Each of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks maintains a Community Affairs office to work with depository institutions and the public to identify local credit needs and develop innovative ways to address those needs. The Community Affairs staff provides information about successful initiatives and programs for community reinvestment, small business lending, affordable housing finance, and rural and economic development issues.

The Community Affairs Office is a resource for the Community Reinvestment Act, technical assistance and regulatory guidance to community-based organizations, government entities and others engaged in community and economic development efforts.

The Federal Reserve also provides Community Development publications. If you would like to receive publications, please contact us via telephone at 1-800-409-1333 or e-mail us.

Community Affairs activities include:

• Raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities of financial institutions, individuals, and communities regarding Fair Lending, the Community Reinvestment Act, and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
  
• Facilitating partnerships between public, private, and nonprofit organizations to enhance credit delivery for community development in low- and moderate-income areas.
  
  
• Providing information about the availability of public and private funding sources for affordable housing and economic development.
  
  
• Developing information to increase the understanding of local community needs and assets for community development.