CRA

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Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

Enacted by Congress in 1977, the CRA encourages banks to help meet the credit needs of their communities for housing and other purposes, particularly in neighborhoods with low or moderate incomes, while maintaining safe and sound operations.

Canada Revenue Agency

The tax collection agency for the Canadian government. It is responsible for collecting all federal taxes derived from sources other than tariffs and associated fees. It also collects income taxes on behalf of all provinces except Quebec and provincial corporate taxes except for Alberta and Quebec. The CRA is also responsible for collecting the goods and services tax, which is the Canadian VAT. See also: IRS, Notice of seizure.

Community Reinvestment Act

A 1977 U.S. law encouraging banks and other lending agencies to extend credit to low and moderate income persons wishing to buy a home. The original contained no penalties, but prohibited lending institutions from discriminating against a potential homeowner based on where he/she lives. Regulatory changes in 1995 and legislative amendment in 1999 are often blamed for encouraging banks to make excessively risky loans in exchange for the ability to offer investment and insurance services. Because of this, some believe the CRA is responsible for the housing bubble that contributed to the recession that began in 2008. See also: Credit Crunch, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

Credit Rating Agency

A company that provides investors with assessments of an investment's risk. The issuers of investments, especially debt securities, pay credit rating agencies to provide them with ratings. A high rating indicates low risk and may therefore encourage investors to buy a security. Additionally, banks may only invest in securities with a high rating from two or more credit rating agencies. The SEC recognizes 10 firms as credit rating agencies; Fitch, S&P, and Moody's are the three most prominent. However, the methods of credit ratings agencies have been subject to criticism. For example, most agencies gave high-risk mortgage-backed securities top ratings until they defaulted at the collapse of the housing bubble.

CRA

See credit reporting agency and Community Reinvestment Act.

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References in periodicals archive ?

The November 2003 CRA evaluation of Associated Bank was discussed in the Board's order approving Associated's proposal to acquire First Federal Capital Corporation ("First Federal Capital") and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Federal Capital Bank, a federally chartered savings association, both in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Orders issued under Bank Holding Company Act

According to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, over 100 CRAs are in operation worldwide, but only five CRAs hold NRSRO status: A.

Ask FERF about ... credit rating agencies

Although punitive damages rarely have been awarded in employment discrimination cases, the amended CRA and ADA allow employees to recover punitive damages against employers (other than government employers) who have intentionally discriminated "with malice or with reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of an aggrieved individual.

Rev. Rul. 93-88 expands exclusion for employee discrimination damages

In addition, Applicants represented that after consummation of the proposal, they would continue to implement Juniper Bank's existing CRA program and would not change or discontinue any services or products now offered by Juniper Bank.

Orders issued under Bank Holding Company Act

The Board has considered carefully the entire record as it relates to convenience and needs considerations, including the comment received, information provided by Bank, Bank's most recent CRA performance examination, and confidential supervisory information.

Orders issued under Federal Reserve Act

As provided in the CRA, the Board has evaluated the performance of Bank in light of examinations by the appropriate federal supervisor of its CRA performance record.