10-Q 1 a08-25566_110q.htm 10-Q

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

 

OR

 

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 000-51402

 


 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Federally chartered corporation
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

04-6002575
(I.R.S. employer identification number)

 

 

 

111 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

02199
(Zip code)

 

(617) 292-9600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

x Yes            o No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

 

 

Non-accelerated filer x

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

o Yes            x No

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

Shares outstanding
as of October 31, 2008

 

Class B Stock, par value $100

 

37,688,430

 

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston

Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

 

PART I.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements (unaudited)

1

 

 

Statements of Condition

1

 

 

Statements of Income

2

 

 

Statements of Capital

3

 

 

Statements of Cash Flows

5

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

6

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

30

 

 

Primary Business Related Developments

30

 

 

Financial Highlights

31

 

 

Quarterly Overview

32

 

 

Results of Operations

33

 

 

Financial Condition

42

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

53

 

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

56

 

 

Recent Accounting Developments

58

 

 

Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments

59

 

 

Recent Regulatory Actions and Credit Rating Agency Actions

62

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

62

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

80

 

 

 

 

PART II.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

81

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

81

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

81

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

82

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

82

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

82

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Other Information

83

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

83

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

83

 

i



Table of Contents

 

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(dollars and shares in thousands, except par value)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

109,283

 

$

6,823

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

110

 

50

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

 

500,000

 

Federal funds sold

 

4,241,000

 

2,908,000

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

77,803

 

112,869

 

Available-for-sale securities – includes $153,697 and $88,844 pledged as collateral at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively, that may be repledged

 

1,100,900

 

1,063,759

 

Held-to-maturity securities – includes $15,273 pledged as collateral at September 30, 2008 that may be repledged (a)

 

11,111,272

 

13,277,881

 

Advances

 

63,787,274

 

55,679,740

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net of allowance for credit losses of $225 and $125 at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007

 

4,051,173

 

4,091,314

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

298,786

 

457,407

 

Premises, software, and equipment, net

 

5,477

 

6,349

 

Derivative assets

 

12,137

 

67,047

 

Other assets

 

40,185

 

29,099

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

84,835,400

 

$

78,200,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing

 

$

1,203,969

 

$

707,056

 

Non-interest-bearing

 

7,877

 

6,070

 

Total deposits

 

1,211,846

 

713,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations, net:

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

35,296,741

 

30,421,987

 

Discount notes

 

43,656,858

 

42,988,169

 

Total consolidated obligations, net

 

78,953,599

 

73,410,156

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

93,175

 

31,808

 

Accrued interest payable

 

312,741

 

280,452

 

Affordable Housing Program (AHP)

 

57,120

 

48,451

 

Payable to Resolution Funding Corporation (REFCorp)

 

12,433

 

16,318

 

Derivative liabilities

 

366,997

 

286,789

 

Other liabilities

 

32,080

 

25,724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

81,039,991

 

74,812,824

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

Capital stock – Class B – putable ($100 par value), 35,662 shares and 31,638 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively

 

3,566,192

 

3,163,793

 

Retained earnings

 

276,757

 

225,922

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities

 

(44,107

)

(89

)

Net unrealized (loss) gain relating to hedging activities

 

(160

)

558

 

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

(3,273

)

(2,670

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital

 

3,795,409

 

3,387,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Capital

 

$

84,835,400

 

$

78,200,338

 

 


(a)          Fair values of held-to-maturity securities were $9,757,490 and $13,117,631 at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

1



Table of Contents

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

464,467

 

$

573,073

 

$

1,526,730

 

$

1,570,948

 

Prepayment fees on advances, net

 

162

 

479

 

4,652

 

2,964

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

1

 

1

 

2

 

2

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

175

 

8,409

 

10,636

 

53,251

 

Federal funds sold

 

4,453

 

67,696

 

27,706

 

172,918

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

1,114

 

1,854

 

3,987

 

5,860

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

6,647

 

11,337

 

23,495

 

34,874

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

107,030

 

129,929

 

357,915

 

362,789

 

Prepayment fees on investments

 

1,762

 

205

 

3,843

 

2,865

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio

 

51,893

 

53,522

 

155,775

 

164,769

 

Total interest income

 

637,704

 

846,505

 

2,114,741

 

2,371,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

301,387

 

462,120

 

908,919

 

1,329,052

 

Discount notes

 

247,081

 

298,799

 

922,699

 

791,699

 

Deposits

 

4,353

 

10,714

 

16,251

 

32,849

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

437

 

468

 

1,072

 

904

 

Other borrowings

 

296

 

68

 

653

 

117

 

Total interest expense

 

553,554

 

772,169

 

1,849,594

 

2,154,621

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

84,150

 

74,336

 

265,147

 

216,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for (reduction of) credit losses

 

100

 

 

100

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR (REDUCTION OF) CREDIT LOSSES

 

84,050

 

74,336

 

265,047

 

216,628

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

(2,699

)

(641

)

Service fees

 

1,042

 

1,108

 

3,649

 

3,111

 

Net unrealized (losses) gains on trading securities

 

(177

)

191

 

(789

)

(668

)

Net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities

 

(2,826

)

5,508

 

(6,995

)

2,525

 

Realized loss from sale of available-for-sale securities

 

(80

)

 

(80

)

 

Realized loss from sale of held-to-maturity securities

 

(52

)

 

(52

)

 

Other

 

19

 

60

 

82

 

71

 

Total other (loss) income

 

(2,074

)

6,867

 

(6,884

)

4,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

12,885

 

11,547

 

38,445

 

35,161

 

Finance Board, Finance Agency, and Office of Finance

 

1,052

 

936

 

3,217

 

2,900

 

Other

 

276

 

280

 

817

 

817

 

Total other expense

 

14,213

 

12,763

 

42,479

 

38,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE ASSESSMENTS

 

67,763

 

68,440

 

215,684

 

182,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AHP

 

5,576

 

5,635

 

17,716

 

14,962

 

REFCorp

 

12,438

 

12,561

 

39,594

 

33,437

 

Total assessments

 

18,014

 

18,196

 

57,310

 

48,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

49,749

 

$

50,244

 

$

158,374

 

$

133,749

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AND 2007

(dollars and shares in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Capital Stock
Class B - Putable

 

Retained

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Total

 

 

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

Earnings

 

Income

 

Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, JUNE 30, 2007

 

24,277

 

$

2,427,656

 

$

192,346

 

$

8,271

 

$

2,628,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

6,478

 

647,835

 

 

 

 

 

647,835

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(3

)

(311

)

 

 

 

 

(311

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(250

)

(25,000

)

 

 

 

 

(25,000

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

50,244

 

 

 

50,244

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(576

)

(576

)

Reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(320

)

(320

)

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(215

)

(215

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,133

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (6.50%) (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(38,958

)

 

 

(38,958

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

30,502

 

$

3,050,180

 

$

203,632

 

$

7,160

 

$

3,260,972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, JUNE 30, 2008

 

33,804

 

$

3,380,380

 

$

252,464

 

$

(28,006

)

$

3,604,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

3,374

 

337,368

 

 

 

 

 

337,368

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(1,516

)

(151,556

)

 

 

 

 

(151,556

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

49,749

 

 

 

49,749

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,223

)

(19,223

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for realized net losses included in net income relating to available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

 

80

 

Reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(190

)

(190

)

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(201

)

(201

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,215

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (3.05%) (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(25,456

)

 

 

(25,456

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

 

35,662

 

$

3,566,192

 

$

276,757

 

$

(47,540

)

$

3,795,409

 

 


(1)          Dividend rate is annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AND 2007

(dollars and shares in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Capital Stock
Class B - Putable

 

Retained

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Total

 

 

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

Earnings

 

Income

 

Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

23,425

 

$

2,342,517

 

$

187,304

 

$

2,693

 

$

2,532,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

8,363

 

836,328

 

 

 

 

 

836,328

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(951

)

(95,114

)

 

 

 

 

(95,114

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(335

)

(33,551

)

 

 

 

 

(33,551

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

133,749

 

 

 

133,749

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,122

 

6,122

 

Reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,009

)

(1,009

)

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(646

)

(646

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

138,216

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (6.45%) (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(117,421

)

 

 

(117,421

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

30,502

 

$

3,050,180

 

$

203,632

 

$

7,160

 

$

3,260,972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

31,638

 

$

3,163,793

 

$

225,922

 

$

(2,201

)

$

3,387,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

6,447

 

644,692

 

 

 

 

 

644,692

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(1,545

)

(154,505

)

 

 

 

 

(154,505

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(878

)

(87,788

)

 

 

 

 

(87,788

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

158,374

 

 

 

158,374

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(44,098

)

(44,098

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for realized net losses included in net income relating to available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

 

80

 

Reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(718

)

(718

)

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(603

)

(603

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

113,035

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (4.35%) (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(107,539

)

 

 

(107,539

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

 

35,662

 

$

3,566,192

 

$

276,757

 

$

(47,540

)

$

3,795,409

 

 


(1)          Dividend rate is annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

158,374

 

$

133,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(128,644

)

111,436

 

Provision for (Reduction of) credit losses on mortgage loans

 

100

 

(9

)

Change in net fair-value adjustments on derivatives and hedging activities

 

(12,814

)

(4,352

)

Other adjustments

 

2,625

 

558

 

Realized loss from sale of available-for-sale securities

 

80

 

 

Realized loss from sale of held-to-maturity securities

 

52

 

 

Net change in:

 

 

 

 

 

Market value of trading securities

 

789

 

668

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

158,621

 

(44,436

)

Other assets

 

(8,129

)

(3,260

)

Net derivative accrued interest

 

(22,448

)

(107,025

)

Accrued interest payable

 

32,204

 

45,769

 

Other liabilities

 

2,601

 

6,885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total adjustments

 

25,037

 

6,234

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

183,411

 

139,983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

(60

)

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

500,000

 

3,250,000

 

Federal funds sold

 

(1,333,000

)

(643,500

)

Premises, software, and equipment

 

(618

)

(1,170

)

Trading securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

34,277

 

31,499

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from maturity

 

 

45,875

 

Proceeds from sales

 

2,740

 

 

Purchases

 

(58,740

)

 

Held-to-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease (increase) in short-term

 

3,756,000

 

(1,842,000

)

Proceeds from maturity

 

1,847,143

 

1,847,464

 

Proceeds from sales

 

5,648

 

 

Purchases

 

(3,430,498

)

(2,387,614

)

Advances to members:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

773,368,326

 

410,246,829

 

Disbursements

 

(781,455,034

)

(429,123,673

)

Mortgage loans held for portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

439,116

 

461,994

 

Purchases

 

(407,730

)

(117,396

)

Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets

 

3,528

 

2,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(6,728,902

)

(18,229,253

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in deposits

 

530,190

 

(93,730

)

Net proceeds on derivative contracts with financing elements

 

37,929

 

 

Net proceeds from issuance of consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

1,069,225,755

 

683,243,288

 

Bonds

 

21,683,731

 

17,209,040

 

Payments for maturing and retiring consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

(1,068,403,386

)

(664,139,254

)

Bonds

 

(16,782,494

)

(18,738,746

)

Proceeds from issuance of capital stock

 

644,692

 

836,328

 

Payments for redemption of mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(26,421

)

(16,617

)

Payments for repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(154,505

)

(95,114

)

Cash dividends paid

 

(107,540

)

(117,641

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

6,647,951

 

18,087,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

102,460

 

(1,716

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

 

6,823

 

8,197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at period end

 

$

109,283

 

$

6,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

2,003,044

 

$

2,102,687

 

AHP payments

 

$

8,213

 

$

8,629

 

REFCorp assessments paid

 

$

43,478

 

$

34,151

 

Non-cash transfers of mortgage loans held for portfolio to real estate owned (REO)

 

$

4,467

 

$

3,125

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

5



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FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

Background Information

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank) is a federally chartered corporation that is exempt from all federal, state, and local taxation except real property taxes and is one of 12 district Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks). The FHLBanks were created under the authority of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932, as amended (the FHLBank Act). The FHLBanks serve the public by enhancing the availability of credit for residential mortgages and targeted community development. Each FHLBank operates in a specifically defined geographic territory, or district. The Bank provides a readily available, low-cost source of funds to its member institutions and eligible housing associates in the six New England states, which are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Certain regulated financial institutions and insurance companies organized in one or more of the New England states and engaged in residential housing finance may apply for membership. State and local housing authorities that meet certain statutory criteria may also borrow from the Bank; while eligible to borrow, housing associates are not members of the Bank and, as such, are not required to hold capital stock.

 

The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board), an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. government, supervised and regulated the FHLBanks through July 29, 2008. With the passage of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), the newly-established, independent Federal Housing Finance Agency (Finance Agency) became the new regulator of the FHLBanks, effective July 30, 2008. All existing regulations, orders, and decisions of the Finance Board remain in effect until modified or superseded. The Finance Board will be abolished one year after the date of enactment of HERA.

 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals), considered necessary for a fair statement have been included. The presentation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008. The unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Bank’s audited financial statements and related notes filed in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Certificates of Deposit. During the third quarter of 2008, on a retrospective basis, the Bank reclassified investments in certain certificates of deposit, previously reported as interest-bearing deposits in banks, as held-to-maturity securities in the statements of condition and income based on the definition of a security under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS 115). These financial instruments have been classified as held-to-maturity securities based on their short-term nature and the Bank’s history of holding them until maturity. This reclassification had no effect on total assets or net interest income and net income. Certificates of deposit that do not meet the definition of a security will continue to be classified as interest-bearing deposits in banks on the statements of condition and income.

 

Certain amounts in the 2007 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation, as described above and in Note 2 below.

 

Note 2 – Recently Issued Accounting Standards and Interpretations

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Bank adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157, and SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair-value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair-value measurements. SFAS 157 defines “fair value” as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 159 allows an entity to irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as they occur. The effect of adopting SFAS 157 was immaterial to the Bank’s financial condition at January 1, 2008. Upon the adoption of SFAS 159, the Bank did not elect to record any additional financial assets and liabilities at fair value at January 1, 2008. For additional information on the fair value of certain financial assets and financial liabilities, see Note 15 - Estimated Fair Values.

 

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FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active (FSP FAS 157-3).On October 10, 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FSP FAS 157-3, which clarifies the application of SFAS 157 to a financial asset when the market for that asset is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset in such circumstances. FSP FAS 157-3 is effective upon issuance and has retroactive application for prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued. Revisions resulting from a change in the valuation technique or its application will be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate (FASB Statement No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (SFAS 154), paragraph 19). The disclosure provisions of SFAS 154 for a change in accounting estimate are not required for revisions resulting from a change in valuation technique or its application. The Bank’s adoption of FSP FAS 157-3 upon its issuance on October 10, 2008 did not have a material effect on the Bank’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39 (FSP FIN 39-1). On April 30, 2007, the FASB issued FSP FIN 39-1, which permits an entity to offset fair-value amounts recognized for derivative instruments and fair-value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from derivative instruments recognized at fair value executed with the same counterparty under a master-netting arrangement. Under FSP FIN 39-1, the receivable or payable related to cash collateral may not be offset if the amount recognized does not represent or approximate fair value or arises from instruments in a master-netting arrangement that are not eligible to be offset. The decision whether to offset such fair-value amounts represents an elective accounting policy decision that, once elected, must be applied consistently. FSP FIN 39-1 became effective on January 1, 2008. An entity should recognize the effects of applying FSP FIN 39-1 as a change in accounting principle through retrospective application for all financial statements presented unless it is impracticable to do so. Upon adoption of FSP FIN 39-1, an entity is permitted to change its accounting policy to offset or not offset fair-value amounts recognized for derivative instruments under master-netting arrangements. The previous and current accounting policy of the Bank is to offset derivative instruments of the same counterparty under a master-netting arrangement. At December 31, 2007, the Bank held cash collateral, including accrued interest, from derivative counterparties totaling $61.2 million, classified as deposits and accrued interest payable in the statement of condition. Upon adoption of FSP FIN 39-1 on January 1, 2008, this amount was reclassified to derivative assets or derivative liabilities and the Bank does not consider this to have had a material impact on its financial condition. Because FSP FIN 39-1 is retroactive, we have revised the December 31, 2007, statement of condition as if FSP FIN 39-1 had been in effect on that date. As a result of this revision, we recorded the following changes to the statement of condition as of December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

As Originally

 

FSP FIN 39-1

 

 

 

 

 

Presented

 

Adjustments

 

Revised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative assets

 

$

117,823

 

$

(50,776

)

$

67,047

 

Total assets

 

78,251,114

 

(50,776

)

78,200,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

774,041

 

(60,915

)

713,126

 

Accrued interest payable

 

280,687

 

(235

)

280,452

 

Derivative liabilities

 

276,415

 

10,374

 

286,789

 

Total liabilities

 

74,863,600

 

(50,776

)

74,812,824

 

 

DIG Issue E23. On December 20, 2007, the FASB issued DIG Issue No. E23, Issues Involving the Application of the Shortcut Method Under Paragraph 68 (DIG Issue E23). DIG Issue E23 amends paragraph 68 of SFAS 133 with respect to the conditions that must be satisfied in order to apply the shortcut method for assessing hedge effectiveness. DIG Issue E23 is effective for hedging relationships designated on or after January 1, 2008. The Bank’s adoption of DIG Issue E23 at January 1, 2008, did not have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activitiesan Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS 161). On March 19, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, which is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on the entities’ financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009, for the Bank), with early adoption allowed. The Bank has not yet determined the effect that the adoption of SFAS 161 will have on its financial statement disclosures.

 

EITF Issue No. 08-5. On September 24, 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) on Issue No. 08-5, Issuer’s Accounting for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value with a Third-Party Credit Enhancement (EITF 08-5). The objective of EITF 08-5 is to determine the issuer’s unit of accounting for a liability that is issued with an inseparable third-party credit enhancement when it is recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. EITF 08-5 should be applied prospectively and is effective in the first reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009 for the Bank). The Bank does not believe the adoption of EITF 08-5 will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4. On September 12, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4, Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161 (FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4), FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amends SFAS 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others—an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5,57, and 107 and rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34 (FIN 45) to improve disclosures about credit derivatives and guarantees and clarify the effective date of SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS 161). FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 also amends FAS 133 to require entities to disclose sufficient information to allow users to assess the potential effect of credit derivatives, including their nature, maximum payment, fair value, and recourse provisions. Additionally, FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amends FIN 45 to require a disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee, which could be indicated by external credit ratings or categories by which the Bank measures risk. While the Bank does not currently enter into credit derivatives, it does however have guarantees, the FHLBanks’ joint and several liability on consolidated obligations and letters of credit. The provisions of FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 that amend SFAS 133 and FIN 45 are effective for fiscal years and interim periods ending after November 15, 2008 (December 31, 2008 for the Bank). Additionally, FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 clarifies that the disclosures required by SFAS 161 should be provided for any reporting period (annual or quarterly interim) beginning after November 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009 for the Bank). The Bank has determined that the adoption of FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 might result in increased financial statement disclosures.

 

Cash Flows from Trading Securities. SFAS 159 amends SFAS No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows (as amended) (SFAS 95), and SFAS 115, to specify that cash flows from trading securities (which include securities for which an entity has elected the fair-value option) should be classified in the statement of cash flows based on the nature of and purpose for which the securities were acquired. Prior to this statement, SFAS 95 and SFAS 115 specified that all cash flows from trading securities must be classified as cash flows from operating activities.

 

On a retroactive basis, beginning in the first quarter of 2008, the Bank classifies purchases, sales, and maturities of trading securities

 

7



Table of Contents

 

held for investment purposes as cash flows from investing activities. Cash flows related to trading securities held for trading purposes continue to be reported as cash flows from operating activities. Previously, all cash flows associated with trading securities were reflected in the statement of cash flows as operating activities. While the Bank classified certain investments acquired for purposes of liquidity and asset/liability management as trading and carried them at fair value, the Bank does not participate in speculative trading practices and may hold certain trading investments indefinitely as management periodically evaluates its liquidity needs.

 

Note 3 – Trading Securities

 

Major Security Types. Trading securities as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

$

27,912

 

$

32,827

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

37,982

 

47,754

 

Other

 

11,909

 

32,288

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

77,803

 

$

112,869

 

 

Net losses on trading securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, consist of a change in net unrealized holding losses of $789,000 and $668,000 for securities held on September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The Bank does not participate in speculative trading practices and holds these investments over a longer time horizon as management periodically evaluates its liquidity needs.

 

Note 4 – Available-for-Sale Securities

 

Major Security Types. Available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2008, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Recorded in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133

 

Accumulated Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Value

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Cost

 

Adjustments

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supranational banks

 

$

350,075

 

$

55,308

 

$

 

$

(12,221

)

$

393,162

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,339

 

33,131

 

 

(16,348

)

230,122

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

143,546

 

16,757

 

31

 

(8,426

)

151,908

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

28,189

 

 

 

 

28,189

 

 

 

735,149

 

105,196

 

31

 

(36,995

)

803,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

296,357

 

8,305

 

 

(7,143

)

297,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,031,506

 

$

113,501

 

$

31

 

$

(44,138

)

$

1,100,900

 

 

Available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Recorded in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133

 

Accumulated Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Value

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Cost

 

Adjustments

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supranational banks

 

$

350,603

 

$

44,075

 

$

1,964

 

$

(301

)

$

396,341

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,485

 

21,715

 

2,004

 

 

237,204

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

143,586

 

12,635

 

424

 

(581

)

156,064

 

 

 

707,674

 

78,425

 

4,392

 

(882

)

789,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

269,248

 

8,501

 

 

(3,599

)

274,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

976,922

 

$

86,926

 

$

4,392

 

$

(4,481

)

$

1,063,759

 

 

8



Table of Contents

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Bank purchased $28.2 million of bonds under standby-bond-purchase agreements. Under the conditions specified in the standby-bond-purchase agreements, the state-housing authority has authorized a remarketing agent to continue to pursue a resale of these bonds to a new investor. If an investor cannot be found after 60 days, the state-housing authority will be obligated to repurchase the bonds from the Bank according to a term-out period of two years or upon the effective date of any event of default or the relevant commitment expiry date. There were no purchases of bonds under standby-bond-purchase agreements for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses as of September 30, 2008. The unrealized losses are aggregated by major security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or More

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supranational banks

 

$

393,162

 

$

(12,221

)

$

 

$

 

$

393,162

 

$

(12,221

)

U.S. government corporations

 

230,122

 

(16,348

)

 

 

230,122

 

(16,348

)

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

65,087

 

(2,076

)

56,860

 

(6,350

)

121,947

 

(8,426

)

 

 

688,371

 

(30,645

)

56,860

 

(6,350

)

745,231

 

(36,995

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

297,519

 

(7,143

)

 

 

297,519

 

(7,143

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

985,890

 

$

(37,788

)

$

56,860

 

$

(6,350

)

$

1,042,750

 

$

(44,138

)

 

Impairment Analysis on Available-for-Sale Securities. Management has evaluated the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio and has concluded that no securities were other-than-temporarily impaired as of September 30, 2008.

 

Non-Mortgage-Backed Securities. Management believes that the unrealized loss on non-mortgage-backed securities is the result of the current interest-rate environment, elevated investor yield requirements arising from perceived credit risk, and illiquidity in the credit markets. Investments in government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) securities, specifically debentures issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), were negatively impacted by investor credit concerns during most of the nine months ended September 30, 2008. However, the United States Department of the Treasury’s (U.S. Treasury) purchase of $1 billion in senior preferred stock in each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the placement of these two GSEs under regulatory conservatorship on September 7, 2008, may provide some support to the Bank’s investments in senior debt non-mortgage backed securities issued by those entities. The Bank does not own any subordinated debt or preferred stock issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie. Management has reviewed these available-for-sale securities and has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary given the creditworthiness of the issuers. Because the decline in market value is largely attributable to illiquidity in the credit markets and not to deterioration in the fundamental credit quality of these securities, and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2008.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Management believes that the unrealized losses on the Bank’s investment in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are the result of the current interest-rate environment, elevated investor yield requirements arising from perceived credit risk, and illiquidity in the credit markets. All of these MBS are issued and guaranteed by a GSE. Investments in GSE-issued MBS, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were impacted by investor credit concerns during most of the nine months ending September 30, 2008. However, the U.S. Treasury’s purchase of $1 billion in senior preferred stock in each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the placement of these two GSEs under regulatory conservatorship on September 7, 2008, may provide some support to the Bank’s investments in MBS issued by those entities. Management has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary given the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. In addition, for GSE securities, the issuer guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest of these investments. Because the decline in market value is largely attributable to illiquidity in the credit markets and not solely to deterioration in the fundamental credit quality of these securities, and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2008.

 

The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2007. The unrealized losses

 

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Table of Contents

 

are aggregated by major security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or More

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supranational banks

 

$

80,441

 

$

(301

)

$

 

$

 

$

80,441

 

$

(301

)

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 

59,665

 

(581

)

59,665

 

(581

)

 

 

80,441

 

(301

)

59,665

 

(581

)

140,106

 

(882

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

274,150

 

(3,599

)

 

 

274,150

 

(3,599

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

354,591

 

$

(3,900

)

$

59,665

 

$

(581

)

$

414,256

 

$

(4,481

)

 

Redemption Terms. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, are shown below (dollars in thousands). Expected maturities of some securities and MBS may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment fees.

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Year of Maturity

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

54,892

 

$

55,102

 

$

29,913

 

$

30,315

 

Due after one year through five years

 

28,189

 

28,189

 

24,984

 

25,206

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

 

 

 

 

Due after 10 years

 

652,068

 

720,090

 

652,777

 

734,088

 

 

 

735,149

 

803,381

 

707,674

 

789,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

296,357

 

297,519

 

269,248

 

274,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,031,506

 

$

1,100,900

 

$

976,922

 

$

1,063,759

 

 

As of September 30, 2008, the amortized cost of the Bank’s available-for-sale securities includes net premiums of $41.3 million. Of that amount, $40.1 million relate to non-MBS and $1.2 million relate to MBS. As of December 31, 2007, the amortized cost of the Bank’s available-for-sale securities includes net premiums of $40.9 million. Of that amount, all but $32,000 relate to non-MBS.

 

Loss on Sale. During the third quarter of 2008, the Bank sold available-for-sale MBS with a carrying value of $2.7 million and recognized a loss of $80,000 on the sale of these securities. These MBS had been pledged as collateral to Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc. (Lehman) on out-of-the-money derivative transactions. On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. announced it had filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court. This petition precipitated the termination of the Bank’s derivative transactions with Lehman, and in connection with those terminations, the Bank requested a return of the related collateral from Lehman. However, Lehman did not honor this request. Accordingly, the Bank netted the value of the collateral with the amounts due to Lehman on those outstanding derivative transactions. See Note 8 – Derivative and Hedging Activities for additional information regarding the derivative transactions and Note 5 – Held to Maturity Securities for information regarding other securities affected by this event. This event was determined by the Bank to be isolated, nonrecurring, and unusual and could not have been reasonably anticipated. As such, the sale does not impact the Bank’s ability and intent to hold remaining available-for-sale securities that are in an unrealized loss position through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity. The Bank did not have any other sales of available-for-sale investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

Note 5 – Held-to-Maturity Securities

 

Major Security Types. Held-to-maturity securities as of September 30, 2008, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

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Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

1,574,000

 

$

190

 

$

(181

)

$

1,574,009

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

43,813

 

805

 

 

44,618

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

278,279

 

1,312

 

(24,026

)

255,565

 

 

 

1,896,092

 

2,307

 

(24,207

)

1,874,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

12,316

 

573

 

(14

)

12,875

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

4,596,018

 

13,751

 

(41,892

)

4,567,877

 

Other

 

4,606,846

 

10

 

(1,304,310

)

3,302,546

 

 

 

9,215,180

 

14,334

 

(1,346,216

)

7,883,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

11,111,272

 

$

16,641

 

$

(1,370,423

)

$

9,757,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

5,330,000

 

$

2,096

 

$

 

$

5,332,096

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

51,634

 

1,831

 

 

53,465

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

299,653

 

2,396

 

(14,821

)

287,228

 

 

 

5,681,287

 

6,323

 

(14,821

)

5,672,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

13,661

 

636

 

 

14,297

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

1,658,407

 

26,305

 

(2,342

)

1,682,370

 

Other

 

5,924,526

 

2,789

 

(179,140

)

5,748,175

 

 

 

7,596,594

 

29,730

 

(181,482

)

7,444,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

13,277,881

 

$

36,053

 

$

(196,303

)

$

13,117,631

 

 

The following table summarizes held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses as of September 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands). The unrealized losses are aggregated by major security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or More

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

483,820

 

$

(181

)

$

 

$

 

$

483,820

 

$

(181

)

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

35,007

 

(473

)

179,647

 

(23,553

)

214,654

 

(24,026

)

 

 

518,827

 

(654

)

179,647

 

(23,553

)

698,474

 

(24,207

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

1,448

 

(14

)

 

 

1,448

 

(14

)

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

3,169,902

 

(40,089

)

49,319

 

(1,803

)

3,219,221

 

(41,892

)

Other

 

727,529

 

(230,505

)

2,568,618

 

(1,073,805

)

3,296,147

 

(1,304,310

)

 

 

3,898,879

 

(270,608

)

2,617,937

 

(1,075,608

)

6,516,816

 

(1,346,216

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

4,417,706

 

$

(271,262

)

$

2,797,584

 

$

(1,099,161

)

$

7,215,290

 

$

(1,370,423

)

 

Impairment Analysis on Held-to-Maturity Securities. The ongoing deterioration in U.S. housing markets, as reflected in declines in values of residential real estate and high levels of delinquencies on loans underlying MBS, poses risks to the Bank with respect to the ultimate collection of principal and interest due on its private label collateralized mortgage obligation holdings. While the resultant illiquidity in the capital markets due to the turmoil in housing credit has been the principal driver behind the decline in the fair value of the Bank’s private label collateralized mortgage obligation securities since December 31, 2007, the Bank closely monitors the performance of its securities to evaluate its exposure to the risk of loss on these investments to determine if a loss is other than temporary.

 

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State or Local Housing-Finance-Agency Obligations. Management has reviewed its investments in state or local housing-finance-agency obligations and has determined that the unrealized losses shown are the result of the current interest-rate environment and illiquidity in the credit markets. The Bank has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary given the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and illiquidity in the credit markets and not to a deterioration in the fundamental credit quality of these obligations, and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2008.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Bank invests in high-quality securities, which must be rated the highest long-term debt rating at the time of purchase. Each of the securities contains one or more of the following forms of credit protection:

 

·                  Guarantee of principal and interest – The issuer guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest.

 

·                  Excess spread – The average coupon rate of the underlying mortgage loans in the pool is higher than the coupon rate on the MBS note. The spread differential may be used to offset any losses that may be realized.

 

·                  Overcollateralization – The total outstanding balance on the underlying mortgage loans in the pool is greater than the outstanding MBS note balance. The excess collateral is available to offset any losses that may be realized.

 

·                  Subordination – The structure of classes of the security, where subordinated classes absorb any credit losses before the senior classes.

 

·                  Insurance wrap – A third-party bond insurance company guarantees payment of principal and interest to certain classes of the security.

 

Credit safeguards for the Bank’s MBS consist of either guarantee of principal and interest in the case of U.S. government-guaranteed MBS and GSE MBS, or credit enhancement for residential MBS issued by entities other than GSEs (private label MBS). Credit enhancements for private label MBS primarily consist of overcollateralization and senior-subordinated shifting interest features; the latter results in the prioritization of payments to senior classes over junior classes. For its investments in MBS, the Bank solely invests in senior classes of GSE and private label MBS.

 

The Bank has higher exposure to the risk of loss on its investments in MBS when the loans backing the MBS exhibit high rates of delinquency and foreclosure and high losses on the sale of foreclosed properties. With respect to its GSE MBS holdings, the Bank has concluded that despite the ongoing deterioration in the nation’s housing markets, the guarantee of principal and interest on the Bank’s GSE MBS by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is still assured, and therefore the securities are not other-than-temporarily impaired. This position is further bolstered by the equity investments of up to $100 billion for each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that have been pledged in conjunction with the conservatorship of these two GSEs. No U.S. government-guaranteed or GSE MBS is considered by the Bank to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2008.

 

Since the surety of the Bank’s private label MBS holdings relies on credit enhancements and the quality and performance of the underlying loan collateral, the Bank tests these MBS investments on an ongoing basis in an effort to determine whether the credit enhancement associated with each security is sufficient to protect against losses of principal and interest on the underlying mortgage loans. As part of its analysis of private label MBS, the Bank employs a third-party model to project expected loan collateral losses and the lifetime cash flows that would be passed through to its MBS investments. This third-party model evaluates individual loans within a security based on borrower credit qualities and sensitivity of these borrowers to changes in external market conditions, such as forward interest rates and housing-price changes. These factors are used by the third-party model to derive resultant voluntary and involuntary prepayments and attendant loss severities as the basis of collateral loss projections.

 

After underlying loan collateral cash flows are modeled, the Bank determines whether each security’s credit support structure is sufficient to absorb projected principal losses and interest shortfall, if any. A second third-party model is used to monitor the sufficiency of each security’s credit support structure to fully return the Bank’s original investment plus accrued interest. Based on the loan collateral loss forecast, the Bank creates a default projection that is unique for each security that takes into account the vintage, collateral type, and historical default experience of the particular MBS. Loss severities, also known as losses given default (LGD), are modeled in order to project the actual loss to individual loans after defaults occur, based on projected realized value net of servicing costs. The Bank uses consensus economic forecasts to determine degree and timing of continuing housing-price depreciation, and constructs LGD projections that account for severities to date and projected ongoing housing-price deterioration. In addition, the LGD projections incorporate collateral type and vintage to refine loss assumptions further. The Bank uses voluntary prepayment speeds that are derived from a consensus of research opinions from major MBS dealers to model the impact of prepayments to its MBS holdings’ senior class position within the respective deal structures. Generally, faster voluntary prepayments benefit the Bank as principal and interest are first applied towards the senior classes the Bank owns prior to application to subordinated classes, which the Bank does not own, allowing the Bank’s holdings to be paid off before subordinated classes are eroded to a point wherein the subordinated

 

12



Table of Contents

 

classes cannot absorb collateral losses. These factors are modeled through the third-party model to determine the sufficiency of credit support to absorb the expected cash flows. The third-party model applies the collateral cash flows to the deal structure waterfalls, applying shifting interest triggers where applicable. For those securities whose performance is further enhanced by third-party financial guarantors, the third-party model incorporates that credit enhancement into its analysis.

 

Under the base-case scenario described above, the Bank’s private-label MBS may show a projected loss of principal and interest, from which the Bank will determine whether or not those securities are other-than-temporarily impaired. As of September 30, 2008, five securities demonstrated base case principal and/or interest shortfalls that were less than or equal to 0.06 percent of the outstanding principal amount of each security, which the Bank viewed to be primarily reflective of the unusually high LIBOR rate levels observed as of the date. The elevated LIBOR levels projected by the model as of September 30, 2008 caused a significant reduction of projected excess spread, which serves as a form of loss protection, from the affected securities. We believe that the spike in LIBOR that occurred between mid-September and the end of October 2008 was temporary and abnormal. Since that time, LIBOR has returned to levels that are a better indication of our expected trend.

 

 If loan credit performance of the Bank’s private-label MBS portfolio deteriorates beyond the forecast assumptions concerning loan default rates, loss severities, and prepayment speeds, some of the Bank’s securities could become impaired, which, in the event that the severely depressed market values as of September 30, 2008, persist, could lead to a significant impairment charge. If it is determined that an impairment is other than temporary, then an impairment loss will be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s then current carrying amount and its fair value. The fair value of the investment would then become the new cost basis of the investment. In periods subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment loss, the Bank would account for the other-than-temporarily impaired debt security as if the debt security had been purchased on the measurement date of the other-than-temporary impairment. The resulting discount or reduced premium recorded for the debt security, based on the new cost basis, would be amortized over the remaining life of the debt security in a prospective manner based on the amount and timing of future estimated cash flows.

 

Since the severely depressed market value is attributable to elevated investor yield requirements arising from perceived credit risk and illiquidity in the credit markets, as opposed to the magnitude of potential losses under even severely-deteriorating loan performance scenarios, and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider its investments in private label MBS to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2008.

 

The following table summarizes held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands). The unrealized losses are aggregated by major security type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or More

 

Total

 

 

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Unrealized

 

 

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

Value

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

$

211,242

 

$

(14,313

)

$

13,695

 

$

(508

)

$

224,937

 

$

(14,821

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

210,227

 

(285

)

57,489

 

(2,058

)

267,716

 

(2,343

)

Other

 

4,371,330

 

(157,055

)

911,997

 

(22,084

)

5,283,327

 

(179,139

)

 

 

4,581,557

 

(157,340

)

969,486

 

(24,142

)

5,551,043

 

(181,482

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

4,792,799

 

$

(171,653

)

$

983,181

 

$

(24,650

)

$

5,775,980

 

$

(196,303

)

 

Redemption Terms. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of held-to-maturity securities by contractual maturity at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, are shown below (dollars in thousands). Expected maturities of some securities and MBS may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment fees.

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Year of Maturity

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

1,574,000

 

$

1,574,009

 

$

5,331,020

 

$

5,333,135

 

Due after one year through five years

 

6,651

 

6,850

 

7,793

 

8,099

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

35,178

 

35,077

 

3,743

 

3,927

 

Due after 10 years

 

280,263

 

258,256

 

338,731

 

327,628

 

 

 

1,896,092

 

1,874,192

 

5,681,287

 

5,672,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

9,215,180

 

7,883,298

 

7,596,594

 

7,444,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

11,111,272

 

$

9,757,490

 

$

13,277,881

 

$

13,117,631

 

 

13



Table of Contents

 

As of September 30, 2008, the amortized cost of the Bank’s held-to-maturity securities includes net discounts of $15.2 million. Of that amount, $274,000 relate to non-MBS and $14.9 million relate to MBS. As of December 31, 2007, the amortized cost of the Bank’s held-to-maturity securities includes net discounts of $18.7 million. Of that amount, $420,000 relate to non-MBS and $18.3 million relate to MBS.

 

Loss on Sale. During the third quarter of 2008, the Bank sold held-to-maturity MBS with a carrying value of $5.7 million and recognized a loss of $52,000 on the sale of these securities. These MBS sold had been pledged as collateral to Lehman on out-of-the-money derivatives transactions. On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. announced it had filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court. This petition precipitated the termination of the Bank’s derivative transactions with Lehman, and in connection with those terminations the Bank requested a return of the related collateral. However, Lehman did not honor this request. Accordingly, the Bank netted the value of the collateral with the amounts due to Lehman on those outstanding derivative transactions. See Note 8 – Derivative and Hedging Activities for additional information regarding the derivative transactions and Note 4 – Available for Sale Securities for additional information regarding other securities affected in this event. This event was determined by the Bank to be isolated, nonrecurring, and unusual and could not have been reasonably anticipated. As such, the sale does not impact the Bank’s ability and intent to hold the remaining investments classified as held-to-maturity through their stated maturity dates. The Bank did not have any other sales of held-to-maturity investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

Note 6 – Advances

 

Redemption Terms. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had advances outstanding, including AHP advances (see Note 11 – Affordable Housing Program), at interest rates ranging from zero percent to 8.44 percent, as summarized below (dollars in thousands). Advances with interest rates of zero percent are AHP-subsidized advances.

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Year of Contractual Maturity

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

6,572

 

2.51

%

$

61,496

 

4.64

%

Due in one year or less

 

39,354,287

 

2.74

 

35,745,494

 

4.65

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,543,195

 

4.35

 

6,801,904

 

4.59

 

Due after two years through three years

 

5,512,481

 

3.84

 

3,883,697

 

4.89

 

Due after three years through four years

 

2,429,920

 

4.38

 

1,974,447

 

4.88

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,920,000

 

3.24

 

1,966,414

 

4.54

 

Thereafter

 

5,705,132

 

4.15

 

4,951,427

 

4.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

63,471,587

 

3.21

%

55,384,879

 

4.65

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

9,322

 

 

 

4,278

 

 

 

Discounts

 

(20,131

)

 

 

(17,861

)

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

326,496

 

 

 

308,444

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

63,787,274

 

 

 

$

55,679,740

 

 

 

 

The Bank offers advances to members that may be prepaid on pertinent dates (call dates) without incurring prepayment or termination fees (callable advances). Other advances may only be prepaid by paying a fee to the Bank (prepayment fee) that makes the Bank financially indifferent to the prepayment of the advance. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had callable advances outstanding totaling $5.5 million and $30.0 million, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes advances at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity or next call date for callable advances (dollars in thousands):

 

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Table of Contents

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

6,572

 

$

61,496

 

Due in one year or less

 

39,359,787

 

35,775,494

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,543,195

 

6,801,904

 

Due after two years through three years

 

5,506,981

 

3,883,697

 

Due after three years through four years

 

2,429,920

 

1,944,447

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,920,000

 

1,966,414

 

Thereafter

 

5,705,132

 

4,951,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

63,471,587

 

$

55,384,879

 

 

The Bank also offers putable advances. With a putable advance, the Bank has the right to terminate the advance at predetermined exercise dates, which the Bank can exercise when interest rates increase above a certain interest rate specified in the related putable advance contract, and the borrower may then apply for a new advance at the prevailing market rate. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had putable advances outstanding totaling $9.4 billion and $8.0 billion, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes advances outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity or next put date for putable advances (dollars in thousands):

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Put Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

6,572

 

$

61,496

 

Due in one year or less

 

46,087,207

 

41,613,769

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,126,545

 

7,260,154

 

Due after two years through three years

 

4,892,781

 

2,681,797

 

Due after three years through four years

 

1,741,170

 

1,336,647

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,131,206

 

987,864

 

Thereafter

 

1,486,106

 

1,443,152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

63,471,587

 

$

55,384,879

 

 

Security Terms. The Bank lends to financial institutions and insurance companies chartered within the six New England states in accordance with federal statutes, including the FHLBank Act. The FHLBank Act requires the Bank to obtain sufficient collateral on advances to protect against losses and permits the Bank to accept the following as eligible collateral on such advances: residential mortgage loans; certain U.S. government or government-agency securities; cash or deposits, and other eligible real-estate-related assets. The capital stock of the Bank owned by each borrowing member is pledged as additional collateral for the member’s indebtedness to the Bank. However, the capital stock investment in the Bank is not eligible as collateral to originate a new advance. Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) are eligible, under expanded statutory collateral rules, to pledge as collateral for advances small business, small farm, and small agriculture loans fully secured by collateral other than real estate, or securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had rights to collateral, on a member-by-member basis, with an estimated value greater than outstanding advances.

 

Credit Risk. While the Bank has never experienced a credit loss on an advance to a member or borrower, weakening economic conditions, severe credit market conditions along with the expansion of collateral for CFIs and nonmember housing associates provide the potential for additional credit risk for the Bank. Management of the Bank has policies and procedures in place to manage this credit risk. Based on these policies and procedures, the Bank does not expect any losses on advances. Therefore, the Bank has not provided any allowances for losses on advances. The Bank’s potential credit risk from advances is concentrated in federally insured depository institutions, including commercial banks, savings institutions, and credit unions.

 

Related-Party Activities. The Bank defines related parties as those members whose ownership of the Bank’s capital stock is in excess of 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding. The following table presents outstanding advances and total accrued interest receivable from advances as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Par
Value of
Advances

 

Percent
of Total
Advances

 

Total Accrued
Interest
Receivable

 

Percent of Total
Accrued Interest
Receivable on
Advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A., Providence, RI

 

$

21,623,280

 

34.1

%

$

129,075

 

54.1

%

RBS Citizens N.A., Providence, RI

 

12,489,032

 

19.7

 

18,691

 

7.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A., Providence, RI

 

$

23,772,544

 

42.9

%

$

260,666

 

70.1

%

RBS Citizens N.A., Providence, RI

 

6,241,960

 

11.3

 

22,661

 

6.1

 

 

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The Bank held sufficient collateral to cover the advances to the above institutions such that the Bank does not expect to incur any credit losses on these advances.

 

The Bank recognized interest income on outstanding advances with the above members during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Name

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A., Providence, RI

 

$

149,498

 

$

161,679

 

$

560,393

 

$

404,847

 

RBS Citizens N.A., Providence, RI (1)

 

76,359

 

49,268

 

210,837

 

49,268

 

Citizens Financial Group, Providence, RI (1)

 

 

69,376

 

 

255,019

 

 


(1)   During the third quarter of 2007, five of the Bank’s members: Citizens Bank of Connecticut, Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, and RBS National Bank, were merged into Citizens Bank, N.A. Following the consolidation, Citizens Bank, N.A. was renamed RBS Citizens, N.A. Prior to the merger, these five members were independent subsidiaries of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Upon consolidation, all Bank advances outstanding and accrued interest receivable to these five member institutions were transferred to RBS Citizens, N.A.

 

The following table presents an analysis of advances activity with related parties for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Balance at

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008

 

Balance at

 

 

 

December 31,
2007

 

Disbursements to
Members

 

Payments from
Members

 

September 30,
2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A., Providence, RI

 

$

23,772,544

 

$

43,841,444

 

$

(45,990,708

)

$

21,623,280

 

RBS Citizens N.A., Providence, RI

 

6,241,960

 

385,045,300

 

(378,798,228

)

12,489,032

 

 

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms. The following table details additional interest-rate-payment terms for advances at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Par amount of advances

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

$

57,451,184

 

$

51,044,476

 

Variable-rate

 

6,020,403

 

4,340,403

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

63,471,587

 

$

55,384,879

 

 

Variable-rate advances noted in the above table include advances outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, totaling $68.5 million and $378.8 million, respectively, which contain embedded interest-rate caps or floors.

 

Note 7 – Mortgage Loans Held for Portfolio
 

Under the Bank’s Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) program the Bank invests in fixed-rate single-family mortgages that are purchased from participating members. All mortgages are held-for-portfolio. Under the MPF program, the Bank’s members originate, service, and credit-enhance residential real estate mortgages that are then sold to the Bank.

 

“Mortgage Partnership Finance,” “MPF,” and “eMPF” are registered trademarks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

The following table presents mortgage loans held for portfolio as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Real estate

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate 15-year single-family mortgages

 

$

1,051,886

 

$

1,129,572

 

Fixed-rate 20- and 30-year single-family mortgages

 

2,980,596

 

2,938,886

 

Premiums

 

31,973

 

35,252

 

Discounts

 

(11,693

)

(11,270

)

Deferred derivative gains and losses, net

 

(1,364

)

(1,001

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans held for portfolio

 

4,051,398

 

4,091,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: allowance for credit losses

 

(225

)

(125

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans, net of allowance for credit losses

 

$

4,051,173

 

$

4,091,314

 

 

The following table details the par value of mortgage loans held for portfolio at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional loans

 

$

3,647,633

 

$

3,637,590

 

Government-insured or guaranteed loans

 

384,849

 

430,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

4,032,482

 

$

4,068,458

 

 

An analysis of the allowance for credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

Recoveries

 

 

 

 

9

 

Provision for (reduction of) credit losses

 

100

 

 

100

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

225

 

$

125

 

$

225

 

$

125

 

 

Mortgage loans, other than those included in large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans, are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all principal and interest amounts due according to the contractual terms of the mortgage-loan agreement. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had no recorded investments in impaired mortgage loans. Mortgage loans on nonaccrual status at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, totaled $15.3 million and $8.0 million, respectively. The Bank’s mortgage-loan portfolio is geographically diversified on a national basis. There is no material concentration of delinquent loans in any geographic region. REO at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, totaled $2.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively. REO is recorded on the statement of condition in other assets.

 

Sale of REO Assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank sold REO assets with a recorded carrying value of $3.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Upon sale of these properties, and inclusive of any proceeds received from primary mortgage-insurance coverage, the Bank recognized net gains totaling $61,000 and $74,000 on the sale of REO assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Gains and losses on the sale of REO assets are recorded in other income.

 

Note 8 – Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank recorded net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities totaling ($2.8 million) and $5.5 million, respectively, in other income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank recorded net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities totaling ($7.0 million) and $2.5 million, respectively. Net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

17



Table of Contents

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (losses) gains related to fair-value hedge ineffectiveness

 

$

(2,379

)

$

6,218

 

Net losses resulting from economic hedges not receiving hedge accounting

 

(447

)

(710

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities

 

$

(2,826

)

$

5,508

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (losses) gains related to fair-value hedge ineffectiveness

 

$

(1,921

)

$

2,695

 

Net losses resulting from economic hedges not receiving hedge accounting

 

(5,074

)

(170

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities

 

$

(6,995

)

$

2,525

 

 

The following table presents outstanding notional balances and estimated fair values of derivatives outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

Notional

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Notional

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Interest-rate swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

31,905,361

 

$

(501,837

)

$

28,508,718

 

$

(375,455

)

Economic

 

182,750

 

(1,730

)

180,500

 

(2,319

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate caps/floors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic

 

99,500

 

304

 

409,800

 

586

 

Member intermediated

 

15,000

 

(3

)

20,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic

 

10,000

 

(34

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

32,212,611

 

(503,300

)

29,119,018

 

(377,188

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-delivery commitments (1)

 

33,804

 

(213

)

9,600

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives

 

$

32,246,415

 

(503,513

)

$

29,128,618

 

(377,161

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest

 

 

 

241,017

 

 

 

218,569

 

Cash collateral

 

 

 

(92,364

)

 

 

(61,150

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivatives fair value

 

 

 

$

(354,860

)

 

 

$

(219,742

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative assets

 

 

 

$

12,137

 

 

 

$

67,047

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

(366,997

)

 

 

(286,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivatives fair value

 

 

 

$

(354,860

)

 

 

$

(219,742

)

 


(1) Mortgage-delivery commitments are classified as derivatives pursuant to SFAS 149 with changes in fair value recorded in other income.

 

Credit Risk. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank’s credit risk on derivatives as measured by current replacement cost net of cash collateral and accrued interest was approximately $12.1 million and $67.0 million, respectively. These totals include $2.6 million and $92.6 million of net accrued interest receivable, respectively. In determining current replacement cost, the Bank considers accrued interest receivable and payable, and the legal right to offset derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty. The Bank held cash of $92.2 million as collateral as of September 30, 2008. The Bank held cash and securities, including accrued interest with a fair value of $127.0 million as collateral as of December 31, 2007. The securities collateral held on December 31, 2007, had not

 

18



Table of Contents

 

been sold or repledged.

 

The Bank executes derivatives with counterparties rated single-A or better by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) and Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) at the time of the transaction. Some of these counterparties or their affiliates buy, sell, and distribute consolidated obligations. Note 10 discusses consolidated obligations and Note 16 discusses assets pledged by the Bank to these counterparties. The Bank is not a derivatives dealer and does not trade derivatives for short-term profit.

 

On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. announced it had filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court. This petition precipitated the termination of the Bank’s derivative transactions with Lehman on September 19, 2008, which had a total notional amount of $3.0 billion and a net fair value of $14.0 million owed to Lehman. The payment made to Lehman was netted against the fair value of MBS that had been pledged as collateral to Lehman. See Note 4 – Available for Sale Securities and Note 5 – Held-to-Maturity Securities for a description of the sales of collateral to Lehman. The Bank then replaced $1.6 billion (notional amount) of the terminated derivative transactions with new derivative counterparties. Management determined that the remaining $1.4 billion (notional amount) of previously hedged transactions would not be re-hedged.

 

Related-Party Activities. The following table presents an analysis of outstanding derivative contracts with related parties and affiliates of related parties at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Derivatives Counterparty

 

Affiliate Member

 

Primary
Relationship

 

Notional
Outstanding

 

Percent of
Notional
Outstanding

 

Notional
Outstanding

 

Percent of
Notional
Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America, N.A.

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

$

3,103,804

 

9.64

%

$

1,305,910

 

4.48

%

Royal Bank of Scotland, PLC

 

RBS Citizens, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

1,516,760

 

4.71

 

896,500

 

3.08

 

Bank of America Securities, LLC

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

10,000

 

0.03

 

 

 

 

Note 9 – Deposits

 

The Bank offers demand and overnight deposits for members and qualifying nonmembers. In addition, the Bank offers short-term interest-bearing deposit programs to members. Members that service mortgage loans may deposit in the Bank funds collected in connection with mortgage loans pending disbursement of such funds to the owners of the mortgage loans; the Bank classifies these items as other in the following table.

 

The following table details interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing deposits at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Interest bearing

 

 

 

 

 

Demand and overnight

 

$

1,138,677

 

$

672,893

 

Term

 

62,542

 

30,770

 

Other

 

2,750

 

3,393

 

Non-interest bearing

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

7,877

 

6,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deposits

 

$

1,211,846

 

$

713,126

 

 

Note 10 – Consolidated Obligations

 

Consolidated obligations (COs) consist of consolidated bonds and discount notes and are backed only by the financial resources of the 12 district FHLBanks. The FHLBanks issue COs through the Office of Finance, which serves as their fiscal agent. In connection with each debt issuance, each FHLBank specifies the amount of debt it wants issued on its behalf. The Office of Finance tracks the amount of debt issued on behalf of each FHLBank. In addition, the Bank separately tracks and records as a liability its specific portion of COs for which it is the primary obligor. The Finance Agency and the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury have oversight over the issuance of FHLBank debt through the Office of Finance. CO bonds are issued primarily to raise intermediate and long-term funds for the FHLBanks and are not subject to any statutory or regulatory limits on maturity. CO discount notes are issued to raise short-term funds. These notes sell at less than their par value and are redeemed at par value when they mature.

 

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms. The following table details CO bonds by interest-rate-payment type at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

19



Table of Contents

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Par value of CO bonds

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate bonds

 

$

32,235,425

 

$

28,377,715

 

Zero-coupon bonds

 

3,755,000

 

4,209,700

 

Simple variable-rate bonds

 

2,250,000

 

1,000,000

 

Step-up bonds

 

 

65,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

38,240,425

 

$

33,652,415

 

 

Redemption Terms. The following is a summary of the Bank’s participation in CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Year of Contractual Maturity

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

13,688,560

 

3.20

%

$

11,247,010

 

4.39

%

Due after one year through two years

 

8,208,815

 

3.61

 

6,335,475

 

4.63

 

Due after two years through three years

 

3,543,270

 

3.91

 

3,218,350

 

4.57

 

Due after three years through four years

 

1,390,780

 

4.68

 

1,705,500

 

4.86

 

Due after four years through five years

 

2,930,000

 

4.31

 

1,836,080

 

5.03

 

Thereafter

 

8,479,000

 

5.69

 

9,310,000

 

5.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

38,240,425

 

4.04

%

33,652,415

 

4.89

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

76,215

 

 

 

29,577

 

 

 

Discounts

 

(3,011,802

)

 

 

(3,329,419

)

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(8,097

)

 

 

69,414

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

35,296,741

 

 

 

$

30,421,987

 

 

 

 

The Bank’s CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, included (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Par value of CO bonds

 

 

 

 

 

Callable

 

$

13,643,000

 

$

18,514,700

 

Noncallable or non-putable

 

24,597,425

 

15,137,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

38,240,425

 

$

33,652,415

 

 

The following table summarizes CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity or next call date (dollars in thousands):

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

22,605,560

 

$

23,076,710

 

Due after one year through two years

 

7,829,815

 

4,140,475

 

Due after two years through three years

 

2,536,270

 

2,293,350

 

Due after three years through four years

 

625,780

 

671,800

 

Due after four years through five years

 

2,139,000

 

956,080

 

Thereafter

 

2,504,000

 

2,514,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

38,240,425

 

$

33,652,415

 

 

Consolidated Obligation Discount Notes. CO discount notes are issued to raise short-term funds. Discount notes are COs with original maturities up to 365 days. These notes are issued at less than their par value and redeemed at par value when they mature.

 

The Bank’s participation in CO discount notes, all of which are due within one year, was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

20



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Book Value

 

Par Value

 

Rate (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

43,656,858

 

$

43,814,573

 

2.15

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

42,988,169

 

$

43,264,750

 

4.33

%

 


(1)   The CO discount notes weighted-average rate represents a yield to maturity.

 

Note 11 – Affordable Housing Program

 

The Bank charges the amount set aside for AHP to income and recognizes it as a liability. The Bank then reduces the AHP liability as members use subsidies. The Bank had outstanding principal in AHP-related advances of $81.4 million and $80.9 million at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

The following table is an analysis of the AHP liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and the year ended December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

Roll-Forward of the AHP Liability

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

48,451

 

$

44,971

 

AHP expense for the period

 

17,716

 

22,182

 

AHP direct grant disbursements

 

(8,213

)

(13,410

)

AHP subsidy for below-market-rate advance disbursements

 

(1,070

)

(5,409

)

Return of previously disbursed grants and subsidies

 

236

 

117

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

57,120

 

$

48,451

 

 

Note 12 – Capital

 

The Bank is subject to three capital requirements under its capital structure plan and Finance Agency rules and regulations. The Bank must maintain at all times:

 

1.     Permanent capital in an amount at least equal to the sum of its credit-risk capital requirement, its market-risk capital requirement, and its operations-risk capital requirement, calculated in accordance with Bank policy and Finance Agency rules and regulations. Only permanent capital, defined as Class B stock and retained earnings, satisfies this risk-based capital requirement. The Finance Agency may require the Bank to maintain a greater amount of permanent capital than is required as defined by the risk-based capital requirements.

 

2.     At least a four percent total capital-to-assets ratio. Total capital is the sum of permanent capital, any general loss allowance, if consistent with GAAP and not established for specific assets, and other amounts from sources determined by the Finance Agency as available to absorb losses.

 

3.     At least a five percent leverage capital-to-assets ratio. A leverage capital-to-assets ratio is defined as permanent capital weighted 1.5 times divided by total assets.

 

The following table demonstrates the Bank’s compliance with these capital requirements at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

Required

 

Actual

 

Required

 

Actual

 

Regulatory Capital Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk-based capital

 

$

984,251

 

$

3,936,124

 

$

363,537

 

$

3,421,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total regulatory capital

 

$

3,393,416

 

$

3,936,124

 

$

3,128,014

 

$

3,421,523

 

Total capital-to-assets ratio

 

4.0

%

4.6

%

4.0

%

4.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leverage capital

 

$

4,241,770

 

$

5,904,186

 

$

3,910,017

 

$

5,132,284

 

Leverage capital-to-assets ratio

 

5.0

%

7.0

%

5.0

%

6.6

%

 

21



Table of Contents

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock, which is classified as a liability under GAAP, is considered capital for determining the Bank’s compliance with these regulatory requirements.

 

Related-Party Activities. The Bank defines related parties as those members whose capital stock outstanding was in excess of 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding. The following table presents member holdings of 10 percent or more of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Name

 

Capital Stock
Outstanding

 

Percent
of Total

 

Capital Stock
Outstanding

 

Percent
of Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A., Providence, RI

 

$

1,082,548

 

29.6

%

$

1,057,094

 

33.1

%

RBS Citizens N.A., Providence, RI

 

545,590

 

14.9

 

344,634

 

10.8

 

 

Note 13 – Employee Retirement Plans

 

Employee Retirement Plans. The Bank participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan), a funded, tax-qualified, non-contributory defined-benefit pension plan. The plan covers substantially all officers and employees of the Bank. Funding and administrative costs of the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan charged to operating expenses were $670,000 and $850,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Funding and administrative costs of the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan charged to operating expenses were $2.4 million and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan is a multi-employer plan in which assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers since assets contributed by an employer are not segregated in a separate account or restricted to provide benefits only to employees of that employer. As a result, disclosure of the accumulated benefit obligations, plan assets, and the components of annual pension expense attributable to the Bank are not made.

 

Additionally, the Bank maintains a nonqualified, unfunded defined benefit plan covering certain senior officers, and the Bank sponsors a fully insured retirement benefit program that includes life insurance benefits for eligible retirees.

 

The following tables present the components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Supplemental Retirement Plan
for the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Postretirement Benefit Plan
for the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

128

 

$

107

 

$

5

 

$

6

 

Interest cost

 

176

 

138

 

6

 

5

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(4

)

5

 

 

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

118

 

99

 

 

1

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

 

5

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

418

 

$

354

 

$

11

 

$

12

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Retirement Plan
for the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Postretirement Benefit Plan
for the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

383

 

$

323

 

$

15

 

$

19

 

Interest cost

 

528

 

415

 

16

 

15

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(13

)

16

 

 

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

354

 

295

 

 

2

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

 

14

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

1,252

 

$

1,063

 

$

31

 

$

36

 

 

Note 14 – Segment Information

 

As part of its method of internal reporting, the Bank analyzes its financial performance based on the net interest income of two operating segments: mortgage-loan finance and all other business activity. The products and services provided reflect the manner in

 

22



Table of Contents

 

which financial information is evaluated by management. The mortgage-loan-finance segment includes mortgage loans acquired through the MPF program and the related funding of those mortgage loans. Income from the mortgage-loan-finance segment is derived primarily from the difference, or spread, between the yield on mortgage loans and the borrowing and hedging costs related to those assets. The remaining business segment includes products such as advances and investments and their related funding and hedging costs. Income from this segment is derived primarily from the difference, or spread, between the yield on advances and investments and the borrowing and hedging costs related to those assets. Regulatory capital is allocated to the segments based upon asset size.

 

The following tables present net interest income after reduction of provision for credit losses on mortgage loans by business segment, other income/(loss), other expense, and income before assessments for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Net Interest Income after Provision for (Reduction of) Credit
Losses on Mortgage Loans by Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three
Months Ended
September 30,

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

Other (Loss) /
Income

 

Other
Expense

 

Income
Before
Assessments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

6,151

 

$

77,899

 

$

84,050

 

$

(2,074

)

$

14,213

 

$

67,763

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

6,846

 

$

67,490

 

$

74,336

 

$

6,867

 

$

12,763

 

$

68,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Interest Income after Provision for (Reduction of) Credit
Losses on Mortgage Loans by Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

Other (Loss)/
Income

 

Other
Expense

 

Income
Before
Assessments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

20,707

 

$

244,340

 

$

265,047

 

$

(6,884

)

$

42,479

 

$

215,684

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

22,043

 

$

194,585

 

$

216,628

 

$

4,398

 

$

38,878

 

$

182,148

 

 

The following table presents total assets by business segment at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Total Assets by Segment

 

 

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

4,073,422

 

$

80,761,978

 

$

84,835,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

4,112,988

 

$

74,087,350

 

$

78,200,338

 

 

The following tables present average-earning assets by business for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Total Average-Earning Assets by Segment

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

4,039,868

 

$

77,478,385

 

$

81,518,253

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

4,202,916

 

$

59,417,296

 

$

63,620,212

 

 

 

 

Total Average-Earning Assets by Segment

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

4,056,379

 

$

76,700,222

 

$

80,756,601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

4,324,282

 

$

55,550,148

 

$

59,874,430

 

 

23



Table of Contents

 

Note 15 – Estimated Fair Values

 

As discussed in Note 2 above, the Bank adopted SFAS 157 and SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair-value measurements. SFAS 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 157 does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.

 

SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets, financial liabilities, unrecognized firm commitments, and written loan commitments not previously carried at fair value. It requires entities to record at fair value those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. In addition, unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair-value option has been elected are reported in earnings. Under SFAS 159, fair value is used for both the initial and subsequent measurement of the designated assets, liabilities, and commitments, with the changes in fair value recognized in net income. Upon adopting SFAS 159, the Bank did not elect to record any financial assets and liabilities at fair value and did not apply the fair-value option to any new assets or liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability is a hypothetical transaction at the measurement date, considered from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. In general, the transaction price will equal the exit price and, therefore, represents the fair value of the asset or liability at initial recognition. In determining whether a transaction price represents the fair value of the asset or liability at initial recognition, each reporting entity is required to consider factors specific to the asset or liability, the principal or most advantageous market for the assets or liability, and market participants with whom the entity would transact in that market.

 

Described below are the Bank’s fair-value-measurement methodologies for assets and liabilities measured or disclosed at fair value.

 

Cash and Due from Banks. The estimated fair value approximates the recorded book balance.

 

Interest-Bearing Deposits in Banks. The estimated fair value is determined by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows. The discount rates used in these calculations are the rates for interest-bearing deposits with similar terms.

 

Investment Securities. Fair values of investment securities that are actively traded in orderly transactions by market participants in the secondary market are determined based on independent market-based prices received from a third-party pricing service. The Bank’s principal markets for securities portfolios are the secondary institutional markets, with an exit price that is predominantly reflective of bid-level pricing in that market. Two factors may be used to determine the fair value of investment securities when the security is not actively traded in orderly transactions, (1) dealer quotes or (2) estimated fair value determined by calculating the present value of the expected future cash flows and reducing the amount for accrued interest receivable. In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Bank generally reviews the valuation methodologies used to develop the fair values in order to determine whether such valuations are representative of an exit price in the Bank’s principal markets. Further, the Bank performs an internal, independent price verification function that tests valuations received from third parties. Available-for-sale securities and trading securities are carried on the statement of condition at fair value.

 

Securities Purchased under Agreements to Resell. The estimated fair value is determined by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows. The discount rates used in these calculations are the rates for securities with similar terms.

 

Federal Funds Sold. The estimated fair value is determined by calculating the present value of the expected future cash flows. The discount rates used in these calculations are the rates for federal funds with similar terms.

 

Advances. The Bank determines the estimated fair value of advances by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows from the advances and excluding the amount of the accrued interest receivable. The discount rates used in these calculations are the current replacement rates for advances with similar terms. In accordance with the Finance Agency’s advances regulations, except in cases where advances are funded by callable debt or otherwise hedged so as to be financially indifferent to prepayments, advances with a maturity or repricing period greater than six months require a prepayment fee sufficient to make the Bank financially indifferent to the borrower’s decision to prepay the advances. Therefore, the estimated fair value of advances does not assume prepayment risk. Credit risk related to advances does not have an impact on the estimated fair values of the Bank’s advances. Collateral requirements for advances provide a measure of additional credit enhancement to make credit losses remote. The Bank enjoys certain unique advantages as a creditor to its members. The Bank has the ability to establish a blanket lien on assets of members, and in the case of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured institutions, the ability to establish priority above all other creditors with respect to collateral that has not been perfected by other parties. All of these factors serve to mitigate credit risk on advances.

 

Mortgage Loans. The estimated fair values for mortgage loans are determined based on quoted market prices of similar mortgage loans available in the market or modeled prices. The modeled prices start with prices for new MBS issued by GSEs. Prices are then

 

24



Table of Contents

 

adjusted for differences in coupon, average loan rate, seasoning, and cash-flow remittance between the Bank’s mortgage loans and the MBS. The prices of the referenced MBS and the mortgage loans are highly dependent upon the underlying prepayment assumptions priced in the secondary market. Changes in the prepayment rates could have a material effect on the estimated fair value. Since these underlying prepayment assumptions are made at a specific point in time, they are susceptible to material changes in the near term.

 

Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable. The estimated fair value is the recorded book value.

 

Derivative Assets/Liabilities – Interest-Rate Exchange Agreements. The Bank bases the estimated fair values of interest-rate-exchange agreements on available market prices of derivatives having similar terms, including accrued interest receivable and payable. The estimated fair value is based on the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) swap curve and forward rates at period-end and, for agreements containing options, the market’s expectations of future interest-rate volatility implied from current market prices of similar options. The estimated fair value uses standard valuation techniques for derivatives such as discounted cash-flow analysis and comparisons with similar instruments. The fair values are netted by counterparty, including cash collateral received or delivered from/to the counterparty, where such legal right of offset exists. If these netted amounts are positive, they are classified as an asset, and if negative, they are classified as a liability. The Bank enters into master-netting agreements for interest-rate-exchange agreements with institutions that have long-term senior unsecured credit ratings that are at or above single-A by S&P and Moody’s, establishes master-netting agreements to reduce its exposure from counterparty defaults, and enters into bilateral-collateral-exchange agreements that require credit exposures beyond a defined amount to be secured by U.S. government or GSE-issued securities or cash. All of these factors serve to mitigate credit and nonperformance risk to the Bank. The Bank has evaluated the potential for the fair value of the instruments to be impacted by counterparty credit risk and nonperformance risk and has determined that no adjustments were significant to the overall fair value measurements.

 

Derivative Assets/Liabilities – Mortgage-Loan-Purchase Commitments. Mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are recorded as derivatives in the statement of condition. The estimated fair values of mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are based on the end-of-day delivery commitment prices provided by the FHLBank of Chicago, which are derived from MBS to be announced (TBA) delivery-commitment prices with adjustment for the contractual features of the MPF program, such as servicing and credit-enhancement features.

 

Deposits. The Bank determines fair values of deposits by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows from the deposits and reducing this amount by any accrued interest payable. The discount rates used in these calculations are the cost of deposits with similar terms.

 

Consolidated Obligations. The Bank estimates fair values based on the cost of issuing comparable term debt, excluding noninterest selling costs. Fair values of CO bonds and CO discount notes without embedded options are determined based on internal valuation models which use market-based yield curve (CO curve) inputs obtained from the Office of Finance. Fair values of COs with embedded options are determined based on internal valuation models with market-based inputs obtained from the Office of Finance and derivative dealers.

 

Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Stock. The fair value of capital stock subject to mandatory redemption is generally at par. Capital stock can only be acquired by the Bank’s members at par value and redeemed at par value. The Bank’s capital stock is not traded and no market mechanism exists for the exchange of capital stock outside the cooperative structure.

 

Commitments. The estimated fair value of the Bank’s standby bond-purchase agreements is based on the present value of the estimated fees the Bank is to receive for providing these agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of such agreements. For fixed-rate advance commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.

 

The following estimated fair-value amounts have been determined by the Bank using available market information and the Bank’s best judgment of appropriate valuation methods. These estimates are based on pertinent information available to the Bank as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. Although the Bank uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of these financial instruments, there are inherent limitations in any estimation technique or valuation methodology. For example, because an active secondary market does not exist for a portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, in certain cases, fair values are not subject to precise quantification or verification and may change as economic and market factors and evaluation of those factors change. Therefore, these estimated fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in current market transactions. The fair-value summary tables do not represent an estimate of the overall market value of the Bank as a going concern, which would take into account future business opportunities and the net profitability of assets versus liabilities.

 

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Bank’s financial instruments at September 30, 2008, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

25



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Net
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

109,283

 

$

 

$

109,283

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

110

 

 

110

 

Federal funds sold

 

4,241,000

 

(248

)

4,240,752

 

Trading securities

 

77,803

 

 

77,803

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

1,100,900

 

 

1,100,900

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

11,111,272

 

(1,353,782

)

9,757,490

 

Advances

 

63,787,274

 

(106,538

)

63,680,736

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

4,051,173

 

(49,293

)

4,001,880

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

298,786

 

 

298,786

 

Derivative assets

 

12,137

 

 

12,137

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

(1,211,846

)

1,100

 

(1,210,746

)

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(35,296,741

)

372,847

 

(34,923,894

)

Discount notes

 

(43,656,858

)

36,675

 

(43,620,183

)

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(93,175

)

 

(93,175

)

Accrued interest payable

 

(312,741

)

 

(312,741

)

Derivative liabilities

 

(366,997

)

 

(366,997

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit for advances

 

 

250

 

250

 

Standby bond-purchase agreements

 

 

1,000

 

1,000

 

Standby letters of credit

 

(329

)

 

(329

)

 

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Bank’s financial instruments at December 31, 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Net
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

6,823

 

$

 

$

6,823

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

50

 

 

50

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

500,000

 

(3

)

499,997

 

Federal funds sold

 

2,908,000

 

(184

)

2,907,816

 

Trading securities

 

112,869

 

 

112,869

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

1,063,759

 

 

1,063,759

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

13,277,881

 

(160,250

)

13,117,631

 

Advances

 

55,679,740

 

186,075

 

55,865,815

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

4,091,314

 

(30,553

)

4,060,761

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

457,407

 

 

457,407

 

Derivative assets

 

67,047

 

 

67,047

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

(713,126

)

435

 

(712,691

)

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(30,421,987

)

(83,778

)

(30,505,765

)

Discount notes

 

(42,988,169

)

(10,236

)

(42,998,405

)

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(31,808

)

 

(31,808

)

Accrued interest payable

 

(280,452

)

 

(280,452

)

Derivative liabilities

 

(286,789

)

 

(286,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit for advances

 

 

(681

)

(681

)

Standby bond-purchase agreements

 

 

1,752

 

1,752

 

Standby letters of credit

 

(773

)

 

(773

)

 

26



Table of Contents

 

SFAS 157 establishes a fair-value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The inputs are evaluated and an overall level for the measurement is determined. This overall level is an indication of how market observable the fair- value measurement is and defines the level of disclosure. SFAS 157 clarifies fair value in terms of the price in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell an asset or transfer a liability in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. The objective of a fair-value measurement is to determine the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability at the measurement date (an exit price). In order to determine the fair value or the exit price, entities must determine the unit of account, highest and best use, principal market, and market participants. These determinations allow the reporting entity to define the inputs for fair value and level of hierarchy.

 

Outlined below is the application of the fair-value hierarchy established by SFAS 157 to the Bank’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are carried at fair value.

 

Level 1

Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. An active market for the asset or liability is a market in which the transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. The types of assets and liabilities carried at Level 1 fair value generally include certain types of investments such as U.S. Treasury securities and other U.S. government and agency mortgage-backed debt securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets.

 

 

Level 2

Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The types of assets and liabilities carried at Level 2 fair value generally include certain investment securities, including agency and private-label mortgage-backed debt securities, and derivative contracts.

 

 

Level 3

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair-value measurement. Unobservable inputs are supported by little or no market activity or by the entity’s own assumptions.

 

The Bank utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

The following table presents the Bank’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on its statement of condition at September 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands), by SFAS 157 fair-value hierarchy level:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netting

 

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Adjustment (1)

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

$

 

$

77,803

 

$

 

$

 

$

77,803

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

 

1,100,900

 

 

 

1,100,900

 

Derivative assets

 

 

144,134

 

 

(131,997

)

12,137

 

Total assets at fair value

 

$

 

$

1,322,837

 

$

 

$

(131,997

)

$

1,190,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative liabilities

 

$

(34

)

$

(406,596

)

$

 

$

39,633

 

$

(366,997

)

Total liabilities at fair value

 

$

(34

)

$

(406,596

)

$

 

$

39,633

 

$

(366,997

)

 


(1)

Amounts represent the effect of legally enforceable master-netting agreements that allow the Bank to settle positive and negative positions and also cash collateral held or placed with the same counterparties. Net cash collateral associated with derivative contracts, including accrued interest, as of September 30, 2008, totaled $92.4 million.

 

For instruments carried at fair-value, the Bank reviews the fair-value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets or liabilities. If a change in classification results in an item moving into or out of the Level 3 fair-value hierarchy, such reclassification will be reported as a transfer in/out of Level 3 at fair value in the quarter in which the change occurs.

 

Note 16 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

As described in Note 10, as provided by both the FHLBank Act and Finance Agency regulation, COs are backed by the financial resources of the FHLBanks. The joint and several liability regulation of the Finance Agency authorizes the Finance Agency to require any FHLBank to repay all or a portion of the principal and interest on COs for which another FHLBank is the primary obligor. No FHLBank has had to assume or pay the CO of another FHLBank.

 

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The Bank considered the guidance under FASB interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others-an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57, and 107 and Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34 (FIN 45), and determined it was not necessary to recognize a liability for the fair value of the Bank’s joint and several liability for all of the COs. The joint and several obligation is mandated by Finance Agency regulation and is not the result of an arms-length transaction among the FHLBanks. The FHLBanks have no control over the amount of the guaranty or the determination of how each FHLBank would perform under the joint and several obligation. Because the FHLBanks are subject to the authority of the Finance Agency as it relates to decisions involving the allocation of the joint and several liability for the FHLBanks’ COs, the FHLBanks’ joint and several obligation is excluded from the initial recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 45. Accordingly, the Bank has not recognized a liability for its joint and several obligation related to other FHLBanks’ COs at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. The par amounts of other FHLBanks’ outstanding COs for which the Bank is jointly and severally liable aggregated to approximately $1.2 trillion and $1.1 trillion at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Commitments to Extend Credit. Commitments that legally bind and unconditionally obligate the Bank for additional advances totaled approximately $3.5 billion and $873.5 million at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Commitments generally are for periods up to 12 months. Standby letters of credit are executed with members for a fee. A standby letter of credit is a contingent financing arrangement between the Bank and a member. If the Bank is required to make payment for a beneficiary’s draw, these amounts are converted into a collateralized advance to the member. Outstanding standby letters of credit as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding notional

 

$

1,245,435

 

$

2,578,743

 

Original terms

 

One month to 20 years

 

Three months to 20 years

 

Final expiration year

 

2024

 

2024

 

 

Unearned fees for transactions prior to 2003 as well as the value of the guarantees related to standby letters of credit entered into after 2002 are recorded in other liabilities and totaled $329,000 and $773,000 at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Based on management’s credit analyses and collateral requirements, the Bank has not deemed it necessary to record any additional liability on these commitments. Commitments are fully collateralized at the time of issuance.

 

Commitments for unused line-of-credit advances totaled approximately $1.4 billion at both September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Commitments are generally for periods of up to 12 months. Since many of these commitments are not expected to be drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

Mortgage Loans. Commitments that obligate the Bank to purchase mortgage loans totaled $33.8 million and $9.6 million at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Commitments are generally for periods not to exceed 45 business days. Such commitments are recorded as derivatives at their fair values on the statement of condition.

 

Standby Bond-Purchase Agreements. The Bank has entered into standby bond-purchase agreements with state-housing authorities whereby the Bank, for a fee, agrees to purchase and hold the authority’s bonds until the designated remarketing agent can find a new investor or the housing authority repurchases the bond according to a schedule established by the standby agreement. Each standby agreement dictates the specific terms that would require the Bank to purchase the bond. The bond-purchase commitments entered into by the Bank expire within three years, currently no later than 2011. Total outstanding commitments for bond purchases were $332.0 million and $501.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, with two state-housing authorities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Bank purchased $28.2 million of bonds under these agreements. These bonds are classified as available-for-sale in the statement of condition. See Note 4 – Available-for-Sale Securities for additional information regarding the purchase of these securities. Once the bonds are remarketed or repurchased by the state-housing authority the commitment amount of standby bond-purchase agreements will increase by the amount of the bonds, as long as the standby bond-purchase agreement has not expired.

 

Counterparty Credit Exposure. The Bank executes derivatives with counterparties rated single-A or better by either S&P or Moody’s, and enters into bilateral-collateral agreements. As of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had pledged as collateral securities with a carrying value, including accrued interest, of $170.5 million and $90.0 million, respectively, to counterparties that have credit-risk exposure to the Bank related to derivatives. These amounts pledged as collateral were subject to contractual agreements whereby counterparties typically had the right to sell or repledge the collateral.

 

Unsettled Consolidated Obligations. The Bank had $300.0 million and $89.0 million par value of CO bonds that had traded but not settled as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Additionally, the Bank had $913.7 million and $730.0 million par value of CO discount notes that had been traded but not settled as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

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Lending Agreement Collateral. On September 9, 2008, the Bank entered into a lending agreement with the U.S. Treasury in connection with the U.S. Treasury’s establishment of the Government Sponsored Enterprise Credit Facility (GSECF), which is an additional source of liquidity for the FHLBanks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Any borrowings by the Bank under the GSECF are COs with the same joint and several liability as all other COs. The terms of the borrowings are agreed to at the time of issuance. The maximum borrowings under the lending agreement are based on eligible collateral. The Bank has agreed to submit to the U.S. Treasury a weekly list of eligible collateral based on the lending agreement. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had provided the U.S. Treasury with a listing of eligible collateral amounting to $23.5 billion. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had not drawn on this available source of liquidity.

 

Legal Proceedings. The Bank is subject to various pending legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Management does not anticipate that the ultimate liability, if any, arising out of these matters will have a material effect on the Bank’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Note 17 – Transactions with Related Parties and Other FHLBanks

 

Transactions with Related Parties. The Bank defines related parties as 1) those members whose capital stock outstanding was in excess of 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding and 2) other FHLBanks. As discussed in Note 11, Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. and RBS Citizens N.A. held more than 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding as of September 30, 2008. Advances, derivative contracts, and capital stock activity with Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. and RBS Citizens N.A. are discussed in Notes 6, 8, and 12.

 

Transactions with Other FHLBanks. The Bank may occasionally enter into transactions with other FHLBanks. These transactions are summarized below.

 

Investments in Consolidated Obligations. As of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank did not hold any investments in other FHLBank COs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Bank did not record any interest income from investments in other FHLBank COs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Bank recorded interest income of $116,000 and $521,000, respectively, from these investment securities. Purchases of COs issued for other FHLBanks occur at market prices through third-party securities dealers.

 

Overnight Funds. The Bank may borrow or lend unsecured overnight funds from or to other FHLBanks. All such transactions are at current market rates. Interest income and interest expense related to these transactions with other FHLBanks are included within other interest income and interest expense from other borrowings in the statements of income.

 

The Bank did not have any borrowings from other FHLBanks outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. Interest expense on borrowings from other FHLBanks for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, is shown in the following table, by FHLBank (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Interest Expense to Other FHLBanks

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHLBank of Atlanta

 

$

8

 

$

 

$

32

 

$

 

FHLBank of Chicago

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

FHLBank of Cincinnati

 

30

 

19

 

191

 

54

 

FHLBank of Dallas

 

14

 

31

 

50

 

31

 

FHLBank of Des Moines

 

16

 

 

24

 

 

FHLBank of Indianapolis

 

5

 

 

27

 

 

FHLBank of New York

 

18

 

 

18

 

 

FHLBank of Pittsburgh

 

 

 

4

 

 

FHLBank of San Francisco

 

84

 

 

130

 

3

 

FHLBank of Seattle

 

1

 

 

5

 

 

FHLBank of Topeka

 

12

 

15

 

36

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

192

 

$

65

 

$

521

 

$

103

 

 

MPF Mortgage Loans. The Bank pays a transaction-services fee to the FHLBank of Chicago for the Bank’s participation in the MPF program. This fee is assessed monthly, and is based upon the amount of MPF loans purchased after January 1, 2004, and which remain outstanding on the Bank’s statement of condition. The Bank recorded $271,000 and $255,000 in MPF transaction-services fee expense to the FHLBank of Chicago during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which has been recorded in the statements of income as other expense. The Bank recorded $788,000 and $778,000 in MPF transaction-services fee expense to the FHLBank of Chicago during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including statements describing the objectives, projections, estimates, or predictions of the future of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank), may be “forward-looking statements.” These statements may use forward-looking terms, such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” or their negatives or other variations on these terms. The Bank cautions that by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk or uncertainty and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements or could affect the extent to which a particular objective, projection, estimate, or prediction is realized. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the following:

 

·

economic and market conditions;

·

volatility of market prices, rates, and indices;

·

increase in borrower defaults on mortgage loans and fluctuations in the housing market;

·

political, legislative, regulatory, or judicial events;

·

changes in the Bank’s capital structure;

·

membership changes;

·

changes in the demand by Bank members for Bank advances;

·

competitive forces, including the availability of other sources of funding for Bank members;

·

changes in investor demand for COs and/or the terms of interest-rate-exchange agreements and similar agreements;

·

the ability of the Bank to introduce new products and services to meet market demand and to manage successfully the risk associated with new products and services;

·

the ability of each of the other FHLBanks to repay the principal and interest on COs for which it is the primary obligor and with respect to which the Bank has joint and several liability; and

·

timing and volume of market activity.

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Bank’s interim financial statements and notes, which begin on page 1, and the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

PRIMARY BUSINESS RELATED DEVELOPMENTS

 

Investment Securities. The broad-based deterioration of credit performance of residential mortgage loans and the accompanying decline in residential real estate values in many parts of the United States increase the level of credit risk to which the Bank is exposed in its investments in mortgage-related securities. The Bank’s investments in MBS and asset-backed securities (ABS) are directly or indirectly supported by underlying mortgage loans. The deterioration of mortgage loan credit performance and house prices, combined with the market effects of distressed MBS liquidations by major holders of mortgages caused a sharp decrease in MBS prices and resulted in an increase in the Bank’s net unrealized loss attributable to MBS from $155.4 million as of December 31, 2007, to $1.3 billion as of September 30, 2008. Due to the decline in values of residential real estate, the Bank closely monitors the performance of its securities to evaluate its exposure to the risk of loss on these investments to determine if a loss is other than temporary. See Critical Accounting Estimates — Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Analysis within this item for additional information regarding the Bank’s investment analysis procedures. As of September 30, 2008, management has determined that none of its MBS is other-than-temporarily impaired.

 

Enactment of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. On July 30, 2008, the President signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which is designed to strengthen the regulation of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBanks and to address other GSE reform issues. The legislation eliminates the Finance Board and replaces it with a new regulator, the Finance Agency, overseeing the FHLBanks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. See Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments within this item for additional information.

 

Government Sponsored Enterprise Credit Facility. On September 9, 2008, the Bank entered into a lending agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury (U.S. Treasury). Each of the other 11 FHLBanks has also entered into its own lending agreement with the U.S. Treasury that is identical to the lending agreement entered into by the Bank. The FHLBanks entered into these lending agreements in connection with the U.S. Treasury’s establishment of a Government Sponsored Enterprise Credit Facility (GSECF), which is an additional source of liquidity for the FHLBanks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 provided the U.S. Treasury with the authority to establish the GSECF. See Financial Condition — Liquidity and Capital Resources – Liquidity within this item for additional information.

 

Legislation and Federal Programs to Stabilize the Credit Markets and Economy. Legislation and other federal programs and actions to stabilize the credit markets and economy, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), and the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, and a proposed rule by the FDIC to increase premiums on institutions it insures, each as

 

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described in Item 2 - Recent Regulatory and Legislative Developments, as well a large increase in the amount of funding available to the banking industry from the Federal Reserve’s term auction facility (TAF) and  the creation of a federal commercial paper funding facility (CPFF) for the purchase of commercial paper with the highest short-term ratings from a U.S. issuer, may have an adverse impact on the Bank. However, the ultimate impact of such programs and actions on the Bank cannot be predicted at this time. For example, alternative funding via the EESA, including the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the increase in available funding via TAF, and the federal support of the commercial paper market via CPFF may have the net effect of reducing member demand for advances from the Bank due to alternative means of raising funds pursuant to these or other programs. Alternatively, capital injections pursuant to the TARP may increase member ability to make loans and members may increase their demand for advances from the Bank to fund such loans. Likewise, the proposed rule by the FDIC to increase premiums, if enacted as proposed, would have the effect of increasing the borrowing costs for members, including when borrowing from the Bank, which may tend to reduce member demand for advances from the Bank. The Bank cannot predict, however, whether the final rule will be adopted as proposed. Further, due to the explicit guarantee by the FDIC of eligible debt by participating financial institutions pursuant to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, the program may decrease the funding costs of such participating financial institutions, which may reduce member demand for advances from the Bank. Alternatively, the uncertainty that the program may have created may tend to increase investor demand for the FHLBanks’ short term discount notes thereby lowering the FHLBanks’ funding costs pending increased certainty as to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program and the extent of related federal actions as well.

 

Liquidity. During the period covered by this report and subsequent to that period, the FHLBanks have been experiencing limited demand for CO debt with maturities longer than six months, and therefore, have become increasingly reliant on CO discount notes for funding, which has resulted in a significant proportion of FHLBank funding maturing within one year. Accordingly, the FHLBanks are receiving a large proportion of their funding from investors that are attracted to high-quality, short-term debt, particularly money funds. Any significant change in market conditions that results in an overall decline in money fund assets, or money funds reallocating portfolio holdings out of FHLBank debt, has the potential to raise funding costs as CO discount notes mature and are replaced with CO discount notes bearing an increase in pricing sufficient to attract alternative investors. See Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item for additional information.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The following financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2007, have been derived from the Bank’s audited financial statements. Financial highlights for the September 30, 2008 and 2007, interim periods have been derived from the Bank’s unaudited financial statements.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(dollars in thousands)
 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Statement of Condition

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

84,835,400

 

$

78,200,338

 

Investments (1)

 

16,531,085

 

17,362,559

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

 

500,000

 

Advances

 

63,787,274

 

55,679,740

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net

 

4,051,173

 

4,091,314

 

Deposits and other borrowings

 

1,211,846

 

713,126

 

Consolidated obligations, net

 

78,953,599

 

73,410,156

 

AHP liability

 

57,120

 

48,451

 

Payable to REFCorp

 

12,433

 

16,318

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

93,175

 

31,808

 

Class B capital stock outstanding – putable (2)

 

3,566,192

 

3,163,793

 

Total capital

 

3,795,409

 

3,387,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital ratio (3)

 

4.6

%

4.4

%

 

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For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

84,150

 

$

74,336

 

$

265,147

 

$

216,619

 

Other (loss) income

 

(2,074

)

6,867

 

(6,884

)

4,398

 

Other expense

 

14,213

 

12,763

 

42,479

 

38,878

 

AHP and REFCorp assessments

 

18,014

 

18,196

 

57,310

 

48,399

 

Net income

 

49,749

 

50,244

 

158,374

 

133,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared

 

$

25,456

 

$

38,958

 

$

107,539

 

$

117,421

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

51.17

%

77.54

%

67.90

%

87.79

%

Weighted-average dividend rate (5)

 

3.05

 

6.50

 

4.35

 

6.45

 

Return on average equity (6)

 

5.19

 

7.20

 

5.82

 

6.81

 

Return on average assets

 

0.24

 

0.31

 

0.26

 

0.29

 

Net interest margin (7)

 

0.41

 

0.46

 

0.44

 

0.48

 

 


(1)

Investments include available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities, trading securities, interest-bearing deposits in banks, and federal funds sold.

(2)

Capital stock is putable at the option of a member.

(3)

Total capital ratio is capital stock (including mandatorily redeemable capital stock) plus retained earnings as a percentage of total assets. See Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Financial Condition-Capital regarding the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.

(4)

Yields are annualized.

(5)

Weighted-average dividend rate is dividend amount declared divided by the average daily balance of capital stock eligible to receive dividends.

(6)

Return on average equity is net income divided by the total of the average daily balance of outstanding Class B capital stock and retained earnings. The average daily balance of accumulated other comprehensive income is not included in the calculation.

(7)

Net interest margin is net interest income before mortgage-loan-loss provision as a percentage of average earning assets.

 

QUARTERLY OVERVIEW

 

Third Quarter of 2008 Compared with Third Quarter of 2007. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2008, was $49.7 million, compared with $50.2 million for the same period in 2007. This $495,000 decrease was primarily due to an $8.3 million increase in net losses on derivatives and hedging activities, and a $1.3 million increase in operating expenses, which were partially offset by an increase of $9.8 million in net interest income.

 

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2008, was $84.2 million, compared with $74.3 million for the same period in 2007. This $9.8 million increase was primarily attributable to a significant increase in the average size of the balance sheet in the third quarter of 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007. Average total earning assets were $17.9 billion higher in the third quarter of 2008 than in the same period of 2007, primarily due to increased advances activity due to the liquidity shortage impacting the U.S. banking system. Prepayment-fee income recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, increased by $1.2 million. The favorable impact of the growth in the average size of the balance sheet was constrained by lower short-term interest rates.

 

For the quarters ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, average total assets were $82.1 billion and $64.4 billion, respectively. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.24 percent and 5.19 percent, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared with 0.31 percent and 7.20 percent, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

 

Net interest spread for the third quarter of 2008 was 0.27 percent, a four basis-point increase from the net interest spread for the third quarter of 2007. Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2008 was 0.41 percent, a five basis-point decline from net interest margin for the third quarter of 2007. See Results of Operations Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin in this item for additional discussion of these topics.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $158.4 million, compared with $133.7 million for the same period in 2007. This $24.6 million increase was primarily due to an increase of $48.5 million in net interest income which was partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in loss on extinguishment of debt, a $9.5 million increase in net losses on derivatives and hedging activities, a $3.3 million increase in operating expenses, and an $8.9 million increase in assessments.

 

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $265.1 million, compared with $216.6 million for the same period in 2007. This $48.5 million increase was primarily attributable to a significant increase in the average size of the balance sheet in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. Average total earning assets were $20.8 billion higher in the first nine months of 2008 than in the same period of 2007, mainly due to increased advances activity due to the liquidity shortage impacting the U.S. banking system. Prepayment-fee income recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared

 

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with the same period in 2007, increased by $2.7 million. The favorable impact of the growth in the average size of the balance sheet was constrained by lower short-term interest rates.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, average total assets were $81.5 billion and $60.6 billion, respectively. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.26 percent and 5.82 percent, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with 0.29 percent and 6.81 percent, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

Net interest spread for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was 0.29 percent, a four-basis-point increase from the net interest spread for the same period in 2007. Net interest margin for the first nine months of 2008 was 0.44 percent, a four-basis-point decline from net interest margin for the same period of 2007. See Results of Operations – Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin in this item for additional discussion of these topics.

 

Financial Condition at September 30, 2008, versus December 31, 2007.

 

The composition of the Bank’s total assets changed during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as follows:

 

·

Advances increased to 75.2 percent of total assets at September 30, 2008, up from 71.2 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007. This increase in advances reflects a continued increase in member demand caused by recent market conditions. As of September 30, 2008, advances balances increased by approximately $8.1 billion from December 31, 2007, ending the period at $63.8 billion.

 

 

·

Short-term money-market investments increased to 5.0 percent of total assets at September 30, 2008, up from 4.4 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007. As of September 30, 2008, federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in total had increased by $833.0 million ending the period at $4.2 billion.

 

 

·

Investment securities decreased to 14.5 percent of total assets at September 30, 2008, down from 18.5 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007. Investment securities in total decreased by $2.2 billion from December 31, 2007, to September 30, 2008. The decrease is due to a $3.8 billion decline in held-to-maturity certificates of deposits, which was partially offset by a $1.6 billion increase in held-to-maturity MBS. The increase in held-to-maturity MBS was due to increased purchases of GSE MBS of $3.5 billion in the first nine months of 2008. These purchases were made under the Bank’s pre-existing authority to purchase MBS up to 300 percent of capital and have not used the temporary increase in MBS investment authority granted to the FHLBanks by the Finance Board at its March 24, 2008, board meeting. At September 30, 2008, the Bank’s MBS and Small Business Administration (SBA) holdings represented 243 percent of capital compared with 226 percent at December 31, 2007.

 

 

·

Net mortgage loans decreased to 4.8 percent of total assets at September 30, 2008, down from 5.2 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007. The decrease primarily reflects the increase in total assets during the period.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin

 

Third Quarter of 2008 Compared with Third Quarter of 2007. Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2008, was $84.2 million, compared with $74.3 million for the same period in 2007, increasing 13.2 percent from the previous year. However, net interest margin for the third quarter of 2007 in comparison with the third quarter of 2008 decreased from 46 basis points to 41 basis points, while net interest spread increased from 23 basis points to 27 basis points, respectively.

 

The increase in net interest income was largely attributable to a significant increase in the average size of the balance sheet in the third quarter of 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007, but also reflected an increase in the Bank’s net interest spread. Average total earning assets were $17.9 billion higher in the third quarter of 2008 than in the same period of 2007, which was largely attributable to the $20.8 billion increase in average advances balances.

 

Net interest spread for the third quarter of 2008 was 0.27 percent, a four-basis-point increase from the net interest spread for the third quarter of 2007. Net interest spread is the difference between the yields on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2008 was 0.41 percent, a five-basis-point decline from net interest margin for the third quarter of 2007. Net interest margin is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average earning assets. The increase in the Bank’s net interest spread was attributable to the sharp decline in the cost of CO discount note funding relative to the yield of assets with comparable terms, such as advances and money-market investments, the relatively elevated yields obtained on GSE MBS purchased during the first nine months of 2008, and an increase in prepayment-fee income. The decrease in the Bank’s net interest margin reflected the offsetting impact of the investment of the Bank’s interest-free capital at lower average asset yields, reflecting the drop in short-term interest rates between the two periods.

 

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For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the average yields on total interest-earning assets decreased 217 basis points and yields on total interest-bearing liabilities decreased 221 basis points, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2007.

 

Prepayment-fee income recognized on advances and investments increased $1.2 million to $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $684,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $265.1 million, compared with $216.6 million for the same period in 2007, increasing 22.4 percent from the previous year. However, net interest margin for the first nine months of 2007 in comparison with the same period in 2008 decreased from 48 basis points to 44 basis points, while net interest spread increased from 25 basis points to 29 basis points, respectively.

 

The increase in net interest income was largely attributable to a significant increase in the average size of the balance sheet in the first nine months of 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007, but also reflected an increase in the Bank’s net interest spread. Average total earning assets were $20.8 billion higher in the first nine months of 2008 than in the same period of 2007, which was largely attributable to the $21.3 billion increase in average advances balances.

 

Net interest spread for the first nine months of 2008 was 0.29 percent, a four-basis-point increase from the net interest spread for the same period in 2007. Net interest margin for the first nine months of 2008 was 0.44 percent, a four-basis-point decline from net interest margin for the same period in 2007. The increase in the Bank’s net interest spread was attributable to the sharp decline in the cost of CO discount note funding relative to the yield of assets with comparable terms, such as advances and money-market investments, as well as an increase in prepayment-fee income. The decrease in the Bank’s net interest margin reflected the offsetting impact of the investment of the Bank’s interest-free capital at lower average asset yields, reflecting the drop in short-term interest rates between the two periods.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the average yields on total interest-earning assets decreased 180 basis points and yields on total interest-bearing liabilities decreased 184 basis points, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

Prepayment-fee income recognized on advances and investments increased $2.7 million to $8.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

The following table presents major categories of average balances, related interest income/expense, and average yields for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The primary source of earnings for the Bank is net interest income, which is the interest earned on advances, mortgage loans, and investments less interest paid on COs, deposits, and other borrowings.

 

Net Interest Spread and Margin

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

64,172,854

 

$

464,629

 

2.88

%

$

43,337,620

 

$

573,552

 

5.25

%

Interest-bearing deposits in banks (2)

 

113

 

1

 

3.52

 

55

 

1

 

7.21

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

30,707

 

175

 

2.27

 

628,261

 

8,409

 

5.31

 

Federal funds sold

 

853,022

 

4,453

 

2.08

 

5,035,563

 

67,696

 

5.33

 

Investment securities (3)

 

12,354,880

 

116,553

 

3.75

 

10,390,860

 

143,325

 

5.47

 

Mortgage loans

 

4,039,868

 

51,893

 

5.11

 

4,202,916

 

53,522

 

5.05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

81,451,444

 

637,704

 

3.11

%

63,595,275

 

846,505

 

5.28

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

674,635

 

 

 

 

 

830,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

82,126,079

 

$

637,704

 

3.09

%

$

64,425,977

 

$

846,505

 

5.21

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

$

41,316,300

 

$

247,081

 

2.38

%

$

23,237,825

 

$

298,799

 

5.10

%

Bonds

 

34,948,190

 

301,387

 

3.43

 

36,510,900

 

462,120

 

5.02

 

Deposits (4)

 

1,018,015

 

4,353

 

1.70

 

881,593

 

10,714

 

4.82

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

93,175

 

437

 

1.87

 

28,744

 

468

 

6.46

 

Other borrowings

 

65,119

 

296

 

1.81

 

7,051

 

68

 

3.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

77,440,799

 

553,554

 

2.84

%

60,666,113

 

772,169

 

5.05

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

903,065

 

 

 

 

 

986,660

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital

 

3,782,215

 

 

 

 

 

2,773,204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and capital

 

$

82,126,079

 

$

553,554

 

2.68

%

$

64,425,977

 

$

772,169

 

4.76

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$

84,150

 

 

 

 

 

$

74,336

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

 

0.27

%

 

 

 

 

0.23

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

 

 

0.41

%

 

 

 

 

0.46

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

61,313,359

 

$

1,531,382

 

3.34

%

$

39,968,723

 

$

1,573,912

 

5.26

%

Interest-bearing deposits in banks (2)

 

119

 

2

 

2.24

 

56

 

2

 

4.77

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

434,398

 

10,636

 

3.27

 

1,334,432

 

53,251

 

5.34

 

Federal funds sold

 

1,420,662

 

27,706

 

2.61

 

4,336,752

 

172,918

 

5.33

 

Investment securities (3)

 

13,453,293

 

389,240

 

3.86

 

9,871,818

 

406,388

 

5.50

 

Mortgage loans

 

4,056,379

 

155,775

 

5.13

 

4,324,282

 

164,769

 

5.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

80,678,210

 

2,114,741

 

3.50

%

59,836,063

 

2,371,240

 

5.30

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

830,851

 

 

 

 

 

810,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

81,509,061

 

$

2,114,741

 

3.47

%

$

60,646,908

 

$

2,371,240

 

5.23

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

$

42,945,669

 

$

922,699

 

2.87

%

$

20,450,100

 

$

791,699

 

5.18

%

Bonds

 

32,779,493

 

908,919

 

3.70

 

35,696,322

 

1,329,052

 

4.98

 

Deposits (4)

 

1,037,165

 

16,251

 

2.09

 

899,838

 

32,849

 

4.88

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

55,603

 

1,072

 

2.58

 

17,703

 

904

 

6.83

 

Other borrowings

 

41,316

 

653

 

2.11

 

4,326

 

117

 

3.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

76,859,246

 

1,849,594

 

3.21

%

57,068,289

 

2,154,621

 

5.05

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

1,042,054

 

 

 

 

 

947,112

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital

 

3,607,761

 

 

 

 

 

2,631,507

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and capital

 

$

81,509,061

 

$

1,849,594

 

3.03

%

$

60,646,908

 

$

2,154,621

 

4.75

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$

265,147

 

 

 

 

 

$

216,619

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

 

0.29

%

 

 

 

 

0.25

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

 

 

0.44

%

 

 

 

 

0.48

%

 


(1)

Yields are annualized.

(2)

The average balance of cash collateral delivered to derivative counterparties is reflected in interest-bearing deposits in banks to properly calculate the average yield and net interest spread and net interest margin, while the period-end balance of such cash collateral is reflected in either derivative assets or derivative liabilities on the statement of condition.

(3)

The average balances of available-for-sale securities are reflected at amortized cost; therefore the resulting yields do not give effect to changes in fair value.

(4)

The average balance of cash collateral received from derivative counterparties is reflected in deposits to properly calculate the average yield, net interest spread, and net interest margin, while the period-end balance of such cash collateral is reflected in either derivative assets or derivative liabilities on the statement of condition.

 

The average balance of total advances increased $21.3 billion, or 53.4 percent, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008,

 

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compared with the same period in 2007. The increase in average advances was attributable to strong member demand for short-term advances, while long-term fixed-rate and putable fixed-rate advances showed only a moderate increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared with the same period in 2007. The following table summarizes average balances of advances outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, by product type.

 

Average Balances of Advances Outstanding

By Product Type

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ending
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overnight advances – par value

 

$

 3,170,650

 

$

 1,025,794

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate advances – par value

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term

 

29,516,888

 

16,744,293

 

Long-term

 

11,869,688

 

8,689,916

 

Amortizing

 

2,460,735

 

2,412,562

 

Putable

 

9,031,699

 

6,117,043

 

Callable

 

13,887

 

30,000

 

 

 

52,892,897

 

33,993,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable-rate indexed advances – par value

 

 

 

 

 

Simple variable

 

4,822,764

 

4,944,980

 

Putable, convertible to fixed

 

12,000

 

17,220

 

 

 

4,834,764

 

4,962,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total average par value

 

60,898,311

 

39,981,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums and discounts

 

(14,141

)

(11,446

)

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

429,189

 

(1,639

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total average advances

 

$

 61,313,359

 

$

 39,968,723

 

 

As displayed in the above table, the total average advances increased by $21.3 billion from the nine months ended September 30, 2007, to the same period in 2008. The increase reflects a continued increase in member demand caused by recent market conditions and was attributable to the following components:

 

·

The average balance of short-term fixed-rate advances increased by approximately $12.8 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared with the same period in 2007. All short-term fixed-rate advances have a maturity of one year or less, with interest rates that closely follow short-term market interest-rate trends. The yield spread to the Bank’s funding cost for these advances is generally narrower for short-term products than for other products with longer terms to maturity.

 

 

·

The average balance of long-term fixed rate advances increased by approximately $3.2 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

 

·

Average fixed-rate putable advances increased by $2.9 billion from the nine months ended September 30, 2007, to the same period in 2008. Putable advances are intermediate and long-term advances for which the Bank holds the option to cancel the advance on certain specified dates after an initial lockout period.

 

 

·

Average overnight advances increased by $2.1 billion from the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as compared with the same period in 2008. The interest rate on overnight advances changes on a daily basis and is based on market indications each day.

 

 

·

The above increases were offset by a decline in average variable-rate indexed advances of $127.4 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2007, to the same period in 2008. These advances have coupon rates that reset on a predetermined basis due to changes in an index, typically one- or three-month LIBOR, or on the offered yield on three-month FHLBank CO discount notes, as determined by the Office of Finance.

 

Putable advances that are classified as fixed-rate advances in the table above are typically hedged with interest-rate-exchange

 

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agreements in which a short-term rate is received, typically three-month LIBOR. Therefore, a significant portion of the Bank’s advances, including overnight advances, short-term fixed-rate advances, fixed-rate putable advances, and variable-rate advances, either earn a short-term interest rate or are swapped to a short-term index, resulting in yields that closely follow short-term market interest-rate trends. The average balance of these advances totaled $46.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, representing 76.4 percent of the total average balance of advances outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the average balance of these advances totaled $28.8 billion, representing 72.2 percent of total average advances outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

In the past, the foregoing trend toward a higher proportion of short-term advances would generally lead to declining net interest spreads to funding costs for the overall advances portfolio. Additionally, due to reduced advance demand that the Bank had experienced in the first half of 2007, the Bank offered advances at net interest spreads that were lower than historical averages for longer-term products, further diminishing the favorable impact of long-term advances upon the Bank’s net interest spread. However, in the latter half of 2007, the Bank’s typical yield spread to funding cost on short-term advances increased as the Bank’s cost of borrowing CO discount notes decreased relative to interbank borrowing interest rates, such as overnight and term federal funds rates. This led to an overall increase in net interest income on advances for the year ended December 31, 2007. This trend has diminished through the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as the yield spreads available from the issuance of CO discount notes compressed during the third quarter of 2008 toward long-term historical averages.

 

Third Quarter of 2008 Compared with Third Quarter of 2007. During the three months ended September 30, 2008, advances totaling $30.5 million were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $95,000 and a $67,000 gain related to fair-value hedging adjustments. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, advances totaling $192.1 million were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $1.2 million, which was partially offset by a loss of $710,000 related to fair value hedging adjustments on those prepaid advances.

 

Prepayment-fee income is unpredictable and inconsistent from period to period, occurring only when advances and investments are prepaid prior to the scheduled maturity or repricing dates. Because prepayment-fee income recognized during these periods does not necessarily represent a trend that will continue in future periods, and due to the fact that prepayment-fee income represents a one-time fee recognized in the period in which the corresponding advance or investment security is prepaid, we believe it is important to review the results of net interest spread and net interest margin excluding the impact of prepayment-fee income. These results are presented in the following table.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, advances totaling $843.2 million were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $5.4 million, which was partially offset by a $732,000 loss related to fair-value hedging adjustments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, advances totaling $742.3 million were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $4.4 million, which was partially offset by a $1.4 million loss related to fair-value hedging adjustments on those prepaid advances.

 

Net Interest Spread and Margin without Prepayment-Fee Income

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

464,467

 

2.88

%

$

573,073

 

5.25

%

Investment securities

 

114,791

 

3.70

 

143,120

 

5.46

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

635,780

 

3.11

 

845,821

 

5.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

82,226

 

 

 

73,652

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

0.27

%

 

 

0.23

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

0.40

%

 

 

0.46

%

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

1,526,730

 

3.33

%

$

1,570,948

 

5.25

%

Investment securities

 

385,397

 

3.83

 

403,523

 

5.47

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

2,106,246

 

3.49

 

2,365,411

 

5.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

256,652

 

 

 

210,790

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

0.28

%

 

 

0.24

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

0.42

%

 

 

0.47

%

 


(1)   Yields are annualized.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Average short-term money-market investments, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and federal funds sold, decreased $3.8 million, or 67.3 percent, from the average balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, to the same period in 2008. The lower average balances in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, resulted from the decreased activity in federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell. The yield earned on short-term money-market investments is tied directly to short-term market-interest rates. These investments are used for liquidity management and to manage the Bank’s leverage ratio in response to fluctuations in other asset balances.

 

Average investment-securities balances increased $3.6 billion or 36.3 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. The growth in average investments is due to the increase in average held-to-maturity securities, specifically MBS and certificates of deposit, which increased $1.8 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. The increase in held-to-maturity MBS was attributable to the Bank’s capacity to purchase MBS due to the increase in capital that occurred during 2007 and into 2008, and which were made under the Bank’s pre-existing authority to purchase MBS up to 300 percent of capital. Average total capital increased by $976.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. Furthermore, due to decreased global demand for MBS stemming from recent turmoil in the mortgage market, net interest spread opportunities with respect to all types of MBS improved over the course of 2008 and 2007, as compared with prior periods. Accordingly, the Bank has been able to purchase MBS at more favorable risk-adjusted net interest spreads than during prior periods.

 

On March 24, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Finance Board passed a resolution that authorizes each FHLBank to temporarily invest up to an additional 300 percent of its total capital in agency mortgage securities. The resolution requires, among other things, that the FHLBank notify the Finance Board prior to its first acquisition under the expanded authority and include in its notification a description of the risk-management practices underlying its purchases. The expanded authority is limited to MBS issued by, or backed by pools of mortgages guaranteed by, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, including collateralized mortgage obligations or real estate mortgage-investment conduits backed by such MBS. The mortgage loans underlying any securities that are purchased under this expanded authority must be originated after January 1, 2008, and underwritten to conform to standards imposed by the federal banking agencies in the Interagency Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Product Risks, dated October 4, 2006, and the Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending, dated July 10, 2007. On July 18, 2008, the board of directors of the Bank authorized the Bank to invest up to an additional 100 percent of its capital in agency MBS pursuant to the Finance Board’s resolution. The Bank has not notified the FHFA that it intends to use this expanded authority.

 

Average mortgage-loan balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, amounted to $4.1 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively. The $267.9 million decrease in the average balance for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, in comparison with the same period in 2007, represented a decline of 6.2 percent. This continuing decline in average mortgage-loan balances was attributable to mortgage-loan principal repayments that outpaced loan-purchase activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

Overall, the yield on the mortgage-loan portfolio has increased six basis points for the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. This increase is attributable to the following factors:

 

·                  The average stated coupon rate of the mortgage-loan portfolio increased five basis points due to the acquisition of mortgage loans at higher interest rates in 2008 relative to the coupons on pre-existing loans.

 

·                  The premium/discount amortization expense has declined $231,000, or 16.2 percent, representing an increase in the average yield of one basis point.

 

Overall, the yield on the mortgage-loan portfolio has increased four basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. This increase is attributable to the following factors:

 

·                  The premium/discount amortization expense has declined $875,000, or 18.5 percent, representing an increase in the average yield of three basis points.

 

·                  The average stated coupon rate of the mortgage-loan portfolio increased one basis point due to the acquisition of loans at higher interest rates in the latter half of 2007 and into 2008 relative to the coupons on pre-existing loans.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Composition of the Yields of Mortgage Loans

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coupon accrual

 

$

54,181

 

5.34

%

$

56,096

 

5.29

%

Premium/discount amortization

 

(1,195

)

(0.12

)

(1,426

)

(0.13

)

Credit-enhancement fees

 

(1,093

)

(0.11

)

(1,148

)

(0.11

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest income

 

$

51,893

 

5.11

%

$

53,522

 

5.05

%

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coupon accrual

 

$

162,894

 

5.36

%

$

173,014

 

5.35

%

Premium/discount amortization

 

(3,852

)

(0.12

)

(4,727

)

(0.15

)

Credit-enhancement fees

 

(3,267

)

(0.11

)

(3,518

)

(0.11

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest income

 

$

155,775

 

5.13

%

$

164,769

 

5.09

%

 


(1)          Yields are annualized.

 

Average CO balances increased $19.6 billion, or 34.9 percent, from the nine months ended September 30, 2007, to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was largely due to a $22.5 billion increase in CO discount notes that was partially offset by a decrease of $2.9 billion in CO bonds. The increase in COs funded the growth of the advances portfolio.

 

Net interest income includes interest paid and received on interest-rate-exchange agreements that are associated with advances, investments, deposits, and debt instruments that qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133. The Bank generally utilizes derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting as an interest-rate risk-management tool. These derivatives serve to stabilize net interest income and net interest margin when interest rates fluctuate. Accordingly, the impact of derivatives on net interest income and net interest margin should be viewed in the overall context of the Bank’s risk-management strategy. The following table provides a summary of the impact of derivative instruments on interest income and interest expense.

 

Impact of Derivatives on Gross Interest Income and Gross Interest Expense

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross interest income before effect of derivatives

 

$

 700,095

 

$

 830,029

 

$

 2,243,106

 

$

 2,324,601

 

Net interest adjustment for derivatives

 

(62,391

)

16,476

 

(128,365

)

46,639

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest income reported

 

$

 637,704

 

$

 846,505

 

$

 2,114,741

 

$

 2,371,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross interest expense before effect of derivatives

 

$

 588,629

 

$

 761,132

 

$

 1,957,091

 

$

 2,122,118

 

Net interest adjustment for derivatives

 

(35,075

)

11,037

 

(107,497

)

32,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest expense reported

 

$

 553,554

 

$

 772,169

 

$

 1,849,594

 

$

 2,154,621

 

 

Reported net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was 0.41 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively. If derivative instruments had not been used as hedges to mitigate the impact of interest-rate fluctuations, net interest margin would have been 0.54 percent and 0.43 percent, respectively.

 

Reported net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was 0.44 percent and 0.48 percent, respectively. If derivative instruments had not been used as hedges to mitigate the impact of interest-rate fluctuations, net interest margin would have been 0.47 percent and 0.45 percent, respectively.

 

Interest paid and received on interest-rate-exchange agreements that are used by the Bank in its asset and liability management, but

 

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Table of Contents

 

which do not meet hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133 (economic hedges), are classified as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities in other income. As shown in the Other Income (Loss) and Operating Expenses section below, interest accruals on derivatives classified as economic hedges totaled a loss of $1.0 million and a gain of $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, interest accruals on derivatives classified as economic hedges totaled a loss of $1.9 million and a gain of $3.4 million, respectively.

 

Rate and Volume Analysis

 

Changes in both average balances (volume) and interest rates influence changes in net interest income and net interest margin. The increase in net interest income is due primarily to higher average capital levels that are invested in earning assets without corresponding interest cost and an increase in average advance balances. The following table summarizes changes in interest income and interest expense between the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Changes in interest income and interest expense that are not identifiable as either volume-related or rate-related, but rather equally attributable to both volume and rate changes, have been allocated to the volume and rate categories based upon the proportion of the volume and rate changes.

 

Rate and Volume Analysis

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2008 vs. 2007

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008 vs. 2007

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) due to

 

Increase (decrease) due to

 

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Total

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Total

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

 275,744

 

$

 (384,667

)

$

 (108,923

)

$

 840,522

 

$

 (883,052

)

$

 (42,530

)

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

1

 

(1

)

 

2

 

(2

)

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

(7,998

)

(236

)

(8,234

)

(35,916

)

(6,699

)

(42,615

)

Federal funds sold

 

(56,228

)

(7,015

)

(63,243

)

(116,272

)

(28,940

)

(145,212

)

Investment securities

 

27,090

 

(53,862

)

(26,772

)

147,437

 

(164,585

)

(17,148

)

Mortgage loans

 

(2,076

)

447

 

(1,629

)

(10,208

)

1,214

 

(8,994

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest income

 

236,533

 

(445,334

)

(208,801

)

825,565

 

(1,082,064

)

(256,499

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

232,459

 

(284,177

)

(51,718

)

870,887

 

(739,887

)

131,000

 

Bonds

 

(19,779

)

(140,954

)

(160,733

)

(108,600

)

(311,533

)

(420,133

)

Deposits

 

1,658

 

(8,019

)

(6,361

)

5,013

 

(21,611

)

(16,598

)

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

1,049

 

(1,080

)

(31

)

1,935

 

(1,767

)

168

 

Other borrowings

 

560

 

(332

)

228

 

1,000

 

(464

)

536

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest expense

 

215,947

 

(434,562

)

(218,615

)

770,235

 

(1,075,262

)

(305,027

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in net interest income

 

$

 20,586

 

$

 (10,772

)

$

 9,814

 

$

 55,330

 

$

 (6,802

)

$

 48,528

 

 

Other Income (Loss) and Operating Expenses

 

The following table presents a summary of other income (loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Additionally, detail on the components of net gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities is provided, indicating the source of these gains and losses by type of hedging relationship and hedge accounting treatment.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Other Income (Loss)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (losses) gains related to fair-value hedge ineffectiveness

 

$

 (2,379

)

$

 6,218

 

$

 (1,921

)

$

 2,695

 

Net unrealized (losses) gains related to derivatives not receiving hedge accounting under SFAS 133 associated with:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

196

 

(2,820

)

(161

)

(2,644

)

Trading securities

 

328

 

(903

)

713

 

(810

)

Mortgage loans

 

(3

)

 

(3,378

)

 

Mortgage delivery commitments

 

60

 

53

 

(380

)

(73

)

Net interest accruals related to derivatives not receiving hedge  accounting under SFAS 133

 

(1,028

)

2,960

 

(1,868

)

3,357

 

Net (losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities

 

(2,826

)

5,508

 

(6,995

)

2,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

(2,699

)

(641

)

Service-fee income

 

1,042

 

1,108

 

3,649

 

3,111

 

Net unrealized (loss) gain on trading securities

 

(177

)

191

 

(789

)

(668

)

Realized loss from sale of available-for-sale securities

 

(80

)

 

(80

)

 

Realized loss from sale of held-to-maturity securities

 

(52

)

 

(52

)

 

Other

 

19

 

60

 

82

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other (loss) income

 

$

 (2,074

)

$

 6,867

 

$

 (6,884

)

$

 4,398

 

 

Third Quarter of 2008 Compared with Third Quarter of 2007. As noted in the Other Income (Loss) table above, SFAS 133 introduces the potential for considerable timing differences between income recognition from assets or liabilities and income effects of hedging instruments entered into to mitigate interest-rate risk and cash-flow activity.

 

There were no losses on early extinguishment of debt for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Early extinguishment of debt is primarily driven by the prepayment of advances and investments, which generates fee income to the Bank in the form of make-whole prepayment penalties. The Bank may use a portion of the fees of prepaid advances and investments to retire higher-costing debt and to manage the relative interest-rate sensitivities of assets and liabilities. However, the Bank is constrained in its ability to employ this strategy due to the limited availability of specific bonds for purchase and retirement. In this manner, the Bank endeavors to preserve its asset-liability repricing balance and to stabilize the net interest margin.

 

Changes in the fair value of trading securities are recorded in other income (loss). For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank recorded net unrealized (losses) gains on trading securities of ($177,000) and $191,000, respectively. These securities are economically hedged with interest-rate-exchange agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133, but are acceptable hedging strategies under the Bank’s risk-management program. Changes in the fair value of these economic hedges are recorded in current-period earnings and amounted to net gains (losses) of $328,000 and ($903,000) for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Also included in other income (loss) are interest accruals on these economic hedges, which resulted in losses of $597,000 and gains of $151,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

During the third quarter of 2008, the Bank sold available-for-sale MBS with a carrying value of $2.7 million and recognized a loss of $80,000 on the sale of these securities. These MBS had been pledged as collateral to Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc. (Lehman) on out-of-the-money derivatives transactions. See Financial Statements and Notes – Note 4 – Available-for-Sale Securities for additional information regarding the transaction. This event was determined by the Bank to be isolated, nonrecurring, and unusual and could not have been reasonably anticipated. As such, management determined that the sale does not impact the Bank’s ability and intent to hold the remaining available-for-sale securities that are in an unrealized loss position through to a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity. The Bank did not have any other sales of available-for-sale investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

During the third quarter of 2008, the Bank sold held-to-maturity MBS with a carrying value of $5.7 million and recognized a loss of $52,000 on the sale of these securities. These MBS had been pledged as collateral to Lehman on out-of-the-money derivatives transactions. See Financial Statements and Notes –Note 5 – Held-to-Maturity Securities for additional information regarding the transaction. Management determined that the sale does not impact the Bank’s ability and intent to hold the remaining investments classified as held-to-maturity through their stated maturity dates. The Bank did not have any other sales of held-to-maturity investment securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007. Losses on early extinguishment of debt totaled $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, due to the extinguishment of debt with a book value of $84.0 million. Losses on early extinguishment of debt totaled $641,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, due to the extinguishment of debt with a book value of $22.3 million.

 

Changes in the fair value of trading securities are recorded in other income (loss). For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank recorded net unrealized losses on trading securities of $789,000 and $668,000, respectively. These securities are economically hedged with interest-rate-exchange agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133, but are acceptable hedging strategies under the Bank’s risk-management program. Changes in the fair value of these economic hedges are recorded in current-period earnings and amounted to net gains (losses) of $713,000 and ($810,000) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Also included in other income (loss) are interest accruals on these economic hedges,

 

41



Table of Contents

 

which resulted in losses of $1.6 million and gains of $548,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes operating expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

Operating Expenses

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
 September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, incentive compensation, and benefits

 

$

 8,036

 

$

 7,376

 

$

 24,507

 

$

 22,537

 

Occupancy costs

 

1,068

 

1,053

 

3,171

 

3,067

 

Other operating expenses

 

3,781

 

3,118

 

10,767

 

9,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

 12,885

 

$

 11,547

 

$

 38,445

 

$

 35,161

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annualized ratio of operating expenses to average assets

 

0.06

%

0.07

%

0.06

%

0.08

%

 

Third Quarter of 2008 Compared with Third Quarter of 2007. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, total operating expenses increased $1.3 million from the same period in 2007. This increase was mainly due to a $660,000 increase in salaries and benefits and a $663,000 increase in other operating expenses. The $660,000 increase in salaries in benefits is due primarily to a $566,000 increase in salary expenses attributable to planned staffing increases and annual merit increases.

 

The $663,000 increase in other operating expenses was largely attributable to a $267,000 increase in contractual services, a $108,000 increase in equipment expenses, and a $195,000 increase in legal services.

 

The Bank, together with the other FHLBanks, is charged for the cost of operating the Finance Board, the Finance Agency, and the Office of Finance. These expenses totaled $1.1 million and $936,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and are included in other expense.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, total operating expenses increased $3.3 million from the same period in 2007. This increase was mainly due to a $2.0 million increase in salaries and benefits and a $1.2 million increase in other operating expenses. The $2.0 million increase in salaries and benefits is due primarily to a $1.5 million increase in salary expenses attributable to planned staffing increases and annual merit increases and an increase of $297,000 in employee benefits. The increase in employee benefits was attributable to an increase in costs associated with the Bank’s pension plans and health plans.

 

The $1.2 million increase in other operating expenses is largely attributable to a $466,000 increase in contractual services, a $389,000 increase in equipment expenses, and a $360,000 increase in legal services.

 

Finance Board, Finance Agency, and Office of Finance expenses totaled $3.2 million and $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and are included in other expense.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Advances

 

At September 30, 2008, the advances portfolio totaled $63.8 billion, an increase of $8.1 billion compared with a total of $55.7 billion at December 31, 2007. This increase was primarily the result of a $5.7 billion increase in fixed-rate advances, a $1.8 billion increase in variable rate advances and a $637.4 million increase in overnight advances. The increase in fixed-rate advances was concentrated in long-term advances and putable advances, which increased $2.9 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, as members increased their borrowings during 2008 in response to their own balance-sheet demands. In part, the growth was reflective of a nationwide trend of advance growth at the FHLBanks during the second half of 2007 and through the first half of 2008, as the U.S. banking industry faced significant liquidity tightening during this period. At September 30, 2008, 48.1 percent of total advances outstanding had original maturities of greater than one year, compared with 44.3 percent as of December 31, 2007.

 

The following table summarizes advances outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity.

 

42



Table of Contents

 

Advances Outstanding by Year of Contractual Maturity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Year of Contractual Maturity

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

 6,572

 

2.51

%

$

 61,496

 

4.64

%

Due in one year or less

 

39,354,287

 

2.74

 

35,745,494

 

4.65

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,543,195

 

4.35

 

6,801,904

 

4.59

 

Due after two years through three years

 

5,512,481

 

3.84

 

3,883,697

 

4.89

 

Due after three years through four years

 

2,429,920

 

4.38

 

1,974,447

 

4.88

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,920,000

 

3.24

 

1,966,414

 

4.54

 

Thereafter

 

5,705,132

 

4.15

 

4,951,427

 

4.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

63,471,587

 

3.21

%

55,384,879

 

4.65

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

9,322

 

 

 

4,278

 

 

 

Discounts

 

(20,131

)

 

 

(17,861

)

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

326,496

 

 

 

308,444

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

 63,787,274

 

 

 

$

 55,679,740

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2008, SFAS 133 hedging adjustments increased $18.1 million from December 31, 2007. Lower market-interest rates at September 30, 2008, as compared with December 31, 2007, resulted in a higher estimated fair value of the hedged advances.

 

The Bank offers advances to members that may be prepaid on pertinent dates (call dates) without incurring prepayment or termination fees (callable advances). At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had outstanding callable advances of $5.5 million and $30.0 million, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes advances outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity or next call date for callable advances.

 

Advances Outstanding by Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

(dollars in thousands)

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

 6,572

 

$

 61,496

 

Due in one year or less

 

39,359,787

 

35,775,494

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,543,195

 

6,801,904

 

Due after two years through three years

 

5,506,981

 

3,883,697

 

Due after three years through four years

 

2,429,920

 

1,944,447

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,920,000

 

1,966,414

 

Thereafter

 

5,705,132

 

4,951,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

 63,471,587

 

$

 55,384,879

 

 

The Bank also offers putable advances, in which the Bank purchases a put option from the member that allows the Bank to terminate the related advance on specific dates through its term. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank had putable advances outstanding totaling $9.4 billion and $8.0 billion, respectively. The following table summarizes advances outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by year of contractual maturity or next put date for putable advances.

 

Advances Outstanding by Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Put Date

(dollars in thousands)

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Put Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

6,572

 

$

61,496

 

Due in one year or less

 

46,087,207

 

41,613,769

 

Due after one year through two years

 

5,126,545

 

7,260,154

 

Due after two years through three years

 

4,892,781

 

2,681,797

 

Due after three years through four years

 

1,741,170

 

1,336,647

 

Due after four years through five years

 

4,131,206

 

987,864

 

Thereafter

 

1,486,106

 

1,443,152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

63,471,587

 

$

55,384,879

 

 

43



Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes advances outstanding by product type at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

Advances Outstanding by Product Type

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Balance

 

Total

 

Balance

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overnight advances

 

$

2,001,293

 

3.2

%

$

1,363,868

 

2.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term

 

30,537,347

 

48.1

 

29,377,410

 

53.0

 

Long-term

 

12,941,485

 

20.4

 

10,088,175

 

18.2

 

Amortizing

 

2,622,287

 

4.1

 

2,381,301

 

4.3

 

Putable

 

9,366,675

 

14.8

 

7,939,325

 

14.3

 

Callable

 

5,500

 

 

30,000

 

0.1

 

 

 

55,473,294

 

87.4

 

49,816,211

 

89.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable-rate advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple variable

 

5,997,000

 

9.4

 

4,158,800

 

7.5

 

Putable, convertible to fixed

 

 

 

46,000

 

0.1

 

 

 

5,997,000

 

9.4

 

4,204,800

 

7.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

63,471,587

 

100.0

%

$

55,384,879

 

100.0

%

 

The Bank lends to member financial institutions within the six New England states. Advances are diversified across the Bank’s member institutions. At September 30, 2008, the Bank had advances outstanding to 367, or 80.1 percent, of its 458 members.

At December 31, 2007, the Bank had advances outstanding to 353, or 77.2 percent, of its 457 members.

 

Top Five Advance-Holding Members

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances Interest Income for the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2008

 

Three Months

 

Nine Months

 

Name

 

City

 

State

 

Par Value of
Advances

 

Percent of
Total
Advances

 

Weighted-Average
Rate (1)

 

Ended
September 30,
2008

 

Ended
September 30,
2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A

 

Providence

 

RI

 

$

21,623,280

 

34.1

%

2.69

%

$

149,498

 

$

560,393

 

RBS Citizens, N.A.

 

Providence

 

RI

 

12,489,032

 

19.7

 

2.32

 

76,346

 

210,837

 

NewAlliance Bank

 

New Haven

 

CT

 

2,168,533

 

3.4

 

4.60

 

25,959

 

77,427

 

Webster Bank

 

Waterbury

 

CT

 

1,350,301

 

2.1

 

3.25

 

10,781

 

33,448

 

Washington Trust Company

 

Westerly

 

RI

 

747,414

 

1.2

 

4.16

 

8,014

 

23,153

 

 


(1)

Weighted-average rates are based on the contract rate of each advance without taking into consideration the effects of interest-rate-exchange agreements that may be used by the Bank as a hedging instrument.

 

Investments

 

At September 30, 2008, investment securities and short-term money-market instruments totaled $16.5 billion, compared with $17.9 billion at December 31, 2007. The decline in investments was due to a decrease of $3.8 billion in held-to-maturity certificates of deposit, partially offset by a $1.6 billion increase in held-to-maturity MBS, and an $833.1 million increase in money-market instruments. Under the Bank’s pre-existing authority to purchase MBS, additional investments in MBS and certain securities issued by

 

44



Table of Contents

 

the SBA are prohibited if the Bank’s investments in such securities exceed 300 percent of capital as measured at the previous monthend. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank’s MBS and SBA holdings represented 243 percent and 226 percent of capital, respectively.

 

Additional financial data on the Bank’s investment securities as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, are included in the following tables.

 

Trading Securities

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

$

27,912

 

$

32,827

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

37,982

 

47,754

 

Other

 

11,909

 

32,288

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

77,803

 

$

112,869

 

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supranational banks

 

$

350,075

 

$

393,162

 

$

350,603

 

$

396,341

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,339

 

230,122

 

213,485

 

237,204

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

143,546

 

151,908

 

143,586

 

156,064

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

28,189

 

28,189

 

 

 

 

 

735,149

 

803,381

 

707,674

 

789,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

296,357

 

297,519

 

269,248

 

274,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,031,506

 

$

1,100,900

 

$

976,922

 

$

1,063,759

 

 

Held-to-Maturity Securities

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

1,574,000

 

$

1,574,009

 

$

5,330,000

 

$

5,332,096

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

43,813

 

44,618

 

51,634

 

53,465

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations

 

278,279

 

255,565

 

299,653

 

287,228

 

 

 

1,896,092

 

1,874,192

 

5,681,287

 

5,672,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

12,316

 

12,875

 

13,661

 

14,297

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

4,596,018

 

4,567,877

 

1,658,407

 

1,682,370

 

Other

 

4,606,846

 

3,302,546

 

5,924,526

 

5,748,175

 

 

 

9,215,180

 

7,883,298

 

7,596,594

 

7,444,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

11,111,272

 

$

9,757,490

 

$

13,277,881

 

$

13,117,631

 

 

The Bank’s MBS investment portfolio consists of the following categories of securities as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

45



Table of Contents

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private-label residential mortgage-backed securities

 

45.9

%

68.6

%

U.S. government-guaranteed and GSE residential mortgage-backed securities

 

51.9

 

25.4

 

Private-label commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

1.8

 

5.4

 

Home-equity loans

 

0.4

 

0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage-backed securities

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Mortgage loans as of September 30, 2008, totaled $4.1 billion, a decrease of $40.1 million from the December 31, 2007, balance of $4.1 billion. The following table presents information relating to the Bank’s mortgage portfolio as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

Mortgage Loans Held in Portfolio

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Real estate

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate 15-year single-family mortgages

 

$

1,051,886

 

$

1,129,572

 

Fixed-rate 20- and 30-year single-family mortgages

 

2,980,596

 

2,938,886

 

Premiums

 

31,973

 

35,252

 

Discounts

 

(11,693

)

(11,270

)

Deferred derivative gains and losses, net

 

(1,364

)

(1,001

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans held for portfolio

 

4,051,398

 

4,091,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: allowance for credit losses

 

(225

)

(125

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage loans, net of allowance for credit losses

 

$

4,051,173

 

$

4,091,314

 

 

The following table details the par value of mortgage loans held for portfolio at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional loans

 

$

3,647,633

 

$

3,637,590

 

Government-insured or guaranteed loans

 

384,849

 

430,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

4,032,482

 

$

4,068,458

 

 

The FHLBank of Chicago, which acts as the MPF provider and provides operational support to the FHLBanks participating in the MPF program (MPF Banks) and their participating financial institution members (PFIs), calculates and publishes daily prices, rates, and fees associated with the various MPF products. See Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – Mortgage Loans of the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding the Bank’s relationship with the FHLBank of Chicago as MPF Provider.

 

The following table presents purchases of mortgage loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional loans

 

 

 

 

 

Original MPF

 

$

286,409

 

$

84,857

 

MPF 125

 

61,855

 

32,220

 

MPF Plus

 

58,306

 

 

Total conventional loans

 

406,570

 

117,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-insured or guaranteed loans

 

853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

407,423

 

$

117,077

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Allowance for Credit Losses on Mortgage Loans. The allowance for credit losses on mortgage loans was $225,000 and $125,000 at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. See the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Estimates – Allowance for Loan Losses for a description of the Bank’s methodology for estimating the allowance for loan losses. The Bank increased the allowance by $100,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, due to an increase in loan delinquencies.

 

The following table presents the Bank’s allowance for credit losses activity.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

$

125

 

Recoveries

 

 

 

 

9

 

Provision for (reduction of) credit losses

 

100

 

 

100

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

225

 

$

125

 

$

225

 

$

125

 

 

The Bank places conventional mortgage loans on nonaccrual when the collection of the contractual principal or interest is 90 days or more past due. Accrued interest on nonaccrual loans is reversed against interest income. The Bank monitors the delinquency levels of the mortgage-loan portfolio on a monthly basis. A summary of mortgage-loan delinquencies at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, is provided in the following tables.

 

Summary of Delinquent Mortgage Loans

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

Days Delinquent

 

Conventional

 

Government (1)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 days

 

$

36,860

 

$

17,921

 

$

54,781

 

60 days

 

9,604

 

6,023

 

15,627

 

90 days or more and accruing

 

 

12,303

 

12,303

 

90 days or more and nonaccruing

 

15,261

 

 

15,261

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total delinquencies

 

$

61,725

 

$

36,247

 

$

97,972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

$

3,647,633

 

$

384,849

 

$

4,032,482

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total delinquencies as a percentage of total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

1.69

%

9.42

%

2.43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delinquencies 90 days or more as a percentage of total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

0.42

%

3.20

%

0.68

%

 


(1)

Government loans continue to accrue interest after 90 or more days delinquent since the U.S. government insures or guarantees the repayment of principal and interest.

 

Summary of Delinquent Mortgage Loans

As of December 31, 2007

(dollars in thousands)

 

Days Delinquent

 

Conventional

 

Government (1)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 days

 

$

37,231

 

$

18,074

 

$

55,305

 

60 days

 

6,333

 

6,902

 

13,235

 

90 days or more and accruing

 

 

10,723

 

10,723

 

90 days or more and nonaccruing

 

7,982

 

 

7,982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total delinquencies

 

$

51,546

 

$

35,699

 

$

87,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

$

3,637,590

 

$

430,868

 

$

4,068,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total delinquencies as a percentage of total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

1.42

%

8.29

%

2.14

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delinquencies 90 days or more as a percentage of total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

0.22

%

2.49

%

0.46

%

 

47



Table of Contents

 


(1)

Government loans continue to accrue interest after 90 or more days delinquent since the U.S. government insures or guarantees the repayment of principal and interest.

 

Sale of REO Assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Bank sold REO assets with a recorded carrying value of $3.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Upon sale of these properties, and inclusive of any proceeds received from primary mortgage-insurance coverage, the Bank recognized net gains totaling $61,000 and $74,000 on the sale of REO assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Gains and losses on the sale of REO assets are recorded in other income.

 

Debt Financing — Consolidated Obligations

 

At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, outstanding COs, including both CO bonds and CO discount notes, totaled $79.0 billion and $73.4 billion, respectively. CO bonds have an initial maturity of greater than one year and are generally issued with either fixed-rate coupon-payment terms or variable-rate coupon-payment terms that use a variety of indices for interest-rate resets. In addition, to meet the needs of the Bank and of certain investors in COs, fixed-rate bonds and variable-rate bonds may also contain certain provisions that may result in complex coupon-payment terms and call or amortization features. When such COs (structured bonds) are issued, the Bank either enters into interest-rate-exchange agreements containing offsetting features, which effectively change the characteristics of the bond to those of a simple variable-rate bond, or uses the bond to fund assets with characteristics similar to those of the bond.

 

The following is a summary of the Bank’s CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by the year of contractual maturity, for which the Bank is primarily liable.

 

Consolidated Obligation Bonds Outstanding

by Year of Contractual Maturity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Year of Contractual Maturity

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

13,688,560

 

3.20

%

$

11,247,010

 

4.39

%

Due after one year through two years

 

8,208,815

 

3.61

 

6,335,475

 

4.63

 

Due after two years through three years

 

3,543,270

 

3.91

 

3,218,350

 

4.57

 

Due after three years through four years

 

1,390,780

 

4.68

 

1,705,500

 

4.86

 

Due after four years through five years

 

2,930,000

 

4.31

 

1,836,080

 

5.03

 

Thereafter

 

8,479,000

 

5.69

 

9,310,000

 

5.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

38,240,425

 

4.04

%

33,652,415

 

4.89

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

76,215

 

 

 

29,577

 

 

 

Discounts

 

(3,011,802

)

 

 

(3,329,419

)

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(8,097

)

 

 

69,414

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

35,296,741

 

 

 

$

30,421,987

 

 

 

 

CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, include issued callable bonds totaling $13.6 billion and $18.5 billion, respectively.

 

48



Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes CO bonds outstanding at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, by the earlier of the year of contractual maturity or next call date.

 

Consolidated Obligation Bonds Outstanding

by Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

(dollars in thousands)

 

Year of Contractual Maturity or Next Call Date

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

22,605,560

 

$

23,076,710

 

Due after one year through two years

 

7,829,815

 

4,140,475

 

Due after two years through three years

 

2,536,270

 

2,293,350

 

Due after three years through four years

 

625,780

 

671,800

 

Due after four years through five years

 

2,139,000

 

956,080

 

Thereafter

 

2,504,000

 

2,514,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

38,240,425

 

$

33,652,415

 

 

CO discount notes are also a significant funding source for the Bank. CO discount notes are short-term instruments with maturities ranging from overnight to one year. The Bank uses CO discount notes primarily to fund short-term advances and investments and longer-term advances and investments with short repricing intervals. CO discount notes comprised 55.3 percent and 58.6 percent of outstanding COs at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively, but accounted for 98.0 percent and 97.8 percent of the proceeds from the issuance of all COs during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and the year ended December 31, 2007, respectively, due, in particular, to the Bank’s frequent overnight CO discount note issuances.

 

The Bank’s outstanding CO discount notes, all of which are due within one year, were as follows:

 

CO Discount Notes Outstanding

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Book Value

 

Par Value

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

43,656,858

 

$

43,814,573

 

2.15

%

December 31, 2007

 

42,988,169

 

43,264,750

 

4.33

 

 

Average Consolidated Obligations Outstanding

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield (1)

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overnight discount notes

 

$

3,791,404

 

1.84

%

$

3,891,846

 

4.91

%

Term discount notes

 

37,524,896

 

2.43

 

19,345,979

 

5.14

 

Total discount notes

 

41,316,300

 

2.38

 

23,237,825

 

5.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

34,948,190

 

3.43

 

36,510,900

 

5.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total consolidated obligations

 

$

76,264,490

 

2.86

%

$

59,748,725

 

5.05

%

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield (1)

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield (1)

 

Overnight discount notes

 

$

4,864,781

 

2.24

%

$

3,116,733

 

5.08

%

Term discount notes

 

38,080,888

 

2.95

 

17,333,367

 

5.19

 

Total discount notes

 

42,945,669

 

2.87

 

20,450,100

 

5.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

32,779,493

 

3.70

 

35,696,322

 

4.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total consolidated obligations

 

$

75,725,162

 

3.23

%

$

56,146,422

 

5.05

%

 

49



Table of Contents

 


(1)          Yields are annualized.

 

The average balances of COs for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, were higher than the average balances for the same period in 2007, which is consistent with the increase in total average assets, primarily short-term advances. The average balance of term CO discount notes and overnight CO discount notes increased $20.7 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, from the prior period. Average balances of CO bonds decreased $2.9 billion from the prior period. The average balance of CO discount notes represented approximately 56.7 percent of total average COs during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared with 36.4 percent of total average COs during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and the average balance of bonds represented 43.3 percent and 63.6 percent of total average COs outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Deposits

 

As of September 30, 2008, deposits totaled $1.2 billion compared with $713.1 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of $498.7 million. This increase was mainly the result of a higher level of member deposits in the Bank’s overnight and demand-deposit accounts, which provide members with a short-term liquid investment.

 

The following table presents term deposits issued in amounts of $100,000 or greater at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

Term Deposits Greater than $100,000

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Term Deposits by Maturity

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months or less

 

$

27,500

 

2.23

%

$

3,950

 

4.98

%

Over three months through six months

 

8,000

 

2.89

 

 

 

Over six months through 12 months

 

 

 

 

 

Greater than 12 months (1)

 

26,250

 

4.19

 

26,250

 

4.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

$

61,750

 

3.15

%

$

30,200

 

4.29

%

 


(1)          Represents eight term deposit accounts totaling $6.3 million with maturity dates of August 31, 2011, and one term deposit totaling $20.0 million with a maturity date of September 22, 2014.

 

Capital

 

The Bank is subject to risk-based capital rules established by the Finance Agency. Only permanent capital, defined as retained earnings plus Class B stock, can satisfy the risk-based capital requirement. The Bank has remained in compliance with these requirements through September 30, 2008, as noted in the following table.

 

Risk-Based Capital Requirements

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Permanent capital

 

 

 

 

 

Class B capital stock

 

$

3,566,192

 

$

3,163,793

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

93,175

 

31,808

 

Retained earnings

 

276,757

 

225,922

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent capital

 

$

3,936,124

 

$

3,421,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk-based capital requirement

 

 

 

 

 

Credit-risk capital

 

$

210,294

 

$

167,538

 

Market-risk capital

 

546,822

 

112,106

 

Operations-risk capital

 

227,135

 

83,893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total risk-based capital requirement

 

$

984,251

 

$

363,537

 

 

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The increase in the Bank’s market-risk capital requirement reflects the sharp decline in the ratio of the Bank’s market value of equity to its book value of equity from 95.9 percent at December 31, 2007 to 72.3 percent at September 30, 2008, which primarily resulted from the sharp decline in the market value of MBS during the first half of 2008. See Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk – Measurement of Market and Interest Rate Risk for further discussion. Under Finance Agency regulations, the dollar amount by which the Bank’s market value of equity is less than 85 percent of its book value of equity must be added to the market risk component of its risk-based capital requirement. As of September 30, 2008, this incremental risk-based capital total was $468.7 million, and was the principal driver behind the increase in the Bank’s market risk component from $112.1 million at December 31, 2007, to $546.8 million at September 30, 2008. Management believes that the decline in the ratio of the Bank’s market value of equity to its book value of equity is temporary and will recover as liquidity returns to the MBS market. However, management cannot predict how long MBS prices will remain depressed, and the current situation could persist for an indefinite period of time.

 

In addition to the risk-based capital requirements, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 specifies a five percent minimum leverage ratio based on total capital using a 1.5 weighting factor applied to permanent capital, and a four percent minimum capital ratio that does not include a weighting factor applicable to permanent capital. The Bank was in compliance with these requirements through September 30, 2008.

 

The following table provides the Bank’s capital ratios as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

Capital Ratio Requirements

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Capital ratio

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum capital (4% of total assets)

 

$

3,393,416

 

$

3,128,014

 

Actual capital (capital stock plus retained earnings)

 

3,936,124

 

3,421,523 

 

Total assets

 

84,835,400

 

78,200,338

 

Capital ratio (permanent capital as a percentage of total assets)

 

4.6

%

4.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leverage ratio

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum leverage capital (5% of total assets)

 

$

4,241,770

 

$

3,910,017

 

Leverage capital (permanent capital multiplied by a 1.5 weighting factor)

 

5,904,186

 

5,132,284

 

Leverage ratio (leverage capital as a percentage of total assets)

 

7.0

%

6.6

%

 

Derivative Instruments

 

SFAS 133 requires all derivative instruments be recorded on the statement of condition at fair value, while FASB Interpretation No. 39, Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts, allows derivative instruments to be classified as assets or liabilities according to the net fair value of derivatives aggregated by counterparty. Derivative assets’ net fair value net of cash collateral and accrued interest totaled $12.1 million and $67.0 million as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Derivative liabilities’ net fair value net of cash collateral and accrued interest totaled $367.0 million and $286.8 million as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Bank implemented FSP FIN 39-1, which permits the Bank to offset fair-value amounts recognized for derivative instruments and fair-value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from derivative instruments recognized at fair value executed with the same counterparty under a master-netting arrangement. Upon the adoption of FSP FIN 39-1, the Bank recognized the effects of applying FSP FIN 39-1 as a change in accounting principle through retrospective application for all financial statements presented. At December 31, 2007, the Bank held cash collateral, including accrued interest from derivative counterparties, totaling $61.2 million classified as deposits and accrued interest payable in the statement of condition. Upon adoption of FSP FIN 39-1 on January 1, 2008, this amount was reclassified to derivative assets or derivative liabilities.

 

The Bank had commitments for which it was obligated to purchase mortgage loans with par values totaling $33.8 million and $9.6 million at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. Under SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 149), all mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are recorded at fair value on the statement of condition as derivative instruments. Upon fulfillment of the commitment, the recorded fair value is then reclassified as a basis adjustment of the purchased mortgage assets.

 

The following table presents a summary of the notional amounts and estimated fair values of the Bank’s outstanding derivative financial instruments, excluding accrued interest, and related hedged item by product and type of accounting treatment as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. The hedge designation “fair value” represents the hedge classification for transactions

 

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that qualify for hedge-accounting treatment in accordance with SFAS 133 and are hedged with the benchmark interest rate. The hedge designation “economic” represents hedge strategies that do not qualify for hedge accounting under the guidelines of SFAS 133, but are acceptable hedging strategies under the Bank’s risk-management policy.

 

Hedged Item and Hedge-Accounting Treatment

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge

 

Notional

 

Estimated

 

Notional

 

Estimated

 

Hedged Item

 

Derivative

 

Designation

 

Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Amount

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

Swaps

 

Fair value

 

$

15,792,359

 

$

(337,508

)

$

12,535,860

 

$

(310,871

)

 

 

Swaps

 

Economic

 

111,250

 

(885

)

29,000

 

(756

)

 

 

Caps and floors

 

Economic

 

99,500

 

304

 

409,800

 

586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total associated with advances

 

 

 

 

 

16,003,109

 

(338,089

)

12,974,660

 

(311,041

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

Swaps

 

Fair value

 

962,031

 

(158,605

)

936,031

 

(129,834

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

Swaps

 

Economic

 

71,500

 

(845

)

126,500

 

(1,559

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

Swaps

 

Fair value

 

15,130,971

 

(9,962

)

15,016,827

 

60,840

 

 

 

Swaps

 

Economic

 

 

 

25,000

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total associated with consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

15,130,971

 

(9,962

)

15,041,827

 

60,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

Swaps

 

Fair value

 

20,000

 

4,238

 

20,000

 

4,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member intermediated

 

Caps and floors

 

Not applicable

 

15,000

 

(3

)

20,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

32,202,611

 

(503,266

)

29,119,018

 

(377,188

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage delivery commitments (1)

 

 

 

 

 

33,804

 

(213

)

9,600

 

27

 

Forward contracts

 

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

(34

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

$

32,246,415

 

(503,513

)

$

29,128,618

 

(377,161

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

241,017

 

 

 

218,569

 

Cash collateral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(92,364

)

 

 

(61,150

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(354,860

)

 

 

$

(219,742

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,137

 

 

 

$

67,047

 

Derivative liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(366,997

)

 

 

(286,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(354,860

)

 

 

$

(219,742

)

 


(1)

Mortgage delivery commitments are classified as derivatives pursuant to SFAS 149, with changes in their fair value recorded in other income.

 

The Bank has entered into derivative contracts with its members in which the Bank acts as an intermediary between the member and a derivative counterparty. Effective March 2007, the Bank discontinued this program and no longer offers derivatives to its members on an intermediated basis, but will allow existing transactions to remain outstanding until expiration. The Bank also engages in derivatives directly with affiliates of certain of the Bank’s members, which act as derivatives dealers to the Bank. These derivative contracts are entered into for the Bank’s own risk-management purposes and are not related to requests from the Bank’s members to enter into such contracts.

 

Outstanding Derivative Contracts with Members and Affiliates of Members

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

Derivatives Counterparty

 

Affiliate Member

 

Primary
Relationship

 

Notional
Outstanding

 

Percent of Total
Derivatives
Outstanding (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America, N.A.

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

$

3,103,804

 

9.64

%

Royal Bank of Scotland, PLC

 

RBS Citizens, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

1,516,760

 

4.71

 

Bank of America Securities, LLC

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

 

Dealer

 

10,000

 

0.03

 

Auburn Savings Bank

 

Auburn Savings Bank

 

Member

 

10,000

 

0.03

 

 

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(1)          The percent of total derivatives outstanding is based on the stated notional amount of all derivative contracts outstanding.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Bank’s financial strategies are designed to enable the Bank to expand and contract its assets, liabilities, and capital in response to changes in membership composition and member credit needs. The Bank’s liquidity and capital resources are designed to support these financial strategies. The Bank’s primary source of liquidity is its access to the capital markets through CO issuance, which is described in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K in Item 1 – Business – Consolidated Obligations. The Bank’s equity capital resources are governed by the capital plan, which is described in the Capital section in this item below.

 

Liquidity

 

The Bank strives to maintain the liquidity necessary to meet member credit demands, repay maturing COs, meet other obligations and commitments, and respond to changes in membership composition. The Bank monitors its financial position in an effort to ensure that it has ready access to sufficient liquid funds to meet normal transaction requirements, take advantage of investment opportunities, and cover unforeseen liquidity demands.

 

The Bank is not able to predict future trends in member credit needs since they are driven by complex interactions among a number of factors, including, but not limited to: mortgage originations, other loan-portfolio growth, deposit growth, and the attractiveness of the pricing and availability of advances versus other wholesale borrowing alternatives. However, the Bank regularly monitors current trends and anticipates future debt-issuance needs in an effort to be prepared to fund its members’ credit needs and its investment opportunities.

 

Short-term liquidity management practices are described in Part 1 Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Liquidity Risk. The Bank manages its liquidity needs to ensure that it is able to meet all of its contractual obligations and operating expenditures as they come due and to support its members’ daily liquidity needs. Through the Bank’s contingency liquidity plans, the Bank attempts to ensure that it is able to meet its obligations and the liquidity needs of members in the event of operational disruptions at the Bank or the Office of Finance or short-term disruptions of the capital markets. For further information and discussion of the Bank’s guarantees and other commitments, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations, and for further information and discussion of the Bank’s joint and several liability for FHLBank COs, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – Debt Financing-Consolidated Obligations.

 

Under the Federal Home Loan Banks P&I Funding Contingency Plan Agreement (the Agreement) which became effective in 2006, in the event the Bank does not fund its principal and interest payments under a CO by deadlines established in the Agreement, the 11 other FHLBanks will be obligated to fund any shortfall in funding to the extent that any of the 11 other FHLBanks have a net positive settlement balance (that is, the amount by which end-of-day proceeds received by such FHLBank from the sale of COs on one day exceeds payments by such FHLBank on COs on the same day) in its account with the Office of Finance on the day the shortfall occurs. The Bank would then be required to repay the funding FHLBanks.

 

During the latter half of July 2008, investor confidence in the capital adequacy of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac adversely affected their access to the capital markets. This market unrest also impacted the FHLBanks’ issuance of COs, which generally are grouped into the same GSE asset class as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. During the latter half of the quarter covered by this report, the capital markets experienced a series of substantial shocks, including, among others, the Director of the Finance Agency’s appointment of the Finance Agency to act as conservator for each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; Lehman Brothers Holding Inc.’s petition for bankruptcy; the U.S. Treasury’s multi-billion dollar loan to American International Group Inc. so it could avoid bankruptcy, Bank of America Corporation’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co.; the petition for bankruptcy by IndyMac Bancorp Inc., and the mergers of Washington Mutual, Inc. into JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wachovia Corporation into Wells Fargo & Company. These shocks created severe volatility and illiquidity in the capital markets, causing investors to assume a very defensive posture that favored investments in short-term, high-quality securities. Moreover, the FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, announced October 14, 2008, under which it will guarantee unsecured obligations of banks and other financial institutions (with maturities of three years or less) in an amount that is up to 125 percent of borrowed funds maturing between September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009 for a premium of 75 basis points, appeared to have a negative impact on the cost of CO debt with terms of longer than six months. This guarantee has reduced the perceived relative value of CO debt in the marketplace, causing yield spreads for CO debt with maturities of greater than six months to widen significantly.

 

Due to the market demand for short-term, high quality investments, the FHLBanks were able to continue issuing short-term CO discount notes in sufficient amounts and at funding costs comparable to historical norms during the period covered by this report,

 

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notwithstanding the shocks described in the previous paragraph. However, the FHLBanks have recently experienced limited demand for CO debt with maturities longer than six months, and therefore, have become increasingly reliant on CO discount notes for funding. Over time, this trend may have a negative impact on the Bank’s liquidity for the reasons discussed in Primary Business Developments in this Item.

 

On September 9, 2008, the Bank entered into a lending agreement with the U.S. Treasury in connection with the U.S. Treasury’s establishment of the Government Sponsored Enterprise Credit Facility (GSECF). The GSECF is a lending facility that is an additional source of liquidity for the FHLBanks, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. Funding thereunder would be provided directly by the U.S. Treasury in exchange for eligible collateral, which is limited to guaranteed MBS issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as well as advances by the Bank to its members. Loans will be for short-term durations and no loans will be made with a maturity date beyond December 31, 2009. Any borrowings by the Bank under the GSECF are COs with the same joint and several liability as all other COs. The terms of the borrowings are agreed to at the time of issuance. The maximum borrowings under the lending agreement are based on eligible collateral. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had not drawn on the GSECF.

 

Subsequent to the period covered by this report, various federal banking agencies have taken actions intended to alleviate the continuing volatility and illiquidity described in this section, including, but not limited to, the TARP and the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program described in Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments in this item. However these actions have coincided with another rise in the FHLBanks’ funding costs for longer term debt comparable to historical norms relative to comparable-term U.S. dollar interest rate swap yields even above the already heightened levels described above. It is unclear whether these actions are responsible for this rise in the FHLBanks’ funding costs and whether this trend will persist or reverse for the reasons discussed in Primary Business Developments in this Item.

 

Capital

 

Total capital as of September 30, 2008, was $3.8 billion, a 12.0 percent increase from $3.4 billion as of December 31, 2007.

 

The Bank’s ability to expand in response to member-credit needs is based primarily on the capital-stock requirements for advances. Members are required to increase their capital-stock investment in the Bank as their outstanding advances increase. The capital-stock requirement for advances is currently based on the original term to maturity of the advances, as follows:

 

·      3.0 percent for overnight advances;

 

·      4.0 percent for advances with an original maturity greater than overnight and up to three months; and

 

·      4.5 percent for all other advances.

 

On April 17, 2008, the board of directors of the Bank voted to adjust the activity-based stock-investment requirement for mortgage loans that members sell to the Bank under the MPF program to 4.50 percent. The adjustment to the activity-based stock-investment requirement will support any future growth in the Bank’s MPF portfolio. Effective June 1, 2008, the 4.50 percent activity-based stock-investment requirement affects outstanding balances for loans funded under MPF master commitments entered into, or amended, from April 18, 2008, forward. Loans funded pursuant to MPF master commitments prior to April 18, 2008, will continue to be subject to the activity-based stock-investment requirement that applied prior to April 18, 2008, if any.

 

The Bank’s minimum capital-to-assets leverage limit is currently 4.0 percent based on Finance Agency requirements. The additional capital stock from higher balances of advances expands the Bank’s capacity to issue COs, which are used not only to support the increase in these balances but also to increase the Bank’s purchases of mortgage loans, MBS, and other investments.

 

The Bank can also contract its balance sheet and liquidity requirements in response to members’ reduced credit needs. Member-credit needs that result in reduced advance and mortgage-loan balances will result in capital stock in excess of the amount required by the Bank’s capital plan. The Bank’s capital-stock policies allow the Bank to repurchase excess capital stock if a member reduces its advance balances. The Bank’s Excess Stock Repurchase Program helps it manage its capital by reducing the amount of excess capital stock held by members. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Bank did not complete any repurchases of excess capital stock under this program.

 

Members may submit a written request for redemption of excess capital stock. The shares of capital stock subject to the redemption request will be redeemed at par value by the Bank upon expiration of a five-year stock-redemption period, provided that the member continues to meet its total stock-investment requirement at that time and that the Bank would remain in compliance with its minimum capital requirements. While historically the Bank has repurchased excess capital stock at a member’s request prior to the expiration of the redemption period, the decision to repurchase remains at the Bank’s discretion at all times. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 the Bank repurchased capital stock totaling $154.5 million. Also subject to a five-year stock-redemption period are shares of capital stock held by a member that either gives notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or becomes a nonmember

 

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due to merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination of membership. Capital stock subject to the five-year stock-redemption period is reclassified to mandatorily redeemable capital stock in the liability section of the statement of condition. Mandatorily redeemable capital stock totaled $93.2 million and $31.8 million at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. The following table summarizes the anticipated stock-redemption period for these shares of capital stock as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

Anticipated Stock-Redemption Period

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

4,185

 

$

 

Due after one year through two years

 

10

 

4,185

 

Due after two years through three years

 

93

 

103

 

Due after three years through four years

 

 

 

Due after four years through five years

 

88,887

 

27,520

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

$

93,175

 

$

31,808

 

 

The Bank is not required to redeem or repurchase activity-based stock until the later of the expiration of the five-year notice of redemption or until the termination of the related activity. If activity-based stock becomes excess capital stock as a result of the termination of the related activity, the Bank may, in its sole discretion, repurchase the excess activity-based stock prior to the expiration of the five-year redemption notice period, provided that it would continue to meet its minimum regulatory capital requirements after the redemption.

 

A member may cancel or revoke its written notice of redemption or its notice of withdrawal from membership prior to the end of the five-year stock-redemption period. The Bank’s capital plan provides that the Bank will charge the member a cancellation fee equal to two percent of the par amount of the shares of Class B stock that is the subject of the redemption notice. The Bank will assess a redemption-cancellation fee unless the board of directors decides that it has a bona fide business purpose for waiving the imposition of the fee, and the waiver is consistent with Section 7(j) of the FHLBank Act.

 

At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, members and nonmembers with capital stock outstanding held $368.1 million and $233.8 million, respectively, in excess capital stock. The following table summarizes member capital-stock requirements as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Membership Stock
Investment
Requirement

 

Activity-Based
Stock
Requirement

 

Total Stock
Investment
Requirement (1)

 

Outstanding Class B
Capital Stock (2)

 

Excess Class B
Capital Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

499,066

 

$

2,792,132

 

$

3,291,219

 

$

3,659,367

 

$

368,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

489,501

 

2,472,449

 

2,961,830

 

3,195,601

 

233,771

 

 


(1)     Total stock-investment requirement is rounded up to the nearest hundred on an individual member basis.

(2)     Class B capital stock outstanding includes mandatorily redeemable capital stock.

 

Provisions of the Bank’s capital plan are more fully discussed in Note 15 to the Bank’s 2007 financial statements in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Retained Earnings Target. In July 2008, the Bank’s board of directors adopted a revised targeted retained earnings range of $375.0 million to $400.0 million to address the challenges presented by the continuing downturn in the housing market and volatility in the credit and capital markets. While no specific date has been set for reaching this level of retained earnings, it is expected that the increase of retained earnings will occur over the next several years. The Bank expects the increased target will result in dividend yield spreads that will be somewhat narrower to short-term interest rates until the target range is achieved, though there can be no assurance of a specific dividend level. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had retained earnings of $276.8 million.

 

The Bank’s retained earnings target could be superseded by Finance Agency mandates, either in the form of an order specific to the Bank or by promulgation of new regulations requiring a level of retained earnings that is different from the Bank’s currently targeted level. Moreover, management and the board of directors of the Bank may, at any time, change the Bank’s methodology or assumptions for modeling the Bank’s retained earnings requirement. If either of these occur, the Bank would continue its initiative to increase retained earnings and may reduce its dividend payout, as necessary.

 

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Capital Requirements

 

The FHLBank Act and Finance Agency regulations specify that each FHLBank must meet certain minimum regulatory capital standards. The Bank must maintain (1) total capital in an amount equal to at least 4.0 percent of its total assets, (2) leverage capital in an amount equal to at least 5.0 percent of its total assets, and (3) permanent capital in an amount equal to at least its regulatory risk-based capital requirement. In addition, the Finance Agency has indicated that mandatorily redeemable capital stock is considered capital for regulatory purposes. At September 30, 2008, the Bank had a total capital-to-assets ratio of 4.6 percent, a leverage capital to assets ratio of 7.0 percent, and a risk-based capital requirement of $984.3 million, which was satisfied by the Bank’s permanent capital of $3.9 billion. Permanent capital is defined as total capital stock outstanding, including mandatorily redeemable capital stock, plus retained earnings. At December 31, 2007, the Bank had a total capital to assets ratio of 4.4 percent, a leverage capital to assets ratio of 6.6 percent, and a risk-based capital requirement of $363.5 million, which was satisfied by the Bank’s permanent capital of $3.4 billion. See Financial Condition – Capital in this item for discussion concerning the increase in the Bank’s risk-based capital requirement.

 

The Bank’s capital requirements are more fully discussed in Note 15 to the Bank’s 2007 financial statements in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

 

The Bank’s significant off-balance-sheet arrangements consist of the following:

 

·      Commitments that legally bind and obligate the Bank for additional advances;

 

·      Standby letters of credit;

 

·      Commitments for unused lines-of-credit advances;

 

·      Standby bond-purchase agreements with state housing authorities; and

 

·      Unsettled COs.

 

Off-balance-sheet arrangements are more fully discussed in Note 19 to the Bank’s 2007 financial statements in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Bank is required to pay 20 percent of its net earnings (after its AHP obligation) to REFCorp to support payment of part of the interest on bonds issued by REFCorp. The Bank must make these payments to REFCorp until the total amount of payments made by all FHLBanks is equivalent to a $300 million annual annuity with a final maturity date of April 15, 2030. Additionally, the FHLBanks must annually set aside for the AHP the greater of an aggregate of $100 million or 10 percent of the current year’s income before charges for AHP (but after expenses for REFCorp). See the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K - Item 1 - Business - Assessments for additional information regarding REFCorp and AHP assessments.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

The Bank’s financial statements and reported results of operations are based on GAAP, which requires the Bank to use estimates and assumptions that may affect our reported results and disclosures. Management believes the application of the following accounting policies involve the most critical or complex estimates and assumptions used in preparing the Bank’s financial statements: accounting for derivatives, the use of fair-value estimates, amortization of deferred premium/discount associated with prepayable assets, the allowance for loan losses, and other-than-temporary impairment analysis. The assumptions involved in applying these policies are discussed in the Bank’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Bank had not made any significant changes to the estimates and assumptions used in applying its critical accounting policies and estimates from those used to prepare its audited financial statements, except as described below.

 

Fair-Value Estimates

 

The Bank measures certain assets and liabilities, including investment securities classified as available-for-sale and trading, as well as all derivatives and mandatorily redeemable capital stock at fair value. Management also estimates the fair value of collateral that borrowers pledge against advance borrowings to confirm that collateral is sufficient to meet regulatory requirements and to protect against losses. Fair values play an important role in the valuation of certain Bank assets, liabilities, and derivative transactions. The Bank adopted SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes fair-value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair-value measurements.

 

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SFAS 157 defines “fair value” as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, or an exit price. In general, the transaction price will equal the exit price and, therefore, represent the fair value of the asset or liability at initial recognition. In determining whether a transaction price represents the fair value of the asset or liability at initial recognition, each reporting entity is required to consider factors specific to the transaction and the asset or liability. In order to determine the fair value or the exit price, entities must determine the unit of account, highest and best use, principal market, and market participants. These determinations allow the reporting entity to define the inputs for fair value and level of hierarchy.

 

Fair values are based on quoted market prices or market-based prices, if such prices are available. If quoted market prices or market-based prices are not available, fair values are determined based on valuation models that use either:

 

·      discounted cash flows, using market estimates of interest rates and volatility; or

·      dealer prices and prices of similar instruments.

 

Pricing models and their underlying assumptions are based on management’s best estimate with respect to:

 

·      discount rates;

·      prepayments;

·      market volatility; and

·      other factors.

 

These assumptions may have a significant effect on the reported fair values of assets and liabilities, including derivatives, and the income and expense related thereto. The use of different assumptions, as well as changes in market conditions, could result in materially different net income and retained earnings.

 

The Bank categorizes its financial instruments measured at fair value into a three-level classification in accordance with SFAS 157. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency (observable or unobservable) of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Bank’s market assumptions.

 

The degree of management judgment involved in determining the fair value of a financial instrument is dependent upon the availability of quoted market prices or observable market parameters. For financial instruments that are actively traded and have quoted market prices or parameters readily available, there is little to no subjectivity in determining fair value. If market quotes are not available, fair values are based on discounted cash flows using market estimates of interest rates and volatility or on dealer prices or prices of similar instruments. Pricing models and their underlying assumptions are based on management’s best estimates for discount rates, prepayments, market volatility, and other factors. These assumptions may have a significant effect on the reported fair values of assets and liabilities, including derivatives, and the related income and expense. The use of different models and assumptions as well as changes in market conditions could significantly affect the Bank’s financial position and results of operations.

 

For purposes of estimating the fair value of derivatives and items for which the Bank is hedging the changes in fair value attributable to changes in the designated benchmark interest rate, the Bank employs a valuation model that uses market data from the Eurodollar futures, cash LIBOR, U.S. Treasury obligations, and the U.S. dollar interest-rate-swap markets to construct discount and forward-yield curves using standard bootstrapping and smoothing techniques. “Bootstrapping” is the name given to the methodology of constructing a yield curve using shorter-dated instruments to obtain near-term discount factors progressing to longer-dated instruments to obtain the longer-dated discount factors. “Smoothing techniques” refer to the use of parametric equations to estimate a continuous series of discount factors by fitting an equation (representing a curve or line) to discount factors directly observed from market data. The model also calibrates an implied volatility surface from the at-the-money LIBOR cap/floor prices and the at-the-money swaptions prices. The application uses a modified Black-Karasinski process to model the term structure of interest rates.

 

The SFAS 133 valuation adjustments for the Bank’s hedged items in which the designated risk is the risk of changes in fair value attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR interest rate are calculated using the same model that is used to calculate the fair values of the associated hedging derivatives.

 

Fair values of investment securities classified as available-for-sale or trading for which quoted market prices are not readily available are determined on the basis of spreads listed in dealer publications or dealer quotations.

 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Assessment

 

The fair value of the Bank’s investment security portfolio has been declining as a result of continuing stress in the credit markets. Due to these conditions as well as the subjective and complex nature of management’s other-than-temporary impairment assessment, the

 

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Bank has determined that its quarterly evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment is a critical accounting policy. The evaluation of unrealized losses for other-than-temporary impairment contemplates numerous factors. The Bank performs the evaluation on a security-by-security basis considering all available information. Important factors include an analysis of cash flows based on default and prepayment assumptions, and our intent and ability to retain the security in order to allow for a recovery in fair value. Implicit in the cash-flow analysis is information relevant to expected cash flows (such as default and prepayment assumptions) that also underlies the other impairment factors mentioned above, and the Bank qualitatively considers all available information when assessing whether an impairment is other than temporary. The relative importance of this information varies based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each security, as well as the economic environment at the time of assessment. Based on the results of this evaluation, if it is determined that the impairment is other than temporary, the carrying value of the security is written down to fair value, and a loss is recognized through earnings.

 

In evaluating whether we could maintain our assertion that we have the ability and intent to hold our remaining securities in unrealized loss positions until the earlier of recovery or maturity, we consider expectations about market conditions, projections of future results, and liquidity needs.

 

The Bank invests in high quality, senior class securities rated the highest long-term debt rating at the time of purchase that achieve their ratings through either guarantee of timely payment of principal and interest or credit enhancement, primarily over collateralization and senior-subordinated shifting interest features; the latter results in the prioritization of payments to senior classes over junior classes. The Bank tests its MBS investments on an ongoing basis to determine whether the credit enhancement associated with each security is sufficient to protect against losses of principal and interest on the underlying mortgage loans. As part of its analysis of other-than-temporary impairment of residential MBS issued by entities other than GSEs, the Bank employs third-party models to project expected losses associated with the underlying loan collateral and to model the resultant lifetime cash flows as to how they would pass through the deal structures underlying the Bank’s MBS investments. These models use expected borrower default rates, projected loss severities, and forecasted voluntary prepayment speeds, all tailored to individual security product type. The Bank performs analysis based on expected behavior of the loans, whereby these loan performance scenarios are applied against each security’s credit-support structure to monitor credit-enhancement sufficiency to protect the Bank’s investment. The model output includes projected cash flows, including any shortfalls in the capacity of the underlying collateral to fully return the Bank’s original investment, plus accrued interest.

 

See Item 1 – Notes to the Financial Statements – Note 5 – Held-to-Maturity Securities and Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Credit Risk – Investments for additional information related to management’s other-than-temporary impairment analysis for the current period.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

 

SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. On September 15, 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157. In defining fair value, SFAS 157 retains the exchange price notion in earlier definitions of fair value. However, the definition of fair value under SFAS 157 focuses on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price), not the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (an entry price). SFAS 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 157 does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. SFAS 157 also establishes a fair-value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop assumptions used to determine the exit price. SFAS 157 establishes valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value. To increase consistency and comparability in fair-value measurements and related disclosures, the fair-value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

 

·      Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

·      Level 2 - directly or indirectly observable inputs other than quoted prices; and

·      Level 3 - unobservable inputs.

 

SFAS 157 requires disclosures detailing (1) the extent to which companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, (2) the methods and assumptions used to measure fair value, and (3) the effect of fair-value measurements on earnings, as applicable. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (January 1, 2008, for the Bank), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted provided the entity has not yet issued financial statements for that fiscal year, including financial statements for an interim period within that fiscal year. The Bank’s adoption of SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition.

 

FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active (FSP FAS 157-3).On October 10, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-3, which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 to a financial asset when the market for that asset is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset in such circumstances. FSP FAS 157-3 is effective upon issuance and

 

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has retroactive application for prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued. Revisions resulting from a change in the valuation technique or its application will be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate (FASB Statement No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (SFAS 154), paragraph 19). The disclosure provisions of SFAS 154 for a change in accounting estimate are not required for revisions resulting from a change in valuation technique or its application. The Bank’s adoption of FSP FAS 157-3 upon its issuance on October 10, 2008 did not have a material effect on the Bank’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, which creates a fair-value option allowing, but not requiring, an entity to irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as they occur. SFAS 159 also requires an entity to report those financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value in a manner that separates those reported fair values from the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities measured using another measurement attribute on the face of the statement of condition. Lastly, SFAS 159 requires an entity to provide information that would allow users to understand the effect on earnings of changes in the fair value on those instruments selected for the fair-value election. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (January 1, 2008, for the Bank). Upon adoption of SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008, the Bank did not elect the fair-value option for any existing assets or liabilities, and therefore, there was no impact to the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition.

 

FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39 (FSP FIN 39-1). On April 30, 2007, the FASB issued FSP FIN 39-1, which permits an entity to offset fair-value amounts recognized for derivative instruments and fair-value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from derivative instruments recognized at fair value executed with the same counterparty under a master-netting arrangement. Under FSP FIN 39-1, the receivable or payable related to cash collateral may not be offset if the amount recognized does not represent or approximate fair value or arises from instruments in a master-netting arrangement that are not eligible to be offset. The decision whether to offset such fair-value amounts represents an elective accounting policy decision that, once elected, must be applied consistently. FSP FIN 39-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (January 1, 2008, for the Bank), with earlier application permitted. An entity should recognize the effects of applying FSP FIN 39-1 as a change in accounting principle through retrospective application for all financial statements presented unless it is impracticable to do so. Upon adoption of FSP FIN 39-1, an entity is permitted to change its accounting policy to offset or not offset fair-value amounts recognized for derivative instruments under master-netting arrangements. The current accounting policy of the Bank is to offset derivative instruments of the same counterparty under a master-netting arrangement. This policy remained in effect following the adoption of FSP FIN 39-1. At December 31, 2007, the Bank held cash collateral, including accrued interest from derivative counterparties totaling $61.2 million classified as deposits and accrued interest payable in the statement of condition. Upon adoption of FSP FIN 39-1 on January 1, 2008, this amount was reclassified to derivative assets or derivative liabilities and did not have a material impact to our financial condition.

 

DIG Issue No. E23, Issues Involving the Application of the Shortcut Method Under Paragraph 68 (DIG E23). On December 20, 2007, the FASB issued DIG E23, which amends paragraph 68 of SFAS 133 with respect to the conditions that must be met in order to apply the shortcut method for assessing hedge effectiveness. DIG E23 is effective for hedging relationships designated on or after January 1, 2008. The Bank’s adoption of DIG E23 on January 1, 2008, did not have a material impact on the Bank’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activitiesan Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS 161). On March 19, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, which is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on the entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009, for the Bank), with early adoption allowed. The Bank has not yet determined the effect that the adoption of SFAS 61 will have on its financial statement disclosures.

 

EITF Issue No. 08-5. On September 24, 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) on Issue No. 08-5, Issuer’s Accounting for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value with a Third-Party Credit Enhancement (EITF 08-5). The objective of EITF 08-5 is to determine the issuer’s unit of accounting for a liability that is issued with an inseparable third-party credit enhancement when it is recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. EITF 08-5 should be applied prospectively and is effective in the first reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009 for the Bank). The Bank does not believe the adoption of EITF 08-5 will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4. On September 12, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4, Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161 (FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4), FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amends SFAS 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others—an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5,57, and 107 and rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34 (FIN 45) to improve disclosures about credit derivatives and guarantees and clarify the effective date of SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS 161). FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 also amends FAS 133 to require entities to disclose sufficient information to allow users to assess the potential effect of credit derivatives, including their nature, maximum payment, fair value, and recourse provisions. Additionally, FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amends FIN 45 to require a disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee, which could be indicated by external credit ratings or categories by which the Bank measures risk. While the Bank does not currently enter into credit derivatives, it does however have guarantees, the FHLBanks’ joint and several liability on consolidated obligations and letters of credit. The provisions of FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 that amend SFAS 133 and FIN 45 are effective for fiscal years and interim periods ending after November 15, 2008 (December 31, 2008 for the Bank). Additionally, FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 clarifies that the disclosures required by SFAS 161 should be provided for any reporting period (annual or quarterly interim) beginning after November 15, 2008 (January 1, 2009 for the Bank). The Bank has determined that the adoption of FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 might result in increased financial statement disclosures.

 

RECENT LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

 

Enactment of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

 

On July 30, 2008, the President signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which is designed to strengthen the regulation of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBanks and to address other GSE reform issues. The legislation will eliminate the Finance Board within one year of the date of enactment and immediately creates a new regulator, the Finance Agency, which began overseeing the FHLBanks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac upon enactment. The Finance Agency assumed the existing regulatory authorities previously held by the Finance Board. The Bank will be responsible for its share of the operating expenses for both the Finance Agency and the Finance Board.

 

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Key provisions of the new law:

 

·      require the director of the Finance Agency (Director) to consider the differences between the FHLBanks and FannieMae/Freddie Mac before taking supervisory, regulatory, or enforcement action;

·      allocate responsibility to the Director for setting risk-based capital standards for the FHLBanks and other capital standards and reserve requirements for FHLBank activities and products;

·      require independent directors be nominated by the FHLBanks boards of directors and elected by an FHLBank’s members;

·      repeal the statutory limits on the compensation of FHLBank directors;

·      require the Director to prohibit excessive executive officer compensation and authorize the Director to prohibit or limit golden parachute payments and indemnification payments;

·      eliminate the prohibition on the FHLBanks establishing joint offices;

·      require assessments collected from the FHLBanks by the Finance Agency not exceed the costs and expenses related to the FHLBanks;

·      authorize voluntary mergers of FHLBanks, subject to regulatory and member approval;

·      provide the Director broad conservatorship and receivership authority over the FHLBanks;

·      allow the Director to liquidate an FHLBank upon notice and hearing;

·      make community development banking institutions eligible for FHLBank membership;

·      increase to $1 billion in assets institutions that may meet the definition of community financial institution;

·      authorize the FHLBanks on behalf of members to issue letters of credit to support tax-exempt bond issuances; and

·      temporarily authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the obligations of any FHLBank.

 

The Bank is unable to predict what effect the new law will ultimately have on the FHLBanks.

 

Interim Final Regulation Regarding Golden Parachute Payments

 

The Finance Agency promulgated an interim final regulation effective September 16, 2008, and amended on each of September 19, 2008, and September 23, 2008, which provides regulatory guidance on the Director’s authority under HERA to prohibit or limit golden parachute payments by an FHLBank that is insolvent, in conservatorship or receivership, or is in a troubled condition as determined by the Director. The interim final regulation also provides the list of factors the Director must consider in determining whether to prohibit or limit any “golden parachute payment.” The Finance Agency has requested comments on the interim final regulation in its rulemaking for a final regulation on golden parachute payments. The Bank is unable to predict what effect either the interim final regulation or the final regulation will ultimately have on the FHLBanks.

 

Finance Agency Order Regarding Eligibility and Elections of Board of Directors

 

On September 8, 2008, the Director issued an order to implement the provisions of HERA that address the size and composition of the FHLBanks’ boards of directors. The order:

 

·      rescinds the Finance Board prior designation of directorships for the 2008 elections;

·      designates the number of independent directors and member directors for each FHLBank’s board in 2009, which for the Bank has been designated to be seven (a reduction of one independent directorship) and ten, respectively;

·      specifies the number of member and independent directors to be elected by each FHLBank in 2008, including the minimum number of public interest directors to be elected, which for the Bank is two;

·      specifies the terms of office for each directorship to be elected in 2008, some of which are less than four years;

·      deems current elective directorships to be member directorships; and

·      deems current appointive directorships to be independent directorships.

 

Interim Final Regulation Regarding Eligibility and Elections of Board of Directors

 

The Director promulgated an interim final regulation to implement the provisions of HERA concerning the nomination and election of directors effective September 26, 2008, with a request for comments thereon for a final regulation. The interim final regulation generally continues the prior rules governing elected director nominations, balloting, voting and reporting of results, while making certain modifications for the election of independent directors, including the addition of a requirement that each independent director nominee receive at least twenty percent of the votes eligible to be cast in the election. The Bank must identify additional nominees and conduct additional elections until each independent directorship is filled with an independent director that has received at least twenty percent of the eligible votes. In addition and among other provisions, the interim final regulation:

 

·      provides that the Director annually will determine the size of the board for each FHLBank, with the designation of member directorships based on the number of shares of FHLBank stock required to be held by members in each state using the method of equal proportions, which for the Bank beginning in 2009 will be two for Connecticut, one for Maine, three for

 

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Massachusetts (a reduction of one directorship), one for New Hampshire, two for Rhode Island (an increase of one directorship), and one for Vermont;

 

·      sets terms for each directorship commencing after January 1, 2009, at four years; and

 

·      modifies related conflict-of-interest rules to:

 

·      prohibit independent directors from serving as officers, employees, or directors of any member of the FHLBank on whose board the director serves, or of any recipient of advances from that FHLBank, consistent with HERA;

 

·      create a safe-harbor for serving as an officer, employee, or director of a holding company that controls a member or a recipient of advances if the assets of the member or recipient of advances are less than 35 percent of the holding company’s assets;

 

·      attribute to independent directors any officer, employee, or director positions held by the director’s spouse;

 

·      remove the safe harbor for gifts of token value and for reasonable and customary entertainment;

 

·      permit officers, attorneys, employees, agents, the board, the Advisory Council, and directors to support the candidacy of the board’s nominees for independent directorships; and

 

·      permit directors, officers, employees, attorneys, and agents, acting in their personal capacity, to support the nomination or election of candidates for member directorships.

 

The Bank is unable to predict what effect either the interim final regulation or the final regulation will ultimately have on the FHLBanks.

 

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

 

On October 2, 2008, the President signed into law the EESA. Among other things, the EESA established the TARP under which the U.S. Treasury is authorized to purchase up to $700 billion of assets, including mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, from financial institutions. The U.S. Treasury has also determined that it can use authority under the TARP to make direct investments in financial institutions in connection with its stabilization activities. The implementation details of the TARP are under development by the U.S. Treasury. The Bank is unable to predict what effect the EESA will ultimately have on the FHLBanks. See Primary Business Related Developments and — Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity, each in this Item for additional discussion of the EESA.

 

FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program

 

On October 14, 2008, the FDIC announced an immediately effective program known as the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, and promulgated an interim rule for this program effective October 23, 2008, to guarantee newly issued senior unsecured debt and the unsecured portion of any secured debt issued by participating non-foreign-insured institutions, participating U.S. bank holding companies and U.S. savings and loan holding companies that have at least one operating, non-foreign insured depository institution within its holding company structure, as well as certain affiliates of non-foreign insured institutions as permitted by the FDIC where such debt is issued on or before June 30, 2009 for a fee of 75 basis points on new debt issues by each participating institution. The amount of debt covered by the guarantee is 125 percent of debt that was outstanding as of September 30, 2008 that was scheduled to mature before June 30, 2009. For eligible debt issued on or before June 30, 2009, coverage would only be provided for three years beyond that date, even if the liability has not matured. Additionally, the FDIC has agreed to guarantee all funds in non-interest-bearing transaction deposit accounts held by participating FDIC-insured banks until December 31, 2009 subject to certain increase surcharges. See Primary Business Related Developments and Liquidity and Capital Resources —Liquidity, each in this Item for additional discussion of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.

 

FDIC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Deposit Insurance Assessments

 

On October 7, 2008, the FDIC announced deposit insurance increases to restore the Deposit Insurance Fund. The new premiums proposed by the FDIC would be higher for institutions that use secured liabilities in excess of 15 percent of deposits. Secured liabilities are defined to include FHLBank advances. The Bank is unable to predict what effect adoption of the proposed rule would ultimately have on the FHLBanks but it may tend to decrease member demand for advances due to the increase in the effective all in cost due to the increased premiums. See Primary Business Related Developments and — Liquidity and Capital Resources —Liquidity, each in this Item for additional discussion of this proposed rule.

 

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Federal Banking Agencies Proposal to Lower Capital Risk Weightings for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

 

The federal banking agencies (FDIC, Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve, and Office of Thrift Supervision) on October 27, 2008 promulgated a proposed a rule that would lower the capital risk weighting that banks assign to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debt from 20 to 10 percent. The proposal specifically requested comments on the potential effects of the proposal on FHLBank debt. The Bank is unable to predict what effect adoption of the proposed rule would ultimately have on the cost on the FHLBanks, but it may tend to increase FHLBank debt pricing because FHLBank debt risk weighting would remain at 20 percent.

 

RECENT REGULATORY ACTIONS AND CREDIT RATING AGENCY ACTIONS

 

All FHLBanks have joint and several liability for FHLBank COs. The joint and several liability regulation of the Finance Agency authorizes the Finance Agency to require any FHLBank to repay all or a portion of the principal or interest on COs for which another FHLBank is the primary obligor. The Bank has never been asked or required to repay the principal or interest on any CO on behalf of another FHLBank. The par amount of the outstanding COs of all 12 FHLBanks was $1.3 trillion and $1.2 trillion, respectively, at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

Some of the FHLBanks have recently been the subject of regulatory actions pursuant to which their boards of directors and/or management have agreed with the Finance Agency to, among other things, maintain higher levels of capital. While supervisory agreements generally are publicly announced by the Finance Agency, the Bank cannot provide assurance that it has been informed or will be informed of regulatory actions taken at other FHLBanks. In addition, the Bank or any other FHLBank may be the subject of regulatory actions in the future.

 

On June 12, 2008, S&P lowered the counterparty credit rating of the FHLBank of Chicago to double-A, with a stable outlook. At the request of the FHLBank of Chicago, on July 24, 2008, the Finance Board amended the cease and desist order to allow the FHLBank of Chicago, under certain conditions, to repurchase or redeem any capital stock issued to support new advances after repayment of those new advances.

 

The Bank has evaluated the financial condition of the other FHLBanks based on known regulatory actions, publicly available financial information, and individual long-term credit-rating downgrades as of each period-end presented. Management believes that the probability that the Bank will be required by the Finance Agency to repay any principal or interest associated with COs for which the Bank is not the primary obligor has not materially increased.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Bank has a comprehensive risk-governance structure. The Bank’s Risk-Management Policy identifies seven major risk categories relevant to business activities:

 

·      Credit risk is the risk to earnings or capital of an obligor’s failure to meet the terms of any contract with the Bank or otherwise perform as agreed. The Credit Committee oversees credit risk primarily through ongoing oversight and limits on credit exposure.

 

·      Market risk is the risk to earnings or market value of equity (MVE) due to adverse movements in interest rates, market prices, or interest-rate spreads. Market risk is primarily overseen by the Asset-Liability Committee through ongoing review of value at risk and the economic value of capital. The Asset-Liability Committee also reviews income simulations to oversee potential exposure to future earnings volatility.

 

·      Liquidity risk is the risk that the Bank may be unable to meet its funding requirements, or meet the credit needs of members, at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner. The Asset-Liability Committee, through its regular reviews of funding and liquidity, oversees liquidity risk.

 

·      Leverage risk is the risk that the capital of the Bank is not sufficient to support the level of assets. The risk results from a deterioration of the Bank’s capital base, a deterioration of the assets, or from overbooking assets. The Bank’s treasurer, under the direction of the chief financial officer, provides primary oversight of leverage activity.

 

·      Business risk is the risk to earnings or capital arising from adverse business decisions or improper implementation of those decisions, or from external factors as may occur in both the short- and long-run. Business risk is overseen by the Management Committee through the development of the strategic business plan.

 

·      Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes and systems, human error, or from internal or external events, inclusive of exposure to potential litigation resulting from inappropriate conduct of Bank personnel. The Operational Risk Committee primarily oversees operational risk.

 

·      Reputation risk is the risk to earnings or capital arising from negative public opinion, which can affect the Bank’s ability to establish new business relationships or to maintain existing business relationships. The Management Committee oversees

 

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reputation risk.

 

The board of directors defines the desired risk profile of the Bank and provides risk oversight through the review and approval of the Bank’s Risk-Management Policy. The Risk and Finance Committees of the board of directors provide additional oversight for market risk and credit risk. The board’s Audit Committee provides additional oversight for operational risk. The board of directors also reviews the result of an annual risk assessment conducted by management for its major business processes.

 

Management further delineates the Bank’s risk appetite for specific business activities and provides risk oversight through the following committees:

 

·      Management Committee is the Bank’s overall risk-governance, strategic-planning, and policymaking group. The committee, which is comprised of the Bank’s senior officers, reviews and recommends to the board of directors for approval all revisions to major policies of the organization. All decisions by this committee are subject to final approval by the president of the Bank.

 

·      Asset-Liability Committee is responsible for approving policies and risk limits for the management of market risk, including liquidity and options risks. The Asset-Liability Committee also conducts monitoring and oversight of these risks on an ongoing basis, and promulgates strategies to enhance the Bank’s financial performance within established risk limits consistent with the strategic business plan.

 

·      Credit Committee oversees the Bank’s credit-underwriting functions and collateral eligibility standards. The committee also reviews the creditworthiness of the Bank’s investments, including purchased mortgage assets, and oversees the classification of the Bank’s assets and the adequacy of its loan-loss reserves.

 

·      Operational Risk Committee reviews and assesses the Bank’s exposure to operational risks and determines tolerances for potential operational threats that may arise from new products and services. The committee may also discuss operational exceptions and assess appropriate control actions to mitigate reoccurrence and improve future detection.

 

·       Information Technology and Security Oversight Committee provides senior management oversight and governance of the information technology, information security, and business-continuity functions of the Bank. The committee approves the major priorities and overall level of funding for these functions, within the context of the Bank’s strategic business priorities and established risk-management objectives.

 

This list of internal management committees or their respective missions may change from time to time based on new business or regulatory requirements.

 

Credit Risk

 

Credit Risk – Advances. The Bank endeavors to minimize credit risk on advances by monitoring the financial condition of its borrowing entities and by holding sufficient collateral to protect itself from losses. The Bank is prohibited by Section 10(a) of the FHLBank Act from making advances without sufficient collateral to secure the advance. The Bank has never experienced a credit loss on an advance.

 

The Bank closely monitors the financial condition of all members and nonmember borrowers by reviewing available financial data, such as regulatory call reports filed by depository institution members, regulatory financial statements filed with the appropriate state insurance department by insurance company members, audited financial statements of housing associates, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and rating-agency reports to ensure that potentially troubled members are identified as soon as possible. In addition, the Bank has access to most members’ regulatory examination reports. The Bank analyzes this information on a regular basis. Based upon the financial condition of the member, the Bank classifies each member into one of three collateral categories: blanket-lien status, listing-collateral status, or delivery-collateral status.

 

The Bank assigns members that it has determined are in good financial condition to blanket-lien status. Members that demonstrate characteristics that evidence potential weakness in their financial condition are assigned to listing-collateral status. The Bank may also assign members with a high level of borrowings as a percentage of their assets to listing-collateral status regardless of their financial condition. The Bank has established an advances borrowing limit of 50 percent of the member’s assets. This limit may be waived by the president of the Bank after considering factors such as, the member’s credit rating, collateral quality, and earnings stability. Members whose total advances exceed 50 percent of assets are placed in listing-collateral status or, if necessary, delivery-collateral status with the Bank. As of September 30, 2008, only Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. had advances outstanding that exceeded 50 percent of its assets and is in listing-collateral status. The Bank assigns members that it has determined are financially weak to delivery-collateral status. The Bank also assigns all insurance company members that have a nationally recognized statistical-rating organization (NRSRO) long-term debt rating lower than BBB- or its equivalent, insurance company members that do not have an NRSRO long-term debt rating, all nonmember borrowers, and housing associates to delivery-collateral status.

 

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The assignment of a member to a collateral status category reflects the Bank’s increasing level of control over the collateral pledged by the member as a member’s financial condition deteriorates. When the Bank classifies a member as being in blanket-lien status, the member retains possession of eligible one- to four-family mortgage-loan collateral pledged to the Bank, provided the member executes a written security agreement and agrees to hold such collateral for the benefit of the Bank. Members in blanket-lien status must specifically list with the Bank all mortgage-loan collateral other than loans secured by first-mortgage loans on owner-occupied one- to four-family residential property. Under listing-collateral status, the member retains possession of eligible mortgage-loan collateral, however, the Bank requires the member to specifically list all mortgage-loan collateral with the Bank. Securities pledged to the Bank by members in either blanket-lien or listing-collateral status must be delivered to the Bank, the Bank’s approved safekeeping agent, or held by a member’s securities corporation. For members in delivery-collateral status, the Bank requires the member to place physical possession of all pledged eligible collateral with the Bank or the Bank’s approved safekeeping agent.

 

The Bank’s agreements with its borrowers require each borrowing entity to pledge sufficient eligible collateral to the Bank to fully secure all outstanding extensions of credit, including cash advances, accrued interest receivable, standby letters of credit, MPF credit- enhancement obligations, and lines of credit (collectively, extensions of credit) at all times. The assets that constitute eligible collateral to secure extensions of credit are set forth in Section 10(a) of the FHLBank Act. In accordance with the FHLBank Act, the Bank accepts the following assets as collateral:

 

·      Fully disbursed, whole first mortgages on improved residential property (not more than 45 days delinquent), or securities representing a whole interest in such mortgages;

 

·      Securities issued, insured, or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any agency thereof (including without limitation, MBS issued or guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Government National Mortgage Association);

 

·      Cash or deposits of an FHLBank; and

 

·      Other real-estate-related collateral acceptable to the Bank if such collateral has a readily ascertainable value and the Bank can perfect its interest in the collateral.

 

In addition, in the case of any community financial institution, as defined in accordance with the FHLBank Act, the Bank may accept secured loans for small business and agriculture, or securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans.

 

In order to mitigate the credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk associated with collateral, the Bank applies a discount to the book value or market value of pledged collateral to establish the lending value of the collateral to the Bank. Collateral that the Bank has determined to contain a low level of risk, such as U.S. government obligations, is discounted at a lower rate than collateral that carries a higher level of risk, such as commercial real estate mortgage loans. The Bank has analyzed the discounts applied to all eligible collateral types and concluded that the current discounts are sufficient to fully secure the Bank against losses in the event of a borrower default. The Bank’s agreements with its members and borrowers grant the Bank authority, in its sole discretion, to adjust the discounts applied to collateral at any time based on the Bank’s assessment of the member’s financial condition, the quality of collateral pledged, or the overall volatility of the value of the collateral.

 

The Bank generally requires all borrowing members to execute a security agreement that grants the Bank a blanket lien on substantially all assets of the member. The Bank protects its security interest in these assets by filing a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statement in the appropriate jurisdiction. The Bank also requires that borrowing members in blanket-lien and listing-collateral status must submit to the Bank, on at least an annual basis, an audit opinion that confirms that the member is maintaining sufficient amounts of qualified collateral in accordance with the Bank’s policies. However, blanket-lien and listing-collateral status members that have voluntarily delivered all of their collateral to the Bank may not be required, at the Bank’s discretion, to submit such an audit opinion. Bank employees conduct onsite reviews of collateral pledged by members to confirm the existence of the pledged collateral and to determine that the pledged collateral conforms to the Bank’s eligibility requirements. The Bank may conduct an onsite collateral review at any time.

 

The Bank’s agreements with borrowers allow the Bank, in its sole discretion, to refuse to make extensions of credit against any collateral, require substitution of collateral, or adjust the discounts applied to collateral at any time. The Bank also may require members to pledge additional collateral regardless of whether the collateral would be eligible to originate a new extension of credit. The Bank’s agreements with its borrowers also afford the Bank the right, in its sole discretion, to declare any borrower to be in default if the Bank deems itself to be insecure.

 

Beyond these provisions, Section 10(e) of the FHLBank Act affords any security interest granted by a federally insured depository institution member or such a member’s affiliate to the Bank priority over the claims or rights of any other party, including any receiver, conservator, trustee, or similar entity that has the rights of a lien creditor, unless these claims and rights would be entitled to

 

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priority under otherwise applicable law and are held by actual purchasers or by parties that are secured by actual perfected security interests. In this regard, the priority granted to the security interests of the Bank under Section 10(e) may not apply when lending to insurance company members. This is due to the anti-preemption provision contained in the McCarran-Ferguson Act in which Congress declared that federal law would not preempt state insurance law unless the federal law expressly regulates the business of insurance. Thus, if state law conflicts with Section 10(e) of the FHLBank Act, the protection afforded by this provision may not be available to the Bank. However, the Bank protects its security interests in the collateral pledged by its members, including insurance company members, by filing UCC-1 financing statements, or by taking possession or control of such collateral, or by taking other appropriate steps.

 

Advances outstanding to members in blanket-lien status at September 30, 2008, totaled $41.0 billion. For these advances, the Bank had access to collateral through security agreements, where the member agrees to hold such collateral for the benefit of the Bank, totaling $69.6 billion as of September 30, 2008. Of this total, $5.0 billion of securities have been delivered to the Bank or to a third-party custodian, an additional $3.2 billion of securities are held by members’ securities corporations, and $34.7 billion of residential mortgage loans have been pledged by members’ real-estate-investment trusts.

 

The following table provides information regarding advances outstanding with members and nonmember borrowers in listing- and delivery-collateral status at September 30, 2008, along with their corresponding collateral balances.

 

Advances Outstanding by Borrower Collateral Status

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Number of
Borrowers

 

Advances
Outstanding

 

Discounted
Collateral (1)

 

Ratio of Collateral
to Advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listing-collateral status

 

22

 

$

21,970,274

 

$

23,966,019

 

109.1

%

Delivery-collateral status

 

19

 

501,763

 

2,641,434

 

526.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total par value

 

41

 

$

22,472,037

 

$

26,607,453

 

118.4

%

 


(1)   In accordance with the Bank’s collateral policies, qualified collateral includes only collateral that has not been in default within the most recent 12-month period, except that whole first-mortgage collateral on one- to four-family residential property is acceptable provided no payment is overdue by more than 45 days, unless the collateral is insured or guaranteed by the U.S. or any agency thereof.

 

The Bank allows members in blanket-lien status to pledge owner-occupied one- to four-family mortgage loans to the Bank under a blanket pledge without specific loan-level information. The Bank requires members in blanket-lien status to provide a listing of all other loan collateral pledged to the Bank. Members in listing-collateral status must provide a listing of all loan collateral that they pledge to the Bank. All securities pledged as collateral by all members must be delivered to the Bank or to a Bank-approved third-party custodian. Members in delivery-collateral status must deliver all loan and securities collateral to the Bank or a Bank-approved third-party custodian.

 

The Bank assigns members to blanket-lien status, listing-collateral status, and delivery-collateral status based on the Bank’s assessment of the financial condition of the member. The method by which a member pledges collateral is dependent upon the collateral status to which it is assigned based on its financial condition and on the type of collateral that the member pledges. For example, securities collateral pledged by a member that is in blanket-lien status based on its financial condition appears in the table below as being in collateral delivered to the Bank, since all securities collateral must be delivered to the Bank or to a Bank-approved third-party custodian. Based upon the method by which members pledge collateral to the Bank, the following table shows the total potential lending value of the collateral that members have pledged to the Bank, net of the Bank’s collateral valuation discounts.

 

Collateral by Pledge Type

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Amount of Collateral

 

 

 

 

 

Collateral pledged under blanket lien

 

$

59,688,020

 

Collateral specifically listed and identified

 

7,668,795

 

Collateral delivered to the Bank

 

37,603,139

 

 

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Based upon the collateral held as security on advances, the Bank’s prior repayment history, and the protections provided by Section 10(e) of the FHLBank Act, the Bank does not believe that an allowance for losses on advances is necessary at this time.

 

Credit Risk – Investments. The Bank is also subject to credit risk on unsecured investments consisting primarily of money-market instruments and bonds issued by U.S. agencies and instrumentalities. The Bank places funds with large, high-quality financial institutions with long-term credit ratings no lower than single-A on an unsecured basis for terms of up to 95 days; most such placements expire within 35 days. Management actively monitors the credit quality of these counterparties. At September 30, 2008, the Bank’s unsecured credit exposure, including accrued interest related to investment securities and money-market instruments, was $6.6 billion to 23 counterparties and issuers, of which $4.2 billion was for overnight federal funds sold, and $2.4 billion was for debentures and term federal funds. As of September 30, 2008, there was one counterparty which accounted for more than 10 percent of the Bank’s total unsecured credit exposure. This counterparty accounted for 10.4 percent of total unsecured credit exposure.

 

The Bank also invests in and is subject to secured credit risk related to MBS, ABS, and state and local housing-finance-agency obligations (HFA) that are directly or indirectly supported by underlying mortgage loans. Investments in MBS and ABS may be purchased as long as the balance of outstanding MBS/ABS is equal to or less than 300 percent of the Bank’s total capital, and must be rated the highest long-term debt rating at the time of purchase. HFA bonds must carry a credit rating of double-A or higher as of the date of purchase.

 

Credit ratings on these investments as of September 30, 2008, are provided in the following table.

 

Credit Ratings of Investments at Book Value

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Long-Term Credit Rating (1)

 

Investment Category

 

Triple-A

 

Double-A

 

Single-A

 

Triple-B

 

Below
Triple-B

 

Unrated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money-market instruments (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits

 

$

110

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Certificates of deposit

 

 

 

1,369,000

 

205,000

 

 

 

Federal funds sold

 

 

825,000

 

3,416,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

43,813

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government corporations

 

230,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

121,947

 

 

 

 

 

29,961

 

Supranational banks

 

393,162

 

 

 

 

 

 

State or local housing-finance-agency obligations (3)

 

184,523

 

67,146

 

54,799

 

 

 

 

GSE MBS

 

4,971,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private-label MBS (4)

 

3,078,558

 

542,507

 

232,911

 

339,488

 

384,951

 

 

ABS backed by home-equity
loans

 

24,737

 

7,752

 

6,508

 

1,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments

 

$

9,048,719

 

$

1,442,405

 

$

5,079,218

 

$

545,831

 

$

384,951

 

$

29,961

 

 


(1)        Ratings are obtained from Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P. If there is a split rating, the lowest rating is used.

(2)        The issuer rating is used, and if a rating is on negative credit watch, the rating in the next lower rating category is used and then the lowest rating is determined.

(3)        The following downgrades occurred during the period from October 1, 2008 through November 10, 2008. All book values are as of September 30, 2008.

·      $3.3 million was downgraded from double-A to triple-B.

·      $2.1 million was downgraded from single-A to triple-B.

(4)        The following downgrades occurred during the period from October 1, 2008 through November 10, 2008. All book values are as of September 30, 2008.

·      Downgrades from triple-A: $105.2 to double-A and $17.9 million to single-A.

·      Downgrades from double-A: $29.7 million to single-A, $12.2 million to triple-B, and $61.1 million to single-B.

·      Downgrades from single-A: $48.8 million to triple-B and $164.2 million to double-B.

·      Downgrades from triple-B: $32.3 million to double-B and $16.9 million to single-B.

·      Downgrade from double-B: $50.0 million to single-B.

 

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Of the Bank’s $9.6 billion in par value of MBS and ABS investments at September 30, 2008, $4.4 billion in par value are private label securities backed by residential mortgage loans. Of this amount, $3.8 billion in par value are securities backed primarily by Alt-A loans, while $630.1 million in par value are backed primarily by prime loans. Only $35.9 million in par value of these investments are backed primarily by subprime mortgages. While there is no universally accepted definition for prime and Alt-A underwriting standards, in general, prime underwriting implies a borrower without a history of delinquent payments and documented income and a loan amount that is at or less than 80 percent of the market value of the house, while Alt-A underwriting implies a prime borrower with limited income documentation and/or a loan-to-value ratio of higher than 80 percent. The Bank does not hold any collateralized debt obligations.

 

The following table provides additional information related to the Bank’s MBS issued by private trusts and ABS backed by home-equity loans, indicating whether the underlying mortgage collateral is considered to be prime, Alt-A, or subprime at the time of issuance. Additionally, the amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2008, are stratified by year of issuance of the security, including private label commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).

 

Private-Label Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities

Par Values as of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Private-Label MBS

 

Home Equity ABS

 

Private-Label

 

Year of Issuance

 

Prime

 

Alt-A

 

Subprime

 

Prime

 

Alt-A

 

Subprime

 

CMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

158,257

 

$

1,053,157

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

2006

 

117,619

 

1,662,737

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

94,310

 

961,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

111,345

 

81,894

 

 

 

 

6,008

 

 

2003 and Prior

 

144,076

 

22,026

 

 

4,478

 

 

29,854

 

176,330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

625,607

 

$

3,781,146

 

$

 

$

4,478

 

$

 

$

35,862

 

$

176,330

 

 

The following table shows the summary credit enhancements associated with the Bank’s residential MBS issued by entities other than GSEs, with detail by collateral type and vintage. Average current credit enhancements as of September 30, 2008, reflect the percentage of subordinated class outstanding balance as of September 30, 2008, to the Bank’s senior class holding outstanding balances as of September 30, 2008, weighted by the par value of the Bank’s respective senior class securities, and shown by underlying loan collateral type and issuance vintage. Average current credit enhancements as of September 30, 2008, are indicative of the ability of subordinated classes to absorb loan collateral, lost principal, and interest shortfall before senior classes are impacted. The average current credit enhancements do not fully reflect the Bank’s credit protection in its private label MBS holdings as prioritization in the timing of receipt of cash flows and credit event triggers accelerate return of the Bank’s investment before losses can no longer be absorbed by subordinate classes.

 

Private-Label Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities

Summary Credit Enhancements

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit Enhancement Statistics

 

 

 

Par Value

 

Book Value

 

Fair Value

 

Weighted
Average
Collateral
Delinquency (1)

 

Original
Weighted
Average

 

Current
Weighted
Average

 

Monoline
Financial
Guaranteed
Amount

 

Prime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

158,257

 

$

157,711

 

$

146,041

 

1.17

%

10.55

%

11.34

%

$

 

2006

 

117,619

 

117,520

 

108,554

 

3.57

 

8.88

 

10.27

 

 

2005

 

94,310

 

93,895

 

76,212

 

10.42

 

20.26

 

24.58

 

 

2004

 

111,345

 

111,680

 

96,431

 

9.11

 

10.37

 

19.17

 

 

2003 and Prior

 

148,554

 

148,829

 

137,747

 

3.38

 

3.57

 

11.37

 

4,478

 

Total prime

 

630,085

 

629,635

 

564,985

 

4.93

 

10.01

 

14.51

 

4,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alt-A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

1,053,157

 

1,051,342

 

714,213

 

27.20

 

24.65

 

25.48

 

158,538

 

2006

 

1,662,737

 

1,662,195

 

1,052,923

 

30.86

 

27.22

 

27.74

 

21,099

 

2005

 

961,332

 

959,557

 

700,900

 

19.53

 

26.43

 

32.11

 

45,724

 

2004

 

81,894

 

81,926

 

61,897

 

12.53

 

14.40

 

22.40

 

 

2003 and Prior

 

22,026

 

22,026

 

20,116

 

2.31

 

4.17

 

18.71

 

2,199

 

Total Alt-A

 

3,781,146

 

3,777,046

 

2,550,049

 

26.40

 

25.89

 

28.06

 

227,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subprime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

6,008

 

6,008

 

4,630

 

17.80

 

7.35

 

22.14

 

6,008

 

2003 and Prior

 

29,854

 

29,854

 

25,211

 

27.77

 

9.35

 

44.55

 

29,854

 

Total subprime

 

35,862

 

35,862

 

29,841

 

26.10

 

9.02

 

40.79

 

35,862

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

4,447,093

 

$

4,442,543

 

$

3,144,875

 

23.35

%

23.51

%

26.24

%

$

267,900

 

 


(1)   Represents loans that are 60 days or more delinquent.

 

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The following table provides the geographic concentration by state and by metropolitan statistical area of the Bank’s private-label mortgage and asset-backed securities as of September 30, 2008.

 

Geographic Concentration of Private-Label Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities

 

 

 

September 30,
2008

 

 

 

 

 

State concentration

 

 

 

California

 

40.0

%

Florida

 

12.3

 

Nevada

 

4.5

 

Virginia

 

4.3

 

Arizona

 

4.2

 

All Other

 

34.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

Metropolitan Statistical Area

 

 

 

Los Angeles – Long Beach, CA

 

9.2

%

Washington, D.C.-MD-VA-WV

 

6.0

 

Riverside – San Bernardino, CA

 

4.6

 

Las Vegas, NV-AZ

 

4.2

 

San Diego, CA

 

4.1

 

All Other

 

71.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

The top five geographic areas represented in each of the two tables above have experienced mortgage loan default rates and home price depreciation rates that are significantly higher than national averages over the last two years.

 

In 2007 and 2008, delinquency and foreclosure rates for subprime and Alt-A mortgages increased significantly nationwide, a trend that has continued through the date of this report and may continue through 2008. Moreover, home prices have fallen in many areas, increasing the likelihood and magnitude of potential losses to lenders on foreclosed real estate. The widespread impact of these trends has led to the recognition of significant losses by financial institutions, including commercial banks, investment banks, and financial guaranty providers. Uncertainty as to the depth and duration of these trends has led to a significant reduction in the market values of

 

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securities backed by subprime and Alt-A mortgages, and has elevated the potential for other-than-temporary impairment of some of these securities.

 

Prices of many of the Bank’s private-label MBS dropped dramatically during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as delinquencies and foreclosures affecting the loans underlying these securities continued to worsen and as credit markets became highly illiquid in late February and March 2008. This illiquidity has increased the amount of management judgment required to value its private-label MBS. The following graph demonstrates how average prices declined with respect to various asset classes in the Bank’s MBS portfolio during the first nine months of 2008:

 

 

The following table provides further information regarding the Bank’s private label MBS through disclosure of pro forma impacts associated with stress-test scenarios applied to the private label MBS holdings. In addition to the other-than-temporary-impairment (OTTI) testing, described in Note 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements, the Bank also performs stress tests of key variable assumptions to assess potential exposure of the Bank’s private label MBS to changes in assumptions. The Bank assumes instantaneous adverse shifts to its conservative base case OTTI assumptions, and measures potential principal and interest shortfall. Similar to the methodology described in Note 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements, the Bank uses third-party models to project expected losses associated with the underlying loan collateral and to model the resultant lifetime cash flows as to how they would pass through the deal structures underlying the Bank’s MBS investments. For its key variable stress testing, the Bank assumes that the key variable is instantly shocked above the OTTI testing level while all other assumptions are held constant.

 

The following table indicates potential principal and interest shortfall resulting from increases in securities’ default rates, loss severities, or voluntary prepayment rates.

 

·      Base case OTTI loss severity assumptions, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements, are shocked by an additive five percentage points through final maturity to determine the impact of increased collateral loan losses realized at final disposition of defaulted pool loans.

 

·      The Bank’s base case OTTI assumption for each individual security in respect to default rates, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements, is shocked by an additive 10 percentage points through final maturity to determine the impact of increases in the unpaid principal balances on the mortgage loans underlying each individual security which is defaulted upon by borrowers.

 

·      Voluntary prepayment rates were adjusted downward by a proportional 15 percent through final maturity to estimate the impact on the Bank’s holdings if cash flows slowed, potentially exposing the Bank to risk if the subordinate classes eroded prior to the Bank’s receipt of its principal and interest due.

 

All principal and interest shortfall are presented in non-discounted dollars. Similar to the table above, the following table indicates whether the underlying mortgage collateral is considered to be prime, Alt-A, or subprime at the time of issuance. Additionally, the amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2008, are stratified by year of issuance.

 

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Private-Label Mortgage Backed Securities

Stress-Test Scenarios

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stress Test Scenarios: Principal and Interest Shortfall

 

 

 

Par Value

 

Book Value

 

Fair Value

 

5 Percentage
Point
Increase in
Loss Severities

 

10 Percentage
Point
Increase in
Conditional
Default Rates

 

15 Percent
Proportional
Decrease in
Voluntary
Prepayment Rates

 

Prime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

158,257

 

$

157,711

 

$

146,041

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

2006

 

117,619

 

117,520

 

108,554

 

 

 

 

2005

 

94,310

 

93,895

 

76,212

 

 

 

 

2004

 

111,345

 

111,680

 

96,431

 

109

 

2

 

 

2003 and prior

 

148,554

 

148,829

 

137,747

 

 

 

 

Total prime

 

630,085

 

629,635

 

564,985

 

109

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alt-A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

1,053,157

 

1,051,342

 

714,213

 

6,012

 

4,463

 

1,726

 

2006

 

1,662,737

 

1,662,195

 

1,052,923

 

7,200

 

5,786

 

833

 

2005

 

961,332

 

959,557

 

700,900

 

 

 

 

2004

 

81,894

 

81,926

 

61,897

 

 

 

 

2003 and prior

 

22,026

 

22,026

 

20,116

 

 

 

 

Total Alt-A

 

3,781,146

 

3,777,046

 

2,550,049

 

13,212

 

10,249

 

2,559

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subprime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

6,008

 

6,008

 

4,630

 

10

 

1,905

 

 

2003 and prior

 

29,854

 

29,854

 

25,211

 

424

 

973

 

 

Total subprime

 

35,862

 

35,862

 

29,841

 

434

 

2,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total private label MBS

 

$

4,447,093

 

$

4,442,543

 

$

3,144,875

 

$

13,755

 

$

13,129

 

$

2,559

 

 

The scenarios and associated results presented in the table above do not represent the Bank’s current expectations for performance in its private label MBS portfolio, but rather an indicative measure if assumptions used in its OTTI assessment described in Note 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements change under further deterioration within U.S. housing markets. The differential between potential losses under stress-test scenarios and unrealized fair value losses as of September 30, 2008, are representative of the Bank’s assertion that the depressed market values associated with its private label MBS holdings are due to illiquidity currently experienced in MBS markets, and not reflective of OTTI due to credit.

 

When loss severities are increased by five percentage points, potential principal and interest shortfall is $13.8 million, or 0.31 percent of par value as of September 30, 2008; the unrealized loss in fair value associated with the securities impacted in this scenario is $491.6 million as of September 30, 2008. When default rates are increased by 10 percentage points, projected principal and interest shortfall, according to the stress test scenario results, is $13.1 million, or 0.30 percent of par value as of September 30, 2008, while the unrealized loss in fair value is $468.4 million as of September 30, 2008. When voluntary prepayment rates are decreased by a proportional 15 percent, according to the stress test scenario results, the potential principal and interest shortfall is $2.6 million, or 0.06 percent of par value as of September 30, 2008, while the unrealized loss in fair value for the affected securities is $194.1 million as of September 30, 2008. If it is determined that an impairment is OTTI, then an impairment loss will be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s then current carrying amount and its fair value. The fair value of the investment would then become the new cost basis of the investment. In periods subsequent to the recognition of an OTTI loss, the Bank would account for the OTTI impaired debt security as if the debt security had been purchased on the measurement date of the OTTI. The resulting discount or reduced premium recorded for the debt security, based on the new cost basis, would be amortized over the remaining life of the debt security in a prospective manner based on the amount and timing of future estimated cash flows.

 

Certain of the Bank’s investments in HFA bonds and MBS/ABS are insured by a third-party bond insurer. The bond insurance on these investments guarantees the timely payments of principal and interest if these payments cannot be satisfied from the cash flows of the underlying mortgage pool. For securities that are protected by such third-party insurance, the Bank looks first to the performance of the underlying security, considering its embedded credit enhancements in the form of excess spread, overcollateralization and credit subordination, to determine the collectability of all amounts due. If these protections are deemed insufficient to make probable the timely payment of all amounts due, then the Bank considers the capacity of the third-party bond insurer to cover any shortfalls. In the case that 1) it is probable that the underlying security will experience shortfalls in the timely repayment of principal or interest, and 2) the third-party bond insurer is deemed unlikely to be able to cover any such shortfalls, the security will be deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.

 

The following table provides the credit ratings of these third-party bond insurers, along with the amount of investment securities outstanding as of September 30, 2008.

 

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Investments Insured by Financial Guarantors

Book Values as of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

Financial Guarantors

 

Insurer Financial Strength
Ratings(Fitch/Moody’s/S&P)
As of November 10, 2008

 

HFA Bonds

 

MBS/ABS

 

Total
Insured
Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambac Assurance Corp, (1)

 

wd/Baa1/AA

 

$

58,632

 

$

189,168

 

$

247,800

 

Financial Security Assurance, Inc.

 

AAA*/Aaa*/AAA *

 

125,425

 

53,411

 

178,836

 

MBIA Insurance Corp. (1)

 

Wd/Baa1/AA

 

53,320

 

17,387

 

70,707

 

Syncora Guarantee Inc. (formerly XL Capital Assurance, Inc.) (1)

 

wd/Caa1/BBB*

 

 

6,008

 

6,008

 

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

 

CCC/B1*/BB*

 

 

1,343

 

1,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

237,377

 

$

267,317

 

$

504,694

 

 


*Rating is on negative watch for possible downgrade

(1) Fitch rating withdrawn

 

Credit Risk – Mortgage Loans. The Bank is subject to credit risk on purchased mortgage loans acquired through the MPF program. All mortgage loans acquired under the MPF program are fixed-rate, fully amortizing mortgage loans. While Bank management believes that credit risk on this portfolio is appropriately managed through underwriting standards and member credit enhancement obligations, the Bank also maintains an allowance for credit losses. The Bank’s allowance for credit losses pertaining to mortgage loans was $225,000 and $125,000 at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. As of September 30, 2008, nonaccrual loans amounted to $15.3 million and consisted of 172 loans out of a total of approximately 43,200 loans. The Bank places certain conventional mortgage loans on nonaccrual status when the collection of the contractual principal or interest is 90 days or more past due. See Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -Financial Condition – Mortgage Loans for additional information. The Bank had no charge-offs related to mortgage loans foreclosed upon during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Bank had no recoveries during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from the resolution of loans previously charged off.

 

The Bank is exposed to credit risk from mortgage-insurance (MI) companies that provide credit enhancements in place of the PFI on MPF Plus-type master commitments, as well as primary MI coverage on individual loans in all types of conventional master commitments. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank was the beneficiary of primary MI coverage on $242.3 million of conventional mortgage loans, and the Bank was the beneficiary of supplemental mortgage guaranty insurance (SMI) coverage on mortgage pools with a total unpaid principal balance of $2.3 billion. Eight MI companies provide all of the coverage under these policies.

 

As of October 31, 2008, six of these MI companies have been downgraded to a rating lower than double-A minus by at least one NRSRO, citing poor results for the first half of 2008 and the continued deterioration in key variables that influence claims for mortgage insurance. The table below shows the ratings of these companies as of October 31, 2008.

 

The Bank has analyzed its potential loss exposure to all of the MI companies and does not expect incremental losses due to these rating actions. This expectation is based on the credit-enhancement features of the Bank’s master commitments (exclusive of MI), the underwriting characteristics of the loans that back the Bank’s master commitments, the seasoning of the loans that back these master commitments, and the strong performance of the loans to date. The Bank closely monitors the financial conditions of these MI companies. The Bank has established limits on exposure to individual MI companies to ensure that the insurance coverage is sufficiently diversified. The following table shows MI companies as of September 30, 2008.

 

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Mortgage-Insurance Companies That Provide MI Coverage

As of September 30, 2008

(dollars in thousands)

 

Mortgage Insurance
Company

 

Mortgage-Insurance
Company Ratings
(Fitch/Moody’s/S&P)
As of October 31, 2008

 

Balance of
Loans with
Primary MI

 

Primary MI

 

SMI

 

MI Coverage

 

Percent of
Total MI
Coverage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Guaranty Residential Insurance Corporation

 

AA-/Aa3/A-*

 

$

21,356

 

$

4,417

 

$

16,290

 

$

20,707

 

29.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation

 

A-/A1*/A

 

73,367

 

15,488

 

2,845

 

 

18,333

 

25.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genworth Mortgage Insurance Corporation

 

A+/Aa3/AA-

 

63,478

 

14,292

 

 

 

 

14,292

 

20.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PMI Mortgage Insurance Company

 

BBB+/A3*/A-

 

26,192

 

5,226

 

 

 

5,226

 

7.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radian Guaranty Incorporated

 

NR/A2*/BBB+

 

 

21,031

 

3,829

 

759

 

4,588

 

6.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic Mortgage Insurance Company

 

A+/A1*/A+

 

18,527

 

3,645

 

563

 

4,208

 

5.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMG Mortgage Insurance Company

 

AA/NR/AA-

 

11,347

 

2,646

 

 

2,646

 

3.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation

 

NR/NR/NR

 

7,051

 

 

1,276

 

 

 

1,276

 

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

242,349

 

$

50,819

 

$

20,457

 

$

71,276

 

100.0

%

 


*      Rating is on watch for possible downgrade.

 

Credit Risk – Derivative Instruments. The Bank is subject to credit risk on derivative instruments. Credit exposure from derivatives arises from the risk of counterparty default on the derivative contract. The amount of loss created by default is the replacement cost, or current positive fair value, of the defaulted contract, net of any collateral held by the Bank. The credit risk to the Bank arising from unsecured credit exposure on derivatives is mitigated by the credit quality of the counterparties, and all master derivatives agreements are subject to early termination ratings’ triggers. The Bank enters into derivatives only with nonmember institutions that have long-term senior unsecured credit ratings that are at or above single-A by S&P and Moody’s at the time of the transaction. Also, the Bank uses master-netting agreements to reduce its credit exposure from counterparty defaults. The nonmember master agreements contain bilateral-collateral-exchange provisions that require credit exposures beyond a defined amount be secured by U.S. government or GSE-issued securities or cash. Exposures are measured daily, and adjustments to collateral positions are made as necessary to minimize the Bank’s exposure to credit risk. The nonmember agreements generally provide for smaller amounts of unsecured exposure to lower-rated counterparties. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had two derivative contracts outstanding with one member institution which involved no credit exposure since they were interest-rate options sold to the member. The Bank does not enter into interest-rate-exchange agreements with other FHLBanks, and had no such agreements as of September 30, 2008.

 

As illustrated in the following table, the Bank’s maximum credit exposure on interest-rate-exchange agreements is much less than the notional amount of the agreements. Additionally, mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are reflected in the following table as derivative instruments, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 149. The Bank does not collateralize mortgage-loan-purchase commitments. However, should the PFI fail to deliver the mortgage loans as agreed, the member institution is charged a fee to compensate the Bank for nonperformance of the agreement.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Derivative Instruments

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Notional
Amount

 

Number of
Counterparties

 

Total Net
Exposure at
Fair Value

 

Net Exposure
after
Collateral

 

As of September 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate-exchange agreements: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double-A

 

$

29,100,440

 

14

 

$

10,755

 

$

10,755

 

Single-A

 

3,092,171

 

3

 

1,367

 

1,367

 

Unrated (2)

 

10,000

 

1

 

 

 

Total interest-rate-exchange agreements

 

32,202,611

 

18

 

12,122

 

12,122

 

Mortgage-loan-purchase commitments (3)

 

33,804

 

 

15

 

 

Forward contracts

 

10,000

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives

 

$

32,246,415

 

19

 

$

12,137

 

$

12,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate-exchange agreements: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double-A

 

$

20,151,961

 

13

 

$

65,016

 

$

8,661

 

Single-A

 

8,957,057

 

5

 

2,002

 

2,002

 

Unrated (2)

 

10,000

 

1

 

 

 

Total interest-rate-exchange agreements

 

29,119,018

 

19

 

67,018

 

10,663

 

Mortgage-loan-purchase commitments (3)

 

9,600

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives

 

$

29,128,618

 

19

 

$

67,047

 

$

10,663

 

 


(1)   Ratings are obtained from Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P. If there is a split rating, the lowest rating is used.

(2)   This represents two contracts with a member institution.

(3)   Total fair-value exposures related to mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are offset by pair-off fees from the Bank’s members.

 

As of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the following counterparties accounted for more than 10 percent of the total notional amount of interest-rate-exchange agreements outstanding (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

Counterparty

 

Notional Amount
Outstanding

 

Percent of Total
Notional
Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

$

5,092,860

 

15.8

%

Barclays Bank PLC

 

3,872,575

 

12.0

 

Credit Suisse First Boston International

 

3,533,005

 

11.0

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank

 

3,491,323

 

10.8

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

Counterparty

 

Notional Amount
Outstanding

 

Percent of Total
Notional
Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

$

4,010,358

 

13.8

%

JP Morgan Chase Bank

 

3,772,555

 

13.0

 

Goldman Sachs Capital Markets LP

 

3,364,616

 

11.6

 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services Inc

 

3,204,350

 

11.0

 

 

The Bank may deposit funds with these counterparties and their affiliates for short-term money-market investments, including overnight federal funds, term federal funds, and interest-bearing certificates of deposit. Terms for such investments are overnight to 270 days. The Bank also engages in short-term secured reverse-repurchase agreements with affiliates of these counterparties. All of these counterparties and/or their affiliates buy, sell, and distribute the Bank’s COs.

 

Contingent Credit Risk– Standby Bond-Purchase Agreements. The Bank has entered into standby bond-purchase agreements with two state-housing authorities whereby the Bank, for a fee, agrees to purchase and hold the authority’s bonds until the designated remarketing agent can find a new investor or the housing authority repurchases the bonds according to a schedule established by the agreement. Each commitment agreement contains termination provisions in the event of a rating downgrade of the subject bond. All of the subject bonds are rated the highest long-term debt rating by at least two rating agencies. Total commitments for bond purchases were $332.0 million at September 30, 2008, of which $325.7 million were to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. All of the bonds underlying the commitments to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority maintain standalone ratings of triple-A from two rating agencies. A double-A rated financial guarantor has guaranteed $289.3 million of these bonds. An additional $6.2 million to another housing authority are guaranteed by another financial guarantor whose triple-A ratings are on negative watch.

 

At September 30, 2008, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority had drawn upon $28.2 million of the Bank’s standby bond-purchase agreements causing the Bank to purchase the related bonds, which the Bank now owns and holds as available-for-sale investments. The related agreements require the related remarketing agents to use their best efforts to remarket these bonds on behalf of the Bank. If these bonds are not fully remarketed within 60 days of the Bank’s purchase of them, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority must purchase them in four equal and consecutive semiannual principal installments commencing on a certain repurchase date following such sixtieth day in accordance with the related standby bond-purchase agreement at a price of 100 percent of the outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest thereon. Notwithstanding the immediately prior sentence, upon the effective date of any event of default or the related commitment expiry date, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority is required to immediately purchase the related bonds owned by the Bank. At September 30, 2008, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority was rated the highest long-term debt rating by each of the major rating agencies then rating it.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Market and Interest-Rate Risk

 

Sources of Market and Interest-Rate Risk

 

The Bank’s balance sheet is a collection of different portfolios that require different types of market and interest-rate-risk-management strategies. The majority of the Bank’s balance sheet is comprised of assets that can be funded individually or collectively without imposing significant residual interest-rate risk on the Bank.

 

However, the Bank’s mortgage-related assets, including the portfolio of whole loans acquired through the MPF program, its portfolio of MBS and ABS, and its portfolio of bonds issued by HFAs, represent more complex cash-flow structures and contain more risk of prepayment and/or call options. Because many of these assets are backed by residential mortgages that allow the borrower to prepay and refinance at any time, the behavior of these portfolios is asymmetric based on the movement of interest rates. If rates fall, borrowers have an incentive to refinance mortgages without penalty, which could leave the Bank with lower-yielding replacement assets against existing debt assigned to the portfolio. If rates rise, borrowers will tend to hold existing loans longer than they otherwise would, imposing on the Bank the risk of having to refinance maturing debt assigned to these portfolios at a higher rate, thereby narrowing the interest-rate spread generated by the assets.

 

These risks cannot be profitably managed with a strategy in which each asset is offset by a liability with a substantially identical cash-flow structure. Therefore, the Bank views each portfolio as a whole and allocates funding and hedging to these portfolios based on an evaluation of the collective market and interest-rate risks posed by these portfolios. The Bank measures the estimated impact to fair values of these portfolios as well as the potential for income to decline due to movements in interest rates, and makes adjustments to the funding and hedge instruments assigned as necessary to keep the portfolios within established risk limits.

 

Types of Market and Interest-Rate Risk

 

Interest-rate and market risk can be divided into several categories, including repricing risk, yield-curve risk, basis risk, and options risk. Repricing risk refers to differences in the average sensitivities of asset and liability yields attributable to differences in the average timing of maturities and/or coupon resets between assets and liabilities. In isolation, repricing risk assumes that all rates may change by the same magnitude. However, differences in the timing of repricing of assets and liabilities can cause spreads between assets and liabilities to decline.

 

Yield-curve risk reflects the sensitivity of net income to changes in the shape or slope of the yield curve that could impact the performance of assets and liabilities differently, even though average sensitivities are the same.

 

When assets and liabilities are affected by yield changes in different markets, basis risk can result. For example, if the Bank invests in LIBOR-based floating-rate assets and funds those assets with short-term discount notes, potential compression in the spread between LIBOR and discount note rates could adversely affect the Bank’s net income.

 

The Bank also faces options risk, particularly in its portfolios of advances, mortgage loans, MBS, and HFA bonds. When a member prepays an advance, the Bank could suffer lower future income if the principal portion of the prepaid advance is reinvested in lower-yielding assets that continue to be funded by higher-cost debt. In the mortgage loan, MBS, and HFA-bond portfolios, borrowers or issuers often have the right to redeem their obligations prior to maturity without penalty, potentially requiring the Bank to reinvest the returned principal at lower yields. If interest rates decline, borrowers may be able to refinance existing mortgage loans at lower interest rates, resulting in the prepayment of these existing mortgages and forcing the Bank to reinvest the proceeds in lower-yielding assets. If interest rates rise, borrowers may avoid refinancing mortgage loans for periods longer than the average term of liabilities funding the mortgage loans, causing the Bank to have to refinance the assets at higher cost. This right of redemption is effectively a call option that the Bank has written to the obligor. Another less prominent form of options risk includes coupon-cap risk, which may be embedded into certain MBS and limit the amount by which asset coupons may increase.

 

Strategies to Manage Market and Interest-Rate Risk

 

General

 

The Bank uses various strategies and techniques to manage its market and interest-rate risk. Principal among its tools for interest-rate-risk management is the issuance of debt that is used to match interest-rate-risk exposures of the Bank’s assets. The Bank can issue COs with maturities ranging from overnight to 20 years or more. The debt may be noncallable until maturity or callable on and/or after a certain date.

 

To reduce the earnings exposure to rising interest rates caused by long-term, fixed-rate assets, the Bank may issue long-term, fixed-rate bonds. These bonds may be issued to fund specific assets or to generally manage the overall exposure of a portfolio or the balance sheet. At September 30, 2008, fixed-rate noncallable debt not hedged by interest-rate-exchange agreements amounted to $13.3 billion,

 

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compared with $11.2 billion at December 31, 2007. Fixed-rate callable debt not hedged by interest-rate-exchange agreements amounted to $4.6 billion and $3.7 billion at September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

To achieve certain risk-management objectives, the Bank also uses interest-rate derivatives that alter the effective maturities, repricing frequencies, or option-related characteristics of financial instruments. These may include swaps, swaptions, caps, collars, and floors; futures and forward contracts; and exchange-traded options. For example, as an alternative to issuing a fixed-rate bond to fund a fixed-rate advance, the Bank might enter into an interest-rate swap that receives a floating-rate coupon and pays a fixed-rate coupon, thereby effectively converting the fixed-rate advance to a floating-rate advance.

 

Advances

 

In addition to the general strategies described above, one tool that the Bank uses to reduce the interest-rate risk associated with advances is a contractual provision that requires members to pay prepayment fees for advances that, if prepaid prior to maturity, might expose the Bank to a loss of income under certain interest-rate environments. In accordance with applicable regulations, the Bank has an established policy to charge fees sufficient to make the Bank financially indifferent to a member’s decision to repay an advance prior to its maturity. Prepayment fees are recorded as income for the period in which they are received.

 

Prepayment-fee income can be used to offset the cost of purchasing and retiring high-cost debt in order to maintain the Bank’s asset-liability sensitivity profile. In cases where derivatives are used to hedge prepaid advances, prepayment-fee income can be used to offset the cost of terminating the associated hedge.

 

Investments

 

The Bank holds certain long-term bonds issued by U.S. agencies, U.S. government corporations and instrumentalities, supranational banks, and state or local housing-finance-agency obligations as available-for-sale. To hedge the market and interest-rate risk associated with these assets, the Bank has entered into interest-rate swaps with matching terms to those of the bonds in order to create synthetic floating-rate assets. At September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, this portfolio had an amortized cost of $735.1 million and $707.7 million, respectively.

 

The Bank also manages the market and interest-rate risk in its MBS portfolio in several ways. For MBS classified as held-to-maturity, the Bank uses debt that matches the characteristics of the portfolio assets. For example, for floating-rate ABS, the Bank uses debt that reprices on a short-term basis, such as CO discount notes or CO bonds that are swapped to a LIBOR-based floating-rate. For commercial MBS that are nonprepayable or prepayable for a fee for an initial period, the Bank may use fixed-rate debt. For MBS that are classified as trading securities, the Bank uses interest-rate swaps to economically hedge the duration characteristics and interest-rate caps to economically hedge the option risk in these assets.

 

Mortgage Loans

 

The Bank manages the interest-rate and prepayment risk associated with mortgages through a combination of debt issuance and derivatives. The Bank issues both callable and noncallable debt to achieve cash-flow patterns and liability durations similar to those expected on the mortgage loans.

 

The Bank mitigates much of its exposure to changes in interest rates by funding a significant portion of its mortgage portfolio with callable debt. When interest rates change, the Bank’s option to redeem this debt offsets a large portion of the fair-value change driven by the mortgage-prepayment option. These bonds are effective in managing prepayment risk by allowing the Bank to respond in kind to prepayment activity. Conversely, if interest rates increase the debt may remain outstanding until maturity. The Bank uses various cash instruments including shorter-term debt, callable, and noncallable long-term debt in order to reprice debt when mortgages prepay faster or slower than expected. The Bank’s debt-repricing capacity depends on market demand for callable and noncallable debt, which fluctuates from time to time. Additionally, because the mortgage-prepayment option is not fully hedged by callable debt, the combined market value of our mortgage assets and debt will be affected by changes in interest rates. As such, the Bank has enacted a more comprehensive strategy incorporating the use of derivatives. Derivatives provide a flexible, liquid, efficient, and cost-effective method to hedge interest-rate and prepayment risks.

 

To hedge the interest-rate-sensitivity risk due to potentially high prepayment speeds in the event of a drop in interest rates, the Bank has periodically purchased options to receive fixed rates on interest-rate swaps exercisable on specific future dates (receiver swaptions). These derivatives are structured to increase in value as interest rates decline, and provide an offset to the loss of market value that might result from rapid prepayments in the event of a downturn in interest rates. With the addition of these option-based derivatives, the market value of the portfolio becomes more stable because a greater portion of prepayment risk is covered. At September 30, 2008, the Bank had no receiver swaptions.

 

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Interest-rate-risk management activities can significantly affect the level and timing of net income due to a variety of factors. As receiver swaptions are accounted for on a standalone basis and not as part of a hedge relationship under SFAS 133, changes in their fair values are recorded through net income each month. This may increase net income volatility if the offsetting periodic change in the MPF prepayment activity is markedly different from the fair-value change in the receiver swaptions. Additionally, performance of the MPF portfolio is interest-rate-path dependent, while receiver swaptions values are solely based on forward-looking rate expectations.

 

When the Bank executes transactions to purchase mortgage loans, in some cases the Bank may be exposed to significant market risk until permanent hedging and funding can be obtained in the market. In these cases, the Bank may enter into a forward sale of MBS to be announced (TBA) or other derivatives for forward settlement. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank had $10.0 million of outstanding TBA hedges. The total fair value of these hedges as of September 30, 2008, was an unrealized loss of $34,000.

 

Swapped Consolidated Obligation Debt

 

The Bank may also issue CO bonds in conjunction with interest-rate swaps that receive a coupon that offsets the bond coupon, and that offset any optionality embedded in the bond, thereby effectively creating a floating-rate liability. The Bank employs this strategy to achieve a lower cost of funds than may be available from the issuance of short-term consolidated discount notes. Total CO bond debt used in conjunction with interest-rate-exchange agreements was $18.0 billion, or 47.2 percent of the Bank’s total outstanding CO bonds at September 30, 2008, up from $17.8 billion, or 53.0 percent of total outstanding CO bonds, at December 31, 2007. There was no CO discount note debt used in conjunction with interest-rate-exchange agreements as of September 30, 2008. As of December 31, 2007, total CO discount note debt used in conjunction with interest-rate-exchange agreements was $700.0 million, or 1.6 percent of the Bank’s total outstanding CO discount notes. Because the interest-rate swaps and hedged CO bonds trade in different markets, they are subject to basis risk that is reflected in the Bank’s value at risk calculations, but that is not reflected in hedge ineffectiveness as measured in accordance with SFAS 133, because these interest-rate swaps are designed to hedge changes in fair values of the CO bonds that are attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR interest rate.

 

The Bank also uses interest-rate swaps, caps, and floors to manage the fair-value sensitivity of the portion of its MBS portfolio that is classified as trading securities. These interest-rate-exchange agreements provide an economic offset to the duration and convexity risks arising from these assets.

 

See Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Condition — Derivative Instruments for a summary of the Bank’s hedged items.

 

Measurement of Market and Interest-Rate Risk

 

The Bank measures its exposure to market and interest-rate risk using several techniques applied to the balance sheet and to certain portfolios within the balance sheet. Principal among these measurements as applied to the balance sheet is the potential future change in MVE and interest income due to potential changes in interest rates, spreads, and market prices. For purposes of measuring interest-income sensitivity over time, the Bank measures the repricing gaps between its assets and liabilities. The Bank also measures the duration gap of its mortgage-loan portfolio, including all assigned funding and hedging transactions.

 

The Bank uses sophisticated information systems to evaluate its financial position. These systems are capable of employing various interest-rate term-structure models and valuation techniques to determine the values and sensitivities of complex or option-embedded instruments such as mortgage loans; MBS; callable bonds and swaps; and adjustable-rate instruments with embedded caps and floors, among others. These models require the following:

 

·                 Specification of the contractual and behavioral features of each instrument;

 

·                 Determination and specification of appropriate market data, such as yield curves and implied volatilities;

 

·                 Utilization of appropriate term-structure and prepayment models to reasonably describe the potential evolution of interest rates over time and the expected behavior of financial instruments in response;

 

·                 For option-free instruments, the expected cash flows are specified in accordance with the term structure of interest rates and discounted using spot rates derived from the same term structure;

 

·                 For option-embedded instruments that are path-independent, such as callable bonds and swaps, a backward-induction process is used to evaluate each node on a lattice that captures the variety of scenarios specified by the term-structure model; and

 

·                 For option-embedded instruments that are path-dependent, such as mortgage-related instruments, a Monte Carlo simulation process is used to specify a large number of potential interest-rate scenarios that are randomly generated in accordance with

 

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the term structure of interest rates.

 

Market Value of Equity Estimation and Risk Limit. MVE is the net economic value (or net present value) of total assets and liabilities, including any off-balance-sheet items. In contrast to the GAAP-based shareholders’ equity account, MVE represents the shareholder’s equity account in present-value terms. Specifically, MVE equals the difference between the theoretical market value of assets and the theoretical market value of liabilities. MVE, and in particular, the ratio of MVE to the book value of equity (BVE), can be an indicator of future net income to the extent that it demonstrates the impact of prior interest-rate movements on the capacity of the current balance sheet to generate net interest income. For example, a liability-sensitive bank that has a lower MVE following an increase in interest rates can be expected to earn less net interest income in the future, as the increase in interest rates would have reduced the market value of assets to a greater extent than the market value of liabilities. However, MVE does not always provide an accurate indication of future net income. Even a bank with perfectly matched asset and liability repricing characteristics might experience fluctuations in its MVE if the discount rates used to evaluate assets and liabilities change differentially due to basis risk. For example, if yields used to discount assets increase more rapidly than yields used to discount liabilities, MVE will decline, despite the fact that the change in interest rates does not affect yields on current balance-sheet items. As another example, an entity whose debt securities decline in value due to credit concerns about the entity will show an increase in MVE if asset values do not fall by as much. Therefore, care must be taken to properly interpret the results of the MVE analysis.

 

The ratio of the MVE to the BVE is one of the metrics used to track the Bank’s potential future exposure to losses or reduced net income. At December 31, 2007, the Bank’s MVE was $3.3 billion and its BVE was $3.4 billion. At September 30, 2008, the Bank’s MVE had declined to $2.7 billion while its BVE had increased to $3.8 billion. Therefore, the Bank’s ratio of MVE to BVE was 72.3 percent at September 30, 2008, down from 95.9 percent at December 31, 2007. The decline in this ratio is almost fully attributable to the decline in market values of the Bank’s MBS portfolio. In turn, the decline in the market values of the Bank’s MBS was attributable to investor concerns about credit risk associated primarily with private-label MBS that have experienced unprecedented high rates of loan delinquencies and foreclosures, which have been exacerbated by the illiquidity attending the ongoing credit crisis. As noted previously, management believes that this impairment is temporary at this time.

 

Interest-rate-risk analysis using MVE involves evaluating the potential changes in fair values of assets and liabilities and off-balance-sheet items under different potential future interest-rate scenarios and determining the potential impact on MVE according to each scenario and the scenario’s likelihood.

 

Value at risk (VaR) is defined to equal the ninety-ninth percentile potential reduction in MVE based on historical simulation of interest-rate scenarios. These scenarios correspond to interest-rate changes historically observed over 120-business-day periods starting at the most recent monthend and going back monthly to the beginning of 1978. This approach is useful in establishing risk-tolerance limits and is commonly used in asset/liability management; however, it does not imply a forecast of future interest-rate behavior. The Bank’s risk-management policy requires that VaR not exceed the latest quarterend dividend-adjusted level of retained earnings plus the Bank’s most recent quarterly estimate of net income over the next six months.

 

The table below presents the historical simulation VaR estimate as of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, which represents the estimates of potential reduction to the Bank’s MVE from potential future changes in interest rates and other market factors. Estimated potential risk exposures are expressed as a percentage of then current MVE and are based on historical behavior of interest rates and other market factors over a 120-business-day time horizon.

 

 

 

Value-at-Risk

 

 

 

(Gain) Loss Exposure

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Confidence Level

 

% of
MVE (1)

 

$ (million)

 

% of
MVE (1)

 

$ (million)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50%

 

0.06

%

$

1.7

 

-0.15

%

$

(4.8

)

75%

 

0.46

 

12.9

 

0.85

 

28.0

 

95%

 

1.24

 

35.1

 

2.10

 

68.9

 

99%

 

2.76

 

78.2

 

3.42

 

112.1

 

 


(1)          Loss exposure is expressed as a percentage of base MVE.

 

As measured by VaR, the Bank’s potential losses to MVE due to changes in interest rates and other market factors decreased by $33.9 million to $78.2 million as of September 30, 2008, from $112.1 million as of December 31, 2007. The primary driver behind the decrease in VaR from December 31, 2007, was a lower market-rate environment experienced at September 30, 2008, from the prior yearend. Commencing in September 2007, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors sought to address perceived liquidity and recessionary concerns by lowering the targeted Fed funds rate; the target was lowered 100 basis points between September and December 2007 and a further 225 basis points during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. In turn, other market rates moved lower as well, as three-month LIBOR was 65 basis points lower, and the two-year swap rate had declined by 36 basis points at

 

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September 30, 2008, from its December 31, 2007, level. VaR incorporates the impact of changes in market rates and volatility on the value of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and derivative positions, and does not include further potential price deterioration that is due to market illiquidity and is independent of rate changes.

 

While the Bank seeks to manage interest-rate risk through matching the tenor, interest-rate-reset characteristics, and optionality of its assets and liabilities, mismatches may occur, primarily between the Bank’s MPF mortgage-loan portfolio and associated liabilities. As a result, the Bank has a residual exposure to interest-rate movements, as illustrated by its duration of equity. Duration of equity, as measured by the Bank, represents the net percentage change in value between the Bank’s assets and liabilities for parallel +/- 50 basis point shifts in interest rates. A negative duration of equity indicates that the Bank’s MVE depreciates in declining rate scenarios, and the converse holds true for rising rate environments. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank’s duration of equity was -1.60 years, indicating that the Bank depreciates in value in those VaR scenarios that incorporate declining rate environments.

 

The negative duration of equity observed by the Bank as of September 30, 2008 reflected a pronounced rise in market yields for the Bank’s debt relative to yields on assets and interest rate swaps held by the Bank. The increase in yields on the Bank’s outstanding debt caused an increase in the duration of callable debt reflecting the reduced likelihood of redemption on call exercise dates. The lengthening of the Bank’s duration of liabilities was not matched by an attendant lengthening of the duration of the Bank’s mortgage loans, as projected mortgage current coupon yields declined, implying a higher probability of prepayments. This increased mortgage prepayment sensitivity is conditioned on normal functioning mortgage markets, and may not be realized if current housing market issues continue to impede mortgage refinancing for an extended period of time.

 

Income Simulation and Repricing Gaps. To provide an additional perspective on market and interest-rate risks, the Bank has an income-simulation model that projects net interest income over a range of potential interest-rate scenarios, including parallel interest-rate shocks, nonparallel interest-rate shocks, and nonlinear changes to the Bank’s funding curve and LIBOR. The Bank measures simulated 12-month net income and return on equity (with an assumption of no prepayment-fee income or related hedge or debt-retirement expense) under these scenarios. Management has put in place escalation-action triggers whereby senior management is explicitly informed of instances where the Bank’s projected return on equity would fall below three-month LIBOR in any of the assumed interest-rate scenarios. The results of this analysis for September 30, 2008, showed that in the worst-case scenario, the Bank’s return on equity would fall to 144 basis points above the average yield on three-month LIBOR under a steeper yield curve scenario wherein interest rates instantaneously rise by 300 basis points in a parallel fashion across all yield curves.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

The Bank maintains operational liquidity in order to ensure that it meets its day-to-day business needs as well as its contractual obligations with normal sources of funding. The Bank’s risk-management policy has established a metric and policy limit within which the Bank operates. The Bank defines structural liquidity as the difference between contractual sources and uses of funds adjusted to assume that all maturing advances are renewed; member overnight deposits are withdrawn at a rate of 50 percent per day; and commitments (MPF and other commitments) are taken down at a conservatively projected pace. The Bank defines available liquidity as the sources of funds available to the Bank through its access to the capital markets, subject to leverage, line, and collateral constraints. The risk-management policy requires the Bank to maintain structural liquidity each day so that any excess of uses over sources is covered by available liquidity for a four-week forecast period and 50 percent of the excess of uses over sources is covered by available liquidity over eight- and 12-week forecast periods. In addition to these minimum requirements, management measures structural liquidity over a three-month forecast period. If the Bank’s excess of uses over sources is not fully covered by available liquidity over a two-month or three-month forecast period, senior management will be immediately notified so that a decision can be made as to whether immediate remedial action is necessary. The following table shows the Bank’s structural liquidity as of September 30, 2008.

 

Structural Liquidity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Month 1

 

Month 2

 

Month 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual sources of funds

 

$

4,198,611

 

$

7,262,828

 

$

3,221,707

 

Less: Contractual uses of funds

 

(4,465,504

)

(10,151,293

)

(8,827,641

)

Equals: Net cash flow

 

(266,893

)

(2,888,465

)

(5,605,934

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Cumulative contingent obligations

 

(19,815,853

)

(27,452,117

)

(33,535,212

)

Equals: Net structural liquidity

 

(20,082,746

)

(30,340,582

)

(39,141,146

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available borrowing capacity

 

$

32,050,660

 

$

41,375,632

 

$

49,119,391

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of available borrowing capacity to net structural liquidity need

 

1.60

 

1.36

 

1.25

 

Required ratio

 

1.00

 

0.50

 

0.50

 

Management action trigger

 

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

 

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The Bank also maintains contingency-liquidity plans designed to enable it to meet its obligations in the event of operational disruption at the Bank, the Office of Finance, or the capital markets. The Bank is required to ensure that it can meet its liquidity needs for a minimum of five business days without access to proceeds of CO issuance. As of September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, the Bank held a surplus of $6.6 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively, of liquidity (exclusive of access to CO issuance) within the first five prospective business days. Management measures liquidity on a daily basis and maintains an adequate base of operating and contingency liquidity by investing in short-term, high-quality, money-market investments and also has access to the GSECF, described in Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Liquidity, each of which can provide a ready source of liquidity during stressed market conditions. As of September 30, 2008, the Bank’s contingency liquidity, as measured in accordance with Finance Agency regulations, was determined as follows:

 

Contingency Liquidity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Cumulative Fifth
Business Day

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual sources of funds

 

$

9,535,272

 

Less: contractual uses of funds

 

(13,861,748

)

Equals: net cash flow

 

(4,326,476

)

 

 

 

 

Contingency borrowing capacity (exclusive of CO debt issuance)

 

10,937,765

 

 

 

 

 

Net contingency borrowing capacity

 

$

6,611,289

 

 

Additional information regarding liquidity is provided in Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.

 

Leverage Risk

 

The Bank has controls in place in an effort to ensure that capital is maintained within regulatory limitations. Accordingly, the Bank maintains at all times total capital in an amount equal to at least 4.0 percent of total assets and a leverage ratio in an amount equal to at least 5.0 percent of total assets. In order to balance the need to maintain compliance with these regulatory requirements against the need to adequately lever shareholder equity to provide an efficient return to shareholders, the Bank maintains its ratio of total capital to total assets between 4.0 percent and 5.5 percent measured at the end of each calendar month. Leverage limits are included in the Bank’s board-approved risk-management policy and ratios are reported to the board of directors monthly.

 

Business Risk

 

Management’s strategies for mitigating business risk include annual and long-term strategic planning exercises; continually monitoring key economic indicators, projections, and the Bank’s external environment; and developing contingency plans where appropriate. The Bank’s risk-assessment process also considers business risk, where appropriate, for each of the Bank’s major business activities.

 

Operational Risk

 

The Bank has instituted policies and procedures to mitigate operational risks. The Bank ensures that employees are properly trained for their roles and that written policies and procedures exist to support the key functions of the Bank. The Bank maintains a system of internal controls to ensure that responsibilities are adequately segregated and that the activities of the Bank are appropriately monitored and reported to management and the board of directors. Annual risk assessments review these risks and related controls for efficacy and potential opportunities for enhancement. Additionally, the Bank’s Operational Risk Committee oversees the Bank’s exposure to operational risk and reviews the following: new products, new processes, annual risk assessments, exceptions and related reports, new regulations affecting products and operations, and staff turnover. The Bank’s Internal Audit Department, which reports directly to the Audit Committee of the board of directors, regularly monitors the Bank’s adherence to established policies and procedures. However, some operational risks are beyond the Bank’s control, and the failure of other parties to adequately address their operational risks could adversely affect the Bank.

 

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Disaster-Recovery/Business Continuity Provisions. The Bank maintains a disaster-recovery site in Westborough, Massachusetts to provide continuity of operations in the event that its Boston headquarters becomes unavailable. Data for critical computer systems is backed up regularly and stored offsite to avoid disruption in the event of a computer failure. The Bank also has a reciprocal back-up agreement in place with the FHLBank of Topeka to provide short-term liquidity advances in the event that both of the Massachusetts facilities are inoperable. In the event that the FHLBank of Topeka’s facilities are inoperable, the Bank will provide short-term liquidity advances to their members.

 

Insurance Coverage. The Bank has insurance coverage for employee fraud, forgery, alteration, and embezzlement, as well as director and officer liability protection for breach of duty, misappropriation of funds, negligence, and acts of omission. Additionally, comprehensive insurance coverage is currently in place for electronic data-processing equipment and software, personal property, leasehold improvements, fire/explosion/water damage, and personal injury including slander and libelous actions. The Bank maintains additional insurance protection as deemed appropriate, which covers automobiles, company credit cards, and business-travel accident and supplemental traveler’s coverage for both directors and staff. The Bank uses the services of an insurance consultant who periodically conducts a comprehensive review of insurance-coverage levels.

 

Reputation Risk

 

The Bank has established a code of conduct and operational risk-management procedures to ensure ethical behavior among its staff and directors, and provides training to employees about its code of conduct. The Bank works to ensure that all communications are presented accurately, consistently, and in a timely way to multiple audiences and stakeholders. In particular, the Bank regularly conducts outreach efforts with its membership and with housing and economic-development advocacy organizations throughout New England. The Bank also cultivates relationships with government officials at the federal, state, and municipal levels; key media outlets; nonprofit housing and community-development organizations; and regional and national trade and business associations to foster awareness of the Bank’s mission, activities, and value to members. The Bank works closely with the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance to coordinate communications on a broader scale.

 

Item 4.                       Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Bank’s senior management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Bank in the reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. The Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Bank in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Bank’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Bank’s management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and the Bank’s management necessarily is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of controls and procedures.

 

Management of the Bank has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures with the participation of the president and chief executive officer and chief financial officer as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Bank’s president and chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

During the third quarter of 2008, there were no changes in the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                       Legal Proceedings

 

The Bank from time to time is subject to various pending legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. After consultation with legal counsel, management does not anticipate that the ultimate liability, if any, arising out of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Bank’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 1A.              Risk Factors

 

In addition to the risk factors provided below and other risks described herein, readers should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the Bank’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2008 (2007 Form 10-K), which could materially affect the Bank’s business, financial condition, or future results. The risks described below, elsewhere in this report and in the Bank’s 2007 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Bank. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Bank or that the Bank currently deems immaterial may also materially affect the Bank.

 

The impact on the Bank of recently enacted legislation, in particular the EESA, including the TARP, and the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, as well as the proposed rule by the FDIC to increase premiums, may have an adverse impact on the Bank, but the effects cannot be predicted at this time.

 

The programs established or to be established under the EESA, including the TARP, and the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program as well as a proposed rule by the FDIC to increase premiums on institutions it insures, each as described in Item 2 - Recent Regulatory and Legislative Developments, may have an adverse impact on the Bank, but the ultimate impact of such programs and proposed rule on the Bank cannot be predicted at this time. For example, the EESA, including the TARP, may have the net effect of reducing member demand for advances from the Bank due to alternative means of raising funds pursuant to these or other programs. Alternatively, capital injections pursuant to the TARP may increase member ability to make loans and members may increase their demand for advances from the Bank to fund such loans. Likewise, the proposed rule by the FDIC to increase premiums, if enacted as proposed, would have the effect of increasing the all in borrowing costs for members, including when borrowing from the Bank, which may tend to reduce member demand for advances from the Bank. However, the final rule by the FDIC cannot be known at this time. Further, the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program may tend to increase the FHLBanks’ funding costs due to the explicit guarantee by the FDIC of eligible debt by participating financial institutions or, alternatively, the uncertainty that the program may have created may tend to increase investor demand for the FHLBanks’ short term discount notes thereby lowering the FHLBanks’ funding costs pending increased certainty as to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program and the extent of related federal actions as well.

 

The recent enactment of HERA and subsequent actions by the Bank’s new regulator, the Finance Agency, to adopt or modify regulations, orders or policies, including interpretations or applications by the Bank’s prior regulator, the Finance Board, may have a material adverse impact on our business, operations, and/or financial condition.

 

On July 30, 2008, HERA was enacted into law. See Item 2 — Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments for a description of HERA. We cannot predict how HERA or subsequent actions by the Finance Agency involving the adoption or modification of regulations, orders or policies, including interpretations or applications by the Finance Board, may have a material adverse impact on our business, operations, and/or financial condition.

 

A continuing, or broader, decline in U.S. home prices or in activity in the U.S. housing market could negatively impact the Bank’s earnings and financial condition.

 

The deterioration of the U.S. housing market and national decline in home prices in 2007, along with the continuing declines in 2008, may adversely affect the financial condition of a number of the Bank’s members, particularly those whose businesses are concentrated in the mortgage industry. One or more of the Bank’s members may default in its obligations to the Bank for a number of reasons, such as changes in financial condition, a reduction in liquidity, operational failures or insolvency. In addition, the value of residential mortgage loans pledged by the Bank’s members to the Bank as collateral may decrease. If a member defaulted, and the Bank was unable to obtain additional collateral to make up for the reduced value of such residential mortgage loan collateral, the Bank could incur losses. A default by a member with significant obligations to the Bank could result in significant financial losses, which would adversely affect the Bank’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Bank has geographic concentration risks related to its private label MBS portfolio that may negatively impact its financial condition and performance.

 

The Bank has geographic concentrations of private-label MBS secured by mortgage properties. See Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Credit Risk — Investments for additional information. To the extent that any of these

 

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geographic areas experience significant further declines in the local housing markets, declining economic conditions or a natural disaster, the Bank could experience increased losses on these investments.

 

The Bank is subject to increased credit risk exposures related to subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans that back its MBS investments, and any increased delinquency rates and credit losses could adversely affect the yield on or value of these investments.

 

The Bank invests in private label MBS, some of which are backed by subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans. While there is no universally accepted definition for prime and Alt-A underwriting standards, in general, prime underwriting implies a borrower without a history of delinquent payments and documented income and a loan amount that is at or less than 80 percent of the market value of the house, while Alt-A underwriting implies a prime borrower with limited income documentation and/or a loan-to-value ratio of higher than 80 percent. Although the Bank only invested in senior tranches with the highest long-term debt rating when purchasing those securities, some of those securities have subsequently been downgraded. See Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Credit Risk — Investments for a description of the Bank’s portfolio of investments in these securities. Throughout 2008, MBS backed by subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans have been experiencing increased delinquencies and loss severities.

 

In addition, market prices for the privately issued subprime and Alt-A securities the Bank holds have deteriorated since year end December 31, 2007 due to market uncertainty and illiquidity. The significant widening of credit spreads that has occurred since December 31, 2007 could further reduce the fair value of the Bank’s portfolio of MBS. As a result, the Bank could experience other-than-temporary impairment on those investment securities in the future which could result in significant losses. See Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Credit Risk — Investments for more information on values of the Bank’s subprime and Alt-A MBS.

 

As described in Item 2 — Critical Accounting Estimates, OTTI assessment is a subjective and complex assessment by management.  Although the Bank does not consider its investments in private label MBS to be OTTI at September 30, 2008, if loan credit performance of the Bank’s private-label MBS portfolio deteriorates beyond the forecasted assumptions concerning loan default rates, loss severities, and prepayment speeds, it may be determined that certain of the private-label securities in the portfolio are OTTI, and the Bank would recognize an impairment loss equal to the aggregate difference between each affected security’s then-current carrying amounts and its fair value. Under each of the three stress test scenarios described in Item 3 —Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Credit Risk — Investments, the Bank would recognize substantial losses, and in two of those stress scenarios losses would be in excess of the level of retained earnings at September 30, 2008. The Bank is subject to certain minimum capitalization requirements, as described in Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Capital Requirements of the 2007 Form 10-K, and, if the Bank experienced losses that resulted in the Bank not meeting required capitalization levels, the Bank would be prohibited from paying dividends and redeeming or repurchasing capital stock without the prior approval of the Finance Agency which could have a material adverse impact on a member’s investment in our capital stock.

 

As mortgage servicers continue their loan modification and liquidation efforts, the yield on or value of the Bank’s MBS investments may be adversely affected.

 

As mortgage loans continue to experience increased delinquencies and loss severities, mortgage servicers continue their efforts to modify these loans in order to mitigate losses. Such loan modifications increasingly may include reductions in interest rate and/or principal on these loans. Losses from such loan modifications may be allocated to investors in MBS backed by these loans in the form of lower interest payments and/or reductions in future principal amounts received.

 

In addition, many servicers are contractually required to advance principal and interest payments on delinquent loans backing MBS investments, regardless of whether the servicer has received payment from the borrower provided that the servicer believes it will be able to recoup the advanced funds from the underlying property securing the mortgage loan. Once the related property is liquidated, the servicer is entitled to reimbursement for these advances and other expenses incurred while the loan was delinquent. Such reimbursements, combined with decreasing property values in many areas may result in higher losses being allocated to the Bank’s MBS investments backed by such loans than the Bank may have expected or experienced to date.

 

Item 2.                       Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.                       Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.                       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 5.                       Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6.                       Exhibits

 

10.1

 

United States Department of the Treasury Lending Agreement, dated September 9, 2008

 

 

 

10.2

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 2008 Director Compensation Plan revised as of October 17, 2008

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the president and chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of the chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of the president and chief executive officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of the chief financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date

 

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

 

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

November 12, 2008

By:

/s/

 Michael A. Jessee

 

 

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

November 12, 2008

By:

/s/

 Frank Nitkiewicz

 

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

83