Whatever Happened to Banking Development District Programs?

American Banker
Monday, March 24, 2014

Bronx-based Spring Bank seems like a perfect candidate for New York State's Banking Development District program, an initiative that encourages banks to put branches in low-income neighborhoods that have none. Spring Bank, recently certified as a CDFI, offers customers financial literacy courses and products like checking accounts with no fees or minimum balance requirements. But two years ago, when the bank expanded into Harlem, its application to participate went nowhere. The reason: the program was being revised and New York's Department of Financial Services was not considering new applications. This revision has been going on for the last four years, leaving the popular program in limbo.