The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, in an effort to resolve an ongoing issue with its capital strength, agreed to provide its regulator with a detailed plan to raise capital. The bank, which in March reported a $161.6m net loss in 2009, was rocked last year with $311.2m of credit-related charges associated with expected losses on private-label mortgage-backed securities (MBS) investments. “As we have previously stated, increasing mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, particularly over the past two years, have adversely impacted the mortgages underlying the Seattle Bank’s private-label MBS,” the bank said in a press statement. “The credit-related charges on these securities are based on the securities’ expected performance over their projected lives, which may span 20 years or more.” In the wake of these MBS-related losses, the bank’s regulator stepped in late last year. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in November classified the bank as “undercapitalized.” As a result of the classification, the bank is unable to repurchase and redeem member stock. In response, the bank submitted a capital restoration plan to resolve the undercapitalized status. The FHFA on Monday requested additional information on its capital restoration plan. In a press release, the regulator said the bank agreed to supplement its original plan. “Although the Bank currently satisfies all existing capital requirements, FHFA determined that the Bank needed to supplement its earlier submissions with a more specific business plan with steps the Bank will take to resume timely repurchases and redemptions of member capital stock and to focus its business on advances supporting housing finance and community development,” the regulator said in an e-mailed statement. The FHFA gave the bank 120 days to submit the requested information. Write to Diana Golobay. Disclosure: the author holds no relevant investments.
Diana Golobay was a reporter with HousingWire through mid-2010, providing wide-ranging coverage of the U.S. financial crisis. She has since moved onto other roles as a writer and editor.see full bio
Most Popular Articles
When will home sales finally return to normal?
Home sales are near 4.2 million, with lock-in preventing about 870,000 sales in 2026 and only about 5.8% decaying annually.
Jun 16, 2026
-
HUD aims to help multi-story manufactured housing go vertical
Jun 18, 2026 -
Aging in place is reshaping housing demand — and most homes aren’t ready
Jun 19, 2026 -
Keys to the housing market for the rest of 2026
Jun 20, 2026 -
UWM, Two Harbors CEOs clash in emails ahead of CCM deal vote
Jun 22, 2026 -
SERHANT. expands into Texas with 13 founding agents
Jun 23, 2026
Latest Articles
Boomer Foster launches Paul Wesley Real Estate brokerage
Boomer Foster launched Paul Wesley Real Estate in April, serving VA, MD and DC, with nearly $250M in production from about 30 agents.
-
Why mortgage rates haven’t followed oil prices by moving lower
-
Mortgage rates move near 6.8% as the potential for a Fed hike grows
-
Builders planned for undersupply, now demand is the swing factor
-
Realtor.com: Investor home purchase activity was stable in 2025
-
Finance of America announces three new hires to drive brand, product alignment
Diana Golobay was a reporter with HousingWire through mid-2010, providing wide-ranging coverage of the U.S. financial crisis. She has since moved onto other roles as a writer and editor.see full bio