FHFA to FHLBanks: Drop LIBOR

Sep 27, 2019

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has published a primer that addresses potential transition issues ahead of the potential 2021 ending of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent a letter to the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks directing them to cease purchasing investments in assets tied to LIBOR with a contractual maturity beyond Dec. 31, 2021.

The FHFA gave the banks a Dec. 31 deadline to cease these purchases. As of March 31, 2020, the Federal Home Loan Banks will be required to end all other LIBOR-based transactions involving advances, debt, derivatives, or other products with maturities beyond Dec. 31, 2021, with only very limited exceptions granted by FHFA.

“This is an important step in the transition away from LIBOR to a more robust reference rate,” said FHFA Director Mark Calabria said. “Beginning this process immediately and providing clear timelines will help the Federal Home Loan Banks manage the risks associated with LIBOR in the most safe and sound manner possible.”

About the author

Phil Hall

Link copied

Published

Sep 27, 2019

Analysis and Data

Jobs Report Comes In Weak After Mortgage Rates Surge

Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, sending Treasury yields lower and offering a potential counterweight to the recent rise in mortgage rates

The September jobs report gave the mortgage market something it hasn't had much of lately: downward pressure on Treasury yields.U.S. employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The ...

Wholesale

The Loan Store Rebrands As Averra Financial

The wholesale lender is adopting a new identity three years after acquiring Homepoint’s wholesale business and rising to No. 4 in industry rankings

The Loan Store has a new name after a three-year expansion that transformed the once-small wholesale lender into one of the largest players in the broker channel.The Tucson, Arizona-based lender has rebranded as Averra Financial Inc., effective immediately, the company annou...

Nov

Houston, TX

More from

Analysis and Data

Jobs Report Comes In Weak After Mortgage Rates Surge

Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, sending Treasury yields lower and offering a potential counterweight to the recent rise in mortgage rates

Analysis and Data

Oct 02, 2026

Price Cuts Hit Four-Year High As Mortgage Rates Top 7%

More than one in five listings took a price cut in September, but pending sales still posted their sharpest annual decline since March 2025

Analysis and Data

Oct 01, 2026

Serious Mortgage Delinquencies Rise 19% After Five Months Of Improvement

ICE data shows 574,000 mortgages were at least 90 days past due in August, while early-stage delinquencies remained below year-ago levels

Analysis and Data

Sep 29, 2026

Smaller Down Payments Give Buyers More Room, But Rates Limit The Savings

The typical down payment fell 9% from a year ago, while shifting market conditions are giving originators different affordability conversations across the country

Analysis and Data

Sep 25, 2026

Mortgage Rates Break 7% Just As Builders Find A Way To Move Buyers

New-home sales rose 6.4% in August as builders cut prices, offered incentives, and sold more lower-priced homes. Now mortgage rates are moving against buyers again

Analysis and Data

Sep 25, 2026

Borrowers Want Digital Closings, But Some Originators Remain Hesitant

ServiceLink finds 45% of surveyed LOs cite borrower reluctance as a barrier, even though most recent buyers say digital options would influence their choice of mortgage provider

Tech

Sep 23, 2026

Popular