• administering the national bank public welfare investment authority (12 CFR 24) and the comparable authority for federal savings associations (12 CFR 560.36)
• providing community development training and technical assistance
• offering customized consultations to help banks identify community development finance opportunities and resources
• facilitating communication among lenders, community groups, and government officials through workshops and conferences
• publishing community development information on best practices and investment opportunities
• compiling Resource Directories on a range of community development topics

November/December 2012 Financial Literacy Update(PDF)
This bimonthly e-newsletter reports upcoming financial literacy events, new initiatives, and related resources of the OCC and other government agencies and organizations.

Small Business Investment Companies: An Investment Option for Banks (PDF) (September 2012)
Describes the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), how banks can use SBICs to expand their small-business finance activities, and what risks and regulatory considerations are involved.

Community Affairs Year in Review 2011
The "Year in Review" highlights the Community Affairs Department's national and regional activities to support the OCC's mission.  It features events held nationally and in each of the OCC's four districts to promote banker education and community reinvestment.

Bank Financing of Healthy-Food Initiatives
(August 2012)
This issue explores how banks can help finance the growing effort to transform low-income communities lacking grocery stores into thriving markets.

USDA's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program (PDF)
(June 2012)
This publication provides an overview of the USDA's Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program, which is used to support business lending in rural areas.

SBA 504 Loan Program: Small Businesses' Window to Wall Street (PDF)
(March 2012)
This newly updated publication provides an overview of the SBA's 504 Loan Program, which is used to finance long-term assets, such as owner-occupied commercial real estate and heavy machinery, at competitive rates.