-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, KSsAbN4tm56nRd/k2RJg0lpLAJfEflIDC6rjkmDi9LyLjnrUi1uj3l3vVfElPp2r ALsvNj1ekVZcc/xu1hN41A== 0001104659-07-022082.txt : 20070323 0001104659-07-022082.hdr.sgml : 20070323 20070323172921 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-07-022082 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 14 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20061231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070323 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070323 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001331463 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FEDERAL & FEDERALLY-SPONSORED CREDIT AGENCIES [6111] IRS NUMBER: 046002575 STATE OF INCORPORATION: X1 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-51402 FILM NUMBER: 07716154 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE STREET 2: 24TH FLOOR CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02199 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-292-9600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE STREET 2: 24TH FLOOR CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02199 10-K 1 a07-5995_110k.htm 10-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

OR

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

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _____ TO _____.

Commission file number: 000-51402

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Federally chartered corporation

 

04-6002575

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

111 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

 

02199

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(617) 292-9600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class B Stock, par value $100 per share


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o    No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No x

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. Yes x    No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o    No x

Registrant’s stock is not publicly traded and is only issued to members of the registrant. Such stock is issued and redeemed at par value, $100 per share, subject to certain regulatory and statutory limits. At June 30, 2006 the aggregate par value of the stock held by members of the registrant was $2,553,580,200. As of February 28, 2007, we had 23,415,743 outstanding shares of common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None

 




Table of Contents

Description

 

 

 

PART I

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

BUSINESS

1

ITEM 1A.

 

RISK FACTORS

25

ITEM 1B.

 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

29

ITEM 2.

 

PROPERTIES

29

ITEM 3.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

29

ITEM 4.

 

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

30

PART II

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

 

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

32

ITEM 6.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

34

ITEM 7.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

35

ITEM 7A.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

89

ITEM 8.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

105

ITEM 9.

 

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

107

ITEM 9A.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

107

ITEM 9B.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

108

PART III

 

 

 

ITEM 10.

 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

108

ITEM 11.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

116

ITEM 12.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

128

ITEM 13.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

131

ITEM 14.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

133

PART IV

 

 

 

ITEM 15.

 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

133

 

i




PART I

ITEM 1.                BUSINESS

General

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank) is a federally chartered corporation organized by Congress in 1932 and is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE). The Bank is privately capitalized and its mission is to serve the residential-mortgage and community-development lending activities of member financial institutions located in the New England region. Altogether, there are 12 district Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) located across the United States (U.S.), each supporting the lending activities of member financial institutions within their specific regions. Each FHLBank is a separate entity with its own board of directors, management, and employees.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this discussion to “the Bank,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar references mean the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.

The Bank combines private capital and public sponsorship that enables its member financial institutions to assure the flow of credit and other services for housing and community development. The Bank serves the public through member financial institutions by providing members with a readily available, low-cost source of funds, thereby enhancing the availability of residential-mortgage and community-investment credit. In addition, the Bank provides members a means of liquidity through a mortgage-purchase program. Under this program, members are offered the opportunity to originate mortgage loans for sale to the Bank. The Bank’s primary source of income is derived from the spread between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The Bank borrows funds at favorable rates due to its GSE status, conservative risk-management practices, and strong capital position.

The Bank’s members and customers are comprised of eligible financial institutions located throughout the New England region. The region is comprised of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Eligible financial institutions include thrift institutions (savings banks, savings and loan associations, and cooperative banks), commercial banks, credit unions, and insurance companies that are active in housing finance. The Bank is also authorized to lend to certain nonmember institutions (called housing associates) such as state housing-finance agencies located in New England. Members are required to purchase and hold the Bank’s capital stock for advances and other lending activities transacted with the Bank. The par value of the Bank’s capital stock is $100 and is not publicly traded on any stock exchange. In addition, the U.S. government guarantees neither the member’s investment in nor any dividend on the Bank’s stock. The Bank is capitalized by the capital stock purchased by its members and by retained earnings. Members may receive dividends, which are determined by the Bank’s board of directors, and may redeem their capital stock at par value after satisfying certain requirements discussed further in the Capital section in Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The Bank’s regulator is the Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board), an independent federal agency charged with the regulation and supervision of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance. The Finance Board’s principal purpose is to ensure that the Bank operates in a safe and sound manner. In addition, the Finance Board’s other duties are to ensure that the Bank carries out its housing-finance mission, remains adequately capitalized, and has the ability to raise funds in the capital markets.

The Office of Finance was established by the Finance Board to facilitate the issuing and servicing of consolidated obligations (COs) of the FHLBanks. These COs are issued on a joint basis. The FHLBanks, through the Office of Finance as their agent, are the issuers of COs for which they are jointly and severally liable. The Office of Finance also provides the FHLBanks with credit and market data and maintains the FHLBanks’ joint relationships with credit-rating agencies. The Office of Finance manages the Resolution Funding Corporation (REFCorp) and Financing Corporation programs.

1




The Bank’s web site (www.fhlbboston.com) provides a link to the section of the Electronic Data Gathering and Reporting (EDGAR) web site, as maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), containing all reports electronically filed, or furnished, including the Bank’s annual report on Form 10-K, the Bank’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K as well as any amendments. These reports are made available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing or being furnished to the SEC. These reports may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Further information about the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site that contains reports and other information regarding the Bank’s electronic filings located at (http://www.sec.gov). The web site addresses of the SEC and the Bank have been included as inactive textual references only. Information on those web sites is not part of this report.

As of February 28, 2007, the Bank had 185 full-time and two part-time employees.

Membership

The Bank’s members are financial institutions with their principal places of business located in the six New England states. The following table summarizes the Bank’s membership, by type of institution, as of December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

Membership Summary
Number of Members by Institution Type

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Commercial banks

 

 

86

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

90

 

 

Thrift institutions

 

 

234

 

 

 

238

 

 

 

243

 

 

Credit unions

 

 

134

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

125

 

 

Insurance companies

 

 

11

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

9

 

 

Total members

 

 

465

 

 

 

467

 

 

 

467

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, approximately 78.3 percent, 77.9 percent, and 75.8 percent, respectively, of the Bank’s members had outstanding advances from the Bank. These usage rates are calculated excluding housing associates and nonmember borrowers. While eligible to borrow, housing associates are not members of the Bank and, as such, are not required to hold capital stock. Nonmember borrowers consist of institutions that are former members or that have acquired former members and assumed the advances held by those former members. Nonmember borrowers are required to hold capital stock to support outstanding advances with the Bank until those advances either mature or are paid off, at which time the nonmember borrower’s affiliation with the Bank is terminated. In addition, nonmember borrowers are required to deliver all required collateral to the Bank or the Bank’s safekeeping agent until all outstanding advances either mature or are paid off. During the period that the advances remain outstanding, nonmember borrowers may not request new advances nor are they permitted to extend or renew the assumed advances.

Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) are defined by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLB Act) to include all Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured institutions with average total assets over the three prior years equal to or less than $500 million, as adjusted annually for inflation since 1999. For 2007, CFIs are FDIC-insured institutions with average total assets equal to or less than $599 million over the prior three-year period. In 2006 and 2005, the average total asset ceiling for CFI designation was $587 million and $567 million, respectively. The GLB Act expanded the eligibility for membership of CFIs in the FHLBanks and authorized the FHLBanks to accept expanded types of assets as collateral for advances to CFIs.

2




The Bank’s membership currently includes the majority of FDIC-insured institutions and large credit unions in its district that are eligible to become members. The Bank does not currently anticipate that a substantial number of additional FDIC-insured institutions will become members. Most other eligible nonmembers, such as insurance companies and smaller credit unions, have thus far elected not to join the Bank.

The Bank is managed with the primary objectives of enhancing the value of membership for member institutions and fulfilling its public purpose. The value of membership includes access to readily available credit from the Bank, the value of the cost differential between Bank advances and other potential sources of funds, and the dividends paid on members’ investment in the Bank’s capital stock.

Business Segments

The Bank has identified two main operating business segments: traditional business activities and mortgage-loan finance, which are further described below. The products and services provided reflect the manner in which financial information is evaluated by management. Refer to Note 16—Segment Information in the Notes to the Financial Statements for additional financial information related to the Bank’s business segments.

Traditional Business Activities

The Bank’s traditional 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. Capital is allocated to the segments based upon asset size.

Advances.   The Bank serves as a source of liquidity and makes loans, called advances, to its members and eligible housing associates on the security of mortgages and other collateral that members pledge. The Bank had 364 members, three eligible housing associates, and three nonmember institutions with advances outstanding as of December 31, 2006.

The Bank establishes a blanket lien on unencumbered member institution assets to secure outstanding advances. The Bank also reserves the right to require either specific listing of eligible collateral, or specific delivery of eligible collateral to secure a member’s outstanding advances obligations. All advances, at the time of issuance, must be secured by eligible collateral. Eligible collateral for Bank advances includes: fully disbursed whole first mortgage loans on improved residential real estate; debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. or any agency thereof; mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued or guaranteed by the U.S. or any agency thereof; certain private-label MBS representing an interest in whole first mortgage loans on improved residential real estate; and cash on deposit at the Bank that is specifically pledged to the Bank as collateral. The Bank also accepts secured small-business, small agri-business, and small-farm loans from member CFIs. In certain circumstances, other real-estate-related collateral may be considered by the Bank. Such real-estate-related collateral must have a readily ascertainable value, and the Bank must be able to perfect a security interest in it. In accordance with regulations promulgated by the Finance Board, the Bank accepts home-equity loans, home-equity lines of credit, and first mortgage loans on commercial real estate as other real-estate-related collateral. The Bank applies a collateral discount to all eligible collateral, based on the Bank’s analysis of the risk factors inherent in the collateral. The Bank reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse certain collateral, or to adjust collateral discounts applied. Qualified loan collateral must not have 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 collateral provided that no payment is overdue by more than 45 days. In addition, mortgages and other loans are considered qualified collateral, regardless of delinquency status, to the extent that the mortgages or loans are insured or guaranteed by the U.S. or any agency thereof. The Bank’s collateral policy complies with all applicable

3




regulatory requirements. Access to the Bank’s advances for liquidity purposes can reduce the amount of low-yielding liquid assets a member would otherwise need to hold.

All parties that pledge collateral to the Bank are required to execute a representations and warranties document with respect to any mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities pledged as collateral to the Bank. This document requires the pledging party to certify to knowledge of the Bank’s anti-predatory lending policies, and to their compliance with those policies. In the event that any loan in a collateral pool or mortgage-backed security that is pledged as collateral is (1) found not to comply in all material respects with applicable local, state, and federal laws, or (2) not accepted as qualified collateral as defined by the Bank, the pledging party must immediately remove said loan or mortgage-backed security and replace it with qualified collateral of equivalent value. The pledging party also agrees to indemnify and hold the Bank harmless for any and all claims of any kind relating to the loans and mortgage-backed securities pledged to the Bank as collateral.

Advances support our members’ short-term and long-term borrowing needs, including their liquidity and gap funding requirements as well as funding mortgage loans and other assets retained in their portfolios. Advances may also be used to provide funds to any member CFIs. Currently, no CFI that is a member of the Bank has pledged loans to small businesses, small farms, or small agri-businesses as collateral for advances. Because members may originate loans that they are unwilling or unable to sell in the secondary mortgage market, the Bank’s advances can serve as a funding source for a variety of conforming and nonconforming mortgages. Thus, advances support important housing markets, including those focused on low- and moderate-income households. For those members that choose to sell or securitize their mortgages, the Bank’s advances can provide interim funding.

Insurance company members may borrow from the Bank pursuant to a structure that includes both the Bank’s ordinary advance agreements and funding agreements. From the Bank’s perspective, such advances under this structure are generally treated in the same manner as advances to other members. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank had approximately $925.0 million of advances outstanding to Metlife Insurance Company of Connecticut pursuant to such a structure.

Members that have an approved line of credit with the Bank may from time to time overdraw their demand-deposit account. These overdrawn demand-deposit accounts are reported as advances in the statements of condition. These line of credit advances are fully secured by eligible collateral pledged by the member to the Bank. In cases where the member overdraws its demand-deposit account by an amount that exceeds its approved line of credit, the Bank may assess a penalty fee to the member.

In addition to member institutions, the Bank is permitted under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 (FHLBank Act) to make advances to nonmembers that are approved mortgagees under Title II of the National Housing Act. These eligible “housing associates” must be chartered under law and have succession, be subject to inspection and supervision by a governmental agency, and lend their own funds as their principal activity in the mortgage field. Housing associates are not subject to capital-stock-purchase requirements; however, they are subject to the same underwriting standards as members, but may be more limited in the forms of collateral that they may pledge to secure advances.

Additionally, the Bank’s advances can provide funding to smaller members that lack diverse funding sources. Smaller members often do not have access to many of the funding alternatives available to larger financial entities, including repurchase agreements and commercial paper. The Bank gives these smaller members access to competitively priced wholesale funding.

Through a variety of specialized advance programs, the Bank provides funding for targeted initiatives that meet defined criteria for providing assistance either to very low- or moderate-income households or for economic development of areas that are economically disadvantaged. As such, these programs help members meet their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) responsibilities. Through programs such as the

4




Affordable Housing Program (AHP) and the Community Development advance (CDA), members have access to subsidized and other low-cost funding to create affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, and for commercial and economic-development activities that benefit low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, thus contributing to the revitalization of these communities.

Prior to October 2, 2006, members were required to purchase and maintain Class B stock equal to 3.0 percent for all overnight advances, and 4.5 percent of other advances and other specified assets related to activity between the Bank and the member. By action of the Bank’s board of directors, effective October 2, 2006, a reduction was made to the Capital Plan’s Activity-Based-Stock-Investment Requirement (ABSIR) from 4.5 percent to 4.0 percent for advances with an original maturity greater than overnight and up to three months. Housing associates are not permitted to invest in stock. For further information regarding member capital requirements, refer to the Capital Resources section in Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The Bank’s advances products also help members in their asset-liability management. The Bank offers advances that members can use to match the cash-flow patterns of their mortgage loans. Such advances can reduce a member’s interest-rate risk associated with holding long-term, fixed-rate mortgages. Principal repayment terms may be structured as 1) interest-only to maturity (sometimes referred to as bullet advances) or to an optional early termination date (see putable and callable advances as described below) or 2) as amortizing advances, which are fixed-rate and term structures with equal monthly payments of interest and principal. Repayment terms are offered up to 20 years. Amortizing advances are also offered with partial principal repayment and a balloon payment at maturity. At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $2.6 billion in amortizing advances.

Advances with original fixed maturities of greater than six months may be prepaid at any time, subject to a prepayment fee that makes the Bank economically indifferent to the member’s decision to prepay the advance. Certain advances contain provisions that allow the member to receive a prepayment fee in the event that interest rates have increased. Advances with original maturities of six months or less may not be prepaid. Adjustable-rate advances are prepayable at rate-reset dates with a fee equal to the present value of a predetermined spread for the remaining life of the advance. The formulas for the calculation of prepayment fees for the Bank’s advances products are included in the advance application for each product. The formulas are standard for each product and apply to all members.

The Bank’s advances program includes products with embedded caps and floors, amortizing advances, callable advances, and putable advances where the Bank holds the option to cancel without fee.

·       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. Putable advances are offered with fixed rates or with an adjustable rate to the first put date. Members may also choose a structure that will be terminated automatically if the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) hits or exceeds a predetermined strike rate on specified dates. At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $5.4 billion in putable advances.

·       LIBOR-indexed collared floating-rate advances adjust monthly or quarterly and are capped and floored at strike levels chosen by the member. At December 31, 2006, the Bank had no outstanding collared floating-rate advances.

·       Callable advances are fixed-rate and term structures that include a provision whereby the member may prepay the advance prior to maturity on certain specified call dates without fee. At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $30.0 million in callable advances.

·       LIBOR-indexed capped floating-rate advances adjust monthly or quarterly and are capped at a strike level chosen by the member. At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $363.3 million in outstanding capped floating-rate advances.

5




·       Symmetrical prepayment-fee advances allow the member to receive a fee when prepaying an advance in a rising interest-rate environment. At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $161.5 million in outstanding symmetrical prepayment-fee advances.

·       Slider advances are floating-rate advances with a defined strike rate, below which the advance’s rate changes at twice the rate at which its LIBOR index changes (to a minimum rate of zero). At December 31, 2006, the Bank held $30.5 million in outstanding Slider advances.

Advances that have embedded options and advances with coupon structures containing derivatives are usually hedged in order to offset the embedded derivative feature. See the Interest-Rate-Exchange Agreements discussion below for additional information.

Because advances are a wholesale funding source for the Bank’s members that must be competitively priced relative to other potential sources of wholesale funds to the Bank’s members, and because they are fully secured and possess very little credit risk, advances are priced at profit margins that are much thinner than those realized by most banking institutions. By regulation, the Bank may not price advances at rates that are less than the Bank’s cost of funds for the same maturity, inclusive of the cost of hedging any embedded call or put options in the advance.

Deposits.   The Bank offers demand- and overnight-deposit programs to its members and housing associates. Short-term deposit programs are also offered to members. The Bank cannot predict or control the timing and amount of deposits that it receives from members, and therefore, does not rely on deposits as a funding source for advances and loan purchases. Proceeds from deposit issuance are generally invested in short-term investments to ensure that the Bank can liquidate deposits on request.

The Bank must maintain compliance with statutory liquidity requirements that require the Bank to hold cash, obligations of the U.S., and advances with a maturity of less than five years in an amount not less than the amount of deposits of members. The following table provides the Bank’s liquidity position with respect to this requirement.

Liquidity Reserves for Deposits
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Liquid assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

8,197

 

$

9,683

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

940,050

 

2,130,050

 

Advances maturing within five years

 

34,118,614

 

34,225,729

 

Total liquid assets

 

35,066,861

 

36,365,462

 

Total deposits

 

1,124,009

 

602,091

 

Excess liquid assets

 

$

33,942,852

 

$

35,763,371

 

 

Refer to the Liquidity Risk section in Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further information regarding the Bank’s liquidity requirements.

Investments.   The Bank maintains a portfolio of investments for liquidity purposes and to provide additional earnings. To better meet potential member credit needs at times when access to the CO debt market is unavailable (either due to requests that follow the end of daily debt issuance activities or due to a market disruption event impacting CO issuance), the Bank maintains a portfolio of short-term investments issued by highly rated institutions, including overnight federal funds, term federal funds, interest-bearing certificates of deposits, securities purchased under agreements to resell (secured by securities that have the highest rating from a nationally recognized statistical-rating organization (NRSRO)), and commercial paper. The Bank endeavors to enhance interest income and further support its contingent liquidity needs

6




and mission by maintaining a longer-term investment portfolio, which includes debentures issued by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, MBS, and asset-backed securities (ABS) that are issued either by government-sponsored mortgage agencies or by other private-sector entities provided that they carry the highest ratings from an NRSRO as of the date of purchase. Most of the securities can be used as collateral under repurchase-agreement borrowings. The Bank’s ABS holdings are limited to securities backed by loans secured by real estate. The Bank also purchases bonds issued by housing-finance agencies that have at least the second-highest generic rating from an NRSRO. The long-term investment portfolio is intended to provide the Bank with higher returns than those available in the short-term money markets.

Under Finance Board regulations, the Bank is prohibited from investing in certain types of securities, including:

·       instruments, such as common stock, that represent ownership in an entity, other than stock in small-business investment companies, or certain investments targeted to low-income persons or communities;

·       instruments issued by non-U.S. entities, other than those issued by U.S. branches and agency offices of foreign commercial banks;

·       non-investment-grade debt instruments, other than certain investments targeted to low-income persons or communities and instruments that were downgraded after purchase by the Bank;

·       whole mortgages or other whole loans, or other interests in mortgages or loans, other than 1) those acquired under the Bank’s mortgage-purchase program; 2) certain investments targeted to low-income persons or communities; 3) certain marketable direct obligations of state, local, or tribal-government units or agencies, having at least the second-highest credit rating from an NRSRO; 4) MBS or ABS backed by manufactured-housing loans or home-equity loans; and 5) certain foreign housing loans authorized under section 12(b) of the FHLBank Act; and

·       non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Finance Board’s requirements limit the Bank’s investment in MBS and ABS to 300 percent of the Bank’s previous monthend capital on the day it purchases the securities. In addition, the Bank is prohibited from purchasing:

·       interest-only or principal-only stripped MBS;

·       residual-interest or interest-accrual classes of collateralized mortgage obligations and real-estate mortgage-investment conduits; or

·       fixed-rate MBS or floating-rate MBS that on the trade date are at rates equal to their contractual cap and that have average lives that vary by more than six years under an assumed instantaneous interest-rate change of plus or minus 300 basis points.

Other Banking Activities.   The Bank offers standby letters of credit (LOC), which are financial instruments issued by the Bank at the request of a member, promising payment to a third party (beneficiary) on behalf of a member. The Bank agrees to honor drafts or other payment demands made by the beneficiary in the event the member cannot fulfill its obligations. In guaranteeing the obligations of the member, the Bank assists the member in facilitating its transaction with the beneficiary and receives a fee in return. The Bank evaluates a member for eligibility, collateral requirements, limits on maturity, and other credit standards required by the Bank before entering into any LOC transactions. Members must fully collateralize LOC to the same extent that they are required to collateralize advances. The Bank may also issue LOC on behalf of housing associates such as state and local housing agencies upon approval by the Bank. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank received fees in connection with the issuance of LOC of $34,000 and $30,000, respectively. During those two years, the Bank did not make any payment to a beneficiary to satisfy its obligation for the guarantee.

7




The Bank provides correspondent services, such as the purchase, sale, and safekeeping of securities on behalf of and solely at the direction of its members.

Members also can enter into interest-rate-exchange agreements directly with the Bank to reduce their exposure to interest-rate risk. The Bank offsets these agreements with matching-term derivatives with its derivatives counterparties, realizing a small fee or spread.

Mortgage-Loan Finance

Introduction

We invest in mortgage loans through the MPF® program, which is a secondary mortgage market structure under which we purchase eligible mortgage loans from participating financial institution members (PFIs) (collectively, MPF loans). MPF loans are conforming conventional and government that is insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture (RHS), or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fixed-rate mortgage loans secured by one- to-four family residential properties with maturities ranging from five years to 30 years or participations in such mortgage loans. MPF loans that are government loans are called MPF government loans.

We currently offer four MPF Loan products from which PFIs may choose. These products (Original MPF, MPF 125, MPF Plus, and MPF Government) are closed-loan products in which we purchase loans that have been acquired or have already been closed by the PFI with its own funds. The PFI performs all the traditional retail loan origination functions under these MPF products.

The FHLBank of Chicago developed the MPF program in order to help fulfill the housing mission of the FHLBanks, to diversify assets beyond the traditional member finance segment, and to provide an additional source of liquidity to our members that choose to sell mortgage loans into the secondary market rather than holding them in their own portfolio. Finance Board regulations define the acquisition of acquired member assets (AMA regulation) as a core mission activity of the FHLBanks. In order for MPF loans to meet the AMA regulation requirements, purchases are structured so that the credit risk associated with MPF loans is shared with PFIs.

The MPF program is designed to allocate the risks of MPF loans among the MPF Banks and PFIs and to take advantage of their respective strengths. PFIs have direct knowledge of their mortgage markets and have developed expertise in underwriting and servicing residential mortgage loans. By allowing PFIs to originate MPF loans, whether through retail or wholesale operations, and to retain or acquire servicing of MPF loans, the MPF program gives control of those functions that most impact credit quality to PFIs. The MPF Banks are responsible for managing the interest rate risk, prepayment risk, and liquidity risk associated with owning MPF loans.

For conventional MPF Loan products, PFIs assume or retain a portion of the credit risk on the MPF loans they sell to an MPF Bank by providing credit enhancement (CE amount) either through a direct liability to pay credit losses up to a specified amount or through a contractual obligation to provide supplemental mortgage guaranty insurance (SMI). The PFI’s CE amount covers losses for MPF loans under a master commitment in excess of the MPF Bank’s first loss account (FLA). PFIs are paid a credit enhancement fee (CE fee) for managing credit risk and in some instances all or a portion of the CE fee may be performance based.


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

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MPF Provider

The term MPF Provider refers to FHLBank of Chicago, which establishes the eligibility standards under which an MPF Bank member may become a PFI, the structure of MPF loan products and the eligibility rules for MPF loans. In addition, they manage the pricing and delivery mechanism for MPF loans and the back-office processing of MPF loans as master servicer and master custodian. They have engaged Wells Fargo Bank N.A. as the vendor for master servicing and as the primary custodian for the MPF program. They have also contracted with other custodians meeting MPF program eligibility standards at the request of certain PFIs. These other custodians are typically affiliates of PFIs, and in some cases a PFI acts as self-custodian.

The MPF Provider publishes and maintains the MPF Origination Guide and MPF Servicing Guide (together MPF guides), which detail the requirements PFIs must follow in originating or selling and servicing MPF loans. They maintain the infrastructure through which MPF Banks may purchase MPF loans through their PFIs. This infrastructure includes both a telephonic delivery system and a web-based delivery system accessed through the eMPF® web site. In exchange for providing these services, the MPF Provider receives a fee from each of the MPF Banks.

PFI Eligibility

Members and eligible housing associates may apply to become a PFI of their respective MPF Bank. If a member is an affiliate of a holding company, which has another affiliate that is an active PFI, the member is only eligible to become a PFI if it is a member of the same MPF Bank as the existing PFI. The MPF Bank reviews the general eligibility of the member, its servicing qualifications and ability to supply documents, data, and reports required to be delivered by PFIs under the MPF program. The member and its MPF Bank sign an MPF Program Participating Financial Institution Agreement (PFI Agreement) that provides the terms and conditions for the sale of MPF loans, including required credit enhancement, and establishes the terms and conditions for servicing MPF loans. All of the PFI’s obligations under the PFI Agreement are secured in the same manner as the other obligations of the PFI under its regular advances agreement with the MPF Bank. The MPF Bank has the right under the advances agreement to request additional collateral to secure the PFI’s obligations.

Mortgage Standards

Mortgage loans delivered under the MPF program must meet the underwriting and eligibility requirements in the MPF guides, as amended by any waiver granted to a PFI exempting it from complying with specified provisions of the MPF guides. PFIs may utilize an approved automated underwriting system or underwrite MPF loans manually. The current underwriting and eligibility guidelines under the MPF guides with respect to MPF loans are broadly summarized as follows:

·       Mortgage characteristics. MPF loans must be qualifying 5-year to 30-year conforming conventional or government fixed-rate, fully amortizing mortgage loans, secured by first liens on owner-occupied one-to-four unit single-family residential properties, and single unit second homes. Conforming loan size, which is established annually as required by Finance Board regulations, may not exceed the loan limits permitted to be set by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) each year. Condominium, planned unit development, and manufactured homes are acceptable property types as are mortgages on leasehold estates (though manufactured homes must be on land owned in fee simple by the borrower). Loans secured by manufactured homes are subject to additional restrictions as set forth in the MPF Underwriting Guides.

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·       Loan-to-Value Ratio and Primary Mortgage Insurance. The maximum loan-to-value ratio (LTV) for conventional MPF loans must not exceed 95 percent, while FHLBank AHP mortgage loans may have LTVs up to 100 percent (but may not exceed 105 percent total LTV, which compares the property value to the total amount of all mortgages outstanding against a property). Government MPF loans may not exceed the LTV limits set by the applicable federal agency. Conventional MPF loans with LTVs greater than 80 percent require certain amounts of mortgage guaranty insurance (MI), called primary MI, from an MI company rated at least AA or Aa and acceptable to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P).

·       Documentation and Compliance with Applicable Law. The mortgage documents and mortgage transaction must comply with all applicable laws and mortgage loans must be documented using standard Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Uniform Instruments.

·       Ineligible Mortgage Loans. The following types of mortgage loans are not eligible for delivery under the MPF program: (1) mortgage loans that are not ratable by S&P; (2) mortgage loans not meeting the MPF program eligibility requirements as set forth in the MPF guides and agreements; and (3) mortgage loans that are classified as high cost, high rate, high risk, Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) loans or loans in similar categories defined under predatory lending or abusive lending laws.

The MPF guides also contain MPF program policies which include anti-predatory lending policies, eligibility requirements for PFIs such as insurance requirements and annual certification requirements, loan documentation, and custodian requirements, as well as detailing the PFI’s servicing duties and responsibilities for reporting, remittances, default management, and disposition of properties acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.

A majority of the states, and some municipalities, have enacted laws against mortgage loans considered predatory or abusive. Some of these laws impose liability for violations not only on the originator, but also upon purchasers and assignees of mortgage loans. We take measures that we consider reasonable and appropriate to reduce our exposure to potential liability under these laws and are not aware of any claim, action, or proceeding asserting that we are liable under these laws. However, we cannot assure that we will never have any liability under predatory or abusive lending laws.

MPF Loan Deliveries

In order to deliver mortgage loans under the MPF program, the PFI and MPF Bank will enter into a best efforts master commitment (master commitment), which provides the general terms under which the PFI will deliver mortgage loans to an MPF Bank, including a maximum loan delivery amount, maximum CE amount and expiration date. PFIs may then request to enter into one or more mandatory purchase commitments (each, a delivery commitment), which is a mandatory commitment of the PFI to sell or originate eligible mortgage loans. Each MPF Loan delivered must conform to specified ranges of interest rates, maturity terms, and business days for delivery (which may be extended for a fee) detailed in the delivery commitment or it will be rejected by the MPF Provider. Each MPF Loan under a delivery commitment is linked to a master commitment so that the cumulative credit enhancement level can be determined for each master commitment.

The sum of MPF loans delivered by the PFI under a specific delivery commitment cannot exceed the amount specified in the delivery commitment without the assessment of a price adjustment fee. Delivery commitments that are not fully funded by their expiration dates are subject to pair-off fees (fees charged to a PFI for failing to deliver the amount of loans specified in a delivery commitment) or extension fees (fees charged to a PFI for extending the time deadline to deliver loans on a delivery commitment), which protect the MPF Bank against changes in market prices.

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In connection with each sale to an MPF Bank, the PFI makes customary representations and warranties in the PFI agreement and under the MPF guides. These include eligibility and conformance of the MPF loans with the requirements in the MPF guides, compliance with predatory lending laws and the integrity of the data transmitted to the MPF Provider. Once an MPF Loan is purchased, the PFI must deliver a qualifying promissory note and certain other required documents to the designated custodian, who reports to the MPF Provider whether the documentation package meets MPF program requirements.

The MPF Provider conducts an initial quality assurance review of a selected sample of MPF loans from each PFI’s initial MPF Loan delivery. They perform periodic reviews of a sample of MPF loans to determine whether the reviewed MPF loans complied with the MPF program requirements at the time of acquisition. Any exception that indicates a negative trend is discussed with the PFI and can result in the suspension or termination of a PFI’s ability to deliver new MPF loans if the concern is not adequately addressed.

Reasons for which a PFI could be required to repurchase an MPF loan may include but are not limited to MPF Loan ineligibility, breach of representation or warranty under the PFI agreement or the MPF guides, failure to deliver the required MPF loan document package to an approved custodian, servicing breach, or fraud.

The Bank does not currently conduct any quality assurance reviews of MPF government loans. However, we do allow PFIs to repurchase delinquent MPF government loans so that they may comply with loss mitigation requirements of the applicable government agency in order to preserve the insurance or guaranty coverage. The repurchase price is equal to the current scheduled principal balance and accrued interest on the MPF government loan. In addition, just as for conventional MPF loans, if a PFI fails to comply with the requirements of the PFI agreement, MPF guides, applicable laws, or terms of mortgage documents, the PFI may be required to repurchase the MPF government loans which are impacted by such failure.

MPF Products

A variety of MPF loan products have been developed to meet the differing needs of PFIs. We currently offer four MPF products that PFIs may choose from: Original MPF, MPF 125, MPF Plus, and MPF Government. The products have different credit risk sharing characteristics based upon the different levels for the FLA and CE amount and the types of credit enhancement fees (CE fees) (performance-based or fixed amount). The table below provides a comparison of the MPF products.

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MPF Product Comparison Chart

Product Name

 

Bank’s
First-Loss
Account Size

 

PFI Credit-
Enhancement
Size Description

 

Credit-
Enhancement
Fee Paid to
the Member

 

Credit-
Enhancement
Fee Offset

 

Servicing
Fee to
Servicer

Original MPF

 

4 to 7 basis points/added each year

 

After first-loss account, up to AA rating.

 

7 to 10 basis points/year paid monthly

 

No

 

25 basis points/year

Original MPF for FHA/VA

 

N/A

 

Unreimbursed servicing expenses.

 

2 basis points/year paid monthly

 

No

 

44 basis points/year

MPF 125

 

100 basis points fixed

 

After first-loss account, up to AA rating.

 

10 basis points/year paid monthly

 

Yes

 

25 basis points/year

MPF Plus

 

35 basis points fixed

 

0 to 20 basis points, after first-loss account and supplemental mortgage insurance, up to AA rating.

 

13 to 14 basis points/year paid monthly

 

Yes

 

25 basis points/year

 

MPF Loan Participations

We may sell participation interests to other MPF Banks at the time MPF loans are acquired, although it is the Bank’s intent to hold all MPF loans for investment. The participation percentages in MPF loans may vary by each master commitment, by agreement of the MPF Bank selling the participation interests (the Owner Bank), and the MPF Provider. To date, we have only sold participation interests to the MPF Provider. Currently, the MPF Provider has ceased purchasing participation interests from us.

We are responsible for evaluating, monitoring, and certifying to any participant MPF Bank the creditworthiness of each PFI initially, and at least annually thereafter. We are responsible for ensuring that adequate collateral is available from each of its PFIs to secure any direct obligation portion of the PFI’s CE amount. We are also responsible for enforcing the PFI’s obligations under its PFI agreement.

Participation percentages for MPF loans may range from 100 percent to be retained by the Owner Bank to 100 percent participated to another MPF Bank. The participation percentages do not change during the period that a master commitment is open unless the MPF Banks contractually agree to change their respective shares or the Owner Bank exercises the right to require us to acquire a 100 percent participation for delivery commitments for a particular day. If the specified participation percentage in a master commitment never changes, then the percentage for risk-sharing of losses will remain unchanged throughout the life of the master commitment.

The risk sharing and rights of the Owner Bank and participating MPF Bank(s) are as follows:

·       each pays its respective pro rata share of each MPF loan acquired under a delivery commitment and related master commitment based upon the participation percentage in effect at the time;

·       each receives its respective pro rata share of principal and interest payments and is responsible for credit enhancement fees based upon its participation percentage for each MPF loan under the related delivery commitment;

·       each is responsible for its respective pro rata share of FLA exposure and losses incurred with respect to the master commitment based upon the overall risk-sharing percentage for the master commitment; and

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·       each may economically hedge its share of the delivery commitments as they are issued during the open period.

The FLA and CE amount apply to all the MPF loans in a master commitment regardless of participation arrangements, so an MPF Bank’s share of credit losses is based on its respective participation interest in the entire master commitment. For example, assume an MPF Bank’s specified participation percentage was 25 percent under a $100 million master commitment and that no changes were made to the master commitment. The MPF Bank risk-sharing percentage of credit losses would be 25 percent. In the case where an MPF Bank changes its initial percentage in the master commitment, the risk-sharing percentage will also change. For example, if an MPF Bank were to acquire 25 percent of the first $50 million and 50 percent of the second $50 million of MPF loans delivered under a master commitment, the MPF Bank would share in 37.5 percent of the credit losses in that $100 million master commitment, while it would receive principal and interest payments on the individual MPF loans that remain outstanding in a given month, some in which it may own a 25 percent interest and the others in which it may own a 50 percent interest.

MPF Servicing

The PFI or its servicing affiliate generally retains the right and responsibility for servicing MPF loans it delivers. The PFI is responsible for collecting the borrower’s monthly payments and otherwise managing the relationship with the borrower with respect to the MPF loan and the mortgaged property. Based on monthly reports the PFI is required to provide the master servicer, appropriate withdrawals are made from the PFI’s deposit account with the applicable MPF Bank. In some cases, the PFI has agreed to advance principal and interest payments on the scheduled remittance date when the borrower has failed to pay provided, that the collateral securing the MPF loan is sufficient to reimburse the PFI for advanced amounts. The PFI recovers the advanced amounts either from future collections or upon the liquidation of the collateral securing the MPF loans.

If an MPF loan becomes delinquent, the PFI is required to contact the borrower to determine the cause of the delinquency and whether the borrower will be able to cure the default. The MPF guides permit certain types of forbearance plans. Upon any MPF loan becoming 90 days or more delinquent, the master servicer monitors and reviews the PFI’s default management activities for that MPF loan, including timeliness of notices to the mortgagor, forbearance proposals, property protection activities, and foreclosure referrals, all in accordance with the MPF guides. Upon liquidation of any MPF loan and submission of each realized loss calculation from the PFI, the master servicer reviews the realized loss calculation for conformity with the primary mortgage insurance requirements, if applicable, and conformity to the cost and timeliness standards of the MPF guides. The master servicer disallows the reimbursement to the PFI of any servicing advances related to the PFI’s failure to perform in accordance with the MPF guides. If there is a loss on a conventional MPF loan, the loss is allocated to the master commitment and shared in accordance with the risk sharing structure for that particular master commitment. The servicer pays any gain on sale of real-estate owned property to the MPF Bank, or in the case of a participation, to the MPF Banks based upon their respective interest in the MPF loan. However, the amount of the gain is available to reduce subsequent losses incurred under the master commitment before such losses are allocated between the MPF Bank and the PFI.

The MPF Provider monitors the PFI’s compliance with MPF program requirements throughout the servicing process and brings any material concerns to the attention of the MPF Bank. Minor lapses in servicing are charged to the PFI. Major lapses in servicing could result in a PFI’s servicing rights being terminated for cause and the servicing of the particular MPF loans being transferred to a new, qualified servicing PFI. In addition, the MPF guides require each PFI to maintain errors and omissions insurance and a fidelity bond and to provide an annual certification with respect to its insurance and its compliance with the MPF program requirements.

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Although PFIs or their servicing affiliates generally service the MPF loans delivered by the PFI, certain PFIs choose to sell the servicing rights on a concurrent basis (servicing released) or in a bulk transfer to another PFI which is permitted with the consent of the MPF Banks involved. One PFI has been designated to acquire servicing under the MPF program’s concurrent sale of servicing option. In addition, several PFIs have acquired servicing rights on a concurrent servicing released basis or bulk transfer basis without the direct support from the MPF program.

MPF Credit Enhancement Structure

Overview

The MPF Bank and PFI share the risk of credit losses on MPF loans by structuring potential losses on conventional MPF loans into layers with respect to each master commitment. The first layer or portion of credit losses that an MPF Bank is potentially obligated to incur is determined based upon the MPF product selected by the PFI and is referred to as the FLA. The FLA functions as a tracking mechanism for determining the point after which the PFI, in its role as credit enhancer, would be required to cover losses. The FLA is not a cash collateral account, and does not give an MPF Bank any right or obligation to receive or pay cash or any other collateral. For MPF products with performance based CE fees, the MPF Bank may withhold CE fees to recover losses at the FLA level essentially transferring a portion of the first layer risk of credit loss to the PFI.

The portion of credit losses that a PFI is potentially obligated to incur is referred to as its CE amount. The PFI’s CE amount represents a direct liability to pay credit losses incurred with respect to a master commitment or the requirement of the PFI to obtain and pay for a supplemental mortgage guaranty insurance (SMI) policy insuring the MPF Bank for a portion of the credit losses arising from the master commitment. The PFI may procure SMI to cover losses equal to all or a portion of the CE Amount. SMI does not cover special hazard losses, which are the direct liability of the PFI or the MPF Bank. The final CE amount is determined once the master commitment is closed (that is when the maximum amount of MPF loans are delivered or the expiration date has occurred). For a description of how the PFI’s CE amount is determined, see Credit Risk—MPF program Credit Risk—Setting Credit Enhancement Levels.

The PFI receives a CE fee in exchange for providing the CE amount which may be used to pay for SMI. CE fees are paid monthly and are determined based on the remaining unpaid principal balance of the MPF loans under the master commitment. The CE fee and CE amount may vary depending on the MPF product selected. CE Fees payable to a PFI as compensation for assuming credit risk are recorded as an offset to MPF loan interest income when paid by us. We also pay performance CE Fees which are based on actual performance of the pool of MPF loans in each master commitment. For the MPF Original product the CE fee is a fixed payment to the PFI. For the MPF 125 product, the CE fee is performance based and losses to the MPF Bank can be reimbursed by the MPF Bank withholding the performance based CE fee. Under the MPF Plus product, we also pay performance based and fixed CE fees. Losses experienced by the MPF Bank in this product can be reimbursed by the MPF Bank withholding the performance based CE fee. The fixed fee can be used to pay the SMI premium. To the extent that losses in the current month exceed performance CE fees accrued, the remaining losses may be recovered from withholding future performance CE fees payable to the PFI.

Loss Allocation

Credit losses on conventional MPF loans not absorbed by the borrower’s equity in the mortgaged property, property insurance or primary mortgage insurance are allocated between the MPF Bank and PFI as follows:

·       First, to the MPF Bank, up to an agreed upon amount, called an FLA.

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Original MPF.   The FLA starts out at zero on the day the first MPF loan under a master commitment is purchased but increases monthly over the life of the master commitment at a rate that ranges from 0.04 percent to 0.07 percent (four to seven basis points) per annum based on the monthend outstanding aggregate principal balance of the master commitment. The FLA is structured so that over time, it should cover expected losses on a master commitment, though losses early in the life of the master commitment could exceed the FLA and be charged in part to the PFI’s CE amount.

MPF 125.   The FLA is equal to 1.00 percent (100 basis points) of the aggregate principal balance of the MPF loans funded under the master commitment. Once the master commitment is fully funded, the FLA is expected to cover expected losses on that master commitment, although the MPF Bank may economically recover a portion of losses incurred under the FLA by withholding performance CE fees payable to the PFI.

MPF Plus.   The FLA is equal to an agreed-upon number of basis points of the aggregate principal balance of the MPF loans funded under the master commitment that is not less than the amount of expected losses on the master commitment. Once the master commitment is fully funded, the FLA is expected to cover expected losses on that master commitment, although the MPF Bank may economically recover a portion of losses incurred under the FLA by withholding performance CE fees payable to the PFI.

·       Second, to the PFI under its credit enhancement obligation, losses for each master commitment in excess of the FLA, if any, up to the CE amount. The CE amount may consist of a direct liability of the PFI to pay credit losses up to a specified amount, a contractual obligation of the PFI to provide SMI or a combination of both. For a description of the CE amount calculation see MPF program—Setting Credit Enhancement Levels.

·       Third, any remaining unallocated losses are absorbed by the MPF Bank.

With respect to participation interests, MPF loan losses allocable to the MPF Bank are allocated among the participating MPF Banks pro rata based upon their respective participation interests in the related master commitment. For a description of the risk sharing by participant MPF Banks see MPF program—MPF loan Participations.

Setting Credit Enhancement Levels

Finance Board regulations require that MPF loans be sufficiently credit enhanced so that our risk of loss is limited to the losses of an investor in an AA-rated MBS, unless we maintain retained earnings in addition to a general allowance for losses. The MPF Provider analyzes the risk characteristics of each MPF loan (as provided by the PFI) using S&P’s LEVELS® model in order to determine the required CE amount for a loan or group of loans to be acquired by an MPF Bank (MPF program methodology). The PFI’s CE amount (including the SMI policy for MPF Plus) is calculated using the MPF program methodology to equal the difference between the amount needed for the master commitment to have a rating equivalent to a AA-rated MBS and our initial FLA exposure (which is zero for the Original MPF product). We determine our FLA exposure by taking the initial FLA and reducing it by the estimated value of any performance based CE fees that would be payable to the PFI.

For MPF Plus, the PFI is required to provide an SMI policy covering the MPF loans in the master commitment and having a deductible initially equal to the FLA. Depending upon the amount of the SMI policy (determined in part by the amount of the CE fees paid to the PFI), the PFI may or may not have any direct liability on the CE amount.


®                    “Standard & Poor’s LEVELS” and “LEVELS” are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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We are required to recalculate the estimated credit rating of a master commitment if there is evidence of a decline in credit quality of the related MPF loans.

Credit Enhancement Fees

The structure of the CE fee payable to the PFI depends upon the product type selected. For Original MPF, the PFI is paid a monthly CE fee between 0.07 percent and 0.10 percent (seven to 10 basis points) per annum and paid monthly based on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the MPF loans in the master commitment.

For MPF 125, the PFI is paid a monthly CE fee between 0.07 percent and 0.10 percent (seven and 10 basis points) per annum and paid monthly on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the MPF loans in the master commitment. The PFI’s monthly CE fee is performance-based in that it is reduced by losses charged to the FLA. For MPF 125, the CE fee is performance based for the entire life of the master commitment.

For MPF Plus, the performance-based portion of the CE fee is typically 0.06 percent (six basis points) per annum and paid monthly on the aggregate outstanding balance of the MPF loans in the master commitment. The performance-based CE fee is reduced by losses charged to the FLA and is paid one year after accrued-based on monthly outstanding balances. The fixed portion of the CE fee is typically 0.07 percent (seven basis points) per annum and paid monthly on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the MPF loans in the master commitment. The lower performance CE fee is for master commitments without a direct PFI CE amount.

Only MPF government loans are eligible for sale under the MPF government product. The PFI provides and maintains insurance or a guaranty from the applicable federal agency (that is, the FHA, VA, RHS, or HUD) for MPF government loans and the PFI is responsible for compliance with all federal agency requirements and for obtaining the benefit of the applicable insurance or guaranty with respect to defaulted MPF government loans. The PFI is paid a monthly government loan fee equal to 0.02 percent (two basis points) per annum based on the monthend outstanding aggregate principal balance of the master commitment in addition to the customary 0.44 percent (44 basis points) per annum servicing fee that is retained by the PFI on a monthly basis based on the outstanding aggregate principal balance of the MPF loans. In addition, for master commitments issued prior to January 22, 2007, the PFI is paid a monthly government loan fee equal to 0.02 percent (two basis points) per annum based on the monthend outstanding aggregate balance of the master commitment. Only PFIs that are licensed or qualified to originate and service government loans by the applicable federal agency or agencies and that maintain a mortgage loan delinquency ratio that is acceptable to us and that is comparable to the national average and/or regional delinquency rates as published by the Mortgage Bankers Association are eligible to sell and service MPF government loans under the MPF program.

The table below summarizes the average PFI CE fee of all master commitments:

Average PFI CE Fee as a percent of Master Commitments

 

 

December 31,

 

Loan Type

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Original MPF

 

0.10

%

0.10

%

MPF 125

 

0.10

 

0.10

 

MPF Plus(1)

 

0.13

 

0.13

 

Original MPF for FHA/VA

 

0.02

 

0.02

 

 

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Credit Risk Exposure on MPF Loans

Our credit risk on MPF loans is the potential for financial loss due to borrower default or depreciation in the value of the real estate collateral securing the MPF Loan, offset by the PFI’s credit enhancement protection. Under the MPF program, the PFI’s credit enhancement protection (CEP amount) may take the form of a contingent performance-based CE fee whereby such fees are reduced by losses up to a certain amount arising under the master commitment and the CE amount (which represents a direct liability to pay credit losses incurred with respect to that master commitment or may require the PFI to obtain and pay for an SMI policy insuring the MPF Bank for a portion of the credit losses arising from the master commitment). Under the AMA regulation, any portion of the CE amount that is a PFI’s direct liability must be collateralized by the PFI in the same way that advances are collateralized. The PFI agreement provides that the PFI’s obligations under the PFI agreement are secured along with other obligations of the PFI under its regular advances agreement and further, that we may request additional collateral to secure the PFI’s obligations.

We also face credit risk of loss on MPF loans to the extent such losses are not recoverable from the PFI either directly or indirectly through performance based CE fees, or from an SMI insurer, as applicable. See the mortgage loan section in Part II Item 7A - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Credit Risk—Mortgage Loans.

The risk sharing of credit losses between MPF Banks for participations is based on each MPF Banks’ percentage interest in the master commitment. Accordingly, the credit risk assumed by the Bank is driven by its percentage interest in each master commitment. See Mortgage—Loan Finance—MPF Loan Participations.

Consolidated Obligations

The Bank funds its assets primarily through the sale of debt securities, known as COs. This allows the Bank to have a readily accessible source of funds at relatively favorable rates. The Bank’s ability to access the money and capital markets—across the entire maturity spectrum, in a variety of debt structures through the sale of COs—has historically allowed the Bank to manage its balance sheet effectively and efficiently. The FHLBanks compete with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other GSEs for funds raised through the issuance of unsecured debt in the agency debt market.

COs, consisting of bonds and discount notes (DNs), represent the primary source of debt used by the Bank to fund advances, mortgage loans, and investments. All COs are issued on behalf of an FHLBank (as the primary obligor) through the Office of Finance, but all COs are the joint and several obligation of each of the 12 FHLBanks. COs are not obligations of the U.S. government and the U.S. government does not guarantee them. Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) currently rates COs Aaa/P-1, and S&P currently rates them AAA/A-1+. These ratings measure the predicted likelihood of timely payment of principal and interest on the COs. The GSE status of the FHLBanks and the ratings of the COs have historically provided the FHLBanks with excellent capital-market access. However, the enactment of certain legislative and regulatory proposals could adversely affect the Bank’s access to the capital markets. See the Capital section in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information.

CO Bonds.   CO bonds may be issued with either fixed-rate coupon-payment terms, zero-coupon terms, or variable-rate coupon-payment terms that use a variety of indices for interest-rate resets including LIBOR, Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT), Eleventh District Cost of Funds Index (COFI), and others. CO bonds may also contain embedded options that affect the term or yield structure of the bond. Such options include call options under which the Bank can redeem bonds prior to maturity, specified interest-rate-related trigger events under which the bonds would be automatically redeemed prior to maturity, and coupon caps or floors for floating-rate coupon debt.

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CO bonds are traditionally issued to raise intermediate and long-term funds for the Bank. The maturities of the majority of bonds range from one to 10 years, but they are not subject to any statutory or regulatory limits on maturity. The Bank often issues bonds with terms longer than 10 years. However, the Bank also often enters into matched-term interest-rate swaps to effectively convert the bond coupon to a LIBOR-based floating coupon as a less-expensive substitute for DN funding. The FHLBanks are among the world’s most active issuers of debt, issuing on a daily basis. The Bank frequently participates in these issuances, sometimes engaging in several issuances in a single day. The Bank places orders through the Office of Finance or responds to inquiries by authorized underwriters. In most cases, the Office of Finance is able to issue the requested bonds and allocate proceeds in accordance with each FHLBank’s requested amount. In some cases, proceeds from partially fulfilled offerings must be allocated in accordance with predefined rules that apply to particular issuance programs.

Discount Notes.   CO DNs are short-term obligations issued at a discount to par with no coupon. Terms range from overnight up to 365 days (or 366 in a leap year). The Bank generally participates in DN issuance on a daily basis as a means of funding short-term assets and managing its short-term funding gaps. Each FHLBank submits commitments to issue DNs in specific amounts with specific terms to the Office of Finance, which in turn, aggregates these commitments into offerings to securities dealers. Such commitments may specify yield limits that the Bank has specified in its commitment, above which the Bank will not accept funding. DNs are sold either at auction on a scheduled basis or through a direct bidding process on an as-needed basis through a group of dealers known as the selling group, who may turn to other dealers to assist in the ultimate distribution of the securities to investors. The selling group dealers receive no selling concession if the bonds are sold at auction. Otherwise, the Bank pays them a selling concession.

Finance Board regulations require that each FHLBank maintain the following types of assets, free from any lien or pledge, in an amount at least equal to the amount of that FHLBank’s participation in the total COs outstanding:

·       Cash;

·       Obligations of, or fully guaranteed by, the U.S. government;

·       Secured advances;

·       Mortgages, which have any guaranty, insurance, or commitment from the U.S. government or any agency of the U.S.;

·       Investments described in Section 16(a) of the FHLBank Act, which, among other items, includes securities that a fiduciary or trust fund may purchase under the laws of the state in which the FHLBank is located; and

·       Other securities that are assigned a rating or assessment by an NRSRO that is equivalent or higher than the rating or assessment assigned by that NRSRO to COs.

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The following table illustrates the Bank’s compliance with this regulatory requirement:

Ratio of Non-Pledged Assets to Total Consolidated Obligations
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Non-pledged asset totals

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

8,197

 

$

9,683

 

Advances

 

37,342,125

 

38,067,896

 

Investments(1)

 

15,242,161

 

14,466,788

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

4,502,182

 

4,886,494

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

213,934

 

190,056

 

Less: pledged assets

 

(54,151

)

(121,077

)

Total non-pledged assets

 

$

57,254,448

 

$

57,499,840

 

Total consolidated obligations

 

$

53,241,957

 

$

53,781,976

 

Ratio of non-pledged assets to consolidated obligations

 

1.08

 

1.07

 


(1)          Investments include interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities purchased under agreements to resell, federal funds sold, trading securities, available-for-sale securities, and held-to-maturity securities.

Although each FHLBank is primarily liable for the portion of COs corresponding to the proceeds received by that FHLBank, each FHLBank is also jointly and severally liable with the other 11 FHLBanks for the payment of principal and interest on all COs. Under Finance Board regulations, if the principal or interest on any CO issued on behalf of one of the FHLBanks is not paid in full when due, then the FHLBank responsible for the payment may not pay dividends to, or redeem or repurchase shares of stock from, any member of the FHLBank. The Finance Board, in its discretion, may require any FHLBank to make principal or interest payments due on any COs, whether or not the primary obligor FHLBank has defaulted on the payment of that obligation.

To the extent that an FHLBank makes any payment on a CO on behalf of another FHLBank, the paying FHLBank shall be entitled to reimbursement from the FHLBank otherwise responsible for the payment. However, if the Finance Board determines that an FHLBank is unable to satisfy its obligations, then the Finance Board may allocate the outstanding liability among the remaining FHLBanks on a pro rata basis in proportion to each FHLBank’s participation in all COs outstanding, or on any other basis the Finance Board may determine.

The Finance Board has never required the Bank to repay obligations in excess of our participation nor have they allocated to the Bank any outstanding liability of any other FHLBank’s COs.

Capital Resources

Capital Plan.   On May 8, 2002, the Finance Board approved the Bank’s capital plan and additional amendments were approved on August 6, 2003. On April 19, 2004, the Bank implemented its new capital plan and replaced all of the Bank’s outstanding stock with shares of Class B stock. The Class B stock may be issued, redeemed, and repurchased by the Bank only at its par value of $100 per share. Capital stock outstanding is redeemable by a withdrawing member on five years’ notice. Members that withdraw from membership may not reapply for membership in any FHLBank for five years. At the Bank’s discretion, members may redeem at par value any capital stock greater than their minimum investment requirement or sell it to other Bank members at par value. The Bank’s Class B stock is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Bank’s capital plan is provided as Exhibit 4.

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Activity-Based Stock-Investment Requirement.   In June 2006, the board of directors approved a reduction of the Capital Plan’s ABSIR from 4.5 percent to 4.0 percent for advances with an original maturity greater than overnight and up to three months. The ABSIR reduction will enable members to borrow more advances per dollar of capital stock owned, allowing the Bank to maintain its profile with less reliance on investment securities and funds placement. This reduction in ABSIR became effective on October 2, 2006. Accordingly, the ABSIR for advances is as follows:

 

 

The ABSIR is the following

 

For advances with a term of:

 

 

 

portion of outstanding balances

 

Overnight (one business day)

 

 

3.0

%

 

More than one business day through three months

 

 

4.0

 

 

Greater than three months

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

For standby letters of credit, the ABSIR is 4.5 percent of the credit equivalent amount of the standby letter of credit as defined in Finance Board regulations (currently 50 percent of the face amount of the standby letter of credit). For outstanding member-intemediated derivatives, the ABSIR is 4.5 percent of the sum of 1) the current credit exposure of the derivative and 2) the potential future exposure as defined in Finance Board regulations.

Membership Stock Investment Requirement (MSIR).   In addition to the ABSIR, members must hold the MSIR. The MSIR is equal to 0.35 percent of the value of certain member assets eligible to secure advances subject to a current minimum balance of $10,000 and a current maximum balance of $25 million.

Total Stock Investment Requirement (TSIR).   The sum of the ABSIR and the MSIR is the TSIR. Any stock held by a member in excess of its TSIR is considered excess capital stock. At December 31, 2006, members and nonmembers with capital stock outstanding held excess capital stock totaling $203.0 million, representing approximately 8.6 percent of total capital stock outstanding.

Members may submit a written request for redemption of excess capital stock. The stock subject to the request will be redeemed at par value by the Bank upon expiration of a five-year stock-redemption period. Also subject to a five-year redemption period are shares of stock held by a member that (1) gives notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or (2) becomes a nonmember due to merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination of membership. At the end of the five-year stock-redemption period, the Bank must comply with the redemption request unless doing so would cause the Bank to fail to comply with its minimum regulatory capital requirements, would cause the member to fail to comply with its total stock-investment requirements, or would violate any other regulatory prohibitions.

Repurchases of Excess Capital Stock.   The Bank may, at its sole discretion, repurchase excess capital stock from any member at par value upon 15 days prior written notice to the member, unless a shorter notice period is agreed to in writing by the member, if the repurchase will not cause the Bank to fail to meet any of its regulatory capital requirements or violate any other regulatory prohibitions. In conjunction with the implementation of the Bank’s capital plan on April 19, 2004, the Bank repurchased $627.0 million of excess capital stock. Throughout the remainder of 2004 following the implementation of the Bank’s capital plan, the Bank repurchased $65.5 million of excess capital stock. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Bank repurchased $356.1 million of excess capital stock.

In the second quarter of 2006, the Bank announced a new Excess Stock Repurchase Program (ESRP) that became effective on May 1, 2006. This plan is intended to enhance the Bank’s ability to manage the level of excess stock and, therefore, more efficiently utilize its capital. On a monthly basis, management determines available capital required to support incremental business activity and determine the desired amount of stock, if any, to repurchase from members. Under the ESRP, the Bank may unilaterally repurchase this amount of excess capital stock from members of the Bank whose ratio of total capital stock held to their minimum total stock-investment requirement (TSIR) amount exceeds a periodically defined

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level in accordance with timing and notice provisions established by the plan. This program is intended to enable the Bank to manage its capital and financial leverage in order to address asset fluctuations. In some months, management may decide not to exercise its discretion to initiate repurchases under the ESRP. The Bank will not repurchase any excess capital stock from a member if such repurchase would result in that member’s capital-stock balance being less than the member’s TSIR amount plus $200,000. Without regard to the ESRP, members who hold shares in excess of their TSIR may submit written requests for the Bank to repurchase excess stock at any time. The Bank, at its sole discretion, can approve these requests, in whole or in part, based on an assessment of the Bank’s business interests and its current and projected capital position. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the Bank repurchased excess capital stock totaling $366.3 million under the ESRP. During 2006, the Bank also repurchased $355.5 million in response to members’ requests.

The Bank’s board of directors has a right and an obligation to call for additional capital-stock purchases by the Bank’s members, as a condition of membership, as needed to satisfy statutory and regulatory capital requirements. These requirements include the maintenance of a stand-alone credit rating of no lower than AA from an NRSRO.

Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Stock.   In compliance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (SFAS 150), the Bank reclassifies stock subject to redemption from equity to a liability once a member exercises a written redemption right, gives notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or attains a nonmember status by merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination from membership, since the member shares will then meet the definition of a mandatorily redeemable financial instrument. We do not take into consideration our members’ right to cancel a redemption request in determining when shares of capital stock should be classified as a liability, because such cancellation would be subject to 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. Member shares meeting this definition are reclassified to a liability at fair value. Dividends declared on member shares classified as a liability in accordance with SFAS 150 are accrued at the expected dividend rate and reflected as interest expense in the statement of income. The repayment of these mandatorily redeemable financial instruments is reflected as financing cash outflows in the statement of cash flows once settled. At December 31, 2006, the Bank had $12.4 million in capital stock subject to mandatory redemption from five former members. This amount has been classified as a liability for mandatorily redeemable capital stock in the statement of condition in accordance with SFAS 150. It is anticipated that $7.0 million of these shares will be redeemed by 2009, $103,000 will be redeemed by 2010, and $5.3 million will be redeemed by 2011. 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 activity no longer remains outstanding. If activity-based stock becomes excess capital stock as a result of an activity no longer outstanding, the Bank may, in its sole discretion, repurchase the excess activity-based stock as described above.

Dividends.   The Bank may pay dividends from current net earnings or previously retained earnings, subject to certain limitations and conditions. Refer to Item 5—Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. The Bank’s board of directors may declare and pay dividends in either cash or capital stock.

Retained Earnings.   The Bank’s methodology for determining retained earnings adequacy incorporates the Bank’s value-at-risk market-risk measurement which captures 99 percent of potential changes in the Bank’s market value of equity due to potential parallel and nonparallel shifts in yield curves applicable to the Banks’ assets, liabilities, and off-balance-sheet transactions. The methodology also incorporates potential adverse ratings migrations for the Bank’s assets, including potential ratings downgrades and potential defaults. Based on the methodology the Bank calculated a targeted retained

21




earnings level of $154 million for 2006. At December 31, 2006, the balance of retained earnings was $187.3 million.

In February 2007, the Bank’s board of directors adopted a new targeted retained earnings level for December 31, 2007, equal to the higher of $171 million or the amount estimated monthly by the Bank’s retained earnings model, which incorporates current risk factors including market risk, credit risk, operational risk, and projected market conditions and balance sheet changes for December 31, 2007.

The Bank’s retained earnings target could be revised in response to potential Finance Board mandates or due to potential changes in the Bank’s risk profile. See Item 1A—Risk Factors.

Interest-Rate-Exchange Agreements

Finance Board regulations establish guidelines for interest-rate-exchange agreements. The Bank can use interest-rate swaps, swaptions, interest-rate-cap and floor agreements, calls, puts, futures, and forward contracts as part of its interest-rate-risk management and funding strategies. Finance Board regulations require the documentation of nonspeculative use of these instruments and establish limits to credit risk arising from these instruments.

In general, the Bank uses interest-rate-exchange agreements in three ways: 1) by designating them as a fair-value or cash-flow hedge of an underlying financial instrument, firm commitments, or a forecasted transaction, 2) economic hedges in asset-liability management that are undesignated as hedges under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 133), or 3), by acting as an intermediary between members and the capital markets. For example, the Bank uses interest-rate-exchange agreements in its overall interest-rate-risk management to adjust the interest-rate sensitivity of COs to approximate more closely the interest-rate sensitivity of assets, including advances, investments, and mortgage loans, and/or to adjust the interest-rate sensitivity of advances, investments, and mortgage loans to approximate more closely the interest-rate sensitivity of liabilities. In addition to using interest-rate-exchange agreements to manage mismatches of interest rates between assets and liabilities, the Bank also uses interest-rate-exchange agreements to manage embedded options in assets and liabilities; to hedge the market value of existing assets, liabilities, and anticipated transactions; to hedge the duration risk of prepayable instruments; and to reduce funding costs.

The Bank may enter into interest-rate-exchange agreements concurrently with the issuance of COs to reduce funding costs. This allows the Bank to create synthetic floating-rate debt at a cost that is lower than the cost of a floating-rate cash instrument issued directly by the Bank. This strategy of issuing bonds while simultaneously entering into interest-rate-exchange agreements enables the Bank to offer a wider range of attractively priced advances to its members. The continued attractiveness of the debt depends on price relationships in both the bond market and interest-rate-exchange markets. When conditions in these markets change, the Bank may alter the types or terms of COs issued.

The most common ways in which the Bank uses derivatives are:

·       To reduce funding costs by combining a derivative and a CO. The combined funding structure can be lower in cost than a comparable CO bond;

·       To preserve a favorable interest-rate spread between the yield of an asset (for example, an advance) and the cost of the supporting liability (for example, the CO bond used to fund the advance). Without the use of derivatives, this interest-rate spread could be reduced or eliminated when the interest rate on the advance and/or the interest rate on the bond change differently or change at different times;

·       To mitigate the adverse earnings effects of the shortening or extension of certain assets (for example, advances or mortgage assets) and liabilities; and

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·       To protect the value of existing asset or liability positions or of anticipated transactions.

Advances that have embedded options allowing the Bank to accelerate repayment on or after certain dates (for example, putable advances) and advances with coupon structures containing derivatives (for example, a floating-rate advance with an embedded cap) are usually hedged in a manner that offsets the embedded derivative feature and creates a synthetic floating-rate advance. For example, a putable advance is hedged with an interest-rate swap that pays a fixed rate and receives a variable LIBOR rate, but can be terminated by the swap counterparty on the same dates that the Bank can accelerate repayment of the hedged advance. The Bank can hedge a LIBOR floating-rate advance with an embedded cap by purchasing an interest-rate cap that accrues interest when LIBOR exceeds the cap strike rate (inclusive of any coupon-spread adjustment to LIBOR) embedded in the advance. The hedge is structured so that the Bank maintains a net neutral derivative position, meaning that the effects of the embedded derivative are offset by the hedging derivative. Derivative instruments discussed above affect both net interest income and other income (loss). In most cases, the Bank opts to hedge these advances, but may choose not to hedge in cases when the advance’s embedded optionality creates an offset to risks elsewhere in the Bank’s balance sheet. In this case, the Bank would likely not hedge these advances.

For fixed-rate bullet advances that receive only interest payments until maturity and that do not contain an option for the member to accelerate repayment without a make-whole prepayment fee, the Bank may decide to enter into an interest-rate swap that effectively converts the fixed rate to a floating rate. The Bank funds these synthetic floating-rate advances with synthetic floating-rate debt or three-month DNs. In deciding whether to swap fixed-rate bullet advances, the Bank analyzes the disparity between the cost of funds/swap-curve spread and the three-month DN/LIBOR spread. In the case where this disparity is large, the Bank would likely swap the advance and pass the savings in the form of lower advance rates to our members.

The effects on net interest income are discussed in the section, Managements Discussion and Analysis—Results of Operations—Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin, while the effects on other income (loss) are discussed in the section, Management Discussion and Analysis—Results of Operations—Other Income (Loss) and Other Expenses.

Competition

Advances.   Demand for the Bank’s advances is affected by, among other things, the cost of other available sources of liquidity for its members, including deposits. The Bank competes with other suppliers of wholesale funding, both secured and unsecured. Such other suppliers may include investment-banking concerns, commercial banks, and, in certain circumstances, other FHLBanks. Smaller members may have access to alternative funding sources, including sales of securities under agreements to repurchase and brokered certificates of deposit, while larger members may have access to federal funds, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, and medium-term notes, and may also have independent access to the national and global credit markets. During 2006, a banking subsidiary of Washington Mutual, Inc., which has memberships in the FHLBanks of New York, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle, became the first financial institution domiciled in the United States to issue covered bonds in the European bond market, a funding strategy that may be adopted by other members of FHLBanks. The availability of alternative funding sources to members can significantly influence the demand for the Bank’s advances and can vary as a result of a variety of factors including, among others, market conditions, members’ creditworthiness, and availability of collateral.

Mortgage Loans Held for Portfolio.   The activities of the Bank’s MPF portfolio are subject to significant competition in purchasing conventional, conforming fixed-rate mortgage and government-insured loans. The Bank faces competition in customer service, the prices paid for these assets, and in ancillary services such as automated underwriting. The most direct competition for mortgages comes from

23




other housing GSEs that also purchase conventional, conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as from other investors. These investors may seek to hold conventional, conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans. The volume of conventional, conforming fixed-rate mortgages has declined with the rise of interest rates and competitive products, such as hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages, that the Bank does not purchase. This trend could continue and the demand for MPF products could diminish.

Debt Issuance and Interest-Rate Exchange Agreements.   The Bank also competes with corporate, sovereign, and supranational entities for funds raised in the national and global debt markets. Increases in the supply of competing debt products may, in the absence of increases in demand, result in higher debt costs or lesser amounts of debt issued at the same cost than otherwise would be the case. In addition, the availability and cost of funds raised through the issuance of certain types of unsecured debt may be adversely affected by regulatory initiatives that tend to discourage investments by certain institutions in unsecured debt with certain volatility or interest-rate-sensitivity characteristics. Similar factors to those noted above may adversely impact the Bank’s ability to effectively complete transactions in the swap market. Because the Bank uses interest-rate-exchange agreements to modify the terms of many of its CO bond issues, conditions in the swap market may affect the Bank’s cost of funds.

In addition, the sale of callable debt and the simultaneous execution of callable interest-rate-exchange agreements that mirror the debt have been important sources of competitive funding for the Bank. As such, the availability of markets for callable debt and interest-rate-exchange agreements may be an important determinant of the Bank’s relative cost of funds. There is considerable competition among high-credit-quality issuers in the markets for callable debt and for interest-rate-exchange agreements. There can be no assurance that the current breadth and depth of these markets will be sustained.

Assessments

REFCorp Assessment.   Although the Bank is exempt from all federal, state, and local taxation, except for property taxes, it is obligated to make payments to REFCorp in the amount of 20 percent of net earnings after AHP expenses. The REFCorp contribution requirement was established by Congress in 1989 to provide funds to pay a portion of the interest on debt issued by the Resolution Trust Corporation that was used to assist failed savings and loan institutions. These interest payments totaled $300 million per year, or $75 million per quarter for the 12 FHLBanks through 1999. In 1999, the GLB Act changed the annual assessment to a flat rate of 20 percent of net earnings (defined as accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) net income) after AHP expense. Since 2000, the FHLBanks have been required to make payments to REFCorp until the total amount of payments made is equivalent to a $300 million annual annuity with a final maturity date of April 15, 2030. The expiration of the obligation is shortened as the 12 FHLBanks make payments in excess of $75 million per quarter.

Because the FHLBanks contribute a fixed percentage of their net earnings to REFCorp, the aggregate amounts paid have exceeded the required $75 million per quarter for the past several years. As specified in the Finance Board regulation that implemented section 607 of the GLB Act, the payment amount in excess of the $75 million required quarterly payment is used to simulate the purchase of zero-coupon treasury bonds to defease all or a portion of the most distant remaining $75 million quarterly payment. The Finance Board, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, will select the appropriate zero-coupon yields used in this calculation. Through December 31, 2006, the FHLBanks have satisfied the $300 million annual annuity requirements for all years between 2030 and 2016 and $78.1 million of the $300 million requirement for 2015. These defeased payments, or portions thereof, could be restored in the future if actual REFCorp payments of the 12 FHLBanks fall short of $75 million in any given quarter. Contributions to REFCorp will be discontinued once all obligations have been fulfilled. However, due to the interrelationships of all future earnings of the 12 FHLBanks, the total cumulative amount to be paid by the Bank to REFCorp is not determinable.

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AHP Assessment.   Annually, the FHLBanks must set aside for the AHP the greater of $100 million or 10 percent of the current year’s net income before charges for AHP, and interest expense associated with mandatorily redeemable capital stock (regulatory net income). This definition of regulatory net income for purposes of calculating the AHP assessment has been determined by the Finance Board.

In annual periods where the Bank’s regulatory net income is zero or less, the AHP assessment for the Bank is zero. However, if the annual 10 percent contribution provided by each individual FHLBank is less than the minimum $100 million contribution required for FHLBanks as a whole, the shortfall is allocated among the FHLBanks based upon the ratio of each FHLBank’s income before AHP and REFCorp to the sum of the income before AHP and REFCorp of the 12 FHLBanks combined, except that the required annual AHP contribution for a FHLBank shall not exceed its net earnings in the previous year. REFCorp determines allocation of this shortfall. There was no such shortfall in any of the preceding three years.

The actual amount of the AHP contribution is dependent upon both the Bank’s regulatory net income minus payments to REFCorp, and the income of the other FHLBanks; thus future contributions are not determinable.

Through the AHP, the Bank is able to address some of the affordable-housing needs of the communities served by its members. The Bank partners with member financial institutions to work with housing organizations to apply for funds to support initiatives that serve very low- to moderate-income households. The Bank uses funds contributed to the AHP program to award grants and low interest-rate advances to its member financial institutions that make application for such funds for eligible, largely nonprofit, affordable housing development organizations in their respective communities. Such funds are awarded on the basis of an AHP Implementation Plan adopted by the Bank’s board of directors, which implements a nationally based scoring methodology mandated by the Finance Board.

The AHP and REFCorp assessments are calculated simultaneously due to their interdependence. The REFCorp has been designated as the calculation agent for AHP and REFCorp assessments. Each FHLBank provides its net income before AHP and REFCorp assessments to the REFCorp, which then performs the calculations at each quarterend date.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The following discussion summarizes some of the more important risks that the Bank faces. This discussion is not exhaustive, and there may be other risks that the Bank faces, which are not described below. The risks described below, if realized, could negatively affect the Bank’s business operations, financial condition, and future results of operations, and, among other things, could result in the Bank’s inability to pay dividends in respect of its common stock.

The Bank May Become Liable for All or a Portion of the Consolidated Obligations of the FHLBanks, Which Could Negatively Impact the Bank’s Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Each of the FHLBanks relies upon the issuance of COs as a primary source of funds. COs are the joint and several obligations of all of the FHLBanks, backed only by the financial resources of the FHLBanks. Accordingly, the Bank is jointly and severally liable with the other FHLBanks for the COs issued by the FHLBanks through the Office of Finance, regardless of whether the Bank receives all or any portion of the proceeds from any particular issuance of COs.

The Finance Board, in its discretion, may require any FHLBank to make principal or interest payments due on any COs, whether or not the primary obligor FHLBank has defaulted on the payment of that obligation. Accordingly, the Bank could incur significant liability beyond its primary obligation under COs due to the failure of other FHLBanks to meet their obligations, which could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

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The Bank is Subject to a Complex Body of Laws and Regulations, Which Could Change in a Manner Detrimental to the Bank’s Operations.

The FHLBanks are GSEs, organized under the authority of the FHLBank Act, and, as such, are governed by federal laws and regulations promulgated, adopted, and applied by the Finance Board, an independent agency in the executive branch of the federal government, that regulates the Bank. Congress may amend the FHLBank Act in ways that significantly affect (1) the rights and obligations of the FHLBanks, and (2) the manner in which the FHLBanks carry out their housing-finance mission and business operations. New or modified legislation enacted by Congress or regulations adopted by the Finance Board could have a negative effect on the Bank’s ability to conduct business, or on the cost of doing business.

The Bank cannot predict whether new regulations will be promulgated or whether Congress will enact legislation, and the Bank cannot predict the effect of any new regulations or legislation on the Bank’s operations. Changes in regulatory or statutory requirements could result in, for example, an increase in the FHLBanks’ cost of funding, a change in permissible business activities, or a decrease in the size, scope, or nature of the FHLBanks’ lending investment or mortgage purchase-program-activities, which could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

Further, the Bank will incur additional legal, accounting, and compliance costs as an SEC registrant and with its ongoing reporting and certification obligations under Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as well as be exposed to uncertainty and risks which could have a negative effect on the Bank’s ability to conduct business, and on its cost of doing business.

Industry Consolidation Could Result in a Loss of Members, Which Could Negatively Impact the Business and Operations of the Bank.

A financial institution acquiring a member of the Bank would be precluded from becoming a member unless it maintained a charter in one of the New England states. The then current chair of the Finance Board testified at a Congressional hearing on July 12, 2004, that the Finance Board has no plan to act on the issue of multidistrict membership, where financial institutions could become members of multiple FHLBank districts without establishing a charter in multiple districts. However, there can be no assurance that the Finance Board or any new regulator will continue to take this position. Therefore, a decision by the Finance Board to permit multidistrict membership could significantly affect the business and operations of the Bank and it is possible that multidistrict membership would result in greater competition among the FHLBanks. Continued industry consolidation of large members could lead to the concentration of large members in some FHLBank districts and a related decrease in membership and significant loss of business for some FHLBanks.

Industry consolidation could also cause the Bank to lose members whose business and stock investments are so substantial that their loss could threaten the viability of the Bank.

Changes in Interest Rates Could Significantly Affect the Bank’s Earnings.

Like many financial institutions, the Bank realizes income primarily from the spread between interest earned on the Bank’s outstanding loans and investments and interest paid on the Bank’s borrowings and other liabilities, as measured by its net interest spread. Although the Bank uses various methods and procedures to monitor and manage exposures due to changes in interest rates, the Bank may experience instances when either the Bank’s interest-bearing liabilities will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than its interest-earning assets, or vice versa. These impacts could be exacerbated by prepayment and extension risk, which is the risk that mortgage-related assets will be refinanced in low interest-rate environments, or will remain outstanding at below-market yields when interest rates increase. In any case, interest rate moves contrary to the Bank’s position could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

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The Bank Relies Upon Derivative Instruments to Reduce its Interest-Rate Risk, and the Bank May Not Be Able to Enter Into Effective Derivative Instruments on Acceptable Terms.

The Bank uses derivative instruments to attempt to reduce its interest-rate risk and mortgage-prepayment risk. The Bank’s management determines the nature and quantity of hedging transactions based on various factors, including market conditions and the expected volume and terms of advances. As a result, the Bank’s effective use of these instruments depends upon the ability of the Bank’s management to determine the appropriate hedging positions in light of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and prevailing and anticipated market conditions. In addition, the effectiveness of the Bank’s hedging strategy depends upon the Bank’s ability to enter into these instruments with acceptable parties, upon terms satisfactory to the Bank, and in the quantities necessary to hedge the Bank’s corresponding obligations. If the Bank is unable to manage its hedging positions properly, or is unable to enter into hedging instruments upon acceptable terms, the Bank may be unable to effectively manage its interest-rate and other risks, which could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

Counterparty Credit Risk Could Adversely Affect the Bank.

The Bank assumes unsecured credit risk when entering into money-market transactions and financial derivatives transactions with counterparties. The insolvency or other inability of a significant counterparty to perform its obligations under such transactions or other agreement could have an adverse effect on the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in the Bank’s or Other FHLBanks’ Credit Ratings May Adversely Affect the Bank’s Ability to Issue Consolidated Obligations on Acceptable Terms.

The Bank currently has the highest credit rating from Moody’s and S&P. In addition, the COs of the FHLBanks have been rated Aaa/P-1 by Moody’s and AAA/A-1+ by S&P. These ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agencies; therefore, the Bank may not be able to maintain these credit ratings. S&P has assigned two other FHLBanks a negative outlook rating and lowered its long-term counterparty credit rating on two FHLBanks through February 28, 2007, in each case to AA+ from AAA. Although the credit ratings of the COs of the FHLBanks have not been affected by these actions, similar ratings actions or negative guidance may adversely affect the Bank’s cost of funds and ability to issue COs on acceptable terms, which could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank’s Funding Depends upon its Ability to Access the Capital Markets.

The Bank’s primary source of funds is the sale of COs in the capital markets. The Bank’s ability to obtain funds through the sale of COs depends in part on prevailing conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are beyond the Bank’s control. Accordingly, the Bank cannot make any assurance that it will be able to obtain funding on terms acceptable to the Bank, if at all. If the Bank cannot access funding when needed, the Bank’s ability to support and continue its operations would be adversely affected, which would negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank Faces Competition for Loan Demand, Which Could Adversely Affect Earnings.

The Bank’s primary business is making advances to its members. The Bank competes with other suppliers of wholesale funding, both secured and unsecured, including investment banks, commercial banks, and, in certain circumstances, other FHLBanks. Many of the Bank’s competitors are not subject to the same body of regulation applicable to the Bank. This is one factor among several that may enable them to offer wholesale funding on terms that the Bank is not able to offer and that members deem more desirable than the terms offered by the Bank on its advances.

27




The availability to the Bank’s members of different products from alternative funding sources, the terms of which they find more desirable than the terms of products offered by the Bank, may significantly decrease the demand for the Bank’s advances. Further, any change made by the Bank in the pricing of its advances in an effort to compete effectively with these competitive funding sources may decrease the profitability on advances, may reduce earnings, and may result in lower dividend yields to members. More generally, a decrease in the demand for advances, or a decrease in the Bank’s profitability on advances may negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

Increased AHP Contributions by the Bank Could Decrease the Dividends Paid to its Members.

If the total annual net income before AHP expenses of the 12 FHLBanks were to fall below $1 billion, each FHLBank would be required to contribute more than 10 percent of its net income to its AHP to meet the minimum $100 million annual contribution. Increasing the Bank’s AHP contribution in such a scenario would reduce the Bank’s net income after AHP charges and could reduce the dividend paid to members during relevant periods.

The Bank Relies Heavily Upon Information Systems and Other Technology.

The Bank relies heavily upon information systems and other technology to conduct and manage its business. To the extent that the Bank experiences a failure or interruption in any of these systems or other technology, the Bank may be unable to conduct and manage its business effectively, including, without limitation, its hedging and advances activities. While the Bank has implemented a Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan, the Bank can make no assurance that it will be able to prevent, timely and adequately address, or mitigate the negative effects of any such failure or interruption. Any failure or interruption could significantly harm the Bank’s customer relations, risk management, and profitability, which could negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank May Not Be Able to Pay Dividends at Rates Consistent with Past Practices.

The Bank’s board of directors may declare dividends on the Bank’s capital stock, payable to members, from the Bank’s previously retained earnings and current net income.

The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to statutory and regulatory requirements. For example, potential promulgation of regulations requiring higher levels of retained earnings or mandated revisions to the Bank’s retained earnings model could lead to higher required levels of retained earnings, and thus, lower amounts of net income available to be paid out as dividends.

Further, events such as changes in the Bank’s market-risk profile, credit quality of assets held, and increased volatility of net income effects of the application of certain GAAP may affect the adequacy of the Bank’s retained earnings. This in turn may require the Bank to increase its target level of retained earnings and concomitantly reduce its dividends from historical dividend levels in order to achieve and maintain the future targeted amounts of retained earnings.

The Bank May Not Be Able to Repurchase or Redeem Members’ Capital Stock Consistent with Past Practices.

The Bank must meet its minimum regulatory capital requirements at all times. If the Bank were to fail to maintain an adequate level of total capital to comply with minimum regulatory capital requirements, it would be precluded from repurchasing excess capital stock or from redeeming capital stock until it restored compliance. If the Bank’s retained earnings were to become negative, the Bank might be precluded from redeeming or repurchasing shares for their full par value, which could cause members to withdraw from membership.

28




The Public Perception of Government-Sponsored Enterprises, Such as the Bank, May Adversely Affect the Bank’s Business Activities, Future Advance Balances, and the Cost of Raising Capital.

The three housing-related GSEs, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBank System, issue AAA-rated agency debt to fund their operations. Recent negative accounting and other announcements by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have created pressure on debt pricing, as investors have perceived such instruments as bearing increased risk. Similar announcements by the FHLBanks may contribute to this pressure on debt pricing.

The FHLBank System may have to pay a higher rate of interest on its COs to make them attractive to investors. If the Bank maintains its existing pricing on advances, the resulting increased costs of issuing COs may negatively impact the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations and could cause advances to be less profitable for the Bank. If, in response to this decrease in spreads, the Bank changes the pricing of its advances, the advances may be less attractive to members, and the amount of new advances and the Bank’s outstanding advance balances may decrease. In either case, the increased cost of issuing COs may negatively affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank’s Business Activities May Be Adversely Affected Due to Strategy Changes by Other FHLBanks.

As part of the Bank’s business, it participates in the MPF program with the FHLBank of Chicago, which accounts for eight percent of the Bank’s total assets as of December 31, 2006, and approximately 12 percent of net interest income after provision for credit losses on mortgage loans. If the FHLBank of Chicago changes the program or ceases to operate the program, this could have a negative impact on the Bank’s mortgage-purchase business, and related decrease in net interest margins.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Bank occupies 60,744 square feet of leased office space at 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199. The Bank also maintains 9,969 square feet of leased property for an off-site back-up facility in Westborough, Massachusetts. The Bank believes its properties are adequate to meet its requirements for the foreseeable future.

ITEM 3. 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.

29




ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Elections were held during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006 for directors in each of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. Members were required to submit written ballots for the election by October 27, 2006. The results of the voting was as follows:

State

 

 

 

Members
Voting

 

Members Not
Voting

 

Total Votes
Cast

 

Total Votes Not
Cast

 

Connecticut

 

 

50

 

 

 

23

 

 

1,260,168

 

 

304,904

 

 

Massachusetts

 

 

178

 

 

 

69

 

 

5,809,962

 

 

2,528,922

 

 

Maine(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)          Steven A. Closson was unopposed and therefore no votes were cast.

Name

 

 

 

 

Member

 

 

 

Votes Received

 

Connecticut

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Macomber

 

Litchfield Bancorp

 

1,214,405

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

294 West Street

 

 

 

Litchfield, CT 06759

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

David J. O’Connor

 

Enfield Federal Savings & Loan Association

 

45,763

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

660 Enfield Street

 

 

 

Enfield, CT 06083

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Massachusetts

 

 

 

 

Arthur R. Connelly

 

South Shore Savings Bank

 

2,733,607

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

1530 Main Street

 

 

 

South Weymouth, MA 02190

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Jan A. Miller

 

Wainwright Bank and Trust Company

 

2,604,710

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

63 Franklin Street

 

 

 

Boston, MA 02110

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Peter J. Muise

 

First Citizen’s Federal Credit Union

 

471,645

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

271 Union Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Maine

 

 

 

 

Steven A. Closson

 

Androscoggin Savings Bank

 

Unopposed

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

30 Lisbon Street

 

 

 

Lewiston, ME 04243

 

 

 

The following individuals were reelected as directors, consistent with the voting set forth above, effective January 1, 2007:

·       Steven A. Closson

·       Arthur R. Connelly

·       Mark E. Macomber

·       Jan A. Miller

30




The term of office as a director for the following individuals continued following the vote:

·       Stephen F. Christy

·       Peter F. Crosby

·       Joyce H. Errecart *

·       Kevin M. McCarthy

·       William P. Morrissey

·       James L. Taft, Jr. *

·       Robert F. Verdonck


*                    Appointed by the Finance Board.

As further discussed in Item 10 - Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance, for 2007 the Finance Board has redesignated one elected directorship from Connecticut to Rhode Island. Accordingly, on February 16, 2007, the board of directors of the Bank appointed John H. Ellis, director of BankNewport in Newport, Rhode Island, to the Bank’s board, with a term commencing on that date.

31




PART II

ITEM 5.                MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Bank capital stock is issued and redeemed at its par value of $100 per share. The Bank’s stock is not publicly traded and can be held only by the Bank’s members. As of February 28, 2007, 463 members and five nonmembers held a total of 23.4 million shares of the Bank’s Class B stock, which is the only class of stock outstanding.

During 2006, 2005, and 2004, the Bank declared quarterly cash dividends as outlined in the following table. Dividend rates are quoted in the form of an interest rate, which is then applied to each member’s average capital-stock-balance outstanding during the quarter to determine the dollar amount of the dividend that each member will receive. Dividends are solely within the discretion of the Bank’s board of directors. Generally, the dividend rate is based upon a spread to average short-term interest rates experienced during the quarter. There can be no assurance that the historical spreads will be sustained in the future.

Quarterly Dividends Declared
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Dividends

 

Average

 

 

 

Annualized

 

Average

 

 

 

Annualized

 

Average

 

 

 

Annualized

 

Declared in the

 

Capital

 

Dividend

 

Dividend

 

Capital

 

Dividend

 

Dividend

 

Capital

 

Dividend

 

Dividend

 

Quarter Ending

 

 

 

Stock

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Stock

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Stock

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

March 31

 

$

2,637,911

 

 

$

34,148

 

 

 

5.25

%

 

$

2,135,423

 

 

$

21,062

 

 

 

4.00

%

 

$

2,385,324

 

 

$

12,751

 

 

 

2.15

%

 

June 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,103,558

 

 

22,289

 

 

 

4.25

 

 

1,924,593

 

 

11,963

 

 

 

2.50

 

 

September 30

 

2,627,716

 

 

72,467

 

 

 

11.06

 

 

2,100,318

 

 

22,499

 

 

 

4.25

 

 

1,846,449

 

 

13,910

 

 

 

3.00

 

 

December 31

 

2,550,066

 

 

36,958

 

 

 

5.75

 

 

2,469,586

 

 

30,190

 

 

 

4.85

 

 

1,909,622

 

 

16,801

 

 

 

3.50

 

 

 

In February 2007, the board of directors approved payment of a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2007 at an annualized rate of 6.75 percent, calculated on shares of capital stock outstanding during the fourth quarter of 2006. The dividend amount totaled $39.8 million, and was paid on March 2, 2007.

Dividends have traditionally been declared during each fiscal quarter and paid to members in the month following the end of each fiscal quarter. Dividends may be paid only from current net earnings or previously retained earnings. In accordance with the FHLBank Act and Finance Board regulations, the Bank may not declare a dividend if the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital requirements or if the Bank would fall below its minimum capital requirements as a result of a dividend. Further, the Bank may not pay dividends to its members if the principal and interest due on any CO issued through the Office of Finance on which it is the primary obligor has not been paid in full, or under certain circumstances, if the Bank becomes a noncomplying FHLBank as that term is defined in Finance Board regulations as a result of its inability to either comply with regulatory liquidity requirements or satisfy its current obligations.

In February 2006, the board of directors of the Bank approved a transition plan for the schedule under which dividends are declared and paid. The board of directors subsequently amended this transition plan in May of 2006. The change in schedule enables the Bank’s board of directors to declare each quarterly dividend after net income is known, rather than basing the dividend on estimated net income. Under the transition plan, dividends for the first quarter of 2006 were declared in March 2006 and paid on the second business day of April 2006. Beginning with the second quarter of 2006, dividends were not declared until the quarter had ended and net income for the quarter was known. In keeping with this transition plan, in August 2006, the board of directors declared the dividend for the second quarter of 2006 that would previously have been declared in June 2006. Since only three dividends were to be declared in 2006, the second quarter dividend was calculated based on a 183-day period, representing the number of

32




days in the second and third quarters of 2006, effectively providing shareholders the equivalent of a two-quarter dividend. This dividend totaling $72.5 million, which is equivalent to an annual rate of 5.50 percent, was paid on September 5, 2006. The dividend for the third quarter of 2006 was declared in November and paid in December 2006. In 2007, quarterly dividends are anticipated to be declared in February, May, August, and November and paid on the second business day of the month that follows.

33




ITEM 6.                SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected financial data for each of the five years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002, have been derived from the Bank’s audited financial statements. Financial information is included elsewhere in this report in regards to the Bank’s financial condition as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the Bank’s results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004. This selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Bank’s financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing in this report.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Statement of Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

57,469,781

 

$

57,700,034

 

$

51,755,095

 

$

41,896,215

 

$

41,477,179

 

Investments(1)

 

11,992,161

 

14,466,788

 

15,796,108

 

10,566,179

 

11,727,264

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

3,250,000

 

 

1,500,000

 

500,000

 

39,000

 

Advances

 

37,342,125

 

38,067,896

 

30,208,753

 

26,074,230

 

26,931,239

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net

 

4,502,182

 

4,886,494

 

4,011,981

 

4,536,698

 

2,488,181

 

Deposits and other borrowings

 

1,124,009

 

602,091

 

890,869

 

946,166

 

1,980,322

 

Consolidated obligations, net

 

53,241,957

 

53,781,976

 

47,770,395

 

37,404,025

 

35,909,521

 

AHP liabilities

 

44,971

 

35,957

 

33,199

 

32,180

 

31,416

 

REFCorp liability

 

13,275

 

13,366

 

5,137

 

6,032

 

6,141

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

12,354

 

8,296

 

57,882

 

 

 

Class B capital stock outstanding—putable(2), (3)

 

2,342,517

 

2,531,145

 

2,085,814

 

 

 

Capital stock outstanding—putable(2)

 

 

 

 

2,427,960

 

2,278,446

 

Total capital

 

2,532,514

 

2,677,749

 

2,178,964

 

2,472,045

 

2,294,583

 

Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

302,188

 

$

253,607

 

$

215,192

 

$

207,633

 

$

171,241

 

Other income (loss)

 

11,750

 

(29,734

)

(53,430

)

(49,211

)

(36,014

)

Other expense

 

49,055

 

46,184

 

39,645

 

33,789

 

30,897

 

AHP and REFCorp assessments

 

70,796

 

49,045

 

32,472

 

33,065

 

27,373

 

Net income

 

195,791

 

135,260

 

89,522

 

91,563

 

75,800

 

Other Information(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared

 

$

143,573

 

$

96,040

 

$

55,425

 

$

74,483

 

$

78,203

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

73.33

%

71.00

%

61.91

%

81.35

%

103.17

%

Weighted-average dividend rate(5)

 

5.51

 

4.36

 

2.75

 

3.05

 

3.68

 

Return on average equity(6)

 

7.23

 

5.81

 

4.25

 

3.65

 

3.48

 

Return on average assets

 

0.33

 

0.27

 

0.22

 

0.21

 

0.19

 

Net interest margin(7)

 

0.51

 

0.51

 

0.52

 

0.48

 

0.43

 

Total capital ratio(8)

 

4.42

 

4.64

 

4.33

 

5.94

 

5.60

 


(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)           On April 19, 2004, the Bank replaced it capital-stock subscription structure as mandated by the GLB Act.

(4)           Yields are annualized.

(5)           Weighted-average dividend rate is dividend amount declared divided by the average daily balance of capital stock eligible for 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.

(8)           Total capital ratio is capital stock (including mandatorily redeemable capital stock) plus retained earnings as a percentage of total assets. See Item 7-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Financial Condition-Capital regarding the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.

34




ITEM 7.                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes statements describing anticipated developments, projections, estimates, or future predictions of the Bank. These statements may use forward-looking terminology, 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 are subject to a number of risks or uncertainties, including the Risk Factors set forth in Item 1A and the risks set forth below, and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. As a result, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement herein or that may be made from time to time on behalf of the Bank.

Forward-looking statements in this registration statement include, among others, the following:

·       the Bank’s projections regarding income, retained earnings, and dividend payouts;

·       the Bank’s expectations relating to future balance-sheet growth;

·       the Bank’s targets under the Bank’s retained earnings plan; and

·       the Bank’s expectations regarding the size of its mortgage-loan portfolio, particularly as compared to prior periods.

Actual results may differ from forward-looking statements for many reasons, including but not limited to:

·       changes in economic and market conditions;

·       changes in demand for Bank advances and other products resulting from changes in members’ deposit flows and credit demands or otherwise;

·       an increase in advance prepayments as a result of changes in interest rates or other factors;

·       the volatility of market prices, rates, and indices that could affect the value of collateral held by the Bank as security for obligations of Bank members and counterparties to interest-rate-exchange agreements and similar agreements;

·       political events, including legislative developments that affect the Bank, its members, counterparties, and/or investors in the COs of the FHLBanks;

·       competitive forces including, without limitation, other sources of funding available to Bank members, other entities borrowing funds in the capital markets, and the ability to attract and retain skilled employees;

·       the pace of technological change and the ability of the Bank to develop and support technology and information systems, including the internet, sufficient to manage the risks of the Bank’s business effectively;

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

·       timing and volume of market activity;

35




·       ability to introduce new- or adequately adapt current- Bank products and services and successfully manage the risks associated with those products and services, including new types of collateral used to secure advances;

·       risk of loss arising from litigation filed against one or more of the FHLBanks;

·       realization of losses arising from the Bank’s joint and several liability on COs;

·       risk of loss due to fluctuations in the housing market;

·       inflation or deflation; and

·       issues and events within the FHLBank System and in the political arena that may lead to regulatory, judicial, or other developments may affect the marketability of the COs, the Bank’s financial obligations with respect to COs, and the Bank’s ability to access the capital markets.

Risks and other factors could cause actual results of the Bank to differ materially from those implied by any forward-looking statements. Our risk factors are not exhaustive. The Bank operates in a changing economic and regulatory environment, and new risk factors will emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on the business of the Bank or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by any forward-looking statements.

Overview and Executive Summary

Financial Market Conditions

The Bank’s primary source of revenues is derived from net interest income from advances, investments, and mortgage loans. These interest-earning asset volumes and yields are primarily impacted by economic conditions, market-interest rates, and other factors such as competition.

During 2005, short-term interest rates continued to trend upward, with the Federal Reserve Board, through its Federal Open Market Committee, raising the target overnight federal funds rate eight times, by a quarter percent at each raise. This resulted in a 200 basis point increase in the target overnight federal funds rate to 4.25 percent. The Federal Reserve continued this trend in the first part of 2006, raising the target overnight federal funds rate to 5.25 percent at mid-year, which has remained unchanged since then. Other short-term interest rates followed the trend of the federal funds rate. Additionally, the spread between long-term and short-term rates narrowed, causing the yield curve to invert for the second half of 2006.

The following table provides a summary of key market interest rates for 2006 and 2005.

 

 

Average Rate
for the
Year Ended

 

Ending Rate
as of

 

Average Rate

 

Ending Rate

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Variance

 

Variance

 

 

Target Overnight Federal Funds Rate

 

 

4.96

%

 

 

3.19

%

 

 

5.25

%

 

 

4.25

%

 

 

1.77

%

 

 

1.00

%

 

 

3-month LIBOR

 

 

5.20

 

 

 

3.57

 

 

 

5.36

 

 

 

4.54

 

 

 

1.63

 

 

 

0.82

 

 

 

2-year U.S. Treasury

 

 

4.82

 

 

 

3.84

 

 

 

4.81

 

 

 

4.40

 

 

 

0.98

 

 

 

0.41

 

 

 

5-year U.S. Treasury

 

 

4.75

 

 

 

4.04

 

 

 

4.70

 

 

 

4.35

 

 

 

0.71

 

 

 

0.35

 

 

 

10-year U.S. Treasury

 

 

4.79

 

 

 

4.28

 

 

 

4.70

 

 

 

4.39

 

 

 

0.51

 

 

 

0.31

 

 

 

15-year residential mortgage note rate

 

 

6.03

 

 

 

5.41

 

 

 

5.93

 

 

 

5.74

 

 

 

0.62

 

 

 

0.19

 

 

 

30-year residential mortgage note rate

 

 

6.38

 

 

 

5.85

 

 

 

6.22

 

 

 

6.15

 

 

 

0.53

 

 

 

0.07

 

 

 

36




The level of interest rates during a reporting period impacts the Bank’s profitability, primarily due to the short-term structure of earning assets and the impact of higher interest rates on invested shareholder capital. As of December 31, 2006, the majority of our investments, excluding MBS, and approximately 45.3 percent of the outstanding advances, had stated original maturities of less than one year. Additionally, a significant portion of the Bank’s assets either has floating rate-coupons or has been hedged with interest-rate-exchange agreements in which a short-term rate is received. The current level of short-term interest rates has a positive impact on the Bank’s profitability as measured by net interest income and return on average equity.

The level of interest rates also directly affects the Bank through earnings on invested shareholder capital. Because the Bank operates at relatively low, but stable, net spreads between the yield earned on assets and the cost of liabilities compared with other financial institutions, a relatively higher proportion of net interest income is generated from the investment of member-supplied capital at the average asset yield. Because a high proportion of the Bank’s assets are short-term, have variable coupons, or are hedged with interest-rate swaps on which the Bank receives a floating rate, changes in asset yields tend to have a relatively significant effect on the Bank’s profitability.

Certain capital market developments may also affect the performance of the Bank. Specifically, the relationships between the mortgage, agency, and derivative markets can affect the attractiveness of mortgage product for the Bank and our cost of debt. During 2006, mortgage market performance remained strong as interest rates stayed in a fairly tight range leading, in part, to continued declines in volatility. This factor coupled with sustained strong demand and perceived low fundamental risks have driven mortgages to historically narrow yield spreads relative to benchmark yields. The mortgage market continues to evolve. In terms of new mortgage origination activity, a combination of higher interest rates and slowing home price appreciation tends to lower housing turnover and cash-out refinancing activity and thus limit new issuance. Non-traditional mortgage products have continued to proliferate despite decreased savings in borrowing rates as the yield curve remains flat. In terms of investor demand for mortgages, strong demand has continued to grow, keeping mortgage yield spreads near historically narrow levels. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have not substantially added to mortgage holdings due, in part, to unattractive return profiles and the continuing regulatory and political scrutiny over these GSEs. Additionally, the resulting muted debt issuance needs by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have reduced supply in the agency debt markets, which in turn has allowed the FHLBanks to issue debt at relatively more attractive cost than might otherwise have been the case.

Results for the year ended December 31, 2006, versus the year ended December 31, 2005

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $195.8 million, compared with $135.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This $60.5 million increase was primarily due to an increase of $48.6 million in net interest income, a $13.7 million decrease in losses on early extinguishment of debt, a $6.0 million reduction in unrealized losses in trading securities, and a $21.4 million increase in net gain on derivatives and hedging activities. In addition, there was a $2.2 million reduction in the provision for credit losses. These increases to net income were partially offset by an increase of $21.8 million in AHP and REFCorp assessments, and a $2.9 million increase in other expenses. In addition, on January 1, 2005, the Bank recorded a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle that resulted in an increase to income before AHP and REFCorp assessments of $7.1 million in 2005. The Bank changed its method for accounting for premiums and discounts on MPF mortgage loans under SFAS 91 to the contractual method.

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $302.2 million, compared with $253.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This $48.6 million increase was mainly driven by higher interest rates as well as by higher average balances of short-term advances and mortgage loans, as well as higher yields on these assets due to higher average short-term interest rates in 2006 as compared to

37




2005. These favorable impacts were partially offset by an $18.4 million decrease in prepayment-fee income recognized during 2006 compared with 2005. Lower prepayment-fee income was primarily the result of a reduction in advance prepayment activities due to increasing levels of interest rates experienced during 2006.

For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, average total assets were $59.6 billion and $50.1 billion, respectively. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.33 percent and 7.23 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared with 0.27 percent and 5.81 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005. The return on average assets and the return on average equity improved mainly due to the higher level of interest rates during 2006, which generated higher earnings on investment assets and invested shareholder capital.

Net interest spread for 2006 was 0.28 percent, a five basis point decline from the net interest spread for 2005. Net interest margin for 2006 and 2005 was 0.51 percent. The decline in net interest spread in comparison to the stable net interest margin was due to the fact that average capital balances earned higher yields, as average short-term rates were higher in 2006 than in 2005. Moreover, because there is no interest expense associated with capital, higher average interest rates in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2005, provided higher interest income on the portion of total assets funded by capital. Also, prepayment-fee income, which is classified within net interest income, declined during 2006 by approximately $18.4 million from the prior year. Excluding the impact of prepayment fee income, net interest spread decreased from 0.28 percent in 2005 to 0.27 percent in 2006, while the net interest margin improved from 0.46 percent in 2005 to 0.50 percent in 2006. This improvement in net interest margin is attributable to the increased levels of interest rates experienced during 2006 as compared to 2005.

The weighted-average dividend rate was 5.51 percent for the year ended December 31, 2006, 115 basis points higher than the weighted-average dividend rate of 4.36 percent for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Financial Condition at December 31, 2006, versus December 31, 2005

The composition of the Bank’s total assets changed during the year ended December 31, 2006, as follows:

·       Advances decreased to 65.0 percent of total assets at December 31, 2006, down from 66.0 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005. This decrease was due to a decline in overnight and short-term advances, which was partially offset by an increase in variable-rate-indexed advances.

·       Short-term money-market investments decreased to 11.8 percent of total assets at December 31, 2006, down from 12.0 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2006 federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in banks had declined by $2.2 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, while securities purchased under agreements to resell increased by $3.3 billion.

·       Investment securities increased to 14.7 percent of total assets at December 31, 2006, up from 13.1 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005. This increase was mainly the result of an increase in purchases of held-to-maturity MBS securities during the year.

·       Net mortgage loans decreased to 7.8 percent of total assets at December 31, 2006, from 8.5 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005. The decrease reflects a decline in loan-purchase activity during the year ended December 31, 2006.

38




During 2006, advances balances decreased by approximately $725.8 million, ending the year at $37.3 billion. This decrease was almost entirely in the overnight and short-term products offered by the Bank.

As of December 31, 2005, mortgage loans outstanding totaled $4.9 billion and decreased throughout 2006 to a balance of $4.5 billion as of December 31, 2006. This decrease was due to both a decline in mortgage-loan-purchase activity, and the fact that principal repayments outpaced loan-purchase activity.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2006, versus the year ended December 31, 2005

Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $302.2 million, compared with $253.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, increasing $48.6 million or 19.2 percent from the previous period. However, net interest margin remained flat at 51 basis points, while net interest spread declined from 33 basis points to 28 basis points.

The increase in net interest income, which occurred despite an $18.4 million reduction in prepayment fee income, was largely attributable to a significant increase in the average size of the balance sheet in 2006 as compared to 2005. Average total earning assets were $9.3 billion higher in 2006 than in 2005, largely attributable to the $9.1 billion increase in average advances balances.

Despite the increase in net interest income, net interest margin remained flat at 51 basis points. This occurred because although net interest spread declined five basis points, higher short-term interest rates led to higher yields on invested capital, thus offsetting the effect of the narrowed spread between interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The decline in net interest spread reflected, in part, a higher average proportion of low-margin, short-term advances and investments outstanding during the period. Furthermore, the decline in prepayment-fee income also contributed to the decline in net interest spread. Prepayment-fee income recognized on advances and investments declined $18.4 million to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Excluding the impact of prepayment fee income, net interest spread declined one basis point, from 28 to 27 basis points.

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 is the difference between the yields on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average earning assets.

39




Net Interest Spread and Margin
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Average 
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average 
Yield

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average 
Yield

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income /
Expense

 

Average 
Yield

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

40,072,931

 

$

1,991,339

 

 

4.97

%

 

$

30,935,361

 

$

1,101,557

 

 

3.56

%

 

$

25,810,641

 

$

650,634

 

 

2.52

%

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

1,672,489

 

84,820

 

 

5.07

 

 

2,044,046

 

64,458

 

 

3.15

 

 

589,952

 

10,654

 

 

1.81

 

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

1,267,878

 

66,307

 

 

5.23

 

 

883,712

 

29,638

 

 

3.35

 

 

602,773

 

8,569

 

 

1.42

 

 

Federal funds sold

 

3,206,919

 

160,109

 

 

4.99

 

 

3,803,897

 

122,927

 

 

3.23

 

 

2,291,177

 

34,530

 

 

1.51

 

 

Investment securities(1)

 

7,932,622

 

425,587

 

 

5.37

 

 

7,484,337

 

331,670

 

 

4.43

 

 

7,596,824

 

276,314

 

 

3.64

 

 

Mortgage loans

 

4,720,061

 

237,602

 

 

5.03

 

 

4,371,983

 

210,956

 

 

4.83

 

 

4,209,448

 

197,773

 

 

4.70

 

 

Other earnings assets

 

178

 

9

 

 

5.06

 

 

96

 

3

 

 

3.13

 

 

1,191

 

17

 

 

1.43

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

58,873,078

 

2,965,773

 

 

5.04

%

 

49,523,432

 

1,861,209

 

 

3.76

%

 

41,102,006

 

1,178,491

 

 

2.87

%

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

711,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

560,197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

509,062

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

59,584,948

 

$

2,965,773

 

 

4.98

%

 

$

50,083,629

 

$

1,861,209

 

 

3.72

%

 

$

41,611,068

 

$

1,178,491

 

 

2.83

%

 

Liabilities and capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

$

23,987,400

 

$

1,177,0289

 

 

4.91

%

 

$

17,738,266

 

$

570,307

 

 

3.22

%

 

$

7,609,383

 

$

109,439

 

 

1.44

%

 

Bonds

 

31,301,707

 

1,457,402

 

 

4.66

 

 

28,374,021

 

1,017,300

 

 

3.59

 

 

29,793,461

 

843,128

 

 

2.83

 

 

Deposits

 

610,154

 

27,889

 

 

4.57

 

 

663,839

 

17,711

 

 

2.67

 

 

957,347

 

9,338

 

 

0.98

 

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

11,903

 

841

 

 

7.07

 

 

42,808

 

1,809

 

 

4.23

 

 

46,361

 

1,306

 

 

2.82

 

 

Other borrowings

 

9,707

 

425

 

 

4.38

 

 

14,493

 

475

 

 

3.28

 

 

7,450

 

88

 

 

1.18

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

55,920,871

 

2,663,585

 

 

4.76

%

 

46,833,427

 

1,607,602

 

 

3.43

%

 

38,414,002

 

963,299

 

 

2.51

%

 

Other non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

942,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

914,649

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,100,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capital

 

2,721,517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,335,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,096,318

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and capital

 

$

59,584,948

 

$

2,663,585

 

 

4.47

%

 

$

50,083,629

 

$

1,607,602

 

 

3.21

%

 

$

41,611,068

 

$

963,299

 

 

2.32

%

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$

302,188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

253,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

215,192

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.28

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.33

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.36

%

 

Net interest margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.52

 

 


(1)    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.

The average balance of total advances increased $9.1 billion, or 29.5 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared with the same period in 2005. The increase in average advances was attributable to strong member demand for short-term advances, while long-term fixed-rate and variable-rate advances showed only a moderate increase during 2006 as compared to 2005. The following table summarizes average balances of advances outstanding during 2006, 2005, and 2004 by product type.

40




Average Balances of Advances Outstanding
By Product Type
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Average

 

Average

 

Average

 

 

 

Balance

 

Balance

 

Balance

 

Overnight advances—par value

 

$

2,059,377

 

$

2,272,280

 

$

1,539,579

 

Fixed-rate advances—par value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term

 

18,479,117

 

10,203,118

 

5,213,615

 

Long-term

 

8,011,772

 

7,798,041

 

7,390,374

 

Amortizing

 

2,574,303

 

2,498,277

 

2,394,201

 

Putable

 

5,322,454

 

5,538,303

 

7,214,123

 

Callable

 

30,000

 

30,000

 

22,459

 

 

 

34,417,646

 

26,067,739

 

22,234,772

 

Variable-rate advances—par value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putable

 

 

24,329

 

146,393

 

Indexed

 

3,627,411

 

2,437,744

 

1,403,238

 

 

 

3,627,411

 

2,462,073

 

1,549,631

 

Total average par value

 

40,104,434

 

30,802,092

 

25,323,982

 

Premiums and discounts

 

(7,164

)

(2,155

)

23,630

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(24,339

)

135,424

 

463,029

 

Total average advances

 

$

40,072,931

 

$

30,935,361

 

$

25,810,641

 

 

As displayed in the above table, the average balance of overnight advances decreased by $212.9 million from 2005 to 2006. The interest rate on overnight advances changes on a daily basis, and is based on market indications each day. Total average advances increased by $9.1 billion from 2005 to 2006. This increase is attributable to the activity of a few of the Bank’s larger members. The average balance of short-term fixed-rate advances increased by approximately $8.3 billion from 2005 to 2006. 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 narrower for these products than for other products. For 2006, the average balance of variable-rate indexed advances increased by $1.2 billion from the average balance for 2005. These advances have coupon rates that reset on a pre-determined basis based on changes in an index, typically one- or three-month LIBOR. Additionally, while putable advances are classified as fixed-rate advances in the table above, substantially all putable advances are hedged with interest-rate-exchange agreements in which a short-term rate is received, typically three-month LIBOR. Therefore, a significant portion of the Bank’s advances contain either a short-term 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 overnight advances, short-term fixed-rate advances, putable advances, and variable-rate advances totaled $29.5 billion for 2006, representing 73.5 percent of the total average balance of advances outstanding during 2006. For 2005, the average balance of these advances totaled $20.5 billion, representing 66.5 percent of total average advances outstanding during 2005.

41




Included in net interest income are prepayment fees related to advances and investment securities. Prepayment fees make the Bank financially indifferent to the prepayment of advances or investments and are net of any hedging fair-value adjustments associated with SFAS 133. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, net prepayment fees on advances were $909,000 and $8.9 million, and prepayment fees on investments were $4.2 million and $14.6 million, respectively. 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. Moreover, prepayment fees are generally higher in periods where the average interest rates on outstanding advances are higher than the current prevailing rates on advances. 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.

Net Interest Spread and Margin without Prepayment-Fee Income
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

 

Advances

 

$

1,990,430

 

 

4.97

%

 

$

1,092,681

 

 

3.53

%

 

$

596,338

 

 

2.31

%

 

Investment securities

 

421,355

 

 

5.31

 

 

317,027

 

 

4.24

 

 

266,389

 

 

3.51

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

2,960,632

 

 

5.03

 

 

1,837,690

 

 

3.71

 

 

1,114,270

 

 

2.71

 

 

Net interest income

 

297,047

 

 

 

 

 

230,088

 

 

 

 

 

150,971

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

0.27

%

 

 

 

 

0.28

%

 

 

 

 

0.20

%

 

Net interest margin

 

 

 

 

0.50

%

 

 

 

 

0.46

%

 

 

 

 

0.36

%

 

 

Average short-term money-market investments, consisting of interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and federal funds sold, decreased $584.4 million, or 8.7 percent, from the average balances for the year ended December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2006. The higher average balances in 2005 resulted from a sharp increase in money-market- investment balances that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2004 and were a result of management responding to investment opportunities made possible by favorable funding spreads as well as maintaining adequate liquidity to meet our members’ borrowing needs at the time. The average balance gradually declined over the subsequent periods as the Bank returned to more normal balances in proportion to the Bank’s total assets. The yield earned on short-term money-market investments is directly tied to short-term market-interest rates.

Average investment-securities balances increased $448.3 million or 6.0 percent for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared with the same period in 2005. The growth in average investments is due to the increase in held-to-maturity MBS of $741.1 million. The increase during 2006 is due to the Bank striving to maintain a level of MBS investments near the 300 percent of capital limitation. Average total capital increased by $386.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2006, in comparison with the same period in 2005. The increase in held-to-maturity MBS was offset by lower balances of U.S. agency obligations and state and local housing-agency obligations. The decreases are due to maturities and call activity, as well as the Bank purchasing only a minimal amount of additional U.S. agency and state or local housing-agency obligations during this time period. For several years the Bank has limited its marginal purchases of state or local housing-agency obligations to variable-rate bonds, while allowing the fixed-rate assets to run off.

42




Average mortgage-loan balances for the year ended December 31, 2006 were $348.1 million higher than the average balance for the year ended December 31, 2005, representing an increase of 8.0 percent. This increase in average mortgage-loan balances was attributable to the following:

·       The increase in the 2006 average mortgage-loan balance is attributable to the growth in the mortgage-loan portfolio in the latter half of 2005. The mortgage-loan portfolio as of June 30, 2005, amounted to $4.2 billion in comparison with the December 31, 2005, balance of $4.9 billion. Although mortgage-loan balances have since declined over the course of 2006, the average balance for the year ended December 31, 2006, remains at a higher level than the average balance through the year ended December 31, 2005.

·       As interest rates rose during 2005 and into 2006, mortgage-refinancing activities remained relatively moderate, resulting in less prepayment activity in the Bank’s outstanding loan portfolio.

Overall, the yield on the mortgage-loan portfolio has increased for the year ended December 31, 2006, over that which was experienced during the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase is attributable to the following factors:

·       The average stated coupon rate of the mortgage-loan portfolio increased due to the acquisition of loans at higher interest rates in the latter half of 2005 and into 2006.

·       Premium/discount amortization expense has declined $6.5 million, or 44.4 percent, due to a lower amount of loan prepayments in the year ended December 31, 2006, versus the same period in 2005; and

·       The above factors were offset by net discounts on new loans. The discount balance fluctuated from $2.4 million to $637,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively. The lower discount balance will result in a decrease to the yield when amortized.

Effective January 1, 2005, the Bank changed its method of accounting for premiums and discounts on MPF mortgage loans under SFAS 91 to the contractual method. Prior to 2005, amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts was computed using the level-yield method over the estimated lives of the assets, which requires a retrospective adjustment of the effective yield each time the Bank changes its estimate of the loan life, based on actual prepayments received and changes in expected future prepayments. The retrospective method is intended to adjust prior reported amounts as if the new estimate had been known since the original acquisition of the assets. While both methods are acceptable under GAAP, we believe that the contractual method is preferable to the estimated-life method because under the contractual method, the income effects of premiums and discounts are recognized in a manner that is reflective of the actual behavior of the underlying assets during the period in which the behavior occurs. As a result of implementing the change in accounting principle for amortization and accretion from the retrospective method to the contractual method, the Bank recorded a cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle effective January 1, 2005, that resulted in an increase to income before AHP and REFCorp assessments of $7.1 million.

43




CE fees for the year ended December 31, 2006 remained consistent to those recorded for the year ended December 31, 2005 (see the MPF Product Comparison Chart in Item 1—Business-Mortgage Loan Finance).

Composition of the Yields of Mortgage Loans
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

Interest
Income

 

Average
Yield

 

Coupon accrual

 

$

250,819

 

 

5.31

%

 

$

229,937

 

 

5.26

%

 

$

223,183

 

 

5.30

%

 

Premium/discount amortization

 

(8,164

)

 

(0.17

)

 

(14,672

)

 

(0.33

)

 

(21,499

)

 

(0.51

)

 

Credit-enhancement fees

 

(5,053

)

 

(0.11

)

 

(4,309

)

 

(0.10

)

 

(3,911

)

 

(0.09

)

 

Total interest income

 

$

237,602

 

 

5.03

%

 

$

210,956

 

 

4.83

%

 

$

197,773

 

 

4.70

%

 

 

Average CO balances increased $9.2 billion, or 19.9 percent, from the year ended December 31, 2005, to the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was due to the issuance of CO DNs, all of which are short-term with maturities of one year or less, to fund the growth in short-term advances.

Net interest income includes interest paid and received on those interest-rate-exchange agreements 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 Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Gross interest income before effect of derivatives

 

$

2,924,474

 

$

1,963,518

 

$

1,486,902

 

Net interest adjustment for derivatives

 

41,299

 

(102,309

)

(308,411

)

Total interest income reported

 

$

2,965,773

 

$

1,861,209

 

$

1,178,491

 

Gross interest expense before effect of derivatives

 

$

2,546,744

 

$

1,642,582

 

$

1,208,771

 

Net interest adjustment for derivatives

 

116,841

 

(34,980

)

(245,472

)

Total interest expense reported

 

$

2,663,585

 

$

1,607,602

 

$

963,299

 

 

Reported net interest margin for years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, was 0.51 percent, respectively, for both years. If derivative instruments had not been used as hedges to mitigate the impact of interest-rate fluctuations, net interest margin would have been 0.64 percent and 0.65 percent, respectively.

Interest paid and received on interest-rate-exchange agreements that are used by the Bank in its asset and liability management, but 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 Other Expense section below, interest accruals on derivatives classified as economic hedges totaled a gain (loss) of $1.2 million and $(1.7) million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

44




More information about the Bank’s use of derivative instruments to manage interest-rate risk is provided in the Risk Management—Market and Interest-Rate Risk section of this report.

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 interest rates, higher average capital levels, and an increase in average advance balances. The following table summarizes changes in interest income and interest expense between the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. 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 Years Ended
December 31, 2006 vs. 2005

 

For the Years Ended
December 31, 2005 vs. 2004

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) due to

 

Increase (decrease) due to

 

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Total

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Total

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

325,374

 

$

564,408

 

$

889,782

 

$

146,500

 

$

304,423

 

$

450,923

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

(11,717

)

32,079

 

20,362

 

41,301

 

12,503

 

53,804

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

12,884

 

23,785

 

36,669

 

5,380

 

15,689

 

21,069

 

Federal funds sold

 

(19,292

)

56,474

 

37,182

 

32,343

 

56,054

 

88,397

 

Investment securities

 

19,866

 

74,051

 

93,917

 

(4,148

)

59,504

 

55,356

 

Mortgage loans

 

16,795

 

9,851

 

26,646

 

7,758

 

5,425

 

13,183

 

Other earnings assets

 

3

 

3

 

6

 

(24

)

10

 

(14

)

Total interest income

 

343,913

 

760,651

 

1,104,564

 

229,110

 

453,608

 

682,718

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount Notes

 

200,917

 

405,804

 

606,721

 

239,017

 

221,851

 

460,868

 

Bonds

 

104,967

 

335,135

 

440,102

 

(41,793

)

215,965

 

174,172

 

Deposits

 

(1,432

)

11,610

 

10,178

 

(3,609

)

11,982

 

8,373

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital
stock

 

(1,306

)

338

 

(968

)

(107

)

610

 

503

 

Other borrowings

 

(157

)

107

 

(50

)

135

 

252

 

387

 

Total interest expense

 

302,989

 

752,994

 

1,055,983

 

193,643

 

450,660

 

644,303

 

Change in net interest income

 

$

40,924

 

$

7,657

 

$

48,581

 

$

35,467

 

$

2,948

 

$

38,415

 

 

Other Income (Loss) and Operating Expenses

The following table presents a summary of other income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004. Additionally, detail on the components of net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities is provided, indicating the source of these gains and losses by type of hedging relationship and hedge accounting treatment.

45




Other Income (Loss)
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

10,417

 

$

(9,544

)

$

(2,556

)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

(126

)

751

 

 

Trading securities

 

343

 

5,298

 

3,637

 

Mortgage delivery commitments

 

(1,248

)

(5,637

)

(1,698

)

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

 

1,154

 

(1,711

)

(6,437

)

Net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities

 

10,540

 

(10,843

)

(7,054

)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

(215

)

(13,871

)

(40,218

)

Service-fee income

 

3,116

 

2,393

 

2,233

 

Net unrealized loss on trading securities

 

(1,626

)

(7,625

)

(8,394

)

Net realized gains from the sale of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

247

 

Net realized gains on sale of held-to-maturity securities

 

 

 

13

 

Other

 

(65

)

212

 

(257

)

Total other income (loss)

 

$

11,750

 

$

(29,734

)

$

(53,430

)

 

Gains attributable to the ineffectiveness of hedging derivatives were $10.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, versus $9.5 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2005. A portion of this favorable ineffectiveness was attributable to the recapture of unrealized losses that were attributable to hedge ineffectiveness that occurred in prior periods as hedges expired. Moreover, during the fourth quarter of 2006, the Bank identified and corrected an error in the accounting for certain hedged available-for-sale investment securities. As a result of this error, certain amounts of hedge ineffectiveness had been incorrectly deferred in other comprehensive income (OCI) rather than being recorded in the income statement. The cumulative amount of the error through the end of the third quarter of 2006 was $6.4 million, or $4.7 million after assessments. Management has determined that the effect of this error is immaterial to prior periods, and as such, the cumulative effect of this error has been recorded in the income statement during the fourth quarter of 2006. The correction has resulted in an increase of $6.4 million to net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities in other income.

During the second quarter of 2005, the Bank evaluated its estimation methodology for determining the fair-value hedge adjustments for certain CO bonds for which interest-rate swaps were designated as hedges of changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate under SFAS 133. As a result of this evaluation, we have changed the estimation methodology in favor of a method that we believe more accurately calculates the fair value of the hedged item, as further described below.

In general, when we designate an interest-rate swap as a hedge of changes in fair value of the hedged item attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR yield curve, we determine a constant spread adjustment to the LIBOR yield curve that results in a market interest rate on the hedged item at the inception of the hedging relationship. Prior to the change in our estimation methodology, when the Bank entered into this type of hedge relationship for a CO bond in order to adjust the LIBOR yield curve for valuation purposes, we used the spread that was applied to the pay side of the associated interest-rate swap as a proxy for the market rate on the CO bond.

After performing the evaluation in the second quarter of 2005, management believes that the existing methodology was flawed because it overstated the yields used to determine the changes in the fair values of

46




the CO bonds attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR yield curve. The former methodology did not consider that the pay-side LIBOR spread adjustment was set at a level designed to compensate the swap dealer for paying the swap fee and it resulted in an initial basis for the bond that is aligned with the value of the interest-rate swap immediately after the payment of the swap fee, rather than a par valuation.

Management determined that a different discount spread adjustment methodology would have more accurately reflected the changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate by better calibrating the spread adjustment to the benchmark LIBOR yield curve to the initial basis value of the hedged CO bond. This methodology results in initial CO bond values that are properly aligned with the initial basis adjustment of the bond. Accordingly, management changed the estimation methodology for calculating the benchmark fair-value hedge adjustments for these transactions during the second quarter of 2005 to the more accurate method.

Management determined that the differences between the previous estimation methodology and the new estimation methodology are immaterial to prior periods. The change was implemented as of June 30, 2005, and has been reflected as a change in estimate. As of June 30, 2005, the cumulative difference between the two estimation methodologies was a reduction to income before assessments of approximately $9.4 million ($6.9 million after assessments), which has been recorded in net (loss) gain on derivatives and hedging activities in other income. Additionally, it is expected that the use of the new methodology will lead to increased volatility in reported ineffectiveness associated with these hedging relationships due to the introduction of a difference in the initial valuation basis between the CO bond and the interest-rate swap that is subject to fluctuation with interest rates. Therefore there will be increased volatility in the amount of gains and losses from derivative and hedging activities and reported net income than there would have been using the prior method. In general, when interest rates increase, ineffectiveness will generally be more negative, and when interest rates fall, ineffectiveness will generally be more positive, than was the case under the previous method.

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.

Losses on early extinguishment of debt totaled $215,000 and $13.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Early extinguishment of debt is primarily driven by the prepayment of advances and investments, which generate fee income to the Bank in the form of make-whole prepayment penalties. The Bank generally attempts to use a portion of the proceeds 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. For example, an advance with seven years remaining to maturity might have been funded by a bond issued at approximately the same time that has a similar, though not identical, maturity date. If the Bank is able to find an investor willing to sell the target bond back to the Bank, then the Bank will purchase this bond using the principal and prepayment-fee proceeds that resulted from the asset prepayment. However, if the Bank cannot find an investor willing to sell the specific desired bond, the Bank will attempt to buy other bonds with reasonably proximate maturities in amounts that reasonably maintain its asset-liability repricing profile. In cases when a similar bond is not available for repurchase, rather than retiring debt, the Bank will attempt to redeploy the prepayment proceeds in a new asset with maturity similar to that of the prepaid asset. In this manner, the Bank endeavors to preserve its asset-liability repricing balance and stabilizes the net interest margin. During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank extinguished debt with carrying balances totaling $2.0 million and $280.9 million, respectively.

Changes in the fair value of trading securities are recorded in other income (loss). For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, net unrealized losses of $1.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively, were

47




recognized. 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 a gain of $343,000 and $5.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Also included in other income (loss) are interest accruals on these economic hedges, which totaled a gain of $1.2 million and a loss of $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, are summarized in the following table:

Operating Expenses
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Salaries and benefits

 

$

26,931

 

$

25,007

 

$

22,316

 

Occupancy costs

 

4,287

 

3,951

 

3,804

 

Other operating expenses

 

13,345

 

13,474

 

10,687

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

44,563

 

$

42,432

 

$

36,807

 

Ratio of operating expenses to average assets

 

0.07

%

0.08

%

0.09

%

 

For the year ended December 31, 2006, total operating expenses increased $2.1 million from the same period in 2005. This increase was mainly due to a $1.9 million increase in salaries and benefits and a $207,000 increase in occupancy costs and other operating expenses. The $1.9 million increase in salaries and benefits is due primarily to a $1.8 million increase in salary expenses attributable to planned staffing increases and annual merit increases, as well as approximately $406,000 attributable to employee benefits. The increases were offset by a decrease in incentive compensation and employee award programs of $358,000, which were mainly attributable to staff turnover. At December 31, 2006, staffing levels increased 4.7 percent to 190.0 full-time equivalents compared to 181.5 full-time equivalents at December 31, 2005.

Occupancy costs and operating expenses increased $207,000. This increase is attributable to a $336,000 increase in occupancy costs, and a $96,000 increase in travel expenses. Also there was a $353,000 increase in depreciation of furniture and equipment due to planned furniture and equipment purchases during 2005 and 2006, and a $236,000 increase in contractual services due to an increase in departmental projects. These were offset by a $354,000 decline in professional fees related to costs of implementing information systems in 2005, and a $481,000 decrease in temporary help, which had been utilized in 2005 to assist with implementing systems and procedures to comply with the requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Bank, together with the other FHLBanks, is charged for the cost of operating the Finance Board and the Office of Finance. These expenses totaled $3.3 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and are included in other expense.

48




Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2005, versus the year ended December 31, 2004

Overview

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2005, was $135.3 million, compared with $89.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $45.8 million increase was primarily due to an increase of $79.1 million in net interest income, excluding prepayment-fee income, and a $26.3 million decrease in losses on early extinguishment of debt. These increases were partially offset by a $40.7 million decrease in prepayment-fee income, a $0.4 million increase in the provision for credit losses on mortgage loans, a $3.8 million increase in losses on derivative and hedging activities, a $5.6 million increase in operating expenses, and an increase of $16.6 million in AHP and REFCorp assessments. The increase in losses on derivatives and hedging activities was principally due to a charge of $9.4 million associated with a change in the Bank’s valuation methodology for hedged CO bonds made during the second quarter of 2005.

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2005, was $253.6 million, compared with $215.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $38.4 million increase was mainly driven by higher average balances of short-term advances and short-term money-market investments, which were partially offset by lower prepayment-fee income recognized during the period compared to the same period in 2004. Lower prepayment-fee income was primarily the result of a reduction in advance prepayment activities due to increasing levels of interest rates experienced during 2005.

For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, average total assets were $50.1 billion and $41.6 billion, respectively. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.27 percent and 5.81 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with 0.22 percent and 4.25 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. The return on average assets and the return on average equity improved mainly due to the higher level of interest rates during 2005, which resulted in higher earnings on invested shareholder capital.

The composition of the Bank’s total assets changed during the year ended December 31, 2005, as follows:

·       Advances increased to 66.0 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005, up from 58.4 percent of total assets at December 31, 2004. This increase was due to growth in short-term advances, as well as a decline in short-term money-market investments.

·       Short-term money-market investments decreased to 12.0 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005, down from 18.8 percent of total assets at December 31, 2004. This decrease was reflective of a temporary increase in money-market investments that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2004, which has since returned to lower levels.

·       Investment securities decreased to 13.1 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005, down from 14.6 percent of total assets at December 31, 2004. This decrease was mainly the result of the increase in advances noted above, as investment securities have remained relatively constant from yearend 2004 to yearend 2005 largely due to supply dynamics in the MBS market noted above.

·       Net mortgage loans increased to 8.5 percent of total assets at December 31, 2005, from 7.8 percent of total assets at December 31, 2004. This increase reflects an increase in loan-purchase activity during 2005, coupled with lower levels of loan prepayment activity during 2005 as compared to 2004.

During 2005, advances balances increased by approximately $7.9 billion, ending the year at $38.1 billion. This increase was almost entirely in the short-term products offered by the Bank, and was concentrated among a few of the Bank’s largest borrowers.

49




During 2004, the Bank experienced a decline in residential mortgage growth due, in part, to the lack of mortgage purchases under the MPF program resulting from the market-driven decline in mortgage-refinancing activities. Yearend 2004 mortgage loans outstanding totaled $4.0 billion. This trend reversed in 2005 as the growth in the Bank’s mortgage-loan portfolio increased, ending the year at $4.9 billion. The $874.5 million increase experienced during 2005 was due, in part, to a reduction in the capital stock-purchase requirement associated with mortgage-loan purchases by the Bank, as well as a relative reduction in percentage of loan participation sales to the FHLBank of Chicago during 2005 as compared to 2004.

The weighted-average dividend rate was 4.36 percent for the year ended December 31, 2005, 161 basis points higher than the weighted-average dividend rate of 2.75 percent for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Net Interest Spread and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2005, was $253.6 million, compared with $215.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, increasing $38.4 million or 17.8 percent from the previous period. However, both net interest spread and net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2005, declined when compared to the same period in 2004 due to lower prepayment-fee income. Prepayment-fee income recognized on advances and investments declined $40.7 million to $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Net interest spread and net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2005, was 0.33 percent and 0.51 percent compared with 0.36 percent and 0.52 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, the average yields on total interest-earning assets increased 89 basis points and yields on total interest-bearing liabilities increased 92 basis points, compared with the year ended December 31, 2004.

The average balance of total advances increased $5.1 billion, or 19.9 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with the same period in 2004. The increase in advances was attributable to strong member demand for short-term advances, while long-term fixed-rate advances showed only a moderate increase during 2005 as compared to 2004.

Included in net interest income are prepayment fees related to advances and investments. For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, prepayment fees on advances were $8.9 million and $54.3 million, and prepayment fees on investments were $14.6 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Without the impact of prepayment fee income, net interest spread and net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2005, were 0.28 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively, while for the year ended December 31, 2004, net interest spread and net interest margin were 0.20 percent and 0.36 percent, respectively.

Average short-term money-market investments, consisting of interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and federal funds sold, increased $3.2 billion, or 93 percent, from the average balances for the year ended December 31, 2004, to December 31, 2005. These higher average balances in 2005 resulted from a sharp increase in money-market- investment balances that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2004 and continued into the first quarter of 2005. While the average balances remained higher throughout 2005 than in 2004, the periodend balances have steadily declined throughout 2005. These higher average balances were a result of management responding to investment opportunities made possible by favorable funding spreads as well as maintaining adequate liquidity to meet our members’ borrowing needs. The yield earned on short-term money-market investments is directly tied to short-term market-interest rates.

50




Average investment-securities balances declined $112.5 million or 1.5 percent for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with the same period in 2004. This decrease was mainly due to lower balances of state and local housing-agency obligations. State and local housing-agency obligations decreased due to maturities and call activity arising from low interest rates, and the Bank purchased only a minimal amount of additional state or local housing-agency obligations during this time period. For several years the Bank has limited its marginal purchases of state or local housing-agency obligations to variable-rate bonds, while allowing the fixed-rate assets to run off. Average balances of MBS increased only slightly during 2005 due to the declining risk-adjusted returns available from new MBS investments. Because of this trend, the Bank has chosen to deploy its excess leverage capacity in other investments. Upon implementation of the Bank’s capital plan in April 2004, capital-stock balances were reduced and the Bank’s MBS holdings temporarily exceeded the 300 percent of capital limitation, and therefore the Bank suspended MBS purchasing activity until the ratio of MBS to capital was once again below 300 percent. In late 2004 the Bank resumed purchases of MBS, and seeks to maintain a level of MBS investments near the 300 percent of capital limitation.

Average mortgage-loan balances for the year ended December 31, 2005, were $162.5 million higher than the average balance for the year ended December 31, 2004, representing an increase of 3.9 percent. This increase in average mortgage-loan balances was attributable to the following:

·       In October 2004, the Bank’s board of directors approved a reduction of the activity-based capital-stock-investment requirement associated with mortgage loans acquired from members. The activity-based capital-stock-investment requirement was reduced to zero at that time. As a result of this temporary reduction, members that had reduced sales of mortgage loans to the Bank following the implementation of our capital plan in April 2004 have since resumed mortgage- loan sales to the Bank without a requirement to purchase capital stock of the Bank upon such loan sales to the Bank.

·       A relative reduction in average loan-participation sales to the FHLBank of Chicago during 2005 as compared to 2004. During 2005, the Bank sold approximately 48.7 percent of all mortgage-loan purchases as participation sales to the FHLBank of Chicago, whereas during 2004 the Bank sold approximately 88.6 percent of all mortgage-loan purchases as participation sales to the FHLBank of Chicago.

·       As interest rates have risen during 2004 and 2005, mortgage-refinancing activities have declined, resulting in less prepayment activity in the Bank’s outstanding loan portfolio.

Throughout most of 2004, mortgage-loan prepayments and regular payments exceeded new loan acquisitions, resulting in a declining balance of mortgage loans throughout 2004. However, during 2005, mortgage-loan prepayment activity has slowed and loan-purchase volume has increased. As a result, mortgage-loan balances have grown to $4.9 billion at December 31, 2005, from $4.0 billion at December 31, 2004.

Overall, the yield on the mortgage-loan portfolio increased slightly for the year ended December 31, 2005, over that which was experienced during the year ended December 31, 2004. A slight decline in the average coupon accrual rate of the mortgage-loan portfolio was attributable to the acquisition of loans at historically low interest rates in the latter half of 2004 and into 2005 and the amortization and prepayment of principal associated with higher coupon loans throughout this period. This decline in the average coupon accrual rate of the portfolio was more than offset by a reduction in the amount of net premium amortization that occurred during these two periods.

Effective January 1, 2005, the Bank changed its method of accounting for premiums and discounts on MPF mortgage loans under SFAS 91 to the contractual method. Prior to 2005, amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts was computed using the level-yield method over the estimated lives of the assets, which requires a retrospective adjustment of the effective yield each time the Bank changes its estimate of the loan life, based on actual prepayments received and changes in expected future

51




prepayments. The retrospective method is intended to adjust prior reported amounts as if the new estimate had been known since the original acquisition of the assets. While both methods are acceptable under GAAP, we believe that the contractual method is preferable to the estimated-life method because under the contractual method, the income effects of premiums and discounts are recognized in a manner that is reflective of the actual behavior of the underlying assets during the period in which the behavior occurs. As a result of implementing the change in accounting principle for amortization and accretion from the retrospective method to the contractual method, the Bank recorded a cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle effective January 1, 2005, that resulted in an increase to income before AHP and REFCorp assessments of $7.1 million.

Average CO balances increased $8.7 billion, or 23.3 percent, from the year ended December 31, 2004, to the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase was due to the issuance of CO DNs, all of which are short-term with maturities of one year or less, to fund the growth in short-term advances.

Net interest income includes interest paid and received on those interest-rate-exchange agreements associated with advances, investments, deposits, and debt instruments that qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133. Reported net interest margin for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, was 0.51 percent and 0.52 percent, respectively. If derivative instruments had not been used as hedges to mitigate interest-rate fluctuations, net interest margin would have been 0.65 percent and 0.67 percent, respectively.

Other Income (Loss) and Other Expenses

Losses on early extinguishment of debt totaled $13.9 million and $40.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Early extinguishment of debt is primarily driven by the prepayment of advances and investments, which generate fee income to the Bank in the form of make-whole prepayment penalties. During the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Bank extinguished debt totaling $280.9 million and $865.7 million, respectively.

Changes in the fair value of trading securities are recorded in other income (loss). For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, net unrealized losses on trading securities of $7.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, were recognized. 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 fair value of economic hedges associated with the trading portfolio are recorded in current-period earnings and amounted to a gain of $5.3 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Interest accruals on these economic hedges are also recorded in other income (loss), and totaled a loss of $1.9 million and $6.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2005, total operating expenses increased $5.6 million from the same period in 2004. This increase was mainly due to a $2.7 million increase in salaries and benefits and a $2.8 million increase in other operating expenses. The $2.7 million increase in salaries and benefits is due primarily to approximately $721,000 increase in salary expenses attributable to planned staffing increases and annual merit increases, approximately $681,000 attributable to incentive compensation and employee award programs, and approximately $1.1 million increase in pension expense associated with the Bank’s qualified and non-qualified pension plans. At December 31, 2005, staffing levels increased 9.3 percent to 181.5 full-time equivalents compared to 166 full-time equivalents at December 31, 2004.

Other operating expenses increased $2.8 million. This increase is attributable to a $1.2 million increase in professional fees related to costs of implementing information systems, a $0.7 million increase in temporary help to assist with implementing systems and procedures to comply with the requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and $0.8 million increase in information systems’ license fees.

52




The Bank, together with the other FHLBanks, is charged for the cost of operating the Finance Board and the Office of Finance. These expenses totaled $3.1 million and $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and are included in other expense.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Advances

At December 31, 2006, the advances portfolio totaled $37.3 billion, a decrease of $725.8 million from a total of $38.1 billion at December 31, 2005. This decrease was the result of a decline in short-term and overnight advances which were partially offset by an increase in variable rate and long-term advances. Short-term advances and overnight advances decreased $1.9 billion and $484.3 million, respectively, as members decreased their short-term borrowings during 2006 in response to their own balance-sheet demands. Variable-rate advances and long-term advances increased $1.4 billion and $502.7 million offsetting the decline in overnight and short-term advances. At December 31, 2006, 54.7 percent of total advances outstanding had original maturities of greater than one year, compared with 49.9 percent as of December 31, 2005.

In June 2006, the Bank’s board of directors approved a reduction of the activity-based stock-investment requirement from 4.5 percent to 4.0 percent for all advances with a term to maturity greater than overnight and up to three months. This reduction was made available for overnight advances disbursed after October 2, 2006. This reduction gives members the opportunity to take better advantage of advances while enabling the Bank to increase its leverage of existing paid-in capital without incurring significant risk, due to the short-term nature of the affected advances. The activity-based stock-investment requirement for overnight advances remains at 3.0 percent and for all other advances remains at 4.5 percent. The Bank’s board of directors may make subsequent changes to the activity-based stock-investment requirement at any time, provided that members are given advance written notice of at least 30 days but no more than 45 days.

The following table summarizes advances outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by year of maturity.

Advances Outstanding by Year of Maturity
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

 

5.66

%

 

$

43,253

 

 

4.72

%

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

21,680,839

 

 

4.19

 

 

2007

 

21,541,880

 

 

5.12

 

 

4,957,818

 

 

4.18

 

 

2008

 

4,424,213

 

 

4.67

 

 

2,945,061

 

 

4.20

 

 

2009

 

3,811,448

 

 

4.91

 

 

1,976,556

 

 

4.31

 

 

2010

 

2,348,233

 

 

5.06

 

 

2,622,202

 

 

4.87

 

 

2011

 

1,984,555

 

 

4.92

 

 

1,818,824

 

 

4.55

 

 

Thereafter

 

3,240,144

 

 

4.58

 

 

2,004,049

 

 

4.53

 

 

Total par value

 

37,358,758

 

 

4.98

%

 

38,048,602

 

 

4.28

%

 

Premium on advances

 

4,031

 

 

 

 

 

7,384

 

 

 

 

 

Discount on advances

 

(13,413

)

 

 

 

 

(12,400

)

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(7,251

)

 

 

 

 

24,310

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

37,342,125

 

 

 

 

 

$

38,067,896

 

 

 

 

 

 

53




Advances originated by the Bank are recorded at par. However, the Bank may record premiums or discounts on advances in the following cases:

·       Advances may be acquired from other FHLBanks when a member of the Bank acquires a member of another FHLBank. In these cases, the Bank purchases the advance from the other FHLBank at a price that results in a fair market yield for the acquired advance.

·       In the event that a hedge of an advance is discontinued, the cumulative basis adjustment is recorded as a premium or discount and amortized over the remaining life of the advance.

·       When the prepayment of an advance is followed by disbursement of a new advance and the transactions effectively represent a modification of the previous advance under SFAS No. 91, Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases (SFAS 91), the prepayment fee received is deferred, recorded as a discount to the modified advance, and accreted over the life of the new advance.

·       When the Bank makes an AHP advance, the present value of the variation in the cash flow caused by the difference in the interest rate between the AHP advance rate and the Bank’s related cost of funds for comparable maturity funding is charged against the AHP liability and recorded as a discount on the AHP advance.

There were no transfers of advances between the Bank and other FHLBanks during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

As of December 31, 2006, SFAS 133 hedging adjustments decreased $31.6 million from December 31, 2005. Higher market-interest rates during 2005 and into 2006 resulted in a lower 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 December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, the Bank had callable advances outstanding of $30.0 million.

Advances Outstanding by Year of Maturity or Next Call Date
(dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

$

43,253

 

2006

 

 

21,680,839

 

2007

 

21,571,880

 

4,987,818

 

2008

 

4,424,213

 

2,945,061

 

2009

 

3,811,448

 

1,976,556

 

2010

 

2,348,233

 

2,622,202

 

2011

 

1,954,555

 

1,788,824

 

Thereafter

 

3,240,144

 

2,004,049

 

Total par value

 

$

37,358,758

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

The Bank also offers putable advances, in which the Bank purchases a put option from the member that allows the Bank to terminate the advance on specific dates through its term. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had putable advances outstanding totaling $5.4 billion, and $5.6 billion, respectively. The following table summarizes advances outstanding at December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, by year of maturity or next put date for putable advances.

54




Advances Outstanding by Year of Maturity or Next Put Date
(dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

$

43,253

 

2006

 

 

26,476,889

 

2007

 

25,745,480

 

4,851,518

 

2008

 

4,476,013

 

2,625,061

 

2009

 

3,320,798

 

1,312,106

 

2010

 

1,120,083

 

1,148,952

 

2011

 

1,105,255

 

395,624

 

Thereafter

 

1,582,844

 

1,195,199

 

Total par value

 

$

37,358,758

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

The following table summarizes advances outstanding by product type at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Advances Outstanding By Product Type
(dollars in thousands)

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Balance

 

Total

 

Balance

 

Total

 

Overnight advances

 

$

1,036,669

 

 

2.8

%

 

$

1,520,963

 

 

4.0

%

 

Fixed-rate advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term

 

15,231,027

 

 

40.8

 

 

17,173,301

 

 

45.2

 

 

Long-term

 

8,418,729

 

 

22.5

 

 

7,915,996

 

 

20.8

 

 

Amortizing

 

2,593,183

 

 

6.9

 

 

2,484,692

 

 

6.5

 

 

Putable

 

5,405,500

 

 

14.5

 

 

5,634,650

 

 

14.8

 

 

Callable

 

30,000

 

 

0.1

 

 

30,000

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

31,678,439

 

 

84.8

 

 

33,238,639

 

 

87.4

 

 

Variable-rate advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indexed

 

4,643,650

 

 

12.4

 

 

3,289,000

 

 

8.6

 

 

Total par value

 

$

37,358,758

 

 

100.0

%

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

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 December 31, 2006, the Bank had advances outstanding to 364, or 78.3 percent, of its 465 members. At December 31, 2005, the Bank had advances outstanding to 364, or 77.9 percent, of its 467 members.

55




The Bank’s advances are concentrated to institutions in the financial services industry. The following table provides a summary of advances outstanding to the Bank’s members by member institution type.

Advances Outstanding by Member Type
(dollars in millions)

 

 

Commercial
Banks

 

Thrifts

 

Credit
Unions

 

Insurance
Companies

 

Other (1)

 

Total Par
Value

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

$

18,585.7

 

 

$

15,834.0

 

$

1,773.3

 

 

$

938.4

 

 

$

227.4

 

$

37,358.8

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

20,582.6

 

 

14,233.3

 

1,802.7

 

 

1,134.8

 

 

295.2

 

38,048.6

 

December 31, 2004

 

 

14,564.0

 

 

11,814.9

 

1,427.6

 

 

1,079.8

 

 

1,060.0

 

29,946.3

 

December 31, 2003

 

 

7,399.4

 

 

15,720.1

 

1,157.8

 

 

1,004.8

 

 

103.1

 

25,385.2

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

7,063.6

 

 

18,008.2

 

859.0

 

 

 

 

60.4

 

25,991.2

 

 


(1)          “Other” includes advances of former members involved in mergers with nonmembers where the resulting institution is not a member of the Bank, as well as advances outstanding to eligible nonmember housing associates.

Top Five Advance-Holding Members
(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

Income for the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Par Value of

 

Percent of Total

 

Weighted-Average

 

Year Ended

 

Name

 

 

 

City

 

State

 

Advances

 

Advances

 

Rate (2)

 

December 31, 2006

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A

 

Providence

 

 

RI

 

 

 

$

7,708.4

 

 

 

20.6

%

 

 

5.28

%

 

 

$

481.5

 

 

Citizens Financial Group (1)

 

Providence

 

 

RI

 

 

 

7,005.3

 

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

5.27

 

 

 

328.5

 

 

NewAlliance Bank

 

New Haven

 

 

CT

 

 

 

1,708.4

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

4.67

 

 

 

69.6

 

 

Webster Bank

 

Waterbury

 

 

CT

 

 

 

1,064.0

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

5.09

 

 

 

99.7

 

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

 

Hartford

 

 

CT

 

 

 

925.0

 

 

 

2.5

 

 

 

5.36

 

 

 

50.1

 

 

 


(1)             Citizens Financial Group, a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland, is the holding company of five of the Bank’s members: Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens Bank of Connecticut, and RBS National Bank. Advances outstanding to these five members are aggregated in the above table.

(2)             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 as a hedging instrument.

The Bank prices advances based on the marginal cost of funding with a similar maturity profile, as well as market rates for comparable funding alternatives. In accordance with regulations, the Bank prices its advance products in a consistent and nondiscriminatory manner to all members. However, the Bank may price its products on a differential basis, which is based on the creditworthiness of the member, volume, or other reasonable criteria applied consistently to all members. Differences in the weighted-average rates of advances outstanding to the five largest members noted in the table above result from several factors, including the disbursement date of the advances, the product type selected, and the term to maturity.

Prepayment Fees.   Advances with a maturity of six months or less may not be prepaid, whereas advances with a maturity period greater than six months generally require a fee to make the Bank financially indifferent should a member decide to prepay an advance. During the year ended December 31, 2006, advances totaling $3.3 billion were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $1.8 million, which was partially offset by a $117,000 loss related to fair-value hedging adjustments and a $778,000 premium write-off on those prepaid advances. For the year ended December 31, 2005, advances totaling $1.4 billion were prepaid, resulting in gross prepayment-fee income of $15.3 million, which was partially

56




offset by a $6.4 million loss related to fair-value hedging adjustments on those prepaid advances. Advance prepayments may increase as a result of changes in interest rates or other factors. In a declining interest-rate environment, this may result in an increase in prepayment fees but also a reduced rate of return on the Bank’s interest-earning assets. Thus, the amount of future advance prepayments and the impact of such prepayments on the Bank’s future earnings is unpredictable.

Investments

At December 31, 2006, investment securities and short-term money-market instruments totaled $15.2 billion, compared with $14.5 billion at December 31, 2005. The growth in investments was due to an increase of $977.5 million in held-to-maturity securities, and was offset by a $108.5 million decline in short-term money-market instruments. Consistent with Finance Board requirements and Bank policy, additional investments in MBS and certain securities issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) are limited if the Bank’s investments in such securities exceed 300 percent of capital as measured at the previous monthend. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank’s MBS and SBA holdings represented 292 percent and 243 percent of capital, respectively.

The Bank classifies most of its investments as held to maturity. However, from time to time, the Bank invests in certain securities and simultaneously enters into matched-term interest-rate swaps to achieve a LIBOR-based variable yield, particularly when the Bank can earn a wider interest spread between the swapped yield on the investment and short-term debt instruments than it can earn between the bond’s fixed yield and comparable-term fixed-rate debt. Because an interest-rate swap can only be designated as a hedge of an available-for-sale investment security, the Bank classifies these investments as available-for-sale. The Bank also classifies certain investments acquired for purposes of meeting short-term contingency liquidity needs and asset/liability management as trading securities and carries them at fair value. However, the Bank does not participate in speculative trading practices and holds these investments indefinitely as management periodically evaluates the Bank’s liquidity needs.

Additional financial data on the Bank’s investment securities as of December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, are included in the following tables.

Trading Securities
(dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

$

42,677

 

$

55,026

 

$

75,293

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

63,685

 

85,776

 

129,114

 

Other

 

45,000

 

75,776

 

91,000

 

Total

 

$

151,362

 

$

216,578

 

$

295,407

 

 

57




Investment Securities Classified as Available-for-Sale
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

International agency obligations

 

$

351,299

 

$

382,484

 

$

351,955

 

$

397,907

 

$

352,626

 

$

387,211

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,654

 

225,615

 

213,812

 

230,575

 

213,963

 

223,350

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

184,342

 

191,547

 

184,694

 

196,304

 

185,035

 

196,315

 

Other FHLBanks’ bonds

 

14,685

 

14,716

 

14,800

 

15,009

 

14,911

 

15,704

 

 

 

763,980

 

814,362

 

765,261

 

839,795

 

766,535

 

822,580

 

Mortgage-backed securities Government-sponsored enterprises

 

172,619

 

173,696

 

173,554

 

176,693

 

174,250

 

182,915

 

Total

 

$

936,599

 

$

988,058

 

$

938,815

 

$

1,016,488

 

$

940,785

 

$

1,005,495

 

 

Unrealized losses—International agency obligations and government-sponsored enterprises.   Within the international agency obligations and government-sponsored enterprises categories of investment securities held in the available-for-sale portfolio are gross unrealized losses totaling $144,000 and $741,000, respectively, as of December 31, 2006. Management believes that these unrealized losses are the result of the current interest-rate environment. The Bank reviewed its available-for-sale investments and has determined that all unrealized losses are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2006.

The maturities, fair value, and weighted-average yields of debt securities classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2006, are provided in the following table.

Redemption Terms of Available-for-Sale Securities
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Due in one year 
or less

 

Due after one year
through five years

 

Due after five years
through 10 years

 

Due after 10 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Total

 

International agency obligations

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

$

351,299

 

 

 

6.79

%

 

$

351,299

 

U.S. government corporations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

213,654

 

 

 

6.15

 

 

213,654

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

26,228

 

 

 

6.49

 

 

 

54,904

 

 

 

4.93

 

 

 

14,477

 

 

 

6.80

 

 

 

88,733

 

 

 

6.11

 

 

184,342

 

Other FHLBanks’ bonds

 

 

14,685

 

 

 

6.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,685

 

Total

 

 

$

40,913

 

 

 

6.45

%

 

 

$

54,904

 

 

 

4.93

%

 

 

$

14,477

 

 

 

6.80

%

 

 

$

653,686

 

 

 

6.49

%

 

$

763,980

 

 

58




Investment Securities Classified as Held-to-Maturity
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

U.S. agency
obligations

 

$

62,823

 

$

63,702

 

$

76,457

 

$

78,838

 

$

91,477

 

$

96,114

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

200,076

 

199,236

 

State or local housing-agency obligations

 

315,545

 

317,914

 

344,372

 

354,366

 

435,829

 

445,313

 

 

 

378,368

 

381,616

 

420,829

 

433,204

 

727,382

 

740,663

 

Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

16,226

 

16,669

 

19,968

 

20,652

 

27,038

 

28,274

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

1,022,039

 

1,020,801

 

1,188,410

 

1,198,000

 

1,302,867

 

1,349,846

 

Other

 

5,889,558

 

5,888,922

 

4,699,465

 

4,698,418

 

4,196,069

 

4,233,285

 

 

 

6,927,823

 

6,926,392

 

5,907,843

 

5,917,070

 

5,525,974

 

5,611,405

 

Total

 

$

7,306,191

 

$

7,308,008

 

$

6,328,672

 

$

6,350,274

 

$

6,253,356

 

$

6,352,068

 

 

State or local housing-agency obligations.   Within this category of investment securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio are gross unrealized losses totaling $1.4 million as of December 31, 2006. Management believes that these unrealized losses on the Bank’s investment in state or local housing-agency obligations are the result of the current interest-rate environment. The Bank has reviewed these investments and has determined that all unrealized losses are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, 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 December 31, 2006.

Mortgage-backed securities.   Within this category of investment securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio are gross unrealized losses totaling $18.8 million as of December 31, 2006. Management believes that these unrealized losses on the Bank’s investment in MBS securities are the result of the current interest-rate environment. The Bank has reviewed these investments and has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, 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 December 31, 2006.

59




The maturities, amortized cost, and weighted-average yields of debt securities classified as held-to-maturity as of December 31, 2006, are provided in the following table.

Redemption Terms of Held-to-Maturity Securities
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Due in one year
or less

 

Due after one
year through five
years

 

Due after five
years through 10
years

 

Due after 10 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

Amortized

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Cost

 

Yield

 

Total

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 62,823

 

 

6.05

%

 

$ 62,823

 

State or local housing-agency obligations

 

 

$ 855

 

 

 

7.30

%

 

 

$ 8,065

 

 

 

7.15

%

 

 

$ 4,265

 

 

 

7.16

%

 

302,360

 

 

6.12

 

 

315,545

 

Total

 

 

$ 855

 

 

 

7.30

%

 

 

$ 8,065

 

 

 

7.15

%

 

 

$ 4,265

 

 

 

7.16

%

 

$ 365,183

 

 

6.11

%

 

$ 378,368

 

 

At December 31, 2006, the Bank held securities from the following issuers with total book values greater than 10 percent of total capital, as follows:

Issuers with Total Book Value greater than 10% of Total Capital
(dollars in thousands)

 

Book

 

Fair

 

Name of Issuer

 

 

 

Value(1)

 

Value

 

Non-Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-American Development Bank

 

$  382,484

 

$  382,484

 

Fannie Mae

 

140,045

 

140,045

 

Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fannie Mae

 

$ 1,128,682

 

$ 1,126,071

 

Bear Stearns ALT—A Trust

 

493,384

 

493,063

 

Washington Mutual Bank

 

415,836

 

409,189

 

Lehman XS Trust

 

339,786

 

340,007

 

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments Inc.

 

298,582

 

299,183

 

 


(1)          Book value for trading and available-for-sale securities represents fair value. Book value for held-to-maturity securities represents amortized cost.

The Bank’s MBS investment portfolio consists of the following categories of securities as of December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Nonfederal agency residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

72

%

 

 

59

%

 

U.S. agency residential mortgage-backed securities

 

 

18

 

 

 

24

 

 

Home-equity loans

 

 

1

 

 

 

4

 

 

Nonfederal agency commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

9

 

 

 

13

 

 

Total mortgage-backed securities

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

 

60




Mortgage Loans

Under the MPF program, the Bank invests in fixed-rate mortgage loans that are purchased from members that are PFIs. The Bank manages the liquidity, interest-rate, and prepayment-option risks of the mortgage loans, while the member retains the marketing and servicing activities. PFIs provide a measure of credit-loss protection to the Bank on loans generated through the program, for which they receive a CE fee.

Mortgage loans as of December 31, 2006, totaled $4.5 billion, a decrease of $384.3 million from the December 31, 2005, balance of $4.9 billion. This decrease was due to a decline in mortgage-loan-purchase activity as well as loan amortization and prepayments. As of December 31, 2006, 119 of the Bank’s 465 members have been approved to participate in the MPF program. The decrease in the mortgage-loan portfolio is mainly attributable to the reduction in the volume of mortgage-loan purchases, including the absence of purchases from Balboa Reinsurance Company, the Bank’s largest PFI, since April 2006. Mortgage-loan purchases amounted to $261.4 million, for the year ending December 31, 2006, and represented a decline of 85.1 percent from the year ending December 31, 2005, total of $1.8 billion. For the years ending December 31, 2006 and 2005, gross purchases, including agent fees, totaled $369.8 million and $3.4 billion, respectively, of which 29.5 percent and 48.7 percent, respectively, were sold as participations to the FHLBank of Chicago.

61




The following table presents information relating to the Bank’s mortgage portfolio for the five-year period ended December 31, 2006.

Mortgage Loans Held in Portfolio
(dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate 15-year
single-family mortgages

 

$ 1,321,762

 

$ 1,480,555

 

$ 1,267,861

 

$ 1,355,068

 

$  747,658

 

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

 

3,152,175

 

3,370,391

 

2,697,010

 

3,118,436

 

1,717,106

 

Unamortized premiums

 

42,274

 

51,501

 

52,365

 

69,150

 

29,043

 

Unamortized discounts

 

(12,758

)

(13,051

)

(4,138

)

(4,829

)

(4,558

)

Deferred derivative gains and losses

 

(1,146

)

(1,059

)

262

 

190

 

266

 

Total mortgage loans held for
investment

 

4,502,307

 

4,888,337

 

4,013,360

 

4,538,015

 

2,489,515

 

Less: allowance for credit
losses

 

(125

)

(1,843

)

(1,379

)

(1,317

)

(1,334

)

Total mortgage loans, net of allowance for credit losses

 

$ 4,502,182

 

$ 4,886,494

 

$ 4,011,981

 

$ 4,536,698

 

$ 2,488,181

 

Volume of mortgage-loan purchases, by product name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original MPF

 

$  109,905

 

$  220,823

 

$  215,469

 

$  287,987

 

$    99,340

 

MPF 125

 

41,473

 

56,474

 

35,346

 

279,168

 

178,548

 

MPF Plus

 

110,032

 

1,477,647

 

217,400

 

1,958,995

 

1,326,722

 

Multifamily

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total conventional loans

 

261,410

 

1,754,944

 

468,215

 

2,526,150

 

1,604,610

 

Government-insured loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original MPF for FHA/VA

 

 

 

 

750,303

 

739,511

 

Total par value

 

$  261,410

 

$ 1,754,944

 

$  468,215

 

$ 3,276,453

 

$ 2,344,121

 

Mortgage loans outstanding by product name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original MPF

 

$  684,482

 

$  642,015

 

$  498,945

 

$  342,103

 

$  116,934

 

MPF 125

 

361,937

 

361,050

 

370,663

 

402,418

 

275,844

 

MPF Plus

 

2,914,273

 

3,219,238

 

2,235,531

 

2,548,576

 

1,274,892

 

Total conventional loans

 

3,960,692

 

4,222,303

 

3,105,139

 

3,293,097

 

1,667,670

 

Government-insured loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original MPF for FHA/VA

 

513,245

 

628,643

 

859,732

 

1,180,407

 

797,094

 

Total par value

 

$ 4,473,937

 

$ 4,850,946

 

$ 3,964,871

 

$ 4,473,504

 

$ 2,464,764

 

 

The FHLBank of Chicago, which acts as the MPF provider and provides operational support to the MPF Banks and their PFIs, calculates and publishes daily prices, rates, and fees associated with the various MPF products. The Bank has the option, on a daily basis, to opt out of participation in the MPF program. To date, the Bank has never opted out of daily participation. The FHLBank of Chicago has advised the

62




Bank that, until further notice, it will no longer purchase participation interests in MPF loans acquired by other MPF Banks including the Bank. As a result, (1) the FHLBank of Chicago will not purchase participation interests in loans originated by the Bank’s PFIs, and (2) in the event that the Bank elects to opt out of purchasing MPF loans on a given day, the FHLBank of Chicago will forgo its option to purchase 100 percent of the loans originated by the Bank’s PFIs on that date. Given currently available information, market conditions, and the Bank’s financial management strategies for the MPF loan portfolio, the Bank’s management does not believe that this business decision by the FHLBank of Chicago will have any material impact on the Bank’s results of operations or financial condition, although it could from time to time require the Bank to restrict the volume of loans that it purchases from its PFIs. However, under different business conditions, the decision could have a material impact on the Bank’s results of operations and financial condition. For example, if the Bank elected to opt out of purchasing MPF loans, it could adversely affect customer relationships and future business flows.

The following table presents the Bank’s retained mortgage-loan purchases from PFIs that represent greater than 10 percent of total mortgage-loan purchases.

Mortgage-Loan Purchases from PFIs
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Balboa Reinsurance Company, a subsidiary of Countrywide Financial Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollar amount purchased

 

$ 110,032

 

$ 1,448,995

 

$ 402,097

 

$ 2,298,936

 

$ 1,810,310

 

Percent of total mortgage-loan purchases

 

42

%

83

%

86

%

70

%

77

%

Newtown Savings Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollar amount purchased

 

$ 34,786

 

$    46,846

 

$   1,558

 

$      1,666

 

$            —

 

Percent of total mortgage-loan purchases

 

13

%

3

%

%

%

%

Webster Bank *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollar amount purchased

 

$         —

 

$    28,652

 

$         —

 

$  410,362

 

$  279,699

 

Percent of total mortgage-loan purchases

 

%

2

%

%

13

%

12

%


*                    Loans sold to the Bank between 2000 and 2003 were purchased from First Federal Saving Bank of America, which was subsequently acquired by Webster Bank during the second quarter of 2004. Webster Bank resumed selling loans to the Bank in the first quarter.

Of the $4.5 billion of mortgage-loan participations held by the Bank as of December 31, 2006, $3.1 billion, or 69.4 percent, were sold to the Bank by Balboa Reinsurance Co., a subsidiary of Countrywide Financial, Inc. Mortgage-loan purchases from Balboa Reinsurance Co, amounted to $110.0 million and $1.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and reflect a percent of total mortgage-loan purchases of 42.1 percent and 82.6 percent, respectively. The decline in purchases is due to the fact that the Bank currently has no master commitments outstanding to Balboa Reinsurance Co., and that the Bank has not participated in any loan purchases from Balboa Reinsurance Co. since April 19, 2006. Management cannot predict the extent to which Balboa Reinsurance Co. may sell loans to the Bank in the future.

As of December 31, 2006, Balboa Reinsurance Company and Webster Bank individually service more than five percent of the Bank’s outstanding mortgage loans. Countrywide Financial Corporation, the holding company of Balboa Reinsurance Company, services approximately 69.4 percent of the Bank’s mortgage loans and Webster Bank services approximately 7.0 percent of the Bank’s mortgage loans.

63




Webster Bank is also one of the Bank’s five largest advance borrowers. Neither of these members has received preferential pricing on the mortgage loans we purchased from them as compared to any other member.

When a PFI fails to comply with its representations and warranties concerning its duties and obligations described within the PFI agreement and the MPF Origination and Servicing Guides, applicable laws, or terms of mortgage documents, the PFI may be required to repurchase the MPF loans which are impacted by such failure. Reasons for which a PFI could be required to repurchase an MPF loan may include, but are not limited to, MPF loan ineligibility, failure to deliver documentation to an approved custodian, a servicing breach, fraud, or other misrepresentation. The following table provides a summary of MPF loans that have been repurchased by our PFIs

Summary of MPF Loan Repurchases
(dollars in thousands)

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Conventional loans

 

$ 2,903

 

$ 689

 

$ 5,931

 

$  887

 

$ —

 

Government-insured loans

 

2,743

 

276

 

1,901

 

225

 

432

 

Total

 

$ 5,646

 

$ 965

 

$ 7,832

 

$ 1,112

 

$ 432

 

 

The increase in loan repurchases during 2004 noted in the above table resulted in part from guidance received from the Finance Board in May 2003, which stated that FHLBanks were prohibited from purchasing loans that could not be putatively rated by an NRSRO. For example, loans subject to the Georgia Fair Lending Act, an anti-predatory lending law with liability to loan assignees when it became effective in 2003, were not putatively rated. In an effort to detect loans that may have been subject to the Georgia statute, various document deficiencies were discovered by the Bank through its quality control process. Under the MPF Origination and Servicing Guides and related agreements, the PFI was required to repurchase those loans.

The following tables present the scheduled repayments for mortgage loans outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Redemption Terms of Mortgage Loans
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

Due in one year
or less

 

Due after one
year through
five years

 

Due after
five years

 

Total

 

Fixed-rate conventional loans

 

 

$ 143,006

 

 

 

$ 646,407

 

 

$ 3,171,279

 

$ 3,960,692

 

Fixed-rate government-insured loans

 

 

10,615

 

 

 

49,344

 

 

453,286

 

513,245

 

Total par value

 

 

$ 153,621

 

 

 

$ 695,751

 

 

$ 3,624,565

 

$ 4,473,937

 

 

Redemption Terms of Mortgage Loans
As of December 31, 2005
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Due in one year
or less

 

Due after one
year through
five years

 

Due after
five years

 

Total

 

Fixed-rate conventional loans

 

 

$ 141,168

 

 

 

$ 640,258

 

 

$ 3,440,877

 

$ 4,222,303

 

Fixed-rate government-insured loans

 

 

11,820

 

 

 

54,992

 

 

561,831

 

628,643

 

Total par value

 

 

$ 152,988

 

 

 

$ 695,250

 

 

$ 4,002,708

 

$ 4,850,946

 

 

64




Allowance for Credit Losses on Mortgage Loans.   The allowance for credit losses on mortgage loans was $125,000 at December 31, 2006, which represented a significant reduction of $1.7 million from the balance of $1.8 million at December 31, 2005. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses during 2006 was primarily driven by a change in the method by which the Bank estimates its allowance for loan losses, which was implemented as of December 31, 2006, as well as a reduction in the balance of outstanding mortgage loans held in the portfolio during this time period. See Item 7—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Allowance for Loan Losses for a description of the change to the Bank’s methodology for estimating the allowance for loan losses. The Bank recognized a total of $14,000 in net charge-offs for 2006 as compared to $38,000 for 2005. The ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding was less than one basis point for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

As a result of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the southern United States in 2005, the President of the United States declared portions of four states - Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas - to be major disaster areas. The Bank has exposure to the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita though whole-loan purchases under the MPF program. After evaluating the loans outstanding in the affected areas, the delinquency rates on these loans, the potential for loss mitigation due to flood insurance, the probability of CE fee withholding to cover any incurred losses, and other factors, management of the Bank does not anticipate that it will incur any incremental losses due to the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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

Allowance for Credit Losses Activity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

As of and for the Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

1,843

 

$

1,379

 

$

1,317

 

$

1,334

 

$

177

 

Charge-offs

 

(14

)

(38

)

(91

)

(22

)

 

Recoveries

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

Net charge-offs

 

(14

)

(38

)

(61

)

(22

)

 

(Reduction of) provision for credit losses

 

(1,704

)

502

 

123

 

5

 

1,157

 

Balance at period end

 

$

125

 

$

1,843

 

$

1,379

 

$

1,317

 

$

1,334

 

 

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

Allocation of Allowance for Credit Losses

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total
Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total
Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total
Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total
Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total
Loans

 

Conventional loans

 

 

$

125

 

 

 

88.5

%

 

 

$

1,843

 

 

 

87.0

%

 

 

$

1,379

 

 

 

78.3

%

 

 

$

1,317

 

 

 

73.6

%

 

 

$

1,334

 

 

 

67.7

%

 

Government-insured loans

 

 

 

 

 

11.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

21.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

26.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.3

 

 

Total

 

 

$

125

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

1,843

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

1,379

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

1,317

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

1,334

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

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

65




interest income. The Bank monitors the delinquency levels of the mortgage-loan portfolio on a monthly basis. A summary of mortgage-loan delinquencies at December 31, 2006, is provided in the following table.

Summary of Delinquent Mortgage Loans

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Government-

 

 

 

Days Delinquent

 

 

 

Conventional

 

Insured(1)

 

Total

 

30 days

 

 

$

40,214

 

 

 

$

24,592

 

 

$

64,806

 

60 days

 

 

5,279

 

 

 

8,730

 

 

14,009

 

90 days or more and accruing

 

 

 

 

 

8,544

 

 

8,544

 

90 days or more and nonaccruing

 

 

4,796

 

 

 

 

 

4,796

 

Total delinquencies

 

 

$

50,289

 

 

 

$

41,866

 

 

$

92,155

 

Total par value of mortgage loans outstanding

 

 

$

3,960,692

 

 

 

$

513,245

 

 

$

4,473,937

 

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

 

 

1.27

%

 

 

8.16

%

 

2.06

%

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

 

 

0.12

%

 

 

1.66

%

 

0.30

%


(1)          Government-insured loans continue to accrue interest after 90 or more days delinquent since the U.S. government guarantees the repayment of principal and interest.

Loan-Portfolio Analysis.   The Bank’s par value of outstanding mortgage loans, nonperforming loans, and loans 90 days or more past due and accruing interest for the five-year period ended December 31, 2006, are provided in the following table.

Loan-Portfolio Analysis

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Real-estate mortgages

 

$

4,473,937

 

$

4,850,946

 

$

3,964,871

 

$

4,473,504

 

$

2,464,764

 

Nonperforming real-estate mortgages

 

$

4,796

 

$

6,387

 

$

2,708

 

$

1,426

 

$

232

 

Real-estate mortgages past due 90 days or more and still accruing(1)

 

$

8,544

 

$

6,788

 

$

663

 

$

261

 

$

 

Interest contractually due during the period

 

$

294

 

$

388

 

$

205

 

$

119

 

$

 

Interest actually received during the period

 

278

 

349

 

177

 

108

 

 

Shortfall

 

$

16

 

$

39

 

$

28

 

$

11

 

$

 


(1)          Only government-guaranteed loans (for example, FHA, VA) continue to accrue interest after 90 or more days delinquent.

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, loans in foreclosure were $4.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, and real-estate owned (REO) was $1.3 million and $479,000, respectively. REO is recorded on the statement of condition in other assets.

Sale of REO Assets.   During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank sold REO assets with a recorded carrying value of $932,000 and $1.1 million, respectively. Upon sale of these properties, and inclusive of any proceeds received from primary mortgage-insurance coverage, the Bank recognized net losses totaling $19,000 on the sale of REO assets during the year ended December 31, 2006. The Bank

66




recognized net gains totaling $104,000 on the sale of REO assets during the year ended December 31, 2005. Gains and losses on the sale of REO assets are recorded in other income. Additionally, the Bank incurred expenses associated with maintaining these properties totaling $30,000 and $39,000 respectively. These expenses are recorded in other expense.

The Bank’s mortgage-loan portfolio is geographically diversified across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and no single zip code represented more than one percent of outstanding mortgage loans at December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005. Except for elevated levels of delinquency in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Bank observes little correlation between the geographic locations of loans and delinquency, and there is no concentration of delinquent loans in any particular geographic area. The following tables provide the portfolio characteristics of mortgage loans held by the Bank.

Characteristics of the Bank’s Mortgage-Loan Portfolio(1)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Loan-to-value ratio at origination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

< 60.00%

 

 

47

%

 

 

45

%

 

60.01% to 70.00%

 

 

13

 

 

 

13

 

 

70.01% to 80.00%

 

 

17

 

 

 

18

 

 

80.01% to 90.00%

 

 

12

 

 

 

12

 

 

Greater than 90.00%

 

 

11

 

 

 

12

 

 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

Weighted average

 

 

63

%

 

 

64

%

 

FICO score(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

< 620

 

 

4

%

 

 

4

%

 

620 to < 660

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

 

660 to < 700

 

 

14

 

 

 

14

 

 

700 to < 740

 

 

20

 

 

 

21

 

 

> 740

 

 

53

 

 

 

51

 

 

Not available

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

Weighted average

 

 

733

 

 

 

731

 

 


(1)          Percentages calculated based on unpaid principal balance at the end of each period.

(2)          FICO® is a widely used credit-industry model developed by Fair Isaac, and Company, Inc. to assess borrower credit quality with scores ranging from a low of 300 to a high of 850.

67




Regional Concentration of Mortgage Loans Outstanding(1)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Regional concentration(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midwest

 

 

10

%

 

 

9

%

 

Northeast

 

 

38

 

 

 

36

 

 

Southeast

 

 

13

 

 

 

14

 

 

Southwest

 

 

13

 

 

 

14

 

 

West

 

 

26

 

 

 

27

 

 

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

State concentration(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massachusetts

 

 

20

%

 

 

19

%

 

California

 

 

19

 

 

 

19

 

 


(1)          Percentages calculated based on unpaid principal balance at the end of each period.

(2)          Midwest includes IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.

Northeast includes CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.

Southeast includes AL, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV.

Southwest includes AR, AZ, CO, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX, and UT.

West includes AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, and WY.

(3)          State concentrations are provided for any individual state in which the Bank has a concentration of 10 percent or more.

First-Loss Account.   The Bank’s conventional mortgage-loan portfolio currently consists of three MPF products: Original MPF, MPF 125, and MPF Plus, which differ from each other in the way the first-loss account is determined, as described in Item 1 - Business - - Mortgage-Loan Finance.

The aggregated amount of the first-loss account is memorialized and tracked but is neither recorded nor reported as a loan-loss reserve in the Bank’s financial statements. As credit and special hazard losses are realized that are not covered by the liquidation value of the real property or primary mortgage insurance, they are first charged to the Bank, with a corresponding reduction of the first-loss account for that master commitment up to the amount accumulated in the first-loss account at that time. Over time, the first-loss account may cover the expected credit losses on a master commitment, although losses that are greater than expected or that occur early in the life of the master commitment could exceed the amount accumulated in the first-loss account. In that case, the excess losses would be charged next to the member’s CE, then to the Bank after the member’s CE obligation has been met. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the amount of FLA remaining for losses was $25.7 million and $24.8 million, respectively. Except with respect to Original MPF, our losses incurred under the FLA can be recovered by withholding future performance CE fees otherwise paid to our PFIs.

Debt Financing—Consolidated Obligations

At December 31, 2006 and 2005, outstanding COs, including bonds and DNs, totaled $53.2 billion and $53.8 billion, respectively. CO bonds 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

68




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 December 31, 2006 and 2005, by the year of maturity, for which the Bank is primarily liable.

Consolidated Obligation Bonds Outstanding

by Year of Maturity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

2006

 

$

 

%

$

8,287,805

 

 

3.22

%

 

2007

 

14,211,705

 

4.45

 

7,401,505

 

 

3.63

 

 

2008

 

9,091,950

 

4.51

 

5,523,200

 

 

4.03

 

 

2009

 

3,611,185

 

4.52

 

1,747,435

 

 

3.79

 

 

2010

 

1,635,770

 

4.48

 

1,470,770

 

 

4.40

 

 

2011

 

1,289,600

 

4.81

 

485,000

 

 

4.40

 

 

Thereafter

 

8,794,000

 

5.66

 

7,674,000

 

 

5.66

 

 

Total par value

 

38,634,210

 

4.76

%

32,589,715

 

 

4.13

%

 

Bond premium

 

14,719

 

 

 

24,829

 

 

 

 

 

Bond discount

 

(3,009,308

)

 

 

(2,982,008

)

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(121,179

)

 

 

(190,463

)

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

35,518,442

 

 

 

$

29,442,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

CO bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, include callable bonds totaling $22.3 billion, and $16.7 billion, respectively. The Bank uses fixed-rate callable debt to finance its assets. Contemporaneous with such a debt issue, the Bank may also enter into an interest-rate swap (in which the Bank pays variable and receives fixed) with a call feature that mirrors the option embedded in the debt (a sold callable swap). The combined sold callable swap and callable debt effectively creates floating-rate funding at rates that are more attractive than other available alternatives.

The discount associated with CO bonds is primarily attributable to zero-coupon callable bonds. The zero-coupon callable bonds are issued at substantial discounts to their par amounts because they have very long terms with no coupon. The Bank has hedged these bonds with interest-rate swaps, resulting in a LIBOR-based funding rate on the original bond proceeds over the life of the bonds.

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments on CO bonds increased by $69.3 million during 2006 due to higher market-interest rates.

69




The following table summarizes CO bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by the earlier of the year of maturity or next call date.

Consolidated Obligation Bonds Outstanding
by Year of Maturity or Next Call Date
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

$

 

$

21,056,805

 

2007

 

26,892,705

 

4,576,505

 

2008

 

5,871,950

 

3,193,200

 

2009

 

2,176,185

 

952,435

 

2010

 

715,770

 

695,770

 

2011

 

569,600

 

185,000

 

Thereafter

 

2,408,000

 

1,930,000

 

Total par value

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

32,589,715

 

 

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms.   The following table details interest-rate-payment terms for CO bonds at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Consolidated Obligation Bonds by
Interest-Rate-Payment Terms
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Fixed-rate bonds

 

$

33,153,210

 

$

28,550,215

 

Step-up bonds

 

795,000

 

434,500

 

Simple variable-rate bonds

 

1,000,000

 

 

Zero-coupon bonds

 

3,686,000

 

3,605,000

 

Total par value

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

32,589,715

 

 

CO DNs are also a significant funding source for the Bank. CO DNs are short-term instruments with maturities up to one year. The Bank uses CO DNs to fund short-term advances, longer-term advances with short repricing intervals, and money-market investments. CO DNs comprised 33.3 percent and 45.3 percent of outstanding COs at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, but accounted for 97.7 percent and 98.3 percent of the proceeds from the issuance of COs as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Much of the CO DN activity reflects the refinancing of overnight CO DNs, which averaged $2.4 billion during the year ended December 31, 2006, up from an average of $2.1 billion during the year ended December 31, 2005.

The significant decrease in DNs outstanding of $6.6 billion at December 31, 2006, compared with December 31, 2005, is partially attributable to the decrease in short-term and overnight advances of $2.4 billion that occurred during 2006. There was also a shift into CO Bonds that have been swapped to LIBOR, which can be used as an alternative to DNs because of their effective short-term net coupon. This shift was due to relatively more favorable spreads in the swapped debt market versus the DN market during the year.

70




The Bank’s outstanding consolidated DNs, all of which are due within one year, were as follows:

Consolidated Discount Notes Outstanding
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Book Value

 

Par Value

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

December 31, 2006

 

$

17,723,515

 

$

17,780,433

 

 

5.11

%

 

December 31, 2005

 

24,339,903

 

24,442,173

 

 

4.10

 

 

 

Average Consolidated Obligations Outstanding
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield

 

Average
Balance

 

Yield

 

Overnight discount notes

 

$

2,399,834

 

 

4.91

%

 

$

2,125,688

 

 

3.01

%

 

$

1,214,203

 

 

1.47

%

 

Term discount notes

 

21,587,566

 

 

4.91

 

 

15,612,578

 

 

3.24

 

 

6,395,180

 

 

1.43

 

 

Total discount notes

 

23,987,400

 

 

4.91

 

 

17,738,266

 

 

3.22

 

 

7,609,383

 

 

1.44

 

 

Bonds

 

31,301,707

 

 

4.66

 

 

28,374,021

 

 

3.59

 

 

29,793,461

 

 

2.83

 

 

Total consolidated obligations

 

$

55,289,107

 

 

4.76

%

 

$

46,112,287

 

 

3.44

%

 

$

37,402,844

 

 

2.55

%

 

 

The average balances of COs for the year ended December 31, 2006, were higher than the average balances for the year ended December 31, 2005, which is consistent with the increase in total average assets, primarily short-term advances. This CO increase was primarily due to growth in DNs. The average balance of term DNs and overnight DNs increased $6.0 billion and $274.1 million, respectively, from the prior period. Average balances of bonds increased $2.9 billion from the prior period. The average balance of DNs represented approximately 43.4 percent of total average COs during the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared with 38.5 percent of total average COs during the year ended December 31, 2005, and the average balance of bonds represented 56.6 percent and 61.5 percent of total average COs outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Although the Bank is primarily liable for its portion of COs, that is, those issued on its behalf, the Bank is also jointly and severally liable with the other 11 FHLBanks for the payment of principal and interest on COs issued by all of the FHLBanks. The par amounts of the FHLBank’s outstanding COs, including COs held by other FHLBanks, was $952.0 billion and $937.5 billion at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. COs are backed only by the combined financial resources of the 12 FHLBanks. COs are not obligations of the U.S. government, and the U.S. government does not guarantee them. Moody’s has rated COs Aaa/P-1, and S&P has rated them AAA/A-1+. The Bank has not paid any obligations on behalf of the other FHLBanks during the years ended 2006 and 2005.

The FHLBank Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, at his or her discretion, to purchase COs of the FHLBanks aggregating not more than $4 billion under certain conditions. The terms, conditions, and interest rates are determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. There were no such purchases by the U.S. Treasury during the two years ended December 31, 2006.

Deposits

The Bank offers demand and overnight deposits, custodial mortgage accounts, and term deposits to its members. Deposit programs are intended to provide members a low-risk earning asset that satisfies

71




liquidity requirements. Deposit balances depend on members’ need to place excess liquidity and can fluctuate significantly. Due to the relatively small size of the Bank’s deposit base and the unpredictable nature of member demand for deposits, the Bank does not rely on deposits as a core component of its funding.

As of December 31, 2006, deposits totaled $1.1 billion compared with $602.1 million at December 31, 2005, an increase of $521.9 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.

For the years ended December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, average demand- and overnight-deposit balances were $583.5 million and $629.6 million, respectively, and the average rate paid was 4.62 percent and 2.72 percent, respectively.

The following table presents term deposits issued in amounts of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2006 and 2005:

Term Deposits Greater Than $100,000
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Term Deposits by Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months or less

 

$

3,000

 

 

5.09

%

 

$

2,000

 

 

2.72

%

 

Over three through six months

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

2.73

 

 

Over six months through 12 months

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

2.42

 

 

Greater than 12 months(1)

 

26,300

 

 

4.18

 

 

20,000

 

 

4.71

 

 

Total par value

 

$

29,300

 

 

4.27

%

 

$

24,000

 

 

4.37

%

 


(1)          Represents nine 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 board of directors of the Bank may, but is not required to, declare and pay noncumulative dividends in cash, stock, or a combination thereof. Dividends may only be paid from current net earnings or previously retained earnings. See Item 5—Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for additional information regarding the Bank’s dividends.

Regulatory Capital Requirements.   The Bank is subject to risk-based capital rules established by the Finance Board. Only permanent capital, defined as retained earnings plus Class B stock, can satisfy the risk-based capital requirement.

72




The Bank was in compliance with these requirements through 2005 and 2006 and remains in compliance at December 31, 2006, as noted in the following table.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Permanent capital

 

 

 

 

 

Class B stock

 

$

2,342,517

 

$

2,531,145

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

12,354

 

8,296

 

Retained earnings

 

187,304

 

135,086

 

Permanent capital

 

$

2,542,175

 

$

2,674,527

 

Risk-based capital requirement

 

 

 

 

 

Credit-risk capital

 

$

143,964

 

$

150,938

 

Market-risk capital

 

119,384

 

133,763

 

Operations-risk capital

 

79,004

 

85,410

 

Risk-based capital requirement

 

$

342,352

 

$

370,111

 

 

The Bank’s market-risk-based capital decreased by $14.4 million to $119.4 million as of December 31, 2006, from $133.8 million as of December 31, 2005. As discussed in Part II Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Measurement of Market and Interest Rate Risk, during the second quarter of 2006, the Bank implemented two modeling changes that provide a more accurate assessment of market-risk exposure. Had the new market-risk model methodology been used at December 31, 2005, the Bank’s market-risk-based capital would have been $118.1 million.

In addition to the risk-based capital requirements, the GLB Act 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 following the implementation of its new capital structure, and remained in compliance at December 31, 2006.

The following table provides the Bank’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Capital Ratio Requirements
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Capital ratio

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum capital (4% of total assets)

 

$

2,298,791

 

$

2,308,001

 

Actual capital (capital stock plus retained earnings)

 

2,542,175

 

2,674,527

 

Total assets

 

57,469,781

 

57,700,034

 

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

 

4.4

%

4.6

%

Leverage ratio

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum leverage capital (5% of total assets)

 

$

2,873,489

 

$

2,885,002

 

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

 

3,813,262

 

4,011,791

 

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

 

6.6

%

7.0

%

 

The Bank targets an operating range of 4.0 percent to 5.5 percent for the capital ratio. In general, due to the member stock-purchase requirements, which are based on member activity with the Bank, as

73




member assets increase and decrease, the Bank’s capital stock will increase and decrease by a proportionate amount.

Derivative Instruments

The Bank adopted SFAS 133, on January 1, 2001. The Bank’s derivative transactions are recorded on the statements of condition at fair value, netted by counterparty where the legal right of offset exists. If these netted amounts are positive, they are recorded as an asset; if negative, they are recorded as a liability. The Bank bases the estimated fair values of these agreements on the cost of interest-rate-exchange agreements with similar terms or available market prices. Consequently, fair values for these instruments must be estimated using techniques such as discounted cash-flow analysis and comparison to similar instruments. Estimates developed using these methods are highly subjective and require judgments regarding significant matters such as the amount and timing of future cash flows and the selection of discount rates that appropriately reflect market and credit risks. The Bank formally establishes hedging relationships associated with balance-sheet items to obtain economic results. These hedge relationships may include fair-value and cash-flow hedges, as designated under SFAS 133, as well as economic hedges.

The Bank had commitments for which it was obligated to purchase mortgage loans with par values totaling $6.6 million and $7.3 million at December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, respectively. Under SFAS 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.

SFAS 133 requires that 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 totaled $128.4 million and $45.4 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Derivative liabilities’ net fair value totaled $120.6 million and $255.9 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

As part of the Bank’s hedging activities as of December 31, 2006, the Bank had entered into derivative contracts with its members in which the Bank acts as an intermediary between the member and a derivative counterparty. Effective February 16, 2007, the Bank 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 certain affiliates 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 members to enter into such contracts.

Outstanding Derivative Contracts with Members and Affiliates of Bank Members
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Primary

 

Notional

 

% of Notional

 

Derivatives Counterparty

 

 

 

Affiliate Member

 

Relationship

 

Outstanding

 

Outstanding

 

Bank of America NA

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, NA

 

 

Dealer

 

 

 

$

1,567,350

 

 

 

5.13

%

 

Royal Bank of Scotland, PLC

 

Citizens Financial Group(1)

 

 

Dealer

 

 

 

982,500

 

 

 

3.22

 

 

Auburn Savings Bank

 

Auburn Savings Bank

 

 

Member

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0.03

 

 

 


(1)          Citizens Financial Group, a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, is the holding company of five of the Bank’s members: Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens Bank of Connecticut, and RBS National Bank.

74




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 Item 1—Business—Consolidated Obligations. The Bank’s equity capital resources are governed by the capital plan, which is described in the following “Capital” section.

Liquidity

The Bank strives to maintain the liquidity necessary to meet member credit demands, repay maturing consolidated obligations, meet other obligations and commitments, and respond to significant 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 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 Item 7A—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.

On June 23, 2006, the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance entered into the Federal Home Loan Banks P&I Funding and Contingency Plan Agreement (the Agreement). The FHLBanks and the Office of Finance entered into the Agreement in response to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System revising its Policy Statement on Payments System Risk (the Revised Policy) concerning the disbursement by the Federal Reserve Banks of interest and principal payments on securities issued by GSEs. The FHLBanks and the Office of Finance entered into the Agreement to facilitate timely funding by the FHLBanks of the principal and interest payments under their respective COs, as made through the Office of Finance, in accordance with the Revised Policy.

Under the Agreement, in the event the Bank does not fund its principal and interest payments under a CO by deadlines agreed upon by the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance, 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 is then required to repay the other FHLBank.

75




Capital

Total capital as of December 31, 2006, was $2.5 billion, a 5.4 percent decrease from $2.7 billion as of December 31, 2005. Total capital as of December 31, 2005, at $2.7 billion, represented an increase of 22.9 percent from the $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2004.

The Bank’s ability to expand in response to member-credit needs is based primarily on the capital-stock requirements for advances. A member is required to increase its capital-stock investment in the Bank as its outstanding advances increase. The capital-stock requirement for advances is currently:

·       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.

The Bank’s minimum capital-to-assets leverage limit is currently 4.0 percent based on Finance Board 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.

During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Bank repurchased $356.1 million of excess capital stock. All such repurchases were completed after determining that the Bank would remain in compliance with its minimum regulatory capital requirements after making such repurchases.

The Bank can also contract its balance-sheet and liquidity requirements in response to members’ reduced credit needs. As member- credit needs result in reduced advance and mortgage-loan balances, the member will have 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. In May 2006, the Bank implemented an ESRP to help it manage its leverage by reducing the amount of excess capital stock held by members. See Item 1—Capital Resources for a discussion on the program. The Bank may also, at its sole discretion, repurchase shares of excess stock upon request by members. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Bank made repurchases of excess capital stock in five months totaling $366.3 million.

Members may submit a written request for redemption of excess capital stock. The stock subject to the 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. Also subject to a five-year stock-redemption period are shares of stock held by a member that either gives notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or becomes a nonmember due to merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination of membership. At December 31, 2006, $12.4 million of capital stock was subject to a five-year stock-redemption period, and it is anticipated that $7.0 million of these shares will be redeemed by 2009, $103,000 to be redeemed in 2010, and $5.3 million to be redeemed in 2011. At December 31, 2005, $8.3 million of capital stock was subject to a five-year stock-redemption period, and it was anticipated that $7.9 million of these shares would be redeemed by 2009 and an additional $398,000 was anticipated to be redeemed in 2010.

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 GLB Act.

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At December 31, 2006 and 2005, members and nonmembers with capital stock outstanding held $203.0 million and $353.0 million, respectively, in excess capital stock. A member may obtain redemption of excess capital stock following a five-year redemption period, subject to certain conditions, by providing a written redemption notice to the Bank. At its discretion, under certain conditions, the Bank may repurchase excess stock at any time before the five-year redemption period has expired by providing a member with written notice. While historically the Bank has repurchased excess stock at the member’s request prior to the expiration of the redemption period, the decision to repurchase remains at the Bank’s discretion.

Provisions of the Bank’s capital plan are more fully discussed in Note 14 to the Bank’s 2006 Financial Statements.

Retained Earnings Target.   In February 2007, the Bank’s board of directors adopted a revised targeted minimum retained earnings level of the greater of: $171 million, or the required amount as periodically measured by the Bank’s internal retained earnings model, to be achieved by December 31, 2007, based on strategic growth assumptions and market-rate forecasts. This new target is remeasured periodically based on projected changes to the Bank’s balance-sheet composition and on projected market conditions as of December 31, 2007. To the extent that the periodically measured retained earnings requirement as of December 31, 2007, remains below $171 million, the targeted minimum retained earnings level is $171 million. If the periodically measured retained earnings requirement as of December 31, 2007 exceeds, $171 million, then the remeasured value becomes the new requirement until such time as a subsequent remeasurement falls below $171 million. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank had retained earnings of $187.3 million, and its retained earnings model projected a required retained earnings minimum of $159.0 million as of December 31, 2007.

The Bank’s retained earnings target could be superseded by Finance Board 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. The Bank will continue its initiative to grow retained earnings and may reduce its dividend payout, as considered necessary.

Capital Requirements

The FHLBank Act and Finance Board 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 Board has indicated that mandatorily redeemable capital stock is considered capital for regulatory purposes. At December 31, 2006, 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 $342.4 million, which was satisfied by the Bank’s permanent capital of $2.5 billion. Permanent capital is defined as total capital stock outstanding, including mandatorily redeemable capital stock, plus retained earnings. At December 31, 2005, 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 $370.1 million, which was more than satisfied by the Bank’s permanent capital of $2.7 billion.

The Bank’s capital requirements are more fully discussed in Note 14 to the Bank’s 2006 Financial Statements.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

Commitments that legally bind and obligate the Bank for additional advances totaled approximately $76.4 million and $71.2 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Commitments generally are for periods up to 12 months. Standby letters of credit are executed with members for a fee. If the Bank is required to make a payment for a beneficiary’s draw, these amounts are immediately converted into a

77




collateralized advance to the member. Outstanding standby letters of credit were approximately $1.8 billion (face amount) and $117.6 million (face amount) at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and had original terms of two months to 20 years with a final expiration in 2024. The values of the guarantees related to standby letters of credit entered into after 2002 are recorded in other liabilities and totaled $579,000 and $37,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Based on management’s credit analyses and collateral requirements, the Bank does not deem it necessary to record any additional liability on these standby letters of credit.

Commitments for unused lines-of-credit advances totaled $1.5 billion for both December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005. Commitments are generally for periods up to 12 months. Since many of the commitments are not expected to be drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

The Bank enters 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 marketing agent can find a suitable investor or the housing authority repurchases the bond according to a schedule established by the standby agreement. Each standby agreement dictates the specific terms under which the Bank would be required to purchase the bond. The bond-purchase commitments entered into by the Bank expire after five years, no later than 2011. Total commitments for bond purchases were $537.3 million and $554.0 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Bank was not required to purchase any bonds under these agreements through December 31, 2006.

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 Item 1—Business—Assessments section for additional information regarding REFCorp and AHP assessments.

Contractual Obligations.   The following table presents contractual obligations of the Bank as of December 31, 2006.

Contractual Obligations As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Payment due by period

 

Contractual Obligations

 

 

 

Total

 

Less than
one year

 

One to three
years

 

Three to
five years

 

More than
five years

 

Long-term debt obligations(1)

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

14,211,705

 

$

12,703,135

 

$

2,925,370

 

$

8,794,000

 

Operating lease obligations

 

22,096

 

3,662

 

7,342

 

7,359

 

3,733

 

Purchase obligations(2)

 

2,413,020

 

2,413,020

 

 

 

 

Members’ unused lines of credit(3)

 

1,482,270

 

1,482,270

 

 

 

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

12,354

 

 

6,998

 

5,356

 

 

Consolidated obligations traded not settled

 

529,781

 

29,781

 

500,000

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

 

$

43,093,731

 

$

18,140,438

 

$

13,217,475

 

$

2,938,085

 

$

8,797,733

 


(1)          Includes CO bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006, at par value.

(2)          Includes standby letters of credit, unconditional commitments for advances, standby bond-purchase agreements, and commitments to fund/purchase mortgage loans.

(3)          Many of the members’ unused lines of credit are not expected to be drawn upon, and therefore the commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make a number of judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities (if applicable), and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reported periods. Although management believes these judgments, estimates, and assumptions to be reasonably accurate, actual results may differ.

The Bank has identified four accounting policies that it believes are critical because they require management to make subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain, and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. These policies include accounting for derivatives, the use of fair-value estimates, accounting for deferred premiums and discounts on prepayable assets, and the allowance for loan losses. The Bank’s audit committee of the board of directors has reviewed these policies.

Accounting for Derivatives

Derivative instruments are required to be carried at fair value on the statement of condition. Any change in the fair value of a derivative is required to be recorded each period in current period earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction. All of the Bank’s derivatives are either: 1) inherent to another activity, such as forward commitments to purchase mortgage loans under the MPF program, or 2) derivative contracts structured to offset some or all of the risk exposure inherent in its member-lending, mortgage-purchase, investment, and funding activities. Under SFAS 133, the Bank is required to recognize unrealized losses or gains on derivative positions, regardless of whether offsetting gains or losses on the underlying assets or liabilities being hedged are permitted to be recognized in a symmetrical manner. Therefore, the accounting framework imposed by SFAS 133 introduces the potential for considerable income variability. Specifically, a mismatch can exist between the timing of income and expense recognition from assets or liabilities and the income effects of derivative instruments positioned to mitigate market risk and cash-flow variability. Therefore, during periods of significant changes in interest rates and other market factors, the Bank’s reported earnings may exhibit considerable variability. The Bank emphasizes hedging techniques that are effective under the hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133. However, not all of the Bank’s hedging relationships meet the hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133. In some cases, the Bank has elected to retain or enter into derivatives that are economically effective at reducing risk but do not meet the hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133, either because the cost of the hedge was economically superior to nonderivative hedging alternatives or because no nonderivative hedging alternative was available. As required by Finance Board regulation and Bank policy, derivative instruments that do not qualify as hedging instruments pursuant to GAAP may be used only if the Bank documents a nonspeculative purpose.

A hedging relationship is created from the designation of a derivative financial instrument as either hedging the Bank’s exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset, liability, or unrecognized firm commitment, or changes in future variable cash flows attributable to a recognized asset or liability or forecasted transaction. Fair-value hedge accounting allows for the offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged risk in the hedged item to also be recorded in current period earnings. In many hedging relationships that use the shortcut method, the Bank may designate the hedging relationship upon its commitment to disburse an advance or trade a CO bond that settles within the shortest period of time possible for the type of instrument based on market settlement conventions. The Bank defines market-settlement conventions to be five business days or less for advances and 30 calendar days or less, using a next business day convention, for CO bonds. In such circumstances, although the advance or CO bond will not be recognized in the financial statements until settlement date, we believe it meets the criteria for

79




applying the shortcut method. We then record changes in the fair value of the derivative and hedged item beginning on trade date.

If the hedge does not meet the criteria for shortcut accounting, it is treated as a “long-haul” fair-value hedge, where the change in fair value of the hedged item must be measured separately from the derivative and effectiveness testing must be performed with results falling within established tolerances. If the hedge fails effectiveness testing, the hedge no longer qualifies for hedge accounting and the derivative is marked through current-period earnings without any offset related to the hedged item.

For derivative transactions that potentially qualify for long-haul fair-value hedge-accounting treatment, management must assess how effective the derivatives have been, and are expected to be, in hedging changes in the estimated fair values of the hedged items attributable to the risks being hedged. Hedge-effectiveness testing is performed at the inception of the hedging relationship and on an ongoing basis. The Bank performs testing at hedge inception based on regression analysis of the hypothetical performance of the hedge relationship using historical market data. The Bank then performs regression testing on an ongoing basis using accumulated actual values in conjunction with hypothetical values. Specifically, each month the Bank uses a consistently applied statistical methodology that uses a sample of at least 31 historical interest-rate environments and includes an R-square test, a slope test, and an F-statistic test. These tests measure the degree of correlation of movements in estimated fair values between the derivative and the related hedged item. For the hedging relationship to be considered effective, the R-square must be greater than 0.8, the slope must be between -0.8 and -1.25, and the computed F-test significance must be less than 0.05.

Given that a derivative qualifies for long-haul fair-value hedge-accounting treatment, the most important element of effectiveness testing is the price sensitivity of the derivative and the hedged item in response to changes in interest rates and volatility as expressed by their effective durations. The effective duration will be affected mostly by the final maturity and any option characteristics. In general, the shorter the effective duration, the more likely it is that effectiveness testing would fail. This is because, given a relatively short duration, the LIBOR leg of the swap is a relatively important component of the monthly change in the derivative’s estimated fair value, and there is no offsetting LIBOR leg in the hedged item. In this circumstance, the slope criterion is the more likely factor to cause the effectiveness test to fail.

The fair values of the derivatives and hedged items do not have any cumulative economic effect if the derivative and the hedged item are held to maturity, or mutual optional termination at par. Since these fair values fluctuate throughout the hedge period and eventually return to par value on the maturity date, the effect of fair values is normally only a timing issue.

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For derivative instruments and hedged items that meet the requirement of SFAS 133 as described above, the Bank does not anticipate any significant impact on its financial condition or operating performance. For derivative instruments where no identified hedged item qualifies for hedge accounting under SFAS 133, changes in the market value of the derivative are reflected in monthly income. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank held derivatives that are marked to market with no offsetting SFAS 133-qualifying hedged item including (in notional amounts); $150.0 million notional of interest-rate swaptions where the Bank owns the right to receive a fixed rate; $466.0 million notional of interest-rate caps and floors; $172.5 million notional of interest-rate swaps where the Bank pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate; and $6.6 million notional of mortgage-delivery commitments. The total fair value of these positions as of December 31, 2006, was an unrealized loss of $106,000. The following table shows the estimated differences in the fair value of these derivatives under alternative parallel interest-rate shifts:

Change in Fair Value of Undesignated Derivatives
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

–100 basis
points

 

–50 basis
points

 

+50 basis
points

 

+100 basis
points

 

Change from base case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate swaptions

 

 

$

1,292

 

 

$

8

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

Interest-rate caps, floors, and swaps

 

 

(2,721

)

 

(1,297

)

 

1,163

 

 

 

2,250

 

 

Total change from base case

 

 

$

(1,429

)

 

$

(1,289

)

 

$

1,163

 

 

 

$

2,250

 

 

 

The fair values of these derivatives are intended to offset potential rapid increases in amortization of deferred premiums on prepayable assets and the change in market value of trading account securities. Bank projections of changes in value of the derivatives have been consistent with actual market conditions. For the balance-sheet risks that these derivatives hedge, changes in value historically have been directionally consistent with changes in actual market conditions.

Fair-Value Estimates

Certain of the Bank’s assets and liabilities, including investments classified as available-for-sale and trading, and all derivatives, are presented on the statement of condition at fair value. Under GAAP, the fair value of an asset, liability, or derivative is the amount at which that asset could be bought or sold, or that liability could be incurred or settled in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in liquidation. Fair values play an important role in the valuation of certain Bank assets, liabilities, and derivative transactions. 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 a loss.

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.

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While the Bank has not yet adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), management classifies the fair values into one of the following levels:

Level 1:

 

Reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:

 

Reflect (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or (b) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly, or (c) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or (d) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3:

 

Reflect unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

 

The fair values for the Bank’s derivatives portfolio, hedged items in which the hedged risk is the risk of changes in fair value attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR interest rate, and investments classified as available-for-sale and trading are calculated internally by our Risk Management Department.

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 which 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.

Fair values of investments 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, whereby the Bank attempts to obtain values from multiple securities dealers and uses the average of given spreads or values.

Deferred Premium/Discount Associated with Prepayable Assets

When the Bank purchases MBS, it often pays an amount that is different than the unpaid principal balance. The difference between the purchase price and the contractual note amount is a premium if the purchase price is higher, and a discount if the purchase price is lower. SFAS 91 establishes accounting guidance that permits the Bank to amortize (or accrete) these premiums (or discounts) in a manner such that the yield recognized on the underlying asset is constant over the asset’s estimated life.

The Bank typically pays more than the unpaid principal balances when the interest rates on the purchased mortgages are greater than prevailing market rates for similar mortgages on the transaction date. The net purchase premiums paid in accordance with SFAS 91 are then amortized using the constant-effective-yield method over the expected lives of the mortgages as a reduction in their book yields (that is, interest income). Similarly, if the Bank pays less than the unpaid principal balances due to interest rates on the purchased mortgages being lower than prevailing market rates on similar mortgages on the transaction date, the net discount is accreted in the same manner as the premiums, resulting in an increase in the mortgages’ book yields. The constant-effective-yield amortization method is applied using expected cash

82




flows that incorporate prepayment projections that are based on mathematical models that describe the likely rate of consumer refinancing activity in response to incentives created (or removed) by changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates have the greatest effect on the extent to which mortgages may prepay. When interest rates decline, prepayment speeds are likely to increase, which accelerates the amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts. The opposite occurs when interest rates rise.

The Bank estimates prepayment speeds on each individual security using the most recent three months of historical constant prepayment rates, as available, or may subscribe to third-party data services that provide estimates of cash flows, from which the Bank determines expected asset lives. The constant-effective-yield method uses actual prepayments received and projected future prepayment speeds, as well as scheduled principal payments, to determine the amount of premium/discount that needs to be recognized so that the book yield of each MBS is constant for each month until maturity.

Amortization of mortgage premiums could accelerate in falling interest-rate environments or decelerate in rising interest-rate environments. Exact trends will depend on the relationship between market interest rates and coupon rates on outstanding mortgage assets, the historical evolution of mortgage-interest rates, the age of the mortgage loans, demographic and population trends, and other market factors. Changes in amortization will also depend on the accuracy of prepayment projections compared to actual experience. Prepayment projections are inherently subject to uncertainty because it is difficult to accurately predict future market conditions and difficult to accurately predict the response of borrowing consumers in terms of refinancing activity to future market conditions even if the market conditions were known. In general, lower interest rates are expected to result in the acceleration of premium and discount amortization and accretion, compared to the effect of higher interest rates that would tend to decelerate the amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts.

The effect on net income from the amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on mortgage loans and MBS for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, was a net reduction of income of $3.3 million, $5.4 million, and $26.0 million, respectively.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Advances.   The Bank has experienced no credit losses on advances and management currently does not anticipate any credit losses on advances. Based on the collateral held as security for advances, management’s credit analyses, and prior repayment history, no allowance for losses on advances is deemed necessary. The Bank is required by statute to obtain sufficient collateral on advances to protect against losses, and to accept as collateral on such advances only certain types of qualified collateral, which are primarily U.S. government or government-agency securities, residential mortgage loans, deposits in the Bank, and other real-estate-related assets.

At December 31, 2006, December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, the Bank had rights to collateral, either loans or securities, on a member-by-member basis, with an estimated fair value in excess of outstanding advances. Management believes that policies and procedures are in place to appropriately manage the credit risk associated with advances.

Mortgage Loans.   The Bank purchases both conventional mortgage loans and FHA/VA mortgage loans under the MPF program. FHA/VA loans are government guaranteed and as such, management has determined that no allowance for losses is necessary for such loans. Conventional loans, in addition to having the related real estate as collateral, are also credit enhanced either by qualified collateral pledged by the member, or by SMI purchased by the member. The CE is the PFI’s potential loss in the second-loss position. It absorbs a percentage of realized losses prior to the Bank having to incur an additional credit loss in the third-loss position.

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During 2006, the Bank changed its method for estimating the allowance for loan losses on its portfolio of conventional MPF loans. Under the new estimation methodology, the allowance estimates probable incurred losses that are inherent in the portfolio, but have not yet been realized. The allowance for the Bank’s conventional loan pools is based on an analysis of the migration of the Bank’s delinquent loans to default since the inception of the MPF program. The Bank then analyzes the probable loss severity on that portion of the delinquent loans that the migration analysis indicates will default within one year. The combination of these factors, as well as an additional judgmental amount determined by management due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, represents the estimated losses from conventional MPF loans. The Bank then applies the risk-mitigating features of the MPF program to the estimated loss. Upon adoption of the new estimation methodology in December of 2006, the Bank reduced the allowance for loan losses by $1.6 million.

Prior to 2006, management’s method for estimating the allowance for loan losses was based on a comparison to peer data, such as loan loss allowance levels maintained by Freddie Mac and historical loss experience for similarly rated MBS. This estimation methodology had been used since the inception of the MPF loan-purchase program by the Bank, which began in 1999, and had been used because MPF was a relatively new lending program and the Bank had limited loss history specific to its own loan portfolio. Management believes that the Bank’s MPF loan portfolio is now sufficiently seasoned to allow the Bank to reasonably estimate probable losses based on its own actual loss experience.

The process of determining the allowance for loan losses requires a high degree of judgment. It is possible that others, given the same information, may at any point in time reach different reasonable conclusions. Due to variability in the data underlying the assumptions made in the process of determining the allowance for loan losses, estimates of the portfolio’s inherent risks will adjust as warranted by changes in the level of delinquency in the portfolio and changes in the economy, particularly the residential mortgage market and fluctuations in house prices. The Bank periodically reviews general economic conditions to determine if the loan-loss reserve is adequate in view of economic or other risk factors that may affect markets in which the Bank’s mortgage loans are located. The degree to which any particular change would affect the allowance for loan losses would depend on the severity of the change.

As of December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, the allowance for loan losses on the conventional mortgage-loan portfolio stood at $125,000 and $1.8 million, respectively. The allowance reflects the Bank’s understanding of probable incurred losses inherent in the MPF portfolio as of December 31, 2006 and 2005.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140 (SFAS 155). In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 155, which resolves issues addressed in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets (DIG Issue D1). SFAS 155 amends SFAS 133 to simplify the accounting for certain derivatives embedded in other financial instruments (hybrid financial instruments) by permitting fair-value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise required bifurcation, provided that the entire hybrid financial instrument is accounted for on a fair-value basis. SFAS 155 also establishes the requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, which replaces the interim guidance in DIG Issue D1. SFAS 155 amends SFAS 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities—a replacement of FASB Statement 125 (SFAS 140) to allow a qualifying special-purpose entity to hold a derivative financial instrument that pertains to beneficial interests other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after September 15,

84




2006 (January 1, 2007, for the Bank), and did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition upon adoption.

DIG Issue B40, Application of Paragraph 13(b) to Securitized Interest in Prepayable Financial Assets (DIG B40). On December 20, 2006, the FASB issued DIG B40 which clarifies when a securitized interest in prepayable financial assets is subject to the conditions in paragraph 13(b) of SFAS 133. DIG B40 becomes effective upon initial adoption of SFAS 155 (January 1, 2007, for the Bank) and did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition upon adoption.

SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, which establishes a formal framework for measuring fair value. This statement defines fair value and provides guidance on the appropriate valuation techniques established to determine fair value. This standard requires increased disclosures regarding the prioritization of valuations assigned to fair-value measurements by requiring the Bank to assign one of three possible priority levels to each valuation made for items recorded at fair value on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (January 1, 2008, for the Bank), with earlier adoption allowed as long as the standard is adopted for the first financial statements issued in the fiscal year of adoption. We have not yet determined the effect that the implementation of SFAS 157 will have on our results of operations or financial condition.

SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132 (R) (SFAS 158). In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158, which requires an employer to recognize the entire funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan on its balance sheet. This statement requires an entity’s calculated projected benefit obligation to be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet. The over- or under-funded status of a plan represents plan gains, losses, prior service costs, and transition items, and is recorded in other comprehensive income. This statement also requires the measurement of plan assets and benefit obligations to be made at the entity’s fiscal yearend. This statement does not apply to multi-employer defined benefit postretirement plans such as the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan in which the Bank participates. Only single-employer defined benefit postretirement plans, including the Bank’s supplemental retirement plan, are impacted. The Bank has adopted the provisions of this statement as of December 31, 2006, and it did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of financial condition upon adoption. See Note 15—Employee Retirement Plans for additional information regarding the adoption of SFAS 158.

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 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 financial position. 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), with early adoption permitted. We have not yet determined the effect that the implementation of SFAS 159 will have on our results of operations or financial condition.

SAB No. 108. In September 2006, the SEC released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). SAB 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a misstatement. The SEC staff believes that registrants should quantify errors using both a balance sheet and an income statement approach and

85




evaluate whether either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. SAB 108 is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006 (the year ending December 31, 2006 for the Bank), with earlier application encouraged for any interim period of the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006, filed after the publication of SAB 108. The initial application of SAB 108 in 2006 did not have an impact on the Bank’s results of operations or financial condition.

RECENT LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

Finance Board adopts a process for appointing public interest directors

On January 18, 2007, the Finance Board adopted an interim final rule establishing procedures for the selection of appointed directors to the boards of the FHLBanks. Under the rule, the FHLBanks are responsible for identifying potential directors, conducting a preliminary assessment of their eligibility and qualifications, and submitting two nominees for each vacant appointive directorship to the Finance Board for its consideration. The nominations must be accompanied by a completed eligibility form that demonstrates the qualifications of each nominee to serve on the board of an FHLBank. The Finance Board will review each nomination and decide whether to appoint directors from the submitted list of nominees. If the Finance Board declines to appoint any of the nominees, it will require the FHLBank to submit additional nominees for consideration. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank had six vacant directorships that are subject to being filled based on the Finance Board’s adopted process. We cannot predict if or when the Finance Board will complete the appointment of directors to these vacant directorships. Further, the Finance Board has asked for comments on this interim final rule, so it is possible that further changes may be made.

Proposed changes to GSE regulation

Congress may enact legislation that is designed to strengthen the regulation of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLBanks and to address other GSE reform issues. It is impossible to predict whether any provisions relating to the Finance Board and the FHLBanks will be included in any such legislation and what such provisions may be. It is further impossible to predict whether the House of Representatives and the Senate will approve such legislation and whether any such change in regulatory structure will be signed into law. Finally, it is impossible to predict when any such change would go into effect if it were to be enacted, and what effect the legislation would ultimately have on the Finance Board or the FHLBanks.

Finance Board adopts final rule limiting excess stock

On December 22, 2006, the Finance Board adopted a final rule prohibiting FHLBanks from issuing new excess stock to their members if the amount of member excess stock exceeds one percent of the FHLBank’s assets. The final rule became effective on January 29, 2007. Under the rule, any FHLBank with excess stock greater than one percent of its total assets will be prevented from further increasing member excess stock by paying stock dividends or otherwise issuing new excess stock. Also included in the final rule is a provision requiring the FHLBanks to declare and pay dividends only out of known income. The Bank currently does not have outstanding excess stock greater than one percent of total assets, and pays cash, rather than stock dividends. Additionally, it is the Bank’s practice to only declare and pay dividends after net income for each quarterly period has been determined. Accordingly, we do not believe the final rule will have a material impact on the Bank’s results of operations or financial condition. Previously, the Finance Board had issued a proposed rule that would have established minimum levels of retained earnings for the FHLBanks. While the provisions regarding minimum levels of retained earnings were not carried forward into the final rule, it is possible that the Finance Board may take up the matter in a subsequent rulemaking. It is not possible to predict what form such a rule may take or how, if at all, it would affect the Bank.

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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 Board authorizes the Finance Board 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 $952.0 billion at December 30, 2006, and $937.5 billion at December 31, 2005.

Some of the FHLBanks have been the subject of regulatory actions pursuant to which their boards of directors and/or management have agreed with the Office of Supervision of the Finance Board to, among other things, maintain higher levels of capital. While supervisory agreements generally are publicly announced by the Finance Board, 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 January 12, 2007, the FHLBank of Seattle announced that the Finance Board had terminated the written agreement that was entered into on December 10, 2004. The FHLBank of Seattle attributed the termination of the written agreement to its “full compliance with the terms of the agreement and the significant progress the bank has made in implementing its business and capital management plan.” However, the FHLBank of Seattle must seek approval of the Finance Board prior to declaring or paying dividends until further notice. The FHLBank of Chicago continues to operate under its written agreement with the Finance Board.

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S&P has downgraded two of the FHLBanks’ individual long-term credit ratings from AAA to AA+. On September 21, 2006, S&P announced a number of rating actions relative to the FHLBanks. The rating agency upgraded the individual long-term credit rating of the FHLBank of New York from AA+ to AAA with a stable outlook, revised the outlooks on the long-term ratings of the FHLBanks of Dallas and Pittsburgh from negative to stable, and removed the long-term rating of the FHLBank of Des Moines from Credit Watch Negative. S&P maintains a negative outlook on the long-term rating of the FHLBank of Des Moines. On November 7, 2006, S&P revised the outlook on the long-term rating of the FHLBank of Indianapolis from negative to stable. On January 19, 2007, S&P revised the outlook on the long-term rating of the FHLBank of Seattle from negative to stable. Moody’s has not downgraded any FHLBanks’ individual long-term credit ratings from Aaa with a stable outlook. Changes in FHLBank individual long-term credit ratings do not necessarily affect the credit rating of the COs issued on behalf of the FHLBanks. Rating agencies may from time to time change a rating because of various factors, including operating results or actions taken, business developments, or changes in their opinion regarding, among other things, the general outlook for a particular industry or the economy. In addition, the Bank cannot provide assurance that rating agencies will not reduce the Bank’s ratings or those of the FHLBank System or any other FHLBank in the future. The following table provides a summary of each FHLBanks’ credit ratings from S&P and Moody’s:

Federal Home Loan Banks
Long-Term and Short-Term Credit Ratings
As of February 28, 2007

 

 

S&P

 

Moody’s

 

 

 

Long-Term/
Short-Term
Rating

 

Outlook

 

Long-Term/
Short-Term
Rating

 

Outlook

 

FHLBank of Atlanta

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Boston

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Chicago

 

AA+/A-1+

 

Negative

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Cincinnati

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Dallas

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Des Moines

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Negative

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Indianapolis

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of New York

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Pittsburgh

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of San Francisco

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Seattle(1)

 

AA+/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

FHLBank of Topeka

 

AAA/A-1+

 

Stable

 

 

Aaa/P-1

 

 

 

Stable

 

 

 


(1)     At December 31, 2006, the outlook for the FHLBank of Seattle was negative. On January 19, 2007, S&P revised its outlook on the FHLBank of Seattle to stable from negative.

The Bank has evaluated the known regulatory actions and individual long-term credit-rating downgrades as of February 28, 2007, and as of each period-end presented, has determined that they have not materially increased the possibility that the Bank will be required by the Finance Board to repay any principal or interest associated with COs for which the Bank is not the primary obligor.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Bank has a comprehensive risk-governance structure. The Bank’s Risk-Management Policy identifies six 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 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.

·       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 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 Finance Committee of the board of directors provides 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.

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·       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 minimizes credit risk on advances by holding sufficient collateral to protect itself from losses. The Bank has never experienced a credit loss on an advance. Based upon the collateral held as security on advances and the Bank’s prior repayment history, the Bank does not believe that an allowance for losses on advances is necessary at this time.

The Bank closely monitors the financial condition of all members by reviewing publicly available financial data, such as regulatory call reports, 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’s Credit Department 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. Under the blanket-lien status, the Bank allows a member to retain 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. Under listing-collateral status, the member retains possession of eligible mortgage-loan collateral, however, the Bank requires the member to specifically list this 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 or its safekeeping agent. 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.

Additionally, borrowing members in blanket-lien and listing-collateral status typically 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. The Bank may conduct an on-site collateral review at any time.

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 priority under otherwise

90




applicable law and are held by actual purchasers or by parties that are secured by actual perfected security interests.

Advances outstanding to members in blanket-lien status at December 31, 2006, totaled $36.7 billion. For these members, the Bank had access to collateral through security agreements, where the member agrees to hold such collateral for the benefit of the Bank, totaling more than $67.1 billion as of December 31, 2006. Of this total, $12.7 billion of securities have been delivered to the Bank or to a third-party custodian, an additional $4.2 billion of securities are held by members’ securities corporations, and $11.3 billion of residential mortgage loans have been pledged by members’ real-estate-investment trusts. Additionally, all nonmember borrowers and housing associates are placed in delivery-collateral status.

The following table provides information regarding advances outstanding with members and nonmember borrowers in listing- and delivery-collateral status at December 31, 2006, along with their corresponding collateral balances.

Advances Outstanding by Borrower Collateral Status
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Number of
Borrowers

 

Advances
Outstanding

 

Collateral

 

Listing-collateral status

 

 

15

 

 

 

$

239,487

 

 

$

457,621

 

Delivery-collateral status

 

 

14

 

 

 

424,865

 

 

509,647

 

Total par value

 

 

29

 

 

 

$

664,352

 

 

$

967,268

 

 

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 A on an unsecured basis for terms of up to 270 days; most such placements expire within 90 days. Management actively monitors the credit quality of these counterparties. At December 31, 2006, the Bank’s unsecured credit exposure, including accrued interest related to investment securities and money-market instruments was $4.4 billion to 24 counterparties and issuers, of which $2.6 billion was for federal funds sold, and $1.8 billion was for other unsecured investments. As of December 31, 2006, Credit Suisse represented 13.6 percent of the Bank’s total unsecured credit exposure.

The Bank also invests in and is subject to secured credit risk related to MBS, ABS, and HFA bonds 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 AAA at the time of purchase. HFA bonds must carry a credit rating of AA or higher as of the date of purchase.

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Credit ratings on these investments as of December 31, 2006, are provided in the following table.

Credit Ratings of Investments
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Long-Term Credit Rating(1)

 

Investment Category

 

 

 

AAA

 

AA

 

A

 

Unrated

 

Money-market instruments(2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits

 

$

50

 

$

 

$

940,000

 

$

 

Securities purchased under agreements to
resell(3)

 

 

3,000,000

 

 

250,000

 

Federal funds sold

 

 

1,876,500

 

730,000

 

 

Investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

62,823

 

 

 

 

U.S. government corporations

 

225,615

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

161,471

 

 

 

30,076

 

Other FHLBanks’ bonds

 

14,716

 

 

 

 

International agency obligations

 

382,484

 

 

 

 

State or local housing-agency obligations

 

236,864

 

78,681

 

 

 

MBS issued by government-sponsored enterprises

 

1,318,322

 

 

 

 

MBS issued by private trusts

 

5,864,217

 

 

 

 

ABS backed by home-equity loans

 

70,342

 

 

 

 

Total investments

 

$

8,336,904

 

$

4,955,181

 

$

1,670,000

 

$

280,076

 


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

(2)          The issuer rating is used.

(3)          All securities purchased under agreements to resell are fully collateralized by AAA-rated securities.

Credit Risk—Mortgage Loans.   The Bank is subject to credit risk on purchased mortgage loans acquired through the MPF program. While Bank management believes this risk is appropriately managed through underwriting standards and member CEs, the Bank also maintains an allowance for credit losses. The Bank’s allowance for credit losses pertaining to mortgage loans was $125,000 at December 31, 2006, and $1.8 million at December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2006, nonaccrual loans amounted to $4.8 million and consisted of 69 loans out of a total of approximately 48,500 loans. During 2006, the Bank charged off a total of $14,000 related to mortgage loans foreclosed upon. The Bank had no recoveries from the resolution of loans previously charged off during 2006. The evaluation of the allowance for credit losses pertaining to mortgage loans is based on analysis of the migration rate of delinquent conventional MPF loans to default, the expected loss severity on defaulted loans, and the risk-mitigating features of the MPF program.

The Bank is exposed to credit risk from mortgage-insurance companies that provide CEs in place of the PFI, as well as primary MI coverage on individual loans. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank was the beneficiary of primary MI coverage on $250.0 million of conventional mortgage loans, and the Bank was the beneficiary of SMI coverage on mortgage pools with a total unpaid principal balance of $2.9 billion. Eight mortgage-insurance companies provide all of the coverage under these policies. All of these companies are rated at least AA by S&P and Aa by Moody’s. 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 limit considers the size,

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capital, and financial strength of the insurance company. The following table shows mortgage-insurance companies as of December 31, 2006, with MI coverage greater than 10 percent of total MI coverage.

Mortgage-insurance companies with MI coverage greater than 10% of total MI coverage
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

Mortgage insurance company

 

 

 

MI Coverage

 

Percent of Total
MI Coverage

 

United Guaranty Residential Insurance Corporation

 

 

$

21,500

 

 

 

28.4

%

 

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation

 

 

20,132

 

 

 

26.6

 

 

Genworth Mortgage Insurance Corporation

 

 

11,645

 

 

 

15.4

 

 

 

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. Also, the Bank uses master-netting agreements to reduce its credit exposure from counterparty defaults. The Bank enters into master-netting agreements for interest-rate-exchange agreements only with member institutions in cases where the master-netting agreements are subject to a one-way collateral provision in which the Bank is the sole secured party and the Bank is fully secured. The Bank enters into master-netting agreements for interest-rate-exchange agreements only with nonmember institutions that have long-term senior unsecured credit ratings that are at or above A by S&P and Moody’s. The nonmember agreements generally 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 December 31, 2006, the Bank had two derivative contracts outstanding with one member institution.

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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Derivative Instruments
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Notional
Amount

 

Number of
Counterparties

 

Total Net
Exposure at
Fair Value

 

Net Exposure
after
Collateral

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate-exchange agreements:(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAA

 

$

40,725

 

 

1

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

AA

 

22,761,948

 

 

14

 

 

 

83,210

 

 

 

4,751

 

 

A

 

7,733,930

 

 

4

 

 

 

45,163

 

 

 

296

 

 

Unrated(2)

 

10,000

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest-rate-exchange agreements

 

30,546,603

 

 

20

 

 

 

128,373

 

 

 

5,047

 

 

Mortgage-loan-purchase commitments(3)

 

6,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Derivatives

 

$

30,553,176

 

 

20

 

 

 

$

128,373

 

 

 

$

5,047

 

 

As of December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-rate-exchange agreements:(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAA

 

$

40,725

 

 

1

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

AA

 

13,380,835

 

 

11

 

 

 

162

 

 

 

162

 

 

A

 

11,490,356

 

 

7

 

 

 

45,270

 

 

 

1,360

 

 

Total interest-rate-exchange agreements

 

24,911,916

 

 

19

 

 

 

45,432

 

 

 

1,522

 

 

Mortgage-loan-purchase commitments(3)

 

7,342

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

Forward Contracts

 

5,000

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivatives

 

$

24,924,258

 

 

20

 

 

 

$

45,447

 

 

 

$

1,522

 

 


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

(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.

The notional amount of interest-rate-exchange agreements outstanding totaled $30.6 billion, $24.9 billion, and $19.9 billion at December 31, 2006, December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, respectively. The Bank only enters into interest-rate-exchange agreements with major global financial institutions that are rated A or better by Moody’s or S&P except for derivative contracts with member institutions. The Bank had no interest-rate-exchange agreements outstanding with other FHLBanks as of December 31, 2006.

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the following counterparties represented more than 10 percent of the total notional amount of interest-rate-exchange agreements outstanding (dollars in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

Counterparty

 

 

 

Notional Amount
Outstanding

 

Percent of Total
Notional Outstanding

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank

 

 

$

4,211,530

 

 

 

13.8

%

 

Goldman Sachs Capital Markets LP

 

 

4,047,403

 

 

 

13.3

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

 

3,648,710

 

 

 

11.9

 

 

 

94




 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

Counterparty

 

 

 

Notional Amount
Outstanding

 

Percent of Total
Notional Outstanding

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank

 

 

$

4,393,630

 

 

 

17.6

%

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

 

3,790,310

 

 

 

15.2

 

 

 

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 and DNs.

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 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.

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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 DNs, potential compression in the spread between LIBOR and DN 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 was 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 CO debt 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 December 31, 2006, fixed-rate noncallable debt amounted to $10.7 billion, compared with fixed-rate noncallable debt levels of $9.0 billion at December 31, 2005.

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.

96




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, international agency obligations, and instrumentalities 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 December 31, 2006 and 2005, this portfolio had a value of $764.0 million and $765.3 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 DNs or 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 short-term debt, callable, and non-callable 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 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 December 31, 2006, receiver swaptions totaled $150.0 million (notional).

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,

97




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 December 31, 2006, the Bank had no outstanding TBA hedges.

Swapped Consolidated-Obligation Debt

The Bank may also issue 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 DNs. Total debt used in conjunction with interest-rate-exchange agreements was $22.6 billion, or 58.4 percent of the Bank’s total outstanding CO bonds at December 31, 2006, up from $19.0 billion, or 58.3 percent of outstanding CO bonds, at December 31, 2005.

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 held at fair value. These interest-rate-exchange agreements provide an economic offset to the duration and convexity risks arising from these 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 December 31, 2006 and 2005. The categories “fair value” and “cash flow” represent the hedge classification for transactions that qualify for hedge-accounting treatment in accordance with SFAS 133. The category “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 program.

98




Hedged Item and Hedge-Accounting Treatment
As of December 31, 2006
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge

 

Notional

 

Estimated

 

Hedged Item

 

 

 

Derivative

 

Hedged Risk

 

Designation

 

Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Advances

 

Swaps

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

Fair value

 

$

8,429,974

 

$

3,271

 

 

 

Swaps

 

Overall fair value

 

Economic

 

36,000

 

(219

)

 

 

Caps and Floors

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

Fair value

 

454,800

 

3,842

 

Total associated with advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,920,774

 

6,894

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

Swaps

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

Fair value

 

890,756

 

(92,714

)

Trading securities

 

Swaps

 

Overall fair value

 

Economic

 

136,500

 

137

 

 

 

Caps

 

Overall fair value

 

Economic

 

446,000

 

 

Total associated with trading securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

582,500

 

137

 

Mortgage loans

 

Swaptions

 

Overall fair value

 

Economic

 

150,000

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

Swaps

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

Fair value

 

19,962,573

 

(134,381

)

Deposits

 

Swaps

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

Fair value

 

20,000

 

3,838

 

Member intermediated

 

Caps and Floors

 

Not applicable

 

Not applicable

 

20,000

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,546,603

 

(216,226

)

Mortgage delivery commitments(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,573

 

(24

)

Total derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

30,553,176

 

(216,250

)

Accrued interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

224,062

 

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,812

 

Derivative asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

128,373

 

Derivative liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(120,561

)

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,812

 


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

99




Hedged Item and Hedge-Accounting Treatment
As of December 31, 2005
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge

 

Notional

 

Estimated

 

Hedged Item

 

 

 

Derivative

 

Hedged Risk

 

Designation

 

Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Advances

 

 

Swaps

 

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

 

Fair value

 

 

$

8,069,575

 

 

$

(29,317

)

 

 

 

 

Caps

 

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

 

Fair value

 

 

317,000

 

 

4,172

 

 

Total associated with advances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,386,575

 

 

(25,145

)

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

 

Swaps

 

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

 

Fair value

 

 

890,756

 

 

(120,773

)

 

Trading securities

 

 

Swaps

 

 

Overall fair value

 

 

Economic

 

 

221,500

 

 

(205

)

 

 

 

 

Caps

 

 

Overall fair value

 

 

Economic

 

 

446,000

 

 

1

 

 

Total associated with trading securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

667,500

 

 

(204

)

 

Mortgage loans

 

 

Swaptions

 

 

Overall fair value

 

 

Economic

 

 

525,000

 

 

71

 

 

Consolidated obligations

 

 

Swaps

 

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

 

Fair value

 

 

14,422,085

 

 

(205,434

)

 

Deposits

 

 

Swaps

 

 

Benchmark interest rate

 

 

Fair value

 

 

20,000

 

 

4,584

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,911,916

 

 

(346,901

)

 

Mortgage delivery commitments(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,342

 

 

13

 

 

Forwards Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

(11

)

 

Total derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,924,258

 

 

(346,899

)

 

Accrued interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

136,484

 

 

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(210,415

)

 

Derivative asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

45,447

 

 

Derivative liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(255,862

)

 

Net derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(210,415

)

 

 

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. 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;

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·       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 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. 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 December 31, 2006, and 2005, 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

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Confidence Level

 

 

 

% of
MVE(1)

 

$ (million)

 

% of
MVE(1)

 

$ (million)

 

50%

 

-0.16

%

 

$

(4.16

)

 

-0.14

%

 

$

(4.07

)

 

75%

 

0.95

 

 

24.39

 

 

0.84

 

 

23.51

 

 

95%

 

2.79

 

 

71.86

 

 

2.66

 

 

74.66

 

 

99%

 

4.63

 

 

119.38

 

 

4.21

 

 

118.08

 

 


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

During the second quarter of 2006, the Bank implemented two modeling changes that are designed to provide a more accurate assessment of market risk exposure. First, values for the Bank’s MPF loans and MBS pass-through holdings are now benchmarked to changes in the U.S. dollar interest-rate-swap yield curve as opposed to the previous practice of benchmarking values to the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Second, to better assess the value of option-embedded balance-sheet items, the Bank has implemented a new methodology for estimating market volatility. Under the new methodology, the values of option-embedded balance-sheet items more closely approximate values obtained from third-party sources including observed market prices and independent models.

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As measured by VaR, the Bank’s potential losses to MVE due to changes in interest rates and other market factors increased by $1.3 million to $119.4 million as of December 31, 2006, from $118.1 million as of December 31, 2005. Had the modeling changes not been made, VaR would have been $133.8 million at December 31, 2005.

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 LIBOR in any of the assumed interest-rate scenarios. The results of this analysis for December 31, 2006, showed that in the worst-case scenario, the Bank’s return on equity would fall to seven basis points above the average yield on three-month LIBOR under a scenario where interest rates instantaneously increased by 300 basis points across all points of all yield curves represented in the model.

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 is expected to operate. 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 the four-week forecast and 50 percent of the excess of uses over sources is covered by available liquidity over the eight and 12 week forecasts. 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 December 31, 2006.

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Structural Liquidity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Month 1

 

Month 2

 

Month 3

 

Contractual sources of funds

 

$

7,237,206

 

$

7,474,120

 

$

5,551,279

 

Less: Contractual uses of funds

 

(4,062,610

)

(6,054,849

)

(2,227,562

)

Equals: Net cash flow

 

3,174,596

 

1,419,271

 

3,323,717

 

Less: Cumulative contingent obligations

 

(14,845,080

)

(19,128,856

)

(23,106,700

)

Equals: Net structural liquidity requirement

 

(11,670,484

)

(17,709,585

)

(19,782,983

)

Available borrowing capacity

 

$

17,432,644

 

$

23,138,408

 

$

25,174,667

 

Ratio of available borrowing capacity to net structural liquidity need

 

1.49

 

1.31

 

1.27

 

Required ratio

 

1.00

 

0.50

 

0.50

 

Management action trigger

 

 

1.00

 

1.00

 

 

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 CO debt issuance. As of December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, the Bank held a surplus of $7.7 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively, of liquidity (exclusive of access to CO debt) 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 that can provide a ready source of liquidity during stressed market conditions. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank’s contingency liquidity, as measured in accordance with Finance Board regulation 12 CFR §917 was determined as follows:

Contingency Liquidity

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Cumulative Fifth
Business Day

 

Contractual sources of funds

 

 

$

2,756,140

 

 

Less: contractual uses of funds

 

 

(7,770,633

)

 

Equals: net cash flow

 

 

(5,014,493

)

 

Contingency borrowing capacity (exclusive of CO debt)

 

 

12,668,678

 

 

Net contingency borrowing capacity

 

 

$

7,654,185

 

 

 

Additional information regarding liquidity is provided in Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Management’s strategies for mitigating business risk include annual and long-term strategic planning exercises, continually monitoring key economic indicators and projections, 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 a system of controls 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

103




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 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 its control, and the failure of other parties to adequately address their operational risks could adversely affect the Bank.

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 its 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.

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ITEM 8.                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Financial Statements

The following financial statements and accompanying notes, including the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, are set forth on pages F-1 to F-57 of this Form 10-K.

Audited Financial Statements

 

105




Supplementary Financial Data

Supplementary financial data for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, are included in the following tables. The following unaudited results of operations include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for each quarterly period presented below.

Quarterly Results of Operations—Unaudited

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

2006—Quarter Ended

 

 

 

December 31(1)

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Total interest income

 

 

$

752,274

 

 

 

$

805,159

 

 

$

728,473

 

$

679,867

 

Total interest expense

 

 

678,295

 

 

 

727,481

 

 

652,129

 

605,680

 

Net interest income before provision for
credit losses

 

 

73,979

 

 

 

77,678

 

 

76,344

 

74,187

 

(Reduction of) provision for credit losses on
mortgage loans

 

 

(1,594

)

 

 

(37

)

 

(18

)

(55

)

Net interest income after reduction of credit losses

 

 

75,573

 

 

 

77,715

 

 

76,362

 

74,242

 

Non-interest income (loss)

 

 

9,595

 

 

 

2,931

 

 

(384

)

(392

)

Non-interest expense

 

 

12,871

 

 

 

12,109

 

 

12,256

 

11,819

 

Income before assessments

 

 

72,297

 

 

 

68,537

 

 

63,722

 

62,031

 

Assessments

 

 

19,196

 

 

 

18,212

 

 

16,921

 

16,467

 

Net income

 

 

$

53,101

 

 

 

$

50,325

 

 

$

46,801

 

$

45,564

 

 


(1)          During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Bank identified and corrected an error in the accounting for certain hedged available-for-sale investment securities. See the Other Income (Loss) and Operating Expenses section in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information. The cumulative amount of the error was $6.4 million, or $4.7 million after assessments.

 

 

2005—Quarter Ended

 

 

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Total interest income

 

 

$

589,899

 

 

 

$

457,629

 

 

$

417,726

 

$

395,955

 

Total interest expense

 

 

510,882

 

 

 

394,331

 

 

361,374

 

341,015

 

Net interest income before provision for credit losses

 

 

79,017

 

 

 

63,298

 

 

56,352

 

54,940

 

Provision for credit losses on mortgage loans

 

 

109

 

 

 

240

 

 

81

 

72

 

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

 

 

78,908

 

 

 

63,058

 

 

56,271

 

54,868

 

Non-interest income (loss)

 

 

(2,787

)

 

 

(10,041

)

 

(9,921

)

(6,985

)

Non-interest expense

 

 

12,057

 

 

 

10,832

 

 

11,815

 

11,480

 

Income before assessments

 

 

64,064

 

 

 

42,185

 

 

34,535

 

36,403

 

Assessments

 

 

17,014

 

 

 

11,226

 

 

9,212

 

11,593

 

Income before cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle

 

 

47,050

 

 

 

30,959

 

 

25,323

 

24,810

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,118

 

Net income

 

 

$

47,050

 

 

 

$

30,959

 

 

$

25,323

 

$

31,928

 

 

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ITEM 9.                CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.        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 Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 year covered by this report.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the fourth quarter of 2006, 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.

Consolidated Obligations

The Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures for accumulating and communicating information in compliance with the Bank’s disclosure and financial reporting requirements relating to the Bank’s joint and several liability for the COs of other FHLBanks. Because the FHLBanks are independently managed and operated, management of the Bank relies on information that is provided or disseminated by the Finance Board, the Office of Finance, or the other FHLBanks, as well as on published FHLBank credit ratings in determining whether the Bank’s contingent joint and several liability is reasonably likely to become a direct obligation or whether it is reasonably possible that the Bank will accrue a direct liability.

Management of the Bank also relies on the operation of the Finance Board’s joint and several liability regulation (12 C.F.R. Section 966.9). The joint and several liability regulation requires that each FHLBank file with the Finance Board a quarterly certification that it will remain capable of making full and timely payment of all of its current obligations, including direct obligations, coming due during the next quarter. In addition, if an FHLBank cannot make such a certification or if it projects that it may be unable to meet its current obligations during the next quarter on a timely basis, it must file a notice with the Finance

107




Board. Under the joint and several liability regulation, the Finance Board may order any FHLBank to make principal and interest payments on any COs of any other FHLBank, or allocate the outstanding liability of an FHLBank among all remaining FHLBanks on a pro rata basis in proportion to each FHLBank’s participation in all COs outstanding or on any other basis.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Composition of the Board of Directors

The Bank’s board of directors is composed of directors appointed by the Finance Board and directors elected by the Bank’s members. Each director must be a citizen of the U.S. Each appointed director must be a bona fide resident of the Bank’s district, and each elected director must be an officer or director of a member of the Bank. Eligibility for appointment or election to the board and continuing service on the board is determined by Finance Board regulations. No member of Bank management can serve on the board of directors. Pursuant to its regulatory power, the Finance Board determines during each fiscal year: (1) the total number of elected directorships for the Bank for the following year, (2) the number of the total positions that will be appointed by the Finance Board, and (3) the number of those seats to be allocated to each state in the Bank’s district. The Finance Board bases the allocation of its 10 elected directorships on the number of shares required to be held by members in each state in the district as of the preceding year-end, except that by statute, Massachusetts is entitled to four elected directorships.

For 2006, the Finance Board allocated 10 elected directorships to the six New England states as follows:

State

 

 

 

Number of Elected
Directorships

 

Connecticut

 

 

2

 

 

Maine

 

 

1

 

 

Massachusetts

 

 

4

 

 

New Hampshire

 

 

1

 

 

Rhode Island

 

 

1

 

 

Vermont

 

 

1

 

 

Total

 

 

10

 

 

 

Because members in Rhode Island collectively were required to hold more shares than members in Connecticut as of December 31, 2005, a directorship was transferred from Connecticut to Rhode Island. Therefore, for 2007, the Finance Board allocated the 10 elected directorships to the six New England states as follows:

State

 

 

 

Number of Elected
Directorships

 

Connecticut

 

 

1

 

 

Maine

 

 

1

 

 

Massachusetts

 

 

4

 

 

New Hampshire

 

 

1

 

 

Rhode Island

 

 

2

 

 

Vermont

 

 

1

 

 

Total

 

 

10

 

 

 

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Following the Finance Board’s allocation of the number of available elected seats, any member located within each state that has vacancies may nominate individuals to fill the vacancies in their state and then vote for the directors to fill those seats. The board of directors has no nominating committee. The board and management are prohibited by Finance Board regulation from supporting, either directly or indirectly, the nomination or election of a particular individual for an elective directorship. An exception to this prohibition exists, however, for incumbent directors. In this regard an incumbent director acting in his or her personal capacity may support the nomination or election of any individual for an elective directorship, provided that no director may purport to represent the views of the Bank, the Finance Board, or of any other officer, employee or agent of the Bank or the Finance Board. Members may nominate directors and vote only for directors in the state where they are located. Each nominee is required to be a U.S. citizen, and be an officer or director of a member located in the voting state to be represented by the elective directorship. A nominee’s member institution must have met all of its minimum capital requirements established by its appropriate federal banking agency or appropriate state regulator.

The Bank does not solicit proxies, nor are member institutions permitted to solicit or use proxies to cast their votes in the election. Members are permitted to vote all their eligible shares for one candidate for each open seat in the state in which the member is located. A member may not split its votes among multiple nominees for a single directorship. Eligible shares consist of those shares a member was required to hold as of the preceding December 31 subject to the limitation that no member may cast more votes than the average number of shares of Bank stock that are required to be held by all members located in the state to be represented.

The Finance Board designated four elective directorships for the 2006 director election, including two elective directorships for Massachusetts and one elective directorship for Connecticut and Maine. The elections were held in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006 and are discussed in greater detail in Item 4 - Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. Following the results of the 2006 director election, a 12-member board of directors governs the Bank (10 elected directors and two appointed directors).

On March 19, 2007, the Finance Board approved a new elective directorship on the Bank's board of directors representing Connecticut with a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2007.  It is anticipated that the Bank's board of directors will make an appointment to the seat at its April 2007 meeting.

The board also has eight appointed director positions, two of which are currently filled and six of which are vacant. The Finance Board has not named any new appointive directors since 2004 and recently extended by one year the terms of the two appointive directors whose terms were due to expire on December 31, 2006. An appointed director may not serve as an officer of any Federal Home Loan Bank or as a director or officer of any member of the Bank. Appointed directors may not hold any financial interest in a member of the Bank. The Finance Board has adopted an interim final rule on appointive directorships that would require FHLBanks to submit applications for two candidates for each of the four currently vacant appointive directorships by March 31, 2007.

There are no family relationships between any current director (or any of the nominees from the most recent election), or any executive officer, or proposed executive officer. No director or executive officer has an involvement in any legal proceeding required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f).

Directors Elected by Members

The 10 directors currently serving on the board, who were elected by the Bank’s members or were appointed by the board of directors to fill a vacancy among elected directorships, provided the information set forth below regarding their principal occupation, business experience, and other matters. All directors of the Bank serve a three-year term, ending on the last day of the third calendar year (including the first full or partial year of service) following the effective date of his or her election or appointment as a director. None of the Bank’s directors serve as executive officers of the Bank. We also have directors that

109




are appointed by the Finance Board, whose names and similar information are provided below in the Directors Appointed by the Finance Board section. The requirements for nomination, election, and appointment (as well as disclosure of the committees of the board of directors and our corporate governance principles) are discussed further below.

Stephen F. Christy, age 57, president and chief executive officer of Mascoma Savings Bank, FSB located in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Mr. Christy has served as a director since January 1, 2002, and his current term as a director expires on December 31, 2007. Mr. Christy has been president and chief executive officer of Mascoma Savings Bank, FSB for the past 17 years.

Steven A. Closson, age 57, president and chief executive officer of Androscoggin Savings Bank, located in Lewiston, Maine. Mr. Closson has served as a director since January 1, 2004, and his current term as a director expires on December 31, 2009. Mr. Closson joined Androscoggin Savings Bank as a senior vice president and treasurer in 1987. He was promoted to president and chief executive officer and elected to the board of directors in 1991.

Arthur R. Connelly, age 62, chairman and chief executive officer of South Shore Savings Bank, located in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Mr. Connelly has served as a director since January 1, 1997, and his current term as a director expires on December 31, 2009. Mr. Connelly became chairman and chief executive officer of South Shore Savings Bank at its creation in 1997. He also serves as a director of The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts, a member of the Bank; as first vice chairman of America’s Community Bankers; and as chairman of the Government Affairs Steering Committee of America’s Community Bankers.

Peter F. Crosby, age 56, president, chief executive officer, and trustee of Passumpsic Savings Bank and president, chief executive officer, and director of Passumpsic Bancorp, located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Mr. Crosby joined Passumpsic in 1973. He has served as a director of the Bank since January 1, 2005, and his term as a director expires on December 31, 2007.

John H. Ellis, age 67, director of BankNewport, located in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Ellis previously served as president and chief executive officer of Bank of Newport. Mr. Ellis was first named president and chief executive officer of Bank of Newport in 1999, and retired in 2003 after 42 years in banking. Mr. Ellis previously served as a director of the Bank from January 1, 1998, until December 31, 2005. On February 16, 2007, Mr. Ellis was appointed to the board and his current term expires on December 31, 2008.

Mark E. Macomber, age 60, president and chief executive officer of Litchfield Bancorp, located in Litchfield, Connecticut. He also serves as a nonvoting, ex-officio director of Northwest Community Bank located in Winsted, Connecticut; and as president and chief executive officer of Connecticut Mutual Holding Company, the mutual holding company for Litchfield Bancorp and Northwest Community Bank. Mr. Macomber became president and chief executive officer of Litchfield Bancorp in March 1994. In addition, Mr. Macomber serves as chairman of America’s Community Bankers. Mr. Macomber has served as a director since April 16, 2004, and his current term as a director expires on December 31, 2009.

Kevin M. McCarthy, age 59, president and chief executive officer of Newport Federal Savings Bank, located in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. McCarthy became president and chief executive officer of Newport Federal Savings Bank in June 1993 and has served as a director of Newport Bancorp since its formation in 2006. Mr. McCarthy has served as a director since January 1, 2004, and his term as a director expires on December 31, 2008.

Jan A. Miller, age 56, president, chief executive officer and director of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company, located in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Miller became president and chief executive officer of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company in 1997. Prior to joining Wainwright Bank in 1994, Mr. Miller spent 19 years in various senior management positions at Shawmut Bank, N.A. Mr. Miller has served as a

110




director since January 1, 2004, and his term as a director expires on December 31, 2009. Mr. Miller is the immediate past chairman of the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

William P. Morrissey, age 79, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Central Co-operative Bank, headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts. He has held various positions with Central Co-operative Bank since 1992. Prior to 1992, he served as executive vice president for corporate affairs at Boston Five Cents Savings Bank and as Deputy Commissioner of Banks for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Morrissey had served as a director from October 19, 1990 through December 31, 1996, and again was elected as director on January 1, 1999, and again on January 1, 2005. He served as chair of the board from 2001 to 2003. His current term as a director expires on December 31, 2007. He is a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the American Bankers Association. He is also a member of the Federal Liaison Committee of the Massachusetts Bankers Association.

Robert F. Verdonck, age 61, president and chief executive officer of East Boston Savings Bank, located in Peabody, Massachusetts. He also serves as president and chief executive officer of Meridian Financial Services, Inc., holding company for East Boston Savings Bank. He has held various positions at East Boston Savings Bank for the past 23 years. Mr. Verdonck serves as a director of The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts, which is a member of the Bank, as well as Hampshire First Bank. He has served as a director of the Bank since January 1, 1998, and his term as a director will expire on December 31, 2008. Mr. Verdonck has served as chair of the board in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and has been elected to serve as chair of the board through 2007.

Directors Appointed by the Finance Board

Directors appointed by the Finance Board provided the following information about their principal occupation, business experience, and other matters.

Joyce H. Errecart, age 56, Representative to the Vermont House of Representatives, located in Montpelier, Vermont. Rep. Errecart has served as a director since January 23, 2004, and her term as a director expires on December 31, 2007. Rep. Errecart was elected to the Vermont House in 2002. Prior to holding public office, Rep. Errecart served as Vermont’s Commissioner of Taxes and practiced law in Burlington, Vermont. Rep. Errecart has been elected to serve as vice chair of the board through 2007.

James L. Taft, Jr., age 76, attorney and partner with the firm of Taft & McSally LLP, located in Cranston, Rhode Island. Mr. Taft has served as a director since January 23, 2004, and his term as a director expires on December 31, 2007. Mr. Taft engaged in general legal practice as proprietor of Taft & McSally law firm from 1955 to December 2000, and since then has continued that practice as a partner of Taft & McSally LLP.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

We have a standing Audit Committee that satisfies the “Audit Committee” definition under Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of the Audit Committee are Stephen F. Christy, Joyce H. Errecart, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy, and Robert F. Verdonck, ex officio. The board has determined that Directors Stephen F. Christy, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy and Robert F. Verdonck are “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of the SEC rules. Directors Stephen F. Christy, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy and Robert F. Verdonck are not auditors or accountants for the Bank, do not perform fieldwork, and are not employees of the Bank. In accordance with the SEC’s safe harbor relating to audit committee financial experts, a person designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for purposes of federal securities laws. In addition, such a designation or identification does not impose on any such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than those imposed on such persons as a member of the Audit Committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or

111




identification and does not affect the duties, obligations, or liabilities of any other member of the Audit Committee or board of directors. See Item 13—Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence for additional information.

Directors’ Compensation

The Bank pays members of the board of directors fees for each board and committee meeting that they attend subject to an annual maximum amount for each director. The Finance Board establishes the maximum annual compensation amounts for the directors of all FHLBanks on an annual basis based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the year. The amounts paid to the members of the board of directors for attendance at board and committee meetings during 2006 and 2005, along with the annual maximum compensation amounts for those years, are detailed in the following table:

Director Fees

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Fee per board meeting

 

 

 

 

 

Chair of the board

 

$

3,500

 

$

3,400

 

Vice chair of the board

 

2,750

 

2,600

 

All other board members

 

2,000

 

1,900

 

Fee per committee meeting

 

750

 

750

 

Fee per telephonic conference call

 

500

 

500

 

Annual maximum compensation amounts

 

 

 

 

 

Chair of the board

 

29,357

 

28,364

 

Vice chair of the board

 

23,486

 

22,692

 

All other board members

 

17,614

 

17,019

 

 

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Bank for 2006 was comprised of six directors, one who represented the public sector and five who represent industry members. The members of the Audit Committee at yearend 2006 were Stephen F. Christy, Joyce H. Errecart, Peter F. Crosby, R. David Rosato, Kevin M. McCarthy, and Robert F. Verdonck, ex officio.

The 2007 Audit Committee is comprised of six directors, one of whom represents the public sector and five who represent industry members. Both the 2006 and 2007 Audit Committee members are independent, as that term is used in Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A of the Exchange Act. The members of the 2007 Audit Committee are Stephen F. Christy, Joyce H. Errecart, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy, and Robert F. Verdonck, ex officio.

The Audit Committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities for (1) the integrity of the Bank’s financial reporting, (2) the establishment of an adequate administrative, operating, and internal accounting control system, (3) the Bank’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (4) the external auditor’s independence, qualifications, and performance, (5) the independence and performance of the Bank’s internal audit function, and (6) the Bank’s compliance with internal policies and procedures. The Audit Committee has adopted, and annually reviews, a charter outlining the practices it follows.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles used, the reasonableness of significant accounting judgments and estimates, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. In addressing the quality of management’s accounting judgments, members of the

112




Audit Committee asked for representations and reviewed certifications prepared by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer that the audited financial statements of the Bank present, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Bank, and have expressed to both management and auditors their general preference for conservative policies when a range of accounting options is available. In meeting with the independent auditors, the Audit Committee asked them to address, and discuss their responses to several questions that the Audit Committee believes are particularly relevant to its oversight. These questions include:

·       Are there significant judgments or estimates made by management in preparing the financial statements that would have been made differently had the auditors themselves prepared and been responsible for the financial statements?

·       Based on the auditor’s experience, and their knowledge of the Bank, do the Bank’s financial statements present fairly, with clarity and completeness, the Bank’s financial position and performance for the reporting period in accordance with GAAP, and SEC disclosure requirements?

·       Based on the auditor’s experience, and their knowledge of the Bank, has the Bank implemented internal controls and internal audit procedures that are appropriate for the Bank?

The Audit Committee believes that by focusing its discussions with the independent auditors, it promotes a meaningful discussion that provides a basis for its oversight judgments.

The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61 and SAS No. 90, Audit Committee Communications. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by ISB Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees.

In performing all of these functions, the Audit Committee acts in an oversight role. It relies on the work and assurances of the Bank’s management, which has primary responsibility for the financial statements and reports, and of the independent auditors, who, in their report, express an opinion on the conformity of the Bank’s annual financial statements to GAAP.

In reliance on these reviews and discussions, and the report of the independent auditors, the Audit Committee has recommended to the board of directors, and the board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Bank’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for filing with the SEC.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None

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Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the names, titles, and ages of the executive officers of the Bank:

Name

 

 

 

 

Title

 

 

Age

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

60

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

Executive Vice President, Member Services

 

 

52

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

45

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Information Officer

 

 

57

 

 

Janelle K. Authur

 

Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Human Resources

 

 

58

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

60

 

 

George H. Collins

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

 

 

47

 

 

William P. Hamilton

 

Senior Vice President, Director of Public Affairs

 

 

51

 

 

Ellen M. McLaughlin

 

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary

 

 

55

 

 

 

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Michael A. Jessee has been president and chief executive officer of the Bank since May 1989. Before that, he served 12 years with the FHLBank of San Francisco as executive vice president and chief operating officer; executive vice president, economics and corporate policy; senior vice president and chief economist; and assistant vice president and director of research. Mr. Jessee also worked as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and in corporate planning and correspondent banking with the Bank of Virginia. He currently serves as chairman, board of trustees, State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust; trustee, Randolph-Macon College; and director, Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions. He holds a Ph.D., M.A., and M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. from Randolph-Macon College.

M. Susan Elliott has been executive vice president of member services of the Bank since January 1994. She previously served as senior vice president and director of marketing from August 1992 to January 1994. Ms. Elliott joined the Bank in 1981. Ms. Elliott holds a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Babson College.

Frank Nitkiewicz was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer effective January 1, 2006. Prior to this promotion, he was senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer of the Bank from August 1999 until December 31, 2005, and senior vice president and treasurer from October 1997 to August 1999. Mr. Nitkiewicz joined the Bank in 1991. He holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. and a B.A. from the University of Maryland.

William L. Oakley has served as executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and chief information officer of the Bank since November 1, 2006, and was hired as senior vice president and chief information officer in May 2004. Mr. Oakley came to the Bank from John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., where he served as vice president and chief technology officer from November 1996 to April 2004. Prior to his employment with John Hancock, he served as vice president, treasurer, and founding manager of American Business Insurors Corporation; vice president of technology services at United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company; senior vice president with Fidelity Investments; and vice president at American Fletcher National Bank. Mr. Oakley received his B.S. in computer technology from Purdue University.

Janelle K. Authur has served as senior vice president and executive director of human resources since November 1, 2006, and was hired as first vice president and executive director of human resources in September 2005. Prior to employment at the Bank, Ms. Authur served as a consultant and principal of The Ledgefield Group, LLC, and was director of labor and employee relations for the University of Massachusetts Medical School from April 2000 to April 2004. Ms. Authur also served as human resources manager and director of human resources for The Blade Newspaper. Ms. Authur holds a B. S. in education from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) since 1996.

Earl W. Baucom has served as senior vice president and chief accounting officer since November 1, 2006, and was hired as first vice president and chief accounting officer in October 2005. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked for six years as senior vice president and controller for John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. Prior to John Hancock, he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Franklin Life Insurance Company; senior vice president and chief financial officer of National Liberty Corporation; and senior manager with Ernst & Young. Mr. Baucom is a certified public accountant and earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

George H. Collins has served as senior vice president and chief risk officer since November 1, 2006. He previously served as first vice president, director of market risk management from 2005 to 2006. Mr. Collins joined the Bank in July 2000 as vice president and assistant treasurer. He holds a B.S. in applied mathematics and economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

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William P. Hamilton has been senior vice president and director of public affairs of the Bank since June 2000. Prior to his employment with the Bank, he served for seven years as vice president and director of external affairs for the FHLBank of Seattle. Mr. Hamilton holds a J.D. from George Washington University’s National Law Center and a B.A. from Washington State University. He is also a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Ellen M. McLaughlin has been senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of the Bank since August 2004. She previously served as vice president, associate general counsel from 2000 to July 2004. Ms. McLaughlin joined the Bank in 1990. She earned a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and an L.L.M. from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Employment Arrangements

The Bank has no employment arrangements with any executive officer or director.

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct

The Bank has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that sets forth the guiding principles and rules of behavior by which we operate the Bank and conduct our daily business with our customers, vendors, shareholders and with our fellow employees. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applies to all of the directors and employees of the Bank, including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and chief accounting officer of the Bank and to all other professionals serving in a finance, accounting, treasury, or investor-relations role. The purpose of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is to promote honest and ethical conduct and compliance with the law, particularly as related to the maintenance of the Bank’s financial books and records and the preparation of its financial statements. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct can be found on our web site (www.fhlbboston.com). All future amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct will be posted on our web site. The information contained within or connected to our web site is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K and should not be considered part of this or any report filed with the SEC.

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Pursuant to a charter approved by the Bank’s board of directors, the Personnel Committee of the Board (the Committee) assists the board of directors in developing and maintaining personnel and compensation policies that support the Bank’s business objectives. The Committee sets the compensation philosophy for the Bank, including that of the Named Executive Officers. The Committee also reviews and recommends to the board of directors, for its approval, human resources policies and plans applicable to the compensation philosophy, such as compensation, benefits, and incentive plans and including plans in which the Named Executive Officers participate.

Objectives of the Bank’s Compensation Program and What it is Designed to Reward

The Bank is committed to attracting, retaining, motivating, and rewarding executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers, who make significant contributions to the success of the business of the Bank.

In December 2004, the Committee reviewed and the board of directors approved the Executive Officer Compensation Philosophy that emphasizes performance-based compensation and variable pay plans in order to focus compensation decisions on the executive’s achievement of results and encourage

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strong financial and operational performance of the Bank. This executive compensation program is structured to support the strategic goals and objectives of the Bank and includes three guiding principles:

·       Provide a competitive total compensation package that enables the Bank to attract and retain key executive talent;

·       Align all pay, benefit, and retirement programs with the Bank’s annual and long-term business strategies and objectives; and

·       Provide variable compensation opportunities that are directly linked to the Bank’s performance and objectives.

The Bank aims to attract, reward, and retain highly-skilled staff, including the Named Executive Officers, with capabilities that will enable the Bank to succeed in the marketplace. Due to its GSE charter to operate as a wholesale funding institution in New England, the Bank has no direct peers that are competitors from a business perspective. Nonetheless, the Bank regularly competes with wholesale funding operations of large commercial and investment banks to provide direct secured funding to its members, and also with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase mortgage loans from its members and to source funding through the U.S. agency debt markets.

The labor market in which the Bank competes for Named Executive Officers is far broader in scope than only the FHLBank System or GSEs. In fact, the Bank competes directly with financial institutions in the private sector to attract and retain the most qualified executive officers and has traditionally secured its senior management from large local financial institutions. Many of the sizeable local banks in the northeastern U.S. have vanished and the local financial services market is now dominated by high-paying asset management firms that may be labor market competitors even though they are not business competitors. The Bank recognizes that it must therefore be positioned to offer a nationally competitive compensation package to Named Executive Officers to ensure that it can acquire and retain talent who have the specialized skills needed to maintain profitable growth while managing the complex risks of a wholesale lending and mortgage purchase operation. When setting compensation levels, the Bank is also cognizant of the high cost of living in the Boston area.

Elements of the Bank’s Compensation Plan and Why We Chose Each

As is historically the case, in 2006, the Bank delivered total compensation to Named Executive Officers through a package that consists of base salary, awards under annual cash incentive plans, qualified and non qualified retirement plans, and various other health and welfare benefits. Due to its unique cooperative structure, the Bank cannot offer equity-based compensation programs, so it has used higher base salaries, an annual cash award, and strong retirement benefits to keep its compensation packages competitive relative to the market and to replace some of the value of compensation that competitors might offer though equity-based compensation programs.

The Committee did not set specific, predetermined targets for the allocation of compensation between base salary, incentives, and benefits elements in 2006. In general, base salaries for each of the Named Executive Officers were set so that their total cash compensation, that is, base salary plus short-term incentives, would be comparable to the median total compensation of the Named Executive Officer’s peers at other Federal Home Loan Banks. The Committee also considered individual performance, tenure, experience, scope, and complexity of the Named Executive Officer’s position in setting compensation levels.

Base Salary

Base salary is the core component of the compensation program. Base salary adjustments for all Named Executive Officers are considered at least annually as part of the yearend annual performance

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review process and more often if considered necessary by the Committee during the year, such as in recognition of a promotion or to ensure internal equity.

In late 2004, all 12 of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance jointly retained McLagan Partners, a management consulting firm that specializes in the financial services industry, to conduct a comprehensive, national compensation survey of critical FHLBank positions. The positions held by the Named Executive Officers were matched to survey jobs based on scope and similarity of positions, experience, and complexity of managing. In December 2005, the Committee reviewed total compensation data from this survey as well as from the annual FHLBank System survey of key positions in determining and recommending 2006 base salaries for the Named Executive Officers.

Executive Incentive Program (EIP)

The EIP is an annual cash incentive plan designed to promote achievement of the Bank’s financial plan and strategic objectives by aligning annual cash incentive opportunities for the Bank’s corporate officers, including the Named Executive Officers, with the Bank’s short-term financial performance and strategic direction. The level of awards made under the EIP is intended to provide, when considered together with the Named Executive Officer’s base salary, a total annual compensation amount for the Named Executive Officers that is competitive with other financial institutions, including other FHLBanks, in the employment markets in which the Bank competes. Awards under the EIP are also designed to facilitate retention and commitment of key executives.

The EIP is subject to annual review and approval by the board of directors, including determination of its plan design, specific goals and weighting of each, participation, administration, and payout opportunities. Annual financial and nonfinancial goals are derived from the Bank’s strategic business plan and are weighted by tier based on desired business outcomes and the Named Executive Officer’s ability to impact the achievement of the goal. Goals may be modified during the plan year with the approval of the Committee and board of directors. For instance, the Committee has the full power to make adjustments to the goals during or at the end of the calendar year covered by the EIP for extraordinary circumstances such as, among other things, changes in business strategy, impact of severe economic fluctuations, or regulatory changes. The Committee did not exercise this discretion with respect to the 2006 goals.

The goal achievement levels are generally set to ensure that the relative difficulty of achieving the target (that is, middle achievement level) is consistent from year to year. Specific threshold, target and excess goal achievement levels are developed during the annual strategic planning and forecasting process. During this process, management assesses the external and internal outlook for the upcoming year, including scenario analysis of environmental factors, member needs and expectations, advances growth trends, return on equity, income forecasts, and operating expenses. Management also identifies operational initiatives that are key in the Bank’s growth, profitability, risk management, and in member service, trust and confidence. Target growth and financial performance levels reflect an underlying assumption that management executes the Bank’s business plan as approved by the board, and are assumed to be dependent on management’s decisions and actions relative to the business plan. All goals and achievement levels are subject to the review and approval of the board. In 2006, the EIP included annualized goals for profitability, business growth, regulatory examination results, operational initiatives that support the Bank’s annual strategic goals as well as a discretionary component that recognizes the participant’s leadership, work ethic, attitude, or other such similar intangible attributes that contribute to the Bank’s success. The weight of each goal varies by goal and by the Named Executive Officer’s employment tier, with each goal representing 10 to 30 percent of the total payout potential.

Within the 2006 EIP, the profitability goal is based on a non-GAAP measure of profitability. The profitability metric is the spread by which the Bank’s pre-assessment (that is, pre-REFCorp and pre-AHP) return on average equity (ROE) (adjusted for net prepayment fees) exceeds the daily average of the

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bond-equivalent yield of three-month LIBOR. The difference between “ROE” and “ROE Adjusted for Net Prepayment Fees” is that the latter defers the net effect of prepayment fee income from advances or investments and associated debt retirement and hedge unwind expenses over the expected remaining lives of the assets that were prepaid.

For 2006, potential cash payouts in the EIP were expressed as a percentage of yearend 2006 base compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as follows:

Name

 

 

 

Tier

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Excess

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

President

 

 

25.00

%

 

 

35.00

%

 

 

50.00

%

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

I

 

 

18.75

%

 

 

25.00

%

 

 

37.50

%

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

I

 

 

18.75

%

 

 

25.00

%

 

 

37.50

%

 

William L. Oakley

 

I

 

 

18.75

%

 

 

25.00

%

 

 

37.50

%

 

Earl W. Baucom(1)

 

II

 

 

15.00

%

 

 

20.00

%

 

 

30.00

%

 


(1)          In 2006, Mr. Nitkiewicz, Ms. Elliot, and Mr. Oakley were Tier I participants as executive and senior vice presidents of the Bank. Mr. Baucom was a Tier II participant as a first vice president. With Mr. Baucom’s promotion to senior vice president in November 2006, the board of directors approved his participation in Tier I for the 2007 plan year.

The final award amount is approved by the Committee and board of directors after the end of the plan year, based on evaluation of the Named Executive Officer’s achievement of the stated goals. As part of this process, the Bank’s internal auditor confirms final financial results and reviews supporting documentation for the nonfinancial, operational initiatives. The Committee may, from time to time, award an additional payout beyond the maximum potential payout amount to individual participants, including the Named Executive Officers, in recognition of their significant achievements and leadership during the plan year. In 2006, the Committee exercised this discretion and awarded Mr. Jessee a bonus amount in addition to the award he received in recognition of achievement of stated goals. The Committee believed this additional amount to be appropriate in light of Mr. Jessee’s integral role in the Bank’s strong performance in 2006.

Under the 2006 EIP, participants were entitled to payment of an award only if employed by the Bank in February 2007 when the award was paid, unless otherwise determined by the chief executive officer, with the concurrence of the Committee, at their sole discretion.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans

The Bank offers participation in qualified and nonqualified retirement plans to the Named Executive Officers as key elements of its total rewards package. The benefits received under these plans are intended to enhance the competitiveness of the Bank’s total compensation and benefits relative to the market by complementing the Named Executive Officers’ base salary and annual cash incentive awards. The Bank maintains four retirement plans in which the Named Executive Officer’s participate. A description of the plans follows.

Defined Benefit Plans

The Bank participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan) to provide retirement benefits for all eligible Bank employees. The plan is a funded, tax-qualified, noncontributory plan. All of the Named Executive Officers are participants in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan and are vested in their benefits pursuant to the plan’s provisions. Benefits under the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan are based on the participant’s years of service and earnings, defined as base

119




salary, subject to the applicable Internal Revenue Code (IRC) limits on annual earnings ($220,000 for 2006).

The Bank also maintains a Pension Benefit Equalization Plan (Pension BEP), a nonqualified, unfunded defined benefit plan covering certain senior officers, as defined in the plan. Participation in the Pension BEP is approved by the Committee and board of directors and includes the Named Executive Officers. All benefits payable under the Pension BEP are paid solely out of the general assets of the Bank, or from a “rabbi trust” subject to the claims of the creditors of the Bank in the event of the Bank’s insolvency. Retirement benefits from the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan and the Pension BEP are not subject to any offset provision for Social Security benefits.

Defined Contribution Plans

All Bank employees are eligible to participate in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan for Financial Institutions (Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan), a 401(k) thrift plan, under which the Bank matches employee contributions. As of the date of the Form 10-K, all of the Named Executive Officers participate in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan.

The Bank also maintains a Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (Thrift BEP), a nonqualified, unfunded defined contribution plan with a deferred compensation feature, which is available to the Named Executive Officers and other senior officers of the Bank. The Committee and the board of directors approve participation in the Thrift BEP. All of the Named Executive Officers are current participants. All benefits payable under the Thrift BEP are paid solely from the general assets of the Bank.

The Thrift BEP was established to provide participants an opportunity to defer taxation on income and to makeup for benefits that would have been provided under the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan except for IRC limitations on annual contributions under 401(k) thrift plans. It also provides participants with an opportunity for incentive compensation to be deferred and matched. The Committee believes that this Thrift BEP, together with the Pension BEP, provide additional retirement benefits that are necessary for the Bank’s total compensation package to remain competitive.

Additional information regarding these plans can be found with the Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation tables below.

Perquisites

Taxable fringe benefits and perquisites for the Named Executive Officers may include the value of financial planning services, supplemental life insurance (all but Mr. Baucom), automobile and airline memberships, employee use of Bank automobiles, spouse travel during Bank business, and parking. Mr. Jessee is also eligible for medical expenses reimbursement, club memberships, and the personal use of a Bank automobile. The Committee believes that the perquisites offered to the Named Executive Officers are reasonable and are necessary for the Bank’s total compensation package to remain competitive.

How the Bank Determines the Amount for Each Element

In the case of the chief executive officer, the Committee sets annual goals and objectives. At the end of the year, the chief executive officer provides the Committee with a self-assessment of his corporate and individual achievements. Based on the Committee’s evaluation of his performance and review of competitive market data, the Committee determines and recommends an appropriate total compensation and benefits package to the board of directors for approval. In the case of other Named Executive Officers, the chief executive officer reviews the individual’s performance and submits recommendations to the Committee regarding appropriate compensation. The Committee reviews these recommendations and

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submits its recommendations to the full board of directors. The board of directors reviews the recommendations and approves the compensation it considers appropriate.

Employment Status and Severance Benefits

Pursuant to the FHLBank Act, the Bank’s employees, including the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2006, are “at will” employees. Each may resign his or her employment at any time and the Bank may terminate his or her employment at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without cause and with or without notice.

Under the Bank’s Severance Policy, as revised and approved by the board of directors in February, 1997, all regular full and part-time Bank employees who work at least 1,000 hours per year whose employment is terminated involuntarily, or by mutual agreement for reasons other than “cause,” are provided with severance packages reflecting their status in the organization and tenure with the Bank. In consideration of this benefit, individuals agree to execute a general release of the Bank. In addition and at its sole discretion, the Bank may provide outplacement, extended benefits, counseling, and/or such other services as may assist in ensuring a smooth career transition. Any of these variations would require the approval of the chief executive officer.

Mr. Jessee is currently eligible for a maximum of 12 months of base pay. Based on their status as executive officers of the Bank, Mr. Nitkiewicz, Ms. Elliott, Mr. Oakley and Mr. Baucom are eligible for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12 months, depending on tenure. All severance packages for executive officers must have the approval of the chief executive officer and the Committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The Committee serves as the Bank’s Compensation Committee. As such, we have reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K and based on our review and discussion, we recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Bank’s annual report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.

Personnel Committee
Jan A. Miller, Chairman
Peter F. Crosby
Mark E. Macomber
William P. Morrissey
Robert F. Verdonck (ex-officio)

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Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth all compensation received from the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2006, by the Bank’s Named Executive Officers.

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2006

Name and Principal Position

 

 

 

Year

 

Salary(1)

 

Bonus

 

Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation(2)

 

Change in
pension value
and
nonqualified
deferred
compensation

earnings(3)

 

All Other
Compensation(4)

 

Total

 

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

2006

 

 

$

569,250

 

 

$

38,045

 

 

$

261,955

 

 

 

$

539,000

 

 

 

$

98,043

 

 

$

1,506,293

 

President and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

2006

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

 

83,000

 

 

 

57,000

 

 

 

22,610

 

 

412,610

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

2006

 

 

229,667

 

 

 

 

77,024

 

 

 

91,000

 

 

 

25,588

 

 

423,279

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

2006

 

 

224,900

 

 

 

 

74,667

 

 

 

54,000

 

 

 

15,026

 

 

368,593

 

Executive Vice President, Chief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrative Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Chief Information Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

2006

 

 

213,333

 

 

 

 

54,341

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

6,642

 

 

280,316

 

Senior Vice President and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)             Amounts shown are not reduced to reflect the Named Executive Officers’ elections, if any, to defer receipt of salary into a defined contribution plan or the Thrift BEP.

(2)             Represents amounts paid under the Bank’s Executive Incentive Plan during 2007 in respect of service performed in 2006. Amounts shown are not reduced to reflect the Named Executive Officers’ elections, if any, to defer receipt of compensation into the Thrift BEP.

(3)             The amounts shown reflect the actuarial increase in the present value of the Named Executive Officer’s benefits under all pension plans established by the Bank determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Bank’s financial statements and includes amounts which the Named Executive Officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested.

No amount of above market earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation is reported because above market rates are not possible under the Thrift BEP, the only such plan offered by the Bank.

(4)             See All Other Compensation Table below for amounts, which include Bank match on employee contributions to the Thrift BEP and 401(k) plans, insurance premiums paid by the Bank with respect to term-life insurance, perquisites and the Bank match on voided deferrals.

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Other Compensation Table

Name

 

 

 

Year

 

Contributions
to defined
contribution
plans(1)(3)

 

Insurance
Premiums

 

Perquisites(2)

 

Bank Match on
Voided Deferrals(4)

 

Total

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

2006

 

 

$

38,634

 

 

 

$

6,510

 

 

 

$

39,279

 

 

 

$

13,620

 

 

$

98,043

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

2006

 

 

16,382

 

 

 

1,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,583

 

 

22,610

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

2006

 

 

18,183

 

 

 

3,049

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,356

 

 

25,588

 

William L. Oakley

 

2006

 

 

7,378

 

 

 

5,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,188

 

 

15,026

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

2006

 

 

6,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

150

 

 

6,642

 


(1)          Amounts include Bank contributions to the 401(k) plan, as well as contributions to the Thrift BEP. Contributions to the Thrift BEP are also shown in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table below.

All Bank employees are eligible to participate in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan, a 401(k) thrift plan. Employees may elect to defer one percent to 50 percent of their plan salary, as defined in the plan document. The Bank makes contributions based on the amount the employee contributes, up to first three percent of plan salary, multiplied by the following factors:

·       100 percent during the second and third years of employment

·       150 percent during the fourth and fifth years of employment

·       200 percent upon completion of five or more years of employment.

Participant deferrals are limited on an annual basis by IRC rules. For 2006, the maximum elective deferral amount was $15,000 (or $20,000 per year for participants who attain age 50 in 2006), and the maximum matching contribution under the terms of the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan was $13,200 (three percent multiplied by two multiplied by the $220,000 compensation limit). As of the date of the Form 10-K, all of the Named Executive Officers participate in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan.

A description of the Thrift BEP follows the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table.

(2)          Amount for Mr. Jessee includes the following perquisites: financial planning services, personal use of Bank-provided vehicles, club membership dues, medical expense reimbursements, and spousal travel expenses.

(3)          In early 2006, the Bank was advised by outside legal counsel that participant elective deferrals of 2005 performance-based incentive compensation to the Thrift BEP, otherwise payable in February 2006, were ineffective, because elections were not made within the time required by IRC Section 409A. Accordingly, the Bank voided the deferral elections and returned the incentive compensation which was subject to the untimely deferral election to participants in late June 2006. The Bank also credited the participant’s Thrift BEP accounts with amounts intended to make up for investment losses incurred on the voided deferrals during the second quarter of 2006. These losses are reflected in the contributions to defined contribution plans column above.

(4)          Amount consists of the matching contributions noted in footnote (3) above that would otherwise have been accrued with respect to the untimely deferral elections were paid to executives as current income in late June 2006.

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The following table shows the potential payouts for the Bank’s non-equity incentive plan awards for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, for the Bank’s Named Executive Officers.

Grants of Plan Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2006

 

 

Estimated possible payouts under
non-equity incentive plan awards(1)

 

Name

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Excess

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

$

142,313

 

$

199,238

 

$

284,625

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

46,875

 

62,500

 

93,750

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

43,500

 

58,000

 

87,000

 

William L. Oakley

 

42,169

 

56,225

 

84,338

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

32,250

 

43,000

 

64,500

 


(1)          Amounts represent potential awards under the 2006 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan; actual amounts awarded are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above. See the description of the EIP in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for further discussion of performance goals and plan payouts.

Retirement Plan

The following table sets forth the pension benefits for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, for the Bank’s Named Executive Officers.

Pension Benefits Table

Name

 

 

 

Plan Name

 

No. of Years
of Credited
Service(1)

 

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit(2)

 

Payments During
Year Ended
December 31, 2006

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan

 

 

29.33

(3)

 

 

$

1,102,000

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

Pension BEP

 

 

29.92

(4)

 

 

3,871,000

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan

 

 

14.83

 

 

 

174,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension BEP

 

 

15.83

 

 

 

208,000

 

 

 

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan

 

 

24.08

 

 

 

490,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension BEP

 

 

25.08

 

 

 

471,000

 

 

 

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan

 

 

1.58

 

 

 

47,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension BEP

 

 

2.58

 

 

 

69,000

 

 

 

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan

 

 

0.17

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension BEP(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)          Equals number of years of credited service as of December 31, 2006.

(2)          Includes amounts which the Named Executive Officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested.

See Note 15—Employee Retirement Plans to the Financial Statements for a description of valuation methods and assumptions.

(3)          Number of years of credited service for the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan includes 11.83 years of service at the FHLBank of San Francisco.

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(4)          Number of years of credited service for the Pension BEP includes 12.42 years of service at the FHLBank of San Francisco.

(5)          Mr. Baucom became a participant in the Pension BEP on January 1, 2007, at which time his credited years of service amounted to 1.17 years, reflecting his full tenure at the Bank.

The Bank participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan to provide retirement benefits for eligible employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Employees become eligible to participate in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan the first day of the month following satisfaction of the Bank’s waiting period which is one year of service with the Bank. The Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan excludes hourly paid employees from participation. Participants are 20 percent vested in their retirement benefit after the completion of two years of employment and vest at an additional 20 percent per year thereafter until they are fully vested after the completion of six years of employment. Participants who have reached age 65 are automatically 100 percent vested, regardless of completed years of employment.

The plan provides a benefit calculated as 2.00 percent multiplied by the participant’s years of benefit service multiplied by the high three-year average salary. Annual benefits provided under the plan are subject to IRC limits, which vary by age and benefit option selected. The regular form of benefit is a straight life annuity with a 12 times initial death benefit feature. Lump sum and other additional payout options are also available. Participants are eligible for a lump sum option beginning at age 45. Benefits are payable in the event of retirement, death, disability, or termination of employment if vested. Normal retirement is age 65, but a participant may elect early retirement as early as age 45. However, if a participant elects early retirement, the normal retirement benefit is reduced by an early retirement factor based on the participant’s age when beginning early retirement. If the sum of the participant’s age and vesting service at the time of termination of employment is at least 70, that is, Rule of 70, then the benefit is reduced by an early retirement factor of one and a half percent per year for each year that payments commence before age 65. If age and vesting service do not equal at least 70, then the benefit is reduced by an early retirement factor of three percent per year for each year that payments commence before age 65.

In October 2006 the board of directors approved certain revisions to the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for those employees hired on or after January 9, 2006, including Named Executive Officers hired on or after that date. Benefits payable to these employees will be computed as one and a half percent of a participant’s highest five-year average earnings, multiplied by the participant’s years of benefit service. Further, retirement benefits for those participants hired on or after January 9, 2006, who retire prior to age 65 and whose age and vesting service do not total at least 70 at termination of employment will be calculated based on actuarial equivalency instead of the three percent per year early retirement reduction factor for those employees hired prior to January 9, 2006. None of the Named Executive Officers are impacted by these revisions.

The amount of pension payable from the Pension BEP to a Named Executive Officer is the amount that would be payable to the executive under the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan:

·       Without regard to the limits on benefit levels imposed by the IRC (including the limit on annual compensation discussed above), and,

·       With inclusion in the definition of base salary, any amounts deferred by a participant under the Thrift BEP in the year deferred, and any incentive compensation in the year paid, and,

·       With recognition of the participant’s full tenure with the Bank from initial date of employment to the date of membership in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan, and,

·       An increased benefit accrual rate for participants who are designated by the board as Executive Officers. All of the Named Executive Officers are designated as Executive Officers. The accrual

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rate is 2.375 percent applied to the participant’s highest three-year average base salary, as defined in the plan, and total benefit service, and,

·       Reduced by the participant’s actual accrued benefit from the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan. As in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan, benefits from the Pension BEP are reduced by an early retirement factor if payments commence before the participant’s normal retirement date, at the rate of three percent per year, or one and a half percent if the participant meets the Rule of 70.

Total benefits payable under both plans, that is, the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan and the Pension BEP, are subject to an overall maximum annual benefit amount not to exceed a specified percentage of high three-year average compensation, as follows: Mr. Jessee, 80 percent as president and Mr. Nitkiewicz, Mr. Oakley, and Ms. Elliott, 70 percent as executive vice presidents. Mr. Baucom became a participant in the Pension BEP on January 1, 2007. As a senior vice president, his total benefits payable will be subject to an overall maximum annual benefit not to exceed 65 percent.

Nonqualified deferred compensation

The following table sets forth the nonqualified deferred compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, for the Bank’s Named Executive Officers.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

Name

 

 

 

Executive
Contributions in
Last Year(1)

 

Bank
Contributions
in Year Ended
December 31, 2006(2)

 

Aggregate
Earnings
in Year Ended
December 31, 2006

 

Aggregate
Withdrawals /
Distributions

 

Aggregate
Balance at
December 31, 2006

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

 

$

42,617

 

 

 

$

27,249

 

 

 

$

109,240

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,058,028

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

 

22,500

 

 

 

10,132

 

 

 

38,532

 

 

 

 

 

 

409,478

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

 

10,100

 

 

 

10,203

 

 

 

97,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

743,294

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

 

2,999

 

 

 

1,749

 

 

 

4,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

40,535

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

 

6,400

 

 

 

6,492

 

 

 

993

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,996

 

 


(1)          Amounts are also reported as salary in the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)          Amounts are also reported as contributions to defined contribution plans in the Other Compensation Table above. This amount includes Bank contributions to the Thrift BEP for investment losses incurred on voided deferrals. See footnote (3) of the Other Compensation Table for additional information.

Thrift BEP participants may elect to defer receipt of up to 100 percent of base salary and/or incentive compensation into the Thrift BEP. The Bank matches participant contributions based on the amount the employee contributes, up to the first three percent of compensation beginning with the initial date of membership in the Thrift BEP, and then according to the same schedule as the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan after the first year of service. The Bank’s match is vested at 100 percent, as in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan. Participants may defer their contributions into one or more investment funds as elected by the participant. At the end of each calendar quarter, the plan record keeper, Buck Consultants, allocates fund earnings or losses among plan participants based on the participant’s fund balance, contributions and distributions during the quarter, and the actual fund performance. Participants may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or in semi-annual installments over a period that does not exceed 10 years. Participants may withdraw contributions under the plan’s hardship provisions and may also begin to receive distributions while still employed through scheduled distribution accounts.

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Post Termination Payment

The following table represents the amount that would be payable to the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2006 had their employment been terminated, either involuntarily or by mutual agreement, for reasons other than “cause” (for example poor performance, poor attendance, insubordination), on that date. Under the Bank’s severance policy and based on tenure for Mr. Jessee, Mr. Nitkiewicz, and Ms. Elliott, the amount is equal to 12 months’ base salary, based on annual salary in effect as of December 31, 2006, and for Mr. Oakley and Mr. Baucom, the amount is equal to six months’ base salary, based on annual salary in effect on that date.

Name

 

 

 

Cash Severance(1)

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

 

$

569,250

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

 

250,000

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

 

232,000

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

 

112,450

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

 

107,500

 

 

 


(1)          The severance policy does not constitute a contractual relationship between the Bank and the Named Executive Officers, and the Bank reserves the right to modify, revoke, suspend, terminate, or change the severance policy at any time without notice. All severance payments for the Named Executive Officers must be approved by the president and by the Personnel Committee of the board prior to making any award under the severance policy. Severance payments do not result in an acceleration of retirement or other benefit plans as described above.

Director Compensation

The amounts earned or paid to individual members of the board of directors for attendance at board and committee meetings during 2006 are detailed in the following table:

2006 Director Compensation

 

 

Fees earned or paid in cash

 

Robert F. Verdonck

 

 

$

29,357

 

 

Joyce H. Errecart

 

 

23,486

 

 

Stephen F. Christy

 

 

17,614

 

 

Steven A. Closson

 

 

17,614

 

 

Arthur R. Connelly

 

 

17,614

 

 

Peter F. Crosby

 

 

17,614

 

 

Mark E. Macomber

 

 

17,614

 

 

Kevin M. McCarthy

 

 

17,614

 

 

Jan A. Miller

 

 

17,614

 

 

William P. Morrissey

 

 

17,614

 

 

R. David Rosato(1)

 

 

17,614

 

 

James L. Taft, Jr.

 

 

15,500

 

 

Charles F. Frosch(2)

 

 

6,250

 

 

 

 

 

$

233,119

 

 


(1)          Mr. Rosato was selected by a majority vote of the board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Frosch. Mr. Rosato’s term as a director commenced on April 20, 2006, and expired on December 31, 2006.

(2)          Mr. Frosch resigned from the board of directors effective April 1, 2006.

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Board of director expenses paid by the Bank amounted to $318,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

In addition, in 2006, the Bank maintained the Director’ Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Program, a deferred-compensation plan available to all directors that is, in substance, an unfunded supplemental retirement plan under which directors may elect to defer the receipt of meeting fees in accordance with the terms of the plan. Beginning January 1, 2007 the Directors’ Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Program will no longer be utilized and directors may elect to defer the receipt of meeting fees pursuant to the Bank’s Thrift BEP.

ITEM 12.         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The Bank is a cooperative, its members or former members own all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank, and a majority of the directors of the Bank are elected by and from the membership. The exclusive voting right of members is for the election of a portion of the Bank’s directors who are not appointed by the Finance Board. Furthermore, each member is eligible to vote for the open director seats only in the state in which its principal place of business is located. Membership is voluntary, and members must give notice of their intent to withdraw from membership. Members that withdraw from membership may not be readmitted to membership for five years.

The Bank does not offer any compensation plan under which equity securities of the Bank are authorized for issuance.

Member institutions, including affiliated institutions under common control of a single holding company, holding five percent or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank as of February 28, 2007, are noted in the following table.

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Members Holding Five Percent or More of

Outstanding Capital Stock

(dollars in thousands)

Member Name and Address

 

 

 

Capital
Stock

 

Percent of Total
Capital Stock

 

Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

111 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02903

 

$

345,618

 

 

14.8

%

 

Citizens Bank of Massachusetts*

28 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

 

183,240

 

 

7.8

 

 

Citizens Bank of Rhode Island*

One Citizens Plaza

Providence, RI 02903

 

83,289

 

 

3.6

 

 

Citizens Bank of New Hampshire*

875 Elm Street

Manchester, NH 03101

 

59,529

 

 

2.5

 

 

Citizens Bank of Connecticut*

63 Eugene O’Neill Drive

New London, CT 06320

 

26,483

 

 

1.1

 

 

RBS National Bank*

1000 Lafayette Boulevard

Bridgeport, CT 06604

 

48

 

 

0.0

 

 

 


*                    Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens Bank of Connecticut, and RBS National Bank are affiliated institutions under the common control of a single holding company, Citizens Financial Group, a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland. The combined amount of capital stock for these affiliated institutions represents 15.0 percent of total capital stock of the Bank.

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Additionally, due to the fact that a majority of the board of directors of the Bank is elected from the membership of the Bank, these elected directors serve as officers or directors of member institutions that own the Bank’s capital stock. The following table provides capital stock outstanding to member institutions whose officers or directors were serving as directors of the Bank as of February 28, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

Capital

 

Percent of Total

 

Member Name and Address

 

 

 

Stock

 

Capital Stock

 

Bank of Newport

10 Washington Square

Newport, RI 02840

 

$

11,058

 

 

0.47

%

 

South Shore Savings Bank

1530 Main Street

South Weymouth, Massachusetts 02190

 

10,669

 

 

0.46

 

 

Wainwright Bank & Trust Company

63 Franklin Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

8,458

 

 

0.36

 

 

Central Cooperative Bank

399 Highland Avenue

Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

 

7,317

 

 

0.31

 

 

Mascoma Savings Bank, FSB

67 North Park Street

Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766

 

5,766

 

 

0.25

 

 

Androscoggin Savings Bank

30 Lisbon Street

Lewiston, Maine 04240

 

5,712

 

 

0.24

 

 

The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts

1 Linscott Road

Woburn, MA 01801

 

4,785

 

 

0.20

 

 

Passumpsic Savings Bank

124 Railroad Street

St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819

 

3,739

 

 

0.16

 

 

Northwest Community Bank*

86 Main Street

Winsted, Connecticut 06098

 

3,594

 

 

0.15

 

 

East Boston Savings Bank

67 Prospect Street

Peabody, Massachusetts 01960

 

3,164

 

 

0.14

 

 

Newport Federal Savings Bank

100 Bellevue Avenue

Newport, Rhode Island 02840

 

2,412

 

 

0.10

 

 

Litchfield Bancorp*

 

2,236

 

 

0.10

 

 

294 West Street

Litchfield, Connecticut 06759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stock ownership by members whose officers or directors serve as directors of the Bank

 

$

68,910

 

 

2.94

%

 


*                    Northwest Community Bank and Litchfield Bancorp are subsidiaries of the same holding company.

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ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Transactions with Related Persons

The Bank is structured as a cooperative association. As such, capital stock ownership in the Bank is a prerequisite to transacting any member business with the Bank, members and certain former members own all or substantially all of the stock of the Bank, the majority of the directors of the Bank are elected by and from the membership, and the Bank conducts its advances and mortgage-loan business almost exclusively with members. Therefore, in the normal course of business, the Bank extends credit to members whose officers and directors may serve as directors of the Bank, as well as to members who hold five percent or more of our capital stock. Such extensions of credit are effected on market terms that are no more favorable to a member than the terms of comparable transactions with other members. In addition, the Bank may purchase short-term investments, federal funds, and MBS from, and enter into interest-rate-exchange agreements with, members or their affiliates whose officers or directors serve as directors of the Bank, as well as from members or their affiliates who hold five percent or more of our capital stock. All such purchase transactions are effected at the then-current market rate and all MBS are purchased through securities brokers or dealers, also at the then-current market rate.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, the review and approval of transactions with related persons was governed by our Conflict of Interest Policy for Bank Directors (Conflict Policy) and our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (Code of Ethics), both of which are in writing. Under the Conflict Policy, each director is required to disclose to the board of directors all actual or potential conflicts of interest, including any personal financial interest that he or she has, as well as such interests of any immediate family member or business associate of the director known to the director, in any matter to be considered by the board of directors or in which another person does, or proposes to do, business with the Bank. Following such disclosure, the board is empowered to determine whether an actual conflict exists. In the event the board determines the existence of a conflict with respect to any matter, the affected director is required to be recused from all further considerations relating to that matter. The Conflict Policy is administered by the Governance Committee of the board of directors.

The Code of Ethics requires that all directors and executive officers (as well as all other Bank employees) avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest. In particular, subject to limited exceptions for interests arising through ownership of mutual funds and certain financial interests acquired prior to employment by the Bank, no employee of the Bank may have a financial interest in any member of the Bank that is not transacted in the ordinary course of the member’s business and, in the case of an extension of credit, involves more than the normal risk of repayment or of loss to the member. Employees are required to disclose annually all financial interests and financial relationships with members involving more than $10,000 or one percent of the member’s issued or outstanding shares. These disclosures are reviewed by the Bank’s Ethics Officer, who is principally responsible for enforcing the Code of Ethics on a day-to day basis. The Ethics Officer is charged with attempting to resolve any apparent conflict involving an employee other than the President of the Bank and, if an apparent conflict has not been resolved within 60 days, to report it to the President of the Bank for resolution. The Ethics Officer is charged with reporting any apparent conflict involving a director or the Bank President to the Governance Committee of the Board for resolution. The Bank’s Ethics Officer presently is Ellen M. McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Bank.

Director Independence

General

The board of directors of the Bank is required to evaluate and report on the independence of the directors of the Bank under two distinct director independence standards. First, Finance Board regulations

131




establish independence criteria for directors who serve as members of the Bank’s Audit Committee. Second, SEC rules require that the Bank’s board of directors apply the independence criteria of a national securities exchange or automated quotation system in assessing the independence of its directors.

As of the date of this report, the Bank has 12 directors, 10 of whom were elected by the Bank’s member institutions and two of whom were appointed by the Finance Board. None of the Bank’s directors is an “inside” director. That is, none of the Bank’s directors is a Bank employee or officer. Further, the Bank’s directors are prohibited from personally owning stock or stock options in the Bank. Each of the elected directors, however, is a senior officer of an institution that is a member of the Bank that is encouraged to engage in transactions with the Bank on a regular basis.

Finance Board Regulations regarding Independence

The Finance Board director independence standards prohibit an individual from serving as a member of the Bank’s Audit Committee if he or she has one or more disqualifying relationships with the Bank or its management that would interfere with the exercise of that individual’s independent judgment. Disqualifying relationships considered by the board are: employment with the Bank at any time during the last five years; acceptance of compensation from the Bank other than for service as a director; being a consultant, advisor, promoter, underwriter or legal counsel for the Bank at any time within the last five years; and being an immediate family member of an individual who is or who has been within the past five years, a Bank executive officer. The board assesses the independence of each director under the Finance Board’s independence standards, regardless of whether he or she serves on the Audit Committee. As of March 16, 2007, each of the Bank’s directors was independent under these criteria.

SEC Rule regarding Independence

SEC rules require the Bank’s board of directors to adopt a standard of independence to evaluate its directors. Pursuant thereto, the board adopted the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) to determine which of its directors are independent, which members of its Audit Committee are not independent, and whether the Bank’s Audit Committee’s financial expert is independent.

After applying the NYSE independence standards, the board determined that, as of March 16, 2007, Directors Joyce H. Errecart and James L. Taft, Jr. the Bank’s only appointed directors, are independent. Based upon the fact that each elected director is a senior official of an institution that is a member of the Bank (and thus is an equity holder in the Bank), that each such institution routinely engages in transactions with the Bank, and that such transactions occur frequently and are encouraged, the board determined that for the present time it would conclude that none of the elected directors meets the independence criteria under the NYSE independence standards.

It is possible that under a strict reading of the NYSE objective criteria for independence (particularly the criterion regarding the amount of business conducted with the Bank by the director’s institution), an elected director could meet the independence standard on a particular day. However, because the amount of business conducted by an elected director’s institution may change frequently, and because the Bank generally desires to increase the amount of business it conducts with each member, the directors deemed it inappropriate to draw distinctions among the elected directors based upon the amount of business conducted with the Bank by any director’s institution at a specific time.

The board has a standing Audit Committee. For the reasons noted above, the board determined that none of the current elected members of the Bank’s Audit Committee, including Directors Stephen F. Christy, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy and Robert F. Verdonck, is independent under the NYSE standards for audit committee members. The board determined that Director Joyce H. Errecart, an appointed director who serves on the Audit Committee, is independent under the NYSE

132




independence standards for audit committee members. The board also determined that Directors Stephen F. Christy, Peter F. Crosby, John H. Ellis, Kevin M. McCarthy and Robert F. Verdonck are “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of the SEC rules, and further determined that as of March 16, 2007, are not independent under NYSE standards. As stated above, the board determined that each member of the audit committee is independent under the Finance Board’s standards applicable to the Bank’s Audit Committee.

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees paid by us to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the Bank’s financial statements for 2006 and 2005, as well as the fees paid by us to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for audit-related services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers to us during 2006 and 2005.

Audit Fees

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Audit fees(1)

 

$

619

 

$

1,073

 

Audit-related fees(2)

 

80

 

23

 

Tax fees

 

 

 

All other fees

 

 

 

Total

 

$

699

 

$

1,096

 

 


(1)          Audit fees consist of fees incurred in connection with the audit of the Bank’s financial statements, review of quarterly or annual management’s discussion and analysis, and participation and review of financial information filed with the SEC.

(2)          Audit-related fees consist of fees related to accounting research and consultations, internal control reviews, participation and presentations at conferences, review of capital plans, and operations reviews of new products and supporting processes.

The Audit Committee selects the Bank’s independent registered public accounting firm and preapproves all audit services to be provided by it to the Bank. The Audit Committee also reviews and preapproves all audit-related and nonaudit-related services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the Audit Committee’s charter. In its review of these services and related fees and terms, the Audit Committee considers, among other things, the possible effect of the performance of such services on the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

a)               Financial Statements

The Bank’s consolidated financial statements are set forth under Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.

b)               Financial Statement Schedules

None

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c)                Exhibits

3.1

 

Restated Organization Certificate of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston *

3.2

 

By-laws of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston *

4

 

Capital Plan of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston *

10.1

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Pension Benefit Equalization Plan as amended and restated as of August 1, 1997 *

10.1.1

 

Deferral Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Robert F. Verdonck dated December 12, 2005 ^^

10.1.2

 

Deferral Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Peter F. Crosby dated December 20, 2005 ^^

10.1.3

 

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Program for the Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ^^^

10.2

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan as amended and restated as of August 1, 2000 *

10.2.1

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan as amended and restated as of October 12, 2006

10.3

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 2005 Executive Incentive Plan + ^

10.3.1

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 2006 Executive Incentive Plan ** ^

10.3.2

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 2007 Executive Incentive Plan

10.4

 

Lease between BP 111 Huntington Ave LLC and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston *

10.5

 

Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated April 20, 2000, between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.5.1

 

First Amendment to Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated September 7, 2000, between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.5.2

 

Second Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated May 2000 between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.5.3

 

Third Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated March 18, 2003, between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.5.4

 

Fourth Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated September 21, 2004, between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.5.5

 

Custody Agreement for Second Charter Reinsurance Company Mortgage Partnership Finance Investment and Services Agreement dated December 31, 2001, between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago *

10.6

 

Federal Home Loan Banks P&I Funding and Contingency Plan Agreement, effective as of July 20, 2006, by and among the Office of Finance and each of the Federal Home Loan Banks ++

10.7

 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 2007 Director Compensation Policy

10.8

 

Revised Amended Salary Deferral and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Michael A. Jessee dated December 28, 2005 +++

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10.8.1

 

Revised Amended Salary Deferral and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and William L. Oakley dated December 30, 2005 ***

10.8.2

 

Revised Amended Salary Deferral and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Frank Nitkiewicz dated December 29, 2005 @

10.8.3

 

Revised Amended Salary Deferral and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Earl W. Baucom dated December 29, 2005

10.8.4

 

Revised Amended Salary Deferral and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and M. Susan Elliott dated December 29, 2005

10.9

 

Incentive Compensation Deferral Election and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Earl W. Baucom dated June 16, 2006

10.9.1

 

Incentive Compensation Deferral Election and Membership Agreement between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and M. Susan Elliott dated June 14, 2006

12

 

Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges

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


*

Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered Exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on October 31, 2005.

**

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to our Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 30, 2006.

***

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our First Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 12, 2006

+

Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on December 22, 2005.

++

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 23, 2006.

+++

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our First Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 12, 2006

^

Confidential treatment has been requested as to portions of this exhibit.

^^

Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered Exhibit to our First Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 12, 2006

^^^

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our First Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 12, 2006

@

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our First Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 12, 2006

 

135




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.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

Date

 

 

(Registrant)

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

MICHAEL A. JESSEE

 

 

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

FRANK NITKIEWICZ

 

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

EARL W. BAUCOM

 

 

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

STEPHEN F. CHRISTY

 

 

 

Stephen F. Christy

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

STEVEN A. CLOSSON

 

 

 

Steven A. Closson

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

ARTHUR R. CONNELLY

 

 

 

Arthur R. Connelly

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

PETER F. CROSBY

 

 

 

Peter F. Crosby

 

 

Director

136




 

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

JOHN H. ELLIS

 

 

 

John H. Ellis

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

JOYCE H. ERRECART

 

 

 

Joyce H. Errecart

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

MARK E. MACOMBER

 

 

 

Mark E. Macomber

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

KEVIN M. MCCARTHY

 

 

 

Kevin M. McCarthy

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

JAN A. MILLER

 

 

 

Jan A. Miller

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

WILLIAM P. MORRISSEY

 

 

 

William P. Morrissey

 

 

Director

March 23, 2007

By:

/s/

ROBERT F. VERDONCK

 

 

 

Robert F. Verdonck

 

 

Director

 

137




GRAPHIC

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

125 High Street

 

Boston, MA 02110-1707

 

Telephone (617) 530 5000

 

Facsimile (617) 530 5001

 

www.pwc.com

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of condition and the related statements of income, capital, and of cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank) at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Bank’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 2, the Bank changed its method of accounting for amortization of premiums and discounts on MPF mortgage loans, on January 1, 2005.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

March 23, 2007

 

F-1




FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON
STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(dollars and shares in thousands, except par value)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

8,197

 

$

9,683

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

940,050

 

2,130,050

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

3,250,000

 

 

Federal funds sold

 

2,606,500

 

4,775,000

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities—includes $0 and $193 pledged as collateral in 2006 and 2005 that may be repledged

 

151,362

 

216,578

 

Available-for-sale securities—includes $54,151 and $109,455 pledged as collateral in 2006 and 2005 that may be repledged

 

988,058

 

1,016,488

 

Held-to-maturity securities—includes $0 and $11,429 pledged as collateral in 2006 and 2005 that may be repledged(a)

 

7,306,191

 

6,328,672

 

Advances

 

37,342,125

 

38,067,896

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net of allowance for credit losses of $125 and $1,843 in 2006 and 2005

 

4,502,182

 

4,886,494

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

213,934

 

190,056

 

Premises, software, and equipment, net

 

6,370

 

6,103

 

Derivative assets

 

128,373

 

45,447

 

Other assets

 

26,439

 

27,567

 

Total Assets

 

$

57,469,781

 

$

57,700,034

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing

 

$

1,119,051

 

$

597,829

 

Non-interest-bearing

 

4,958

 

4,262

 

Total deposits

 

1,124,009

 

602,091

 

Consolidated obligations, net:

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

35,518,442

 

29,442,073

 

Discount notes

 

17,723,515

 

24,339,903

 

Total consolidated obligations, net

 

53,241,957

 

53,781,976

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

12,354

 

8,296

 

Accrued interest payable

 

357,600

 

276,427

 

Affordable Housing Program (AHP)

 

44,971

 

35,957

 

Payable to Resolution Funding Corporation (REFCorp)

 

13,275

 

13,366

 

Derivative liabilities

 

120,561

 

255,862

 

Other liabilities

 

22,540

 

48,310

 

Total liabilities

 

54,937,267

 

55,022,285

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

Capital stock—Class B—putable ($100 par value), 23,425 shares and 25,311 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

2,342,517

 

2,531,145

 

Retained earnings

 

187,304

 

135,086

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities

 

3,290

 

8,504

 

Net unrealized gain relating to hedging activities

 

1,884

 

3,771

 

Minimum pension liability

 

 

(757

)

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

(2,481

)

 

Total capital

 

2,532,514

 

2,677,749

 

Total Liabilities and Capital

 

$

57,469,781

 

$

57,700,034

 


(a)            Fair values of held-to-maturity securities were $7,308,008 and $6,350,274 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

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

F-2




FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances

 

$

1,990,430

 

$

1,092,681

 

$

596,338

 

Prepayment fees on advances, net

 

909

 

8,876

 

54,296

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

84,820

 

64,458

 

10,654

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

66,307

 

29,638

 

8,569

 

Federal funds sold

 

160,109

 

122,927

 

34,530

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

10,708

 

13,596

 

17,667

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

45,152

 

29,374

 

16,207

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

365,495

 

274,057

 

232,515

 

Prepayment fees on investments

 

4,232

 

14,643

 

9,925

 

Mortgage loans held for portfolio

 

237,602

 

210,956

 

197,773

 

Other

 

9

 

3

 

17

 

Total interest income

 

2,965,773

 

1,861,209

 

1,178,491

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

1,457,402

 

1,017,300

 

843,128

 

Discount notes

 

1,177,028

 

570,307

 

109,439

 

Deposits

 

27,889

 

17,711

 

9,338

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

841

 

1,809

 

1,306

 

Other borrowings

 

425

 

475

 

88

 

Total interest expense

 

2,663,585

 

1,607,602

 

963,299

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

302,188

 

253,607

 

215,192

 

(Reduction of) provision for credit losses

 

(1,704

)

502

 

123

 

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

 

303,892

 

253,105

 

215,069

 

OTHER INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

(215

)

(13,871

)

(40,218

)

Service fees

 

3,116

 

2,393

 

2,233

 

Net unrealized loss on trading securities

 

(1,626

)

(7,625

)

(8,394

)

Net realized gain from sale of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

247

 

Net realized gain from sale of held-to-maturity securities

 

 

 

13

 

Net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities

 

10,540

 

(10,843

)

(7,054

)

Other

 

(65

)

212

 

(257

)

Total other income (loss)

 

11,750

 

(29,734

)

(53,430

)

OTHER EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

44,563

 

42,432

 

36,807

 

Finance Board and Office of Finance

 

3,340

 

3,141

 

2,708

 

Other

 

1,152

 

611

 

130

 

Total other expense

 

49,055

 

46,184

 

39,645

 

INCOME BEFORE ASSESSMENTS

 

266,587

 

177,187

 

121,994

 

AHP

 

21,848

 

15,230

 

10,092

 

REFCorp

 

48,948

 

33,815

 

22,380

 

Total assessments

 

70,796

 

49,045

 

32,472

 

INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

 

195,791

 

128,142

 

89,522

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (Note 2)

 

 

7,118

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

195,791

 

$

135,260

 

$

89,522

 

 

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

F-3




FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004

(dollars and shares in thousands)

 

 

Capital Stock—
Putable

 

Capital Stock
Class B—Putable

 

Retained

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Total

 

 

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

Earnings

 

Income

 

Capital

 

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

24,280

 

$

2,427,960

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

61,769

 

 

$

(17,684

)

 

$

2,472,045

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

529

 

52,917

 

 

4,789

 

 

478,852

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

531,769

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

(143

)

(14,271

)

 

(6,925

)

 

(692,479

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(706,750

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(1,093

)

(109,283

)

 

(579

)

 

(57,882

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(167,165

)

Conversion to Class B shares

 

(23,573

)

(2,357,323

)

 

23,573

 

 

2,357,323

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89,522

 

 

 

 

 

89,522

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale
securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,944

 

 

16,944

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(247

)

 

(247

)

Net unrealized gains relating to hedging activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

368

 

 

368

 

Less: reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,868

)

 

(1,868

)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(229

)

 

(229

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

104,490

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (2.75%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(55,425

)

 

 

 

 

(55,425

)

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

20,858

 

 

2,085,814

 

95,866

 

 

(2,716

)

 

2,178,964

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

 

 

 

8,018

 

 

801,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

801,830

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

 

 

 

(3,561

)

 

(356,091

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(356,091

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

(408

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(408

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,260

 

 

 

 

 

135,260

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale
securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,076

 

 

16,076

 

Net unrealized gains relating to hedging activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

807

 

 

807

 

Less: reclassification adjustment for previously deferred hedging gains and losses included in income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,121

)

 

(2,121

)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(528

)

 

(528

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

149,494

 

Cash dividends on capital stock (4.36%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(96,040

)

 

 

 

 

(96,040

)

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

25,311

 

 

2,531,145

 

135,086

 

 

11,518

 

 

2,677,749

 

Proceeds from sale of capital stock

 

 

 

 

5,401

 

 

540,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

540,097

 

Repurchase/redemption of capital stock

 

 

 

 

(7,218

)

 

(721,797

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(721,797

)

Reclassification of shares to mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

 

 

 

(69

)

 

(6,928

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,928

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

195,791

 

 

 

 

 

195,791

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale
securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,214

)

 

(5,214

)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,887

)

 

(1,887

)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

104

 

 

104

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

188,794

 

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS 158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,828

)

 

(1,828

)

Cash dividends on capital stock (5.51%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(143,573

)

 

 

 

 

(143,573

)

BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

 

$

 

 

23,425

 

 

$

2,342,517

 

$

187,304

 

 

$

2,693

 

 

$

2,532,514

 

 

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

F-4




FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

195,791

 

$

135,260

 

$

89,522

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle

 

 

(7,118

)

 

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

 

195,791

 

128,142

 

89,522

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

100,109

 

31,446

 

115,078

 

(Reduction of) provision for credit losses on mortgage loans

 

(1,704

)

502

 

123

 

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

 

(13,827

)

(7,466

)

(28,426

)

Other adjustments

 

226

 

13,871

 

40,209

 

Net change in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading securities

 

65,216

 

78,829

 

103,568

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

(23,878

)

(49,395

)

(2,533

)

Other assets

 

3,233

 

(994

)

2,676

 

Net derivative accrued interest

 

(87,578

)

11,751

 

(60,957

)

Accrued interest payable

 

81,173

 

53,151

 

(44,829

)

Other liabilities

 

12,475

 

14,642

 

2,868

 

Total adjustments

 

135,445

 

146,337

 

127,777

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

331,236

 

274,479

 

217,299

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

1,190,000

 

525,000

 

(2,555,000

)

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

(3,250,000

)

1,500,000

 

(1,000,000

)

Federal funds sold

 

2,168,500

 

811,800

 

(3,160,800

)

Premises, software, and equipment

 

(2,118

)

(1,400

)

(1,997

)

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

 

 

142,473

 

Purchases

 

 

 

(24,950

)

Held-to-maturity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

2,460,358

 

2,608,740

 

1,910,433

 

Purchases

 

(3,440,239

)

(2,853,845

)

(1,459,159

)

Advances to members:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

695,115,410

 

724,533,225

 

509,135,492

 

Disbursements

 

(694,424,672

)

(732,635,141

)

(513,706,362

)

Mortgage loans held for portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds

 

636,639

 

867,748

 

976,128

 

Purchases

 

(260,773

)

(1,752,577

)

(473,402

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

193,105

 

(6,396,450

)

(10,217,144

)

 

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

F-5




 

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in deposits

 

$

522,664

 

$

(287,709

)

$

(54,997

)

Net proceeds from issuance of consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

729,038,937

 

670,612,207

 

384,763,463

 

Bonds

 

17,116,107

 

11,713,281

 

9,913,794

 

Bonds transferred from other FHLBanks

 

19,872

 

 

345,942

 

Payments for maturing and retiring consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount notes

 

(735,686,223

)

(666,419,142

)

(370,037,172

)

Bonds

 

(11,179,053

)

(9,811,987

)

(14,588,871

)

Proceeds from issuance of capital stock

 

540,097

 

801,830

 

531,769

 

Payments for redemption of mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(2,870

)

(49,994

)

(109,283

)

Payments for repurchase/redemption of capital
stock

 

(721,797

)

(356,091

)

(706,750

)

Cash dividends paid

 

(173,561

)

(82,632

)

(55,377

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(525,827

)

6,119,763

 

10,002,518

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash
equivalents

 

(1,486

)

(2,208

)

2,673

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

 

9,683

 

11,891

 

9,218

 

Cash and cash equivalents at yearend

 

$

8,197

 

$

9,683

 

$

11,891

 

Supplemental disclosure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

2,583,601

 

$

1,521,953

 

$

1,269,690

 

AHP payments

 

$

11,142

 

$

9,584

 

$

7,818

 

REFCorp assessments paid

 

$

49,038

 

$

25,586

 

$

23,275

 

 

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

F-6




FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Background Information

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank), a federally chartered corporation, is one of 12 district Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks). 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 located within the six New England states. The Bank is a cooperative; current and former members own all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank and may receive dividends on their investment. The Bank does not have any wholly or partially owned subsidiaries, and the Bank does not have an equity position in any partnerships, corporations, or off-balance-sheet special-purpose entities. Regulated financial depositories and insurance companies engaged in residential housing finance may apply for membership. Certain nonmember institutions (called housing associates) such as state and local housing authorities that meet certain statutory requirements 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.

All members must purchase stock in the Bank as a condition of membership, as well as a condition of engaging in certain business activities with the Bank. Capital stock of former members will remain outstanding as long as business activities with those former members exists. See Note 14 for a complete description of the capital-stock-purchase requirements. As a result of these requirements, the Bank conducts business with related parties on a regular basis. The Bank considers related parties to be those members with capital stock outstanding in excess of 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding. See Note 20 for additional information related to transactions with related parties.

The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board), an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States (U.S.) government, supervises and regulates the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance, the FHLBanks’ fiscal agent. The Office of Finance is a joint office of the FHLBanks established by the Finance Board to facilitate the issuance and servicing of the consolidated obligations of the FHLBanks. The Finance Board’s principal purpose is to ensure that the FHLBanks operate in a safe and sound manner. In addition, the Finance Board is responsible for ensuring that the FHLBanks carry out their housing-finance mission, remain adequately capitalized, and can raise funds in the capital markets. Also, the Finance Board establishes policies and regulations covering the operations of the FHLBanks. Each FHLBank operates as a separate entity with its own management, employees, and board of directors.

As provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 (the FHLBank Act), as amended, or Finance Board regulation, the FHLBanks’ debt instruments (consolidated obligations) are backed only by the financial resources of the FHLBanks and are the primary source of funds for the FHLBanks. Deposits, other borrowings, and the issuance of capital stock—which is owned by the FHLBanks’ members—provide other funds. Each FHLBank primarily uses these funds to provide advances to members and to purchase mortgage loans from members.

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates.   These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of income and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

F-7




Interest-Bearing Deposits in Banks, Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell, and Federal Funds Sold.   These investments provide short-term liquidity and are carried at cost. The Bank treats securities purchased under agreements to resell as collateralized financings.

Investment Securities.   The Bank carries, at cost, investments for which it has both the ability and intent to hold to maturity, adjusted for the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the level-yield method.

The Bank classifies certain investments acquired for purposes of meeting short-term contingency liquidity needs and asset/liability management as trading securities and carries them at fair value. The Bank records changes in the fair value of these investments through other income. However, the Bank does not participate in speculative trading practices and holds these investments indefinitely as management periodically evaluates its liquidity needs.

The Bank classifies certain investments that it may sell before maturity as available-for-sale and carries them at fair value. The change in fair value of the available-for-sale securities not being hedged by derivative instruments is recorded in other comprehensive income as a net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities. For available-for-sale securities that have been hedged and qualify as a fair-value hedge, the Bank records the portion of the change in value related to the risk being hedged in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities together with the related change in the fair value of the derivative, and records the remainder of the change in accumulated other comprehensive income as net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities.

Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS 115), changes in circumstances may cause the Bank to change its intent to hold a certain security to maturity without calling into question its intent to hold other debt securities to maturity in the future. Thus, the sale or transfer of a held-to-maturity security due to certain changes in circumstances such as evidence of significant deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness or changes in regulatory requirements is not considered to be inconsistent with its original classification. Other events that are isolated, nonrecurring, and unusual for the Bank that could not have been reasonably anticipated may cause the Bank to sell or transfer a held-to-maturity security without necessarily calling into question its intent to hold other debt securities to maturity.

In addition, in accordance with SFAS 115, sales of debt securities that meet either of the following two conditions may be considered as maturities for purposes of the classification of securities: 1) the sale occurs near enough to its maturity date (or call date if exercise of the call is probable) that interest-rate risk is substantially eliminated as a pricing factor and the changes in market-interest rates would not have a significant effect on the security’s fair value, or 2) the sale of a security occurs after the Bank has already collected a substantial portion (at least 85 percent) of the principal outstanding at acquisition due either to prepayments on the debt security or to scheduled payments on a debt security payable in equal installments (both principal and interest) over its term.

The Bank computes the amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on mortgage-backed securities (MBS) using the level-yield method over the estimated lives of the securities. This method requires a retrospective adjustment of the effective yield each time the Bank changes the estimated life, based on actual prepayments received and changes in expected prepayments, as if the new estimate had been known since the original acquisition date of the securities. The Bank computes the amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on other investments using the level-yield method to the contractual maturity of the securities.

The Bank computes gains and losses on sales of investment securities using the specific identification method and includes these gains and losses in other income.

F-8




Investment securities issued by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and U.S. government corporations are not guaranteed by the U.S. government.

The Bank regularly evaluates outstanding investments for changes in fair value and records impairment when a decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary. An investment is deemed impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. After the investment is determined to be impaired, the Bank evaluates whether the decline in value is other than temporary. When evaluating whether the impairment is other than temporary, the Bank takes into consideration whether or not it is going to receive all of the investment’s contractual cash flows and the Bank’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a sufficient amount of time to recover the unrealized losses. In addition, the Bank considers issuer- or collateral-specific factors, such as rating agency actions and business and financial outlook. The Bank also evaluates broader industry and sector performance indicators. If there is an other-than-temporary impairment in value of an investment, the decline in value is recognized as a loss and presented in the statement of income as other expense. The Bank has not experienced any other-than-temporary impairment in value of investments during 2006, 2005, or 2004.

Advances.   The Bank presents advances (loans to members), net of premiums and discounts, as discussed in Note 8. The Bank amortizes the premiums and discounts on advances to interest income using the level-yield method. The Bank credits interest on advances to income as earned. Following the requirements of the FHLBank Act, the Bank obtains sufficient collateral on advances to protect it from losses. The FHLBank Act limits eligible collateral to certain investment securities, residential mortgage loans, cash or deposits with the Bank, and other eligible real-estate-related assets. As Note 8 more fully describes, Community Financial Institutions (CFIs), FDIC-insured institutions with average assets over the preceding three-year period equal to or less than $599 million and $587 million during 2007 and 2006, respectively, are eligible to utilize expanded statutory collateral rules that include secured small-business and agricultural loans, and securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans. The Bank has not incurred any credit losses on advances since its inception. Based upon the collateral held as security for the advances and the repayment history of the Bank’s advances, management believes that an allowance for credit losses on advances is unnecessary.

Mortgage Loans Held for Portfolio.   The Bank participates in the Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) program under which the Bank invests in government (Federal Housing Authority [FHA]-insured and Veterans Affairs [VA]-guaranteed) and conventional residential fixed-rate mortgage loans that are purchased from participating members (see Note 11). The Bank manages the liquidity, interest-rate, and options risk of the loans, while the member retains the marketing and servicing activities. The Bank and the member share in the credit risk of the loans, with the Bank assuming the first-loss obligation limited by the first-loss account (FLA), and the member or a third-party insurer assuming credit losses in excess of the FLA, that is the second-loss credit enhancement, up to the amount of the credit-enhancement obligation as specified in the master agreement. All losses in excess of the second-loss credit enhancement are assumed by the Bank.

MPF loans are held for investment and, accordingly, the Bank reports them at their principal amount outstanding net of unamortized premiums, discounts, and unrealized gains and losses from loans initially classified as mortgage purchase commitments.

The Participating Financial Institution’s (PFI’s) credit-enhancement obligation (CE amount) arises under its PFI agreement while the amount and nature of the obligation are determined with respect to each master commitment. Under the Finance Board’s Acquired Member Asset regulation (12 C.F.R. §955) (AMA regulation) the PFI must “bear the economic consequences” of certain credit losses with respect to a master commitment based upon the MPF product and other criteria. Under the MPF program, the PFI’s credit-enhancement protection (CEP amount) may take the form of the CE amount, which represents the direct liability to pay credit losses incurred with respect to that master commitment or

F-9




may require the PFI to obtain and pay for a Supplemental Mortgage Insurance (SMI) policy insuring the Bank for a portion of the credit losses arising from the master commitment, and/or the PFI may contract for a contingent performance-based credit-enhancement fee (CE fee) whereby such fees are reduced by losses up to a certain amount arising under the master commitment. Under the AMA regulation, any portion of the CE amount that is a PFI’s direct liability must be collateralized by the PFI in the same way that advances from the Bank are collateralized. The PFI agreement provides that the PFI’s obligations under the PFI agreement are secured along with other obligations of the PFI under its regular advances agreement with the Bank and further, that the Bank may request additional collateral to secure the PFI’s obligations. PFIs are paid a CE fee as an incentive to minimize credit losses, to share in the risk of loss on MPF loans, and to pay for SMI, rather than paying a guaranty fee to other secondary market purchasers. CE fees are paid monthly and are determined based on the remaining unpaid principal balance of the MPF loans. The required PFI CE amount may vary depending on the MPF product alternatives selected. CE fees, payable to a PFI as compensation for assuming credit risk, are recorded as an offset to mortgage loan interest income when paid by the Bank. The Bank also pays performance based CE fees which are based on actual performance of the pool of MPF loans under each individual master commitment. To the extent that losses in the current month exceed performance based CE fees accrued, the remaining losses may be recovered from future performance CE fees payable to the PFI.

Real-estate owned (REO) includes assets that have been received in satisfaction of debt or as a result of actual foreclosures. REO is initially recorded (and subsequently carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs) as other assets in the statements of condition. Fair value is defined as the amount that a willing seller could expect from a willing buyer in an arm’s-length transaction. If the fair value of the REO is less than the recorded investment in the MPF loan at the date of transfer, the Bank recognizes a charge-off to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent realized gains and realized or unrealized losses are included in other income.

Mortgage-Loan Participations.   The Bank also sells participations in mortgage loans acquired under the MPF program to the FHLBank of Chicago. Under a master commitment, the Bank may enter into a participation arrangement with the FHLBank of Chicago that specifies an agreed upon ownership percentage for the mortgage loans to be acquired from participating members under the master commitment and related delivery commitments. The Bank and the FHLBank of Chicago both share in the pro rata purchase amounts for each respective loan acquired from the participating member; the relevant pro rata share of principal and interest payments; responsibility for their pro rata share of CE fees and credit losses; and each may hedge its share of the delivery commitments. These participations to the FHLBank of Chicago are transacted contemporaneously with and at the same price as the loan purchases by the Bank, resulting in no gain or loss on the transaction. Based on the terms of the participation agreement between the Bank and the FHLBank of Chicago, these participations are accounted for as sales under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (SFAS 140).

For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank computed the amortization of mortgage-loan-origination fees (premiums and discounts) paid to and received from the Bank’s participating members as interest income using the contractual method. The contractual method recognizes amortization of premiums and discounts using the level-yield method over the contractual maturity of each individual loan, which results in income recognition in a manner that is effectively proportionate to the actual behavior of the underlying assets and reflects the contractual terms of the assets without regard to changes in estimated prepayments based on assumptions about future borrower behavior. Prior to 2005, the Bank amortized premiums and discounts on mortgage loans using the retrospective method, as further described in Note 2.

The Bank records CE fees as a reduction to mortgage-loan-interest income. The Bank may receive and record other non-origination fees, such as delivery-commitment-extension fees and pair-off fees, in

F-10




other income. Delivery-commitment-extension fees are charged when a member requests to extend the period of the delivery commitment beyond the original stated maturity. Pair-off fees represent a make-whole provision and are received when the amount funded under a delivery commitment is less than 95 percent (that is, under-delivery) or greater than 105 percent (that is, over-delivery) of the delivery-commitment amount. To the extent that pair-off fees relate to under-deliveries of loans, they are included in the mark-to-market of the related delivery commitment derivative. If they relate to over-deliveries, they represent purchase price adjustments to the related loans acquired and are recorded as part of the loan basis.

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. When a conventional mortgage loan is placed on nonaccrual status, accrued but uncollected interest is reversed against interest income. The Bank generally records cash payments received on nonaccrual loans first as interest income and then as a reduction of principal as specified in the contractual agreement, unless the collection of the remaining principal amount due is considered doubtful. A government-insured loan is not placed on nonaccrual status when the collection of the contractual principal or interest is 90 days or more past due because of (1) the U.S. government guarantee of the loan and (2) the contractual obligation of the loan servicer.

The Bank purchases both conventional mortgage loans and government (that is, FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed) mortgage loans under the MPF program. FHA/VA loans are government guaranteed and as such, management has determined that no allowance for losses is necessary for such loans. Conventional loans, in addition to having the related real estate as collateral, are also credit enhanced either by qualified collateral pledged by the member, or by secondary-mortgage insurance purchased by the member. The credit enhancement (CE) is the PFI’s potential loss in the second-loss position. It absorbs a percentage of realized losses prior to the Bank having to incur an additional credit loss in the third-loss position.

During 2006, the Bank changed its method for estimating the allowance for loan losses on its portfolio of conventional MPF loans. Under the new estimation methodology, the allowance considers probable incurred losses that are inherent in the portfolio, but have not yet been realized. The allowance for the Bank’s conventional loan pools is based on an analysis of the migration of the Bank’s delinquent loans to default since the inception of the MPF program. The Bank then analyzes the probable loss severity on that portion of the delinquent loans that the migration analysis indicates will default within one year. The combination of these factors represents the estimated losses from conventional MPF loans. The Bank then applies the risk-mitigating features of the MPF program to the estimated loss. The allowance is derived from the estimated loss on defaulting MPF loans, net of the risk-mitigating features of the MPF program. The allowance also includes an uncertainty factor. The uncertainty factor is necessary due to the fact that the migration figures used by the Bank to estimate the amount of defaulting loans are from a period characterized by very strong performance in GSE-conforming residential mortgage loan portfolios, such as the MPF portfolio. The Bank notes that it is probable that the migration rates for delinquent loans may be worse in the future than the Bank’s experience to date with the MPF portfolio indicates.

Prior to 2006, management’s method for estimating the allowance for loan losses was based on a comparison to peer data, such as loan loss allowance levels maintained by Freddie Mac and historical loss experience for similarly rated MBS. This estimation methodology had been used since the inception of the MPF loan-purchase program by the Bank, which began in 1999, and had been used because MPF was a relatively new lending program and the Bank had limited loss history. Management believes that the Bank’s MPF loan portfolio is now sufficiently seasoned to allow the Bank to reasonably estimate probable losses based on its own actual loss experience.

As of December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, the allowance for loan losses on the conventional mortgage-loan portfolio was $125,000 and $1.8 million, respectively. The allowance reflects the Bank’s estimate of probable incurred losses inherent in the MPF portfolio.

F-11




Premises, Software, and Equipment.   The Bank records premises, software, and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Bank’s accumulated depreciation and amortization related to premises, software, and equipment was approximately $9.8 million and $8.6 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Bank computes depreciation on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from three to 10 years. The Bank amortizes leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease. The Bank capitalizes improvements and major renewals but expenses ordinary maintenance and repairs when incurred. Depreciation and amortization expense for premises, software, and equipment was $1.8 million, $1.4 million, and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. The Bank includes gains and losses on disposal of premises, software, and equipment in other income. The net realized loss on disposal of premises, software, and equipment was $11,000 and $251,000 in 2006 and 2004, respectively. There were no realized gains or losses on disposal of premises, software, and equipment in 2005.

Derivatives.   Accounting for derivatives is addressed in the SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended by SFAS No. 137, Accounting for Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities—Deferral of Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133, SFAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities, and SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 133). All derivatives are recognized on the statement of condition at their fair values. Each derivative is designated as one of the following:

(1)         a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment (a fair-value hedge);

(2)         a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a cash-flow hedge);

(3)         a nonqualifying hedge of an asset or liability (economic hedge) for asset-liability-management purposes; or

(4)         a nonqualifying hedge of another derivative (an intermediation hedge) that is offered as a product to members or used to offset other derivatives with nonmember counterparties.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a fair-value hedge, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk (including changes that reflect losses or gains on firm commitments), are recorded in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a cash-flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in other comprehensive income, a component of capital, until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows of the hedged transaction (for example, until the periodic recognition of interest on a variable-rate asset or liability is recorded in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities).

For both fair-value and cash-flow hedges, any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which the changes in the fair value of the derivative differ from the change in the fair value of the hedged item or the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction) is recorded in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative not qualifying as a hedge are recorded in current period earnings with no fair-value adjustment to an asset or liability.

The differentials between accruals of interest receivables and payables on derivatives designated as fair-value or cash-flow hedges are recognized as adjustments to the interest income or interest expense of the designated hedged investment securities, advances, consolidated obligations (COs) or other financial

F-12




instruments. The differentials between accruals of interest receivables and payables on intermediated derivatives for members and other economic hedges are recognized in other income. Therefore, both the net interest on the stand-alone derivative and the fair-value changes are recorded in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities. Cash flows associated with stand-alone derivatives are reflected as cash flows from operating activities in the statement of cash flows.

The Bank may issue debt, may make advances, or may purchase financial instruments in which a derivative instrument is embedded. Upon execution of these transactions, the Bank assesses whether the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the advance or debt (the host contract) and whether a separate, nonembedded instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When the Bank determines that (1) the embedded derivative has economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract and (2) a separate, stand-alone instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded derivative is separated from the host contract, carried at fair value, and designated as a stand-alone derivative instrument pursuant to an economic hedge. The Bank has determined that all embedded derivatives in currently outstanding transactions as of December 31, 2006, are clearly and closely related to the host contracts, and therefore no embedded derivatives have been bifurcated. However, if the entire contract (the host contract and the embedded derivative) is to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in current earnings (for example, an investment security classified as trading under SFAS 115), or if the Bank cannot reliably identify and measure the embedded derivative for purposes of separating that derivative from its host contract, the entire contract is carried on the statement of condition at fair value and no portion of the contract is designated as a hedging instrument.

If hedging relationships meet certain criteria specified in SFAS 133, they are eligible for hedge accounting and the offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged items may be recorded in earnings. The application of hedge accounting generally requires the Bank to evaluate the effectiveness of the hedging relationships on an ongoing basis and to calculate the changes in fair value of the derivatives and related hedged items independently. This is known as the long-haul method of accounting. Transactions that meet more stringent criteria qualify for the shortcut method of hedge accounting in which an assumption can be made that the change in fair value of a hedged item exactly offsets the change in value of the related derivative.

Derivatives are typically executed at the same time as the hedged advances or COs and the Bank designates the hedged item in a qualifying hedge relationship as of the trade date. In many hedging relationships that use the shortcut method, the Bank may designate the hedging relationship upon its commitment to disburse an advance or trade a CO bond that settles within the shortest period of time possible for the type of instrument based on market settlement conventions. In such circumstances, although the advance or CO bond will not be recognized in the financial statements until settlement date, the Bank meets the criteria within SFAS 133 for applying the shortcut method provided all the other criteria of SFAS 133 paragraph 68 are also met. The Bank then records the changes in fair value of the derivative and the hedged item beginning on the trade date.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because the Bank determines that the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective fair-value hedge of an existing hedged item, the Bank continues to carry the derivative on the statement of condition at its fair value, ceases to adjust the hedged asset or liability for changes in fair value, and begins to amortize the cumulative basis adjustment on the hedged item into earnings over the remaining life of the hedged item using the level-yield method.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because the Bank determines that the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective cash-flow hedge of an existing hedged item, the Bank continues to carry the

F-13




derivative on the statement of condition at its fair value and amortizes the cumulative other comprehensive income adjustment to earnings when earnings are affected by the existing hedge item, which is the original forecasted transaction.

Under limited circumstances, when the Bank discontinues cash-flow hedge accounting because it is no longer probable that the forecasted transaction will occur in the originally expected period plus the following two months, but it is probable that the transaction will still occur in the future, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in accumulated other comprehensive income and is recognized in earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. However, if it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within two months after that, the gains and losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income are recognized immediately in earnings.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because the hedged item no longer meets the definition of a firm commitment, the Bank continues to carry the derivative on the statement of condition at its fair value, removing from the statement of condition any asset or liability that was recorded to recognize the firm commitment and recording it as a gain or loss in current period earnings.

Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Stock.   The Bank adopted SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity (SFAS 150) on January 1, 2004. See Note 14 for more information. In compliance with SFAS 150, the Bank will reclassify stock subject to redemption from equity to a liability after a member exercises a written redemption request, gives notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or attains nonmember status by merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination from membership, since the member shares will then meet the definition of mandatorily redeemable financial instrument. We do not take into consideration our members’ right to cancel a redemption request in determining when shares of capital stock should be classified as a liability because such cancellation would be subject to 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. Member shares meeting this definition are reclassified to a liability at fair value. Dividends declared on member shares classified as a liability in accordance with SFAS 150 are accrued at the expected dividend rate and reflected as interest expense in the statement of income. The repayment of these mandatorily redeemable financial instruments is reflected as cash outflows in the financing activities section of the statement of cash flows once settled.

If a member cancels its written notice of redemption or notice of withdrawal, the Bank will reclassify mandatorily redeemable capital stock from a liability to equity in compliance with SFAS 150. After the reclassification, dividends on the capital stock will no longer be classified as interest expense.

Prepayment Fees.   The Bank charges members a prepayment fee when they prepay certain advances before the original maturity. The Bank records prepayment fees net of SFAS 133 hedging fair-value adjustments included in the book basis of the advance as “prepayment fees on advances, net” in the interest income section of the statement of income.

In cases in which the Bank funds a new advance concurrent with or within a short period of time of the prepayment of an existing advance by the same member, the Bank applies the guidance provided in Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 01-07, Creditor’s Accounting for a Modification or Exchange of Debt Instruments (EITF 01-07) and SFAS No. 91, Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating and Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases (SFAS 91), and evaluates whether the new advance meets the accounting criteria to qualify as a modification of the existing advance or as a new advance.

If the new advance qualifies as a modification of the existing advance, the net prepayment fee on the prepaid advance is deferred, recorded in the basis of the modified advance, and amortized to interest income over the life of the modified advance. If the modified advance is hedged, it is marked to fair value

F-14




after the amortization of the basis adjustment. This amortization results in offsetting amounts being recorded in net interest income and net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities in other income. If the Bank determines that the advance should be treated as a new advance, it records the prepayment fee net of the SFAS 133 hedging fair-value adjustment in the book basis of the advance as prepayment fees on advances, net in the interest income section of the statement of income.

For prepaid advances that were hedged and met the hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133, the Bank terminates the hedging relationship upon prepayment and records the prepayment fee net of the SFAS 133 hedging fair-value adjustment in the book basis of the advance as prepayment fees on advances, net in interest income. If the Bank funds a new advance to a member concurrent with or within a short period of time after the prepayment of a previous advance to that member, the Bank evaluates whether the new advance qualifies as a modification of the original hedged advance. If the new advance qualifies as a modification of the original hedged advance, the SFAS 133 hedging fair-value adjustment and the prepayment fee are included in the carrying amount of the modified advance and are amortized in interest income over the life of the modified advance using the level-yield method. If the modified advance is also hedged and the hedge meets the hedging criteria in accordance with SFAS 133, it is marked to fair value after the modification, and subsequent fair-value changes are recorded in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

Commitment Fees.   The Bank records commitment fees for standby letters of credit as a deferred credit when received, and amortizes these fees on a straight-line basis to service-fee income in other income over the term of the standby letter of credit. The Bank believes the likelihood of standby letters of credit being drawn upon is remote based upon past experience.

Concessions on Consolidated Obligations.   The Office of Finance prorates the amounts paid to dealers in connection with the sale of COs to the Bank based upon the percentage of debt issued that is assumed by the Bank. The Bank defers and amortizes these dealer concessions using the level-yield method over the contractual maturity of the COs. Unamortized concessions were $10.8 million and $10.6 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and are included in other assets on the statement of condition. Amortization of such concessions are included in CO interest expense and totaled $4.6 million, $1.3 million, and $9.5 million in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Discounts and Premiums on Consolidated Obligations.   The Bank amortizes discounts on CO discount notes to expense using the level-yield method throughout the term of the related notes. It amortizes discounts and premiums on CO bonds to expense using the level-yield method over the contractual maturity of the CO bonds.

Operating Expenses.   Included in operating expenses are salaries and employee benefits totaling $26.9 million, $25.0 million, and $22.3 million for December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Finance Board and Office of Finance Expenses.   The Bank is assessed for its proportionate share of the costs of operating the Finance Board, the Bank’s primary regulator, and the Office of Finance, which manages the sale of COs. The Finance Board allocates its operating and capital expenditures to the FHLBanks based on each FHLBank’s percentage of total combined capital. The Office of Finance allocates its operating and capital expenditures based on each FHLBank’s percentage of capital stock, percentage of COs issued, and percentage of COs outstanding.

Affordable Housing Program.   The FHLBank Act requires each FHLBank to establish and fund an AHP (see Note 9). The Bank charges the required funding for AHP to earnings and establishes a liability. The AHP funds provide grants to members to assist in the purchase, construction, or rehabilitation of housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. The Bank also issues AHP advances at interest rates below the customary rate for nonsubsidized advances. When the Bank makes an AHP advance, the present value of the variation in the cash flow caused by the difference in the interest rate

F-15




between the AHP advance rate and the Bank’s related cost of funds for comparable maturity funding is charged against the AHP liability and recorded as a discount on the AHP advance. The discount on AHP advances is accreted to interest income on advances using the level-yield method over the life of the advance.

Resolution Funding Corporation Assessments.   Although the Bank is exempt from ordinary federal, state, and local taxation except for local real-estate tax, it is required to make payments to REFCorp. Each FHLBank is required to make quarterly payments to REFCorp to pay toward interest on bonds issued by REFCorp. REFCorp is a corporation established by Congress in 1989 to provide funding for the resolution and disposition of insolvent savings institutions. Officers, employees, and agents of the Office of Finance are authorized to act for and on behalf of REFCorp to carry out the functions of REFCorp. See Note 10 for more information.

Estimated Fair Values.   Some of the Bank’s financial instruments lack an available trading market characterized by transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller engaging in an exchange transaction. Therefore, the Bank uses internal models employing significant estimates and present-value calculations when disclosing estimated fair values. Note 18 details the estimated fair values of the Bank’s financial instruments.

Cash Flows.   In the statement of cash flows, the Bank considers cash and due from banks as cash and cash equivalents. Federal funds sold are not treated as cash equivalents for purposes of the statement of cash flows, but are instead treated as short-term investments and are reflected in the investing activities section of the statement of cash flows.

Reclassification.   Certain amounts in the 2005 and 2004 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation. In particular, as reflected in Note 6—Available-for-Sale Securities, the Bank changed its available-for-sale footnote disclosures by separately disclosing SFAS 133 carrying value adjustments for fair-value hedge adjustments on its available-for-sale securities. Previously, the Bank had disclosed such adjustment within gross unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. The Bank has concluded that previous disclosures are correct in all material respects but has revised previous disclosures for consistency purposes.

Note 2—Change in Accounting Principle, Accounting Adjustments, and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Change in Accounting Principle for Amortization of MPF Mortgage-Loan Premiums and Discounts.   Effective January 1, 2005, the Bank changed its method of accounting for premiums and discounts on MPF mortgage loans under SFAS 91 to the contractual method. Prior to 2005, amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts was computed using the retrospective method, that is using the interest method over the estimated lives of the assets, which requires a retrospective adjustment of the effective yield each time the Bank changes its estimate of the loan life, based on actual prepayments received and changes in expected future prepayments. The retrospective method is intended to adjust prior reported amounts as if the new estimate had been known since the original acquisition of the assets. The contractual method uses the cash flows provided by the underlying loan contracts to apply the interest method. While both methods are acceptable under GAAP, we believe that the contractual method is preferable to the retrospective method because under the contractual method, the income effects of premiums and discounts are recognized in a manner that is reflective of the actual behavior of the underlying assets during the period in which the behavior occurs while also reflecting the contractual terms of the assets without regard to changes in estimated prepayments based on assumptions about future borrower behavior.

As a result of implementing the change in accounting principle for amortization and accretion from the retrospective method to the contractual method, the Bank recorded a cumulative effect of a change in

F-16




accounting principle effective January 1, 2005, that resulted in an increase to income before AHP and REFCorp assessments of $7.1 million.

On a pro forma basis, if the change in accounting principle for amortization of MPF mortgage loan premiums and discounts had been applied retroactively for all prior years, we have determined that net income for the year ended December 31, 2004, would not have been materially different than the results as reported.

Accounting Adjustments.   During the second quarter of 2005, the Bank evaluated its estimation methodology for determining the fair-value hedge adjustments for certain CO bonds for which interest-rate swaps were designated as hedges of changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate under SFAS 133. As a result of this evaluation, management has changed the estimation methodology in favor of a method that it believes more accurately calculates the fair value of the hedged item, as further described below.

In general, when we designate an interest-rate swap as a hedge of changes in fair value of the hedged item attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR yield curve, we determine a constant spread adjustment to the LIBOR yield curve that results in a market- interest rate on the hedged item at the inception of the hedging relationship. Previous to the change in our estimation methodology, when the Bank entered into this type of hedge relationship for a CO bond, in order to adjust the LIBOR yield curve for valuation purposes, we used the spread that was applied to the pay side of the associated interest-rate swap as a proxy for the market rate on the CO bond.

After performing the evaluation in the second quarter of 2005, management believes that the aforementioned methodology was flawed because it overstated the yields used to determine the changes in the fair values of the CO bonds attributable to changes in the benchmark LIBOR yield curve. The former methodology did not consider that the pay-side LIBOR spread adjustment was set at a level designed to compensate the swap dealer for paying the swap fee and it resulted in an initial basis for the bond that is aligned with the value of the interest-rate swap immediately after the payment of the swap fee, rather than a par valuation.

Management determined that a different discount spread-adjustment methodology would have more accurately reflected the changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate by better calibrating the spread adjustment to the benchmark LIBOR yield curve to the initial basis value of the hedged CO bond. This methodology results in initial CO bond values that are properly aligned with the initial basis adjustment of the bond. Accordingly, management changed the estimation methodology for calculating the benchmark fair-value hedge adjustments for these transactions during the second quarter of 2005 to the more accurate method.

Management determined that the differences between the previous estimation methodology and the new estimation methodology are immaterial to prior periods. The change was implemented as of June 30, 2005, and has been reflected as a change in estimate. As of June 30, 2005, the cumulative difference between the two estimation methodologies was a reduction to income before assessments of approximately $9.4 million, which has been recorded in net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities in other income. Additionally, it is expected that the use of the new methodology will lead to increased volatility in reported ineffectiveness associated with these hedging relationships due to the introduction of a difference in the initial valuation basis between the CO bond and the interest-rate swap that is subject to fluctuation with interest rates, and therefore there will be increased volatility in the amount of gains and losses from derivative and hedging activities and reported net income in future periods. In general, when interest rates increase, ineffectiveness will generally be more negative, and when interest rates fall, ineffectiveness will generally be more positive than was the case under the previous method.

F-17




During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Bank identified and corrected an error in the accounting for certain hedged available-for-sale investment securities. As a result of this error, certain amounts of hedge ineffectiveness had been incorrectly deferred in other comprehensive income rather than being recorded in the income statement each period. The cumulative amount of the error through the end of the third quarter of 2006 was $6.4 million, or $4.7 million after assessments. Management has determined that the effect of this error is immaterial to prior periods, and as such, the cumulative effect of this error has been recorded in the income statement during the fourth quarter of 2006. The correction has resulted in an increase of $6.4 million to net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities in other income.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards.   SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140 (SFAS 155). In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 155, which resolves issues addressed in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets (DIG Issue D1). SFAS 155 amends SFAS 133 to simplify the accounting for certain derivatives embedded in other financial instruments (hybrid financial instruments) by permitting fair-value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise required bifurcation, provided that the entire hybrid financial instrument is accounted for on a fair-value basis. SFAS 155 also establishes the requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, which replaces the interim guidance in DIG Issue D1. SFAS 155 amends SFAS 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities—a replacement of FASB Statement 125 (SFAS 140) to allow a qualifying special-purpose entity to hold a derivative financial instrument that pertains to beneficial interests other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, (January 1, 2007, for the Bank) and did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition upon adoption.

DIG Issue B40, Application of Paragraph 13(b) to Securitized Interest in Prepayable Financial Assets (DIG B40). On December 20, 2006, the FASB issued DIG B40 which clarifies when a securitized interest in prepayable financial assets is subject to the conditions in paragraph 13(b) of SFAS 133. DIG B40 becomes effective upon initial adoption of SFAS 155 (January 1, 2007, for the Bank) did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of condition upon adoption.

SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, which establishes a formal framework for measuring fair value. This statement defines fair value and provides guidance on the appropriate valuation techniques established to determine fair value. This standard requires increased disclosures around the prioritization of valuations assigned to fair-value measurements by requiring the Bank to assign one of three possible priority levels to each valuation made for items recorded at fair value on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, (January 1, 2008, for the Bank) with earlier adoption allowed as long as the standard is adopted for the first financial statements issued in the fiscal year of adoption. The Bank has not yet determined the effect that the implementation of SFAS 157 will have on its earnings or statement of condition.

SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132 (R ) (SFAS 158). In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158, which requires an employer to recognize the entire funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan on its balance sheet. This statement requires an entity’s calculated projected benefit obligation to be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet. The over- or under-funded status of a plan represents plan gains, losses, prior service costs, and transition items, and is recorded in other comprehensive income. This statement also requires the measurement of plan assets and benefit

F-18




obligations to be made at the entity’s fiscal yearend. This statement does not apply to multi-employer defined benefit postretirement plans such as the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan in which the Bank participates. Only single-employer defined benefit postretirement plans, including the Bank’s supplemental retirement plan, are impacted. The Bank adopted the provisions of this statement as of December 31, 2006, and it did not have a material impact on the Bank’s earnings or statement of financial condition upon adoption. See Note 15—Employee Retirement Plans for additional information regarding the adoption of SFAS 158.

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 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 financial position. 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) with early adoption permitted. We have not yet determined the effect that the implementation of SFAS 159 will have on our results of operations or financial condition.

SAB No. 108. In September 2006, the SEC released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). SAB 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a misstatement. The SEC staff believes that registrants should quantify errors using both a balance sheet and an income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. SAB 108 is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006, (the year ending December 31, 2006, for the Bank) with earlier application encouraged for any interim period of the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006, filed after the publication of SAB 108. The initial application of SAB 108 in 2006 did not have an impact on the Bank’s results of operations or financial condition.

Note 3—Cash and Due from Banks

Compensating Balances.   The Bank maintains collected cash balances with various commercial banks in return for certain services. These agreements contain no legal restrictions on the withdrawal of funds. The average compensating balances for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, were approximately $1.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

Restricted Balances.   The Bank maintained average required clearing balances with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston of approximately $9.4 million and $10.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These are required clearing balances and may not be withdrawn; however, the Bank may use earnings credits on these balances to pay for services received from the Federal Reserve Bank.

Pass-Through Deposit Reserves.   The Bank acts as a pass-through correspondent for member institutions required to deposit reserves with the Federal Reserve Banks. Pass-through reserves deposited with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston would be shown as cash and due from banks on the statement of conditions. However, there were no pass-through reserves deposited at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

F-19




Note 4—Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

The Bank has entered into purchases of securities under agreements to resell those securities. These amounts represent short-term loans and are assets on the statement of condition. The securities purchased under agreements to resell are held in safekeeping in the name of the Bank by third-party custodians approved by the Bank. Should the market value of the underlying securities decrease below the market value required as collateral, the counterparty must place an equivalent amount of additional securities in safekeeping in the name of the Bank or the dollar value of the resale agreement will be decreased accordingly. The collateral received on securities purchased under agreements to resell has not been sold or repledged by the Bank. Securities purchased under agreements to resell averaged $1.3 billion and $883.7 million during 2006 and 2005, respectively, and the maximum amount outstanding at any month end during 2006 and 2005 was $3.9 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively.

Note 5—Trading Securities

Major Security Types.   Trading securities as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

$

42,677

 

$

55,026

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

63,685

 

85,776

 

Other

 

45,000

 

75,776

 

Total

 

$

151,362

 

$

216,578

 

 

Net losses on trading securities for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, include a change in net unrealized holding losses of $1.6 million and $7.6 million for securities held on December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Bank does not participate in speculative trading practices and holds these investments indefinitely as management periodically evaluates its liquidity needs.

Note 6—Available-for-Sale Securities

Major Security Types.   Available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2006, 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

 

International agency obligations

 

$

351,299

 

 

$

28,963

 

 

 

$

2,366

 

 

 

$

(144

)

 

$

382,484

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,654

 

 

11,828

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

 

 

225,615

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

184,342

 

 

7,382

 

 

 

564

 

 

 

(741

)

 

191,547

 

Other FHLBanks’ bonds

 

14,685

 

 

15

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

14,716

 

 

 

763,980

 

 

48,188

 

 

 

3,079

 

 

 

(885

)

 

814,362

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

172,619

 

 

(19

)

 

 

1,096

 

 

 

 

 

173,696

 

Total

 

$

936,599

 

 

$

48,169

 

 

 

$

4,175

 

 

 

$

(885

)

 

$

988,058

 

 

F-20




Available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2005, 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

 

International agency obligations

 

$

351,955

 

 

$

38,246

 

 

 

$

7,706

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

397,907

 

U.S. government corporations

 

213,812

 

 

19,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,727

)

 

230,575

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

184,694

 

 

10,110

 

 

 

2,251

 

 

 

(751

)

 

196,304

 

Other FHLBanks’ bonds

 

14,800

 

 

(329

)

 

 

538

 

 

 

 

 

15,009

 

 

 

765,261

 

 

67,517

 

 

 

10,495

 

 

 

(3,478

)

 

839,795

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

173,554

 

 

1,652

 

 

 

1,487

 

 

 

 

 

176,693

 

Total

 

$

938,815

 

 

$

69,169

 

 

 

$

11,982

 

 

 

$

(3,478

)

 

$

1,016,488

 

 

The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2006. 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

 

International agency obligations

 

$

37,049

 

 

$

(144

)

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

37,049

 

 

$

(144

)

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

71,126

 

 

(741

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

71,126

 

 

(741

)

 

 

Management believes that the unrealized loss on the Bank’s investment in international agency obligations and GSE securities are the result of the current interest-rate environment. Management has reviewed these available-for-sale investments and has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality and because the Bank has the ability and intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Bank does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2006.

The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2005. 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

 

U.S. government corporations

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

230,575

 

 

$

(2,727

)

 

$

230,575

 

 

$

(2,727

)

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89,454

 

 

(751

)

 

89,454

 

 

(751

)

 

 

F-21




Redemption Terms.   The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2006 and 2005, are shown below (dollars in thousands). Expected maturities of some securities and MBS will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment fees.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

40,913

 

$

40,974

 

$

 

$

 

Due after one year through five years

 

54,904

 

54,685

 

96,173

 

96,647

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

14,477

 

14,053

 

14,546

 

14,435

 

Due after 10 years

 

653,686

 

704,650

 

654,542

 

728,713

 

 

 

763,980

 

814,362

 

765,261

 

839,795

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

172,619

 

173,696

 

173,554

 

176,693

 

Total

 

$

936,599

 

$

988,058

 

$

938,815

 

$

1,016,488

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, the Bank’s investment in other FHLBanks’ bonds are included in the “due in one year or less” category in the above table. As of December 31, 2005, the Bank’s investment in other FHLBanks’ bonds are included in the “due after one year through five years” category in the above table.

As of December 31, 2006, the amortized cost of the Bank’s available-for-sale securities includes net premiums of $45.8 million. Of that amount, $42.4 million relate to non-MBS securities and $3.4 million relate to MBS securities. As of December 31, 2005, the amortized cost of the Bank’s available-for-sale securities includes net premiums of $48.1 million. Of that amount, $43.8 million relate to non-MBS securities and $4.3 million relate to MBS securities.

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms.   The following table details additional interest-rate-payment terms for investment securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amortized cost of available-for-sale securities other than mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

$

763,980

 

$

765,261

 

Amortized cost of available-for-sale mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate collateralized mortgage obligations

 

172,619

 

173,554

 

Total

 

$

936,599

 

$

938,815

 

 

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank’s investment in other FHLBanks’ bonds is fixed-rate.

Gains and Losses.   There were no sales of available-for-sale securities during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. Gross gains of $7.3 million were realized on sales of available-for-sale securities during the year ended December 31, 2004. These gains were netted with losses incurred on derivatives associated with these available-for-sale securities of $7.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2004.

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Note 7—Held-to-Maturity Securities

Major Security Types.   Held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2006, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

$

62,823

 

 

$

879

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

63,702

 

State or local housing-agency obligations

 

315,545

 

 

3,763

 

 

 

(1,394

)

 

317,914

 

 

 

378,368

 

 

4,642

 

 

 

(1,394

)

 

381,616

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

16,226

 

 

458

 

 

 

(15

)

 

16,669

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

1,022,039

 

 

7,969

 

 

 

(9,207

)

 

1,020,801

 

Other

 

5,889,558

 

 

8,992

 

 

 

(9,628

)

 

5,888,922

 

 

 

6,927,823

 

 

17,419

 

 

 

(18,850

)

 

6,926,392

 

Total

 

$

7,306,191

 

 

$

22,061

 

 

 

$

(20,244

)

 

$

7,308,008

 

 

Held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2005, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

U.S. agency obligations

 

$

76,457

 

 

$

2,381

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

78,838

 

State or local housing-agency obligations

 

344,372

 

 

9,994

 

 

 

 

 

354,366

 

 

 

420,829

 

 

12,375

 

 

 

 

 

433,204

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

19,968

 

 

684

 

 

 

 

 

20,652

 

Government-sponsored enterprises

 

1,188,410

 

 

16,832

 

 

 

(7,242

)

 

1,198,000

 

Other

 

4,699,465

 

 

14,454

 

 

 

(15,501

)

 

4,698,418

 

 

 

5,907,843

 

 

31,970

 

 

 

(22,743

)

 

5,917,070

 

Total

 

$

6,328,672

 

 

$

44,345

 

 

 

$

(22,743

)

 

$

6,350,274

 

 

The following table summarizes the held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2006 (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-agency obligations

 

$

225,932

 

 

$

(1,394

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

225,932

 

 

$

(1,394

)

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government guaranteed

 

847

 

 

(15

)

 

 

 

 

 

847

 

 

(15

)

 

Government-
sponsored enterprises

 

109,340

 

 

(849

)

 

355,297

 

 

(8,358

)

 

464,637

 

 

(9,207

)

 

Other

 

1,626,345

 

 

(1,726

)

 

593,765

 

 

(7,902

)

 

2,220,110

 

 

(9,628

)

 

 

 

1,736,532

 

 

(2,590

)

 

949,062

 

 

(16,260

)

 

2,685,594

 

 

(18,850

)

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

1,962,464

 

 

$

(3,984

)

 

$

949,062

 

 

$

(16,260

)

 

$

2,911,526

 

 

$

(20,244

)

 

 

F-23




State or local housing-agency obligations.   Management has reviewed the state or local housing-agency obligations and has determined that the unrealized losses shown are the result of the current interest-rate environment. The Bank has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, 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 December 31, 2006.

Mortgage-backed securities.   Management believes that the unrealized losses on the Bank’s investment in MBS securities is the result of the current interest-rate environment. Management has reviewed these investments and has determined that all unrealized losses reflected above are temporary based on the creditworthiness of the issuers and the underlying collateral. In addition, for the U.S. government-guaranteed securities and the GSE securities, the issuer guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest of these investments. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, 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 December 31, 2006.

The following table summarizes the held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2005 (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

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government-sponsored
enterprises

 

$

278,903

 

 

$

(2,965

)

 

$

124,932

 

 

$

(4,277

)

 

$

403,835

 

 

$

(7,242

)

 

Other

 

1,745,287

 

 

(5,346

)

 

567,236

 

 

(10,155

)

 

2,312,523

 

 

(15,501

)

 

Total temporarily impaired

 

$

2,024,190

 

 

$

(8,311

)

 

$

692,168

 

 

$

(14,432

)

 

$

2,716,358

 

 

$

(22,743

)

 

 

Redemption Terms.   The amortized cost and estimated fair value of held-to-maturity securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2006 and 2005, are shown below (dollars in thousands). Expected maturities of some securities and MBS will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment fees.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

855

 

$

866

 

$

115

 

$

116

 

Due after one year through five years

 

8,065

 

8,385

 

6,078

 

6,427

 

Due after five years through 10 years

 

4,265

 

4,471

 

8,615

 

9,205

 

Due after 10 years

 

365,183

 

367,894

 

406,021

 

417,456

 

 

 

378,368

 

381,616

 

420,829

 

433,204

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

6,927,823

 

6,926,392

 

5,907,843

 

5,917,070

 

Total

 

$

7,306,191

 

$

7,308,008

 

$

6,328,672

 

$

6,350,274

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, the amortized cost of the Bank’s held-to-maturity securities includes net discounts of $822,000. Of that amount, $471,000 relates to non-MBS and $351,000 relate to MBS. As of December 31, 2005, the amortized cost of the Bank’s held-to-maturity securities includes net premiums of $3.0 million. Of that amount, $521,000 in net discounts relates to non-MBS and $3.5 million in net premiums relate to MBS.

F-24




Interest-Rate-Payment Terms.   The following table details additional interest-rate-payment terms for investment securities classified as held-to-maturity at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amortized cost of held-to-maturity securities other than mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

$

180,318

 

$

210,699

 

Variable-rate

 

198,050

 

210,130

 

 

 

378,368

 

420,829

 

Amortized cost of held-to-maturity mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

 

Pass-through securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

924,283

 

1,051,846

 

Variable-rate

 

20,196

 

25,471

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

608,122

 

709,104

 

Variable-rate

 

5,375,222

 

4,121,422

 

 

 

6,927,823

 

5,907,843

 

Total

 

$

7,306,191

 

$

6,328,672

 

 

Gains and Losses.   There were no sales of held-to-maturity securities during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. During the year ended December 31, 2004, a gross gain of $13,000 was realized on the sale of a held-to-maturity security, which had a carrying value of $2.6 million, and of which at least 85 percent of the principal outstanding at acquisition had been collected. The sale was considered a maturity for the purpose of security classification.

Note 8—Advances

Redemption Terms.   At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had advances outstanding, including AHP advances (see Note 9), 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.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

 

5.66

%

 

$

43,253

 

 

4.72

%

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

21,680,839

 

 

4.19

 

 

2007

 

21,541,880

 

 

5.12

 

 

4,957,818

 

 

4.18

 

 

2008

 

4,424,213

 

 

4.67

 

 

2,945,061

 

 

4.20

 

 

2009

 

3,811,448

 

 

4.91

 

 

1,976,556

 

 

4.31

 

 

2010

 

2,348,233

 

 

5.06

 

 

2,622,202

 

 

4.87

 

 

2011

 

1,984,555

 

 

4.92

 

 

1,818,824

 

 

4.55

 

 

Thereafter

 

3,240,144

 

 

4.58

 

 

2,004,049

 

 

4.53

 

 

Total par value

 

37,358,758

 

 

4.98

%

 

38,048,602

 

 

4.28

%

 

Premium on advances

 

4,031

 

 

 

 

 

7,384

 

 

 

 

 

Discount on advances

 

(13,413

)

 

 

 

 

(12,400

)

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(7,251

)

 

 

 

 

24,310

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

37,342,125

 

 

 

 

 

$

38,067,896

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-25




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 December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had callable advances outstanding of $30.0 million.

The following table summarizes advances at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by year of original maturity or next call date for callable advances (dollars in thousands):

Year of Maturity or Next Call Date

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

$

43,253

 

2006

 

 

21,680,839

 

2007

 

21,571,880

 

4,987,818

 

2008

 

4,424,213

 

2,945,061

 

2009

 

3,811,448

 

1,976,556

 

2010

 

2,348,233

 

2,622,202

 

2011

 

1,954,555

 

1,788,824

 

Thereafter

 

3,240,144

 

2,004,049

 

Total par value

 

$

37,358,758

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

The Bank also offers putable advances. With a putable advance, the Bank purchases a put option from the member that allows the Bank to terminate the fixed-rate advance, which the Bank normally would exercise when interest rates rise, on specific dates through its term. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had putable advances outstanding totaling $5.4 billion and $5.6 billion, respectively.

The following table summarizes advances outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by year of original maturity or next put date for putable advances (dollars in thousands):

Year of Maturity or Next Put Date

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Overdrawn demand-deposit accounts

 

$

8,285

 

$

43,253

 

2006

 

 

26,476,889

 

2007

 

25,745,480

 

4,851,518

 

2008

 

4,476,013

 

2,625,061

 

2009

 

3,320,798

 

1,312,106

 

2010

 

1,120,083

 

1,148,952

 

2011

 

1,105,255

 

395,624

 

Thereafter

 

1,582,844

 

1,195,199

 

Total par value

 

$

37,358,758

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

F-26




Security Terms.   The Bank lends to financial institutions involved in housing finance 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 to accept only certain U.S. government or government-agency securities; residential mortgage loans; cash or deposits and member capital stock in the Bank, and other eligible real-estate-related assets as collateral on such advances. CFIs are eligible, under expanded statutory collateral rules, to use secured small business, small farm, and small agriculture loans, and securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans. As additional security, the Bank has a statutory lien on each borrower’s Class B capital stock in the Bank. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had rights to collateral, on a member-by-member basis, with an estimated value greater than outstanding advances. Based upon the financial condition of the member or borrower, the type of security agreement, and other factors, the Bank either:

1.                Allows a member to retain possession of the collateral assigned to the Bank, if the member executes a written security agreement and agrees to hold such collateral for the benefit of the Bank; or

2.                Requires the member or borrower to specifically assign or place physical possession of such loan collateral with the Bank or a third-party custodian approved by the Bank; or

3.                Requires the member to place physical possession of such securities collateral with the Bank’s safekeeping agent or held by the member’s securities corporation.

Beyond these provisions, section 10(e) of the FHLBank Act affords any security interest granted by a member or borrower to the Bank priority over the claims or rights of any other party. The exceptions are those claims that would be entitled to priority under otherwise applicable law and are held by bona fide purchasers for value or by secured parties with perfected security interests.

Credit Risk.   While the Bank has never experienced a credit loss on an advance to a member, the expansion of collateral for CFIs and nonmember housing associates provides the potential for additional credit risk for the Bank. Management of the Bank has policies and procedures in place to appropriately manage this credit risk. Based on these policies, the Bank has not provided any allowances for losses on advances. The Bank’s potential credit risk from advances is concentrated in commercial banks and savings institutions.

Related-Party Activities.   The following table presents outstanding advances and total accrued interest receivable from advances as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 (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 December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

7,708,372

 

 

20.6

%

 

 

$

39,653

 

 

 

26.7

%

 

Citizens Financial Group(1)

 

7,005,329

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

28,647

 

 

 

19.3

 

 

As of December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

8,287,166

 

 

21.8

%

 

 

$

23,692

 

 

 

20.5

%

 

Citizens Financial Group(1)

 

5,998,113

 

 

15.8

 

 

 

20,927

 

 

 

18.1

 

 


(1)          Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland, is the holding company of five of the Bank’s members: Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank of New Hampshire, Citizens Bank of Connecticut, and RBS National Bank.

F-27




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

The Bank recognized advances interest income from the above members during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, as follows (dollars in thousands):

Name

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Fleet National Bank, Providence, RI(1)

 

$

 

$

38,521

 

$

16,814

 

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

 

481,468

 

99,216

 

 

Citizens Financial Group

 

328,532

 

122,589

 

44,271

 


(1)          During 2004, Bank of America Corporation acquired Fleet National Bank. At that time, Fleet National Bank became a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. During 2005, Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. was established and became a member of the Bank. Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. assumed all outstanding advances of Fleet National Bank. Bank of America Corporation is the holding company of Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A.

The following table presents an analysis of advances activity with related parties for the year ended December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Balance at

 

For the year Ended December 31, 2006

 

Balance at

 

 

 

December 31,
2005

 

Disbursements to
Members

 

Payments from
Members

 

December 31,
2006

 

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

 

 

$

8,287,166

 

 

 

$

43,871,001

 

 

$

(44,449,795

)

 

$

7,708,372

 

 

Citizens Financial Group

 

 

5,998,113

 

 

 

21,354,543

 

 

(20,347,327

)

 

7,005,329

 

 

 

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms.   The following table details additional interest-rate-payment terms for advances at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Par amount of advances

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate

 

$

32,657,735

 

$

34,617,706

 

Variable-rate

 

4,701,023

 

3,430,896

 

Total

 

$

37,358,758

 

$

38,048,602

 

 

Variable-rate advances noted in the above table include advances outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, totaling $393.8 million and $317.0 million, respectively, which contain embedded interest-rate caps and floors.

F-28




Prepayment Fees.   The Bank records prepayment fees received from members on prepaid advances net of any associated SFAS 133 hedging fair-value adjustments on those advances. Additionally, under certain advances programs, the prepayment-fee provisions of the advance agreement could result in either a payment from the member or to the member when such an advance is prepaid, based upon market conditions at the time of prepayment (referred to as a symmetrical prepayment fee). Advances with a symmetrical prepayment-fee provision are hedged with derivatives containing offsetting terms, so that the Bank is financially indifferent to the members’ decision to prepay such advances. The net amount of prepayment fees is reflected as interest income in the statement of income. For the three years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, advance prepayment fees received from members, the associated hedging fair-value adjustments, and premium write-offs associated with prepaid advances are reflected in the following table (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Prepayment fees received from members

 

$

1,804

 

$

15,269

 

$

244,626

 

Hedging fair-value adjustments

 

(117

)

(6,393

)

(190,330

)

Premium write-off

 

(778

)

 

 

Net prepayment fees

 

$

909

 

$

8,876

 

$

54,296

 

Advance principal amount prepaid

 

$

3,272,038

 

$

1,355,846

 

$

4,026,512

 

 

The Bank did not pay or receive any prepayment fees from Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. during 2006 and 2005. The Bank did not pay or receive any prepayment fees from Fleet National Bank during 2005 and 2004. The Bank did not pay or receive any prepayment fees from Citizens Financial Group during 2006 and 2005. In 2004, the Bank received prepayment fees from Citizens Financial Group totaling $60,000. The corresponding principal amount prepaid to the Bank during 2004 was $307,000.

Note 9—Affordable Housing Program

Section 10(j) of the FHLBank Act requires each FHLBank to establish an AHP. Each FHLBank provides subsidies in the form of direct grants and below-market-rate advances to members, who use the funds to assist in the purchase, construction, or rehabilitation of housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. Annually, the FHLBanks must set aside for the AHP the greater of $100 million or 10 percent of regulatory income. Regulatory income is defined as GAAP income before interest expense associated with mandatorily redeemable capital stock under SFAS 150 and the assessment for AHP, but after the assessment for REFCorp. The exclusion of interest expense related to mandatorily redeemable capital stock is a regulatory calculation determined by the Finance Board. The AHP and REFCorp assessments are calculated simultaneously due to their interdependence. The Bank accrues this expense monthly based on its income. Calculation of the REFCorp assessment is discussed in Note 10.

If the Bank experienced a regulatory loss during a quarter, but still had regulatory income for the year, the Bank’s obligation to the AHP would be calculated based on the Bank’s year-to-date regulatory income. If the Bank had regulatory income in subsequent quarters, it would be required to contribute additional amounts to meet its calculated annual obligation. In annual periods where the Bank’s regulatory income is zero or less, the AHP assessment for the Bank is zero. However, if the result of the aggregate 10 percent calculation described above is less than $100 million for all 12 FHLBanks, then the FHLBank Act requires that each FHLBank contribute such prorated sums as may be required to assure that the aggregate contributions of the FHLBanks equals $100 million. The proration would be made on the basis of the income of the FHLBanks for the previous year, except that the required annual AHP contribution for an FHLBank shall not exceed its net earnings in the previous year. There was no shortfall in either 2006 or 2005. If the Bank is experiencing financial instability and finds that its required AHP contributions are contributing to the financial instability, the Bank may apply to the Finance Board for a temporary suspension of its contributions. The Bank did not make such an application in either 2006 or 2005.

F-29




The Bank charges the amount set aside for AHP to income and recognizes it as a liability. The Bank then relieves the AHP liability as members use subsidies. The Bank had outstanding principal in AHP-related advances of $61.3 million and $51.6 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

An analysis of the AHP liability for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, follows (dollars in thousands):

Roll-forward of the AHP Liability

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

35,957

 

$

33,199

 

AHP expense for the year

 

21,848

 

15,230

 

AHP direct grant disbursements

 

(11,142

)

(9,584

)

AHP subsidy for below-market-rate advance disbursements

 

(2,077

)

(3,070

)

Return of previously disbursed grants and subsidies

 

385

 

182

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

44,971

 

$

35,957

 

 

Note 10—Resolution Funding Corporation

Each FHLBank is required to pay 20 percent of income calculated in accordance with GAAP after the assessment for AHP, but before the assessment for the REFCorp. The AHP and REFCorp assessments are calculated simultaneously due to their interdependence. The Bank accrues its REFCorp assessment on a monthly basis. Calculation of the AHP assessment is discussed in Note 9. The REFCorp has been designated as the calculation agent for AHP and REFCorp assessments. Each FHLBank provides their net income before AHP and REFCorp to the REFCorp, which then performs the calculations for each quarterend.

The FHLBanks will continue to expense these amounts until the aggregate amounts actually paid by all 12 FHLBanks are equivalent to a $300 million annual annuity (or a scheduled payment of $75 million per quarter) with a final maturity date of April 15, 2030, at which point the required payment of each FHLBank to REFCorp will be fully satisfied. The Finance Board, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, selects the appropriate discounting factors to be used in this annuity calculation. The FHLBanks use the actual payments made to determine the amount of the future obligation that has been defeased. The cumulative amount to be paid to REFCorp by the Bank is not determinable at this time because it depends on the future earnings of all FHLBanks and interest rates. If the Bank experienced a net loss during a quarter, but still had net income for the year, the Bank’s obligation to the REFCorp would be calculated based on the Bank’s year-to-date net income. The Bank would be entitled to a refund of amounts paid for the full year that were in excess of its calculated annual obligation. If the Bank had net income in subsequent quarters, it would be required to contribute additional amounts to meet its calculated annual obligation. If the Bank experienced a net loss for a full year, the Bank would have no obligation to the REFCorp for the year.

The Finance Board is required to extend the term of the FHLBanks’ obligation to the REFCorp for each calendar quarter in which there is a deficit quarterly payment. A deficit quarterly payment is the amount by which the actual quarterly payment falls short of $75 million.

The FHLBanks’ aggregate payments through 2006 exceeded the scheduled payments, effectively accelerating payment of the REFCorp obligation and shortening its remaining term to the third quarter of 2015. The FHLBanks’ aggregate payments through 2006 have satisfied $3.1 million of the $75 million scheduled payment for the third quarter of 2015 and all scheduled payments thereafter. This date assumes that the FHLBanks will pay exactly $300 million annually after December 31, 2006, until the annuity is satisfied.

The benchmark payments or portions of them could be reinstated if the actual REFCorp payments of the FHLBanks fall short of $75 million in a quarter. The maturity date of the REFCorp obligation may be extended beyond April 15, 2030, if such extension is necessary to ensure that the value of the aggregate

F-30




amounts paid by the FHLBanks exactly equals a $300 million annual annuity. Any payment beyond April 15, 2030, will be paid to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Note 11—Mortgage Loans Held for Portfolio

The Bank’s MPF program involves investment by the Bank in fixed-rate mortgage loans that are purchased from participating members. All mortgage loans are held-for-portfolio. Under the MPF program, the Bank’s members originate, service, and credit-enhance home-mortgage loans that are then sold to the Bank.

The following table presents mortgage loans held for portfolio as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Real estate

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate 15-year single-family mortgages

 

$

1,321,762

 

$

1,480,555

 

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

 

3,152,175

 

3,370,391

 

Premiums

 

42,274

 

51,501

 

Discounts

 

(12,758

)

(13,051

)

Deferred derivative gains and losses, net

 

(1,146

)

(1,059

)

Total mortgage loans held for portfolio

 

4,502,307

 

4,888,337

 

Less: allowance for credit losses

 

(125

)

(1,843

)

Total mortgage loans, net of allowance for credit losses

 

$

4,502,182

 

$

4,886,494

 

 

The following table details the par value of mortgage loans held for portfolio at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Conventional loans

 

$

3,960,692

 

$

4,222,303

 

Government-insured loans

 

513,245

 

628,643

 

Total par value

 

$

4,473,937

 

$

4,850,946

 

 

An analysis of the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

1,843

 

$

1,379

 

$

1,317

 

Charge-offs

 

(14

)

(38

)

(91

)

Recoveries

 

 

 

30

 

Net charge-offs

 

(14

)

(38

)

(61

)

(Reduction of) provision for credit losses

 

(1,704

)

502

 

123

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

125

 

$

1,843

 

$

1,379

 

 

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 December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had no recorded investments in impaired mortgage loans. Mortgage loans on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2006 and 2005, totaled $4.8 million and $6.4 million, respectively. The Bank’s mortgage-loan portfolio is geographically diversified on a national basis. There is no concentration of delinquent loans in any geographic region. Real estate owned (REO) at December 31, 2006 and 2005, totaled $1.3 million and $479,000, respectively. REO is recorded on the statement of condition in other assets.

F-31




Sale of REO Assets.   During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 the Bank sold REO assets with a recorded carrying value of $932,000, $1.1 million, and $763,000, respectively. Upon sale of these properties, and inclusive of any proceeds received from primary mortgage-insurance coverage, the Bank recognized net (losses) gains totaling $(19,000), $104,000 and $(40,000) on the sale of REO assets during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Gains and losses on the sale of REO assets are recorded in other income. Additionally, the Bank recorded expenses associated with maintaining these properties totaling $30,000, $39,000, and 48,000, respectively. These expenses are recorded in other expense.

The Bank records CE fees as a reduction to mortgage-loan-interest income. CE fees totaled $5.1 million, $4.3 million, and $3.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Note 12—Deposits

The Bank offers demand and overnight deposits for members and qualifying nonmembers. In addition, the Bank offers short-term 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 deposits in the following table.

Deposits classified as demand, overnight, and other, pay interest based on a daily interest rate. Term deposits pay interest based on a fixed rate determined at the issuance of the deposit. Deposits at December 31, 2006 and 2005, include SFAS 133 hedging adjustments of $3.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively. The average interest rates paid on average deposits during 2006, 2005, and 2004 were 4.57 percent, 2.67 percent, and 0.98 percent, respectively.

The following table details interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposits as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Interest bearing

 

 

 

 

 

Demand and overnight

 

$

1,087,454

 

$

570,611

 

Term

 

28,756

 

24,524

 

Other

 

2,841

 

2,694

 

Non-interest bearing

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

4,958

 

4,262

 

Total deposits

 

$

1,124,009

 

$

602,091

 

 

Note 13—Consolidated Obligations

COs consist of consolidated bonds and discount notes and as provided by the FHLBank Act or Finance Board regulation, are backed only by the financial resources of the FHLBanks. The FHLBanks issue COs through the Office of Finance, which serves as their 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 Board and the U.S Secretary of the Treasury have oversight over the issuance of FHLBank debt through the Office of Finance. COs 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. Consolidated discount notes are issued to raise short-term funds. These notes sell at less than their face amount and are redeemed at par value when they mature.

F-32




Although the Bank is primarily liable for its portion of COs (that is, those issued on its behalf), the Bank is also jointly and severally liable with the other 11 FHLBanks for the payment of principal and interest on all COs of each of the FHLBanks. The Finance Board, in its discretion, may require any FHLBank to make principal or interest payments due on any CO whether or not the CO represents a primary liability of such FHLBank. Although this has never occurred, to the extent that an FHLBank makes any payment on a CO on behalf of another FHLBank that is primary liable for such CO, Finance Board regulations provide that the paying FHLBank is entitled to reimbursement from the noncomplying FHLBank for any payments made on its behalf and other associated costs (including interest to be determined by the Finance Board). If however, the Finance Board determines that the noncomplying FHLBank is unable to satisfy its repayment obligations, the Finance Board may allocate the outstanding liabilities of the noncomplying FHLBank among the remaining FHLBanks on a pro rata basis in proportion to each FHLBanks’ participation in all COs outstanding or in any other manner it may determine to ensure that the FHLBanks operate in a safe and sound manner.

The par amounts of the 12 FHLBanks’ outstanding COs, including COs held by other FHLBanks, were approximately $952.0 billion and $937.5 billion at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Regulations require the FHLBanks to maintain unpledged qualifying assets equal to its participation in the COs outstanding. Qualifying assets are defined as cash; secured advances; assets with an assessment or rating at least equivalent to the current assessment or rating of the COs; obligations of or fully guaranteed by the U.S.; obligations, participations, or other instruments of or issued by Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae; mortgages, obligations, or other securities which are or have ever been sold by Freddie Mac under the FHLBank Act; and such securities as fiduciary and trust funds may invest in under the laws of the state in which the FHLBank is located.

To provide holders of COs issued prior to January 29, 1993 (prior bondholders), the protection equivalent to that provided under the FHLBanks’ previous leverage limit of 12 times the FHLBanks’ capital stock, prior bondholders have a claim on a certain amount of the qualifying assets (Special Asset Account [SAA]) if capital stock is less than 8.33 percent of COs. Mandatorily redeemable capital stock is considered capital stock for determining the Bank’s compliance with this requirement. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, the FHLBanks’ regulatory capital stock was 4.5 percent and 4.6 percent of the par value of COs outstanding, and the required minimum pledged asset balance was approximately $26,000 and $110,000. Further, the regulations require each FHLBank to transfer qualifying assets in the amount of its allocated share of the FHLBanks’ SAA to a trust for the benefit of the prior bondholders if its capital-to-assets ratio falls below two percent. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, no FHLBank had a capital-to-assets ratio less than two percent; therefore no assets were being held in a trust. In addition, no trust has ever been established as a result of this regulation, as the ratio has never fallen below two percent.

General Terms.   COs are issued with either fixed-rate coupon-payment terms or variable-rate interest-payment terms that use a variety of indices for interest-rate resets, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT), Eleventh District Cost of Funds Index (COFI), and others. To meet the expected specific needs of certain investors in COs, both fixed-rate bonds and variable-rate bonds may contain features, which may result in complex coupon-payment terms and call options. When such COs are issued, the Bank enters into derivatives containing offsetting features that effectively convert the terms of the bond to those of a simple variable-rate bond or a fixed-rate bond.

F-33




These COs, beyond having fixed-rate or simple variable-rate coupon-payment terms, may also have the following broad terms regarding principal repayment terms:

Optional Principal Redemption Bonds (callable bonds) that the Bank may redeem in whole or in part at its discretion on predetermined call dates according to the terms of the bond offerings.

With respect to interest payments, consolidated bonds may also have the following terms:

Step-Up Bonds pay interest at increasing fixed rates for specified intervals over the life of the bond and can be called at the Bank’s option on the step-up dates.

Zero-Coupon Bonds are long-term discounted instruments that earn a fixed yield to maturity or the optional principal-redemption date. All principal and interest are paid at maturity or on the optional principal redemption date, if exercised prior to maturity.

Interest-Rate-Payment Terms.   The following table details consolidated bonds by interest-rate-payment types at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Par amount of consolidated bonds

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate bonds

 

$

33,153,210

 

$

28,550,215

 

Step-up bonds

 

795,000

 

434,500

 

Simple variable-rate bonds

 

1,000,000

 

 

Zero-coupon bonds

 

3,686,000

 

3,605,000

 

Total par amount

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

32,589,715

 

 

Redemption Terms. The following is a summary of the Bank’s participation in consolidated bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by year of original maturity (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

2006

 

$

 

 

%

 

$

8,287,805

 

 

3.22

%

 

2007

 

14,211,705

 

 

4.45

 

 

7,401,505

 

 

3.63

 

 

2008

 

9,091,950

 

 

4.51

 

 

5,523,200

 

 

4.03

 

 

2009

 

3,611,185

 

 

4.52

 

 

1,747,435

 

 

3.79

 

 

2010

 

1,635,770

 

 

4.48

 

 

1,470,770

 

 

4.40

 

 

2011

 

1,289,600

 

 

4.81

 

 

485,000

 

 

4.40

 

 

Thereafter

 

8,794,000

 

 

5.66

 

 

7,674,000

 

 

5.66

 

 

Total par value

 

38,634,210

 

 

4.76

%

 

32,589,715

 

 

4.13

%

 

Bond premium

 

14,719

 

 

 

 

 

24,829

 

 

 

 

 

Bond discount

 

(3,009,308

)

 

 

 

 

(2,982,008

)

 

 

 

 

SFAS 133 hedging adjustments

 

(121,179

)

 

 

 

 

(190,463

)

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

35,518,442

 

 

 

 

 

$

29,442,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, include callable bonds totaling $22.3 billion and $16.7 billion, respectively. The Bank uses fixed-rate callable debt to finance its assets. Contemporaneous with such a debt issue, the Bank may also enter into an interest-rate swap (in which the Bank pays variable, and receives fixed interest) with a call feature that mirrors the option embedded in the

F-34




debt (a sold callable swap). The combined sold callable swap and callable debt effectively create floating-rate funding at rates that are more attractive than other available alternatives.

The Bank’s consolidated bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, included (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Par amount of consolidated bonds

 

 

 

 

 

Noncallable or non-putable

 

$

16,298,210

 

$

15,911,215

 

Callable

 

22,336,000

 

16,678,500

 

Total par amount

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

32,589,715

 

 

The following table summarizes consolidated bonds outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, by year of original maturity or next call date (dollars in thousands):

Year of Maturity or Next Call Date

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

$

 

$

21,056,805

 

2007

 

26,892,705

 

4,576,505

 

2008

 

5,871,950

 

3,193,200

 

2009

 

2,176,185

 

952,435

 

2010

 

715,770

 

695,770

 

2011

 

569,600

 

185,000

 

Thereafter

 

2,408,000

 

1,930,000

 

Total par value

 

$

38,634,210

 

$

32,589,715

 

 

Consolidated Discount Notes.   Consolidated 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 face amount and redeemed at par value when they mature.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Book Value

 

Par Value

 

Rate

 

December 31, 2006

 

$

17,723,515

 

$

17,780,433

 

 

5.11

%

 

December 31, 2005

 

$

24,339,903

 

$

24,442,173

 

 

4.10

%

 

 

Note 14—Capital

The Bank is subject to three capital requirements under its capital-structure plan and Finance Board 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 the Bank policy and rules and regulations of the Finance Board. Only permanent capital, defined as Class B stock and retained earnings, satisfies this risk-based capital requirement. The Finance Board may require the Bank to maintain a greater amount of permanent capital than is required as defined by the risk-based capital requirements.

F-35




2.                At least a four percent total capital-to-assets ratio and

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 Bank was in compliance with these capital rules and requirements, following the implementation of its new capital structure in April 2004, and remained in compliance throughout 2006 and 2005. The following table demonstrates the Bank’s compliance with these capital requirements at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Required

 

Actual

 

Required

 

Actual

 

Regulatory Capital Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk-based capital

 

$

342,352

 

$

2,542,175

 

$

370,111

 

$

2,674,527

 

Total regulatory capital

 

$

2,298,791

 

$

2,542,175

 

$

2,308,001

 

$

2,674,527

 

Total capital-to-asset ratio

 

4.0

%

4.4

%

4.0

%

4.6

%

Leverage capital

 

$

2,873,489

 

$

3,813,262

 

$

2,885,002

 

$

4,011,791

 

Leverage ratio

 

5.0

%

6.6

%

5.0

%

7.0

%

 

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock is considered capital for determining the Bank’s compliance with these regulatory requirements.

The Bank offers only Class B stock and members are required to purchase Class B stock equal to the sum of 0.35 percent of certain member assets eligible to secure advances under the FHLBank Act, 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 and other specified assets related to activity between the Bank and the member. Members may redeem Class B stock by giving five years’ notice. The Bank, in its discretion, can repurchase stock from the member at par value if that stock is not required by the member to meet its total stock-investment requirement (excess capital stock) and the repurchase will not cause the Bank to fail to meet any of its capital requirements. The Bank may also allow the member to sell the excess capital stock at par value to another member of the Bank. During 2006 and 2005, the Bank honored all excess capital stock-repurchase requests from members after determining that the Bank would remain in compliance with its capital requirements after making such repurchases. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, members and nonmembers with capital stock outstanding held excess capital stock totaling $203.0 million and $353.0 million, representing approximately 8.6 percent and 13.9 percent of total capital stock outstanding, respectively.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLB Act) made membership voluntary for all members. Any member that withdraws from membership may not be readmitted to membership in any FHLBank until five years from the divestiture date for all capital stock that is held as a condition of membership, as that requirement is set out in the Bank’s capital plan, unless the institution has cancelled its notice of withdrawal prior to that date, before being readmitted to membership in any FHLBank. A five-year redemption-notice period can also be triggered by the involuntary termination of membership of a member by the Bank’s board of directors or by the Finance Board, the merger or acquisition of a member into a nonmember institution, or the relocation of a member to a principal location outside the six New England states. At the end of the five-year redemption-notice period, if the former member’s activity-based stock-investment requirement is greater than zero, the Bank may require the associated remaining obligations to the Bank to be satisfied in full prior to allowing the member to redeem the remaining shares.

F-36




Because the Bank’s Class B shares are redeemable, the Bank can experience a reduction in its capitalization, particularly due to membership terminations due to merger and acquisition activity. However, there are several mitigants to this potential risk, including the following:

·       First, the activity-based portion of the stock-investment requirement allows the Bank to retain stock beyond the five-year redemption-notice period if the associated member-related activity is still outstanding, until the obligations are paid in full.

·       Second, the five-year redemption notice period allows for a significant period in which the Bank can restructure its balance sheet to accommodate a reduction in capital.

·       Third, the Bank’s concentration of ownership is limited by the $25 million maximum membership stock-investment requirement.

·       Fourth, the Bank’s board of directors may modify the membership stock-investment requirement or the activity-based stock-investment requirement, or both, to address expected shortfalls in capitalization due to membership termination.

·       Fifth, the Bank’s board of directors or the Finance Board may suspend redemptions in the event that such redemptions would cause the Bank not to meet its minimum regulatory capital requirements.

The Bank’s board of directors may declare and pay dividends out of previously retained earnings and current earnings in either cash or capital stock. During 2006, the Bank modified its dividend payment schedule, and began to declare and pay dividends only after net income for each quarterly period has been determined.

Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Stock.   The Bank adopted SFAS 150 as of January 1, 2004, based on the characteristics of the Bank’s stock, SFAS 150’s definition of a nonpublic entity, and the definition of an SEC registrant in FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. SFAS 150-3 (FSP 150-3). The Bank is a cooperative whose members and former members own all of the Bank’s capital stock. Member shares cannot be purchased or sold except between the Bank and its members at $100 per share par value. At adoption on January 1, 2004, the Bank reclassified $8.7 million of its outstanding capital stock to “mandatorily redeemable capital stock” in the liability section of the statement of condition.

At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had $12.4 million and $8.3 million, respectively in capital stock subject to mandatory redemption. Payment of capital stock subject to mandatory redemption is subject to a five-year waiting period and the Bank continuing to meet its minimum capital requirements. This amount has been classified as mandatorily redeemable capital stock in the liability section of the statement of condition in accordance with SFAS 150. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, dividends on mandatorily redeemable capital stock of $841,000, $1.8 million, and $1.3 million, respectively, were recorded as interest expense. The following table provides the number of members that notified the Bank of their respective decisions to voluntarily redeem their capital stock and the number of members whose stock was redeemed during 2006 and 2005.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Number of members with stock subject to mandatory redemption—beginning of the year

 

 

5

 

 

 

2

 

 

Additions due to mergers and acquisitions

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

Additions due to membership withdrawals

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

Redemptions made during the year

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(1

)

 

Number of members with stock subject to mandatory redemption—end of the year

 

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

F-37




The following table shows the amount of mandatorily redeemable capital stock by year of redemption at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands). Consistent with the capital plan currently in effect, the Bank is not required to redeem membership stock until five years after the membership is terminated or the Bank receives notice of withdrawal. Furthermore, the Bank is not required to redeem activity-based stock until the later of the expiration of the notice of redemption or until the activity to which the capital stock relates no longer remains outstanding. If activity-based stock becomes excess stock as a result of an activity no longer outstanding, the Bank may repurchase such shares, in its sole discretion, subject to the statutory and regulatory restrictions on capital-stock redemption discussed below. The year of redemption in the following table represents the end of the five-year redemption period. However, as discussed above, if activity to which the capital stock relates remains outstanding beyond the five-year redemption period, the activity-based stock associated with this activity will remain outstanding until the activity no longer remains outstanding.

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Contractual Year of Redemption

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

$

 

$

 

2007

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

2009

 

6,998

 

7,898

 

2010

 

103

 

398

 

2011

 

5,253

 

 

Total

 

$

12,354

 

$

8,296

 

 

The Bank’s activity for mandatorily redeemable capital stock was as follows in 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

8,296

 

$

57,882

 

Capital stock subject to mandatory redemption reclassified from equity during the year due to membership terminations

 

6,928

 

408

 

Repurchase of mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(2,870

)

(49,994

)

Balance at yearend

 

$

12,354

 

$

8,296

 

 

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 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.

Statutory and Regulatory Restrictions on Capital-Stock Redemption.   In accordance with the GLB Act, Bank stock is putable by the member. However, there are significant statutory and regulatory restrictions on the obligation or right to redeem outstanding stock, including the following.

·       The Bank may determine to suspend redemptions if it reasonably believes that such redemptions would cause the Bank to fail to meet any of its minimum capital requirements, would prevent the Bank from maintaining adequate capital against potential risks that are not adequately reflected in its minimum capital requirements, or would otherwise prevent the Bank from operating in a safe and sound manner.

F-38




·       If, during the period between receipt of a stock-redemption notification from a member and the actual redemption (which lasts indefinitely if the Bank is undercapitalized, does not have the required credit rating, etc.), the Bank becomes insolvent and is either liquidated or forced to merge with another FHLBank, the redemption value of the stock will be established either through the market-liquidation process or through negotiation with a merger partner. In either case all senior claims must first be settled at par, and there are no claims which are subordinated to the rights of FHLBank stockholders.

·       Under the GLB Act, the Bank may only redeem stock investments that exceed the members’ required minimum investment in Bank stock.

·       If the Bank is liquidated, after payment in full to the Bank’s creditors, the Bank’s stockholders will be entitled to receive the par value of their capital stock as well as any retained earnings in an amount proportional to the stockholder’s share of the total shares of capital stock. In the event of a merger or consolidation, the Bank’s board of directors shall determine the rights and preferences of the Bank’s stockholders, subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Finance Board.

Additionally, the Bank cannot redeem or repurchase shares of capital stock from any member of the Bank if any of the following conditions are present:

·       If, following such redemption, the Bank would fail to satisfy its minimum capital requirements. By law, no Bank stock may be redeemed if the Bank becomes undercapitalized.

·       If either the Bank’s board of directors or the Finance Board determines that it has incurred, or is likely to incur, losses resulting, or expected to result, in a charge against capital.

·       If the principal or interest due on any CO issued through the Office of Finance on which the Bank is the primary obligor has not been paid in full when due;

·       If the Bank fails to provide the Finance Board quarterly certification required by section 966.9(b)(1) of the Finance Board’s rules prior to declaring or paying dividends for a quarter;

·       If the Bank fails to certify in writing to the Finance Board that it will remain in compliance with its liquidity requirements and will remain capable of making full and timely payment of all of its current obligations;

·       If the Bank notifies the Finance Board that it cannot provide the required certification, projects it will fail to comply with statutory or regulatory liquidity requirements, or will be unable to timely and fully meet all of its current obligations; or

·       If the Bank actually fails to comply with statutory or regulatory liquidity requirements or to timely and fully meet all of its current obligations, or negotiates to enter or enters into an agreement with one or more other FHLBanks to obtain financial assistance to meet its current obligations.

In addition to possessing the authority to prohibit stock redemptions, the Bank’s board of directors has a right and an obligation to call for additional capital-stock purchases by the Bank’s members, as a condition of membership, as needed to satisfy statutory and regulatory capital requirements. These requirements include the maintenance of a stand-alone credit rating of no lower than AA from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

Prior Capital Rules.   Prior to the Bank’s implementation of its new capital plan in April 2004, the prior capital rules were in effect. In particular, the FHLBank Act required members to purchase capital stock equal to the greater of one percent of their mortgage-related assets or five percent of outstanding Bank advances. However, the GLB Act removed the provision that required a nonthrift member to purchase additional stock to borrow from the Bank if the nonthrift member’s mortgage-related assets were

F-39




less than 65 percent of total assets. Under the prior capital rules, a member was required to give six months’ notice of its intent to withdraw from membership. In addition, the Bank at its discretion could repurchase at par value any capital stock greater than a member’s minimum statutory and regulatory requirements. During 2004, the Bank honored all redemption requests from members, after determining that the member would remain in compliance with the minimum statutory and regulatory requirements after making such redemptions. Following the adoption of SFAS 150 on January 1, 2004, and prior to the implementation of our new capital plan in April 2004, certain shares of capital stock were reclassified from equity to a liability upon the occurrence of a triggering event. These triggering events included 1) a member submitting a request for redemption of excess capital stock, 2) a member giving notice of intent to withdraw from membership, or 3) a member attaining a nonmember status by merger or acquisition, charter termination, or involuntary termination from membership, since the member shares will then meet the definition of mandatorily redeemable financial instruments. However, after the adoption of SFAS 150 and before the implementation of our new capital plan, all requests received from members for redemption of excess capital stock were honored by the Bank on the same day the request was made, and therefore reclassification to a liability was not necessary. Upon the adoption of SFAS 150, there were outstanding membership-withdrawal requests, which resulted in the reclassification of $8.7 million from equity to a liability. Under our prior capital rules, there were no penalties for revoking a redemption request.

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 December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

Name

 

 

 

Capital Stock
Outstanding

 

Percent
of Total

 

Capital Stock
Outstanding

 

Percent
of Total

 

Citizens Financial Group

 

 

$

363,544

 

 

 

15.4

%

 

 

$

331,393

 

 

 

13.1

%

 

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

 

 

324,338

 

 

 

13.8

 

 

 

375,674

 

 

 

14.8

 

 

 

Note 15—Employee Retirement Plans

Employee Retirement Plans.   The Bank participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan), a tax-qualified defined-benefit pension plan, formerly known as the Financial Institutions Retirement Fund. 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 $2.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $2.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2004. 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.

Supplemental Retirement Benefits.   The Bank also maintains a nonqualified, unfunded defined-benefit plan covering certain senior officers, as defined in the plan.

Postretirement Benefits.   The Bank sponsors a fully insured retirement-benefit program that includes life insurance benefits for eligible retirees. The Bank provides life insurance to all employees who retire on or after age 55 after completing six years of service. No contributions are required from the retirees.

F-40




The Bank adopted SFAS 158 as of December 31, 2006. The amounts recognized in the financial statements upon adoption were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Incremental Effect of Applying SFAS 158 on Individual Line
Items in the Statement of Condition as of December 31, 2006

 

 

 

Before Application of
SFAS 158

 

Adjustments

 

After Application of
SFAS 158

 

Other liabilities

 

 

$

20,712

 

 

 

$

1,828

 

 

 

$

22,540

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

54,935,439

 

 

 

1,828

 

 

 

54,937,267

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

4,521

 

 

 

(1,828

)

 

 

2,693

 

 

Total capital

 

 

2,534,342

 

 

 

(1,828

)

 

 

2,532,514

 

 

 

In connection with the supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans, the Bank recorded the following amounts for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change in benefit obligation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

7,715

 

$

6,478

 

$

318

 

$

270

 

Service cost

 

458

 

359

 

24

 

16

 

Interest cost

 

475

 

383

 

22

 

16

 

Actuarial loss (gain)

 

38

 

495

 

(8

)

29

 

Benefits paid

 

(356

)

 

(12

)

(13

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

8,330

 

7,715

 

344

 

318

 

Change in plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contribution

 

356

 

 

12

 

13

 

Benefits paid

 

(356

)

 

(12

)

(13

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status

 

(8,330

)

(7,715

)

(344

)

(318

)

Unrecognized net actuarial loss(1)

 

2,417

 

2,727

 

76

 

76

 

Unrecognized transition obligation(1)

 

19

 

39

 

 

 

Unrecognized prior service cost(1)

 

(31

)

(2

)

 

 

Net amount recognized

 

$

(5,925

)

$

(4,951

)

$

(268

)

$

(242

)


(1)          Due to the Bank adopting SFAS 158 as of December 31, 2006, the unrecognized net actuarial loss, transition obligation, and prior service cost are included in accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2006, were (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

Net actuarial loss

 

 

$

2,417

 

 

 

$

76

 

 

Prior service benefit

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

 

Transition obligation

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

 

 

$

2,405

 

 

 

$

76

 

 

 

F-41




Amounts recognized in the statement of condition for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2005, were (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

2005

 

2005

 

Accrued benefit cost

 

 

$

(5,747

)

 

 

$

(242

)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

757

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible asset

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

 

 

$

(4,951

)

 

 

$

(242

)

 

 

The accumulated benefit obligation for the supplemental retirement plan was $6.6 million and $5.7 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Components of net periodic benefit cost for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, were (dollars in thousands):

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Service cost

 

$

458

 

$

359

 

$

294

 

 

$

24

 

 

 

$

16

 

 

 

$

10

 

 

Interest cost

 

475

 

383

 

387

 

 

22

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

15

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

 

29

 

29

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss

 

347

 

291

 

175

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation

 

20

 

20

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

1,329

 

$

1,082

 

$

905

 

 

$

49

 

 

 

$

34

 

 

 

$

25

 

 

 

The estimated net actuarial loss, prior service benefit, and transition obligation that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit costs for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans over the next fiscal year are (dollars in thousands):

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

2006

 

2006

 

Net actuarial loss

 

 

$

227

 

 

 

$

2

 

 

Prior service benefit

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Transition obligation

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

Net estimated amount to be amortized

 

 

$

267

 

 

 

$

2

 

 

 

The measurement date used to determine current year’s benefit obligation was December 31, 2006.

The increase in the minimum liability included in other comprehensive income was $528,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005.

F-42




Key assumptions used for the actuarial calculations to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2006 and 2005, were:

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan

 

 

 

 2006 

 

 2005 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Benefit obligation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

 

5.75

%

 

 

5.50

%

 

5.75

%

5.50

%

Salary increases

 

 

5.50

%

 

 

5.50

%

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

 

5.50

%

 

 

5.75

%

 

5.50

%

5.75

%

Salary increases

 

 

5.50

%

 

 

5.50

%

 

 

 

 

The discount rate for the Supplemental Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2006, was determined by using a discounted cash-flow approach, which incorporates the timing of each expected future benefit payment. The estimate of the future benefit payments is based on the plan’s census data, benefit formula and provisions, and valuation assumptions reflecting the probability of decrement and survival. The present value of the future benefit payments is then determined by using duration based interest-rate yields from the Citibank Pension Discount Curve as of December 31, 2006, and solving for the single discount rate that produces the same present value.

The Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans are not funded; therefore, no contributions will be made in 2007.

Estimated future benefit payments for the Bank’s supplemental retirement and postretirement benefit plans, reflecting expected future services, for the years ending December 31 are (dollars in thousands):

Years

 

 

 

Supplemental
Retirement Plan
Payments

 

Postretirement
Benefit Plan
Payments

 

2007

 

 

$

128

 

 

 

$

13

 

 

2008

 

 

205

 

 

 

13

 

 

2009

 

 

309

 

 

 

14

 

 

2010

 

 

391

 

 

 

14

 

 

2011

 

 

455

 

 

 

14

 

 

2012-2016

 

 

3,896

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

Defined Contribution Plan.   The Bank also participates in the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan for Financial Institutions, a tax-qualified defined contribution plan, formerly known as the Financial Institutions Thrift Plan. The Bank’s contributions are equal to a percentage of participants’ compensation and a matching contribution equal to a percentage of voluntary employee contributions, subject to certain limitations. The Bank’s matching contribution was $602,000, $533,000, and $511,000 in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

The Bank also maintains a nonqualified, unfunded deferred compensation plan covering certain senior officers, as defined in the plan. The plan’s liability consists of the accumulated compensation deferrals and the accumulated earnings on these deferrals. The Bank contributed $142,000, $132,000, and $113,000 in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. The Bank’s obligation from this plan at December 31, 2006 and 2005, was $3.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

F-43




Note 16—Segment Information

The Bank analyzes its financial performance based on the net interest income of two operating segments based upon its method of internal reporting: mortgage-loan finance and all other business activity. The products and services provided reflect the manner in which financial information is evaluated by management. The mortgage-loan-finance segment includes mortgage loans acquired through the MPF program and the related funding. 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. Capital is allocated to the segments based upon asset size.

The following table presents net interest income after provision for credit losses on mortgage loans by business segment, other income/(loss), other expense, and income before assessments for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 (dollars in thousands):

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

Other Income/
(Loss)

 

Other
Expense

 

Income
Before
Assessments

 

2006

 

 

$

37,195

 

 

$

266,697

 

$

303,892

 

 

$

11,750

 

 

$

49,055

 

 

$

266,587

 

 

2005

 

 

$

34,906

 

 

$

218,199

 

$

253,105

 

 

$

(29,734

)

 

$

46,184

 

 

$

177,187

 

 

2004

 

 

$

27,854

 

 

$

187,215

 

$

215,069

 

 

$

(53,430

)

 

$

39,645

 

 

$

121,994

 

 

 

The following table presents total assets by business segment as of December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, and average-earning assets by business segment for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 (dollars in thousands):

 

Total Assets by Segment

 

Total Average-Earning Assets by Segment

 

 

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

Mortgage
Loan
Finance

 

Other
Business
Activities

 

Total

 

2006

 

$

4,525,354

 

$

52,944,427

 

$

57,469,781

 

$

4,720,061

 

$

54,198,642

 

$

58,918,703

 

2005

 

$

4,910,837

 

$

52,789,197

 

$

57,700,034

 

$

4,371,983

 

$

45,236,956

 

$

49,608,939

 

2004

 

$

4,031,749

 

$

47,723,346

 

$

51,755,095

 

$

4,209,448

 

$

36,948,997

 

$

41,158,445

 

 

Note 17—Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Bank may enter into interest-rate swaps (including callable and putable swaps), swaptions, interest-rate cap and floor agreements, calls, puts, and futures and forward contracts (collectively, derivatives) to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates.

The Bank may adjust the effective maturity, repricing frequency, or option characteristics of financial instruments to achieve risk-management objectives. The Bank uses derivatives in several ways: by designating them as either a fair-value or cash-flow hedge of a financial instrument or a forecasted transaction; by acting as an intermediary; or in general asset-liability management where derivatives serve a documented risk-mitigation purpose but do not qualify for hedge accounting (that is, an economic hedge). For example, the Bank uses derivatives in its overall interest-rate-risk management to adjust the interest-rate sensitivity of COs to approximate more closely the interest-rate sensitivity of assets (both

F-44




advances and investments), and/or to adjust the interest-rate sensitivity of advances, investments, or mortgage loans to approximate more closely the interest-rate sensitivity of liabilities.

In addition to using derivatives for general asset-liability management, the Bank also uses derivatives as follows: (1) to manage embedded options in assets and liabilities, (2) to hedge the market value of existing assets and liabilities and anticipated transactions, (3) to hedge the duration risk of prepayable instruments, (4) to exactly offset other derivatives executed with members (when the Bank serves as an intermediary) and (5) to reduce funding costs.

The Bank, consistent with Finance Board regulations, enters into derivatives only to reduce the interest-rate-risk exposures inherent in otherwise unhedged assets and funding positions, to achieve the Bank’s risk-management objectives, and to act as an intermediary between its members and counterparties. Bank management uses derivatives when they are considered to be the most cost-efficient alternative to achieve the Bank’s financial and risk-management objectives. Accordingly, the Bank may enter into derivatives that do not necessarily qualify for hedge accounting (economic hedges).

An economic hedge is defined as a derivative hedging specific or nonspecific underlying assets, liabilities, or firm commitments, or designated groups thereof, that does not qualify or was not designated for hedge accounting, but is an acceptable hedging strategy under the Bank’s risk-management program. These economic hedging strategies also comply with Finance Board regulatory requirements prohibiting speculative hedging transactions. An economic hedge by definition introduces the potential for earnings variability caused by the change in fair value on the derivatives that are recorded in the Bank’s income but not offset by corresponding changes in the value of the economically hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments. As a result, the Bank recognizes only the change in fair value of these derivatives in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities with no offsetting fair-value adjustments for the asset, liability, or firm commitment. In addition, the Bank requires collateral agreements on some derivatives.

Types of Assets and Liabilities Hedged.   The Bank formally documents all relationships between derivatives designated as hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions and its method of assessing ineffectiveness. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair-value or cash-flow hedges to (1) assets and liabilities on the statement of condition, (2) firm commitments, or (3) forecasted transactions. The Bank also formally assesses (both at the hedge’s inception and monthly on an ongoing basis) whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain effective in future periods. The Bank typically uses regression analyses or other statistical or scenario-based analyses to assess the effectiveness of its hedges. For hedges that are deemed highly effective that meet the hedge-accounting requirements of SFAS 133, the Bank applies hedge accounting. When it is determined that a derivative has not been or is not expected to be effective as a hedge, the Bank discontinues hedge accounting prospectively, as discussed below.

The Bank discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (1) it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item (including hedged items such as firm commitments or forecasted transactions); (2) the derivative and/or the hedged item expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised; (3) it is no longer probable that the forecasted transaction will occur in the originally expected period; (4) a hedged firm commitment no longer meets the definition of a firm commitment; or (5) management determines that designating the derivative as a hedging instrument in accordance with SFAS 133 is no longer appropriate.

F-45




Consolidated Obligations.   While COs are the joint and several obligations of the FHLBanks, each FHLBank has COs for which it is the primary obligor. The Bank enters into derivatives to hedge the interest-rate risk associated with its specific debt issuances.

In a typical transaction, fixed-rate COs are issued, and the Bank simultaneously enters into a matching derivative in which the counterparty pays fixed-interest cash flows to the Bank designed to mirror in timing and amount the interest cash outflows the Bank pays on the CO. These transactions are treated as fair-value hedges under SFAS 133. At the same time, the Bank may pay a variable cash flow that closely matches the interest payments it receives on short-term or variable-rate assets. This intermediation between the capital and derivatives markets permits the Bank to raise funds at lower costs than would otherwise be available through the issuance of simple fixed- or floating-rate COs in the capital markets.

In a typical cash flow or economic hedge of anticipated CO issuance, the Bank enters into a hedge upon the execution of an asset transaction that is expected to be funded by a CO with similar interest-rate risk. The hedge transaction is monitored until the anticipated COs are issued, at which time the hedge is terminated at its fair value. If the hedge is designated as a cash-flow hedge and is highly effective, the gain or loss is recorded as a basis adjustment to the hedged CO. If the hedge is designated as an economic hedge or if the hedge is less than highly effective, the fair value of the hedge at termination is recorded in current net income.

Advances.   The Bank may use interest-rate swaps to adjust the repricing and/or options characteristics of advances in order to more closely match the characteristics of the Bank’s funding liabilities. Typically, the Bank hedges fixed-rate advances with interest-rate swaps where the Bank pays a fixed-rate coupon and receives a floating-rate coupon, effectively converting the advance to a floating-rate advance. Alternatively, the advance might have a floating-rate coupon based on an interest-rate index other than the LIBOR, in which case the Bank would receive a coupon based on the non-LIBOR index and pay a LIBOR-based coupon.

With issuances of putable advances, the Bank purchases from the member a put option that enables the Bank to terminate a fixed-rate advance and extend additional credit on new terms. The Bank may hedge a putable advance by entering into a derivative that is cancelable by the derivative counterparty, where the Bank pays a fixed coupon and receives a variable coupon. This type of hedge is treated as a fair-value hedge under SFAS 133. The swap counterparty would normally exercise its option to cancel the derivative at par on any defined exercise date if interest rates had risen, and at that time, the Bank could, at its option, require immediate repayment of the advance.

The member’s ability to prepay can create interest-rate risk. When a member prepays an advance, the Bank could suffer lower future income if the principal portion of the prepaid advance were invested in lower-yielding assets that continue to be funded by higher-cost debt. To protect against this risk, the Bank generally charges a prepayment fee that makes it financially indifferent to a member’s decision to prepay an advance. When the Bank offers advances (other than short-term advances) that a member may prepay without a prepayment fee, it usually finances such advances with callable debt or otherwise hedges this option.

Mortgage Loans.   The Bank invests in fixed-rate mortgage loans. The prepayment options embedded in mortgage loans can result in extensions or contractions in the expected lives of these investments, depending on changes in estimated prepayment behavior. The Bank addresses a portion of the interest-rate risk inherent in mortgage loans by duration-matching mortgage loans and the funding liabilities. As interest rates change, the portfolio is rebalanced to maintain the targeted duration level. The Bank may also manage against prepayment, or convexity, risk by funding some mortgage loans with COs that have

F-46




redemption features. In addition, the Bank may use derivatives to manage the prepayment and duration variability of mortgage loans. Net income could be reduced if the Bank replaces mortgage loans with lower-yielding assets and if the Bank’s higher funding costs are not reduced concomitantly.

Swaptions, which are options to enter into specified interest-rate swaps at a future date, may also be used to hedge prepayment risk on the mortgage loans, many of which are not designated to specific mortgage loans and, therefore, do not receive fair-value or cash-flow hedge-accounting treatment. The options are marked to market through current earnings and presented on the statement of income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities. The Bank may also purchase interest-rate caps and floors, swaptions, callable swaps, calls, and puts to minimize the prepayment risk embedded in the mortgage loans. Although these derivatives are valid economic hedges against the prepayment risk of the loans, they are not specifically linked to individual loans and, therefore, do not receive either fair-value or cash-flow hedge accounting. The derivatives are marked to market through earnings.

Firm Commitment Strategies.   In accordance with SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative and Hedging Activities (SFAS 149), certain mortgage-purchase commitments entered into after June 30, 2003, are considered derivatives. The Bank may hedge these commitments by selling MBS to be announced (TBA) or other derivatives for forward settlement. A TBA represents a forward contract for the sale of MBS at a future agreed-upon date. These hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS 133. The mortgage-purchase commitment and the TBA used in the economic hedging strategy are recorded on the statement of condition at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in the current period earnings. When the mortgage-purchase-commitment derivative settles, the current market value of the commitment is included with the basis of the mortgage loan. The basis adjustments on the resulting performing loans are then amortized into net interest income over the life of the loans.

Commitments to originate advances are not derivatives under SFAS 149. The Bank may also hedge a firm commitment for a forward-starting advance through the use of an interest-rate swap. In this case, the swap functions as the hedging instrument for both the firm commitment and the subsequent advance. The basis movement associated with the firm commitment will be rolled into the basis of the advance at the time the commitment is terminated and the advance is issued. The basis adjustment will then be amortized into interest income over the life of the advance.

Investments.   The Bank invests in U.S. agency obligations, MBS, asset-backed securities, and the taxable portion of state or local housing-finance-agency obligations. The interest-rate and prepayment risk associated with these investment securities is managed through a combination of debt issuance and derivatives. Finance Board regulations prohibit investments in securities issued by foreign entities (other than U.S. branches of commercial banks) or securities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. Moreover, the Finance Board’s regulations and the Bank’s policies limit this source of interest-rate risk by restricting the types of mortgage assets the Bank may own to those with limited average life changes under certain interest-rate-shock scenarios and establishing limitations on duration of equity and changes to market value of equity. The Bank may manage against prepayment and duration risk by funding investment securities with COs that have call features, by hedging the prepayment risk with caps or floors, callable swaps, or swaptions. These securities may be classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading securities.

For long-term securities that are classified as held-to-maturity, the Bank manages its interest-rate-risk exposure by issuing funding instruments with offsetting market-risk characteristics. For example, the Bank typically funds floating-rate MBS whose coupons reset monthly with short-term discount notes or with

F-47




other bonds with fixed rates that have been converted to a floating rates with an interest-rate swap, while it might use long-term bonds to fund fixed-rate commercial MBS.

For available-for-sale securities that have been hedged and qualify as a fair-value hedge, the Bank records the portion of the change in fair value related to the risk being hedged in other income as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities together with the related change in the fair value of the derivative, and the remainder of the change in value is recorded in other comprehensive income as net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities. For available-for-sale securities that have been hedged and qualify as a cash-flow hedge, the Bank records the effective portion of the change in value of the derivative related to the risk being hedged in other comprehensive income as net unrealized gain relating to hedging activities. The ineffective portion is recorded in other income in the statement of income and presented as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

The Bank may also manage the risk arising from changing market prices or cash flows of investment securities classified as trading by entering into derivatives (economic hedges) that offset the changes in fair value or cash flows of the securities. These derivatives are not specifically designated as hedges of individual assets, but rather are collectively managed to provide an offset to the changes in the fair values of the assets. The market-value changes of trading securities are included in net unrealized loss on trading securities in the statements of income, while the changes in fair value of the associated derivatives are included in other income in the statements of income and presented as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

Anticipated Debt Issuance.   The Bank may enter into interest-rate swaps for the anticipated issuance of fixed-rate bonds to lock in a spread between the earning asset and the cost of funding. The interest-rate swap is terminated upon issuance of the fixed-rate bond, with the realized gain or loss reported on the interest-rate swap recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income are recognized as earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the cash flows of the fixed-rate bonds.

Intermediation.   To assist members in meeting their hedging needs, the Bank acts as an intermediary between members and other counterparties by entering into offsetting derivatives. This intermediation allows smaller members indirect access to the derivatives market. The derivatives used in intermediary activities do not qualify for SFAS 133 hedge-accounting treatment and are separately marked to market through earnings. The net result of the accounting for these derivatives does not significantly affect the operating results of the Bank. These amounts are recorded in other income and presented as net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities.

Managing Credit Risk on Derivatives.   The Bank is subject to credit risk on its hedging activities due to the risk of nonperformance by counterparties to the derivative agreements. The degree of potential counterparty risk depends on the extent to which master-netting arrangements are included in such contracts to mitigate the risk. The Bank manages counterparty credit risk through its ongoing monitoring of counterparty credit worthiness and adherence to the requirements set forth in Bank policies and Finance Board regulations. All counterparties must execute master-netting agreements prior to entering into any interest-rate-exchange agreement with the Bank. These master netting agreements generally contain bilateral-collateral exchange agreements that require that credit exposure beyond a defined threshold amount be secured by readily marketable, investment-grade securities or cash. The level of these collateral threshold amounts varies according to the counterparty’s Standard & Poor’s Rating Service (S&P) or Moody’s Investor Service (Moody’s) ratings. Credit exposures are then measured at least weekly and, in most cases daily, and adjustments to collateral positions are made as necessary to minimize the

F-48




Bank’s exposure to credit risk. These master-netting agreements also generally contain bilateral ratings-tied termination events permitting the Bank to terminate all outstanding agreements with a counterparty in the event of a specified rating downgrade by Moody’s or S&P. Based on credit analyses and collateral requirements, Bank management does not anticipate any credit losses on its derivative agreements.

The contractual or notional amount of derivatives reflects the involvement of the Bank in the various classes of financial instruments. The notional amount of derivatives does not measure the credit-risk exposure of the Bank, and the maximum credit exposure of the Bank is substantially less than the notional amount. The Bank requires collateral agreements on all derivatives that establish collateral delivery thresholds. The maximum credit risk is the estimated cost of replacing favorable interest-rate swaps, forward agreements, mandatory delivery contracts for mortgage loans, and purchased caps and floors that have a net positive market value, assuming the counterparty defaults and the related collateral, if any, is of no value to the Bank.

At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank’s maximum credit risk, as defined above, was approximately $128.4 million and $45.4 million, respectively. These totals include $180.0 million and $106.2 million of net accrued interest receivable, respectively. In determining maximum credit risk, the Bank considers accrued interest receivable and payable, and the legal right to offset derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty. The Bank held securities, including accrued interest and cash with a fair value of $133.7 million and $46.1 million as collateral as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This collateral has not been sold or repledged. Additionally, collateral with respect to derivatives with member institutions includes collateral assigned to the Bank, as evidenced by a written security agreement and held by the member institution for the benefit of the Bank.

The Bank generally executes derivatives with counterparties rated A or better by either S&P or Moody’s. Some of these counterparties or their affiliates buy, sell, and distribute COs. Note 19 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.

The Bank has not issued COs denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

Financial Statement Impact and Additional Financial Information.   For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, the Bank recorded net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities totaling $10.5 million, $(10.8) million, and $(7.1) million, respectively, in other income. Net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Net gain (loss) related to fair-value hedge ineffectiveness

 

$

10,417

 

$

(9,544

)

$

(2,556

)

Net gain (loss) resulting from economic hedges not receiving hedge accounting

 

123

 

(1,299

)

(4,498

)

Net gain (loss) on derivatives and hedging activities

 

$

10,540

 

$

(10,843

)

$

(7,054

)

 

There were no amounts for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, that were reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash-flow hedges because it became probable that the original forecasted transactions would not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within a two-month period thereafter.

F-49




As of December 31, 2006, the amount of deferred net gains on derivative instruments accumulated in other comprehensive income expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next 12 months is $1.3 million.

The following table presents outstanding notional balances and estimated fair values of derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Notional

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Notional

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Interest-rate swaps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

29,303,303

 

$

(219,986

)

$

23,402,416

 

$

(350,940

)

Economic

 

172,500

 

(82

)

221,500

 

(205

)

Interest-rate swaptions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic

 

150,000

 

 

525,000

 

71

 

Interest-rate caps/floors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

454,800

 

3,842

 

317,000

 

4,172

 

Economic

 

446,000

 

 

446,000

 

1

 

Member intermediated

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

Forward contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic

 

 

 

5,000

 

(11

)

Total

 

30,546,603

 

(216,226

)

24,916,916

 

(346,912

)

Mortgage-delivery commitments(1)

 

6,573

 

(24

)

7,342

 

13

 

Total derivatives

 

$

30,553,176

 

(216,250

)

$

24,924,258

 

(346,899

)

Accrued interest

 

 

 

224,062

 

 

 

136,484

 

Net derivatives fair value

 

 

 

$

7,812

 

 

 

$

(210,415

)

Derivative assets

 

 

 

$

128,373

 

 

 

$

45,447

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

(120,561

)

 

 

(255,862

)

Net derivatives fair value

 

 

 

$

7,812

 

 

 

$

(210,415

)


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

Note 18—Estimated Fair Values

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 December 31, 2006 and 2005. 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.

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

F-50




Interest-Bearing Deposits and Investment Securities.   The estimated fair value is based on average quoted prices from two or more investment securities dealers, where available, or determined by calculating the present value of the estimated future cash flows. The market-environment assumptions used in these calculations are those used by the market in determining fair values of investments with similar terms.

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

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

Advances.   The Bank determines the estimated fair value of advances with fixed rates and advances with complex floating rates by calculating the present value of expected 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 and loans with similar terms. In accordance with the Finance Board’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.

Mortgage Loans.   The estimated fair values of mortgage loans are calculated using market-environment and prepayment-behavior assumptions that are calibrated to quoted market prices and prepayment speeds of similar mortgage loans. These prices, however, are highly dependent upon the underlying prepayment assumptions, and changes in the prepayment rates used could have an effect on the estimated fair values.

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

Derivative Assets and Liabilities.   The Bank bases the estimated fair values of derivatives with similar terms on available market prices, including accrued interest receivable and payable. However, active markets may not exist for many types of financial instruments. Consequently, fair values for these instruments must be estimated using techniques such as discounted cash-flow analysis and comparisons to similar instruments. Estimates developed using these methods are highly subjective and require judgments regarding significant matters such as the amount and timing of future cash flows and the selection of discount rates that appropriately reflect market and credit risks. Changes in these judgments often have a material effect on the fair-value estimates. Because these estimates are made as of a specific point in time, they are susceptible to material near-term changes. The fair values are netted by counterparty where such legal right exists. If these netted amounts are positive they are classified as an asset, and if negative, they are classified as a liability.

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

F-51




Consolidated Obligations.   The Bank estimates fair value based on the present value of each obligation discounted at the estimated cost of raising comparable term debt as indicated by the Office of Finance.

Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Stock.   The fair value of capital subject to mandatory redemption is generally at par value. Capital stock can only be acquired by the Bank’s members at par value and redeemed at par value. Capital stock is not traded and no market mechanism exists for the exchange of stock outside the Bank’s 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 taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The estimated fair value of the Bank’s standby letters of credit was immaterial at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Commitments to Extend Credit for Mortgage Loans.   Certain mortgage-loan-purchase commitments are recorded as derivatives at their fair value.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Bank’s financial instruments at December 31, 2006, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Carrying
Value

 

Net
Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

8,197

 

$

 

$

8,197

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

940,050

 

(7

)

940,043

 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

3,250,000

 

1

 

3,250,001

 

Federal funds sold

 

2,606,500

 

(15

)

2,606,485

 

Trading securities

 

151,362

 

 

151,362

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

988,058

 

 

988,058

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

7,306,191

 

1,817

 

7,308,008

 

Advances

 

37,342,125

 

(52,088

)

37,290,037

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

4,502,182

 

(101,404

)

4,400,778

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

213,934

 

 

213,934

 

Derivative assets

 

128,373

 

 

128,373

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

(1,124,009

)

622

 

(1,123,387

)

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(35,518,442

)

206,126

 

(35,312,316

)

Discount notes

 

(17,723,515

)

1,806

 

(17,721,709

)

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(12,354

)

 

(12,354

)

Accrued interest payable

 

(357,600

)

 

(357,600

)

Derivative liabilities

 

(120,561

)

 

(120,561

)

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit for advances

 

 

(3,303

)

(3,303

)

Standby bond-purchase agreements

 

 

915

 

915

 

 

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The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Bank’s financial instruments at December 31, 2005, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Value

 

Gain/(Loss)

 

Value

 

Financial instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

9,683

 

 

$

 

 

$

9,683

 

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

 

2,130,050

 

 

(170

)

 

2,129,880

 

Federal funds sold

 

4,775,000

 

 

(164

)

 

4,774,836

 

Trading securities

 

216,578

 

 

 

 

216,578

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

1,016,488

 

 

 

 

1,016,488

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

6,328,672

 

 

21,602

 

 

6,350,274

 

Advances

 

38,067,896

 

 

(81,350

)

 

37,986,546

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

4,886,494

 

 

(96,463

)

 

4,790,031

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

190,056

 

 

 

 

190,056

 

Derivative assets

 

45,447

 

 

 

 

45,447

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

(602,091

)

 

828

 

 

(601,263

)

Consolidated obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

(29,442,073

)

 

191,662

 

 

(29,250,411

)

Discount notes

 

(24,339,903

)

 

2,797

 

 

(24,337,106

)

Mandatorily redeemable capital stock

 

(8,296

)

 

 

 

(8,296

)

Accrued interest payable

 

(276,427

)

 

 

 

(276,427

)

Derivative liabilities

 

(255,862

)

 

 

 

(255,862

)

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit for advances

 

 

 

(2,802

)

 

(2,802

)

Standby bond-purchase agreements

 

 

 

937

 

 

937

 

 

Note 19—Commitments and Contingencies

As described in Note 13, as provided by the FHLBank Act or Finance Board regulation, COs are backed by the financial resources of the FHLBanks. The joint and several liability regulation of the Finance Board authorizes the Finance Board to require any FHLBank to repay all or a portion of the principal and interest on CO’s for which another FHLBank is the primary obligor. No FHLBank has had to assume or pay the CO of another FHLBank.

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 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 Board 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 Board as it relates to decisions involving the allocation of the joint and several liability for the FHLBank’s COs, the FHLBank’s 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 December 31, 2006 and 2005. The par amounts of other FHLBanks’ outstanding COs

F-53




for which the Bank is jointly and severally liable were approximately $895.6 billion and $880.4 billion at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Commitments to Extend Credit.   Commitments that legally bind and unconditionally obligate the Bank for additional advances totaled approximately $76.4 million and $71.2 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Commitments generally are for periods up to 12 months. Standby letters of credit are executed for members for a fee. A standby letter of credit is a financing arrangement between the Bank and its 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 December 31, 2006 and 2005, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Outstanding notional

 

$1,792,749

 

$117,594

 

Original terms

 

Two months to 20 years

 

One year 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 $579,000 and $37,000 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, 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. See Note 8 for additional information. The estimated fair values of commitments as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, is reported in Note 18.

Commitments for unused line-of-credit advances totaled approximately $1.5 billion at both December 31, 2006 and 2005. 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 $6.6 million and $7.3 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, 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 marketing agent can find a suitable 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 after five years, no later than 2011. Total commitments for bond purchases were $537.3 million and $554.0 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Bank had agreements with three state housing authorities at December 31, 2006 and 2005. During 2006 and 2005, the Bank was not required to purchase any bonds under these agreements. The estimated fair value of standby bond-purchase agreements as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, is reported in Note 18.

Counterparty Credit Exposure.   The Bank generally executes derivatives with counterparties rated A or better by either S&P or Moody’s, and generally enters into bilateral-collateral agreements. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Bank had pledged as collateral securities with a carrying value, including accrued interest, of $55.0 million and $122.6 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 the counterparties had the right to sell or repledge the collateral.

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Forward-Settling Derivative Contracts.   As of December 31, 2006, the Bank had entered into derivatives with notional amounts totaling $650.0 million with settlement dates in 2007. As of December 31, 2005, the Bank had entered into derivatives with notional amounts totaling $550.0 million with settlement dates in 2006. All such forward-settling derivative contracts have been recorded at their fair value.

Unsettled Consolidated Obligations.   The Bank entered into $500.0 million and $62.0 million par value of CO bonds that had traded but not settled as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Additionally, the Bank entered into $29.8 million par value of CO DNs that had traded but not settled as of December 31, 2006. There were no unsettled CO DNs as of December 31, 2005.

Lease Commitments.   The Bank charged to operating expense net rental costs of approximately $3.8 million, $3.7 million, and $3.6 million during the years ending December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Future minimum rentals at December 31, 2006, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Year

 

 

 

Premises

 

Equipment

 

Total

 

2007

 

$

3,646

 

 

$

16

 

 

$

3,662

 

2008

 

3,655

 

 

16

 

 

3,671

 

2009

 

3,665

 

 

6

 

 

3,671

 

2010

 

3,675

 

 

 

 

3,675

 

2011

 

3,684

 

 

 

 

3,684

 

Thereafter

 

3,733

 

 

 

 

3,733

 

Total

 

$

22,058

 

 

$

38

 

 

$

22,096

 

 

Lease agreements for Bank premises generally provide for increases in the basic rentals resulting from increases in property taxes and maintenance expenses. Such increases are not expected to have a material effect on the Bank.

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.

Other commitments and contingencies are discussed in Notes 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 17.

Note 20—Transactions with Related Parties and Other FHLBanks

Transactions with Related Parties.   The Bank is a cooperative whose member institutions own the capital stock of the Bank and may receive dividends on their investment in the Bank. In addition, certain former members and nonmembers that still have outstanding transactions with the Bank are also required to maintain their investment in the Bank’s capital stock until the transactions mature or are paid off. All advances are issued to members, and all mortgage loans held for portfolio are purchased from members. The Bank also maintains demand deposit accounts for members primarily to facilitate settlement activities that are directly related to advances, mortgage-loan purchases, and other transactions between the Bank and the member institution. All transactions with members are entered into in the normal course of business. In instances where the member has an officer who serves as a director of the Bank, those transactions are subject to the same eligibility and credit criteria, as well as the same terms and conditions, as transactions with all other members. 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 14, Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. and Citizens Financial Group held more than 10 percent of the Bank’s total capital stock outstanding as of December 31, 2006. Advances and capital stock activity with Bank of America Rhode Island, N.A. and Citizens Financial Group are discussed in Notes 8 and 14.

F-55




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

Investments in Consolidated Obligations.   The Bank has invested in COs of other FHLBanks. The Bank’s carrying value of other FHLBank COs classified as available-for-sale was $14.7 million and $15.0 million at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively (see Note 6). The Bank recorded interest income of $817,000, $822,000, and $932,000 from these investment securities for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004 respectively. 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 is included within other interest income and interest expense from other borrowings in the statements of income.

The Bank did not have any loans to other FHLBanks outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005. Interest income from loans to other FHLBanks during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, are shown in the following table, by FHLBank (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Interest Income from Other FHLBanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHLBank of Dallas

 

 

$

7

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

FHLBank of Cincinnati

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

FHLBank of Pittsburgh

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

10

 

 

Total

 

 

$

9

 

 

 

$

3

 

 

 

$

17

 

 

 

The Bank did not have any borrowings from other FHLBanks outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005. Interest expense from borrowings from other FHLBanks for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, are shown in the following table, by FHLBank (dollars in thousands):

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Interest Expense from Other FHLBanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHLBank of Atlanta

 

$

 

$

1

 

 

$

13

 

 

FHLBank of Chicago

 

7

 

 

 

1

 

 

FHLBank of Cincinnati

 

258

 

196

 

 

8

 

 

FHLBank of Dallas

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

FHLBank of Indianapolis

 

 

3

 

 

2

 

 

FHLBank of New York

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

FHLBank of Pittsburgh

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

FHLBank of San Francisco

 

14

 

82

 

 

20

 

 

FHLBank of Seattle

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

FHLBank of Topeka

 

2

 

12

 

 

6

 

 

Total

 

$

298

 

$

296

 

 

$

61

 

 

 

Advances.   From time to time, a member of one FHLBank may be acquired by a member of another FHLBank. Upon such an event, the two FHLBanks may agree to transfer the advances of the acquired member to the FHLBank of the surviving member. FHLBanks may also agree to the purchase and sale of any attendant hedges. There were no transfers of advances between the Bank and other FHLBanks during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

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MPF Mortgage Loans.   In the ordinary course of business, the Bank sells to the FHLBank of Chicago participations in mortgage assets that the Bank purchases from its members. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, the Bank sold to the FHLBank of Chicago approximately $109.0 million, $1.7 billion, and $3.6 billion, respectively, in such mortgage-loan participations.

Beginning in 2004, the Bank began paying 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 $1.1 million, $563,000, and $78,000 in MPF transaction-services fee expense to the FHLBank of Chicago during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, which has been recorded in the statements of income as other expense.

Consolidated Obligations.   From time to time, another FHLBank may transfer to the Bank debt obligations in which the other FHLBank was the primary obligor and upon transfer we became the primary obligor. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Bank assumed a debt obligation with a par amount of $20.0 million and a fair value of approximately $19.9 million, which had been the obligation of the FHLBank of Chicago. There were no transfers of debt obligations between the Bank and other FHLBanks during the year ended December 31, 2005.

Note 21—Subsequent Event

On February 16, 2007, the board of directors approved payment of a cash dividend at an annualized rate of 6.75 percent based on capital stock balances outstanding during the fourth quarter of 2006. The dividend amounted to $39.8 million and was paid on March 2, 2007.

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EX-10.2.1 2 a07-5995_1ex10d2d1.htm EX-10.2.1

Exhibit 10.2.1

THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON
THRIFT BENEFIT EQUALIZATION PLAN

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “Bank”) adopted the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (the “Plan”), as a component of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Benefit Equalization Plan, effective January 1, 1993.  The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Program for the Directors of the Bank is merged into the Plan effective on the close of business December 31, 2006.  Except as provided below, this amendment and restatement of the Plan is effective January 1, 2007.  The Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A, as enacted by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and applicable regulations thereunder.

The Plan is established and maintained by the Bank in order to provide Eligible Executives and Directors an opportunity to defer taxation on income and to provide Eligible Executives with the benefits which would have been provided under the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan for Financial Institutions (the “Qualified Plan”) if (a) their benefits under the Qualified Plan were not limited by certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code applicable to the Qualified Plan, and (b) “Base Salary” as defined in the Qualified Plan took into account amounts paid under the Bank’s incentive compensation plan(s), as well as elective deferrals hereunder.

The Plan is a governmental plan under Section 4(b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and is therefore exempt from coverage under ERISA.  The Plan is unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated employees, and Bank directors, and is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

Each word used herein not defined below that begins with a capital letter and is defined in the Qualified Plan shall have the same definition as the definition given to that word in the Qualified Plan.  Wherever used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

1.1           “Account” or “Deferred Compensation Account” means the separate account established under the Plan for each Participant, as described in Section 5.1.

1.2           “Administrator” means the Committee or such person or persons as may be appointed by the Committee to be responsible for those functions assigned to the Administrator under the Plan.

1.3           “Affiliate” means any entity that is a member of a “controlled group” of corporations with the Bank under Code Section 414(b) or a trade or business under common control with the Bank under Code Section 414(c).

1.4           “Bank” means the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.




1.5           “Base Salary” means “Salary” as defined for purposes of the Qualified Plan.

1.6           “Beneficiary” means the person, persons or trust designated by a Participant as direct or contingent beneficiary in the manner prescribed by the Administrator.  The Beneficiary of a Participant who has not effectively designated a beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate.

1.7           “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

1.8           “Code Limitations” means the cap on compensation taken into account by the Qualified Plan under Code Section 401(a)(17); the limitations on Section 401(k) contributions necessary to meet the average deferral percentage (“ADP”) test under Code Section 401(k)(3); the limitations on employee and matching contributions necessary to meet the average contribution percentage (“ACP”) test under Code Section 401(m); the dollar limitations on elective deferrals under Code Section 402(g); and the overall limitation on contributions imposed by Code Section 415(c), as such provisions may be amended from time to time, and any similar successor provisions of federal tax law.

1.9           “Committee” means the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors, which is authorized to administer the Plan and to perform the functions described in Article VII.

1.10         “Compensation” means (a) with respect to an Executive, Base Salary and/or Incentive Compensation, as applicable; and (b) with respect to a Director, the meeting fees paid by the Bank to the Director.

1.11         “Deferral Period” means the period described in Section 3.3 of the Plan.

1.12         “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank, other than an Employee.

1.13         “Disability” means that the Participant (a) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; (b) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Bank; or (c) has been determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

1.14         “Effective Date” means January 1, 2007.  The Plan was initially effective January 1, 1993 and was last restated effective August 1, 2000.  Any provision of this amendment and restatement required to be effective on and after January 1, 2005 in order for the Plan to comply with Code Section 409A shall become effective as of January 1, 2005 (or such later date up to January 1, 2007 as shall be permitted under applicable Code Section 409A transition rules).

1.15         “Elective Deferral” means the amount of Compensation a Participant elects to defer pursuant to Article III of the Plan.

2




1.16         “Eligible Executive” or “Executive” means an employee of the Bank who is a corporate officer and who has been selected to be a Participant in the Plan by the Committee.

1.17         “Hardship” means an unforeseeable emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the Participant that would result in severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from (a) a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or the spouse or a dependent of the Participant (as defined in Code Section 152(a)), (b) a loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, for example, not as a result of a natural disaster), or (c) such other extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.  In addition, the need to pay for medical expenses, including non-refundable deductibles, as well as for the costs of prescription drug medication, or the need to pay for the funeral expenses of a spouse or a dependent may also constitute a Hardship event.  The Administrator shall determine whether the circumstances presented by the Participant constitute an unanticipated emergency.  Such circumstances and the Administrator’s determination will depend on the facts of each case, but, in any case, payment may not be made to the extent that such hardship is or may be relieved as described in Sections 6.1.1 through 6.1.4 below.

1.18         “Incentive Compensation” means bonuses under the Bank’s Executive Incentive Plan and, if applicable, any long-term incentive compensation payable to a Participant under the Bank’s incentive compensation plan(s).

1.19         “Matching Contribution” means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Account under Article IV of the Plan with respect to Elective Deferrals.

1.20         “Participant” means (a) an Executive or former Executive who elects to participate in the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan or who has an Account in the Plan that has not been fully distributed; and (b) any Director who elects to participate in the Plan or who has an Account in the Plan that has not been fully distributed.

1.21         “Plan” means The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, as set forth herein or as it may be amended or restated from time to time.

1.22         “Plan Year” means the calendar year.

1.23         “Qualified Plan” means the Pentegra Defined Contribution Plan for Financial Institutions, as from time to time amended.

1.24         “Required Withholdings” means the federal, state or local employment taxes, including applicable FICA and FUTA taxes required to be withheld under Sections 3101 and 3501, respectively, of the Code from any (a) Elective Deferrals, (b) elective deferrals on behalf of the Participant to the Qualified Plan, (c) contributions by the Participant to any welfare benefit plan maintained by the Bank, and/or (d) any other compensation not paid to the Participant in cash, and all federal, state or local income taxes attributable thereto required to be withheld from income, and any additional federal, state or local income or employment taxes attributable to such withholdings.  The Administrator shall determine Required Withholdings in its discretion.

3




1.25         “Scheduled Distribution” means a distribution from a Participant’s Scheduled Distribution Sub-Account in accordance with Section 6.3.

1.26         “Scheduled Distribution Sub-Accounts” or “Sub-Accounts” means the separate bookkeeping accounts established by the Administrator under Section 5.1 to record the portion(s) of a Participant’s Account subject to separate Scheduled Distribution elections.

1.27         “Termination of Service” means, with respect to an Executive, the severing of employment with the Bank and any Affiliate, voluntarily or involuntarily, for any reason.  A Participant will not be deemed to have incurred a Termination of Service while he or she is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence (such as temporary employment by the government) if the period of such leave does not exceed six months or such longer period as the Participant’s right to reemployment with the Bank is provided either by statute or by contract.  If the period of leave exceeds six months and the Participant’s right to reemployment is not provided either by statute or by contract, the Termination of Service will be deemed to occur on the first date immediately following such six-month period.  With respect to a Director, the term “Termination of Service” means that the Director has ceased to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank, and is not an employee of the Bank or any Affiliate.  Whether an individual has incurred a Termination of Service shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 409A.

1.28         “Valuation Date” means the close of business of each business day, or such other valuation date or dates established by the Administrator.

ARTICLE II
PARTICIPATION

2.1           Eligibility.  Each Executive may become a Participant upon the effective date of his or her designation as an Executive eligible for participation in the Plan by the Board of Directors or the Committee. Each Director may become a Participant upon his or her becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank.

2.2           Participation in the Plan.  An Eligible Executive or Director may elect to participate in the Plan for any Plan Year by delivering to the Administrator a properly executed election at the time and in the form provided by the Administrator, pursuant to which the Eligible Executive or Director elects to defer receipt of a specified portion of the Compensation that would otherwise be payable to such Executive for the Plan Year, as described in Article III hereof.

2.3           Cessation of Participation.  An Executive shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan if (a) he or she incurs a Termination of Service for any reason, (b) he or she remains in the service of a Bank but ceases to be an Eligible Executive as described in Section 1.16 due to a change in employment status, except to the extent that the Committee determines otherwise, or (c) the Plan is terminated or otherwise amended so that the Executive ceases to be eligible for participation; provided, however, that such individual shall continue to be a Participant solely with respect to his or her vested Account balance until such Account balance is distributed from

4




the Plan.  Such cessation of participation shall be effective upon the date of the change in status described in clause (a) or (b) above, or upon the effective date of an amendment or termination of the Plan described in clause (c) above.  A Director shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan if he or she ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors for any reason; provided, however, that such individual shall continue to be a Participant solely with respect to his or her vested Account balance until such Account balance is distributed from the Plan.

ARTICLE III
DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION

3.1           Election to Defer.  A Participant may elect to defer receipt of a portion of his or her Compensation for a Plan Year by delivering a properly executed election to the Administrator within the time specified in Section 3.2.  The Participant’s election shall be in a written form acceptable to the Administrator and shall specify:

3.1.1.       the whole percentage of Salary, other than Incentive Compensation, for the Plan Year to be deferred to the Plan, which percentage may not exceed 100%; provided, however, that the Elective Deferral percentage shall be reduced to the extent necessary to provide for any Required Withholdings;

3.1.2.       the whole percentage of Incentive Compensation for the Plan Year to be deferred to the Plan, which percentage may not exceed 100%, reduced to the extent necessary to provide for any Required Withholdings;

3.1.3.       if applicable, the investment fund or funds in which the Participant’s Elective Deferrals, and Matching Contributions attributable to such Elective Deferrals, will be deemed to be invested pursuant to Section 5.2;

3.1.4.       if applicable, the specific Scheduled Distribution Sub-Account or Sub-Accounts into which all or a portion of such Elective Deferrals and Matching Contributions will be directed, as described in Section 6.3; and

3.1.5.       to the extent permitted by the Administrator under Section 6.4.1, the payment commencement date and method of distribution to apply to benefits distributable upon the Participant’s Termination of Service.

An Executive who elects not to participate in the Plan at the time he or she first becomes eligible to do so may elect to become a Participant in any subsequent Plan Year by filing an election to defer Compensation as described above within the time provided in Section 3.2, provided that he or she is then eligible to participate in the Plan.

3.2           Date for Filing Election.

3.2.1.       Except as provided below, an election to defer Compensation to be earned in a Plan Year shall be filed by the Participant with the Administrator as of a date established by the Administrator which is no later than December 31 of the Plan Year preceding the year in which such Compensation is earned.

5




3.2.2.       In the case of an individual first employed as an Executive or becoming a Director, or first becoming eligible for this Plan (and any similar account-based deferred compensation plan of the Bank) during a Plan Year, an election to defer Compensation earned subsequent to the initial date of employment or eligibility may be filed by such Executive or Director with the Administrator within thirty (30) days of such initial date of service or eligibility.

3.2.3.       An election to defer Incentive Compensation meeting the requirements for “performance-based” compensation under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(e) (or any successor regulation issued under Code Section 409A) shall be filed with the Administrator as of a date established by the Administrator which is at least six months prior to the end of the performance period in which such Incentive Compensation is earned.

3.3           Deferral Period.  The Deferral Period for a Participant’s Compensation earned during any Plan Year shall begin on the first day of such Plan Year, provided that the Participant has filed an election to defer Compensation prior thereto, as described in Section 3.2.1.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an individual who is first employed as an Executive or first becomes a Director, or who first becomes eligible for participation during a Plan Year, the Deferral Period shall begin as of the first day of the payroll period (or, in the case of a Director, the first day of the month) beginning after the filing of a timely election by the Participant in such Plan Year, as described in Section 3.2.2.  In each case, such Deferral Period shall end on the last day of the Plan Year.  The Deferral Period for Incentive Compensation meeting the requirements for “performance-based” compensation under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(e) (or any successor regulation issued under Code Section 409A) Plan shall be the performance period (which shall not be shorter than a Plan Year) to which such Incentive Compensation relates.

3.4           Revocation or Change of Deferral Election.

3.4.1.       A Participant may not voluntarily revoke or amend an election to defer Compensation under Section 3.1.1 after commencement of the Deferral Period.  Such election shall automatically expire at the conclusion of the applicable Deferral Period, unless renewed within the time provided in Section 3.2.

3.4.2.       A Participant may not revoke or amend an election to defer Incentive Compensation meeting the requirements for “performance-based” compensation under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(e) (or any successor regulation issued under Code Section 409A) after the date which is six months prior to the end of the performance period in which such Incentive Compensation is earned.

3.4.3.       Notwithstanding the above, if a Participant incurs a Hardship, the Participant’s Elective Deferrals under this Plan may, upon the request of the Participant and with the consent of the Administrator, be permanently suspended for a period of six (6) months (the “suspension period”).  At the end of the suspension period, the Participant’s Elective Deferrals shall automatically resume, provided that the Participant

6




has timely filed a deferral election under Sections 3.1 and 3.2 with respect to the Deferral Period in effect when the suspension period ends.

3.5           Vesting of Elective Deferrals.  A Participant shall be 100% vested in the balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account attributable to Elective Deferrals at all times.

ARTICLE IV
BANK MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS

4.1           Matching Contributions for Eligible Executive Participants.

4.1.1.       Except as provided in Section 4.1.3 below, for each Elective Deferral credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account under Section 3.1.1, such Participant’s Account shall also be credited with a Matching Contribution under this Plan equal to (a) the matching contribution, if any, that would have been credited under the terms of the Qualified Plan with respect to such amount if contributed to the Qualified Plan, determined without regard to the Code Limitations, minus (b) the maximum matching contribution available to the Participant under the terms of the Qualified Plan with respect to the period to which such Elective Deferral relates, with regard to the Code Limitations and assuming that the Participant has made the largest elective deferral to the Qualified Plan for such period (and preceding periods during the Deferral Period) for which a matching contribution is available under the Qualified Plan; provided, however, that no Matching Contribution shall be made under Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 with respect to Elective Deferrals under Section 3.1.1 exceeding 3% of Base Salary.  To the extent that a Participant has not met applicable service requirements for participation in matching contributions under the terms of the Qualified Plan, clause (a) of the preceding sentence shall be applied as though the Participant is eligible for matching contributions under the Qualified Plan; and no reduction under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall apply until the Participant is actually eligible for such matching contributions.

4.1.2.       If, for any Plan Year beginning on or after the Effective Date, a Participant (a) has contributed to the Qualified Plan the maximum amount of elective deferrals permitted under the terms of the Qualified Plan (including “catch-up” contributions, if available to the Participant and eligible for matching contributions); but (b) was credited with an amount of matching contributions under the Qualified Plan which is less than the amount set forth in Section 4.1.1(b) above, then the Participant shall be credited with an additional Matching Contribution under this Plan equal to the amount set forth in Section 4.1.1(b) above for such Plan Year minus the amount of matching contributions actually credited to the Participant under the Qualified Plan for such Plan Year.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant shall be eligible for a Matching Contribution under this Section 4.1.2 only if he or she is an Employee on the last day of the applicable Plan Year.

4.1.3.       For each Incentive Compensation Elective Deferral credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account under Section 3.1.2, such Participant’s Account shall also be credited with a Matching Contribution under this Plan equal to the matching contribution, if any, that would be credited under the Qualified Plan with

7




respect to such amount if contributed to the Qualified Plan, determined without regard to the Code Limitations and on the basis that such Incentive Compensation is Salary under the Qualified Plan in the year payable; provided, however, that no Matching Contribution shall be made hereunder with respect to Elective Deferrals under Section 3.1.2 exceeding 3% of Incentive Compensation.

4.1.4.       No Matching Contribution shall be made with respect to a participating Director.

4.2           Vesting of Matching Deferrals.  A Participant shall be 100% vested in the balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account attributable to Matching Deferrals at all times.

ARTICLE V
INVESTMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION

5.1           Deferred Compensation Account.  The Administrator shall establish a Deferred Compensation Account on the books of the Plan for each Participant, reflecting Elective Deferrals and Matching Contributions made for the Participant’s benefit, together with any adjustments for income, gain or loss attributable thereto under Section 5.2, and any payments, distributions, transfers or forfeitures therefrom.  The opening balance of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account as of January 1, 2007 shall equal the balance of such Account as of the close of the preceding business day.

5.2           Time for Crediting Contributions.  Elective Deferrals to the Plan with respect to any pay period, and Matching Contributions attributable to such Elective Deferrals, shall normally be credited to the Participant’s Account within five (5) business days of the date that corresponding contributions attributable to Compensation earned in such pay period are credited under the Qualified Plan or would otherwise be paid to the Participant; provided, however, that no adjustment of earnings or losses shall be made with respect to Elective Deferrals or Matching Contributions under Section 5.3 prior to the earlier of (a) the 15th business day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the Elective Deferral would otherwise have been paid to the Participant but for the Participant’s deferral election, or (b) the date such amounts are actually credited to the Participant’s Account on the books of the Plan; provided, however, that clause (a) shall not apply to any Matching Contribution made under Section 4.1.2 or as a result of Code Limitation testing (such as ADP testing) normally conducted on an annual basis.  The Administrator shall establish on the books of the Plan one or more Sub-Accounts in each Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account to reflect such Participant’s Scheduled Distribution elections and such additional accounts or sub-accounts as he deems necessary or advisable.

5.3           Hypothetical Investment of Accounts.  The Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant, including each Sub-Account thereof, shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect the income, gain or loss that would accrue to such Account, if assets in the Account were invested as described in this Section 5.2.  Each Participant shall direct the hypothetical investment of the Elective Deferrals and Matching Contributions credited to the Plan on his or

8




her behalf among such investment funds as are from time to time made available by the Committee.  A Participant may, as of any Valuation Date, change the investment allocation of future Elective Deferrals or Matching Contributions, and may elect to transfer all or a portion of the balance of his or her Account hypothetically invested in one investment fund to any other investment fund or funds then available under the Plan, by directing the Administrator in such form and at such time as the Administrator shall require.

The hypothetical investment fund options available under the Plan shall be those designated by the Committee from time to time in its discretion.  The Administrator may promulgate uniform and nondiscriminatory rules and procedures governing investment elections under the Plan, including rules governing how credits or debits to an Account or Sub-Account shall be allocated among investment funds in the absence of a valid election.

5.4           Statement of Account.  A statement shall be sent to each Participant as to the balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account at least once each Plan Year.  Electronic distribution (including a reminder that such statement is available electronically) will satisfy this requirement.

ARTICLE VI
PAYMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION

6.1           Hardship Distributions.  A Participant may request that all or a portion of his or her vested Account balance be distributed at any time by submitting a written request to the Administrator, provided that the Participant has incurred a Hardship, and the distribution is necessary to alleviate such Hardship.  In determining whether the Hardship distribution request should be approved, the Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the Participant’s representation that the Hardship cannot be alleviated:

6.1.1.       through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise;

6.1.2.       by the Participant taking any withdrawals then available to him or her under the terms of the Qualified Plan;

6.1.3.       by reasonable liquidation of the Participant’s assets, including amounts available for withdrawal from the Qualified Plan, to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause a severe financial hardship; or

6.1.4.       by cessation of his or her elective deferrals under Section 3.4.3 of this Plan or a similar deferred compensation plan to the extent available.

6.2           Administration of Hardship Distributions.  The Administrator shall deem a distribution to be necessary to alleviate a Hardship if the distribution does not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy the Participant’s Hardship, plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  The Account balance that is not distributed pursuant to the Hardship request shall remain in the Plan.  Distributions to alleviate a Hardship will be made as soon as administratively feasible after the Administrator has reviewed and approved the request.  An amount to be distributed for Hardship shall be debited from the

9




Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account not held in a Scheduled Distribution Sub-Account, or (if such amount is not sufficient) from the Sub-Account(s) having the latest scheduled distribution date.

6.3           Scheduled Distribution.  A Participant may elect to receive a Scheduled Distribution with respect to an Elective Deferral at the time he or she files the applicable deferral election under Section 3.1.  A Participant may elect in accordance with Section 3.1.4 to direct all or a portion of his or her Elective Deferrals for the Plan Year into one or more Sub-Account(s), provided that any such Sub-Account has a scheduled distribution date which is not earlier than twelve (12) months after the end of the Deferral Period to which the Elective Deferral relates.  The Administrator may establish uniform and nondiscriminatory rules and procedures governing Scheduled Distribution Sub-Accounts, including establishing limitations on the number of Sub-Accounts available to Participants for any Deferral Period or in the aggregate, and the minimum length of deferral to be provided under any newly-established Sub-Account, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

Except to the extent the Participant elects otherwise in accordance with Section 6.7, any “Post-Secondary Education Subaccounts” of the Participant as in effect under the terms of the Plan immediately prior to the Effective Date of this amendment and restatement shall be redesignated as Scheduled Distribution Sub-Accounts hereunder, having the same scheduled distribution date(s) and method of distribution.

To the extent permitted by the Administrator, such election may designate whether the elected Scheduled Distribution date shall continue to apply notwithstanding the Participant’s intervening retirement, death, Disability or Termination of Service.  Except as otherwise elected by a Participant under the preceding sentence, an election of a Scheduled Distribution shall automatically terminate upon the Participant’s retirement, death, Disability or Termination of Service, at which time the provisions of Sections 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 shall govern distribution of the Participant’s Account.

A Participant may, with the consent of the Administrator and to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, elect to (a) revoke a Scheduled Distribution (provided that the Participant’s Scheduled Distribution election would otherwise automatically terminate upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason), in which case the balance of the applicable Sub-Account will be restored to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account, or (b) extend to a later date the date on which a Scheduled Distribution will occur, in which case the applicable Sub-Account will be redesignated or merged with another existing Sub-Account having the same designated distribution date.  A Participant may make an election under the preceding sentence by filing a new election prior to his or her Termination of Service at such time and in such form as the Administrator shall designate.  Any election to revoke or extend the date of a Scheduled Distribution shall not take effect until at least twelve months after the date on which it is made and must provide for a deferred distribution date not earlier than five years after the date such Scheduled Distribution was otherwise scheduled to be made and not later than the date set forth in Section 6.6.  A Scheduled Distribution may be made in a single lump sum payment or in installments over two to ten years (as described in Section 6.5.1 or 6.5.2, respectively).

10




6.4           Retirement, Death or Other Separation from Service.

6.4.1.       Initial Distribution Election.  A Participant who has incurred a Termination of Service, whether by reason of retirement, voluntary or involuntary termination, death or Disability (each a “Distribution Event”), shall receive distribution of his or her Account (other than a Scheduled Distribution Sub-Account subject to a later distribution date with respect to such Distribution Event under Section 6.3) in a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable following such Termination of Service.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may permit a Participant to elect a later payment commencement date permitted under Section 6.6, or an alternate method of distribution permitted under Section 6.5, by filing a written request with the Administrator at the time the Participant files an initial deferral election under Section 3.2.  To the extent permitted under rules established by the Administrator, such an election may separately specify different times or available methods of payment for different Distribution Events.

6.4.2.       Changes in Distribution Election.  The Administrator may permit a Participant to defer the commencement of his or her distribution to a date permitted under Section 6.6, or select an alternative method of distribution permitted under Section 6.5, after the initial deferral election by filing a written request with the Administrator.  Such a change election shall not take effect until at least twelve months after the date on which it is made and shall be effective only if (a) the election is filed with the Administrator before the Participant’s Termination of Service; (b) the election does not accelerate the timing or payment schedule of any distribution; (c) the payment commencement date in the change election is not less than five years after the date the distribution would otherwise have commenced for the Distribution Event without regard to such election; and (d) the Administrator approves such election.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.7, a Participant’s distribution election shall become irrevocable upon the Participant’s Termination of Service.

6.4.3.       Death.  If a Participant dies before distribution of his or her Account has commenced, the Participant’s benefit under the Plan shall be paid to his or her Beneficiary in a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death.

6.4.4.       Distribution Event.  Whether a Participant has incurred a Distribution Event shall be determined by the Administrator in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A and regulations thereunder.

6.5           Method of Payment.

6.5.1.       Lump Sum Payment.  Distribution of a Participant’s Account pursuant to Section 6.1, 6.3 or 6.4, may be made in a cash lump sum.

6.5.2.       Installment Distribution.  A Participant requesting distribution of an Account pursuant to Section 6.4 may, with the approval of the Administrator, receive

11




distribution in periodic payments in lieu of a lump sum.  Periodic payments shall be paid on a semi-annual basis, in January and July of each year, over a period that does not exceed twenty (20) installments (ten (10) years).  Each installment payment shall be determined by dividing the Participant’s then-current Account balance by the number of semi-annual payments remaining to be paid. The Administrator may establish uniform and nondiscriminatory rules and procedures governing the payment of installment distributions, including the maximum period over which installment distributions shall be made and the minimum amount which must be distributed each Plan Year, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

6.5.3.       Death of Participant or Beneficiary During Installment Distribution Period.  If a Participant who has elected installment payments under Section 6.5.2 dies after payments have commenced but before all amounts held in the Account have been distributed, the remaining Account balance shall be paid to the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries designated by the Participant over the then remaining installment period, or if the Participant has so elected, in a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death.  If the designated Beneficiary dies after the Participant but before all amounts held in the Account have been distributed, the then remaining balance in the Participant’s Account shall be distributed in a lump sum payment to the Beneficiary’s estate as provided in Section 6.5.1 (except to the extent that the Participant has designated one or more contingent Beneficiaries).

6.5.4.       Limit on Distribution Method.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Section 409A, if the Participant’s aggregate Deferred Compensation Account does not exceed $10,000 at the time of his or her Termination of Employment, distribution shall be made to the Participant (or his or her Beneficiary in the case of the Participant’s death) in a single lump-sum payment.

6.6           Payment Commencement Date.   A Participant may not elect a distribution date later than (a) April 1 of the calendar year after the year in which the Participant attains age 70½, or (b) five years after the Participant’s Termination of Service, if later.

6.7           Transition Rule Election.  Pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1, Q&A-19(c), as extended by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking REG-158080-04, a Participant may, prior to December 31, 2006 or such later date as shall be permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Code Section 409A, modify or make new elections regarding distribution of his or her Account(s) under Sections 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5, at such time and in such form as the Administrator shall designate; provided, however, that no such distribution election may affect payments that the Participant would otherwise receive in 2006 or cause payments to be made in 2006.

6.8           Acceleration of Payment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the distribution of benefits hereunder may be accelerated, with the consent of the Administrator, under the following circumstances:

12




6.8.1.       Compliance with Domestic Relations Order.  To permit payment to an individual other than the Participant as necessary to comply with the provisions of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B));

6.8.2.       Conflicts of Interest.  To permit payment as necessary to comply with the provisions of a certificate of divestiture (as defined in Code Section 1043(b)(2));

6.8.3.       Payment of Employment Taxes.  To permit payment of federal employment taxes under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a) or 3121(v)(2), or to comply with any federal tax withholding provisions or corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state, local, or foreign tax laws as a result of the payment of federal employment taxes, and to pay the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Code Section 3401 wages and taxes; or

6.8.4.       Tax Event.  Upon a good faith, reasonable determination by the Administrator, upon advice of counsel, that the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder.  Such payment may not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

6.9           Delay of Payments.  A payment otherwise required to be made under the terms of the Plan may be delayed solely to the extent necessary under the following circumstances, provided that payment is made as soon as possible after the reason for delay no longer applies:

6.9.1.       Administrative or Financial Cause.  The Administrator reasonably determines that it is administratively impracticable to make payment by the time set forth above or that making such payment will jeopardize the solvency of the Bank;

6.9.2.       Delay in Calculation.  Calculation of the amount of the payment is not administratively practicable due to events beyond the control of the Bank; or

6.9.3.       Payments Subject to the Deduction Limitation.  The Bank reasonably anticipates that such payment would otherwise violate Code Section 162(m).

ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

7.1           Administration by the Bank.  The Committee shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof.  The Committee may appoint such person or persons as it deems appropriate to perform all or any of the functions of the Administrator under the terms of the Plan.  To the extent that no such person or persons are appointed, the Committee shall serve as Administrator.

7.2           General Powers of Administration.  The Committee shall have authority and discretion to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan, including all rights and powers necessary or convenient to the carrying out of its functions hereunder, whether or not

13




such rights and powers are specifically enumerated herein.  The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate authority with regard to the administration of the Plan to any individual, officer or committee in accordance with Section 7.2.7 below.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if an action or direction of any person to whom authority hereunder has been delegated conflicts with an action or direction of the Committee, then the authority of the Committee shall supersede that of the delegate with respect to such action or direction.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and in addition to the other powers set forth in this Section 7.2, the Committee or its delegate shall have the following express authorities:

7.2.1.       To construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan; to decide all questions arising thereunder, including, without limitation, questions of eligibility for participation, eligibility for benefits, the validity of any election or designation made under the Plan, and the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits hereunder; and to make factual determinations necessary or appropriate for such decisions or determination;

7.2.2.       To prescribe procedures to be followed by Participants, Beneficiaries or alternate payees in filing applications for benefits and any other elections, designations and forms required or permitted under the Plan;

7.2.3.       To prepare and distribute information explaining the Plan;

7.2.4.       To receive from the Bank and from Participants, Beneficiaries and alternate payees such information as shall be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan;

7.2.5.       To furnish the Bank or the Board of Directors, upon request, such reports with respect to the administration of the Plan as are reasonable and appropriate;

7.2.6.       To appoint or employ advisors, including legal and actuarial counsel (who may also be counsel to the Bank) to render advice with regard to any responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or to assist in the administration of the Plan;

7.2.7.       To designate in writing other persons to carry out a specified part or parts of its responsibilities hereunder (including this power to designate other persons to carry out a part of such designated responsibility). Any such person may be removed by the Committee at any time with or without cause;

7.2.8.       To rule on claims, and to determine the validity of domestic relations orders and comply with such orders; and

7.2.9.       All rules, actions, interpretations and decisions of the Committee are conclusive and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum possible deference allowed by law.

14




7.3           Rules of the Administrator.  The Administrator may adopt such rules as it deems necessary, desirable or appropriate. When making a determination or calculation, the Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon information furnished by a Participant or Beneficiary, the Bank, the legal counsel of the Bank, or such other person as it deems appropriate, and shall further be entitled to rely conclusively upon all tables, valuations, certificates, opinions and reports furnished by any actuary, accountant, controller, counsel or other person employed or engaged by the Bank with respect to the Plan.

7.4           Claims Procedure.  Any person who believes that he or she is then entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan may file a claim in writing with the Administrator.  Except to the extent the Committee adopts an alternate procedure for the review of claims, the procedures in this Section 7.4 shall apply.  The Administrator shall, within ninety (90) days of the receipt of a claim, either allow or deny the claim in writing.  A denial of a claim shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include: (a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (b) specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and (d) an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure.  A claimant whose claim is denied (or his or her duly authorized representative) may, within sixty (60) days after receipt of denial of the claim: (1) submit a written request for review to the Committee; (2) review pertinent documents; and (3) submit issues and comments in writing.  The Administrator shall notify the claimant of the decision of the Committee on review within sixty (60) days of receipt of a request.  No legal action may be commenced by a Participant or Beneficiary with respect to a benefit under this Plan without first exhausting the Plan’s administrative claims procedures, and any legal action with respect to a claim that has been finally denied must be commenced no later than one year after the date of the Plan’s final denial of such claim upon appeal.

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1           Participant’s Rights Unsecured.  The right of any Participant to receive future payments under the provisions of the Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Bank.  The Bank shall be under no obligation to establish any separate fund, purchase any annuity contract, or in any other way make any special provision or specifically earmark any funds for the payment of amounts called for under the Plan.  If the Bank chooses to establish such a fund, or purchase such an annuity contract or make any other agreement to provide for such payments, that fund, contract or arrangement shall remain part of the Bank’s general assets and no person claiming payments under the Plan shall have any right, title or interest in or to any such fund, contract or arrangement.

8.2           Non-assignability.  None of the benefits, payments, proceeds or claims of any Participant or Beneficiary shall be subject to any claim of any creditor of any Participant or Beneficiary and, in particular, the same shall not be subject to attachment or garnishment or other legal process by any creditor of such Participant or Beneficiary, nor shall any Participant or Beneficiary have any right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber or assign any of the benefits or payments or proceeds which he or she may expect to receive, contingently or

15




otherwise, under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank shall comply with the terms of a domestic relations order applicable to a Participant’s interest in the Plan, provided that such order does not require the payment of benefits in a manner or amount, or at a time, inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.  The Bank shall have no liability to any Participant or Beneficiary to the extent that his or her benefit is reduced in accordance with the terms of a domestic relations order that the Bank applies in good faith.

8.3           Taxes.  The Administrator shall withhold all federal, state or local taxes that it reasonably believes are required to be withheld from any payments under the Plan.

8.4           Limitation of Participant’s Rights.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall confer upon any person a right to be employed or to continue in the employ of the Bank, or interfere in any way with the right of the Bank to terminate the employment of a Participant at any time, with or without cause.

8.5           Receipt and Release.  Any payment to any Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims against the Bank or the Plan, and the Administrator may require such Participant or Beneficiary, as a condition precedent to such payment, to execute a receipt and release to such effect.  If any Participant or Beneficiary is determined by the Administrator to be incompetent by reason of physical or mental disability (including minority) to give a valid receipt and release, the Administrator may cause the payment or payments becoming due to such person to be made to another person for his or her benefit without responsibility on the part of the Administrator or the Bank to follow the application of such funds.

8.6           Governing Law.  The Plan shall be construed, administered, and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  If any provision shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

8.7           Designation of Beneficiary.  A Participant may designate a Beneficiary by so notifying the Administrator in writing, in a form acceptable to the Administrator, at any time before the Participant’s death.  A Participant may revoke any Beneficiary designation or designate a new Beneficiary at any time without the consent of a beneficiary or any other person.  If no Beneficiary is designated or no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant, payment shall be made in a single lump sum to the Participant’s estate.

8.8           Successorship.  The Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Bank and its successors and assigns, and the Participants, and the successors, assigns, designees and estates of the Participants.  The Plan shall also be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor bank or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Bank, but nothing in the Plan shall preclude the Bank from merging or consolidating into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another bank which assumes the Plan and all obligations of the Bank hereunder.  The Bank agrees that it will make appropriate provision for the preservation of Participants’ rights under the Plan in any agreement or plan which it may enter into to effect any such merger, consolidation, reorganization or transfer of

16




assets.  In such a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or transfer of assets and assumption of Plan obligations of the Bank, the term Bank shall refer to such other bank and the Plan shall continue in full force and effect.

8.9           Indemnification.  No Committee member shall be personally liable by reason of any instrument executed by him or on his behalf, or action taken by him, in his capacity as a Committee member nor for any mistake of judgment made in good faith.  The Bank shall indemnify and hold harmless the Plan and each Committee member and each employee, officer or director of the Bank or the Plan, to whom any duty, power, function or action in respect of the Plan may be delegated or assigned, or from whom any information is requested for Plan purposes, against any cost or expense (including fees of legal counsel) and liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim or legal action with the approval of the Bank) arising out of anything done or omitted to be done in connection with the Plan, unless arising out of such person’s fraud or bad faith.

8.10         Headings and Subheadings.  Headings and subheading in this Plan are inserted for convenience only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

8.11         Amendment and Termination.  The Plan may at any time or from time to time be amended, modified, or terminated by the Board of Directors.  No amendment, modification, or termination shall, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account at that time.  Upon termination of the Plan, the Board of Directors may elect to (a) pay benefits hereunder as they become due as if the Plan had not terminated or (b) to extent permitted by Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, direct that all payments remaining to be made under the Plan be made in a single lump sum to Participants (or their Beneficiaries).

8.12         Effective Date.  The effective date of this Plan shall be January 1, 2007.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and pursuant to adoption of this Plan Document by the Board of Directors of the Bank has caused this Plan Document to be executed this 12th day of October, 2006 by:

/s/ Ellen McLaughlin

 

/s/ Janelle K. Authur

Ellen McLaughlin

 

Janelle K. Author

Senior Vice President / General Counsel

 

Senior Vice President / Executive Director of Human Resources

 

17



EX-10.3.2 3 a07-5995_1ex10d3d2.htm EX-10.3.2

Exhibit 10.3.2

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

2007 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN

February 2007

Purpose

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (Bank) has established an Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) to:

·                  promote achievement of the Bank’s financial plan and strategic objectives as spelled out in the 2007 Strategic Business Plan;

·                  provide total annual compensation (i.e., salary plus incentive) that is competitive with other financial institutions in the employment markets in which the Bank competes, including other Federal Home Loan Banks; and

·                  facilitate the retention and commitment of corporate officers.

Bank’s Objectives for 2007

The focus of the Bank’s 2007 Strategic Business Plan is summarized in two words: profitable growth.  The Bank is targeting steady growth in business with members in terms of both advances and mortgages. While the Bank’s focus will be profitable growth, we will continue to enhance the Bank’s operational infrastructure, and we will maintain and reinforce the Bank’s commitment to conservative and prudent risk management and compliance.

Also for 2007, the Bank has identified three all-encompassing long-term strategic goals that demonstrate our commitment to the Bank’s mission, vision, the needs of its stakeholders, and the well-being of the New England region:

1.               to foster a member-centric organization;

2.               to maintain trust and confidence among stakeholders; and

3.               to harness the power of technology to maintain maximum efficiency and productivity.

The goals in the 2007 incentive plan are designed to reinforce the focus of the Bank’s 2007 Strategic Business Plan.

1




2007 Executive Incentive Plan

The incentive goals are summarized in the following table with more detail following:

Goal

 

Weight

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Excess

 

 

Pres.

 

1

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax ROE (Adjusted for Net Prepayment Fees) Spread to LIBOR

 

20%

 

20%

 

20%

 

300 basis points

 

400 basis points

 

500 basis points

Percentage Growth in Average Member Credit Extension (Advances and Letters of Credit, net of CDA and NEF) Balances 2007 Over 2006 With National, Growth-Oriented, and Insurance Company Segments

 

10%

 

10%

 

10%

 

Maintain 2006 average

 

4 percent

 

8 percent

Percentage Growth in Average Member Credit Extension (Advances and Letters of Credit, net of CDA and NEF) Balances 2007 Over 2006 With Community Bank and Credit Union Segments

 

10%

 

10%

 

10%

 

3 percent

 

5 percent

 

8 percent

Percentage Growth in Targeted Mission-Related Advances Programs (CDA and NEF) 2007 Over 2006

 

5%

 

5%

 

0%

 

10 percent

 

20 percent

 

30 percent

Examination Results

 

15%

 

15%

 

15%

 

N.A.

 

“2” rating in 2007 exam report

 

“1” rating in 2007 exam report

Operational Component

 

15%

 

25%

 

30%

 

As defined

 

As defined

 

As defined

Discretionary Component

 

25%

 

15%

 

15%

 

As documented by supervisor

 

As documented by supervisor

 

As documented by supervisor

 

Profitability Goal

2007 Goal:

Pre-tax ROE (Adjusted for Net Prepayment Fees) Spread to LIBOR

Weight:

President: 20 percent; Tier 1: 20 percent; Tier 2: 20 percent

Threshold:

300 basis points

Target:

400 basis points

Excess:

500 basis points

2




 

The metric will be the spread by which the Bank’s pre-tax (i.e., pre-REFCorp and pre-AHP) ROE (adjusted for net prepayment fees) exceeds the daily average of the bond-equivalent yield of three-month LIBOR.  The projection for this metric in the 2007 Strategic Business Plan’s base case is 402 basis points.

The difference between “ROE” and “ROE Adjusted for Net Prepayment Fees” is that the latter defers the net effect of prepayment fee income from advances or investments and associated debt retirement and hedge unwind expenses over the expected remaining lives of the assets that were prepaid.  The exclusion of prepayment fee income and associated debt retirement and swap unwind expense from the core ROE metric removes the potential for “windfall” compensation in the event of heavy prepayment fee income and removes a conflict with the objective of prudent asset-liability management by excluding the otherwise punitive cost of debt retirement and swap unwind expense.

The metric is not distorted by the general level of interest rates (which affects both dollar earnings and prepayment speeds on advances), and it is independent of the Bank’s asset size.  It also eliminates a tax bias associated with REFCorp and AHP.  It does, however, implicitly factor in operating efficiencies, since projected core ROE will be impaired to the extent the Bank’s budget is exceeded.

Growth Goals

2007 Goal:

 

Growth in Average Member Credit Extensions (Advances and Letters of Credit, net of CDA and NEF) with National, Growth-Oriented, and Insurance Company Accounts

Weight:

 

President: 10 percent; Tier 1: 10 percent; Tier 2: 10 percent

Threshold:

 

Maintain 2006 average

Target:

 

4 percent

Excess:

 

8 percent

 

 

 

2007 Goal:

 

Growth in Average Member Credit Extensions (Advances and Letters of Credit, net of CDA and NEF) with Community Bank and Credit Union Segments

Weight:

 

President: 10 percent; Tier 1: 10 percent; Tier 2: 10 percent

Threshold:

 

3 percent

Target:

 

5 percent

Excess:

 

8 percent

 

 

 

2007 Goal:

 

Growth in Average Targeted Mission-Related Advances Programs

Weight:

 

President: 5 percent; Tier 1: 5 percent; Tier 2: 0 percent

Threshold:

 

10 percent

Target:

 

20 percent

Excess:

 

30 percent

 

3




To achieve the projected level of growth, management will implement the member differentiation strategy that began in 2006.  This effort will begin with the alignment of processes, structures, people and systems to support and deliver the core elements of the strategy.  Other processes that are integral to the strategy will also be identified and aligned.  Top priority within this strategy will be given to delivering solutions to the national account segment and implementing collateral policy and process changes in support of solutions for all segments.

For purposes of the 2007 EIP, the five member segments have been aggregated into two groups with similar characteristics.  An average growth target based on advances and letters of credit has been established for each group.(i)  The table below shows the starting and target ending balances for these two groups:

$Billions

 

2006 Projected Average
Advances and Letters of
Credit (Net of CDA and NEF)
Base

 

Target Growth

 

2007 Projected Average
Advances and Letters of Credit
(Net of CDA and NEF)

 

National, Growth-
Oriented, and Insurance
Company Accounts

 

$

31.5 billion

 

4 percent

 

$

32.8 billion

 

Community Bank and
Credit Union Accounts

 

$

8.0 billion

 

5 percent

 

$

8.4 billion

 

 

The Bank currently holds a 68 percent market share of the wholesale funding used by national accounts and a 80 percent market share of wholesale funding used by growth oriented institutions.  The Bank will aggressively seek to expand its market share in 2007 through pricing, product development and streamlining internal policies and procedures to create a more user-friendly experience for members.  In addition, the Bank is expanding its efforts to reach the insurance industry with products that address their business needs.  These institutions do not access the traditional wholesale funding market used by banks.

In contrast, the Bank enjoys a nearly 100 percent market share of wholesale funding used by community institutions and credit unions.  Growth in advances from this segment will be dependent on the Bank’s ability to help members expand their own market share pursuant to their own business plans.  The Bank will also compete for funding increasingly being diversified into brokered CD and repurchase agreements.

Member demand for letters of credit is increasing for targeted purposes.  The Bank earns a spread that is comparable to advances and remains well protected from credit and other potential sources of risk.  As a result, management has included letters of credit in the base and projections as a valuable product to the membership that provides a reasonable return at reasonable risk to the Bank.

Management is managing MPF volume by not seeking master commitments from its largest PFIs.  As a result, MPF volume is not included in the 2007 EIP goals.

The focus of the mission-related metric will be to expand member lending activities in the communities they serve through the Bank’s Community Development Advances (CDA) and New England Fund (NEF) advances.(ii)

4




The projected average CDA and NEF advances balance for 2006 is $1.8 billion.  A twenty percent increase would grow average mission-related advances to $2.2 billion.  This increase would be driven by relatively small advances disbursements.

Bank staff will actively use the outreach and education tools available to achieve the goal, including the successful Community Development Consult program, funding strategies, training programs, and publication of examples of successful initiatives.

Exam Goal

2007 Goal:

 

Examination Result

Weights:

 

President: 15 percent; Tier 1: 15 percent; Tier 2: 15 percent

Threshold:

 

None

Target:

 

“2” rating in 2007 exam report

Excess:

 

“1” rating in 2007 exam report

In the 2007 exam report, the Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) will rate the Bank “1,” “2,” “3,” or “4.”, with “1” being the highest possible rating and “4” being the lowest.  A payment on this goal will be made at target if the Bank’s rating is “2.”  A “1” rating will result in an excess payout on this goal.

Operational Component

Weights:

 

President: 15 percent; Tier 1: 25 percent; Tier 2: 30 percent with individualized weightings on each operational initiative.

Threshold:

 

As defined below

Target:

 

As defined below

Excess:

 

As defined below

 

Payments awarded under the Operational Component will be based on the individual weighting for each participant and the Bank’s achievement, as assessed by management at the end of the plan-year and approved by the Personnel Committee, on the following key Bank-wide initiatives, which support the Bank’s all-encompassing three strategic goals:

To foster a member-centric organization

 

Continue to engage the entire organization in the Competitive Positioning Initiative:

·                  Threshold: Implement the member differentiation strategy that began in 2006 by establishing written account plans for selected members.

·                  Target: Address the Competitive Positioning Initiative collateral solutions by developing an implementation plan for a new collateral system and executing in accordance with the approved plan.(1)


(1)           Project plan development is dependent on the completion of detailed requirements.  These requirements are under development.  While it is our desire to complete this initiative in 2007, final implementation activities may extend into 2008, depending on the overall scope and complexity of the project, yet to be determined.

5




·                  Excess:  Meet requirements for Threshold and Target, plus in the fourth quarter conduct a survey of members focused on satisfaction level with customer service, ease of doing business with the Bank and competitiveness of policies and procedures, with particular focus on collateral.  Overall satisfaction must be at least a “2” rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with “1” being the highest rating.

Maintain trust and confidence among stakeholders

 

Ensure Sarbanes-Oxley compliance —

·                  Threshold:   N.A.

·                  Target:   Develop, review and obtain approval at the February 2007 Audit Committee meeting of a SOX Project Plan developed to support the internal control assessment by management.  Complete all required SOX 404 implementation and compliance procedures  in accordance with SEC deadlines. Provide status updates to the Audit Committee at least once per quarter.

·                  Excess: Meet requirements for Target, plus complete an initial project plan directed toward an efficiency review of identified business processes.

To harness the power of technology to maintain maximum efficiency and productivity

 

Summit  —

·                  Threshold: Complete implementation of the derivatives basic accounting phase by June 30, 2007.

·                  Target: Meet requirements for Threshold, plus complete implementation of the derivatives valuation phase by year-end 2007.

·                  Excess: Meet requirements for Threshold, plus complete implementation of the derivatives valuation phase by August 31, 2007.

To successfully complete department specific initiatives

 

In addition to the key bank-wide initiatives, there are department specific initiatives and projects that contribute to the success of the bank. This section provides for recognition of the participant’s successful completion of those initiatives.

·                  Threshold: As determined by the manager

·                  Target: As determined by the manager

·                  Excess: As determined by the manager

6




Operational Component Initiatives Weighted by Individual:

 

Participant

 

Competitive
Positioning %

 

SOX
%

 

Summit
%

 

Dept. Specific
Operational
Initiatives %

 

Total
%

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

5

 

5

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

Janelle K. Authur

 

5

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

25

 

Earl Baucom

 

5

 

10

 

5

 

5

 

25

 

George Collins

 

5

 

5

 

10

 

5

 

25

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

15

 

5

 

0

 

5

 

25

 

William Hamilton

 

5

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

25

 

Ellen McLaughlin

 

5

 

10

 

0

 

10

 

25

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

5

 

10

 

5

 

5

 

25

 

William L. Oakley

 

5

 

10

 

10

 

0

 

25

 

Daniel Devine

 

5

 

10

 

5

 

10

 

30

 

Brian Donahue

 

0

 

15

 

10

 

5

 

30

 

Jack Henderson, Jr.

 

10

 

10

 

0

 

10

 

30

 

Kelly A. LaCava

 

5

 

10

 

10

 

5

 

30

 

Rachele McDonough

 

10

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

30

 

William J. Murphy

 

15

 

10

 

0

 

5

 

30

 

Paul Pouliot

 

10

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

30

 

Allison Powell

 

10

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

30

 

Paul Webber

 

10

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

30

 

Kevin Whittaker

 

10

 

5

 

5

 

10

 

30

 

Kenneth Willis

 

10

 

5

 

0

 

15

 

30

 

 

Payments awarded to individual participants under the Operational Component for the Competitive Positioning, SOX and Summit initiatives will be based on achievement of the initiative at Threshold, Target or Excess and according to the individual’s weight for that initiative.  Payments awarded under the department-specific operational initiatives will be based on the individual’s combined, overall performance on the one to three operational initiatives as determined by the manager.  Managers may select a payout percentage for department-specific objectives from a range of threshold to a maximum payout at excess.  If the department-specific operational initiatives are not substantially achieved, the manager may award zero for this initiative.

Discretionary Component

Weights:

 

President: 25 percent; Tier 1: 15 percent; Tier 2: 15 percent

Threshold:

 

As defined by manager/supervisor

Target:

 

As defined by manager/supervisor

Excess:

 

As defined by manager/supervisor

 

Payments awarded under the Discretionary Component will take into consideration the individuals’ contribution toward the Bank’s or department’s specific goals or initiatives. It is

7




understood that the success of the bank in achieving its goals as set forth in the Plan requires individual contribution. This component allows for recognition of that contribution, as assessed by the manager/supervisor. The contribution may also be toward a department specific initiative.

There may also be a subjective element in this component so that a manager/supervisor can award a participant’s leadership, work ethic, attitude, or other such similar intangible attribute that contributes to the Bank’s success.  Managers/supervisors need to provide reasonable documentation that states the basis for whatever award is recommended under the discretionary component.

Incentive Potential

Eligible employees will be assigned an incentive award potential expressed as a percentage of the incumbent’s base salary in effect at year-end 2007 as follows:

 

 

Incentive as a Percent of Salary

 

 

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Excess

 

 President

 

25.00

%

50.00

%

75.00

%

 Tier I

 

18.75

%

37.50

%

56.25

%

 Tier II

 

15.00

%

30.00

%

45.00

%

 

2007 Participation

The following individuals are participants in the EIP for 2007:(iii)

 

President

 

Tier I

 

Tier II

Michael A. Jessee

 

Janelle K. Authur

 

Daniel Devine

 

 

Earl Baucom

 

Brian Donahue

 

 

George Collins

 

Jack Henderson, Jr.

 

 

M. Susan Elliott

 

Kelly A. LaCava

 

 

William Hamilton

 

Rachele McDonough

 

 

Ellen McLaughlin

 

William J. Murphy

 

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

Paul Pouliot

 

 

William L. Oakley

 

Allison Powell

 

 

 

 

Paul Webber

 

 

 

 

Kevin Whittaker

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Willis

 

8




EIP Administration

The EIP is administered by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors (Committee), which shall have full power and binding authority to construe, interpret, and administer the EIP, and to adjust it during or at the end of the calendar year covered by the EIP for extraordinary circumstances.  Extraordinary circumstances may include changes in business strategy, termination or commencement of business lines, impact of severe economic fluctuations, significant growth or consolidation of the membership base, or significant regulatory or other changes impacting the Bank or Bank System.

The Committee reserves the right at any time to amend, suspend or terminate the EIP in whole or in part, for any reason, and without the consent of any EIP participant.

The Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer will determine participation in the EIP with the concurrence of the Committee.

EIP awards shall not be considered earned or payable, in whole or in part, to any participant for any reason until they are finally determined by the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer with the concurrence of the Committee following the end of the plan year.  Moreover, unless otherwise specifically determined by the President and Chief Executive Officer with the concurrence of the Committee, a participant will be entitled to payment of an award only if the participant is employed on the date of payment of the award.  However, any individual hired or promoted into an eligible position during the plan year who is granted an award shall have any such incentive award prorated based on months of EIP participation, providing he/she has served a minimum of six months in that role and otherwise satisfies the EIP’s requirements.

Except as set forth in the following paragraph, any EIP participant who terminates employment for any reason, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, before the end of the plan year, defined as the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, shall not be entitled to any award, except as otherwise determined by the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, with the concurrence of the Committee, at their sole discretion.

EIP participants who terminate employment with the Bank by reason of death or disability prior to the conclusion of the plan year will receive a pro rata payment of any incentive award determined by the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, with the concurrence of the Committee, based on the months of completed service as an EIP participant during the year.  Beneficiaries of such payments will be the same as identified in the Bank’s group insurance plan.

The Bank may make such provisions, as it deems appropriate, for withholding payroll taxes in connection with payment of EIP awards.

The Bank also has several other incentive programs for staff at the Bank designed to motivate employees to become more innovative and productive. The Bank’s President is responsible for the administration of each of these programs and has the authority to construe, implement, and administer programs, as appropriate.

9





i  Average Advances and Letters of Credit Balances are defined as the average daily balance of advances and Letters of Credit (net of CDA and NEF).  If a member merges into a non-member, the merged entity’s balances will be excluded from the calculation for 2007 and the average balance for 2006.  If, for example, a community bank member is merged into a national account member, all of the merged member’s balances for 2006 and to the 2007 merger date will be included in the national account member group. The 2006 year-end average numbers include Bank of America and exclude all institutions that were merged or acquired through January 2, 2007.

ii  This goal is measured using the following advance product types: 822, 873, 877, 878, 879, 903, 904, and 914 and any new housing and community development product codes introdued during the Plan year.

iii  All corporate officers are listed as EIP participants with one exception: Paul Peduto, First Vice President, Sales and Business Development.  Mr. Peduto is a participant in the Bank’s Sales Incentive Plan and is eligible for an incentive award equivalent to a Tier II participant in the EIP.

 

10



EX-10.7 4 a07-5995_1ex10d7.htm EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

2007 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

A fee of $2,000 per meeting shall be paid to all Directors that attend all or part of a meeting of the Board of Directors.  A fee of $2,750 per meeting shall be paid to the vice chair of the Board.  A fee of $3,500 per meeting shall be paid to the chair of the Board.  This fee shall also be provided to any person elected by the Board to serve as chairman pro tempore or to the vice chair if the vice chair presides for an entire meeting of the Board.  There are nine regularly scheduled meetings in 2007.

A fee of $750 per meeting shall be paid to all committee members, including ex officio members, who attend all or any part of any meeting of a committee of the Board.  A fee of $750 shall be paid to any director who attends all or part of the annual shareholders meeting.

A fee of $500 per meeting shall be paid to any Director for participation in telephonic conference calls or when participating by telephone for all or any part of a meeting in which the Director would be entitled to receive a meeting fee for in-person attendance at such meeting.

Fees shall be paid per meeting.  For example, if a Board meeting and committee meeting occur on the same day, a separate fee shall be payable for attendance at each meeting.  Additionally, in the case of a multi-day meeting, a separate fee shall be payable for each day’s attendance at the same meeting.

In the event that inclement weather prevents the occurrence of a planned meeting of the Board or one of its committees, the Directors shall be entitled to receive the applicable meeting fee called for in the Statement of Policy, minus any fees received if an in-person meeting is changed to a telephonic meeting.

Maximum Fees

Directors are subject to statutory and regulatory caps on annual compensation.  Fees earned above these caps cannot be paid to the Director.

Administrative Matters

The Personnel Committee shall annually review this policy and shall submit its recommendation to the Board.  The Board shall consider the recommendations of the Personnel Committee and shall approve the policy no later than the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board in which the policy shall apply.  The Board is authorized, in its sole discretion, to interpret the provisions of the policy and to address situations not anticipated by the policy, consistent with the requirements set forth in the regulations promulgated by the Federal Housing Finance Board.




2007 Director Compensation Policy

The following projections assume attendance at eight board meetings and three committee meetings.

Director cap:

 

$17,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 board meetings

 

x

 

$

2,000

 

=

 

$

16,000

 

 

 

3 committee meetings

 

x

 

750

 

=

 

2,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

18,250

 

 

Vice Chair cap:

 

$23,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 board meetings

 

x

 

$

2,750

 

=

 

$

22,000

 

 

 

3 committee meetings

 

x

 

750

 

=

 

2,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,250

 

 

Chair cap:

 

$29,944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 board meetings

 

x

 

$

3,500

 

=

 

$

28,000

 

 

 

3 committee meetings

 

x

 

750

 

=

 

2,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

30,250

 

 



EX-10.8.3 5 a07-5995_1ex10d8d3.htm EX-10.8.3

Exhibit 10.8.3

Earl Baucom

2006 Plan Year

 

REVISED

AMENDED SALARY DEFERRAL

AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

THIS SALARY DEFERRAL AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) made this 29th day of December, 2005, by and between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “Employer”) and Earl Baucom (the “Member”):

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Member has been designated by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston as eligible to defer a portion of his compensation from the Employer under the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (the “Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan” or the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, the Member desires to make such deferrals with respect to the 2006 calendar year; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Employer and the Member hereby agree as follows:

1.                                       Subject to the provisions of Article III of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, the Member shall make deferrals for the period beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2006.  Such deferral may be discontinued only in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Plan regarding financial hardship.  In order to make elective deferrals for 2006, the Member must execute an Agreement no later than December 30, 2005.

2.                                       Salary Deferrals

(a)                                  During the period of this Agreement, the Member directs that the Bank reduce his Base Salary (as defined in the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan) that would be payable to him by the Bank during 2006 after his 401(k) contributions under the Thrift Plan would cease due to the application of the Code Limitations (as defined in the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan) by [ 3 %] [up to 100%]. Such reduction, if any, shall be made ratably in each payroll period commencing after the date of this Agreement or the date the 401(k) contributions would cease due to the Code Limitations, if later.  The Bank agrees to make such reduction, and to credit such amount to the Member’s Account under this Agreement.

(b)                                 The Member understands that the reductions in his or her Base Salary as described in this paragraph 2 will be made, if, and only if, the Member has elected to contribute the maximum amount of 401(k) contributions under the Thrift Plan for the calendar year as permitted by the Code Limitations.




(c)                                  For purposes of this Paragraph 2, any change made to the Member’s rate of 401(k) contributions after December 31, 2005 shall be disregarded in determining the amount of deferral under the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan.

3.                             The Member elects to defer receipt of an amount equal to [ 100 %] [up to 100%] of the sum of any regular account contributions or 401(k) account contributions to the Thrift Plan for 2006 that would otherwise be returned to the Member under the Thrift Plan after the end of 2006 on account of the Code Limitations.  Such reduction in compensation shall be made ratably over the payroll periods remaining in the first calendar quarter following the date the amount is determined.

4.                             The Member elects to defer receipt of [ 100 %] [up to 100%] of his Incentive Compensation otherwise payable to him in such year.

5.                             The Member acknowledges that, by signing this Agreement, the Employer is specifically authorized to reduce the Member’s base pay and/or incentive compensation by the percentages or amounts specified in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4.  Any such reduction shall be made from the base pay payable to the Member, during payroll periods, on and after the effective date of this Agreement or the date the Member’s 401(k) contributions cease under the Thrift Plan due to the statutory limit, if later.  With respect to an election on an initial Salary Deferral Agreement, such reduction, if any, shall apply to compensation earned by the Member in payroll periods beginning after this Agreement is submitted to the Committee.

6.                             All amounts deferred under this Agreement may be held by the Employer for eventual distribution to the Member or his beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan.  All amounts payable hereunder will be paid by the Employer from its general assets.

7.                             The Member elects to have the following percentages of his elective contribution additions, incentive compensation contribution additions, and employer matching contribution additions for 2006 credited under the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan to his Retirement Account and Post-Secondary Education Subaccount as follows:

2




 

 

 

 

Post-Secondary

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement

 

Education

 

 

 

 

 

Account

 

Subaccount

 

Total

 

Elective Contribution
Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Compensation
Contribution Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer Matching
Contribution Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

The additions credited to the Post-Secondary Education Subaccount for 2006 shall be allocated to specific Post-Secondary Education Subaccounts in the proportions and paid in accordance with the distribution elections specified below.  If you elect to have compensation deferred under the Post-Secondary Education Subaccount, then you should elect a date on which you will receive a distribution. Under the American Jobs Creation Act, payments of compensation deferred after 2004 cannot be based upon your child entering college.

Post-Secondary Education Subaccount Payment Date:  N/A.

8.                                       Payment Date for Retirement Account. [Note: If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph.]

The Member elects to have amount credited to his Retirement Account paid in full or distributed pursuant to his election under paragraph 9 below, as soon as practicable following the:

oValuation Date,  or

 

x January 1

 

coincident with or following the payment trigger event checked below:

x           The Member’s separation from service from the Bank.

o                                    The Member’s attainment of age        [enter an age], which shall not be  earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, and shall not be fewer than three (3) years subsequent to his current age.

o                                    The earlier of the Member’s separation from service from the Bank or attainment of age        [enter an age], which shall not be earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, and shall not be fewer than three (3) years subsequent to his current age.

3




o                                    The later of the Member’s separation from service from the Bank or attainment of age        [enter an age], which shall not be earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½.

If no election is made under this paragraph, payment will be made as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with or following the Member’s termination of employment.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the Member understands that in the event of his death the balance in his Account will be paid as soon as administratively practicable to the Member’s Beneficiary on or after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following his date of death.

9.                                  Payment Form for Retirement Account. Check one box.  [Note: If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your form of payment.  Otherwise, cross out this paragraph.]

The Member elects to have this Retirement Account disbursed as follows:

x             In a cash single sum.

o                                         In semi-annual cash installments over a period of [    ] years, [not to exceed ten years], payable as of January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year.

If a Member fails to make an election under this paragraph 9, payment will be made in a cash single sum.

10.                                 The Member understands that any change under paragraph 8 or 9 above with respect to deferrals prior to 2006 shall become effective at such time as may be allowed under the Program as amended by the Bank consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and IRS regulations and guidance (including IRS Notice 2005-1).

11.                            This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all of the terms and provisions of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, and any administrative rules and procedures the Employer has set up for the Plan, and all elections made by a Member will only be effective in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the administrative rules and procedures.  The duties and obligations of the Employer under the Plan and this Agreement shall be carried out by the Personnel Committee of the Employer’s Board of Directors.

12.                            Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Employer to retain the Member in his capacity as an officer or employee of the Employer.

4




13.                            Subject to the provisions of Section 3.06 of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan regarding financial hardship, the deferrals specified by the Member under paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Agreement shall be irrevocable, except that changes may be allowed as provided under regulations, revenue rulings, notices or other guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

14.                            The Member acknowledges that he or his beneficiary shall be responsible for all federal, state and local income taxes on all benefits attributable to the Member under the Plan when they become due and payable.

15.                                 The Member acknowledges that he has read and received a copy of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan and this Agreement.  This Agreement is made pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  All such provisions of the Plan, including the terms defined therein are incorporated herein and are expressly made a part of this Agreement by reference.  To the extent that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with any provisions of the Plan, the terms of the Plan, as applicable, shall control.

The Member further acknowledges that new legislation, known as the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, has recently been enacted which contains provisions that change the longstanding rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation plans, such as the Bank’s Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, effective for deferrals of compensation after December 31, 2004.  The Member understands that significant changes will be made to the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan in order to be able to defer compensation under this Agreement on a tax advantaged basis.  You will be afforded another opportunity to consider this time and form of payment for your 2005 and 2006 deferrals in connection with any changes made to the plan by the Bank in light of IRS final regulations under Section 409A.

16.                            Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board may amend or terminate the Plan or this Agreement at any time and for any reason.

5




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer, by its duly authorized officers, and the Member, have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ellen McLaughlin

 

 

 

 

Title:

Senior VP & General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST: (SEAL)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Janelle K. Authur

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

FVP/Exec. Director of Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBER

/s/ Earl W. Baucom

 

 

 

6



EX-10.8.4 6 a07-5995_1ex10d8d4.htm EX-10.8.4

Exhibit 10.8.4

M. Susan Elliott

2006 Plan Year

REVISED

AMENDED SALARY DEFERRAL

AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

THIS SALARY DEFERRAL AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) made this 29th day of December, 2005, by and between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “Employer”) and M. Susan Elliott (the “Member”):

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Member has been designated by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston as eligible to defer a portion of his compensation from the Employer under the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (the “Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan” or the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, the Member desires to make such deferrals with respect to the 2006 calendar year; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Employer and the Member hereby agree as follows:

1.                                       Subject to the provisions of Article III of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, the Member shall make deferrals for the period beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2006.  Such deferral may be discontinued only in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Plan regarding financial hardship.  In order to make elective deferrals for 2006, the Member must execute an Agreement no later than December 30, 2005.

2.                                       Salary Deferrals

(a)                                  During the period of this Agreement, the Member directs that the Bank reduce his Base Salary (as defined in the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan) that would be payable to him by the Bank during 2006 after his 401(k) contributions under the Thrift Plan would cease due to the application of the Code Limitations (as defined in the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan) by [ 10 %] [up to 100%]. Such reduction, if any, shall be made ratably in each payroll period commencing after the date of this Agreement or the date the 401(k) contributions would cease due to the Code Limitations, if later.  The Bank agrees to make such reduction, and to credit such amount to the Member’s Account under this Agreement.

(b)                                 The Member understands that the reductions in his or her Base Salary as described in this paragraph 2 will be made, if, and only if, the Member has elected to contribute the maximum amount of 401(k) contributions under the Thrift Plan for the calendar year as permitted by the Code Limitations.




(c)                                  For purposes of this Paragraph 2, any change made to the Member’s rate of 401(k) contributions after December 31, 2005 shall be disregarded in determining the amount of deferral under the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan.

3.                             The Member elects to defer receipt of an amount equal to [ 100 %] [up to 100%] of the sum of any regular account contributions or 401(k) account contributions to the Thrift Plan for 2006 that would otherwise be returned to the Member under the Thrift Plan after the end of 2006 on account of the Code Limitations.  Such reduction in compensation shall be made ratably over the payroll periods remaining in the first calendar quarter following the date the amount is determined.

4.                             The Member elects to defer receipt of [ 10 %] [up to 100%] of his Incentive Compensation otherwise payable to him in such year.

5.                             The Member acknowledges that, by signing this Agreement, the Employer is specifically authorized to reduce the Member’s base pay and/or incentive compensation by the percentages or amounts specified in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4.  Any such reduction shall be made from the base pay payable to the Member, during payroll periods, on and after the effective date of this Agreement or the date the Member’s 401(k) contributions cease under the Thrift Plan due to the statutory limit, if later.  With respect to an election on an initial Salary Deferral Agreement, such reduction, if any, shall apply to compensation earned by the Member in payroll periods beginning after this Agreement is submitted to the Committee.

6.                             All amounts deferred under this Agreement may be held by the Employer for eventual distribution to the Member or his beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan.  All amounts payable hereunder will be paid by the Employer from its general assets.

7.                             The Member elects to have the following percentages of his elective contribution additions, incentive compensation contribution additions, and employer matching contribution additions for 2006 credited under the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan to his Retirement Account and Post-Secondary Education Subaccount as follows:

2




 

 

 

 

Post-Secondary

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement

 

Education

 

 

 

 

 

Account

 

Subaccount

 

Total

 

Elective Contribution Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Compensation
Contribution Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer Matching
Contribution Additions

 

100

%

0

%

=100

%

 

The additions credited to the Post-Secondary Education Subaccount for 2006 shall be allocated to specific Post-Secondary Education Subaccounts in the proportions and paid in accordance with the distribution elections specified below.  If you elect to have compensation deferred under the Post-Secondary Education Subaccount, then you should elect a date on which you will receive a distribution. Under the American Jobs Creation Act, payments of compensation deferred after 2004 cannot be based upon your child entering college.

Post-Secondary Education Subaccount Payment Date:                

8.                                       Payment Date for Retirement Account. [Note: If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph.]

The Member elects to have amount credited to his Retirement Account paid in full or distributed pursuant to his election under paragraph 9 below, as soon as practicable following the:

 

                                        o   Valuation Date, or                    o      January 1

 

coincident with or following the payment trigger event checked below:

 

o                                    The Member's separation from service from the Bank.

o                                    The Member's attainment of age            [enter an age], which shall not be  earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, and shall not be fewer than three (3) years subsequent to his current age.

o                                    The earlier of the Member's separation from service from the Bank or attainment of age              [enter an age], which shall not be earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, and shall not be fewer than three (3) years subsequent to his current age.   

 

 

 

3




 

 

 

     

o                                    The later of the Member's separation from service from the Bank or attainment of age           [enter an age], which shall not be earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½.

If no election is made under this paragraph, payment will be made as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with or following the Member’s termination of employment.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the Member understands that in the event of his death the balance in his Account will be paid as soon as administratively practicable to the Member’s Beneficiary on or after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following his date of death.

 

9.                                       Payment Form for Retirement Account. Check one box.  [Note: If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your form of payment.  Otherwise, cross out this paragraph.]

The Member elects to have this Retirement Account disbursed as follows:

 

o                                    In a cash single sum.

 

o                                    In semi-annual cash installments over a period of [    ] years, [not to exceed ten years], payable as of January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year.

If a Member fails to make an election under this paragraph 9, payment will be made in a cash single sum.

 

10.                                 The Member understands that any change under paragraph 8 or 9 above with respect to deferrals prior to 2006 shall become effective at such time as may be allowed under the Program as amended by the Bank consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and IRS regulations and guidance (including IRS Notice 2005-1).

11.                                 This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all of the terms and provisions of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, and any administrative rules and procedures the Employer has set up for the Plan, and all elections made by a Member will only be effective in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the administrative rules and procedures.  The duties and obligations of the Employer under the Plan and this Agreement shall be carried out by the Personnel Committee of the Employer’s Board of Directors.

12.                                 Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Employer to retain the Member in his capacity as an officer or employee of the Employer.

4




13.                                 Subject to the provisions of Section 3.06 of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan regarding financial hardship, the deferrals specified by the Member under paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Agreement shall be irrevocable, except that changes may be allowed as provided under regulations, revenue rulings, notices or other guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

14.                                 The Member acknowledges that he or his beneficiary shall be responsible for all federal, state and local income taxes on all benefits attributable to the Member under the Plan when they become due and payable.

15.                                 The Member acknowledges that he has read and received a copy of the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan and this Agreement.  This Agreement is made pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  All such provisions of the Plan, including the terms defined therein are incorporated herein and are expressly made a part of this Agreement by reference.  To the extent that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with any provisions of the Plan, the terms of the Plan, as applicable, shall control.

The Member further acknowledges that new legislation, known as the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, has recently been enacted which contains provisions that change the longstanding rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation plans, such as the Bank’s Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, effective for deferrals of compensation after December 31, 2004.  The Member understands that significant changes will be made to the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan in order to be able to defer compensation under this Agreement on a tax advantaged basis.  You will be afforded another opportunity to consider this time and form of payment for your 2005 and 2006 deferrals in connection with any changes made to the plan by the Bank in light of IRS final regulations under Section 409A.

16.                                 Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board may amend or terminate the Plan or this Agreement at any time and for any reason.

5




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer, by its duly authorized officers, and the Member, have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF BOSTON

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael L. Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Senior EVP & COO

 

 

 

ATTEST: (SEAL)

 

By:

/s/ Janelle K. Authur

 

 

 

Title:

FVP/Exec. Director of Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBER

/s/ M. Susan Elliott

 

 

6



EX-10.9 7 a07-5995_1ex10d9.htm EX-10.9

Exhibit 10.9

Earl Baucom

2006 Plan Year

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ELECTION

AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

THIS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ELECTION AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is submitted this 16th day of June, 2006, by Earl Baucom (the “Member”):

You have been designated by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “Bank”) as eligible to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (the “Thrift BEP” or the “Plan”).  This form contains your elections regarding you participation in the Plan with respect to your 2006 Incentive Compensation from the Bank.

1.             Deferral Election.  Subject to the provisions of the Thrift BEP, the Member elects to defer receipt of [3%] (not to exceed 100%) of his or her Incentive Compensation earned in 2006 and otherwise payable to him or her in 2007 under the Bank’s 2006 Executive Incentive Plan.  The Bank is specifically authorized to reduce the Member’s Incentive Compensation by this percentage for credit to the Member’s Account under the Thrift BEP.  All amounts deferred under this Agreement will be held by the Bank as part of its general assets in accordance with the provisions of the Thrift BEP.

2.             Allocation to Accounts.  The Member elects to have the following percentages of his or her Incentive Compensation contribution described in Section 1 above credited under the Thrift BEP to his or her Retirement Account and Scheduled Distribution Accounts in the following percentages:

Retirement
Account

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account A

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account B

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account C

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account D

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account E

 

TOTAL

 

100%

 

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

= 100

%

Use 10% increments

 

The Date of Distribution for a Scheduled Distribution Account
must be after December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Beginning in 2006, Scheduled Distribution Accounts generally operate the same way as Post-Secondary Education Subaccounts, with some modifications.  A Scheduled Distribution Account allows you to receive that deferral as early as 3 years after the end of the deferral year.  A Scheduled Distribution is paid in 8 to 12 semi-annual installments at the time you elect for the distribution.

When you set up a Scheduled Distribution Account, you elect whether the account will automatically terminate and be distributed when you retire, die or otherwise separate from service, or whether the account will be distributed on the scheduled date without regard to your intervening termination.




3.             Elections Regarding Scheduled Distribution Accounts.

Scheduled Distribution Account

 

Date of Distribution
(not earlier than January 1, 2010 or after your 70
th birthday)

 

Pay upon Retirement Under Section 4 Below
(default option)

 

Method of Distribution
(default is 8 semi-annual installments)

Scheduled Distribution Account A

 

 

 

o

 

Do NOT default to payment upon retirement

 

(8 to 12) Semi-annual installments

Scheduled Distribution Account B

 

 

 

o

 

Do NOT default to payment upon retirement

 

(8 to 12) Semi-annual installments

Scheduled Distribution Account C

 

 

 

o

 

Do NOT default to payment upon retirement

 

(8 to 12) Semi-annual installments

Scheduled Distribution Account D

 

 

 

o

 

Do NOT default to payment upon retirement

 

(8 to 12) Semi-annual installments

Scheduled Distribution Account E

 

 

 

o

 

Do NOT default to payment upon retirement

 

(8 to 12) Semi-annual installments

 

You can change or revoke your election of a scheduled distribution by filing an election with the Plan Administrator at least one year before the scheduled distribution date.  If you change your scheduled distribution election, your new scheduled distribution date has to be at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

4.             Payment of Retirement Account.  [NOTE:  If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph 4.]  The Member elects to have any amount credited to his or her Retirement Account (including matching contributions) paid as soon as practicable following on or after the o  Valuation Date (the default option) or o  January 1 coincident with or following (check one):

A.                                    x           The Member’s separation from service from the Bank.

B.                                    o            The Member’s attainment of age           [enter an age not earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, at least three (3) years subsequent to current age].

C.                                    o            The earlier of A or B above.

D.                                    o            The later of A or B above.

If no election is made under this paragraph, payment of the Retirement Account will be made as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with or following the Member’s termination of employment.  This election is effective for all amounts in your

2




Retirement Account.  If this is a change to a prior distribution election for your Retirement Account, you cannot accelerate distribution into 2006.  If you change your Retirement Account distribution election in a subsequent year after 2006, your new election may not be effective for one year; may not accelerate the payment of your account; and must defer distribution for at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

5.             Payment Form for Retirement Account[NOTEIf this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph 5.]  The Member elects to have his or her Retirement Account (including matching contributions) paid in the following form (check one):

x             In a cash single sum.

o                                         In semi-annual cash installments over a period of [    ] years, [not to exceed ten years], payable as of January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year.

If a Member fails to make an election under this paragraph 5, payment will be made in a cash single sum.  This election is effective for all amounts in your Retirement Account.  If this is a change to a prior distribution election for your Retirement Account, you cannot accelerate distribution into 2006.  If you change your Retirement Account distribution election in a subsequent year after 2006, your new election may not be effective for one year; may not accelerate the payment of your account; and must defer distribution for at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

6.             Payment of Death Benefits.  Notwithstanding the preceding, the Member understands that, in the event of his or her death, the balance in his or her Accounts established hereunder will be paid as soon as administratively practicable to the Member’s Beneficiary on or after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following the Member’s date of death.

7.             Elections Irrevocable.  The Member understands that the elections made under this Agreement are irrevocable and may not be changed unless otherwise permitted under the Plan (for example, for unforeseen financial emergency) as amended by the Bank consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

8.             Miscellaneous.  This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all of the terms and provisions of the Thrift BEP and any administrative rules and procedures the Bank has set up for the Plan.  Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Bank to retain the Member in his or her capacity as an officer or employee of the Bank.  The Bank will withhold such federal, state and local income taxes as may apply under applicable law.

The Member further acknowledges that new legislation, known as the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, has recently been enacted which contains provisions that change the longstanding rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation plans, such as the Bank’s Thrift Benefit

3




Equalization Plan, effective for deferrals of compensation after December 31, 2004.  The Member understands that significant changes may be made to the Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan in order to be able to defer compensation under this Agreement on a tax advantaged basis.

9.             Amendment or Termination.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Bank may amend or terminate the Plan or this Agreement at any time and for any reason.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank, by its duly authorized officers, and the Member, have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

 

MEMBER

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Earl W. Baucom

 

 

 

 

 

Print:

 

Earl W. Baucom

 

4



EX-10.9.1 8 a07-5995_1ex10d9d1.htm EX-10.9.1

Exhibit 10.9.1

M. Susan Elliott

2006 Plan Year

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ELECTION

AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

THIS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION DEFERRAL ELECTION AND MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is submitted this 14th day of June, 2006, by M. Susan Elliott (the “Member”):

You have been designated by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the “Bank”) as eligible to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan (the “Thrift BEP” or the “Plan”).  This form contains your elections regarding you participation in the Plan with respect to your 2006 Incentive Compensation from the Bank.

1.             Deferral Election.  Subject to the provisions of the Thrift BEP, the Member elects to defer receipt of [ 10%] (not to exceed 100%) of his or her Incentive Compensation earned in 2006 and otherwise payable to him or her in 2007 under the Bank’s 2006 Executive Incentive Plan.  The Bank is specifically authorized to reduce the Member’s Incentive Compensation by this percentage for credit to the Member’s Account under the Thrift BEP.  All amounts deferred under this Agreement will be held by the Bank as part of its general assets in accordance with the provisions of the Thrift BEP.

2.             Allocation to Accounts.  The Member elects to have the following percentages of his or her Incentive Compensation contribution described in Section 1 above credited under the Thrift BEP to his or her Retirement Account and Scheduled Distribution Accounts in the following percentages:

Retirement Account

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account A

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account B

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account C

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account D

 

Scheduled
Distribution
Account E

 

TOTAL

100%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

= 100%

Use 10%
increments

 

The Date of Distribution for a Scheduled Distribution
Account must be after December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Beginning in 2006, Scheduled Distribution Accounts generally operate the same way as Post-Secondary Education Subaccounts, with some modifications.  A Scheduled Distribution Account allows you to receive that deferral as early as 3 years after the end of the deferral year.  A Scheduled Distribution is paid in 8 to 12 semi-annual installments at the time you elect for the distribution.

When you set up a Scheduled Distribution Account, you elect whether the account will automatically terminate and be distributed when you retire, die or otherwise separate from service, or whether the account will be distributed on the scheduled date without regard to your intervening termination.




3.             Elections Regarding Scheduled Distribution Accounts.

Scheduled Distribution Account

 

Date of Distribution
(not earlier than
January 1, 2010 or after
your 70
th birthday)

 

Pay upon Retirement
Under Section 4 Below
(default option)

 

Method of Distribution
(default is 8 semi-annual
installments)

Scheduled
Distribution Account
A

 

 

 

o  Do NOT default to
payment upon
retirement

 

__ (8 to 12) Semi-annual
installments

Scheduled
Distribution Account
B

 

 

 

o  Do NOT default to
payment upon
retirement

 

__ (8 to 12) Semi-annual
installments

Scheduled
Distribution Account
C

 

 

 

o  Do NOT default to
payment upon
retirement

 

__ (8 to 12) Semi-annual
installments

Scheduled
Distribution Account
D

 

 

 

o  Do NOT default to
payment upon
retirement

 

__ (8 to 12) Semi-annual
installments

Scheduled
Distribution Account
E

 

 

 

o  Do NOT default to
payment upon
retirement

 

__ (8 to 12) Semi-annual
installments

 

You can change or revoke your election of a scheduled distribution by filing an election with the Plan Administrator at least one year before the scheduled distribution date.  If you change your scheduled distribution election, your new scheduled distribution date has to be at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

4.             Payment of Retirement Account[NOTE:  If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph 4.]  The Member elects to have any amount credited to his or her Retirement Account (including matching contributions) paid as soon as practicable following on or after the o  Valuation Date (the default option) or o  January 1 coincident with or following (check one):

A.            o            The Member’s separation from service from the Bank.

B.                                     o            The Member’s attainment of age ____ [enter an age not earlier than age 50 nor later than age 70½, at least three (3) years subsequent to current age].

C.            o            The earlier of A or B above.

D.            o            The later of A or B above.

If no election is made under this paragraph, payment of the Retirement Account will be made as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with or following the Member’s termination of employment.  This election is effective for all amounts in your

2




Retirement Account.  If this is a change to a prior distribution election for your Retirement Account, you cannot accelerate distribution into 2006.  If you change your Retirement Account distribution election in a subsequent year after 2006, your new election may not be effective for one year; may not accelerate the payment of your account; and must defer distribution for at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

5.             Payment Form for Retirement Account[NOTE:  If this is not your initial Deferral Agreement, complete this paragraph only if you want to change your payment trigger event for your Retirement Account.  Otherwise cross out this paragraph 5.]  The Member elects to have his or her Retirement Account (including matching contributions) paid in the following form (check one):

o            In a cash single sum.

o                                    In semi-annual cash installments over a period of [    ] years, [not to exceed ten years], payable as of January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year.

If a Member fails to make an election under this paragraph 5, payment will be made in a cash single sum.  This election is effective for all amounts in your Retirement Account.  If this is a change to a prior distribution election for your Retirement Account, you cannot accelerate distribution into 2006.  If you change your Retirement Account distribution election in a subsequent year after 2006, your new election may not be effective for one year; may not accelerate the payment of your account; and must defer distribution for at least 5 years later than the previously elected date.

6.             Payment of Death Benefits.  Notwithstanding the preceding, the Member understands that, in the event of his or her death, the balance in his or her Accounts established hereunder will be paid as soon as administratively practicable to the Member’s Beneficiary on or after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following the Member’s date of death.

7.             Elections Irrevocable.  The Member understands that the elections made under this Agreement are irrevocable and may not be changed unless otherwise permitted under the Plan (for example, for unforeseen financial emergency) as amended by the Bank consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

8.             Miscellaneous.  This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all of the terms and provisions of the Thrift BEP and any administrative rules and procedures the Bank has set up for the Plan.  Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Bank to retain the Member in his or her capacity as an officer or employee of the Bank.  The Bank will withhold such federal, state and local income taxes as may apply under applicable law.

The Member further acknowledges that new legislation, known as the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, has recently been enacted which contains provisions that change the longstanding rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation plans, such as the Bank’s Thrift Benefit Equalization Plan, effective for deferrals of compensation after December 31, 2004.  The Member understands that significant changes may be made to the Thrift Benefit Equalization

3




Plan in order to be able to defer compensation under this Agreement on a tax advantaged basis.

9.             Amendment or Termination.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Bank may amend or terminate the Plan or this Agreement at any time and for any reason.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank, by its duly authorized officers, and the Member, have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

         MEMBER

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ M. Susan Elliott

 

 

 

 

Print:

   M. Susan Elliott

 

4



EX-12 9 a07-5995_1ex12.htm EX-12

EXHIBIT 12

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(dollars in thousands)

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before assessments

 

$

266,587

 

$

177,187

 

$

121,994

 

$

124,628

 

$

103,173

 

Fixed charges

 

2,664,852

 

1,608,814

 

964,484

 

1,020,447

 

1,212,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before assessments and fixed charges

 

2,931,439

 

1,786,001

 

1,086,478

 

1,145,075

 

1,315,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

2,663,585

 

1,607,602

 

963,299

 

1,019,216

 

1,211,715

 

1/3 of net rent expense (1)

 

1,267

 

1,212

 

1,185

 

1,231

 

1,086

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

 

$

2,664,852

 

$

1,608,814

 

$

964,484

 

$

1,020,447

 

$

1,212,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

1.10

 

1.11

 

1.13

 

1.12

 

1.09

 


(1) Represents an estimated interest factor.



EX-31.1 10 a07-5995_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
for the President and Chief Executive Officer

I, Michael A. Jessee, certify that:

1.                I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston;

2.                Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4                   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a.                  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.                 Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c.                  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5.                The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.                  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.                 Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 23, 2007

/s/

MICHAEL A. JESSEE

 

 

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



EX-31.2 11 a07-5995_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
for the Chief Financial Officer

I, Frank Nitkiewicz, certify that:

1.                I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston;

2.                Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4                   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a.                  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.                 Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c.                  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5.                The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.                  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.                 Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 23, 2007

/s/

FRANK NITKIEWICZ

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 



EX-32.1 12 a07-5995_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification by 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

I, Michael A. Jessee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“Registrant”) certify that, to the best of my knowledge:

1.                 The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006 (“Report”), fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.                 The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: March 23, 2007

/s/

MICHAEL A. JESSEE

 

 

Michael A. Jessee

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and will be retained by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



EX-32.2 13 a07-5995_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

Certification by 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

I, Frank Nitkiewicz, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“Registrant”) certify that, to the best of my knowledge:

1.                 The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006 (“Report”), fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.                 The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: March 23, 2007

/s/

FRANK NITKIEWICZ

 

Frank Nitkiewicz

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and will be retained by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



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