Skip to main content
OCC Flag

An official website of the United States government

Wholesale and Limited Purpose Banks under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

As of January 1, 2024

Under the Community Reinvestment Act, a bank may apply to its primary federal regulator to be designated a wholesale or a limited purpose bank. Such banks are evaluated for performance under standards found at 12 CFR 25.25. The regulation offers the following definitions:

Limited purpose bank means a bank that offers only a narrow product line (such as credit card or motor vehicle loans) to a regional or broader market and for which a designation as a limited purpose bank is in effect.

Wholesale bank means a bank that is not in the business of extending home mortgage, small business, small farm, or consumer loans to retail customers, and for which a designation as a wholesale bank is in effect.

Limited Purpose Banks

* Also operates under a CRA Strategic Plan.

Wholesale Banks

* Also operates under a CRA Strategic Plan.