1.03.2007 - 08:33am ET

(CSRwire) MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2007--Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), a nonprofit organization that connects community development lenders with the capital resources of Wall Street, today announced MetLife provided the organization with a $5 million social investment loan. This new, low-interest loan represents the fifth investment MetLife has made in CRF, continuing a long-standing relationship through which MetLife provided $10.5 million in earlier investments that have generated significant social impact in low- and moderate-income communities.

CRF will use the latest MetLife social investment loan to foster greater community development in economically underserved areas by funding loans for small businesses, community facilities and affordable housing projects.

"As a company with a long tradition of supporting community development, MetLife recognizes the unique and critical role CRF plays in transforming our investment into capital that strengthens disadvantaged communities," said Dennis White, director of community investments for MetLife. "Since 1994, we have worked with CRF to deploy our capital in low- and moderate-income communities across the country, and we are confident CRF maximizes our investments to create the most substantial community impact possible."

"We are pleased to extend our successful partnership with MetLife," said Frank Altman, president and chief executive officer for CRF. "The company's most recent investment in CRF underscores the growing investor confidence in our organization and the secondary market for community development financing. MetLife's generous social investment loan will enable us to drive more private capital into projects that might not otherwise receive funding in some of the nation's most underserved communities, including geographic areas of particular importance to MetLife."

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the U.S. and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the U.S. (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.

About CRF

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, is the nation's leader in bringing capital to public and private, nonprofit community development lenders through the secondary market for loans. Formed in 1988, CRF has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into low-income and economically disadvantaged communities around the country to help stimulate job creation and economic development, provide affordable housing, and support community facilities. www.crfusa.com



Copyright Business Wire 2007

For more information please contact: