Stay Informed!

Discussion: CDFI Membership in the Federal Home Loan Banks

Monday, February 22, 2010 2:00 – 5:00 PM

CFED Offices: 1200 G Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC

Starting in February, Department of Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) will be able to become members of the nation’s Federal Home Loan Bank System. Advocates believe this legislative change will enable certified CDFIs to ameliorate the credit crunch and expand lending to finance business and housing investments for low-income individuals and communities.

Nearly 200 people participated in the discussion. You can listen to the conversation here.

Part One

Part Two

• What is the new policy for membership?
• What action steps are the Federal Home Loan Banks undertaking to enable CDFIs to join?
• How are CDFIs preparing for membership? Specifically, what are the membership requirements? Can grantmakers’ and federal funds be pledged to meet the collateral requirements?
• Can greater lending capacity for CDFIs enable government and philanthropic dollars to stretch further?
• How can this model help other federal agencies build new partnerships with CDFIs?

Presenters with links to their presentations if they had a presentation:

• Sylvia C Martinez, Senior Adviser to Steve Cross, Deputy Director for the Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation and Acting Chief Operating Officer, Federal Housing Finance Agency
• Andy Jetter, President, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, Chairman & Affordable Housing Committee, Bank Presidents’ Conference
• Mark Pinsky, President, Opportunity Finance Network
• Carol E. Wayman, Director of Federal Policy, CFED
• Cheryl Neas, Senior Vice President, Policy Development Opportunity Finance Network
• Eldridge Edgecombe, Senior Vice President, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
• Jim Ferris, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Capital, Silver Spring, MD
• Dan Betancourt, President and CEO, Community First Fund, Lancaster, PA