The FHLBank System

The FHLB System was created by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 as a government sponsored enterprise to support mortgage lending and related community investment. It is composed of 12 FHLBanks, more than 8000 member financial institutions, and the System’s fiscal agent, the Office of Finance. Each FHLBank is a separate, government-chartered, member-owned corporation. The System is under the supervision of its mission and safety and soundness regulator, the Federal Home Finance Board.

The System provides its members with a source of funding for mortgages and asset-liability management; liquidity for a member's short-term needs; and additional funds for housing finance and community development. The FHLBanks provide long- and short-term advances (loans) to their members. Advances are primarily collateralized by residential mortgage loans, and government and agency securities. Community financial institutions may pledge small business, small farm, and small agri-business loans as collateral for advances. Advances are priced at a small spread over comparable U.S. Department of the Treasury obligations.

The FHLBanks fund themselves principally by issuing consolidated obligations of the System in the public capital markets through the Office of Finance, which acts as the FHLBanks' agent. Although each FHLBank is a separate corporate entity with its own management and board of directors, the FHLBanks are jointly and severally liable for all System consolidated obligation debt. Consolidated obligations consist of bonds (original maturity of one year or longer) and discount notes (original maturity of less than one year). Consolidated obligations are not guaranteed or insured by the federal government. However, the FHLBanks’ status as a government-sponsored enterprise accords certain privileges and enables the FHLBanks to raise funds at rates slightly above comparable obligations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.