We are currently working on developing our Assessment Areas for CRA and was wondering if you could take on an adjacent MSA despite the fact that you don't have a branch in that area. Much of our LMI lending in in the area and we would like to take the MSA into our Assessment Area even though we technically do not have a branch in that area, There is a branch just north of that MSA, however there are only two branches for the bank and there is not one in the adjacent MSA that we would like to take into our Assessment Area. Can we do that ?

The CRA prohibits "substantial" encroachment of a MSA border unless the AA is within a CSA.