NEW YORK — The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions and the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institution Coalition have requested the Treasury set aside some of the $750 billion allocated to TARP for low-income communities and lenders.

The two organizations made their requests to Neel Kashkari, assistant secretary for financial stability, and to Donna Gambrell, director of the Treasury's CDFI fund, two key officials responsible for administering the troubled assets relief program.

"Congress has expressed its concern that little of the first wave of TARP investments in banks seems to be finding its way to the communities and families most in need," said Cliff Rosenthal, President and CEO of the federation. "We in the CDFI movement believe that our institutions are uniquely positioned to aid some of the hardest-hit communities around America, and that moreover, we can leverage any federal funding many times over."