§__.24(d) – 2
Q: How do examiners evaluate an institution’s activities in connection with Individual Development Accounts (IDA)?
A2. Although there is no standard IDA program, IDAs typically are deposit accounts targeted to low- and moderate-income families that are designed to help them accumulate savings for education or job-training, down-payment and closing costs on a new home, or start-up capital for a small business. Once participants have successfully funded an IDA, their personal IDA savings are matched by a public or private entity. Financial institution participation in IDA programs comes in a variety of forms, including providing retail banking services to IDA accountholders, providing matching dollars or operating funds to an IDA program, designing or implementing IDA programs, providing consumer financial education to IDA accountholders or prospective accountholders, or other means. The extent of financial institutions’ involvement in IDAs and the products and services they offer in connection with the accounts will vary. Thus, subject to 12 CFR .23(b), examiners evaluate the actual services and products provided by an institution in connection with IDA programs as one or more of the following: community development services, retail banking services, qualified investments, home mortgage loans, small business loans, consumer loans, or community development loans. See, e.g., Q&A §__ .12(i) – 3.
Note that all types of institutions may participate in IDA programs. Their IDA activities are evaluated under the performance criteria of the type of examination applicable to the particular institution.
Source: Interagency Questions & Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment | July 2016