30.60.010 - Examinations -- Investigation and assessment of performance record in meeting community credit needs. - Washington Statutes

Examinations — Investigation and assessment of performance record in meeting community credit needs.

(1) In conducting an examination of a bank chartered under Title 30 RCW, the director shall investigate and assess the record of performance of the bank in meeting the credit needs of the bank's entire community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. The director shall accept, in lieu of an investigation or part of an investigation required by this section, any report or document that the bank is required to prepare or file with one or more federal agencies by the act of Congress entitled the "Community Reinvestment Act of 1977" and the regulations promulgated in accordance with that act, to the extent such reports or documents assist the director in making an assessment based upon the factors outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) In making an investigation required under subsection (1) of this section, the director shall consider, independent of any federal determination, the following factors in assessing the bank's record of performance:

     (a) Activities conducted by the institution to ascertain credit needs of its community, including the extent of the institution's efforts to communicate with members of its community regarding the credit services being provided by the institution;

     (b) The extent of the institution's marketing and special credit related programs to make members of the community aware of the credit services offered by the institution;

     (c) The extent of participation by the institution's board of directors in formulating the institution's policies and reviewing its performance with respect to the purposes of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977;

     (d) Any practices intended to discourage applications for types of credit set forth in the institution's community reinvestment act statement(s);

     (e) The geographic distribution of the institution's credit extensions, credit applications, and credit denials;

     (f) Evidence of prohibited discriminatory or other illegal credit practices;

     (g) The institution's record of opening and closing offices and providing services at offices;

     (h) The institution's participation, including investments, in local community and microenterprise development projects;

     (i) The institution's origination of residential mortgage loans, housing rehabilitation loans, home improvement loans, and small business or small farm loans within its community, or the purchase of such loans originated in its community;

     (j) The institution's participation in governmentally insured, guaranteed, or subsidized loan programs for housing, small businesses, or small farms;

     (k) The institution's ability to meet various community credit needs based on its financial condition, size, legal impediments, local economic condition, and other factors;

     (l) The institution's contribution of cash or in-kind support to local or statewide organizations that provide counseling, training, financing, or other services to small businesses; and

     (m) Other factors that, in the judgment of the director, reasonably bear upon the extent to which an institution is helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community.

     (3) The director shall include as part of the examination report, a summary of the results of the assessment required under subsection (1) of this section and shall assign annually to each bank a numerical community reinvestment rating based on a one through five scoring system. Such numerical scores shall represent performance assessments as follows:


     (a) Excellent performance: 1      (b) Good performance: 2      (c) Satisfactory performance: 3      (d) Inadequate performance: 4      (e) Poor performance: 5

[2009 c 486 § 3; 2008 c 240 § 1; 1994 c 92 § 157; 1985 c 329 § 2.]

Notes: Intent -- 2009 c 486: See note following RCW 39.29.006.

Conflict with federal requirements -- 2009 c 486: See note following RCW 28B.30.530.

Legislative intent -- 1985 c 329: "The legislature believes that commercial banks and savings banks doing business in Washington state have a responsibility to meet the credit needs of the businesses and communities of Washington state, consistent with safe and sound business practices and the free exercise of management discretion.

     This act is intended to provide the supervisor of banking and the supervisor of savings and loan associations with the information necessary to enable the supervisors to better determine whether commercial banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations are meeting the convenience and needs of the public.

     This act is further intended to condition the approval of any application by a commercial bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association for a new branch or satellite facility, for an acquisition, merger, conversion, or purchase of assets of another institution not required for solvency reasons, or for the exercise of any new power upon proof that the applicant is satisfactorily meeting the convenience and needs of its community or communities." [1985 c 329 § 1.] "This act" consists of the enactment of RCW 30.04.212, 30.04.214, 30.60.010, 30.60.020, 30.60.030, 30.60.900, 30.60.901, 32.40.010, 32.40.020, and 32.40.030 and this section and the 1985 c 329 amendment to RCW 30.04.210.