These instructions assume that the strategic plan covers all of the institution’s assessment areas. If not, the analysis of performance for the assessment area(s) covered by the strategic plan must be combined with the analyses for assessment areas that were subject to other assessment method(s) in order to assign a rating.
1.Group the analyses of the assessment areas examined by MSA3 and nonmetropolitan areas within each state where the institution has branches. If an institution has branches in two or more states of a multi-state MSA, group the assessment areas that are in that MSA.
2. If the institution has substantially met its plan goals for a satisfactory rating or, if applicable, an outstanding rating, in all assessment areas reviewed, summarize conclusions about the institution’s performance in each MSA and the nonmetropolitan area of each state in which an assessment area was examined using these procedures. Assign the appropriate preliminary rating for the institution and, as applicable, each state or multistate MSA and proceed to Step 6, below.
3. If the institution did not substantially meet its plan goals in each assessment area, check to determine if the institution elected in its plan to be evaluated under an alternate assessment method.
a. If the institution did not elect in the plan to be evaluated under an alternate assessment method, assign a “Needs to Improve” or “Substantial Noncompliance” rating to those assessment areas in which plan goals were not substantially met, depending on the number of goals missed, the extent to which they were missed, and their importance to the plan overall.
b. If the institution elected in its plan to be evaluated under an alternate assessment method, perform the appropriate procedures to evaluate and rate the institution’s performance in those assessment areas in which the institution did not meet plan goals.
4. For institutions operating in multiple assessment areas, determine the relative importance of the assessment areas reviewed in forming conclusions for each MSA and the nonmetropolitan area within each state and for any multistate MSA where the institution has branches in two or more states. In making that determination, consider:
a. The significance of the institution’s activities in each compared to the institution’s overall activities;
b. The lending, service, and investment opportunities in each;
c. The significance of the institution’s loans, qualified investments, and lending-related services, as applicable, for each, particularly in light of the number of other institutions and the extent of their activities in each; and
d. Demographic and economic conditions in each.
5. For an institution operating in multiple MSAs or nonmetropolitan areas in one or more states or multi-state MSAs, assign a preliminary rating for each state and multi-state MSA. To determine the relative significance of each MSA and nonmetropolitan area to the rating in a state, consider:
a. The significance of the institution’s activities in each compared to the institution’s overall activities;
b. The lending, service, and investment opportunities in each;
c. The significance of the institution’s loans, qualified investments, and lending-related services, as applicable, for each, particularly in light of the number of other institutions and the extent of their activities in each; and
d. Demographic and economic conditions in each.
6. For institutions with operations in more than one state, assign a preliminary overall rating. In determining the relative significance of the institution’s performance in each state or multistate MSA to its overall rating consider:
a. The significance of the institution’s activities in each compared to the institution’s overall activities;
b. The lending, service, and investment opportunities in each;
c. The significance of the institution’s loans, qualified investments, and lending-related services, as applicable, for each, particularly in light of the number of other institutions and the extent of their activities in each; and
d. Demographic and economic conditions in each.
7. Review the results of the most recent compliance examination and determine whether evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices that violate an applicable law, rule, or regulation should lower the institution’s overall CRA rating or, if applicable, its CRA rating in any state or multi-state MSA.4
a. The nature, extent, and strength of the evidence of the practices;
b. The policies and procedures that the institution (or affiliate, as applicable) has in place to prevent the practices;
c. Any corrective action the institution (or affiliate, as applicable) has taken, or has committed to take, including voluntary corrective action resulting from selfassessment; and
d. Any other relevant information. If evidence of discrimination or other illegal credit practices in any geography by the institution, or in any assessment area by any affiliate whose loans were considered as part of the institution’s lending performance, was found, consider:
8. Discuss conclusions with management and assign a final rating to the institution and state or multi-state MSA ratings, as applicable, considering the preliminary rating and any evidence of discrimination and other illegal credit practices.
9. Write comments for the public evaluation and the examination report.
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3 The reference to MSA may also reference metropolitan division (MD).
4 “Evidence of discriminatory or other illegal credit practices” includes, but is not limited to: (a) Discrimination against applicants on a prohibited basis in violation, for example, of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act or the Fair Housing Act; (b) Violations of the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act; (c) Violations of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act; (d) Violations of section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; and (e) Violations of the Truth in Lending Act regarding a consumer’s right of rescission.
SOURCE: Strategic Plan CRA Examination Procedures | OCC, FRB, FDIC, and OTS | July 2007