulator along with the plan and the bank&#8217;s written response.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be9ac49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"be9ac49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Regulatory\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0167c7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0167c7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Regulatory Approval Process<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b4ffc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b4ffc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When reviewing a CRA strategic plan, regulators will evaluate whether:<\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><li>Goals are &#8220;measurable&#8221;;<\/li><li>The measurable goals adequately meet a community\u2019s credit\u00a0needs;<\/li><li>The plan demonstrates that goals will result in a performance rated Satisfactory or better; and that<\/li><li>The plan meets the minimum standards of specificity and measurability.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01366aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"01366aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Transparency\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db630c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"db630c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transparency and Plan Duration<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7c7a9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7c7a9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the strategic plan is approved, the institution must comply with several ongoing obligations. For the duration of the plan, the plan must:<\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><li>Be made available to the public for the entire evaluation\u00a0period;<\/li><li>Remain in effect for the specified period unless terminated by the institution or modified by the bank&#8217;s CRA regulator due to changed circumstances; and must be<\/li><li>Subject to any material amendments to the same public comment and regulatory approval process as the initial submission.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bd5aa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"9bd5aa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Limitations\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75ab2e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75ab2e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Limitations of the Strategic Plan Process<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1719578 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1719578\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strategic plan framework is flexible enough for institutions to tailor CRA goals to their community&#8217;s needs. However, several structural weaknesses undermine its effectiveness in driving meaningful community reinvestment:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Insufficient Community Engagement:<\/strong>\u00a0Many institutions finalize key plan decisions before the mandated 30-day public comment period and limit outreach to newspaper notices, undermining the community\u2019s ability to participate and influence the process. Without proactive engagement \u2014 such as community meetings or partnerships with local organizations \u2014 the process fails to capture genuine input or build trust between banks and stakeholders. At a minimum, banks should post draft strategic plans on their websites to facilitate public participation, complementing the newspaper notice requirement. No regulatory restrictions prevent banks from taking additional steps to solicit public input.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Minimal or Non-Ambitious Goals:<\/strong>\u00a0Some plans set targets that merely match historical lending levels or include only minimal increases, allowing institutions to achieve Satisfactory ratings without providing additional benefit to LMI communities. This reduces the strategic plan to a compliance exercise rather than a genuine commitment to community reinvestment. As banks grow in asset size, plan targets \u2014 expressed as a percentage of assets or tier 1 capital \u2014 should remain constant and not decline.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Lack of Transparency in Goal Justification:<\/strong>\u00a0Many plans neither disclose how goals were set nor justify their appropriateness for community needs. Without baseline data, market analysis, or peer comparisons, stakeholders cannot evaluate whether goals are ambitious or inadequate, which prevents accountability and makes it difficult to identify which plans are truly effective.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Plans Limited to Single City or MSA:\u00a0<\/strong>Under the 1995 CRA regulations, banks are only evaluated in markets where they maintain physical headquarters, branches, or deposit-taking ATMs. Some online banks use this outdated rule to avoid CRA review in most markets they serve. Strategic plans that confine goal setting to a single city or metropolitan statistical area (MSA) for nationally operating banks undermine the CRA&#8217;s core purpose of ensuring banks meet the credit needs across\u00a0all of\u00a0the markets they are permitted to serve.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-282aff0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"282aff0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Components\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d63ceef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d63ceef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Components of a Strong CRA Strategic Plan<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8cea6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8cea6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Institutions committed to meaningful community reinvestment should incorporate the following components into their strategic plans:<\/p><p><strong>1. Robust, Inclusive Community Input<br \/><\/strong>Institutions must engage communities early and often in the planning process, not just during the mandated 30-day comment period. Effective community engagement includes:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early outreach to community-based organizations (CBOs) by engaging housing advocates, economic development nonprofits, civil rights organizations, and small business associations early on to ensure plan goals reflect on-the-ground expertise on community credit needs.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treating the public comment period as a relationship\u2011building opportunity that will strengthen community trust and expand the bank\u2019s client base.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharing a draft plan before the formal comment window opens. Giving community stakeholders an early look fosters stronger collaboration, reduces surprises, and helps the bank incorporate community\u2011identified needs well in advance, ultimately strengthening both the plan and its credibility.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Embracing transparency by posting the draft plan on the bank\u2019s website during the comment period. Instead of relying solely on the bare\u2011minimum newspaper notice, which satisfies the regulatory requirement but rarely generates substantive community feedback, post the full strategic plan online and actively circulate the link to community partners, coalitions, and stakeholders during the comment period to encourage real engagement.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public meetings or listening sessions where public forums are conducted during accessible times at convenient locations where community members can share their concerns and priorities.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clear documentation of feedback, including a public summary showing how community feedback shaped the plan and explaining why certain suggestions were not incorporated.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>2. Measurable Goals with Year-Over-Year Improvement<br \/><\/strong>Strong plans include measurable, time-bound goals anchored to the baseline performance from the preceding three years with the inclusion of annual targets for each year. Goals must demonstrate improvement over prior performance, not simply maintenance of historical levels. Ambitious targets represent increases of 25% or more above baseline, while remaining realistic given institutional capacity and market conditions. This transparency and commitment to annual targets allows stakeholders to verify that goals represent genuine increases in community investment. These goals, depending on an institution\u2019s business models, should include:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Increases in Mortgage Lending to LMI Borrowers:\u00a0<\/strong>Targets must specify the number and dollar volume of home purchase, home improvement, or refinance loans to LMI borrowers and census tracts. Goals should also describe percentages of loans to LMI borrowers and census tracts with comparisons to peer institutions of similar loan volume.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Small Business Lending Growth Targets:<\/strong>\u00a0Expand lending to small businesses located in LMI communities as well as tracking loan volume, number of borrowers, and loan sizes. Goals should also describe percentages of loans to small businesses with revenues under $1 million and in LMI tracts, with comparisons to peer institutions and demographic benchmarks.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Community Development Loans and Investments (CDLI):<\/strong> Satisfactory goals should be tied to annualized community development financing as a share of total assets benchmarked against peers. Outstanding goals should achieve ratios of annualized community development compared to assets that surpass most if not all peers. To satisfy this requirement, most Outstanding goals for community development loans and investments should exceed 1% of total assets per year. Banks should also document how their community development activities are particularly responsive to the specific needs of each assessment area.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Community Development Services:\u00a0<\/strong>Community development services are usually expressed as number of staff hours. A baseline of recent past performance as well as annual goals should be presented. Banks should establish subgoals based on community feedback and identify priority services, such as housing counseling or small business technical assistance. Subgoals for these services should be presented.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Disaggregated Reporting:<\/strong>\u00a0Plans should include annual milestones for interim assessment and course correction, with goals being disaggregated by assessment area, product type, and borrower characteristics to ensure equitable performance across the institution&#8217;s footprint.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Performance Ratings:<\/strong>\u00a0Satisfactory ratings should reflect performance that compares favorably to peers, while Outstanding ratings must be reserved for performance that genuinely surpasses most peer institutions.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>3. Prioritizing Staff That Reflect Communities Served<br \/><\/strong>Banks with strong CRA outcomes prioritize staffing models that reflect the communities they serve. Effective community lending requires institutional knowledge, cultural competency, and trusted relationships. Plans should include commitments that materially improve credit availability and consumer trust, such as:<\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li>Hiring loan officers from LMI or minority\u00a0communities;<\/li><li>Deploying loan officers in underserved areas; and<\/li><li>Providing cultural competence or language access training.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>4. Creation of a Community Advisory Council<br \/><\/strong>Institutions should establish an advisory council composed of community development experts, housing practitioners, civil rights advocates, and consumer organizations. Advisory councils should:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guide implementation of the strategic\u00a0plan;<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monitor progress between annual\u00a0reports;<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen relationships with local stakeholders; and<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase transparency and public accountability.<\/li><\/ul><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective community advisory councils require structural authority and institutional access. Members must receive regular performance data, participate in strategic planning discussions before decisions are finalized, and maintain direct communication with executive leadership, allowing the council to provide informed guidance rather than reactive commentary.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Council membership should reflect the institution&#8217;s full geographic footprint and community development priorities that\u00a0draws\u00a0from housing advocates, small business representatives, CDFIs, and civil rights organizations across both urban and rural areas. As members often\u00a0volunteer\u00a0their time and expertise free of charge, institutions should provide reasonable compensation, cover travel and meeting expenses, and offer staff support.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7d9a0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"b7d9a0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9411fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e9411fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-674180d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"674180d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"WordSection1\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CRA strategic plans offer a path for institutions to tailor their community investment responsibilities in a transparent and accountable manner. When designed with strong community input and substantive, measurable goals, strategic plans can materially improve lending and investment in underserved communities. NCRC brings extensive experience in both the drafting and implementation of CRA strategic plans, and we welcome the opportunity to work with institutions to develop strategies that prioritize the needs of their communities.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737ef4e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"737ef4e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;5b90c5d&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_tablet&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_mobile&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_speed&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:50,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_type&quot;:&quot;scroll&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_direction&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_fx_direction&quot;:null,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_z_index&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_animation_prop&quot;:&quot;transform&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;]}]}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17f976d elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"17f976d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:100,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-172f51e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"172f51e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Contents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6daa7ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6daa7ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Purpose\">Purpose of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e39aa09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e39aa09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#What\">What is a CRA Strategic Plan?<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-775aa1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"775aa1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Regulatory\">Regulatory Requirements<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-285ca2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"285ca2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Plan\">Plan Content and Scope<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c5d17e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9c5d17e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Public\">Public Participation<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f76e9f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f76e9f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Regulatory\">Regulatory Approval Process<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7da44c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7da44c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Transparency\">Transparency and Plan Duration<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c57de56 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c57de56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Limitations\">Limitations of the Strategic Plan Process<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79454bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79454bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Components\">Components of a Strong CRA Strategic Plan<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac75be3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac75be3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bb255e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8bb255e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Subscribe<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d18ba37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d18ba37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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