NR 2000-77
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			
Contact:  Kevin Mukri  (202) 874-5770
Date: September 28, 2000				    


Comptroller Promotes Leadership Role for National Banks 
In Areas Lacking Adequate Access to Financial Services


WASHINGTON--The Comptroller of the Currency John D. Hawke, Jr. 
today encouraged national banks to take a leadership role in 
bringing retail financial services to underserved areas.  

Households that do not have access to a bank are being 
shortchanged in their ability to accumulate wealth, lower 
transaction costs, and secure access to credit, wrote Mr. Hawke 
in the lead article of the OCC’s fall community affairs 
newsletter released today.  

The fall edition, which focuses on individuals who lack access to 
bank services, also contains articles by Marva Williams of The 
Woodstock Institute on community-bank partnerships; Brian 
Grossman of the Council for Economic Development on Individual 
Development Accounts (IDAs); Gail Snowden of FleetBoston 
Financial on developing an urban retail banking strategy; and 
Jose Riera of Banco Popular on providing financial services to 
the unbanked.  

The newsletter, Community Developments, allows government, 
private-sector, and other professionals to highlight new 
developments in community affairs and to further public dialog on 
key emerging issues.

Community Developments seeks to provide banks examples of 
successful products targeting the needs of low-and moderate-
income consumers as well as replicable community development 
lending and investment models, said Anna Alvarez Boyd, Deputy 
Comptroller for Community Affairs.  Having this newsletter 
available on the OCC Web site will make it easier for bankers to 
share important information with others in their institution or 
the community.

The spring issue of Community Developments, which focused on 
multifamily housing lending and investment opportunities, as well 
as previous issues of the newsletter, are also available on the 
OCC Web site.
 
The newsletter can quickly be accessed by selecting Community 
Affairs on the OCC Web site home page, www.occ.treas.gov, and 
selecting Publications and Resource Materials.
   


The OCC charters, regulates and examines approximately 2,400 
national banks and 58 federal branches of foreign banks in the 
U.S., accounting for more than 57 percent of the nation’s banking 
assets. Its mission is to ensure a safe and sound and competitive 
national banking system that supports the citizens, communities and 
economy of the United States.