28-b. Credit needs of local communities. 1. Each banking institution as defined in subdivision four of this section to which the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, United States P.L. 95-128, applies shall file with the superintendent a copy of each report and document which it is required to prepare for or file with one or more federal agencies pursuant to the provisions of that law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Where a banking institution has filed such reports or documents with the superintendent, an update of the reports or documents shall be required at such time as the banking institution requests the superintendent to take any action on any application to which the provisions of subdivision three of this section apply.
3. (a) When taking any action on an application or notice made by a banking institution under (i) section one hundred five, two hundred twenty-four, two hundred forty, or three hundred ninety-six of this chapter for a branch office, (ii) section one hundred ninety-one of this chapter for a public accommodation office, (iii) section six hundred one-b of this chapter for approval of a merger or purchase of assets, or (iv) under section one hundred five-a, two hundred forty-a or three hundred ninety-six-a of this chapter for the use or installation of an automated teller machine, point-of-sale terminal or similar electronic facility or on any other application or notice to which the superintendent of financial services shall by rule or regulation make applicable the provisions of this section, the superintendent shall take into account, among other factors, an assessment, in writing, of the record of performance of the banking institution in helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operation of the banking institution. Such assessment and any written communications from the department of financial services to a banking institution relating to such assessment shall be made available to the public upon request, provided that nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to alter, amend or affect the provisions of subdivision ten of section thirty-six of this chapter. In making such assessment the superintendent shall review all reports and documents filed pursuant to subdivision one of this section and any signed, written comments received by the superintendent which specifically relate to the banking institution's performance in helping to meet the credit needs of its community. In addition, the superintendent shall consider the following factors in assessing a banking institution's record of performance:
(1) Activities conducted by the banking institution to ascertain credit needs of its community, including the extent of the banking institution's efforts to communicate with members of its community regarding the credit services being provided by the banking institution;
(2) The extent of the banking institution's marketing and special credit-related programs to make members of the community aware of the credit services offered by the banking institution;
(3) The extent of participation by the banking institution's board of directors or board of trustees in formulating the banking institution's policies and reviewing its performance with respect to the purposes of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977;
(4) Any practices intended to discourage application for types of credit set forth in the banking institution's Community Reinvestment Act Statement(s);
(5) The geographic distribution of the banking institution's credit extensions, credit applications and credit denials;
(6) Evidence of prohibited discriminatory or other illegal credit practices;
(7) The banking institution's record of opening and closing offices and providing services at offices;
(8) The banking institution's participation, including investments, in local community development and redevelopment projects or programs;
(9) The banking 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;
(10) The banking institution's participation in governmentally-insured, guaranteed or subsidized loan programs for housing, small businesses or small farms;
(11) The banking institution's ability to meet various community credit needs based on its financial condition, size, legal impediments, local economic condition and other factors;
(11-a) The geographic distribution, availability and use of automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals, personal computer banking, debit cards or similar electronic facilities or services; and any training of customers thereon among every branch of the banking institution, if the institution offers such services to any of its customers; and
(12) Other factors that, in the judgment of the superintendent, reasonably bear upon the extent to which a banking institution is helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community, including, without limitation, the banking institution's participation in credit counseling services.
(b) In assessing the record of performance of a banking institution pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the superintendent may, where he or she deems it appropriate, provide for public hearings when an objection to the banking institution's application or notification has been submitted.
(c) An assessment of a banking institution's record of performance under paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be the basis for denying an application or notice under the provisions of this section.
(d) When taking any action pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the superintendent shall request from the applicant or notificant banking institution and from the appropriate federal bank regulatory authorities any documents, other than those required to be filed with the superintendent by this section or by other applicable statutes or regulations, which are (1) filed with the federal bank regulatory authorities in connection with the application or notice or (2) produced by the applicant or notificant banking institution or others in connection with the application or notice.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or other law to the contrary, the term banking institution when used in this section shall mean and include all banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and foreign banking corporations incorporated, chartered, organized or licensed under the laws of this state. In the case of a foreign banking corporation licensed pursuant to this article and maintaining a branch in this state, the management of the branch shall establish a committee of not fewer than three officers to function in the role of a board of directors for purposes of this section.
5. The superintendent is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate rules and regulations effectuating the provisions of this section, including any rules and regulations providing that the assessment of banking institutions referred to in subdivision three of this section shall be made on a graduated numerical basis.
6. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision or part of this section or the application thereof to any person, firm, or corporation, or circumstance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined (i) in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this section or (ii) in its application to the person, firm or corporation, or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
Last modified: February 3, 2019