Federal Reserve Board – Agencies release list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies

Federal bank regulatory agencies today made available the 2023 list of distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies.

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) encourages banks to help meet the credit needs of their local communities, including low- and moderate- income communities, in a safe and sound manner. Distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies are census tracts where revitalization or stabilization activities are eligible to receive CRA consideration. The designations reflect local economic conditions, including unemployment, poverty, and population changes. Previous years’ lists and criteria for designating these areas are available here.

Revitalization or stabilization activities in these geographies are eligible to receive CRA consideration under the community development definition for 12 months after publication of the current list. As with past lists, the agencies apply a one-year lag period for geographies that were included in 2022 but are no longer designated as distressed or underserved in the current list.