The US Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977 turns twenty-five years old this year. Thus, 2002 is an appropriate time to reflect on where it came from, how it works, and the ways it might be improved.' In this paper, we are specifically interested in how the CRA applies to the seven limited-purpose banks in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as the ways evaluation might be improved by using our proposed SOBR (Simple Outcomes-Based Ratio) scoring method or similar technique. The CRA of 1977 establishes two important benchmarks. First, regulated financial are required by law to demonstrate that their deposit facilities serve the convenience and needs of the community in which they are chartered to do business. Second, financial have a continuing and affirmative obligation to help meet the credit needs of the entire community in which they are chartered ... consistent with the safe and sound operation of such institutions. An institution's record of meeting credit needs includes low and moderate income neighborhoods. The degree to which banks fulfill these requirements is assessed by the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency when the bank is examined.2 One ironic and likely unanticipated outcome of the CRA is that by requiring all regulated financial institutions to comply, even limited-purpose banks that do not take deposits or make mortgage loans fall under its purview. As the name implies, lim-