An assessment area is one or more geographical areas within which a bank is evaluated on its record of helping to meet community credit needs, including areas designated as low- or moderate-income.
The assessment area generally consists of one or more Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) or one or more contiguous political subdivisions, such as counties, cities or towns.
The assessment area will include geographical where the bank has its main office, its branches, any loan production offices, and any deposit-taking ATMs. It may also include surrounding geographies in which the bank has originated or purchased a majority of its residential or small business loans.