Annually we have surveyed non-profits, churches, governemental entities, health care providers, United way agencies, etc. with an in-house questionnaire that asks the organizations to rate the condition of housing within the community, do you think people understand how to purchase a home or know how to obtain a home improvement loan? Are you aware of other financing and grant programs available within the community? Would you like information on these programs? Do you have any suggestions for the financial institution to better promote loan programs? What can the bank do to make the quality of life in your community better in housing and other areas- provide more info about types of loans available, advertise more, provide lower interest loans/mortgages/ sponsor community activities, provide seminars or incentives for first time buyers.
Would your organization be interested in partnering on a project with the bank? What do you think would be the best project/event the bank should be come involved in that would benefit our community.

These surveys have been done to the same organizations year after year. I am looking for a fresh approach to ascertaining community needs. Please provide either a new survey or a new approach for lenders and branch managers to contact community represenatives.

We stopped doing the questionnaires due to the emphasis on taking apps and lending rather than documenting an assessment of the credit needs of the community. The responses were fairly uniform from year to year: low cost housing, downpayment assistance, small business micro-loans, and financial education.

Bob - it sounds as if your bank continues to use CRA documentation from pre-1995 days. The old "Needs Assessment" went out with the "new" regulation. These days it's all about actually meeting the needs, not just documenting what the needs are.

Now - depending on your current CRA performance levels, it may be helpful for your bank to KNOW what the credit needs are in order to devise products that the bank can sell to meet those needs. But just doing the Needs Assessment won't get you anywhere on your CRA exam.

We have continued to do the needs assessment and have determined financial education is a true need of the younger population from these surveys and have received community development service credit for this effort. Secondly, it helps our marketing department with advertising and getting relevant loan program (affordable housing & home improvement programs) information to others in the community. I agree the key is loans, but with rates low I think we need to be out beating the bushes to bring in business. These questionnaires are also used as a tool that allows us to set goals for loans, investments and community development services. It also helps when the examiners call the non-profits and ask how is the bank performing in the community!