The CRA promotes activities in which banks have a vested interest. By providing access to credit and other financial products and services for ALL parts of their communities (including low- and moderate-income areas as well as middle- and upper-income areas), banks can drive economic growth that fuels their institutions. These initiatives help banks create a wide range of customer relationships that support the bank’s growth over the long-term by providing opportunities for lower income customers to build their savings and obtain residential and commercial loans. Overall, CRA initiatives are vital to the financial health of local economics that rely on bank products and services, and by helping these economies grow, banks can grow too through increased deposits and loans.