The Federal Home Loan Bank System: The Lender of Next-to-Last Resort?

The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System is a large cooperatively owned government-sponsored liquidity facility that lends predominately to U.S. depository institutions. This paper documents the significant role played by the FHLB System at the outset of the recent financial crisis and provides evidence on the uses of FHLB funding by member banks and thrifts during that time. We then compare lending activity by the FHLB System and the Federal Reserve during 2007 and 2008, discuss the types of institutions seeking government-sponsored liquidity at various times, and identify the trade-offs faced by borrowers eligible to tap liquidity from both facilities.