Banks can start submitting CRA aggregate data via Fed portal in 2028

Banks required or choosing to report Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) aggregate data will be able to use a streamlined process beginning with the 2027 reporting year – meaning for submissions due by March 1, 2028, a regulators’ panel said Friday.

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) sent a notice that all submitters, regardless of primary regulator, will have the option to use the Federal Reserve’s Reporting Central, described by the council as a “modern, secure web-based reporting application,” for their CRA aggregate data submissions.

“This transition to Reporting Central provides a streamlined submission process, including enhanced data validation. Existing alternative submission methods, including email, diskette, and CD-ROM, will continue to be available,” it said.

The FFIEC provided the following key information:

• Submission options: Reporting Central allows respondents to either upload CRA aggregate data in XML format or manually enter the aggregated data through the online application. Data will no longer be submitted through DES itself.
• Data preparation: DES Release 1 (R1) 2027, target for release at the beginning of Q1 2027, will continue to be available on the FFIEC CRA website to prepare CRA aggregate data in XML format for upload to Reporting Central.
• Vendor software: Institutions using third-party vendor software should work with their software vendor to ensure the software can generate the XML file required for Reporting Central submissions before the 2027 reporting cycle begins. An XML File Specification Guide will be posted on the FFIEC CRA website by Q1 2027.
• Alternative submission methods: Existing alternative submission methods described in the Interagency FAQs, including email, diskette, and CD-ROM, will continue to be available for institutions that choose to use them.
• Credentialing: Information about Reporting Central credentialing and access will be distributed through the FFIEC’s email notification system beginning in Q2 2027.

The council said the existing CRA submission process will continue to be used for reporting years 2026 and earlier.

FFIEC CRA website