The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (the “Bank”) is one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (each individually a “FHLBank” and collectively the “FHLBanks,” and, together with the Office of Finance, a joint office of the FHLBanks, the “FHLBank System,” or the “System”). The FHLBanks were created by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932, as amended (the “FHLB Act”). Each of the 11 FHLBanks is a member-owned cooperative that operates as a separate federally chartered corporation with its own management, employees and board of directors. Each FHLBank helps finance housing, community lending, and community development needs in the specified states in its respective district. Federally insured commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and federally or privately insured credit unions, as well as insurance companies and Community Development Financial Institutions that are certified under the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994, are all eligible for membership in the FHLBank of the district in which the institution’s principal place of business is located. Housing associates, including state and local housing authorities, that meet certain statutory and regulatory criteria may also borrow from the FHLBanks.

The public purpose of the Bank is to promote housing, jobs and general prosperity through products and services that assist its members in providing affordable credit in their communities. The Bank’s primary business is to serve as a financial intermediary between the capital markets and its members. In its most basic form, this intermediation process involves raising funds by issuing debt in the capital markets and lending the proceeds to member institutions (in the form of loans known as advances) at rates that are slightly higher than the cost of the debt. The interest spread between the cost of the Bank’s liabilities and the yield on its assets, combined with the earnings on its invested capital, are the Bank’s primary sources of earnings. The Bank endeavors to manage its assets and liabilities in such a way that its net interest spread is consistent across a wide range of interest rate environments. The intermediation of its members’ credit needs with the investment requirements of the Bank’s creditors is made possible by the extensive use of interest rate exchange agreements. These agreements, commonly referred to as derivatives or derivative instruments, are discussed below in the section entitled “Use of Interest Rate Exchange Agreements.”

The Bank’s principal source of funds is debt issued in the capital markets. All 11 FHLBanks issue debt in the form of consolidated obligations through the Office of Finance as their agent, and each FHLBank uses these funds to make loans to its members, invest in debt securities, or for other business purposes. Generally, consolidated obligations are traded in the over-the-counter market. All 11 FHLBanks are jointly and severally liable for the repayment of all consolidated obligations. Although consolidated obligations are not obligations of or guaranteed by the U.S. government, FHLBanks are considered to be government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) and thus have historically been able to borrow at the more favorable rates generally available to GSEs. Consolidated obligations are currently rated Aaa/P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and AA+/A-1+ by Standard & Poor’sS&P Global Ratings (“S&P”). In the application of S&P's Government Related Entities criteria, the ratings of the FHLBanks are constrained by the long-term sovereign credit rating of the United States. These ratings indicate that each of these nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") has concluded that the FHLBanks have a very strong capacity to meet their financial commitments on consolidated obligations. The ratings also reflect the FHLBank System’s status as a GSE. Historically, the FHLBanks' GSE status and very high credit ratings on consolidated obligations have provided the FHLBanks with excellent capital markets access. Deposits, other borrowings and the proceeds from the issuance of capital stock to members are also sources of funds for the Bank.

Current and prospective shareholders and debtholders should understand that these credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, hold or sell securities and they may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the NRSRO. The ratings from each of the NRSROs should be evaluated independently.

All members of the Bank are required to purchase capital stock in the Bank as a condition of membership and in proportion to their asset size and borrowing activity with the Bank. The Bank’s capital stock is not publicly traded and all stock is owned by members of the Bank, by non-member institutions that acquire stock by virtue of acquiring member institutions, by a federal or state agency or insurer acting as a receiver of a closed institution, or by former members of the Bank that retain capital stock to support advances or other obligations that remain outstanding or until any applicable stock redemption or withdrawal notice period expires.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (“Finance Agency”), an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. government, is responsible for supervising and regulating the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance. The Finance Agency’s

stated mission is to ensure that the housing GSEs, including the FHLBanks, operate in a safe and sound manner so that they serve as a reliable source of liquidity and funding for housing finance and community investment. Consistent with this mission, the Finance Agency establishes policies and regulations covering the operations of the FHLBanks.

The Bank’s debt and equity securities are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and are “exempted securities” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). On June 23, 2004, the Finance Agency's predecessor, the Federal Housing Finance Board, adopted a rule requiring each FHLBank to voluntarily register a class of its equity securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (the “HER Act”) subsequently codified this requirement. The Bank’s registration with the SEC became effective on April 17, 2006. As a registrant, the Bank is subject to the periodic reporting and disclosure regime as administered and interpreted by the SEC. Materials that the Bank files with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site (http:(https://www.sec.gov) that contains reports and other information filed with the SEC. Reports and other information that the Bank files with the SEC are also available free of charge through the Bank’s website at www.fhlb.com. To access these reports and other information through the Bank’s website, click on “News,” then “Investor Relations,” and then “SEC” under the heading SEC Filings. The information on the Bank's website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part hereof or incorporated into this or any of the Bank's other filings with the SEC.

outstanding, non-member borrowers may not request new extensions of credit, nor are they permitted to extend or renew the assumed advances.

The Bank’s membership currently includes the majority of commercial bankbanks and thriftsavings institutions in its district that are eligible to become members. Eligible non-members are primarily insurance companies, credit unions and smaller commercial banks that have thus far elected not to join the Bank. While the Bank anticipates that some number of these eligible non-member institutions will apply for membership each year, the Bank also anticipates that some number of its existing members will be acquired or merge with other institutions and it does not currently anticipate a substantial increase in the number of member institutions.

As a cooperative, the Bank is managed with the primary objectives of enhancing the value of membership for member institutions and fulfilling its public purpose. The value of membership includes access to readily available credit and other services from the Bank, the value of the cost differential between Bank advances and other potential sources of funds, and the dividends paid on members’ investments in the Bank’s capital stock.

The Bank manages its operations as one business segment. Management and the Bank’s Board of Directors review enterprise-wide financial information in order to make operating decisions and assess performance. All of the Bank’s revenues are derived from U.S. operations.

Substantially all of the Bank’s interest income from advances is derived from financial institutions domiciled in the Bank’s five-state district.

Finance Agency regulations require the Bank to establish a formula for and to charge, if necessary, a prepayment fee on an advance that is repaid prior to maturity in an amount sufficient to make the Bank financially indifferent to the borrower’s decision to repay the advance prior to its scheduled maturity date. Currently, these fees are generally calculated as the present value of the difference (if positive) between the interest rate on the prepaid advance and the rate derived from the FHLBank System consolidated obligations curve for the remaining term to maturity of the repaid advance.

Members are required by statute and regulation to use the proceeds of advances with an original term to maturity of greater than five years to purchase or fund new or existing residential housing finance assets which, for CFIs, are defined by statute and regulation to include small business, small farm and small agribusiness loans, loans for community development activities (subject to the Finance Agency’s requirements as described below) and securities representing a whole interest in such loans. Community Investment Cash Advances (described below) are exempt from these requirements.

The Bank prices its credit products with the objective of providing benefits of membership that are greatest for those members that use the Bank’s products most actively, while maintaining sufficient profitability to pay dividends at a rate that makes members financially indifferent to holding the Bank’s capital stock and that will allow the Bank to increase its retained earnings over time. Generally, that set of objectives results in small mark-ups over the Bank’s cost of funds for its advances and dividends on capital stock at rates that have for the last several years been slightly above the upper end of the Federal Reserve’s

The Bank is required by the FHLB Act to obtain collateral that is sufficient, in the judgment of the Bank, to fully secure advances and other extensions of credit to members/borrowers. The Bank has not suffered any credit losses on advances since it was established in its 83-year history.1932. In accordance with the Bank’s Capital Plan, members and former members must hold Class B-2 capital stock in proportion to their outstanding advances. In addition, members must hold Class B-1 capital stock to meet their membership investment requirement. Pursuant to the FHLB Act, the Bank has a lien upon and holds the Bank’s Class B-1 and Class B-2 capital stock owned by each of its shareholders as additional collateral for all of the respective shareholder’s obligations to the Bank.

In order to comply with the requirement to fully secure advances and other extensions of credit, the Bank and each of its members/borrowers execute a written security agreement that establishes the Bank’s security interest in a variety of the members’/borrowers’ assets. The Bank, pursuant to the FHLB Act and Finance Agency regulations, originates, renews, or extends advances only if it has obtained and is maintaining a security interest in sufficient eligible collateral at the time such advance is made, renewed, or extended. Eligible collateral includes whole first mortgages on improved residential real property (not more than 90 days delinquent) or securities representing an undivided interest in such mortgages; securities issued, insured, or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies, including mortgage-backed and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), or the Government National Mortgage Association; term deposits in the Bank; and other real

estate-related collateral acceptable to the Bank, provided that such collateral has a readily ascertainable value and the Bank can perfect a security interest in such assets.

The HER Act added secured loans for community development activities as a new type of eligible collateral for CFIs. To the extent secured loans for community development activities represent a new class of collateral that the Bank has not previously accepted, the Bank would be required to seek the Finance Agency’s approval prior to accepting that collateral. To date, the Bank has not been requested to accept secured loans for community development activities as collateral.

Except as set forth in the next sentence, the FHLB Act affords any security interest granted to the Bank by any member/borrower of the Bank, or any affiliate of any such member/borrower, priority over the claims and rights of any party, including any receiver, conservator, trustee, or similar party having rights of a lien creditor. The Bank’s security interest is not entitled to priority over the claims and rights of a party that (i) would be entitled to priority under otherwise applicable law and (ii) is an actual bona fide purchaser for value or is a secured party who has a perfected security interest in such collateral in accordance with applicable law (e.g., a prior perfected security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law). For example, as discussed further below, the Bank usually perfects its security interest in collateral by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement against the borrower. If another secured party, without knowledge of the Bank's lien, perfected its security interest in that same collateral by taking possession of the collateral, rather than or in addition to filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement against the borrower, then that secured party’s security interest that was perfected by possession may be entitled to priority over the Bank’s security interest that was perfected by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement.

From time to time, the Bank agrees to subordinate its security interest in certain assets or categories of assets granted by a member/borrower of the Bank to the security interest of another creditor (typically, a Federal Reserve Bank or another FHLBank). If the Bank agrees to subordinate its security interest in certain assets or categories of assets granted by a member/borrower of the Bank to the security interest of another creditor, the Bank will not extend credit against those assets or categories of assets.

As stated above, each member/borrower of the Bank executes a security agreement pursuant to which such member/borrower grants a security interest in favor of the Bank in certain assets of such member/borrower. The assets in which a member grants a security interest fall into one of two general structures. In the first structure, the member grants a security interest in all of its assets that are included in the eligible collateral categories, as described above, which the Bank refers to as a “blanket lien.” A member may request that its blanket lien be modified, such that the member grants in favor of the Bank a security interest limited to certain of the eligible collateral categories (i.e., whole first residential mortgages, securities, term deposits in the Bank and other real estate-related collateral). In the second structure, the member grants a security interest in specifically identified assets rather than in the broad categories of eligible collateral covered by the blanket lien and the Bank identifies those members as being on “specific collateral only status.”

The basis upon which the Bank will lend to a member that has granted the Bank a blanket lien depends on numerous factors, including, among others, that member’s financial condition and general creditworthiness. Generally, and subject to certain limitations, a member that has granted the Bank a blanket lien may borrow up to a specified percentage of the value of eligible collateral categories, as determined from that member’s financial reports filed with its federal regulator, without specifically identifying each item of collateral or delivering the collateral to the Bank. Under certain circumstances, including, among others, a deterioration of a member’s financial condition or general creditworthiness, the amount a member may borrow is determined only on the basis of only that portion of the collateral subject to the blanket lien that such member delivers to the Bank or a third-party custodian approved by the Bank. Under these circumstances, the Bank places the member on “custody status.” In addition, members on blanket lien status may choose to deliver some or all of the collateral to the Bank.

The members/borrowers that are granted specific collateral only status by the Bank are generallytypically either insurance companies or members/borrowers with an investment grade credit rating from an NRSROat least two NRSROs that have requested this type of structure. Insurance companies are permitted to borrow only against the eligible collateral that is delivered to the Bank, and insurance companies generally grant a security interest only in collateral they have delivered. Members/borrowers with an investment grade credit rating from an NRSROat least two NRSROs may grant a security interest in, and would be permitted to borrow only against, delivered eligible securities and specifically identified, eligible first-lien mortgage loans. Such loans must be delivered to the Bank or a third-party custodian approved by the Bank, or the Bank and the member/borrower must otherwise take actions that ensure the priority of the Bank’s security interest in the loans. Investment grade rated members/borrowers that choose this option are subject to fewer provisions that allow the Bank to demand additional collateral or exercise other remedies based on the Bank’s discretion.

As of December 31, 2015, 6912018, 684 of the Bank’s borrowers/potential borrowers with a total of $21.7$33.4 billion in outstanding advances were on blanket lien status, 3525 borrowers/potential borrowers with $1.7$2.9 billion in outstanding advances were on

specific collateral only status and 131114 borrowers/potential borrowers with $1.2$4.5 billion in outstanding advances were on custody status.

The Bank perfects its security interest in members'/borrowers’ collateral in a number of ways. The Bank usually perfects its security interest in collateral by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement against the relevant assets of the member/borrower. In the case of certain borrowers, the Bank perfects its security interest by taking possession or control of the collateral, which may be in addition to the filing of a financing statement. In these cases, the Bank also generally takes assignments of most of the mortgages and deeds of trust that are designated as collateral. Instead of requiring delivery of the collateral to the Bank, the Bank may allow certain borrowers to deliver specific collateral to a third-party custodian approved by the Bank or otherwise take actions that ensure the priority of the Bank’s security interest in such collateral.

IfPrior to 2019, if a member institution iswas approved for an Economic Development Program ("EDP") advance, the member's customer maycould then be eligible for an accompanying EDP Plus grantgrant. In 2018, a total of up$750,000 in EDP Plus grants were available to $25,000.members' customers. Beginning in January 2019, the Bank launched a Small Business Boost ("SBB") Program, which is designed to provide recoverable assistance to small businesses in their first few years of operation. SBB funds awarded to small businesses will be disbursed through member institutions. With the launch of the SBB Program, the Bank no longer offers EDP Plus grants. Up to $3 million in SBB funds will be made available in 2019.

The Bank also offers an Affordable Housing Program (“AHP”) as required by the FHLB Act and in accordance with Finance Agency regulations. The Bank sets aside 10 percent of each year’s earnings (as adjusted for interest expense on mandatorily redeemable capital stock) for its AHP, which provides grants for projects that facilitate development of rental and owner-occupied housing for low-income households. Each year, a portion of the amount set aside is typically allocated specifically for the Bank's Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership ("HELP") program and its Special Needs Assistance Program ("SNAP"). HELP provides grant funds for down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers. SNAP provides grant funds to special needs homeowners for rehabilitation costs. The calculation of the amount to be set aside is further discussed below in the section entitled “AHP Assessments.” Each year, the Bank conducts a competitive application process to allocate the AHP funds set aside from the prior year’s earnings. Applications submitted by Bank members and their community partners are scored in accordance with Finance Agency regulations and the Bank’s AHP Implementation Plan. The highest scoring proposals are approved to receive funds, which are disbursed upon receipt of documentation that the projects are progressing as specified in the original applications or in approved modifications thereto.

In addition, the Bank offers a Housing Assistance for Veterans program that is designed to provide grants to households of veterans or active service members who were disabled as a result of an injury during their active military service since September 11, 2001.

Further, the Bank offers a Partnership Grant Program which provides funding for the operational needs of community-based organizations ("CBOs"). CBOs include non-profit organizations involved in affordable housing, local community development funds and small business technical assistance providers.

A FHLBank must file a consolidated obligation payment plan for the Finance Agency’s approval if (i) the FHLBank becomes a non-complying FHLBank as a result of failing to provide the required certification, (ii) the FHLBank becomes a non-

A non-complying FHLBank is permitted to continue to incur and pay normal operating expenses in the regular course of business, but may not incur or pay any extraordinary expenses, or declare or pay dividends, or redeem any capital stock, until such time as the Finance Agency has approved the FHLBank’s consolidated obligation payment plan or inter-FHLBank assistance agreement, or ordered another remedy, and all of the non-complying FHLBank’s direct obligations have been paid.

One of the responsibilities of the board of directors of the OF is to establish policies regarding consolidated obligations to ensure that, among other things, such obligations are issued efficiently and at the lowest all-in funding costs for the FHLBanks over time consistent with prudent risk management practices and other market and regulatory factors.

The Finance Agency has regulatory oversight and enforcement authority over the OF and its directors and officers generally to the same extent as it has such authority over a FHLBank and its respective directors and officers. The FHLBanks are responsible for jointly funding the expenses of the OF, which are shared on a pro rata basis with two-thirds based on each FHLBank’s total consolidated obligations outstanding (as of each month end) and one-third divided equally among all of the FHLBanks.

Finance Agency regulations authorize and establish general guidelines for the FHLBanks’ use of derivative instruments, and the Bank’s Enterprise Market Risk Management Policy establishes specific guidelines for their use. The Bank can use interest rate swaps, swaptions, cap and floor agreements, calls, puts, and futures and forward contracts as part of its interest rate risk management and funding strategies. Regulations prohibit derivative instruments that do not qualify as hedging instruments pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles unless a non-speculative use is documented.

Historically,In general, the Bank has useduses interest rate exchange agreements primarily in twothree ways: either(1) by designating themthe agreement as a fair value hedge of an underlyinga specific financial instrument or firm commitment; (2) by designating themthe agreement as a cash flow hedge of a forecasted transaction; or (3) by designating the agreement as a hedge of some defined risk in the course of its balance sheet

management. For example, the Bank uses interest rate exchange agreements in its overall interest rate risk management activities to adjust the interest rate sensitivity of consolidated obligations to approximate more closely the interest rate sensitivity of its assets, including advances and investments, and/or to adjust the interest rate sensitivity of advances and investments to approximate more closely the interest rate sensitivity of its liabilities. In addition to using interest rate exchange agreements to manage mismatches between the coupon features of its assets and liabilities, the Bank uses interest rate exchange agreements to manage embedded options in assets and liabilities, to preserve the market value of existing assets and liabilities and to reduce funding costs.

The Bank frequently enters into interest rate exchange agreements concurrently with the issuance of consolidated obligation bonds and it simultaneously designates the agreement as a fair value hedge. This strategy of issuing bonds while simultaneously entering into interest rate exchange agreements enables the Bank to offer a wider range of attractively priced advances to its members. The attractiveness of such debt generally depends on yield relationships between the consolidated

In September 2015,To a lesser extent, the Bank entered into its first cash flowuses interest rate exchange agreements to hedge wherein the Bank hedged the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted issuances of consolidated obligation discount notes. Over time, the Bank expects to increase its use of cash flow hedges.

In addition, as discussed in the section above entitled “Products and Services,” the Bank offers interest rate swaps, caps and floors to its member institutions. In these transactions, the Bank acts as an intermediary for its members by entering into an interest rate exchange agreement with a member and then entering into an offsetting interest rate exchange agreement with one of the Bank’s approved derivative counterparties.

For further discussion of interest rate exchange agreements, see Item 7 —7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Condition — Derivatives and Hedging Activities and the audited financial statements accompanying this report.

Demand for the Bank’s advances is affected by, among other things, the cost of other available sources of funds for its members, including deposits. The Bank competes with other suppliers of wholesale funding, both secured and unsecured, including investment banking concerns, commercial banks and, in certain circumstances, other FHLBanks. Historically, sources of wholesale funds for its members have included unsecured long-term debt, unsecured short-term debt such as federal funds, repurchase agreements and deposits issued into the brokered certificate of deposit market. The availability of funds through these wholesale funding sources can vary from time to time as a result of a variety of factors including, among others, market conditions, members’ creditworthiness and availability of collateral. The availability of these alternative private funding sources could significantly influence the demand for the Bank’s advances. The Bank competes against other financing sources on the basis of cost, the relative ease by which the members can access the various sources of funds, collateral requirements, and the flexibility desired by the member when structuring the liability.

As a debt issuer, the Bank competes with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other GSEs, as well as corporate, sovereign and supranational entities for funds raised in the national and global debt markets. Increases in the supply of competing debt products could, in the absence of increases in demand, result in higher debt costs for the FHLBanks. Although investor demand for FHLBank debt has historically been sufficient to meet the Bank’s funding needs, there can be no assurance that this will always be the case.

The Bank’s capital consists of capital stock owned by its members (and, in some cases, non-member borrowers or former members as described below), plus retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Consistent with the FHLB Act and the Finance Agency's regulations, the Bank’s capital planCapital Plan requires each member to own Class B stock (redeemable with five years’ written notice subject to certain restrictions) in an amount equal to the sum of a membership stockinvestment requirement and an activity-based stockinvestment requirement. Specifically, the Bank’s capital planCapital Plan requires members to hold capital stock in proportion to their total asset size and borrowing activity with the Bank.

The Bank’s capital stock is not publicly traded and it may be issued, repurchased, redeemed and, with the prior approval of the Bank, transferred only at its par value. In addition, the Bank’s capital stock may only be held by members of the Bank, by non-member institutions that acquire stock by virtue of acquiring member institutions, by a federal or state agency or insurer acting as a receiver of a closed institution, or by former members of the Bank that retain capital stock to support advances or other obligations that remain outstanding or until any applicable stock redemption or withdrawal notice period expires.

For more information about the Bank’s minimum capital requirements, see Item 7 —7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk-Based Capital Rules and Other Capital Requirements.

On February 28, 2011, the Bank entered into a Joint Capital Enhancement Agreement (the “JCE Agreement”) with the other FHLBanks. Effective August 5, 2011, the FHLBanks amended the JCE Agreement (the "Amended JCE Agreement"), and the Finance Agency approved an amendment to the Bank's Capital Plan to incorporate its provisions on that same date. The Amended JCE Agreement provides that the Bank (and each of the other FHLBanks) will, on a quarterly basis, allocate at least 20 percent of its net income to a separate restricted retained earnings account (“RRE Account”). Pursuant to the provisions of the Amended JCE Agreement, the Bank is required to build its RRE Account to an amount equal to one percent of its total outstanding consolidated obligations, which for this purpose is based on the most recent quarter’s average carrying value of all consolidated obligations, excluding hedging adjustments (“Total Consolidated Obligations”).

The Amended JCE Agreement provides that any quarterly net losses incurred by the Bank may be netted against its net income, if any, for other quarters during the same calendar year to determine the minimum required year-to-date or annual allocation to its RRE Account. In the event the Bank incurs a net loss for a cumulative year-to-date or annual period, the Bank may decrease the amount of its RRE Account such that the cumulative year-to-date or annual addition to its RRE Account is zero and the Bank shall apply any remaining portion of the net loss first to reduce retained earnings that are not restricted retained earnings until such retained earnings are reduced to zero, and thereafter may apply any remaining portion of the net loss to reduce its RRE Account. For any subsequent calendar quarter in the same calendar year, the Bank may decrease the amount of its quarterly allocation to its RRE Account in that subsequent calendar quarter such that the cumulative year-to-date addition to the RRE Account is equal to 20 percent of the amount of such cumulative year-to-date net income. In the event the Bank sustains a net loss for a calendar year, any such net loss first shall be applied to reduce retained earnings that are not restricted retained earnings until such retained earnings are reduced to zero, and thereafter any remaining portion of the net loss for the calendar year may be applied to reduce the Bank’s RRE Account. If during a period in which the Bank’s RRE Account is less than one percent of its Total Consolidated Obligations, the Bank incurs a net loss for a cumulative year-to-date or annual period that results in a decrease to the balance of its RRE Account as of the beginning of that calendar year, the Bank’s quarterly allocation requirement shall thereafter increase to 50 percent of quarterly net income until the cumulative difference between the allocations made at the 50 percent rate and the allocations that would have been made at the regular 20 percent rate is equal to the amount of the decrease to the balance of its RRE Account at the beginning of that calendar year.

The Amended JCE Agreement provides that if the Bank’s RRE Account exceeds 1.5 percent of its Total Consolidated Obligations, the Bank may transfer amounts from its RRE Account to its unrestricted retained earnings account, but only to the extent that the balance of its RRE Account remains at least equal to 1.5 percent of the Bank’s Total Consolidated Obligations immediately following such transfer.

The Amended JCE Agreement further provides that the Bank may not pay dividends out of its RRE Account, nor may it reallocate or transfer amounts out of its RRE Account except as described above. In addition, during periods in which the Bank’s RRE Account is less than one percent of its Total Consolidated Obligations, the Bank may not pay dividends out of the amount of its quarterly net income that is required to be allocated to its RRE Account.

Bank is permitted by statute and regulation to pay dividends only from previously retained earnings or current net earnings, and the payment of dividends is also subject to the terms of the Amended JCE Agreement.

Because the Bank’s returns from net interest income (excluding net prepayment fees on advances) generally track short-term interest rates, the Bank has had a long-standing practice of benchmarkingbenchmarks the dividend rate that it pays on capital stock to the average federal funds rate. In conjunction with the implementation of the changes to the Bank’s Capital Plan, the Bank's Board of Directors adopted new dividend target ranges for the two sub-classes of Class B Stock.a short-term index. While there can be no assurances about future dividends or future dividend rates, the current target for quarterly dividends on Class B-1 Stock is an annualized rate that approximates the average one-month LIBOR rate for the immediately preceding quarter, with the expectation that dividend rates on Class B-1 Stock will not be lower than the recent annualized rate of 0.375 percent on previously outstanding Class B shares.quarter. The current target range for quarterly dividends on Class B-2 Stock is an annualized rate that approximates the average one-month LIBOR rate for the immediately preceding quarter plus 0.5 – 1.0 percent.

The Bank generally pays dividends in the form of capital stock. When dividends are paid, capital stock is issued in full shares and any fractional shares are paid in cash. For a more detailed discussion of the Bank’s dividend policy and the restrictions relating to its payment of dividends, see Item 5 —5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Legislative and Regulatory Developments

Regulatory Oversight

Employees

AHP Assessments

Business Strategy and Outlook

We are subject to significant risks from changes in interest rates because most of our assets and liabilities are financial instruments. Our profitability depends significantly on our net interest income and is impacted by changes in the fair value of interest rate derivatives and any associated hedged items. Changes in interest rates can impact our net interest income as well as the values of our derivatives and certain other assets and liabilities. Changes in overall market interest rates, changes in the relationships between short-term and long-term market interest rates, changes in the relationship between different interest rate indices, or differences in the timing of rate resets for assets and liabilities or related interest rate derivatives with interest rates tied to those indices, can affect the interest rates received from our interest-earning assets differently than those paid on our interest-bearing liabilities. This difference could result in an increase in interest expense relative to interest income, which would result in a decrease in our net interest spread, or a net decrease in earnings related to the relationship between changes in the valuation of our derivatives and any associated hedged items.

Like most financial institutions, our results of operations are significantly affected by our ability to manage interest rate risk. We use a number of tools to monitor and manage interest rate risk, including income simulations and duration/market value sensitivity analyses. Given the unpredictability of the financial markets, capturing all potential outcomes in these analyses is extremely difficult. Key assumptions used in our market value sensitivity analyses include interest rate volatility, mortgage prepayment projections and the future direction of interest rates, among other factors. Key assumptions used in our income simulations include projections of advances volumes and pricing, MPF volumes and pricing, market conditions for our debt, prepayment speeds and cash flows on mortgage-related assets, the level of short-term interest rates, and other factors. These assumptions are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the measures cannot precisely estimate net interest income or the market value of our equity nor can they precisely predict the effect of higher or lower interest rates or changes in other market factors on net interest income or the market value of our equity. Actual results will most likely differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rate changes and changes in market conditions and management strategies, among other factors. Our ability to maintain a positive spread between the interest earned on our earning assets and the interest paid on our interest-bearing liabilities may be affected by the unpredictability of changes in interest rates.

We are subject to credit risk from advances and other extensions of credit to members, non-member borrowers and housing associates (collectively, our customers). Other extensions of credit include letters of credit issued or confirmed on behalf of customers, customers’ credit enhancement obligations associated with MPF loans held in portfolio, and interest rate exchange agreements we enter into with our customers.

We require that all outstanding advances and other extensions of credit to our customers be fully collateralized. We evaluate the types of collateral pledged by our customers and assign a borrowing capacity to the collateral, generally based on either a percentage of its book value or estimated market value. The vast majority of the collateral is assigned a borrowing capacity based on its estimated market value. During economic downturns, the number of our member institutions exhibiting significant financial stress generally increases. If member institutions fail, and if the FDIC (or other receiver, conservator or acquiror) does not promptly repay all of the failed institution’s obligations to us or assume the outstanding extensions of credit, we might be required to liquidate the collateral pledged by the failed institution in order to satisfy its obligations to us. A devaluation of or our inability to liquidate collateral in a timely manner in the event of a default by the obligor could cause us to incur a credit loss and adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

One or more members or borrowers could withdraw their membership or decrease their business levels as a result of a merger with an institution that is not one of our members, or for other reasons, which could lead to a decrease in our total assets and capital.

As the financial services industry has consolidated, acquisitions involving some of our members have resulted in membership withdrawals or business level decreases. Additional acquisitions that lead to similar results are possible, including acquisitions in which the acquired institutions are merged into institutions located outside our district with which we cannot do business. We could also be adversely impacted by the reduction in business volume that would arise from the failure of one or more of our members.

The loss of one or more borrowers that represent a significant proportion of our business, or a significant reduction in the borrowing levels of one or more of these borrowers, could, depending on the magnitude of the impact, cause us to lower dividend rates, raise advances rates, attempt to reduce operating expenses (which could cause a reduction in service levels), or undertake some combination of these actions. The magnitude of the impact would depend, in part, on our size and profitability at the time such institution repays its advances to us.

Our primary business is making advances to our members. We compete with other suppliers of wholesale funding, both secured and unsecured, including investment banks, commercial banks and, in certain circumstances, other FHLBanks. Our members have access to alternative funding sources, which may provide more favorable terms than we do on our advances, including more flexible credit or collateral standards.

The availability to our members of alternative funding sources that are more attractive than the funding products offered by us may significantly decrease the demand for our advances. Any change made by us in the pricing of our advances in an effort to compete more effectively with these competitive funding sources may decrease the profitability on advances. A decrease in the demand for advances or a decrease in our profitability on advances would negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We, and the other ten FHLBanks, currently have the highest credit rating from Moody’s and are rated AA+/A-1+ by S&P. The consolidated obligations issued by the FHLBanks are rated Aaa/P-1 by Moody’s and AA+/A-1+ by S&P. Each of these nationally recognized statistical rating organizationsNRSROs has assigned a stable outlook to its long-term credit rating on the FHLBank System's consolidated obligations and to its long-term rating of each of the FHLBanks.

Pursuant to criteria used by S&P and Moody's, the FHLBank System's debt rating and the credit ratings of the individual FHLBanks are linked closely to the U.S. sovereign credit rating because of the FHLBanks' GSE status. The U.S. government's fiscal challenges could negatively impact the credit rating of the U.S. government, which could in turn result in a downgrade of the rating assigned to us and/or the consolidated obligations of the FHLBank System.