The federal bank and thrift regulatory agencies have proposed revisions to regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to require the agencies to consider low-cost education loans provided to low-income borrowers when assessing a financial institution's record of meeting community credit needs.

This proposal, which is being proposed jointly by the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of Thrift Supervision, incorporates provisions of the recently enacted Higher Education Opportunity Act, which revised the CRA.  

Although the agencies seek comment on all aspects of the proposal, they are focusing on the following questions:

• How "education loans" should be defined, including whether private loans not governmentally insured or guaranteed and loans for elementary and secondary education should be covered, as well as loans for education expenses associated with unaccredited institutions;

• Whether the proposed definition of "low-cost" is appropriate; and

• Whether "low-income" should be defined differently from the way it is currently defined in the CRA regulations, including how the agencies should treat the student's family income or expected contribution.

See press release for full details.

Contact:
Public Affairs
(212) 720-6130
general.info@ny.frb.org