NR 96-109
October 1, 1996

                 OCC Sponsors Seminars on Federal
                 Low Income Housing Tax Credits

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
("OCC") will sponsor two educational seminars on "Federal Low
Income Housing Tax Credits: A Profitable Affordable Housing
Opportunity for Banks," the agency announced today.  

The first of the seminars will be held in Dallas, Tex., on
October 10 at the Le Meridien Hotel, and will be hosted by Dean
S. Marriott, OCC District Deputy Comptroller for the Southwest. 
Leann G. Britton, Senior Deputy Comptroller for Bank Supervision
Operations, will deliver the morning keynote address, and Dallas'
Mayor Ronald Kirk will deliver the luncheon address at this
seminar.
  
The second seminar, hosted by the OCC's Central District Deputy
Comptroller, Barbara Healey, will be at the Sheraton Hotel and
Towers in Chicago, Ill., on October 31.  Comptroller of the
Currency Eugene A. Ludwig will deliver the luncheon address at
this seminar, and Paul Grogan, President and CEO of Local
Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a nationally recognized
affordable housing intermediary, will provide the morning keynote
address.

E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group (Ernst & Young LLP) will
conduct a three-hour session at each seminar on "How to Use Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to Develop Affordable Housing. " Other
sessions will provide specific "how-to" information on using
LIHTCs, regulatory considerations, and examples of successful
LIHTC investments.  

Separate "how-to" sessions will be held for large and community
banks about the potential profits, risks and special issues banks
should consider when investing in or lending to projects
involving LIHTCs.  Conference presenters will discuss successful
LIHTC projects that involve a variety of bank roles as limited
partner investor; as permanent and construction lender; and as
general partner. 
                                
Attendees at these seminars will include bankers, bank attorneys,
real estate, capital markets and compliance officers as well as
bank community partners (not-for-profit and for-profit
developers, government officials, representatives of affordable
housing organizations and OCC examiners).  Both seminars will
provide similar information, permitting registrants to attend at
either location. 

Each seminar will begin at 8:00 a.m. and run until 5:00 p.m.,
with on-site registration beginning at 7:00 a.m.  A pre-conference resource fair and reception will also be held in each
location from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the evening before the
seminar.  Seminar registration is $129, which includes a program
workbook.  For additional information and registration materials,
contact the OCC's Community Development Division at (202) 874-4930, or visit the OCC's website at http://www.occ.treas.gov.  

                              # # #

The OCC charters, regulates and supervises approximately 2,800 national banks
and 66 federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the U.S., accounting
for more than half the nation's banking assets.  Its mission is to ensure a
safe, sound and competitive national banking system that supports the
citizens, communities and economy of the United States.