1 		 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 		 Washington, D.C. 20549 		 ____________________ x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF 		 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 	 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 				 OR "	 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF 		 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 		 For the transition period from to 		 Commission File Number 33-16789 			 _________________ 	RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 				NEW YORK (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 				36-6878770 		 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 	 2201 Cooperative Way, Herndon, VA 20171-3025 		 (Address of principal executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number, including area code, is 703-709-6700) 			 ___________________ Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 			 Yes X No The Registrant has no common or voting stock. 		 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: 1. Form of Trust Agreement 2. Loan Agreement 3. Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement Exhibit Index located on page 13. 2 Part I Item 3. Legal Proceedings 			None. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 			None. 3 Part II Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder 	Matters 	a) There is no established trading market for the certificates 	 representing ownership of the beneficial interest in the Trust. 	b) As of March 28, 1997 there was one holder of certificates 	 representing ownership of the beneficial interest in the Trust. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 	 See attached audited financial statements. Item 9. Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 	 None. Part III Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 	 None. 4 Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports 	 on Form 8-K a) The following documents are filed as part of this report: 	 1. Financial Statements 		Report of Independent Public Accountants 		Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of 		 December 31, 1996 and 1995 		Statement of Income and Expenses, for the Years Ended 		 December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 		Statement of Cash Flows, for the Years Ended 		 December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 		Notes to Financial Statements 	 2. Financial Statement Schedules are omitted because 		they are inapplicable. 	 3. Exhibits 		 		Exhibit 		Number Description of Exhibit 		 4.1 Form of Trust Agreement, including the form 				of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust 				Certificate (incorporated by reference to 				Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form 				S-1 [No. 33-16789]). 		10.1 Loan Agreement (incorporated by reference 				to Exhibit 10.1 to Registration Statement 				on Form S-1 [No. 33-16789]). 		10.2 Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement 				(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 				to Registration Statement on Form S-1 				[No. 33-16789]). 		b) Form 8-K dated December 17, 1996. 			Semi-annual Report to Certificateholders dated 			December 15, 1995. Supplemental information to be furnished with reports filed pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants which have not registered securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Act. 	No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy 	soliciting material has been sent to Certificateholders, and the 	Registrant does not presently contemplate sending any such material 	subsequent to the filing of this report. 5 	Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the 	Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report 	to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly 	authorized, in the County of Fairfax, Commonwealth of Virginia 	on the 28th day of March, 1997. 	RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988 K-1 	 By: NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE 		 FINANCE CORPORATION as Servicer 		 By: /s/ Sheldon C. Petersen 		 Sheldon C. Petersen, Governor and 			 Chief Executive Officer 			 6 		 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR 			 TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 	 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995, 	 AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 		 TOGETHER WITH AUDITORS' REPORT 7 	 Report of Independent Public Accountants To the Trustee of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust 	(Kepco) 1988-K1, and To the Board of Directors of National Rural Utilities Cooperative 	Finance Corporation: We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Kepco) 1988-K1 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of income and expenses and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Kepco) 1988-K1 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. March 24, 1997 Washington, D. C. 8 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 		 STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 		 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 _____________________________________________________________________ 				 1996 1995 ASSETS Interest Receivable $49,662 $55,378 Note Receivable 6,950,000 7,750,000 Total Assets $6,999,662 $7,805,378 LIABILITIES Interest Payable- Grantor Trust Certificates $48,112 $53,649 Servicer Fees Payable 1,550 1,729 Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificates 6,950,000 7,750,000 Total Liabilities $6,999,662 $7,805,378 	 The accompanying notes are an integral part 		 of these financial statements 9 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 		 STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENSES 	 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 _____________________________________________________________________ 				 1996 1995 1994 INCOME: Interest on note receivable $732,657 $804,470 $867,112 EXPENSES: Interest on grantor trust certificates 709,787 779,358 840,045 Servicer fees 22,870 25,112 27,067 Total Expenses 732,657 804,470 867,112 Net Income $ - $ - $ - 		The accompanying notes are an integral part 		 of these financial statements 10 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 			 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 	 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 _____________________________________________________________________ 				 1996 1995 1994 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Interest received on note receivable $732,657 $804,470 $871,757 Interest paid to Certificateholders (709,787) (779,358) (844,545) Fees paid to Servicer ( 22,870) (25,112) (27,212) Net cash provided by operating activities - - - CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from principal payment on note 800,000 750,000 650,000 Net cash provided from investing activities 800,000 750,000 650,000 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Principal payment to Certificateholders (800,000) (750,000) (650,000) Net cash used in financing activities (800,000) (750,000) (650,000) NET CHANGE IN CASH - - - CASH, beginning of year - - - CASH, end of year $ - $ - $ - ACCRUAL TO CASH BASIS RECONCILIATION: Accrual basis income $ - $ - $ - Change in accrual accounts: Decrease in interest receivable 5,716 5,359 4,645 Decrease in interest payable (5,537) (5,192) (4,500) Decrease in servicer fees payable ( 179) ( 167) ( 145) Total change in accrual accounts - - - Net cash provided by operating activities $ - $ - $ - 		 The accompanying notes are an integral part 			 of these financial statements 11 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988-K1 			 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 		 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS 	Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Kepco) 1988-K1 (the "Trust") 	was formed under a Trust Agreement dated February 15, 1988 among 	National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC"), 	Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (the "Cooperative") and The 	First National Bank of Chicago (the "Trustee"). On that date, CFC 	made a loan to the Cooperative which issued a note (the "Note"), 	evidencing the borrowing, to the Trust. The Trust issued to CFC 	Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Kepco) 9.23% Certificates 	Due 2002 (the "Certificates") in the amount of $11,075,000. 	The Certificates are solely the obligations of the Trust and are not 	insured or guaranteed by CFC, the Cooperative, the Trustee, the 	Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") of the United States Department of 	Agriculture ("USDA") nor any other governmental agency. Each 	Certificate represents an undivided fractional interest in the 	Trust. CFC is the depositor of the Trust and acts as Servicer of 	the Note. CFC filed, on behalf of the Trust, a Registration 	Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-16789) which became 	effective on February 17, 1988, and CFC resold the Certificates 	thereunder. 	The assets of the Trust consist primarily of the Note, bearing 	interest at 9.52% and maturing 2002, which is guaranteed (the 	"Guarantee") as to timely payment of principal and interest by 	the United States of America, acting through the Administrator 	of RUS. The amounts of principal and interest payments on the 	Note held by the Trust are sufficient to cover the scheduled 	principal and interest payments on the Certificates issued by the 	Trust and the scheduled amounts of servicer fees. The General 	Counsel of the USDA has issued an opinion that the Guarantee 	is supported by the full faith and credit of the United States 	of America. 	Debt service and servicer fee payments on the Note are made to 	the Trustee semi-annually (June 4 and December 4) by the Cooperative. 	The Trustee deposits all such receipts in the Trust account. The 	Trustee is authorized by the Trust Agreement to invest all funds 	in the Trust account at the direction of CFC in certain eligible 	investments that mature no later than the business day next preceding 	the day (June 15 and December 15) such amounts are to be distributed 	to the Certificateholders and the Servicer. The interest earned on 	the investments is distributed to the Cooperative. Any funds that 	are not so invested must be held by the Trustee in the Trust account. 	The Trustee may not reinvest any returns of principal or investment 	earnings on eligible investments and the Trustee may not sell any 	eligible investment prior to its maturity except, at the direction 	of CFC, to preserve the value of the corpus of the Trust. 12 	On or before five business days after each date on which payments 	are made on the Certificates, the Trustee is obligated to supply 	the holders of such Certificates a report provided by the Servicer, 	which includes certain pertinent information as to how the payment 	is to be allocated to principal, interest, servicer fees and premium, 	if any, as well as the principal balance outstanding after such 	payment. 	The fiscal year of the Trust is the calendar year. Within the 	prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes, after the 	end of each calendar year during the term of the Trust Agreement, 	the Trustee is obligated to prepare and mail to each 	Certificateholder of record for the Trust, at any time during 	such year, a report setting forth the information as is reasonably 	necessary for the preparation of such Certificateholder's Federal 	income tax return. 	Payments of principal on the Certificates began in 1989 and will 	extend over a period of fourteen years. The principal payments 	over the next 5 years and thereafter are as follows: 		 		1997 $ 900,000 		1998 1,000,000 		1999 1,100,000 		2000 1,200,000 		2001 1,400,000 		Thereafter 1,350,000 	 		Total $6,950,000 	The Certificates are not subject to full redemption prior to 	December 15, 1997. Thereafter, such Certificates are subject to 	optional redemption, for the entire remaining balance and without 	premium, upon redemption or purchase of the related Note. The 	Trust Agreement will terminate after payment in full has been made 	on the Certificates issued thereunder. 2. TAX STATUS OF THE TRUST 	Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, counsel to CFC, has advised CFC 	with respect to the Trust that, in its opinion, (i) the Trust 	will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation, 	but will be classified as a grantor trust and (ii) each 	Certificateholder will be treated for Federal income tax purposes 	as the owner of an undivided fractional interest in each of the 	assets held by the Trust. 	It is expected that the Trust will not have any liability for 	Federal or State income taxes for the current or future years. 13 3. INTEREST AND SERVICER FEE ACCOUNTING 	The Trust records interest income as it is earned and accrues 	interest expense and servicer fees as they are incurred. 	Servicer fees represent ten basis points of the outstanding 	principal balance of the Certificates and the Note and recognition 	of conversion fees over the life of the loan. 4. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 	Use Of Estimates 	 	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 	generally accepted accounting principles requires management 	to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 	amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial 	statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the 	reported period. The estimates involve judgments with respect to, 	among other things, various future factors which are difficult 	to predict and are beyond the control of the Trust. With regards 	to the fair values below, actual amounts could differ from these 	estimates. 	The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial 	instruments is made in accordance with FASB Statement No. 107, 	"Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments." 	Whenever possible, the estimated fair value amounts have been 	determined using quoted market information as of December 31, 1996 	and 1995 along with other valuation methodologies which are 	summarized below. Below is a summary of significant methodologies 	used in estimating fair value amounts and a schedule of fair values 	at December 31, 1996 and 1995. 	The carrying amounts reported for Interest Receivable, Interest 	Payable - Grantor Trust Certificates, and Servicer Fees Payable 	approximate fair values due to the short term maturity of these 	instruments. 	Note Receivable 	Fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows 	using the current rates at which similar loans would be made 	to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same 	remaining maturities. 14 	Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificates 	The fair value of the Certificate is estimated using quoted 	market prices for similar notes over the same remaining maturities. 	The carrying and estimated fair values of the Trust's financial 	instruments as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, are as follows: 						 1996 1995 					 Carrying Fair Carrying Fair 					 Value Value Value Value 	 	Assets: 	Interest Receivable 49,662 49,662 55,378 55,378 	Note Receivable 6,950,000 7,859,577 7,750,000 9,219,658 	Liabilities: 	Interest Payable - 	 Grantor Trust Certificates 48,112 48,112 53,649 53,649 	Servicer Fees Payable 1,729 1,729 1,550 1,550 	Rural Electric Cooperative 	 Grantor Trust Certificates 6,950,000 7,867,658 7,750,000 9,234,648 15 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (KEPCO) 1988 K-1 			 Exhibit Index Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 4.1 Form of Trust Agreement, including the form of Rural 		Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificate 		(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration 		Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-16789]). 10.1 Loan Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 		to Registration Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-16789]). 10.2 Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement (incorporated by 		reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement on 		Form S-1 [No. 33-16789]).