Capital Classifications and Critical Capital Levels for the Federal Home Loan Banks

The Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act, Division A of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), requires the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to establish criteria based on the amount and type of capital held by a Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) for each of the following capital classifications: Adequately capitalized; Undercapitalized; Significantly undercapitalized; and Critically undercapitalized. In addition, HERA provides that the critical capital level for each Bank shall be the amount of capital that the Director by regulation shall require. HERA also sets forth prompt corrective action (PCA) authority that the Director has for the Banks. To implement these new provisions, FHFA published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2009 an interim final rule to define critical capital for the Banks, establish the criteria for each of the capital classifications identified in HERA and delineate its PCA authority over the Banks. FHFA requested comments on all aspects of the regulation. It also sought comment on whether it should establish a ``well-capitalized'' classification and on what criteria may be appropriate to define such a new category. After considering the comments received on the interim final rule, FHFA is adopting the interim final rule as a final regulation, subject to amendments meant to clarify certain provisions.

Agency Contact: Julie Paller, Senior Financial Analyst, (202) 408-2842, and Anthony G. Cornyn, Senior Associate Director, (202) 408-2522, Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation, Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1625 Eye Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006; or Thomas E. Joseph, Senior Attorney-Advisor, (202) 414-3095, Office of General Counsel, Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1700 G St., NW., Washington, DC 20552. The telephone number for the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf is (800) 877-8339.