FFIEC Geomap / FRB Census Geocoder Instructions

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council and Federal Reserve Board Low-income Community Check

A business meets the poverty rate test if it is located in a census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20%, based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data available in this tool. The FFIEC Geomap / FRB Census Geocoder is an online mapping tool that helps you look up an address and identify its census tract, along with the tract’s income level and other demographic indicators used for compliance and reporting.

Follow the steps below to find the tract and confirm whether it meets the 20% poverty-rate threshold.

1. Step 1: Use the most recent “Year” available in FFIEC Geomap
   • Open FFIEC Geomap.
   • Select the correct Year (at the top left of the web page). Enter the full street address of the business location in Illinois, then search.
2. Step 2: Confirm the census tract for the business address
   • Search for the street address so the tool can convert it into Census geography.
   • Pro tip: If it won’t match, use User Select Tract and click the correct location on the map.
   • Record the Census Tract shown (and county/state).
3. Step 3: Pull the poverty rate
   • Click Census Demographic Data.
   • Find % Below Poverty Line.
   • Record the value (example: 22.4%).
4. Step 4: Apply the threshold rule
   • If % Below Poverty Line ≥ 20.0% → the address meets the poverty-rate requirement in the definition.
   • If % Below Poverty Line < 20.0% → it does not meet that specific poverty-rate test (you may still qualify under the MFI tests in (b) or (c)).