NR 96-143

For: IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        Contact: Pam Douglas 
Date: December 17, 1996                                               (202) 874-4700


OCC RELEASES CRA EVALUATIONS FOR 59 NATIONAL BANKS

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
(OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
performance evaluations that became public during the period of
November 15 through December 14.  The list contains only
national banks and insured federal branches of foreign banks
that have received ratings.  The possible ratings are
outstanding, satisfactory, needs to improve, and substantial
noncompliance.

Of the 59 evaluations made public this month 9 were outstanding,
33 were
 satisfactory, and none were needs to improve.   Evaluations
indicated by "yes" in the on web?" column are available from
links on http://www.occ.treas.gov/cra/dec.htm.  The OCC's World
Wide Web site (http://www.occ.treas.gov) also offers access to a
searchable list of all public CRA evaluations
(http://www.occ.treas.gov/cra/crasrch.htm).  
Paper copies of the actual evaluations may be obtained by E-mail
to FOIA-PA@ occ.treas.gov or by writing to: the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency, ATTN: Disclosure Unit,
Communications Division, Mailstop 3-2, Washington, D.C., 20219.

This month's list of ratings is attached.
                                 

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The OCC charters, regulates and supervises approximately 2,800
national banks and 66 federal branches and agencies of foreign
banks in the U.S., accounting for more than half the nation's
banking assets.  Its mission is to ensure a  safe, sound and
competitive national banking system that supports the citizens,
communities and economy of the United States.