Section 228.24 - Service test(a)Scope of test. The service test evaluates a bank's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its assessment area(s) by analyzing both the availability and effectiveness of a bank's systems for delivering retail banking services and the extent and innovativeness of its community development services.(b)Area(s) benefitted. Community development services must benefit a bank's assessment area(s) or a broader statewide or regional area that includes the bank's assessment area(s).(c)Affiliate service. At a bank's option, the Board will consider, in its assessment of a bank's service performance, a community development service provided by an affiliate of the bank, if the community development service is not claimed by any other institution.(d)Performance criteria-retail banking services. The Board evaluates the availability and effectiveness of a bank's systems for delivering retail banking services, pursuant to the following criteria:(1) The current distribution of the bank's branches among low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income geographies;
(2) In the context of its current distribution of the bank's branches, the bank's record of opening and closing branches, particularly branches located in low- or moderate-income geographies or primarily serving low- or moderate-income individuals;(3) The availability and effectiveness of alternative systems for delivering retail banking services ( e.g., ATMs, ATMs not owned or operated by or exclusively for the bank, banking by telephone or computer, loan production offices, and bank-at-work or bank-by-mail programs) in low- and moderate-income geographies and to low- and moderate-income individuals; and(4) The range of services provided in low-, moderate-, middle-, and upper-income geographies and the degree to which the services are tailored to meet the needs of those geographies.(e)Performance criteria-community development services. The Board evaluates community development services pursuant to the following criteria: (1) The extent to which the bank provides community development services; and(2) The innovativeness and responsiveness of community development services.(f)Service performance rating. The Board rates a bank's service performance as provided in appendix A of this part.