U S Government Accountability Office

Community Development Capital Initiative U S Government Accountability Office

" Treasury established CDCI under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in February 2010 to help banks and credit unions certified as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) maintain their services to underserved communities in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Treasury invested a total of $570 million in 84 eligible institutions by September 2010. TARP's authorizing legislation mandates that GAO report every 60 days on TARP activities, including CDCI. This report examines (1) the financial status of CDCI; (2) factors affecting participants' decisions to remain in or leave the program and Treasury's exit strategy; and (3) the financial condition of institutions remaining in the program. To assess the program's status, GAO reviewed Treasury reports on CDCI. GAO also used regulatory financial data to compare the financial condition of banks and credit unions remaining in CDCI with those that would have been eligible but did not participate. In addition, GAO interviewed staff from Treasury and NCUA, associations representing CDCI participants, and representatives of a nonprobability sample of CDFI banks and credit unions that participated in CDCI. GAO selected banks and credit unions based on asset size and geography. GAO is making no recommendations in this report. In comments on a draft"