For the fifth consecutive time, Cole Taylor Bank has earned an "outstanding" rating from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance. Outstanding CRA ratings were received in 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998 and 1996. The Bank is evaluated in three areas - lending, services, and investments - and received outstanding marks in all three.

What is CRA?
Congress passed the CRA in 1977. Under the CRA, banks are required to meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the institution. Banks are regularly examined for CRA performance. An outstanding rating means that the bank must have an excellent distribution of loans among geographic areas, income groups, and to businesses of different sizes, with extensive use of innovative and/or flexible lending practices in serving low- and moderate-income areas, borrowers, and small businesses. The bank must also be a leader in providing community development loans, banking services and investments that are innovative and/or complex and which are responsive to community needs.

Summary of Cole Taylor's CRA Performance

Under the Lending Test:

• The bank’s lending levels reflect good responsiveness to its assessment area (Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties in Illinois).

• The bank originated a substantial majority of small business loans, HMDA-related and consumer loans within its assessment area with excellent penetration throughout its assessment area.

• The distribution of HMDA reportable and optional consumer loans reflects good penetration among individuals of different income levels, especially low- and moderate-income individuals.

• The distribution of CRA-reportable small loans to business, by loan size, reflects adequate lending to businesses of different sizes; however, the distribution of loans among businesses of different revenue sizes reflects a good lending level.

• The bank is a leader in making community development loans in its assessment area. Its level of community development lending increased more that 214% between evaluation periods.

Under the Investment Test:

• The bank made an excellent level of qualified community development investments and grants.

Under the Service Test:

• The bank’s level of retail services is good; delivery systems are reasonable and accessible, services do not vary in a way that inconveniences individuals, and its record of opening and closing branches has not adversely affected low- and moderate-income geographies and individuals.

• The bank is considered a leader in providing community development services in its assessment area.

Please contact us with any questions about our award-winning support of the CRA.

Call us for more information at 847-653-7978 or stop in to one of convenient banking centers.