In enacting the CRA, the New York State Legislature required the superintendent to assess a banking institution's record of helping to meet the credit needs of the local communities in which the banking institution is chartered, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the banking institution, and to take this record into account in the department's evaluation of those applications by banking institutions which are enumerated in sections 28-b, 225 and 413 of the New York State Banking Law. This Part is intended to carry out the purposes of the CRA. This Part establishes the framework and criteria by which the department assesses a banking institution's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and minority- and women-owned businesses, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the banking institution. In conducting such an assessment, the department may evaluate the banking institution by performing its CRA examination on-site at the institution or, alternatively, at the department; may require the submission of written responses to department requests for documentation and other information, including responses to the so-called “First Day Letter” or similar requests; may interview banking institution personnel; may conduct branch visits; and may require any other information or documentation, or utilize any other procedure that the superintendent may deem necessary. With respect to New York State-chartered multi-state banking institutions, the department will rely, in part, on the CRA evaluation by the host state, commonwealth or territory with regard to the branches located in the host state, commonwealth or territory or, in those instances in which there is no host state, commonwealth or territory CRA evaluation, upon the CRA evaluation of the appropriate Federal regulatory authorities; however, the department will independently review the factors set forth in section 28-b.3(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Banking Law.