Who is this course designed for?

<text variant="body1">This course is designed for professionals working in banking and financial services, including roles in lending, retail banking, compliance, community development, and operations. It is especially relevant for individuals responsible for managing customer credit needs, supporting regulatory compliance, or contributing to activities that affect their institution's CRA performance.

Do I need prior knowledge of CRA or banking regulations?

<text variant="body1">No prior knowledge of CRA or banking regulations is required. The course is beginner-friendly and introduces key concepts, terminology, and requirements in a clear, practical manner, making it accessible to anyone new to CRA compliance topics.

How will this course support my professional development?

<text variant="body1">This course equips you with the knowledge to recognize CRA-relevant activities in your day-to-day role, understand how your institution is evaluated by regulators, and contribute meaningfully to fair lending and community development goals. It builds the compliance awareness needed to act confidently and responsibly within your banking role.

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

Q: What will I learn in this course?

<text variant="body1">You will learn why the Community Reinvestment Act was enacted, what it requires of banks, and how compliance is evaluated. The course covers assessment areas, community credit needs, CRA performance tests, rating levels, and examination standards, as well as the lending, service, and investment activities that contribute to positive CRA performance.

This course is part of Fair Lending, Inclusion, and Employment Responsibilities Specialization

Instructors: Kriti Kamra

Included with

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain the purpose, history, and core requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
Describe how banks are evaluated under CRA, including assessment areas, performance tests, rating levels, and examination standards
Identify lending, service, and investment activities that contribute to positive CRA performance and support community development goals
Apply foundational CRA compliance principles to real-world banking scenarios for supporting fair lending and regulatory compliance

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Fair Lending, Inclusion, and Employment Responsibilities Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

Behind every compliant bank is a team that understands the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA); start building that knowledge today!

CRA is a landmark federal law requiring banks to meet the credit needs of the communities they serve, including low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods. Enacted in 1977 to combat redlining and disinvestment, CRA remains essential to fair lending and community development banking. This course delivers practical CRA training focused on real-world application over legal complexity. You will explore key CRA regulations, including assessment areas, community credit needs, CRA performance tests, rating levels, and CRA exam requirements through clear explanations, examples, and guided activities. Through interactive scenarios, video walkthroughs, and self-assessments, you will build foundational knowledge of CRA compliance, understand how banks are evaluated by regulators, and identify the lending, service, and investment activities that support strong CRA performance. By the end, you will be prepared to apply CRA principles confidently in your role. Enroll today to strengthen your CRA compliance skills, support fair lending, and advance responsible community investment.

Module details

This module introduces the Community Reinvestment Act from the ground up; why it was enacted, what it requires, and where it applies. Learners begin with the historical context that led to CRA's passage, then build a working vocabulary of key terms and concepts. The module then turns to assessment areas and community credit needs, helping learners understand how banks identify and respond to the needs of the communities they serve, with particular attention to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. By the end of this module, learners will have a solid foundation for understanding CRA's purpose, scope, and the community-focused framework that drives compliance.

What's included

1 reading3 assignments7 plugins

1 readingTotal 2 minutes

Course Overview: Community Reinvestment Act2 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 27 minutes

Graded Quiz: CRA Foundations and Community Needs15 minutes
Practice Quiz: CRA Basics: Purpose, Scope, and Key Definitions8 minutes
Practice Quiz: Assessment Areas and Community Needs4 minutes

7 pluginsTotal 33 minutes

Activity: Why CRA Exists5 minutes
Activity: Key CRA Terms5 minutes
Activity: Who the CRA Covers5 minutes
Activity: CRA Scope Check5 minutes
Activity: Mapping an Assessment Area5 minutes
Activity: Understanding Community Needs5 minutes
Activity: Key Takeaways: CRA Foundations3 minutes

This module moves from foundational concepts to practical application. Learners explore how CRA performance is actually measured — the three performance tests, the four rating levels, and the role of the CRA Public File. The module then connects these evaluation mechanics to everyday banking work, showing learners how lending, service, and investment activities contribute to positive CRA performance. Through video examples and role-based scenarios, learners will see how CRA-relevant activities look in practice across different banking functions. By the end of this module, learners will understand both how their bank is evaluated and what they can do in their specific roles to support strong CRA performance.

What's included

3 assignments7 plugins

3 assignmentsTotal 27 minutes

Graded Quiz: CRA in Practice15 minutes
Practice Quiz: CRA Exams, Ratings, and the Public File8 minutes
Practice Quiz: Everyday CRA-Relevant Activities4 minutes

7 pluginsTotal 33 minutes

Activity: The Three CRA Tests5 minutes
Activity: CRA Ratings at a Glance5 minutes
Activity: Inside a CRA Exam5 minutes
Activity: Test or Rating?5 minutes
Activity: Your Role in CRA5 minutes
Activity: CRA Activities by Category5 minutes
Activity: Key Takeaways: CRA in Practice3 minutes

This final module brings the course full circle. Learners demonstrate their understanding of CRA concepts through a comprehensive graded assessment covering all three course objectives — the purpose and requirements of CRA, how performance is evaluated, and what activities support positive CRA performance. After the assessment, learners review key takeaways from the entire course and leave with an actionable checklist of steps they can take in their roles to apply what they've learned.