Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council	Press Release
For Immediate Release	July 15, 1999

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) is pleased to announce the release of a new CD-ROM software product, the 1999 FFIEC Census Data CD-ROM, designed to help banks and thrifts comply with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

This product includes Census demographic information that the FFIEC uses to compile and release the CRA and HMDA Aggregate and Disclosure reports. It is the same database of information that previously was available only on mainframe magnetic tape. Some of the information includes income, population, and housing information for every census tract and block numbering area in the U.S. In addition to including a database that purchasers can use to analyze the data, this software includes the ability to subset the data by state, MSA, or county and then view, print, and/or export the data.

The CD-ROM can be purchased for $10.00, and the FFIEC will be updating it annually to reflect changes to MSA boundaries and income estimates developed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To order a copy of this CD, please print the CRA/HMDA Order form that can be found on the HMDA Website at: http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/orderform.htm and order item #303.

This product is another example of the FFIEC's efforts to provide the public with fast, easy, and inexpensive access to information.