(1)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements include the consolidated accounts of National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (“CFC”), Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”), National Cooperative Services Corporation (“NCSC”) and certain entities created and controlled by CFC to hold foreclosed assets and accommodate loan securitization transactions, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.

Unless stated otherwise, references to “we,” “our” or “us” represent the consolidation of CFC, RTFC, NCSC and certain entities created and controlled by CFC to hold foreclosed assets and accommodate loan securitization transactions. Foreclosed assets are held by two subsidiaries controlled by CFC. Denton Realty Partners, LP (“DRP”) holds a land development loan and a related limited partnership interest. Caribbean Asset Holdings (“CAH”) holds our investment in cable and telecommunications operating entities in the United States Virgin Islands (“USVI”), British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported in the financial statements, as well as amounts included in the notes thereto, including discussion and disclosure of contingent liabilities. The accounting estimates that require our most significant and subjective judgments include the allowance for loan losses and the determination of the fair value of our derivatives and certain aspects of our foreclosed assets. While we use our best estimates and judgments based on the known facts at the date of the financial statements, actual results could differ from these estimates as future events occur.

During the preparation of our consolidated balance sheets for the quarter ended February 28, 2014, we determined that an intercompany elimination entry related to the consolidation of RTFC had been misclassified in each period since May 31, 2009, resulting in an overstatement of other liabilities and an understatement of noncontrolling interest at the end of each reported period. We corrected the misclassification in the quarter ended February 28, 2014, which resulted in a decrease of $11.5 million in other liabilities and a corresponding increase in noncontrolling interest. We concluded that the correction of the misclassification was not material to our financial position in the current period, and the misclassification was not material to our financial position in the previously reported periods. Accordingly, we did not revise prior period balance sheet amounts. The misclassification had no impact on our, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, total assets, total liabilities and equity, or cash flows for any of our previously filed annual or quarterly financial statements, and did not impact the compliance with any of our financial debt covenants for any period.

These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2013. Reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (which consist only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations and financial position for the interim periods presented.

(b)

Variable Interest Entities

We are required to consolidate the financial results of RTFC and NCSC because CFC is the primary beneficiary of variable interests in RTFC and NCSC due to its exposure to absorbing the majority of their expected losses and because CFC manages the lending activities of RTFC and NCSC.

Under separate guarantee agreements, RTFC and NCSC pay CFC a fee to indemnify against loan losses. CFC is the sole lender to and manages the business operations of RTFC through a management agreement in effect until December 1, 2016, which is automatically renewed for one-year terms thereafter unless terminated by either party. CFC is the primary source of funding to and manages the lending activities of NCSC through a management agreement that is automatically renewable on an annual basis unless terminated by either party. NCSC funds its lending programs through loans from CFC or debt guaranteed by CFC. In connection with these guarantees, NCSC must pay a guarantee fee and purchase from CFC interest-bearing subordinated term certificates in proportion to the related guarantee.

RTFC and NCSC creditors have no recourse against CFC in the event of a default by RTFC and NCSC, unless there is a guarantee agreement under which CFC has guaranteed NCSC or RTFC debt obligations to a third party. At February 28, 2014, CFC had guaranteed $121 million of NCSC debt, derivative instruments and guarantees with third parties, and CFC’s maximum potential exposure for these instruments totaled $128 million. The maturities for NCSC obligations guaranteed by CFC extend through 2031. Guarantees of NCSC debt and derivative instruments are not included in Note 10, Guarantees, as the debt and derivatives are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. At February 28, 2014, CFC guaranteed $2 million of RTFC guarantees with third parties. The maturities for RTFC obligations guaranteed by CFC extend through 2015 and are renewed on an annual basis. All CFC loans to RTFC and NCSC are secured by all assets and revenue of RTFC and NCSC, respectively. At February 28, 2014, RTFC had total assets of $577 million including loans outstanding to members of $455 million, and NCSC had total assets of $804 million including loans outstanding of $779 million. At February 28, 2014, CFC had committed to lend RTFC up to $4,000 million, of which $441 million was outstanding. At February 28, 2014, CFC had committed to provide up to $3,000 million of credit to NCSC, of which $884 million was outstanding, representing $763 million of outstanding loans and $121 million of credit enhancements.

(c)

Loan Sales

We account for the transfer of loans resulting from direct loan sales to third parties and securitization transactions by removing the loans from our condensed consolidated balance sheets when control has been surrendered. We retain the servicing performance obligations on these loans and recognize related servicing fees on an accrual basis over the period for which servicing activity is provided. Deferred transaction costs and unamortized deferred loan origination costs related to the loans sold are included in determining the gain or loss on the sale. We do not hold any continuing interest in the loans sold to date other than servicing performance obligations. We have no obligation to repurchase loans from the purchaser, except in the case of breaches of representations and warranties.

During the nine months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013, we sold CFC loans with outstanding balances totaling $106 million and $121 million, respectively, at par for cash. We recorded immaterial losses on the sale of these loans.

(d)

Interest Income

Interest income on loans is recognized using the effective interest method. The following table presents the components of interest income:

	Three Months Ended February 28,				Nine Months Ended February 28,
(Dollars in thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Interest on long-term fixed-rate loans	$	220,227	$	216,716	$	666,762	$	652,903
Interest on long-term variable-rate loans		5,217		5,203		14,871		16,121
Interest on line of credit loans		8,302		7,961		23,379		23,066
Interest on restructured loans		-		436		136		13,523
Interest on investments		1,932		1,864		5,685		4,378
Fee income (1)		3,054		1,841		8,224		5,745
Total interest income	$	238,732	$	234,021	$	719,057	$	715,736

(1) Primarily related to conversion fees that are deferred and recognized using the effective interest method over the remaining original loan interest rate pricing term, except for a small portion of the total fee charged to cover administrative costs related to the conversion, which is recognized immediately.

Deferred income recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets primarily consists of deferred conversion fees totaling $74 million and $21 million at February 28, 2014 and May 31, 2013, respectively.

(e)

Interest Expense

The following table presents the components of interest expense:

	Three Months Ended February 28,				Nine Months Ended February 28,
(Dollars in thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Interest expense on debt (1):
Short-term debt	$	1,406	$	1,717	$	4,445	$	5,033
Medium-term notes		20,369		21,294		62,920		74,010
Collateral trust bonds		76,090		84,197		227,746		247,907
Subordinated deferrable debt		4,750		2,806		14,250		8,419
Subordinated certificates		19,777		20,345		60,897		61,227
Long-term notes payable		37,130		37,622		113,828		113,933
Debt issuance costs (2)		1,806		1,891		5,453		5,733
Fee expense (3)		2,206		2,027		6,925		6,534
Total interest expense	$	163,534	$	171,899	$	496,464	$	522,796

(1) Represents interest expense and the amortization of discounts on debt.

(2) Includes amortization of all deferred charges related to the issuance of debt, principally underwriters’ fees, legal fees, printing costs and comfort letter fees. Amortization is calculated using the effective interest method or a method approximating the effective interest method. Also includes issuance costs related to dealer commercial paper, which are recognized as incurred.

(3) Includes various fees related to funding activities, including fees paid to banks participating in our revolving credit agreements.

We exclude indirect costs, if any, related to funding activities from interest expense.

(f)

Derivative Financial Instruments

We are an end user of financial derivative instruments and not a swap dealer. We use derivatives such as interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks to mitigate interest rate risk. Consistent with the accounting standards for derivative financial instruments, we record derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. In recording the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities, we do not net our positions under contracts with individual counterparties. Accrued cash settlements on our derivatives are recorded as accrued interest and other receivables and accrued interest payable line items of the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments along with realized gains and losses from cash settlements are recognized in the derivative gains (losses) line item of the condensed consolidated statement of operations unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.

We formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of derivatives designated for hedge accounting treatment, which typically include treasury rate locks. If applicable cash flow hedge accounting criteria are met for these derivatives, changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded in other comprehensive income, and net cash settlements are recorded in interest expense. The gain or loss on derivatives used as a cash flow hedge of a forecasted debt transaction is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the hedged debt. Any ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship is recognized in the derivative gains (losses) line of the statement of operations.

Cash activity associated with interest rate swaps is classified as an operating activity in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

(g)

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which requires enhanced disclosures about certain financial assets and liabilities that are subject to enforceable master netting agreements or similar agreements, or that have otherwise been offset on the balance sheet under certain specific conditions that permit net presentation. In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update, Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which clarifies that the scope of the above guidance is limited to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions. The guidance was effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. See Note 8, Derivative Financial Instruments, for additional disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities.

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which requires enhanced disclosures of the amounts reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. The guidance was effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and did not have a material effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements, as the amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income are immaterial for all periods presented.