About Consumer & Community Affairs

The principal mission of the Consumer & Community Affairs Division at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is to support the Federal Reserve System's economic growth objectives by promoting community development, fair access to financial services, and research related to consumer and community development issues.

Community Affairs

Foster the active engagement of depository institutions in providing credit and other banking services to their entire communities, including traditionally underserved markets.
Promote awareness of the benefits and risk of financial service products, and the rights and responsibilities existing under community reinvestment and fair lending statutes and regulations.
Promote a better understanding by policy-makers, community leaders, and private-sector decision-makers of the processes and resources that support community development programs.
Encourage communication and cooperation among community organizations, government agencies, financial institutions, and other community development practitioners.
Provide technical assistance on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and fair lending laws and regulations.

Consumer Issues Research

Conduct research on topics related to consumer and community development such as immigrant financial access, household and small business financial behavior and community economic development.

Emerging Consumer and Compliance Issues