Sparta-CRA System Helps Banks Comply with CRA Regulations

SAN DIEGO, California, January 24, 1996 -- America's bankers can now perform automated analyses of their lending activity to make compliance with government regulations easier, thanks to a new Windows -based software and data system just released by Equifax National Decision Systems.

Sparta-CRA , is designed to specifically address new reporting regulations for banks under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977. While the regulations are to be fully implemented in 1997, banks could choose to be evaluated under the new regulations as of January 1, 1996.

Sparta-CRA enables banks to easily and quickly analyze the geographic distribution of their loans and the financial needs of their community, then generate reports and maps to support their analysis.

"Our banking clients have told us that preparing maps to support their CRA analysis has been an onerous and labor intensive task," said Steve Nye, general manager, Equifax National Decision Systems. "Sparta-CRA automates that process and has been designed for banks of all sizes."

Sparta-CRA provides several geographic options in defining assessment areas. Formerly known as service territories or delineated communities, assessment areas show where the bank's branches are located and where the bank is originating its loans.

Using median family income data, as suggested by the new regulation, Sparta-CRA then computes appropriate percentages and geographies for assessing low-to-moderate-income areas. An option allows minority composition to be assessed along with income. The system allows access to nearly 100 demographic, consumer demand, and business data variables used in the analysis.

When CRA-sensitive areas have been calculated, reports and maps are automatically generated for the assessment area. Users may generate pure thematic maps, one variable at a time, pie charts to display the relationship between two variables in a tract (such as loans and deposits), or a combination of thematic mapping with customer point data displayed to illustrate the exact location of loan customers against market data.

Sparta-CRA will provide an analysis of loan/deposit ratio, mandated for small banks, of consumer loans in addition to home loans and of small business loans at a census tract level.

Banks may purchase Equifax National Decision Systems data in conjunction with the system in order to address their local market needs. Sparta-CRA also can be used in conjunction with Infomark , the company's market data delivery system.

Equifax National Decision Systems is the nation s leading value-added marketing information company, specializing in marketing decision support services, delivery systems and demographic data. The company services businesses in the banking, real estate, retail, restaurant, insurance, investments, utilities, telecommunications, cable, publishing, consumer products and related industries.

The company is a subsidiary of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX), a leading provider of information services to businesses around the world. Established in 1899 in Atlanta, Equifax today employs more than 14,000 people throughout North and South America, the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Revenues for the 12 months ended September 30, 1995, were more than $1.6 billion.