Wholesale Funding: A Required Management Tool

by George K. Darling, CEO
Darling Consulting Group

Over the past 18 months, many financial institutions have been subject to criticism with respect to using wholesale funding to support their balance sheets. In fact, many have been directed to reduce their levels of wholesale funding and to increase their levels of retail deposits–regardless of the costs or the fact that these funding sources pose little or no threat to the viability of the financial institution. Indeed, financial institutions that follow these directives to the letter could well be creating significant future risks to their balance sheets and impairing current profitability needed to regenerate capital levels or cover increased levels of operating expense.
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Three-Year CIP/EDF Rates Nearing 1%! Can You Afford Not to Take Advantage?

by Jennifer Ernst and John P. Biestman
Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle

As prominently displayed at the top of the Seattle Bank’s “Rates” page, Community Investment Program (CIP) / Economic Development Fund (EDF) advance rates are currently at their lowest levels since 2003. As an example, on August 10, 2010, respective rates for three-, four-, and five-year qualifying advances were 1.05%, 1.45%, and 1.82%. Rates this low offer Seattle Bank members a great opportunity to fund qualifying affordable housing and economic development activities in the communities they serve. More >