BANKING & FINANCE - March 22, 1996

Home Savings Ends Low-Income Loan Program: California housing advocates have asked federal regulators to review the S&L;’s decision to end the 2-year-old program to help build apartments in low-income neighborhoods. Mary Trigg, a spokeswoman for the Irwindale-based lender, said the company is ending the program so it can concentrate on single-family home loans. “In no way are we any less committed to making affordable housing available,” she said. The Community Reinvestment Committee, which represents more than 160 nonprofit agencies, has asked the federal Office of Thrift Supervision to reconsider an “outstanding” rating given to Home Savings in January for its compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. Trigg said Home Savings made $300 million in loans to developers of nonprofit housing.