Metro Credit Union Earns “Outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Rating from the Massachusetts Division of Banks
Published on November 4, 2026
•3 min read
CHELSEA, MA — September 22, 2025 — Metro Credit Union, the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, is proud to announce that it has received an overall “Outstanding” rating under the CRA from the Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) for the 2021–2025 examination period.
This prestigious designation, the highest possible CRA rating, recognizes Metro’s exemplary performance in meeting the credit needs of the communities it serves. The rating reflects exceptional results across all three CRA evaluation categories: lending, investment, and service throughout Metro’s Massachusetts footprint.
“Earning an Outstanding assessment for the second consecutive exam period reflects Metro’s unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve,” said Robert Cashman, President and CEO of Metro Credit Union. “Metro continues to strengthen communities by supporting and empowering our members throughout their financial journeys with customized products and services to meet their needs.”
In its evaluation, the Massachusetts DOB highlighted several areas in which Metro Credit Union excelled:
- Strong mortgage lending to low- and moderate-income borrowers.
- Innovative and flexible lending programs that effectively meet local credit needs.
- Specialized programs supporting first-time and low-income homebuyers with low down payments, competitive rates, and no mortgage insurance.
- Leadership in community development lending.
- Lending efforts that notably support affordable housing in federally designated opportunity zones.
- Delivery of impactful community development services.
- Significant community development investments and donations, particularly those not routinely provided by private investors.
Metro demonstrated a strong commitment to community development and financial inclusion through the following initiatives and dollar impact from 2021-2025:
- Mortgage-Backed Securities: Held CRA-qualified mortgage-backed securities with a current book value of $5.4 million.
- Community Development Lending: Originated $77.1 million in community development loans supporting affordable housing and the revitalization and stabilization of low- and moderate-income (LMI) geographies within its assessment area.
- Community Development Investments: Made 294 qualified investments totaling approximately $9.9 million.
- Affordable Mortgage Program: Issued 58 loans under its 40-year affordable mortgage program between 2022 and 2025, totaling $33.3 million in originations.
- Credit Builder Loans: Originated 284 loans designed to help individuals establish or improve credit, totaling $119,194.
- Mass Save Loans: Issued 3,620 energy-efficiency loans through the Mass Save program, totaling $72.1 million, supporting sustainability and cost savings for residents.
- Affordable Housing Loan: Provided a $5.2 million loan for the acquisition of two residential buildings in Methuen, MA, comprising 36 affordable units aligned with HUD Fair Market Rent standards.
- Certified Deposits: Made 16 certified deposits in low-income credit unions, including those in Massachusetts, for $3.9 million.
Metro Credit Union’s full 2025 CRA evaluation is available on Metro’s Community page.
About Metro Credit Union
Metro Credit Union is the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, with $3.2 billion in assets. Metro provides a full range of financial products to more than 200,000 members in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties in Massachusetts, and Cheshire, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford counties in New Hampshire. Metro is the credit union of choice for employees at over 1,200 companies through its Metro@work program.
Founded in 1926, Metro currently operates branch offices in Boston, Burlington, Chelsea, Dorchester, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Peabody, Reading, Salem, Tewksbury, and West Roxbury. Metro is also a Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) designated credit union, an honor given to financial institutions for their commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. Metro was recently named among the most charitable companies in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal; voted Top Credit Union in Banker & Tradesman’s Best of 2024 awards; and recognized as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions in 2025 by Newsweek. Learn more at MetroCU.org.
