Senate Debate Over Credit Union Bill Focuses on CRA, Lending Limit

The Senate entered its second day of debate on the credit union bill Monday afternoon, clashing over three amendments that would impose tougher business lending limits on the nonprofit institutions and exempt small banks from CRA requirements.

Votes were expected late in the afternoon on amendments by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Tex. Sen. Hagel's amendment would restrict business loans to 7% of credit union assets, tightening the 12.25% cap already in the legislation. Sen. Gramm wants to delete a requirement in the bill that credit unions serve people of modest means in their field of membership.

Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., also was expected to offer an amendment to exempt banks with less than $250 million of assets from the Community Reinvestment Act. Tallies on the Shelby amendment and final passage were set for this morning.

For an update on late-breaking votes, visit our Web site at www.americanbanker.com.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER