NPA Chides Chase on Foreclosures.(National People's Action enters into agreement with J.P. Morgan Chase and Co. )

Washington -- National People's Action has been a thorn in the side of lenders for 35 years but it is still continuing to pressure banks on community reinvestment and predatory lending issues as well as foreclosure prevention.

Recently, the community activist coalition has focused on making large interstate banks more responsive by entering to agreements.

In announcing an agreement with J.P. Morgan Chase, NPA co-chair Brenda LaBlanc said, "We are making agreements with the major banks so that when we do have trouble with a local bank we have a connection with the top guys."

The agreement calls on the New York banking company to improve its banking and credit services in minority communities and to assist local NPA organizations in resolving foreclosure issues.

"The hallmarks of this agreement are regular meetings with high-level decision makers," Ms. LaBlanc said at NPA's annual Washington conference.

J.P. Morgan Chase has been working with the community activist group since the banking company formed a homeownership preservation office 18 months ago. Chase recently conducted a loss mitigation seminar with NPA, according to executive vice president Mark Willis.

"We have been together for a while and I think we have developed a terrific relationship," Mr. Willis told the NPA members attending the Washington conference.