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In August 1989, Congress enacted the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"). Section 308 of FIRREA established the following goals:
Section 308 of FIRREA defines "minority depository institution" as any federally insured depository institution where 51 percent or more of the voting stock is owned by one or more "socially and economically disadvantaged individuals."
Minority-owned and de novo institutions that remain stable, operate in a safe and sound manner, and grow to a size that allows them to continue providing capital and financial services to a growing population will add strength and vitality to the local communities they serve and help provide economic stability to the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve is committed to supporting the success of minority-owned institutions.
The Fed understands that minority banks are important to the communities they serve and vital to many inner cities. Many minority banks also follow a mission to help communities that are challenged with demographic and economic weaknesses, where the costs of operating have been generally higher, and the deposit base has been generally lower. Banks operating in such an environment may generally lag behind their peers in profitability. Despite the challenge to achieve profits comparable to standard community bank peers, many minority banks are committed to helping such communities. Minority banks that remain stable, operate in a safe and sound manner, and grow to a size that allows them to meet credit needs and provide financial services, often to underserved populations and markets, add strength and vitality to the communities they serve and provide stability to the U.S. economy.
The objectives of the program include the following:
The overall program consists of the following elements:
The Partnership for Progress website contains certain demographic data for areas around the country, by metropolitan statistical areas. These data include information concerning population, income, unemployment, homeownership, and advanced education. Certain bank peer data will also be available, containing industry averages for banks designated as African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and a combined minority group. In addition, the site provides information on the historical significance and contributions of minority banks and individuals, as well as regulatory and supervisory guidance.
Online content has been developed that relates to three distinct stages of bank development:
The online content is organized into three easily accessible modules, representing three distinct stages of a bank's development. Each stage is divided into topics that were recommended by minority bank and de novo bank officials. The selected topics are intended to provide a brief explanation of the related issues. Applicable regulatory guidance and supervisory reference materials provide additional detail.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, even if a geography meets the population threshold of 65,000, some very detailed tables might include estimates whose reliability are unacceptable. Since 2005, data release rules based on the statistical reliability of the estimates have been used to determine whether a table is published for a geography.
The main data release rule for the ACS tables works as follows. Every detailed table consists of a series of data cells that contain estimates. If more than half of those estimates are not statistically different from 0, then the table fails.
Each estimate is subject to sampling variability that can be summarized by its standard error. Dividing the standard error by the estimate yields the coefficient of variation (CV) for each of the estimates. (If the estimate is 0, a CV of 100 is assigned.) To implement the data release requirement, CVs are calculated for each of the table's estimates and the median CV value is determined. If the median CV value for the table is less than or equal to 61 percent, the table passes for that geographic area; if it is greater than 61 percent, the table fails. Tables that are too sparse, meaning that not enough data are available to adequately populate the data cells, will fail this test. In that case, the table will not be published for that geographic area.
All milestone suggestions should be submitted using the feedback form. Please provide clear detail and relevant supporting documentation including photos, if applicable. All suggestions will be reviewed by the Partnership for Progress program manager, and verified by certified archivists. Updates to the timeline will be made according to a pre-determined site maintenance schedule.
Materials will be accessible from the program's web page. Banks may also contact the national coordinators in their Districts for additional material. In connection with the program, the Federal Reserve will provide information and materials at workshops around the country and in meetings with representatives from minority-owned institutions.
The program is designed to provide examination staff with a deeper understanding of minority bank issues, including how minority banks operate within their communities and the challenges they face. The national coordinators will work with the Federal Reserve System training and development staff to introduce concepts from the program into the System's examiner education program.
At the request of the Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of Philadelphia expanded a new Third District minority bank program into a System-wide project. Several FRBs joined a workgroup led by FRB Philadelphia. While developing the framework, the group met with minority-owned and de novo institutions across the nation, trade groups, bank consultants, and other federal banking agencies. The workgroup members also attended regular interagency meetings related to minority-owned institutions and discussed the program with the National Bankers Association (NBA) and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS). The program represents the Federal Reserve System's first attempt at providing MOI guidance in a formal System-wide program.
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has appointed a District coordinator at each Reserve Bank to oversee the program under the leadership and daily management of FRB Philadelphia.
District coordinators will work with the Partnership for Progress program manager to coordinate outreach activities for the minority-owned institutions they supervise within their District. Activities that the District coordinators may be asked to coordinate within their Districts include:
For information about the overall program, you can call the organizers listed below. For specific questions about your bank, how the program may apply to your bank, or information on outreach programs, please contact the District coordinator in your Federal Reserve District.