FDIC Federal Register Citations

From: Marc Potvin [mailto:mpotvin@nlsma.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 1:37 PM
To: Comments
Subject: Community Reinvestment -- RIN 3064-AC50

Dear Sir/Madam:

As a community development attorney in northeastern Massachusetts who represents hundreds of low-income families and community-based organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the current proposal to treat banks with assets between $250 million and $1 billion as "small" banks under the Community Reinvestment Act.

Such a policy would undermine existing efforts to ensure that poor communities and neighborhoods have adequate investment opportunities. It would further lead to less lending and services to poor communities and neighborhoods. I urge the FDIC to retain the existing definitions.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.

Marc Potvin
Neighborhood Legal Services
170 Common St.
Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 686-6900
fax (978) 685-2933