[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 126 (Tuesday, June 30, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39274-39406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11279]



[[Page 39273]]

Vol. 85

Tuesday,

No. 126

June 30, 2020

Part II





Federal Housing Finance Agency





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12 CFR Parts 1206, 1225, and 1240





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight





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12 CFR Part 1750





Enterprise Regulatory Capital Framework; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 126 / Tuesday, June 30, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

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FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

12 CFR Parts 1206, 1225, and 1240

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight

12 CFR Part 1750

RIN 2590-AA95


Enterprise Regulatory Capital Framework

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency; Office of Federal Housing 
Enterprise Oversight.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA or the Agency) is 
seeking comments on a new regulatory capital framework for the Federal 
National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan 
Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac, and with Fannie Mae, each an 
Enterprise). The proposed rule would also make conforming amendments to 
definitions in FHFA's regulations for assessments and minimum capital 
and would also remove the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise 
Oversight's (OFHEO) regulation on capital for the Enterprises.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments on the proposed rule, 
identified by regulatory information number (RIN) 2590-AA95, by any one 
of the following methods:
     Agency Website: www.fhfa.gov/open-for-comment-or-input.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. If you submit your 
comment to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also send it by email 
to FHFA at fhfa.gov">RegComments@fhfa.gov to ensure timely receipt by FHFA. 
Include the following information in the subject line of your 
submission: Comments/RIN 2590-AA95.
     Hand Delivered/Courier: The hand delivery address is: 
Alfred M. Pollard, General Counsel, Attention: Comments/RIN 2590-AA95, 
Federal Housing Finance Agency, Eighth Floor, 400 Seventh Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20219. Deliver the package at the Seventh Street 
entrance Guard Desk, First Floor, on business days between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m.
     U.S. Mail, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, or 
Other Mail Service: The mailing address for comments is: Alfred M. 
Pollard, General Counsel, Attention: Comments/RIN 2590-AA95, Federal 
Housing Finance Agency, Eighth Floor, 400 Seventh Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20219. Please note that all mail sent to FHFA via U.S. 
Mail is routed through a national irradiation facility, a process that 
may delay delivery by approximately two weeks. For any time-sensitive 
correspondence, please plan accordingly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naa Awaa Tagoe, Senior Associate 
Director, Office of Financial Analysis, Modeling & Simulations, (202) 
649-3140, fhfa.gov">NaaAwaa.Tagoe@fhfa.gov; Andrew Varrieur, Associate Director, 
Office of Financial Analysis, Modeling & Simulations, (202) 649-3141, 
fhfa.gov">Andrew.Varrieur@fhfa.gov; or Miriam Smolen, Associate General Counsel, 
Office of General Counsel, (202) 649-3182, fhfa.gov">Miriam.Smolen@fhfa.gov. 
These are not toll-free numbers. The telephone number for the 
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf is (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments

    FHFA invites comments on all aspects of the proposed rule and will 
take all comments into consideration before issuing a final rule. 
Copies of all comments will be posted without change, and will include 
any personal information you provide such as your name, address, email 
address, and telephone number, on the FHFA website at http://www.fhfa.gov. In addition, copies of all comments received will be 
available for examination by the public through the electronic 
rulemaking docket for this proposed rule also located on the FHFA 
website.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Overview of the Proposed Rule
    A. Regulatory Capital Requirements
    B. Capital Buffers
    C. Key Enhancements
    D. Sizing of Regulatory Capital Expectations
    1. Aggregate Regulatory Capital
    2. 2018 Proposal's Capital Requirements
    3. 2008 Financial Crisis Loss Experience
III. Background
    A. Pre-Crisis Regulatory Capital Framework
    B. Lessons of the 2008 Financial Crisis
    1. Capital Adequacy
    2. Going-Concern Standard
    3. High-Quality Capital
    4. Stability of the National Housing Finance Markets
    C. Post-Crisis Changes to Regulatory Capital Frameworks
IV. Rationale for Re-Proposal
    A. Responsibly Ending the Conservatorships
    B. Ensuring Capital Adequacy
    1. Quality of Capital
    2. Quantity of Capital
    C. Addressing Pro-Cyclicality
V. Definitions of Regulatory Capital
    A. Statutory Definitions
    B. Supplemental Definitions
    1. Loss-Absorbing Capacity
    2. Components of Regulatory Capital
    3. Regulatory Adjustments and Deductions
VI. Capital Requirements
    A. Risk-Based Capital Requirements
    1. Supplemental Requirements
    2. Risk-Weighted Assets
    B. Leverage Ratio Requirements
    1. Adjusted Total Assets
    2. Tier 1 Leverage Ratio Requirement
    3. Sizing of the Requirements
    C. Enforcement
VII. Capital Buffers
    A. Prescribed Capital Conservation Buffer Amount (PCCBA)
    1. Stress Capital Buffer
    2. Countercyclical Capital Buffer
    3. Stability Capital Buffer
    B. Leverage Buffer
    C. Payout Restrictions
VIII. Credit Risk Capital: Standardized Approach
    A. Single-Family Mortgage Exposures
    1. Single-Family Business Models
    2. Calibration Framework
    3. Base Risk Weights
    4. Countercyclical Adjustment
    5. Risk Multipliers
    6. Credit Enhancement Multipliers
    7. Minimum Adjusted Risk Weight
    B. Multifamily Mortgage Exposures
    1. Multifamily Business Models
    2. Calibration Framework
    3. Base Risk Weights
    4. Countercyclical Adjustment
    5. Risk Multipliers
    6. Minimum Adjusted Risk Weight
    C. CRT and Other Securitization Exposures
    1. Background
    2. PLS and Other Non-CRT Securitization Exposures
    3. Retained CRT Exposures
    D. Other Exposures
    1. Commitments and Other Off-Balance Sheet Exposures
    2. Exposures to Sovereigns
    3. Crossholdings of Enterprise MBS
    4. Corporate Exposures
    5. OTC Derivative Contracts
    6. Cleared Transactions
    7. Credit Risk Mitigation
IX. Credit Risk Capital: Advanced Approach
X. Market Risk Capital
    A. Standardized Approach
    1. Single Point Approach
    2. Spread Duration Approach
    3. Internal Models Approach
    B. Advanced Approach
    C. Market Risk Management
XI. Operational Risk Capital
XII. Impact of the Enterprise Capital Rule
    A. Enterprise-Wide
    B. Single-Family Business
    C. Multifamily Business
    D. Other Assets
XIII. Comparisons to the U.S. Banking Framework

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XIV. Compliance Period
XV. Temporary Increases of Minimum Capital Requirements and Other 
Conforming Amendments
XVI. Paperwork Reduction Act
XVII. Regulatory Flexibility Act
XVIII. Proposed Rule

I. Introduction

    FHFA is seeking comments on a new regulatory capital framework for 
the Enterprises. This notice of proposed rulemaking (proposed rule) is 
a re-proposal of the regulatory capital framework set forth in the 
notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on July 
17, 2018 (2018 proposal).\1\ The 2018 proposal, which remains the 
foundation of the proposed rule, contemplated risk-based capital 
requirements based on a granular assessment of credit risk specific to 
different mortgage loan categories, as well as two alternatives for an 
updated leverage ratio requirement. With this re-proposal, FHFA is 
proposing enhancements to establish a post-conservatorship regulatory 
capital framework that ensures that each Enterprise operates in a safe 
and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission to 
provide stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary mortgage 
market across the economic cycle, in particular during periods of 
financial stress.\2\
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    \1\ FHFA Enterprise Capital Requirements, 83 FR 33312 (Jul. 17, 
2018).
    \2\ Other enhancements to the Enterprises' supervisory and 
regulatory framework might also be necessary, for example with 
respect to the Enterprises' liquidity risk management.
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    Pursuant to the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
Soundness Act of 1992 \3\ (Safety and Soundness Act), as amended by the 
Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 \4\ (HERA), the FHFA 
Director's principal duties include, among other duties, ensuring that 
each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner, that the 
operations and activities of each Enterprise foster liquid, efficient, 
competitive, and resilient national housing finance markets, and that 
each Enterprise carries out its statutory mission only through 
activities that are authorized under and consistent with the Safety and 
Soundness Act and its charter.\5\ Pursuant to their charters, the 
statutory purposes of the Enterprises are, among other purposes, to 
provide stability in, and ongoing assistance to, the secondary market 
for residential mortgages.\6\ Consistent with these statutory duties 
and purposes, FHFA's enhancements contemplated by the proposed rule are 
intended to achieve three primary objectives:
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    \3\ Public Law 102-550, 106 Stat. 3941 (1992).
    \4\ Public Law 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008).
    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 4513(a)(1).
    \6\ Id. sections 1451 note, 1716.
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     Preserve the mortgage risk-sensitive framework of the 2018 
proposal, with simplifications and refinements;
     Increase the quantity and quality of the regulatory 
capital of the Enterprises to ensure that, during and after 
conservatorship, each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner 
and is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission to provide stability 
and ongoing assistance to the secondary mortgage market across the 
economic cycle; and
     Address the pro-cyclicality of the risk-based capital 
requirements of the 2018 proposal, also in furtherance of the safety 
and soundness of the Enterprises and their countercyclical mission.
    FHFA believes it is important to re-propose the regulatory capital 
framework to afford interested parties an opportunity to comment on the 
enhancements contemplated by the proposed rule in its entirety in light 
of FHFA's intent to responsibly end the conservatorships of the 
Enterprises. This policy change is a departure from FHFA's stated 
policy at the time of the 2018 proposal, when the prospects for 
indefinite conservatorships might have informed the expectations of 
interested parties, their decision to comment, and the nature of 
comments submitted. Despite this, the comments received on the 2018 
proposal were valuable and important. FHFA emphasizes that the purpose 
of the proposed rule is to establish a regulatory capital framework 
that ensures the safety and soundness of each Enterprise and its 
ability to fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle.

II. Overview of the Proposed Rule

A. Regulatory Capital Requirements

    In response to the comments and feedback on the 2018 proposal and 
in furtherance of FHFA's stated objectives, the regulatory capital 
framework contemplated by the proposed rule would require each 
Enterprise to maintain the following risk-based capital:
     Total capital not less than 8.0 percent of risk-weighted 
assets, determined as described below;
     Adjusted total capital not less than 8.0 percent of risk-
weighted assets;
     Tier 1 capital not less than 6.0 percent of risk-weighted 
assets; and
     Common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital not less than 4.5 
percent of risk-weighted assets.
    Each Enterprise also would be required to satisfy the following 
leverage ratios:
     Core capital not less than 2.5 percent of adjusted total 
assets; and
     Tier 1 capital not less than 2.5 percent of adjusted total 
assets.
    Adjusted total assets would be defined as total assets under 
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), with adjustments to 
include certain off-balance sheet exposures. Total capital and core 
capital would have the meaning given in the Safety and Soundness Act. 
Adjusted total capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 capital would be 
defined based on the definitions of total capital, tier 1 capital, and 
CET1 capital set forth in the regulatory capital framework (the Basel 
framework) developed by the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision (BCBS) 
that is the basis for the United States banking regulators' regulatory 
capital framework (U.S. banking framework). These supplemental 
regulatory capital definitions would fill certain gaps in the statutory 
definitions of core capital and total capital by making customary 
deductions and other adjustments for certain deferred tax assets 
(DTAs), goodwill, intangibles, and other assets that tend to have less 
loss-absorbing capacity during a financial stress.
    To calculate its risk-based capital requirements, an Enterprise 
would determine its risk-weighted assets under two approaches--a 
standardized approach and an advanced approach--with the greater of the 
two used to determine its risk-based capital requirements. Under both 
approaches, an Enterprise's risk-weighted assets would equal the sum of 
its credit risk-weighted assets, market risk-weighted assets, and 
operational risk-weighted assets.
    Under the standardized approach, the credit risk-weighted assets 
for mortgage loans secured by 1-4 unit residences (single-family 
mortgage exposures) and mortgage loans secured by five or more unit 
residences (multifamily mortgage exposures) would be determined using 
lookup grids and multipliers that assign an exposure-specific risk 
weight based on the risk characteristics of the mortgage exposure. The 
underlying exposure-specific credit risk capital requirements generally 
would be similar to those in the grids and multipliers of the 2018 
proposal, subject to some simplifications and refinements discussed in 
Sections VIII.A and VIII.B.\7\
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    \7\ This base risk weight would be equal to the unadjusted 
credit risk capital requirement for the mortgage exposure expressed 
in basis points and divided by 800, which is the 8.0 percent 
adjusted total capital requirement also expressed in basis points. 
For example, the credit risk capital requirement for a mortgage 
exposure with a base risk weight of 50 percent would be 400 basis 
points (800 multiplied by 50 percent).

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    Like the 2018 proposal, the base risk weight would be a function of 
the mortgage exposure's loan-to-value (LTV) ratio with the property 
value generally marked to market (MTMLTV). For single-family mortgage 
exposures, the MTMLTV would be subject to a countercyclical adjustment 
to the extent that national house prices are 5.0 percent greater or 
less than an inflation-adjusted long-term trend. For both single-family 
and multifamily mortgage exposures, this base risk weight would then be 
adjusted to reflect additional risk attributes of the mortgage exposure 
and any loan-level credit enhancement, with the associated risk 
multipliers also generally similar to those of the 2018 proposal. To 
ensure an appropriate level of capital, this adjusted risk weight would 
be subject to a minimum floor of 15 percent.
    As of September 30, 2019, under the proposed rule's standardized 
approach, the Enterprises' average risk weight for single-family 
mortgage exposures would have been 26 percent, and the Enterprises' 
average risk weight for multifamily mortgage exposures would have been 
51 percent.\8\ The average risk weights for single-family and 
multifamily mortgage exposures originated and acquired by an Enterprise 
in the previous six months would have been approximately 36 percent and 
67 percent, respectively.\9\
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    \8\ These average risk weights are determined based on the 
credit risk capital requirement for single-family and multifamily 
mortgage exposures after adjustments for mortgage insurance and 
other loan-level credit enhancement but before any adjustment for 
credit risk transfers.
    \9\ While not shown, new originations are a subset of the 
mortgage exposures included in Tables 26 and 29.
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    While the standardized approach would utilize FHFA-prescribed 
lookup grids and risk multipliers, the advanced approach for credit 
risk-weighted assets would rely on each Enterprise's internal models. 
The advanced approach requirements would require each Enterprise to 
maintain its own processes for identifying and assessing credit risk, 
market risk, and operational risk. These requirements should ensure 
that each Enterprise continues to enhance its risk management system 
and also that neither Enterprise simply relies on the standardized 
approach's lookup grids and multipliers to define credit risk 
tolerances, measure its credit risk, or allocate capital. In the course 
of FHFA's supervision of each Enterprise's internal models for credit 
risk, FHFA also could identify opportunities to update or otherwise 
enhance the standardized approach's lookup grids and multipliers in a 
future rulemaking.
    Under both the standardized and advanced approaches, an Enterprise 
would determine the capital treatment for eligible credit risk 
transfers (CRT) under a securitization framework by assigning risk 
weights to retained CRT exposures. Under the standardized approach, 
tranche-specific risk weights would be subject to a 10 percent floor. 
The proposed rule seeks comment on two approaches to determining the 
risk-weighted assets for retained CRT exposures, one of which 
contemplates adjustments to the exposure amounts of the retained CRT 
exposures to reflect counterparty risk, loss timing risk, and a general 
adjustment for the differences between CRT and regulatory capital, and 
the other of which is based on the U.S. banking framework.
    Each Enterprise also would determine a market risk capital 
requirement for spread risk. Market risks other than spread risk would 
not be assigned a market risk capital requirement, but FHFA is seeking 
comment on more comprehensive approaches. Under the standardized 
approach, an Enterprise would determine its market risk-weighted assets 
using FHFA-specified formulas for some covered positions and its own 
models for other covered positions. An Enterprise would separately 
determine its market risk-weighted assets under an advanced approach 
that relies only on its own internal models for all covered positions.
    The proposed rule also would require each Enterprise to determine 
its operational risk capital requirement utilizing the U.S. banking 
framework's advanced measurement approach, subject to a floor equal to 
15 basis points of the Enterprise's adjusted total assets.
    Each of these risk-based and leverage ratio requirements would be 
enforceable by FHFA under its general authority to order an Enterprise 
to cease and desist from a violation of law, which would include the 
proposed rule and its regulatory capital requirements. Pursuant to that 
authority, FHFA may require an Enterprise to develop and implement a 
capital restoration plan or take other appropriate corrective action. 
FHFA also could elect to enforce the risk-based and leverage ratio 
requirements pursuant to its authority to require an Enterprise to 
develop a plan to achieve compliance with prescribed prudential 
management and operational standards, and FHFA also could enforce the 
core capital leverage ratio requirement or the risk-based total capital 
requirement pursuant to its separate authority to require prompt 
corrective action if an Enterprise fails to maintain certain prescribed 
regulatory levels.

B. Capital Buffers

    To avoid limits on capital distributions and discretionary bonus 
payments, an Enterprise would have to maintain regulatory capital that 
exceeds each of its adjusted total capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 
capital requirements by at least the amount of its prescribed capital 
conservation buffer amount (PCCBA). That PCCBA would consist of three 
separate component buffers--a stress capital buffer, a countercyclical 
capital buffer, and a stability capital buffer.
     The stress capital buffer would be 0.75 percent of the 
Enterprise's adjusted total assets, with this buffer in effect 
replacing the 2018 proposal's going-concern buffer. The 2018 proposal's 
going-concern buffer was a part of the Enterprise's total capital 
requirement, such that an Enterprise would be subject to enforcement 
action if it drew down this going-concern buffer. In contrast, under 
the proposed rule, drawing down the stress capital buffer generally 
would trigger only limits on capital distributions and discretionary 
bonus payments. By prescribing less severe sanctions for drawing down 
this buffer during a period of financial stress, the proposed rule's 
approach should help position an Enterprise to fulfill its statutory 
mission across the economic cycle and also dampen the pro-cyclicality 
of the aggregate risk-based capital requirements. FHFA is also seeking 
comment on whether to periodically re-size the stress capital buffer, 
similar to the approach recently adopted by the U.S. banking 
regulators,\10\ to the extent that FHFA's eventual program for 
supervisory stress tests determines that an Enterprise's peak capital 
exhaustion under a severely adverse stress would exceed 0.75 percent of 
adjusted total assets.
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    \10\ See e.g. Federal Reserve Board Regulations Q, Y, and YY: 
Regulatory Capital, Capital Plan, and Stress Test Rules Final Rule, 
85 FR 15576 (Mar. 18, 2020).
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     The countercyclical capital buffer amount initially would 
be set at 0 percent of the Enterprise's adjusted total assets. FHFA 
does not expect to adjust this buffer in the place of, or to 
supplement, the countercyclical adjustment to the risk-based capital 
requirements. Instead, as under the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks, 
FHFA would adjust the countercyclical capital buffer taking into 
account the macro-financial environment in which the Enterprises 
operate, such that it

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would be deployed only when excess aggregate credit growth is judged to 
be associated with a build-up of system-wide risk. This focus on excess 
aggregate credit growth means the countercyclical buffer likely would 
be deployed on an infrequent basis, and generally only when similar 
buffers are deployed by the U.S. banking regulators.
     An Enterprise's stability capital buffer would be tailored 
to the risk that the Enterprise's default or other financial distress 
could have on the liquidity, efficiency, competitiveness, or resiliency 
of national housing finance markets. FHFA is proposing a stability 
capital buffer based on the Enterprise's share of residential mortgage 
debt outstanding, and seeking comment on an alternative based on the 
U.S. banking framework's methodology. Under either methodology, the 
stability capital buffer would be a percent of adjusted total assets. 
Under the market share approach, as of September 30, 2019, Freddie 
Mac's and Fannie Mae's stability capital buffers would have been, 
respectively, 0.64 and 1.05 percent of adjusted total assets.
    Fixing the PCCBA at a specified percent of an Enterprise's adjusted 
total assets, instead of risk-weighted assets, is a notable departure 
from the Basel framework. FHFA intends a fixed-percent PCCBA, among 
other things, to reduce the impact that the PCCBA potentially could 
have on higher risk exposures, to avoid amplifying the secondary 
effects of any model or similar risks inherent to the calibration of 
granular risk weights for mortgage exposures, and to further mitigate 
the pro-cyclicality of the aggregate risk-based capital requirements.
    Finally, to avoid limits on capital distributions and discretionary 
bonus payments, the Enterprise also would be required to maintain tier 
1 capital in excess of the amount required under its tier 1 leverage 
ratio requirement by at least the amount of its prescribed leverage 
buffer amount (PLBA). The PLBA would equal 1.5 percent of the 
Enterprise's adjusted total assets, such that the PLBA-adjusted 
leverage ratio requirement would remain a credible backstop to the 
PCCBA-adjusted risk-based capital requirements.

C. Key Enhancements

    The proposed rule contemplates a number of key enhancements to the 
2018 proposal, including:
     Simplifications and refinements of the grids and risk 
multipliers for the credit risk capital requirements for single-family 
mortgage exposures, including removal of the single-family risk 
multipliers for loan balance and the number of borrowers.
     A countercyclical adjustment to the credit risk capital 
requirements for single-family mortgage exposures.
     A prudential floor on the credit risk capital requirement 
for mortgage exposures.
     Refinements to the capital treatment of CRT structures, 
including a minimum capital requirement on senior tranches of CRT 
retained by an Enterprise and an adjustment to reflect that CRT does 
not have the same loss-absorbing capacity as equity capital.
     The addition of a credit risk capital requirement for 
Enterprise crossholdings of mortgage-backed securities (MBS).
     Risk-based capital requirements for a number of other 
exposures not explicitly addressed by the 2018 proposal.
     Supplemental capital requirements based on the Basel 
framework's definitions of total capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 
capital.
     Capital buffers that would subject an Enterprise to 
increasing limits on capital distributions and discretionary bonus 
payments to the extent that its regulatory capital falls below the 
prescribed buffer amounts.
     A stability capital buffer tailored to the risk that an 
Enterprise's default or other financial distress could have on the 
liquidity, efficiency, competitiveness, and resiliency of national 
housing finance markets.
     A revised method for determining operational risk capital 
requirements, as well as a higher floor.
     A requirement that each Enterprise maintain internal 
models for determining its own estimates of risk-based capital 
requirements.

D. Sizing of Regulatory Capital Expectations

1. Aggregate Regulatory Capital
    Table 1 details how much regulatory capital the Enterprises 
together would have been required to maintain under the proposed rule 
as of September 30, 2019 to avoid restrictions on capital distributions 
and discretionary bonus payments.\11\
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    \11\ The analogous breakdown of requirements by Enterprise is 
included in Section XII.A.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.000

    Table 1 shows a combined Enterprise statutory total risk-based 
capital requirement of $135 billion (8 percent of risk-weighted 
assets). The statutory risk-based capital framework does not include 
any capital buffers. In contrast, the supplementary risk-based capital 
framework includes three capital requirements (CET1, tier 1, and 
adjusted total capital) along with three capital buffers 
(countercyclical, stress capital, and stability) that comprise the 
PCCBA. While the capital buffers are not strictly a capital 
requirement, they would materially increase the regulatory capital that 
each Enterprise would have to maintain to avoid restrictions on capital 
distributions and discretionary bonuses.
    Focusing on high-quality capital, the combined Enterprise CET1 
capital requirement was $76 billion (4.5 percent of risk-weighted 
assets), the tier 1 capital requirement was $101 billion (6 percent of 
risk-weighted assets), and the adjusted total capital requirement was 
$135 billion (8 percent of risk-weighted assets). The combined PCCBA 
was $99 billion, comprising the $46 billion stress capital buffer, $53 
billion stability capital buffer, and $0 countercyclical capital 
buffer. The capital requirements and PCCBA totaled $175 billion for 
CET1 capital, $200 billion for tier 1 capital, and $234 billion for 
adjusted total capital. A more nuanced look at the importance of high-
quality capital, and specifically how the Enterprises' supplemental 
capital measures would have evolved in relation to their statutory 
capital measures leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, is included 
in Section III.B.3.
    Table 1 then shows a combined leverage ratio requirement of $152 
billion under the proposed rule. Both the core capital and 
supplementary tier 1 leverage ratio requirements are equal to 2.5 
percent of adjusted total assets, so there is no difference between the 
two leverage ratio requirements. However, there are important 
differences between core capital and tier 1 capital related to the 
loss-absorbing capacity of each capital metric, as discussed in Section 
V.B.
    The supplementary framework also includes a tier 1 capital PLBA 
equal to 1.5 percent of adjusted total assets, or $91 billion for the 
Enterprises combined. In aggregate, the Enterprises' combined tier 1 
leverage ratio requirement and PLBA would have been $243 billion as of 
September 30, 2019.
2. 2018 Proposal's Capital Requirements
    Table 2 presents estimates of the Enterprises' combined regulatory 
capital under the proposed rule broken out by risk category and asset 
category as of September 30, 2019. Table 2 also presents estimates of 
the Enterprises' combined capital requirements under the 2018 proposal, 
both as of September 30, 2017--the as-of date in the 2018 proposal--and 
as of September 30, 2019.\12\
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    \12\ A more detailed walk-forward from the capital requirements 
in the 2018 proposal to the capital requirements under the proposed 
rule is presented for each Enterprise in Section XII.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.001

    Table 2 shows an estimated combined risk-based capital requirement 
of $135.1 billion, or 2.22 percent of the Enterprises' adjusted total 
assets, under the proposed rule as of September 30, 2019, then provides 
a further breakdown by risk category. Net credit risk capital accounts 
for $134.9 billion before CRT and $112.8 billion after CRT, market risk 
capital accounts for $13.6 billion, and operational risk capital 
accounts for $8.7 billion. The DTA requirement is zero as of September 
30, 2019.
    Using the same September 30, 2019 portfolio date, the combined 
risk-based capital requirement under the 2018 proposal would have been 
similar to the combined risk-based capital requirement under the 
proposed rule. The differences in required regulatory capital between 
the two proposals are in post-CRT net credit risk capital (+45.0 
billion), removal of the going-concern buffer (-$43.5 billion), 
operational risk (+$4.1 billion), and DTA (-$7.4 billion). The capital 
requirement for market risk was unchanged. Primary drivers of the $45.0 
billion increase in post-CRT net credit risk capital are a new 
prudential floor on the credit risk capital requirement for mortgage 
exposures and refinements to the capital treatment of CRT structures, 
including a minimum capital requirement on senior tranches of CRT 
retained by an Enterprise. A caveat to this comparison is that the 2018 
proposal increased the total capital requirement by a DTA offset, while 
the proposed rule, consistent with the Basel framework, proposes 
instead to deduct the amount of that DTA offset from CET1 capital (and 
therefore tier 1 and adjusted total capital). The 2018 proposal's 
$136.9 billion combined risk-based capital requirement would have been, 
in effect, $129.5 billion under the DTA approach of the proposed rule.
    In contrast to the 2018 proposal, the proposed rule includes a set 
of three buffers that would materially increase the regulatory capital 
that each Enterprise would have to maintain to avoid restrictions on 
capital distributions and discretionary bonuses. The proposed rule's 
stress capital buffer of $45.5 billion replaces the 2018 proposal's 
$43.5 billion going-concern buffer, and is complemented by the 
stability capital buffer of $53.3 billion and the countercyclical 
capital buffer that is currently set to zero. The three buffers in 
aggregate form the PCCBA, which totals $98.8 billion for the 
Enterprises combined, or 1.63 percent of the adjusted total assets. The 
aggregate risk-based capital requirement and PCCBA is a combined $234.3 
billion under the proposed rule, or 3.86 percent of the Enterprises' 
adjusted total assets.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.002

    Table 3 again shows an estimated combined risk-based capital 
requirement of $135.1 billion, or 2.22 percent of the Enterprises' 
adjusted total assets under the proposed rule as of September 30, 2019, 
then provides a further breakdown by asset category. The Enterprises' 
combined risk-based capital requirement for single-family mortgage 
exposures is $111.0 billion under the proposed rule, while the combined 
risk-based capital requirement for multifamily mortgage exposures is 
$17.8 billion. In addition, the combined risk-based capital 
requirements for DTA and other assets under the proposed rule is zero 
and $6.3 billion, respectively.
    Excluding the going-concern buffer, which was a capital requirement 
in the 2018 proposal but has been replaced by the stress capital buffer 
in the proposed rule, the combined risk-based capital requirements 
under the 2018 proposal for the single-family and multifamily 
businesses were $67.8 billion and $12.2 billion, respectively, as of 
September 30, 2019. As discussed above and shown in Table 3, the 
enhancements in the proposed rule would have increased the required 
capital for single-family assets and multifamily assets by $43.2 
billion and $5.6 billion, respectively. Similarly, the risk-based 
capital requirement for other assets has increased by $0.2 billion. 
Finally, the risk-based capital requirement for DTA decreased by $7.4 
billion in the proposed rule due to its new capital treatment.
    The pro-cyclicality of the 2018 proposal's risk-based capital 
requirements complicates comparisons to the proposed rule. Under the 
2018 proposal, the Enterprises would have likely found it necessary to 
maintain a considerable capital surplus in anticipation of a financial 
stress. One Enterprise's comment letter suggested that its total 
capital requirement would be expected to increase as much as 80

[[Page 39281]]

percent in a severely adverse stress.\13\ The amount of this managerial 
cushion would have depended on the extent to which the Enterprises 
viewed it to be potentially costly or difficult to raise new capital in 
the midst of a financial stress.\14\ The 2018 proposal's enforcement 
framework amplified the necessity of a managerial cushion by 
incorporating the going-concern buffer into the capital requirements, a 
violation of which could trigger significant regulatory sanctions. In 
contrast, the proposed rule converts the going-concern buffer into a 
stress capital buffer that an Enterprise may draw down during a period 
of financial stress. Because a managerial cushion in anticipation of an 
eventual stress would have been a practical, if not legal, necessity 
for the Enterprises, comparisons to the 2018 proposal should start with 
a reasonable assumption regarding the amount of this capital 
surplus.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See Comment Letter from Fannie Mae at 2 (Nov. 15, 2018).
    \14\ Id. at 2 (``To ensure adequate capital in such a scenario, 
any Regulated Institution would need to hold a sizeable capital 
surplus during more normal economic environments. The need for such 
a surplus is real, because consistent with their mission, the 
Regulated Institutions must maintain a constant presence in the 
housing market and would want to avoid being forced to raise capital 
in times of stress.'').
    \15\ On the one hand, the managerial cushion likely to be held 
by an Enterprise to mitigate the problem of having to raise 
regulatory capital in a period of financial stress could be 
considered a mitigant to safety and soundness risk. On the other 
hand, significant reductions in credit risk capital requirements due 
to sustained periods of house price growth and favorable economic 
conditions could contribute to safety and soundness risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FHFA is cognizant that the leverage ratio requirements would 
currently exceed the risk-based capital requirements. FHFA has settled 
on this calibration of the leverage ratio requirements after 
considerable deliberation. The leverage ratio requirements are intended 
to serve as non-risk-based measures that provide a credible backstop to 
the risk-based capital requirements to safeguard against model risk and 
measurement error with a simple, transparent, independent measure of 
risk. The leverage ratio requirements would have the added benefit of 
dampening some of the pro-cyclicality inherent in the risk-based 
capital requirements. As discussed in Section VI.B.3, FHFA has sized 
the leverage ratio requirements to be a credible backstop to the risk-
based capital requirements, taking into account considerations relating 
to the Enterprises' historical loss experiences, the model and related 
risks posed by the calibration of the risk-based capital requirements, 
and the analogous leverage ratio requirements under the U.S. banking 
framework and of the Federal Home Loan Banks. If the leverage ratio 
requirements are to be a credible backstop, there will inevitably be 
periods when leverage ratio requirements require more regulatory 
capital than the risk-based capital requirements, as is the case as of 
September 30, 2019. FHFA believes that mortgage market conditions as of 
September 30, 2019 reflect circumstances consistent with a period under 
which a credible leverage ratio would be binding, given the exceptional 
single-family house price appreciation since 2012, the unemployment 
rate at an historically low level, the strong credit performance of 
mortgage exposures as of that time, the significant progress by the 
Enterprises to materially reduce legacy exposure to non-performing 
loans (NPLs) and re-performing loans, robust CRT market access enabling 
substantial risk transfer, and the generally strong condition of key 
counterparties, such as mortgage insurers.
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    \16\ In 2008, the entire net worth of both Enterprises was 
depleted by losses. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury 
Department) invested in senior preferred stock of both Enterprises 
to offset the losses. Fannie Mae drew $116 billion from the Treasury 
between 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2011, while Freddie Mac drew 
$71 billion between 2008 and the first quarter of 2012.
    \17\ Peak cumulative capital losses are defined as cumulative 
losses, net of revenues earned, between 2008 and the respective date 
at which an Enterprise no longer required draws under the PSPA.
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3. 2008 Financial Crisis Loss Experience \16\
    This section examines the peak cumulative capital losses of each 
Enterprise relative to several different regulatory capital metrics: 
The statutory risk-based and leverage ratio requirements applicable to 
the Enterprise in 2007; the aggregate risk-based capital (requirement 
plus the PCCBA) under the proposed rule but without the contemplated 
single-family countercyclical adjustment; and the aggregate leverage 
capital (requirement plus the PLBA) under the proposed rule but without 
the contemplated single-family countercyclical adjustment.\17\ As 
discussed in Section IV.B.2, under the 2018 proposal, Fannie Mae's and 
Freddie Mac's peak losses would have left, respectively, only $3 
billion and $12 billion in remaining capital, not enough to have 
sustained the market confidence necessary for either Enterprise to 
continue as a going concern.

[[Page 39282]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.003

    Table 4 shows that as of December 31, 2007, Fannie Mae's statutory 
risk-based capital requirement was $25 billion, or 0.8 percent of 
adjusted total assets. The Enterprise's statutory minimum leverage 
ratio requirement was $42 billion, or 1.4 percent of adjusted total 
assets. For comparison, as of the same date, Fannie Mae's proposed 
risk-based measures (adjusted total capital requirement plus PCCBA) 
would have been $209 billion or 6.9 percent of adjusted total assets, 
and the proposed leverage measures (leverage ratio requirement plus 
PLBA) would have been $122 billion or 4.0 percent of adjusted total 
assets. While the leverage measure would have fallen $45 billion short 
of Fannie Mae's peak cumulative capital losses of $167 billion (5.5 
percent of adjusted total assets), the proposed risk-based measures 
would have exceeded those peak losses by $42 billion. These comparisons 
are subject to the caveat that Fannie Mae's $167 billion in peak 
cumulative capital losses include a valuation allowance on DTAs of $64 
billion. Because much of Fannie Mae's DTAs would have been deducted 
from adjusted total capital and tier 1 capital, the adjusted total 
capital and tier 1 capital that actually would have been exhausted 
during the 2008 financial crisis would have been considerably less than 
the $167 billion in peak cumulative capital losses reflected in Table 
4.

[[Page 39283]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.004

    Table 5 shows that as of December 31, 2007, Freddie Mac's statutory 
risk-based capital requirement was $14 billion, or 0.6 percent of 
adjusted total assets. The Enterprise's statutory minimum leverage 
ratio requirement was $34 billion, or 1.6 percent of adjusted total 
assets. For comparison, as of the same date, Freddie Mac's proposed 
risk-based measures (adjusted total capital requirement plus PCCBA) 
would have been $128 billion or 5.9 percent of adjusted total assets, 
and the proposed leverage measures (leverage ratio requirement plus 
PLBA) would have been $87 billion or 4.0 percent of adjusted total 
assets. While the leverage measure would have fallen $11 billion short 
of Freddie Mac's peak cumulative capital losses of $98 billion (4.5 
percent of adjusted total assets), the proposed risk-based measures 
would have exceeded those peak losses by $30 billion. These comparisons 
are subject to the caveat that Freddie Mac's $98 billion in peak 
cumulative capital losses include a valuation allowance on DTAs of $34 
billion. Because much of Freddie Mac's DTAs would have been deducted 
from adjusted total capital and tier 1 capital, the adjusted total 
capital and tier 1 capital that actually would have been exhausted 
during the 2008 financial crisis would have been considerably less than 
the $98 billion in peak cumulative capital losses reflected in Table 5.
    As discussed in Section VIII.A.4, FHFA is proposing that the base 
risk weights for single-family mortgage exposures would be subject to a 
countercyclical adjustment due to MTMLTV adjustments an Enterprise 
would be required to make when national house prices deviate by more 
than 5.0 percent above or below an estimated inflation-adjusted long-
term trend. It is important to note that any additional regulatory 
capital that would have been required under the proposed single-family 
countercyclical adjustment is not included in the estimates of 
regulatory capital in either Tables 4 or 5. Looking back, it is likely 
that, given the considerable house price appreciation in the decade 
before the financial crisis, this countercyclical adjustment would have 
been in effect as of December 31, 2007. However, there are too many 
unknowns to quantify with any reasonable degree of certainty what that 
effect would have been, how the Enterprises' actions might have changed 
because of it, and how changes in the actions of the Enterprises might 
have affected the overall market. Therefore, FHFA is presenting the 
estimates without including a countercyclical adjustment, and 
acknowledging that with the countercyclical adjustment in place, the 
Enterprises would likely have had an even larger capital surplus 
relative to their peak cumulative capital losses than is presented in 
Tables 4 and 5.

III. Background

A. Pre-Crisis Regulatory Capital Framework

    The Safety and Soundness Act established FHFA's predecessor agency, 
the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), as the 
safety and soundness regulator of the Enterprises. As originally 
enacted, the Safety and Soundness Act specified a minimum capital 
requirement for the Enterprises

[[Page 39284]]

in the form of a leverage ratio requirement set in statute at an amount 
equal to the sum of 2.5 percent of on-balance sheet assets and 0.45 
percent of credit guarantees of MBS held by outside investors. OFHEO 
did not have the authority to adjust this minimum capital requirement.
    The Safety and Soundness Act also required OFHEO to establish by 
regulation a risk-based capital stress test such that each Enterprise 
could survive a ten-year period with credit losses arising out of a 
prolonged regional stress \18\ and large movements in interest 
rates.\19\ Over a 7-year period, OFHEO issued a series of Federal 
Register notices to solicit public comments on the risk-based capital 
stress test regulation, eventually finalizing the rule in 2001. The 
final risk-based capital requirements, however, had little practical 
impact. The capital required under the statutory leverage ratio 
requirement consistently exceeded the capital required under OFHEO's 
risk-based regulation, in large part due to the prescriptive 
restrictions imposed by statute on the underlying stress scenario and 
also due to model risk-related failures to update the underlying data 
and model calibrations.\20\ This pre-crisis regulatory capital 
framework would soon prove inadequate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The statutory stress scenarios contemplated a period in 
which ``losses occur throughout the United States at a rate of 
default and severity (based on any measurements of default 
reasonably related to prevailing practice for that industry in 
determining capital adequacy) reasonably related to the rate and 
severity that occurred in contiguous areas of the United States 
containing an aggregate of not less than 5 percent of the total 
population of the United States that, for a period of not less than 
2 years, experienced the highest rates of default and severity of 
mortgage losses, in comparison with such rates of default and 
severity of mortgage losses in other such areas for any period of 
such duration.'' Safety and Soundness Act section 1361(a) (as in 
effect before amended by HERA).
    \19\ The statutory stress scenarios contemplated two periods: 
(i) A period in which the 10-year Treasury yield decreased to the 
lesser of 600 basis points below the average yield during the 
preceding 9 months or 60 percent of the average yield during the 
preceding three years; and (ii) a period in which the 10-year 
Treasury yield increased to the greater of 600 basis points above 
the average yield during the preceding 9 months or 160 percent of 
the average yield during the preceding three years. Id.
    \20\ See W. Scott Frame et al, The Failure of Supervisory Stress 
Testing: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and OFHEO (Working Paper 2015-3) 
at 3, available at https://www.frbatlanta.org/-/media/documents/research/publications/wp/2015/03.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Lessons of the 2008 Financial Crisis

    Starting in 2006, house prices in some regional markets began to 
decline, mortgage defaults began to rise, and the Enterprises began to 
incur credit and mark-to-market losses. In 2007, housing price declines 
spread across the nation, and issuances of private-label securities 
(PLS) largely ceased. The Enterprises' losses continued to mount into 
2008, their share prices rapidly fell, and the spreads on their 
unsecured debt and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) widened.
    In July 2008, following growing concern about the Enterprises' 
solvency, Congress passed HERA, establishing FHFA as the regulator for 
the Enterprises and authorizing the Treasury Department to support the 
Enterprises through purchases of their obligations and other 
securities. On September 6, 2008, FHFA used its new authorities under 
HERA to place each Enterprise into conservatorship. The next day, the 
Treasury Department exercised its HERA authority to enter into Senior 
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (each a PSPA) to support the 
Enterprises. The Enterprises ultimately required $191.5 billion in cash 
draws from the Treasury Department under the PSPAs.
1. Capital Adequacy
    The scale of the Enterprises' capital exhaustion during the 2008 
financial crisis is critically relevant to the capital necessary to 
ensure that each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and is 
positioned to fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle.
    As discussed in Section II.D.3, the Enterprises' crisis-era 
cumulative capital losses peaked at $265 billion, approximately 4.8 
percent of their total assets as of December 31, 2007. Setting aside 
the valuation allowances on their DTAs, which are subject to deductions 
and other adjustments to regulatory capital under the proposed rule, 
the Enterprises' peak cumulative capital losses were $167 billion, 
approximately 3.0 percent of their total assets as of December 31, 
2007.
    The Enterprises' crisis-era cumulative capital losses, while 
significant, could have been greater. The Enterprises' losses were 
likely mitigated by unprecedented federal government support of the 
housing market and the economy during the crisis, including the Home 
Affordable Modification Program, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the 
2009 stimulus package,\21\ and the Federal Reserve System's purchases 
of more than $1.2 trillion of the Enterprises' debt and MBS from 
January 2009 to March 2010. The Enterprises' losses also were likely 
dampened by the declining interest rate environment of the period, when 
the interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans declined by 
approximately 200 basis points through the end of 2011, facilitating 
re-financings and loss mitigation programs.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public 
Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 115 (2009).
    \22\ The average interest rate on 30-year mortgage loans was 
approximately 6.14 percent at the end of 2007, and fell to 4.2 
percent toward the end of October 2011. Over this period, yields on 
10-year Treasuries fell from approximately 3.88 percent at the end 
of 2008 to 2.06 percent at the end of October 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Enterprises did later recoup a portion of the underlying 
valuation adjustments and other losses. However, peak cumulative 
capital losses are relevant to assessing the amount of capital that 
creditors and other counterparties would require to regard the 
Enterprises as viable going concerns throughout the duration of another 
severe economic downturn. Indeed, the Enterprises were still operating 
and able to recoup some of these losses only because the Treasury 
Department's support through the PSPAs kept them solvent going 
concerns.
2. Going-Concern Standard
    The Enterprises' crisis-era funding difficulties established that 
each Enterprise must be capitalized to remain a viable going concern 
both during and after a severe economic downturn. Calibrating capital 
adequacy based on ``claims paying capacity'' or an insurance-like or 
similar standard that does not emphasize a going-concern standard is 
inconsistent with this lesson of the crisis in at least two respects.
    First, the Enterprises fund themselves with a significant amount of 
short-term unsecured debt that must be regularly refinanced. Each 
Enterprise's funding needs are very likely to increase during an 
economic downturn, all else equal, as the Enterprise funds purchases of 
NPLs out of securitization pools. This is a funding need that peaked at 
$345 billion in 2010.
    These ordinary course and pro-cyclical funding needs can be met 
only if the Enterprise continues to be regarded as a viable going 
concern by creditors throughout the duration of a financial stress. 
Creditors will be most skeptical of an Enterprise's continued solvency 
during periods of market turmoil, and it was the increase in the 
Enterprises' borrowing costs and the associated difficulties that the 
Enterprises faced in refinancing their debt that were among the most 
immediate grounds for FHFA placing the Enterprises into 
conservatorship.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See Memorandum dated September 6, 2008 re: Proposed 
Appointment of the Federal Housing Finance Agency as Conservator for 
the Fannie Mae at 29 (``The Enterprise's practice of relying upon 
repo financing of its agency collateral to raise cash in the current 
credit and liquidity environment is an unsafe or unsound practice 
that has led to an unsafe or unsound condition, given the 
unavailability of willing lenders to provide secured financing in 
significant size to reduce pressure on its discount notes 
borrowings.''); and Memorandum dated September 6, 2008 re: Proposed 
Appointment of the Federal Housing Finance Agency as Conservator for 
the Freddie Mac at 28 (``The Enterprise's prolonged reliance almost 
exclusively on 30-day discount notes is an untenable long-term 
source of funding and an unsafe or unsound practice that poses 
abnormal risk to the viability of the Enterprise. Operating without 
an adequate liquidity funding contingency plan is an unsafe or 
unsound condition to transact business.''); and Fin. Crisis Inquiry 
Comm'n, The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report: Final Report of the 
National Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic 
Crisis in the United States at 316 (2011) (the FCIC Report), 
available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf; (``In July and August 2008, Fannie suffered a liquidity 
squeeze, because it was unable to borrow against its own securities 
to raise sufficient cash in the repo market.''); see id. at 316 
(``By June 2008, the spread [between the yield on the GSEs' long-
term bonds and rates on Treasuries] had risen 65 percent over the 
2007 level; by September 5, just before regulators parachuted in, 
the spread had nearly doubled from its 2007 level to just under 1 
percent, making it more difficult and costly for the GSEs to fund 
their operations.'').

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 39285]]

    Second, only a going-concern capital adequacy standard can ensure 
that each Enterprise will be positioned to fulfill its statutory 
mission to provide stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary 
mortgage market across the economic cycle. The Enterprises were not 
positioned to effectively support the secondary mortgage market as 
their financial conditions deteriorated in 2007 and 2008.\24\ In an 
attempt to enable the Enterprises to continue to support the secondary 
mortgage market, OFHEO relaxed the mortgage portfolio caps and reduced 
a capital buffer that had been imposed by consent order.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See FCIC Report at 311, available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf; (``Few 
doubted Fannie and Freddie were needed to support the struggling 
housing market. The question was how to do so safely. Purchasing and 
guaranteeing risky mortgage-backed securities helped make money 
available for borrowers, but it could also result in further losses 
for the two huge companies later on. `There's a real tradeoff,' 
Lockhart said in late 2007--a trade-off made all the more difficult 
by the state of the GSEs' balance sheets.'''); Statement of FHFA 
Director James B. Lockhart at News Conference Announcing 
Conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Sept. 7, 2008), 
available at https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/
Statement-of-FHFA-Director-James-B_Lockhart-at-News-Conference-
Annnouncing-Conservatorship-of-Fannie-Mae-and-Freddie-Mac.aspx; 
(``Unfortunately, as house prices, earnings and capital have 
continued to deteriorate, their ability to fulfill their mission has 
deteriorated . . . . The result has been that they have been unable 
to provide needed stability to the market. They also find themselves 
unable to meet their affordable housing mission.''); id. (``The lack 
of confidence has resulted in continuing spread widening of their 
MBS, which means that virtually none of the large drop in interest 
rates over the past year has been passed on to the mortgage 
markets.'').
    \25\ News Release, OFHEO, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announce 
Initiative to Increase Mortgage Market Liquidity (Mar. 19, 2008), 
available at https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/OFHEO,-Fannie-Mae-and-Freddie-Mac-Announce-Initiative-to-Increase-Mortgage-Market-Liquidity.aspx; (``OFHEO estimates that Fannie Mae's and 
Freddie Mac's existing capabilities, combined with this new 
initiative and the release of the portfolio caps announced in 
February, should allow the GSEs to purchase or guarantee about $2 
trillion in mortgages this year.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. High-Quality Capital
    Another lesson of the 2008 financial crisis is that it is not only 
the quantity but also the quality of the regulatory capital, especially 
its loss-absorbing capacity, that is critical to the Enterprises' 
safety and soundness. Market confidence in the Enterprises came into 
doubt in mid-2008 when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had total capital of, 
respectively, $55.6 billion and $42.9 billion. Questions about the 
Enterprises' solvency likely arose in part due to their sizeable DTAs, 
which counted toward total capital but had less loss-absorbing capacity 
during a period of negative income. Freddie Mac would have actually had 
a negative book value as of June 30, 2008 after deducting its DTAs. 
Besides the DTA valuation allowances, there was also uncertainty as to 
the sufficiency of the Enterprises' allowances for loan losses 
(ALLL).\26\ For these and other reasons, the Basel framework includes 
deductions and other adjustments for DTAs and ALLL, as well as other 
capital elements that might have less loss-absorbing capacity.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See FCIC Report at 317, available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf; (``[T]he Fed 
found that the GSEs were significantly `underreserved,' with huge 
potential losses . . . The OCC rejected the forecasting 
methodologies on which Fannie and Freddie relied. Using its own 
metrics, it found insufficient reserves for future losses . . . 
.'').
    \27\ See BCBS, The Basel Framework CAP10 (Dec. 15, 2019), 
available at https://www.bis.org/basel_framework/chapter/CAP/10.htm?inforce=20191215&export=pdf; see also BCBS, Basel: A Global 
Regulatory Framework for More Resilient Banks and Banking Systems, 
paragraphs 8 and 9, (Dec. 2010; revised June 2011), available at 
http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs189.htm; (``The crisis demonstrated that 
credit losses and writedowns come out of retained earnings, which is 
part of banks' tangible common equity base . . . . To this end, the 
predominant form of Tier 1 capital must be common shares and 
retained earnings.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 6 illustrates the importance of requiring high-quality 
capital by showing the evolution of CET1 capital, tier 1 capital, 
adjusted total capital, core capital, and total capital at each 
Enterprise leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. As the table 
indicates, the Enterprises' combined core capital increased from $77.3 
billion in 2006 to $84.1 billion in 2008, suggesting at first glance a 
position of some financial strength. However, over the same time period 
the Enterprises' combined tier 1 capital decreased markedly from $76.3 
billion to $24.1 billion, indicating a capital position with 
deteriorating and substantially less loss-absorbing capacity. 
Similarly, the Enterprises' combined total capital increased from $78.7 
billion in 2006 to $98.5 billion in 2008, while over the same time 
period the Enterprises' adjusted total capital decreased from $85.9 
billion to $29.6 billion.

[[Page 39286]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.005

4. Stability of the National Housing Finance Markets
    After the taxpayer-funded rescue of the Enterprises in 2008, there 
can be no doubt as to the risk posed by an insolvent or otherwise 
financially distressed Enterprise to the stability of the national 
housing finance markets. The Enterprises were then, and remain today, 
the dominant participants in the housing finance system, owning or 
guaranteeing 37 percent of residential mortgage debt outstanding as of 
December 31, 2007 and 44 percent of residential mortgage debt 
outstanding as of September 30, 2019. Both then and still today, banks, 
insurance firms, and securities broker-dealers own significant amounts 
of the Enterprises' unsecured debt and MBS. Both then and still today, 
the Enterprises control critical infrastructure for securitizing and 
administering $5.5 trillion of outstanding single-family and 
multifamily conventional MBS.\28\ Given the nature, scope, size, scale, 
concentration, and interconnectedness of each Enterprise, the financial 
distress of an Enterprise could have significant adverse effects on the 
liquidity, efficiency, competitiveness, or resiliency of national 
housing finance markets. For these and related reasons, the Treasury 
Department ultimately invested $191.5 billion under the PSPAs in the 
Enterprises to keep them solvent going concerns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ During the conservatorship, some of that functionality has 
been moved to the Common Securitization Platform, which is jointly 
owned and operated by the Enterprises. In January 2020, FHFA 
announced that it had directed the Enterprises to amend the 
governance of the entity that operates the Common Securitization 
Platform to include an independent, non-executive chairman of the 
board of directors and add up to three additional independent 
directors.
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C. Post-Crisis Changes to Regulatory Capital Frameworks

    After the 2008 financial crisis, financial services regulators in 
the U.S. and internationally revisited their regulatory capital 
frameworks to address lessons learned. The international efforts of the 
leading banking regulators through the BCBS culminated in 2010 in 
enhancements to the Basel framework.\29\ That comprehensive reform 
package was designed to improve the quality and quantity of regulatory 
capital and to build additional capacity into the banking system to 
absorb losses during future periods of financial stress. Revisions to 
the international capital standards included a more restrictive 
definition of regulatory capital, higher regulatory capital 
requirements, a capital conservation buffer that could be drawn down 
during periods of financial stress, and also capital surcharges for 
systemic importance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See BCBS, Basel: A Global Regulatory Framework for More 
Resilient Banks and Banking Systems (Dec. 2010; revised June 2011), 
available at http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs189.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the Enterprises, HERA gave FHFA greater authority 
to determine capital standards for the Enterprises by removing the 
Safety and Soundness Act's restrictions on the risk-based capital 
requirements and by giving FHFA authority to increase leverage ratio 
requirements above the statutory minimum. Each Enterprise was placed 
into conservatorship shortly after enactment of HERA, and FHFA 
suspended the Enterprises' statutory capital classifications and 
regulatory capital requirements. FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, 
then began to develop a framework known as the Conservatorship Capital 
Framework to ensure that each Enterprise assumed appropriate regulatory 
capital requirements in managing their businesses. The Conservatorship 
Capital Framework was implemented in 2017, and ultimately was the 
foundation of the 2018 proposal.

IV. Rationale for Re-Proposal

    FHFA is re-proposing the regulatory capital framework for the 
Enterprises for three key reasons:

[[Page 39287]]

     First, FHFA has begun the process to responsibly end the 
conservatorships of the Enterprises. This policy change is a departure 
from the expectations of interested parties at the time of the 2018 
proposal, when the prospects for indefinite conservatorships informed 
comments and perhaps even the decision whether to comment at all.
     Second, FHFA is proposing to increase the quantity and 
quality of the regulatory capital at the Enterprises to ensure the 
safety and soundness of each Enterprise and that each Enterprise can 
fulfill its statutory mission to provide stability and ongoing 
assistance to the secondary mortgage market across the economic cycle, 
in particular during periods of financial stress.
     Third, to facilitate regulatory capital planning and also 
in furtherance of the safety and soundness of the Enterprises and their 
countercyclical mission, FHFA is proposing changes to mitigate the pro-
cyclicality of the aggregate risk-based capital requirements of the 
2018 proposal.
    While these enhancements preserve the 2018 proposal as the 
foundation of the Enterprises' regulatory capital framework, FHFA has 
nonetheless determined to solicit comments on this revised framework in 
its entirety in light of the changed policy environment, the extent and 
nature of the enhancements, the technical nature of the underlying 
issues, the diverse range of interested parties, and the critical 
importance of the Enterprises' regulatory capital framework to the 
national housing finance markets.

A. Responsibly Ending the Conservatorships

    FHFA stated in the 2018 proposal that ``this proposed rule is not a 
step towards recapitalizing the Enterprises and administratively 
releasing them from conservatorship.'' \30\ FHFA also noted that 
``[p]ublication of this proposed rule will assist with FHFA's 
administration of the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by 
potentially refining the [Conservatorship Capital Framework].'' \31\ It 
is possible that these and other statements made by FHFA, as well as 
the generally prevailing uncertainty at the time as to the Enterprises' 
prospects for exiting conservatorships, might have influenced 
interested parties' views as to the practical relevance of the 2018 
proposal or otherwise dissuaded the submission of some comments. In 
fact, more than half of the comments on the 2018 proposal related to 
the ongoing conservatorships rather than the proposed regulatory 
capital framework.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 83 FR at 33313.
    \31\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The policy environment has since changed. In September 2019, the 
Treasury Department released its housing reform plan that recommended 
that FHFA begin the process to end each Enterprise's conservatorship in 
a manner consistent with the preconditions set forth in that plan, and 
also recommended a recapitalization plan be developed for each 
Enterprise.\32\ Shortly thereafter, the Treasury Department and FHFA, 
on behalf of each Enterprise in its capacity as conservator, entered 
into letter agreements permitting the Enterprises to together retain up 
to $45 billion in capital. In October 2019, FHFA then issued a new 
Strategic Plan and Scorecard for the Enterprises that stated that 
``[e]nding the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a 
central and necessary element of this new roadmap.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Treasury, Housing Reform Plan at 27 (Sept. 2019), available 
at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Treasury-Housing-Finance-Reform-Plan.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These developments were important factors in FHFA's decision to re-
propose the regulatory capital framework in its entirety. FHFA 
considered extensively the comments received on the 2018 proposal and 
made significant adjustments to multiple aspects of the proposed 
regulatory capital framework in response to the comments received. FHFA 
now hopes and expects that the clarity as to the Enterprises' eventual 
exit from conservatorship will lead to new, different, and more 
extensive comments. To that end, FHFA emphasizes that the purpose of 
the proposed rule is to establish a regulatory capital framework that 
ensures the safety and soundness of each Enterprise and that each 
Enterprise is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission across the 
economic cycle, in particular during periods of financial stress.

B. Ensuring Capital Adequacy

1. Quality of Capital
    As discussed in Section III.B.3, a lesson of the 2008 financial 
crisis is that the Enterprises' safety and soundness depends not only 
on the quantity but also on the quality of their regulatory capital. In 
light of the lessons learned, FHFA has determined enhancements are 
necessary to address two key concerns with respect to the quality of 
the Enterprise's regulatory capital.
    First, enhancements are necessary to limit the amount of regulatory 
capital that may consist of certain components of capital such as DTAs 
that might tend to have less loss-absorbing capacity during a period of 
financial stress. FHFA noted in the 2018 proposal that the Enterprises' 
DTAs, which are included in total capital and core capital by statute, 
``may provide minimal to no loss-absorbing capability during a period 
of [financial] stress as recoverability (via taxable income) may become 
uncertain.'' \33\ The 2018 proposal addressed this issue by 
establishing a risk-based capital requirement for DTAs. However, the 
2018 proposal did not include adjustments for other capital elements 
that tend to have less loss-absorbing capacity during a financial 
stress (e.g., ALLL, goodwill, and intangibles). The 2018 proposal also 
did not adjust for accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), 
leaving open the possibility that an Enterprise could have positive 
total capital and core capital despite being insolvent under GAAP, 
though FHFA did request comment on whether to include offsetting 
capital requirements to AOCI similar to the treatment of DTAs.
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    \33\ 83 FR at 33388. Deducting the Enterprises' DTAs from their 
$98.5 billion in total capital in mid-2008 in a manner generally 
consistent with the U.S. banking regulators' approach would have 
left the Enterprises with little regulatory capital, reflective of 
the financial distress that the Enterprises were experiencing at the 
time and also consistent with the $53.8 billion in capital 
reductions realized a few months later with the valuation allowances 
on the Enterprises' DTAs.
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    Second, the statutory definitions of regulatory capital used in the 
2018 proposal did not limit the extent to which preferred shares could 
satisfy the risk-based capital requirements. Specifically, there was 
neither a risk-based capital requirement for core capital nor a 
requirement that retained earnings and other common equity be the 
predominant form of capital, as under the Basel framework.\34\ The 2018 
proposal sought feedback on this issue and commenters recommended FHFA 
limit the inclusion of preferred shares in regulatory capital to align 
with the U.S. banking framework's definition of tier 1 capital.
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    \34\ See BCBS, Basel: A Global Regulatory Framework for More 
Resilient Banks and Banking Systems, paragraphs 8 and 9 (Dec. 2010; 
revised June 2011), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs189.htm; (``It is critical that banks' risk exposures are backed 
by a high quality capital base. The crisis demonstrated that credit 
losses and writedowns come out of retained earnings, which is part 
of banks' tangible common equity base . . . . To this end, the 
predominant form of Tier 1 capital must be common shares and 
retained earnings.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To address these and related concerns, and as described in more 
detail in Section V.B., FHFA is proposing to supplement the total 
capital and core capital requirements with additional capital 
requirements

[[Page 39288]]

based on the Basel framework's definitions of total capital, tier 1 
capital, and CET1 capital. These supplemental capital requirements 
would include customary deductions and other adjustments for certain 
DTAs, goodwill, intangibles, and other assets that tend to have less 
loss-absorbing capacity during a financial stress. The risk-based tier 
1 and CET1 capital requirements also would ensure that retained 
earnings and other high-quality capital are the predominant form of 
regulatory capital.
2. Quantity of Capital
    FHFA has also determined enhancements to the 2018 proposal are 
necessary to ensure a safe and sound quantity of regulatory capital at 
each Enterprise. In particular, due in part to the lack of prudential 
floors on risk-based capital requirements and capital buffers, the 2018 
proposal's credit risk capital requirements were insufficient to ensure 
the safety and soundness of each Enterprise and that each Enterprise 
could continue to fulfill its statutory mission during a period of 
financial stress. In determining the need for these enhancements, FHFA 
considered the following facts, among others:
     Cumulative Crisis-Era Capital Losses. Fannie Mae and 
Freddie Mac's peak cumulative capital losses from 2008 through 2011 and 
the first quarter of 2012, respectively, were, respectively, $167 
billion and $98 billion. Had the 2018 proposal been in effect at the 
end of 2007, the 2018 proposal's risk-based capital requirements for 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have been, respectively, $171 billion 
and $110 billion. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's peak losses would have 
left, respectively, only $3 billion and $12 billion in remaining 
capital. At 0.1 percent and 0.5 percent of their total assets and off-
balance sheet guarantees respectively, these amounts would not have 
sustained the market confidence necessary for the Enterprises to 
continue as going concerns, particularly given the prevailing stress in 
the financial markets at that time and also given the uncertainty as to 
the potential for other write-downs and the adequacy of the 
Enterprises' allowances for loan losses. Indeed, in October 2010, FHFA 
projected $90 billion in additional PSPA draws through 2013 under the 
baseline scenario, although only $34 billion in additional draws proved 
necessary.\35\
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    \35\ See Fed. Hous. Fin. Agency, Projections of the Enterprises' 
Financial Performance at 10 (Oct. 2010), available at https://www.fhfa.gov/AboutUs/Reports/ReportDocuments/2010-10_Projections_508.pdf.
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     Single-family Credit Losses. Freddie Mac's estimated 
single-family credit risk capital requirement under the 2018 proposal 
of $59 billion as of December 31, 2007 would have been less than its 
lifetime single-family credit losses of $64 billion on its December 31, 
2007 guarantee portfolio. Even excluding loans that Freddie Mac no 
longer acquires, Freddie Mac's estimated single-family credit risk 
capital requirement of $24 billion under the 2018 proposal would have 
exceeded projected lifetime losses of $20 billion by only $4 billion 
(0.4 percent of the unpaid principal balance on the single-family book 
as of December 31, 2007). Fannie Mae's estimated single-family credit 
risk capital requirement under the 2018 proposal would have exceeded 
projected lifetime losses on its December 31, 2007 guarantee portfolio 
whether including or excluding loans that it no longer acquires, but 
only by $9 billion in both scenarios (0.4 percent and 0.7 percent, 
respectively, of the unpaid principal balance of the single-family book 
as of December 31, 2007).
     Comparison to the Basel and U.S. Banking Frameworks. Had 
the 2018 proposal been in effect on September 30, 2019, the average 
pre-CRT net credit risk capital requirement on the Enterprises' single-
family mortgage exposures would have been 1.6 percent of unpaid 
principal balance, implying an average risk weight of 20 percent.\36\ 
The U.S. banking framework generally assigns a 50 percent risk weight 
to single-family mortgage exposures to determine the credit risk 
capital requirement (equivalent to a 4.0 percent adjusted total capital 
requirement), while the current Basel framework generally assigns a 35 
percent risk weight (equivalent to a 2.8 percent adjusted total capital 
requirement). Before adjusting for the capital buffers under the 
proposed rule and the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks, the 
Enterprises' regulatory capital requirements for single-family mortgage 
exposures under the 2018 proposal would have been 40 percent that of 
U.S. banking organizations and less than 60 percent that of non-U.S. 
banking organizations. The BCBS has finalized a more risk-sensitive set 
of risk weights for residential mortgage exposures, which are to be 
implemented by January 1, 2022.\37\ With those changes, the lowest 
standardized risk weight would be 20 percent for single-family 
residential mortgage loans with LTVs at origination less than 50 
percent. The 20 percent average risk weight would have been the same as 
the Basel framework's 20 percent minimum, notwithstanding the 
Enterprises having an average single-family original loan-to-value 
(OLTV) of approximately 77 percent as of September 30, 2019. These 
comparisons are complicated by the fact that the 20 percent average 
risk weight reflects capital relief for loan-level credit enhancement 
and MTMLTV. In particular, some meaningful portion of the gap between 
the credit risk capital requirements of the banking organizations and 
the Enterprises under the 2018 proposal is due to the 2018 proposal's 
use of MTMLTV instead of OLTV, as under the U.S. banking framework, to 
assign credit risk capital requirements for mortgage exposures. In a 
different house price environment, perhaps after several years of 
declining house prices, the mark-to-market framework could have 
resulted in higher credit risk capital requirements than the Basel and 
U.S. banking frameworks. Similarly, some of this gap might have been 
expected to narrow had real property prices moved toward their long-
term trend. However, the sizing of the current gap under the 2018 
proposal is still an important consideration informing the enhancements 
to the 2018 proposal. Notably, the 20 percent average risk weight would 
have been the same as the Basel framework's 20 percent risk weight 
assigned to exposures to sovereigns and central banks with ratings A+ 
to A- and claims on banks and corporates with ratings AAA to AA-.\38\ 
The 20 percent average risk weight also would have been the same as the 
20 percent risk weight assigned under the U.S. banking framework to 
Enterprise-guaranteed MBS.
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    \36\ This average risk weight equals the average post-CRT net 
credit risk capital requirement, excluding the going-concern buffer, 
under the 2018 proposal of approximately 164 basis points, divided 
by a total capital requirement of 800 basis points.
    \37\ BCBS, Basel III: Finalising Post-Crisis Reforms, paragraph 
64, at 21 (Dec. 2017), available at https://www.bis.org/bcbs/publ/d424.pdf.
    \38\ See BCBS, The Basel Framework, paragraphs 20.4 and 20.14 
(Dec. 15, 2019), available at https://www.bis.org/basel_framework/index.htm?export=pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Monoline businesses. As discussed in the 2018 proposal, 
comparisons to the U.S. banking framework's capital requirements are 
complicated by the different risk profiles of the Enterprises and large 
banking organizations.\39\ The Enterprises, for example, transfer much 
of the interest rate and funding risk on their mortgage exposures 
through their sales of their guaranteed MBS, while large banking 
organizations generally must fund those loans through customer deposits 
and other sources. While the interest rate and funding risk profiles 
are different, that difference should not

[[Page 39289]]

preclude comparisons of the credit risk capital requirements of the 
U.S. banking framework to the credit risk capital requirements of the 
Enterprises. The Basel and U.S. banking frameworks generally do not 
contemplate an explicit capital requirement for interest rate risk on 
banking book exposures, leaving interest rate risk capital requirements 
to bank-specific tailoring through the supervisory process.\40\ If 
anything, the monoline nature of the Enterprises' mortgage-focused 
businesses actually suggests that the concentration risk of an 
Enterprise might be greater than that of a diversified banking 
organization with a similar amount of credit risk. FHFA has not 
attempted to make a specific adjustment to the risk-based capital 
requirements to mitigate the Enterprises' concentration risk, but the 
heightened risk associated with the Enterprises' sector-specific 
concentration is nonetheless an important consideration in determining 
the need for the enhancements contemplated by the proposed rule.
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    \39\ 83 FR at 33323.
    \40\ See BCBS, Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book, paragraph 
1 (April 2016), available at https://www.bis.org/bcbs/publ/d368.pdf; 
(``Interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) is part of the 
Basel capital framework's Pillar 2 (Supervisory Review Process) and 
subject to the Committee's guidance set out in the 2004 Principles 
for the management and supervision of interest rate risk 
(henceforth, the IRR Principles).'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    More generally, enhancements are necessary to mitigate certain 
risks and limitations associated with the underlying historical data 
and models used to calibrate the 2018 proposal's credit risk capital 
requirements. For example:
     Limitations of crisis-era data. Under the 2018 proposal, 
the credit risk capital requirement for a mortgage exposure was 
calibrated to be sufficient to absorb the lifetime unexpected losses 
incurred on loans of that type experiencing a shock to house prices 
similar to that observed during the 2008 financial crisis. As discussed 
in Section III.B, the Enterprises' financial crisis-era losses likely 
were mitigated to at least some extent by the unprecedented support by 
the federal government of the housing market and the economy, and also 
by the declining interest rate environment of the period. There is 
therefore some risk that the 2018 proposal's risk-based capital 
requirements, notwithstanding the required going-concern buffer, were 
not calibrated to ensure each Enterprise would be regarded as a viable 
going concern following an economic downturn that potentially entails 
more unexpected losses, whether because there is less or no Federal 
support of the economy, because there is less or no reduction in 
interest rates, or because of other causes. For example, post-crisis 
changes in federal, state, and local loss mitigation and other 
foreclosure requirements might increase the uncertainty as to loss 
estimations.
     High-risk loan products. A disproportionate share of the 
Enterprises' crisis-era credit losses (approximately $108 billion) 
arose from certain single-family mortgage exposures that are no longer 
eligible for acquisition by the Enterprises. The calibration of the 
2018 proposal's credit risk capital requirements attributed a 
significant portion of the Enterprises' crisis-era losses to these 
product characteristics, including ``Alt-A,'' negative amortization, 
interest-only, and low or no documentation loans, as well as loans with 
debt-to-income ratio at origination greater than 50 percent, cash out 
refinances with total LTV greater than 85 percent, and investor loans 
with LTV greater than or equal to 90 percent. The statistical methods 
used to allocate losses between borrower-related risk attributes and 
product-related risk attributes pose significant model risk. To ensure 
safety and soundness, the capital requirements should mitigate the risk 
of potential underestimation of credit losses that would be incurred in 
an economic downturn with national housing price declines of similar 
magnitude, even absent those loan types and even assuming a repeat of 
Federal support of the economy and the declining interest rate 
environment.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Reliance on static look-up grids and multipliers might also 
introduce additional model risk as borrower behavior, mortgage 
products, underwriting practices, or the national housing markets 
continue to evolve.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Gaps in risk coverage. There are some material risks to 
the Enterprises that were not assigned a risk-based capital requirement 
under either the 2018 proposal and the proposed rule--for example, 
risks relating to uninsured or underinsured losses from flooding, 
earthquakes, or other natural disasters or radiological or biological 
hazards. There also is no risk-based capital requirement for the risks 
that climate change could pose to property values in some localities.
    Related to these capital adequacy concerns, the 2018 proposal's 
required capital was not tailored to the risk that a default or other 
financial distress of an Enterprise could have on the liquidity, 
efficiency, competitiveness, or resiliency of national housing finance 
markets. As described in Section VII.A.3, the absence of a stability 
capital buffer poses not only a risk to the national housing finance 
markets but also a risk to the safety and soundness of the Enterprises 
by perpetuating their funding advantages and undermining market 
discipline over their risk taking.
    To address these and related concerns, and as described in more 
detail below, FHFA is proposing, among other changes:
     A prudential floor on the credit risk capital requirement 
for mortgage exposures to mitigate the model and other risks associated 
with the methodology for calibrating the credit risk capital 
requirements.
     A credit risk capital requirement on senior tranches of 
CRT held by an Enterprise, an adjustment to the CRT capital treatment 
to reflect that CRT is not equivalent in loss-absorbing capacity to 
equity financing, and operational criteria for CRT structures that 
together would mitigate the structuring, recourse, and other risks 
associated with these securitizations.
     Risk-based capital requirements for a number of exposures 
not expressly addressed by the 2018 proposal, including credit risk on 
commitments to acquire mortgage loans, counterparty risk on interest 
rate and other derivatives, and credit risk on an Enterprise's holdings 
or guarantees of the other Enterprise's MBS.
     A countercyclical adjustment for single-family credit risk 
that would result in greater capital retention when housing markets may 
be vulnerable to correction, while better enabling the Enterprises to 
play a countercyclical role.
     A stress capital buffer that would, among other things, 
enhance the resiliency of the Enterprises and ensure that each 
Enterprise would continue to be regarded as a viable going concern by 
creditors and other counterparties after a severe economic downturn.
     A stability capital buffer tailored to the risk that the 
Enterprise's default or other financial distress could have on the 
liquidity, efficiency, competitiveness, and resiliency of national 
housing finance markets.
     A revised method for determining operational risk capital 
requirements, as well as a higher floor.
     A requirement that each Enterprise maintain internal 
models for determining its own risk-based capital requirements that 
would prompt each Enterprise to develop its own view of credit and 
other risks and not rely solely on the risk assessments underlying the 
standardized risk weights assigned under this regulatory capital 
framework.
     A 2.5 percent leverage ratio and a 1.5 percent PLBA that 
would together serve as a credible backstop to the risk-based capital 
requirements and mitigate the inherent risks and limitations of any

[[Page 39290]]

methodology for calibrating those requirements.

C. Addressing Pro-Cyclicality

    Consistent with many of the comments on the 2018 proposal, FHFA has 
determined that mitigating the pro-cyclicality of the 2018 proposal's 
risk-based capital requirements would facilitate capital management, 
enhance the safety and soundness of the Enterprises by preventing risk-
based capital requirements from decreasing to unsafe and unsound 
levels, and help position the Enterprises to fulfill their statutory 
mission to provide stability and ongoing assistance to the national 
housing finance markets across the economic cycle. A pro-cyclical 
framework could have incentivized the Enterprises to expand credit when 
house prices increased, potentially left the Enterprises without 
regulatory capital that could be drawn down during a period of 
financial stress, and perhaps even exacerbated the housing price cycle 
itself. A pro-cyclical framework also could have led to large swings in 
required capital, leading to the practical necessity that prudent 
management would maintain a managerial capital surplus well above the 
capital requirements.
    As described in more detail below, FHFA is proposing several 
enhancements to address this pro-cyclicality while preserving the 
mortgage risk-sensitive framework of the 2018 proposal. Among other 
changes, FHFA is proposing:
     A countercyclical adjustment to adjust each single-family 
mortgage exposure MTMLTV when national housing prices are 5.0 percent 
above or below the inflation-adjusted long-term trend.
     A stress capital buffer and a separate leverage buffer 
that will, in addition to enhancing the resiliency of the Enterprises, 
dampen pro-cyclicality by encouraging each Enterprise to retain capital 
during good times while remaining able to provide stability and ongoing 
assistance to the secondary mortgage market during a period of 
financial stress by utilizing capital buffers as losses are 
experienced.
     A prudential floor on the credit risk capital requirement 
for mortgage exposures that, in addition to mitigating the model and 
other risks associated with the methodology for calibrating the credit 
risk capital requirements, would also provide further stability to the 
risk-based capital requirements through the cycle.
     A requirement that each Enterprise maintain its own view 
of credit and other risks, including as to the relationship between 
housing prices and market fundamentals, by maintaining its own internal 
models for determining risk-based capital.

V. Definitions of Regulatory Capital

A. Statutory Definitions

    As discussed in Sections VI.A and VI.B, the proposed rule would 
require each Enterprise to maintain required amounts of core capital 
and total capital, as defined in the Safety and Soundness Act.
    Core capital means, with respect to an Enterprise, the sum of the 
following (as determined in accordance with GAAP):
     The par or stated value of outstanding common stock;
     The par or stated value of outstanding perpetual, 
noncumulative preferred stock;
     Paid-in capital; and
     Retained earnings.
    Core capital does not include any amounts that the Enterprise could 
be required to pay, at the option of investors, to retire capital 
instruments.
    Total capital means, with respect to an Enterprise, the sum of the 
following:
     The core capital of the Enterprise;
     A general allowance for foreclosure losses, which: (i) 
Includes an allowance for portfolio mortgage losses, an allowance for 
non-reimbursable foreclosure costs on government claims, and an 
allowance for liabilities reflected on the balance sheet for the 
Enterprise for estimated foreclosure losses on mortgage-backed 
securities; and (ii) does not include any reserves of the Enterprise 
made or held against specific assets; and
     Any other amounts from sources of funds available to 
absorb losses incurred by the Enterprise, that the Director by 
regulation determines are appropriate to include in determining total 
capital.
    Notably, as discussed in Section IV.B.1, these statutory 
definitions do not include deductions and other adjustments for capital 
elements that might tend to have less loss-absorbing capacity during a 
period of financial stress (e.g., DTAs, ALLL, goodwill, and 
intangibles). These statutory definitions also do not limit the extent 
to which preferred shares may satisfy the risk-based capital 
requirements.

B. Supplemental Definitions

1. Loss-Absorbing Capacity
    Following HERA's amendments to the Safety and Soundness Act, FHFA 
has wide authority to prescribe regulatory capital requirements for the 
Enterprises. The Safety and Soundness Act generally authorizes FHFA to 
prescribe by regulation risk-based capital requirements for the 
Enterprises.\42\ The Safety and Soundness Act also authorizes FHFA to 
prescribe minimum capital levels that are greater than the levels 
prescribed by statute.\43\ The FHFA Director has general regulatory 
authority over the Enterprises, as well as the authority to issue 
regulations to carry out the duties of the FHFA Director.\44\ The FHFA 
Director also may establish such other operational and management 
standards as the FHFA Director determines to be appropriate.\45\ As 
amended by HERA, these and other provisions of the Safety and Soundness 
Act give the FHFA Director generally broad and flexible authority to 
tailor regulatory capital requirements for the Enterprises, including 
to prescribe additional capital requirements that supplement the 
statutory capital classifications based on total capital and core 
capital.
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    \42\ 12 U.S.C. 4611.
    \43\ 12 U.S.C. 4612.
    \44\ 12 U.S.C. 4511, 4526.
    \45\ 12 U.S.C. 4513b.
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    FHFA is proposing to supplement the statutory definitions of total 
capital and core capital requirements with additional regulatory 
capital definitions based on the Basel framework's definitions of total 
capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 capital. These supplemental 
definitions would include customary deductions and other adjustments 
for certain DTAs, goodwill, intangibles, and other assets that tend to 
have less loss-absorbing capacity during a financial stress. As 
discussed in Section IV.B.1, the supplemental definitions of regulatory 
capital would fill certain gaps in the statutory definitions of core 
capital and total capital. For example, neither core capital nor total 
capital adjust for AOCI, leaving open the possibility that an 
Enterprise could have positive total capital and core capital but yet 
be insolvent under GAAP. The supplemental tier 1 and CET1 capital 
requirements also would ensure that retained earnings and other high-
quality capital are the predominant form of regulatory capital.
    Because the supplemental definitions of regulatory capital in the 
proposed rule are adopted from the Basel framework, the supplemental 
definitions would be familiar to market participants. This familiarity 
should facilitate comparisons between the regulatory capital 
requirements of the Enterprises, banking organizations, and other 
market participants. The use of well-understood definitions of 
regulatory capital should also facilitate market discipline over the 
Enterprises' risk-taking by positioning future

[[Page 39291]]

shareholders, creditors, and other counterparties to more readily 
understand the regulatory capital that is available to absorb losses.
    Consistent with the 2018 proposal, neither the statutory 
definitions nor the supplemental definitions of regulatory capital 
would include a measure of future guarantee fees or other future 
revenues. Counting future revenues toward capital requirements could be 
appropriate under a ``claims-paying capacity'' or similar framework 
that seeks only to ensure that an Enterprise has the ability to perform 
its guarantee and other financial obligations over time, perhaps 
subject to a stay or other pause in the payment of claims and other 
financial obligations during a resolution proceeding. The proposed rule 
instead seeks to ensure that each Enterprise is capitalized to remain a 
viable going concern both during and after a severe economic downturn, 
as discussed in Section III.B.2. Historical experience has established 
that credit, market, and operational losses can be incurred quickly 
during a stress, and it is an Enterprise's capacity to absorb those 
losses as incurred that defines creditors' and other counterparties' 
views as to whether the financial institution is a viable going 
concern. As discussed in Sections III.B.2 and III.B.3, market 
confidence in the Enterprises waned in mid-2008 when Fannie Mae and 
Freddie Mac had total capital of, respectively, $55.6 billion and $42.9 
billion, notwithstanding their right to future guarantee fees.
    FHFA's approach does, however, still give consideration to the 
loss-absorbing capacity of future guarantee fees or other revenues. As 
discussed in Section VII.A.1, FHFA has calibrated the stress capital 
buffer as the amount of regulatory capital sufficient for an Enterprise 
to withstand a severely adverse stress and still remain above the 
capital requirements.\46\ Under this calibration methodology, the 
stress capital buffer has been sized based on net capital exhaustion in 
a severely adverse scenario. The determination of net capital 
exhaustion takes into account the guarantee fees and other revenues 
received during that stress.
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    \46\ See BCBS, Calibrating Regulatory Minimum Capital 
Requirements and Capital Buffers: A Top-down Approach, paragraph 
I.A. (Oct. 2010) (``[T]he regulatory minimum requirement is the 
amount of capital needed for a bank to be regarded as a viable going 
concern by creditors and counterparties, while a buffer can be seen 
as an amount sufficient for the bank to withstand a significant 
downturn period and still remain above minimum regulatory 
levels.''), available at https://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs180.pdf; and 
Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, Enhanced Supplementary 
Leverage Ratio Standards for Certain Bank Holding Companies and 
Their Subsidiary Insured Depository Institutions, 78 FR 51101, 51105 
(Aug. 20, 2013) (Joint Agency Proposed Rule) (``In calibrating the 
revised risk-based capital framework, the BCBS identified those 
elements of regulatory capital that would be available to absorb 
unexpected losses on a going-concern basis. The BCBS agreed that an 
appropriate regulatory minimum level for the risk-based capital 
requirements should force banking organizations to hold enough loss-
absorbing capital to provide market participants a high level of 
confidence in their viability.'').
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2. Components of Regulatory Capital
a. CET1 Capital
    Consistent with the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks, CET1 capital 
would be the sum of an Enterprise's outstanding CET1 capital 
instruments that satisfy the criteria set forth below, related surplus 
(net of treasury stock), retained earnings, and AOCI, less regulatory 
adjustments and deductions.
    The criteria for CET1 capital instruments are intended to ensure 
that CET1 capital instruments do not possess features that would cause 
an Enterprise's condition to further weaken during a period of 
financial stress. The CET1 capital instruments are any common stock 
instruments (plus any related surplus) issued by the Enterprise, net of 
treasury stock, that meet the criteria specified at Sec.  
1240.20(b)(1).
b. Additional Tier 1 Capital
    Consistent with the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks, additional 
tier 1 capital would equal the sum of the additional tier 1 capital 
instruments that satisfy the criteria set forth at Sec.  1240.20(c)(1) 
and related surplus, less applicable regulatory adjustments and 
deductions. The criteria are intended to ensure that additional tier 1 
capital instruments would be available to absorb losses on a going-
concern basis.
    An Enterprise would not be permitted to include an instrument in 
its additional tier 1 capital unless FHFA has determined that the 
Enterprise has made appropriate provision, including in any resolution 
plan of the Enterprise, to ensure that the instrument would not pose a 
material impediment to the ability of an Enterprise to issue common 
stock instruments following any future appointment of FHFA as 
conservator or receiver under the Safety and Soundness Act.
c. Tier 2 Capital
    Adjusted total capital would be the sum of CET1 capital, additional 
tier 1 capital, and tier 2 capital. Generally consistent with the Basel 
and U.S. banking frameworks, tier 2 capital would equal the sum of: 
Tier 2 capital instruments that satisfy the criteria set forth at Sec.  
1240.20(d)(1); related surplus; and limited amounts of excess credit 
reserves, less any applicable regulatory adjustments and deductions.
    As under the U.S. banking framework for advanced approaches banking 
organizations, an Enterprise may include in tier 2 capital only the 
excess of its eligible credit reserves over its total expected credit 
loss, provided the amount does not exceed 0.6 percent of its credit 
risk-weighted assets. The limited inclusion of ALLL in tier 2 capital 
is a logical outgrowth of FHFA's calibration methodology for mortgage 
exposures under which the base risk weights and risk multipliers are 
intended to require credit risk capital sufficient to absorb the 
lifetime unexpected losses incurred on mortgage exposures experiencing 
a shock to house prices similar to that observed during the 2008 
financial crisis. The same is also true for non-mortgage exposures, 
where FHFA generally has adopted the credit risk capital requirements 
of the U.S. banking framework, which also calibrates credit risk 
capital requirements to absorb unexpected losses.
    An alternative approach perhaps could be to include general ALLL in 
adjusted total capital and then calibrate the credit risk capital 
requirements based on stress losses (i.e., unexpected and expected 
losses). The resulting required loss-absorbing capacity for a mortgage 
exposure would be substantially the same. That approach however would 
raise safety and soundness risk relating to the loss-absorbing capacity 
of each Enterprise's ALLL in a period of financial stress, particularly 
if there is no limit on the share of total capital that may be ALLL. An 
approach that calibrates credit risk capital requirements based on 
stress losses also would limit FHFA's ability to rely on the credit 
risk capital requirements under the U.S. banking framework for non-
mortgage exposures, an important consideration to the extent that FHFA 
does not have the data or models to calibrate its own credit risk 
capital requirements for non-mortgage exposures.
    As with additional tier 1 capital, an Enterprise would not be 
permitted to include an instrument in its tier 2 capital unless FHFA 
has determined that the Enterprise has made appropriate provision, 
including in any resolution plan of the Enterprise, to ensure that the 
instrument would not pose a material impediment to the ability of an 
Enterprise to issue common stock instruments following any future 
appointment of FHFA as conservator or

[[Page 39292]]

receiver under the Safety and Soundness Act.
    Question 1. Is each of the definitions of CET1 capital, tier 1 
capital, and tier 2 capital appropriately formulated and tailored to 
the Enterprises?
    Question 2. Should FHFA include additional amounts of an 
Enterprise's ALLL or excess credit reserves in any of the components of 
regulatory capital?
    Question 3. Should any other capital elements qualify as CET1 
capital, additional tier 1 capital, or tier 2 capital elements?
3. Regulatory Adjustments and Deductions
a. Deductions From CET1 Capital
    Under the U.S. banking framework, goodwill and other intangible 
assets have long been either fully or partially excluded from 
regulatory capital because of the high level of uncertainty regarding 
the ability of a banking organization to realize value from these 
assets, especially under adverse financial conditions. The regulatory 
capital treatment of DTAs has posed particular safety and soundness 
risks for the Enterprises, as discussed in Section IV.B.1. The proposed 
rule would require an Enterprise to deduct from CET1 capital elements:
     Goodwill;
     Intangible assets other than mortgage-servicing assets 
(MSA) net of associated deferred tax liabilities (DTLs);
     DTAs that arise from net operating loss and tax credit 
carryforwards net of any related valuation allowances and net of DTLs 
in accordance with certain restrictions discussed under Section 
V.B.3.d; and
     Any defined benefit pension fund net asset, net of DTLs in 
accordance with certain DTL-related restrictions, and subject to 
certain exceptions with FHFA's approval.
    An Enterprise also would deduct from CET1 capital any after-tax 
gain-on-sale associated with a securitization exposure. Gain-on-sale 
would be defined as an increase in the equity capital of an Enterprise 
resulting from a traditional securitization other than an increase in 
equity capital resulting from (i) the Enterprise's receipt of cash in 
connection with the securitization or (ii) reporting of a mortgage 
servicing asset.
    Finally, an Enterprise also would deduct from CET1 capital the 
amount of expected credit loss that exceeds the Enterprise's eligible 
credit reserves. Eligible credit reserves would be defined as all 
general allowances that have been established through a charge against 
earnings to cover estimated credit losses associated with on- or off-
balance sheet wholesale and retail exposures, including the ALLL 
associated with such exposures, but excluding other specific reserves 
created against recognized losses.
b. Adjustments to CET1 Capital
    An Enterprise would subtract from CET1 capital any accumulated net 
gains and add any accumulated net losses on cash-flow hedges included 
in AOCI that relate to the hedging of items that are not recognized at 
fair value on the balance sheet. This adjustment would remove an 
element that gives rise to artificial volatility in CET1 capital as it 
would avoid a situation in which the changes in the fair value of the 
cash-flow hedge are reflected in regulatory capital but the changes in 
the fair value of the hedged item is not.
    An Enterprise also would be required to deduct any net gain and add 
any net loss related to changes in the fair value of liabilities that 
are due to changes in the Enterprise's own credit risk. An Enterprise 
must deduct the difference between its credit spread premium and the 
risk-free rate for derivatives that are liabilities as part of this 
adjustment.
    To avoid the double-counting of regulatory capital, an Enterprise 
would deduct the amount of its investments in its own capital 
instruments, including direct and indirect exposures, to the extent 
such instruments are not already excluded from regulatory capital. 
Specifically, an Enterprise would deduct its investment in its own 
CET1, additional tier 1, and tier 2 capital instruments from the sum of 
its CET1, additional tier 1, and tier 2 capital, respectively. In 
addition, any CET1, additional tier 1, or tier 2 capital instrument 
issued by an Enterprise that the Enterprise could be contractually 
obligated to purchase also would be deducted from CET1, additional tier 
1, or tier 2 capital elements, respectively.
c. Items Subject to the 10 and 15 Percent CET1 Capital Threshold 
Deductions
    An Enterprise would deduct from its CET1 capital the amount of each 
of the following items that individually exceeds the 10 percent CET1 
capital deduction threshold described below:
     DTAs arising from temporary differences that could not be 
realized through net operating loss carrybacks (net of any related 
valuation allowances and net of DTLs in accordance with certain 
restrictions discussed under Section V.B.3.d); and
     MSAs, net of associated DTLs in accordance with certain 
restrictions discussed under Section V.B.3.d.
    An Enterprise would calculate the 10 percent CET1 capital deduction 
threshold by taking 10 percent of the sum of an Enterprise's CET1 
elements, less the adjustments to, and deductions from, CET1 capital 
discussed above.
    The aggregate amount of the items subject to the threshold 
deductions that are not deducted as a result of the 10 percent CET1 
capital deduction threshold must not exceed 15 percent of an 
Enterprise's CET1 capital, as calculated after applying all regulatory 
adjustments and deductions required under the proposed rule (the 15 
percent CET1 capital deduction threshold). That is, an Enterprise would 
deduct in full the amounts of the items subject to the threshold 
deductions on a combined basis that exceed 17.65 percent (the 
proportion of 15 percent to 85 percent) of CET1 capital, less all 
regulatory adjustments and deductions required for the calculation of 
the 10 percent CET1 capital deduction threshold mentioned above, and 
less the items subject to the 10 and 15 percent deduction thresholds.
d. Netting of Deferred Tax Liabilities Against Deferred Tax Assets and 
Other Deductible Assets
    An Enterprise would be permitted to net DTLs against assets (other 
than DTAs) subject to deduction under the proposed rule, provided the 
DTL is associated with the asset and the DTL would be extinguished if 
the associated asset becomes impaired or is derecognized under GAAP. An 
Enterprise would be prohibited from using the same DTL more than once 
for netting purposes.
    With respect to the netting of DTLs against DTAs, the amount of 
DTAs that arise from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, 
net of any related valuation allowances, and the amount of DTAs arising 
from temporary differences that the Enterprise could not realize 
through net operating loss carrybacks, net of any related valuation 
allowances, could be netted against DTLs if certain conditions are met.

VI. Capital Requirements

A. Risk-Based Capital Requirements

1. Supplemental Requirements
    FHFA is proposing to require the Enterprises to maintain the 
following risk-based capital:
     Total capital not less than 8.0 percent of risk-weighted 
assets;
     Adjusted total capital not less than 8.0 percent of risk-
weighted assets;
     Tier 1 capital not less than 6.0 percent of risk-weighted 
assets; and
     CET1 capital not less than 4.5 percent of risk-weighted 
assets.

[[Page 39293]]

    As discussed in Section III.B.3, a lesson of the 2008 financial 
crisis is that the Enterprises' safety and soundness depends not only 
on the quantity but also on the quality of their capital. To that end, 
FHFA is proposing to supplement the risk-based capital requirement 
based on statutorily defined total capital with additional risk-based 
capital requirements based on the Basel framework's definitions of 
total capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 capital.
    As discussed in Section IV.B.1, FHFA noted in the 2018 proposal 
that the Enterprises' DTAs, which are included in total capital and 
core capital by statute, ``may provide minimal to no loss-absorbing 
capability during a period of [financial] stress as recoverability (via 
taxable income) may become uncertain.'' \47\ The 2018 proposal 
addressed this issue by establishing a risk-based capital requirement 
for DTAs. However, the 2018 proposal did not include adjustments for 
other capital elements that tend to have less loss-absorbing capacity 
during a financial stress (e.g., ALLL, goodwill, and intangibles), 
although FHFA did request comment on how best to compensate for the 
loss-absorbing deficiencies of ALLL and preferred stock within the 
framework of the 2018 proposal. The 2018 proposal also requested 
comment on, but did not adjust for, AOCI, leaving open the possibility 
that an Enterprise could have positive total capital and core capital 
despite being insolvent under GAAP. The supplemental risk-based capital 
requirements for adjusted total capital, tier 1 capital, and CET1 
capital would address these safety and soundness issues to the extent, 
as discussed in Section V.B, the underlying regulatory capital 
definitions incorporate deductions and other adjustments for those 
capital elements that tend to have less loss-absorbing capacity.
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    \47\ 83 FR at 33388.
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    Related to this, one of the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis is 
that retained earnings and other high-quality capital should be the 
predominant form of regulatory capital. In addition to not limiting the 
extent to which general ALLL counted toward regulatory capital, the 
2018 proposal did not limit the extent to which preferred shares could 
satisfy the risk-based capital requirements, although FHFA did solicit 
comment on these issues. Specifically, there was neither a risk-based 
capital requirement for core capital nor a requirement that retained 
earnings and other common equity be the predominant form of capital. 
The risk-based capital requirements for tier 1 capital and CET1 capital 
would address this safety and soundness issue in a way that should be 
familiar to market participants.
2. Risk-Weighted Assets
    An Enterprise would determine its risk-weighted assets under two 
approaches--a standardized approach and an advanced approach--with the 
greater of the two used to determine its risk-based capital 
requirements. Under both approaches, an Enterprise's risk-weighted 
assets would equal the sum of its credit risk-weighted assets, market 
risk-weighted assets, and operational risk-weighted assets.
    Specifying each of the aggregate risk-based capital requirements as 
a percent of risk-weighted assets is a change from the 2018 proposal, 
but the change itself would not impact the quantity of required total 
capital. Both under the 2018 proposal and the proposed rule, and 
consistent with the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks,\48\ the risk-
based capital requirements should be calibrated to require each 
Enterprise to hold enough loss-absorbing capital to maintain the 
confidence of creditors and other counterparties in its viability as a 
going concern. More specifically, FHFA calibrated the credit risk 
capital requirements for mortgage exposures to require capital 
sufficient to absorb the lifetime unexpected losses incurred on 
exposures experiencing a shock to house prices similar to that observed 
during the 2008 financial crisis, as discussed in Sections VIII.A.2 and 
VIII.B.2. The base risk weight for a mortgage exposure is equal to the 
adjusted total capital requirement for the exposure expressed in basis 
points and divided by 800, which is the 8.0 percent adjusted total 
capital requirement also expressed in basis points. Expressing the 
risk-based capital requirement for an exposure as a risk weight, or the 
aggregate risk-based capital requirement as a percent of risk-weighted 
assets, is simply a matter of terminology.
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    \48\ 78 FR at 51105 (``In calibrating the revised risk-based 
capital framework, the BCBS identified those elements of regulatory 
capital that would be available to absorb unexpected losses on a 
going-concern basis. The BCBS agreed that an appropriate regulatory 
minimum level for the risk-based capital requirements should force 
banking organizations to hold enough loss-absorbing capital to 
provide market participants a high level of confidence in their 
viability.'').
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    Although the shift to a terminology of risk-weighted assets is more 
form than substance, FHFA has made this change for at least two 
reasons. First, the addition of three new risk-based capital 
requirements raises the need for a straightforward mechanism to specify 
the aggregate regulatory capital required for each. Risk-weighted 
assets accomplishes this by offering a common denominator across the 
2018 proposal's risk-based total capital requirement and the 
supplemental risked-based capital requirements contemplated by the 
proposed rule. Second, this approach and its associated terminology are 
well-understood by those familiar with the U.S. banking framework. 
Expressing the risk-based capital requirement for an exposure as a 
risk-weight will facilitate transparency and comparability with the 
U.S. banking framework and other regulatory capital frameworks. Because 
these concepts are well-understood, this approach also should 
facilitate market discipline over each Enterprise's risk-taking by its 
creditors and other counterparties.

B. Leverage Ratio Requirements

1. Adjusted Total Assets
    Each Enterprise would be required to maintain capital sufficient to 
satisfy the following leverage ratio requirements:
     Core capital not less than 2.5 percent of adjusted total 
assets; and
     Tier 1 capital not less than 2.5 percent of adjusted total 
assets.
    Adjusted total assets would be defined as total assets under GAAP, 
with adjustments to include many of the off-balance sheet and other 
exposures that are included in the supplemental leverage ratio 
requirements of the U.S. banking framework.
2. Tier 1 Leverage Ratio Requirement
    As with the risk-based capital requirements, and as discussed in 
Section IV.B.1, the proposed rule would supplement the core capital 
leverage ratio requirement with a leverage ratio requirement based on a 
definition of regulatory capital, here tier 1 capital, that has 
deductions and other adjustments for capital elements that tend to have 
less loss-absorbing capacity during a period of financial stress. Tier 
1 capital is also a well-understood concept for market participants 
familiar with the U.S. banking framework. That in turn would facilitate 
transparency and comparability with the leverage ratio requirements for 
U.S. banking organizations, as well as market discipline by the 
Enterprises' creditors and other counterparties.
3. Sizing of the Requirements
    The primary purpose of the leverage ratio requirements is to 
provide a credible, non-risk-based backstop to the risk-based capital 
requirements to safeguard against model risk and

[[Page 39294]]

measurement error with a simple, transparent, independent measure of 
risk. From a safety-and-soundness perspective, each type of requirement 
offsets potential weaknesses of the other, and well-calibrated risk-
based capital requirements working with a credible leverage ratio 
requirement are more effective than either type would be in isolation. 
The leverage ratio requirements would have the added benefit of 
dampening some of the pro-cyclicality inherent in the aggregate risk-
based capital requirements. The core capital leverage ratio requirement 
also would replace the current statutory leverage ratio requirement for 
purposes of the corrective action provisions of the Safety and 
Soundness Act.
    FHFA has sized the leverage ratio requirements to be a credible 
backstop to the risk-based capital requirements, taking into account 
the analogous leverage ratio requirements of U.S. banking organizations 
and the Federal Home Loan Banks, considerations relating to the 
Enterprises' historical loss experiences, and the model and related 
risks posed by the calibration of the risk-based capital requirements.
    First, the proposed leverage ratio requirements are generally 
aligned with the analogous leverage ratio requirements of U.S. banking 
organizations and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The U.S. banking 
framework's leverage ratio requirement requires banking organizations 
maintain tier 1 capital no less than 4.0 percent of total assets. 
Insured depository institutions subsidiaries of certain large U.S. bank 
holding companies also must maintain tier 1 capital no less than 6.0 
percent of total assets to be ``well capitalized.'' \49\ Using data for 
the 18 bank holding companies subject to the Federal Reserve Board's 
supervisory stress testing program in 2018, FHFA determined that the 
average risk weight on the assets of these banks was 61 percent in the 
fourth quarter of 2018. Under the U.S. banking framework, the 
Enterprises' mortgage assets generally would be assigned a 50 percent 
risk weight under the standardized approach. This suggests that the 
average risk weight on the assets of the Enterprises would have been 
approximately 81 percent (50 percent divided by 61 percent) of that of 
these large bank holding companies. That in turn implies a risk-
adjusted analogous leverage ratio requirement for the Enterprises of 
3.3 percent (81 percent of the 4.0 percent leverage ratio requirement 
for U.S. banking organizations).\50\
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    \49\ See, e.g., 12 CFR 6.4(b)(1)(i)(D).
    \50\ That U.S. banking framework's 3 percent supplemental 
leverage ratio requirement is an inappropriate comparable for sizing 
the Enterprises' leverage ratio requirements. Approximately 95 
percent of the Enterprises' adjusted total assets are GAAP total 
assets that are subject to the U.S. banking framework's 4 percent 
leverage ratio requirement. The primary exception is off-balance 
sheet guarantees on loans and securities, principally Freddie Mac's 
K-deals, but these amounts are small relative to the Enterprises' 
total assets under GAAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While the interest rate and funding risks of the Enterprises and 
U.S. banking organizations are different, the Basel and U.S. banking 
frameworks generally do not contemplate an explicit capital requirement 
for interest rate risk on banking book exposures given the absence of a 
consensus as to how to quantify that capital requirement, instead 
leaving interest rate risk capital requirements to bank-specific 
tailoring through the supervisory process.\51\ The differences in the 
interest rate and funding risk profiles therefore should not preclude 
comparisons to the U.S. banking framework's leverage ratio 
requirements, subject to adjustments for the different credit risk 
profiles of the Enterprises and U.S. banking organizations (as 
described above). Further, the monoline nature of the Enterprises' 
mortgage-focused businesses suggests that the concentration risk of an 
Enterprise is greater than that of a diversified banking organization 
with a similar amount of mortgage credit risk, perhaps meriting a 
higher leverage ratio requirement, all else equal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See BCBS, Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book, paragraph 
1, (April 2016), available at https://www.bis.org/bcbs/publ/d368.pdf; (``Interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) is part 
of the Basel capital framework's Pillar 2 (Supervisory Review 
Process) and subject to the Committee's guidance set out in the 2004 
Principles for the management and supervision of interest rate risk 
(henceforth, the IRR Principles).'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Federal Home Loan Banks also must maintain total capital no 
less than 4.0 percent of total assets. That 4.0 percent leverage ratio 
requirement should be considered in the context of the safety and 
soundness benefits of the statutory requirement that each Federal Home 
Loan Bank advance be fully secured. Related to that, the safety and 
soundness benefits of that collateral might be furthered by law, as any 
security interest granted to a Federal Home Loan Bank by a member (or 
affiliate of a member) is, with some exceptions, entitled by statute to 
priority over the claims and rights of any other party, including any 
receiver, conservator, trustee, or similar party having rights of a 
lien creditor.
    Second, the proposed leverage ratio requirements are broadly 
consistent with the Enterprises' historical loss experiences. As 
discussed in Sections II.D.3 and III.B.1, the Enterprises' crisis-era 
cumulative capital losses peaked at the end of 2011 at $265 billion, 
approximately 4.8 percent of their adjusted total assets as of December 
31, 2007. Setting aside the valuation allowances on their DTAs, which 
are subject to deductions and other adjustments to CET1 capital (and 
therefore tier 1 and adjusted total capital) under the proposed rule, 
the Enterprises' crisis-era peak cumulative capital losses were $167 
billion, approximately 3.0 percent of their total assets as of December 
31, 2007. Notably even these DTA-adjusted capital losses exceeded by 
$36 billion the tier 1 capital that would have been required under the 
2.5 percent leverage ratio requirement as of December 31, 2007.
    FHFA recognizes that a portion of the crisis-era losses arose from 
single-family loans that are no longer eligible for acquisition by the 
Enterprises. However, the sizing of regulatory capital requirements 
must take into account the modeling risk posed by the attribution of 
such losses to specific product characteristics, as discussed in 
Section IV.B.2. The sizing of the regulatory capital requirements also 
must guard against potential future relaxation of underwriting 
standards and regulatory oversight over those underwriting standards.
    The Enterprises' historical loss experiences actually might tend to 
understate the regulatory capital that would be necessary to remain a 
viable going concern to creditors and other counterparties. As 
discussed in Section III.B.1, the Enterprises' crisis-era losses likely 
were mitigated to at least some extent by the unprecedented support by 
the federal government of the housing market and the economy and also 
by the declining interest rate environment of the period. The 
calibration of the leverage ratio requirement and other required 
capital requirements cannot assume a repeat of those loss mitigants. 
Also, as discussed in Section IV.B.2, there are some material risks to 
the Enterprises that are not assigned a risk-based capital 
requirement--for example, risks relating to uninsured or underinsured 
losses from flooding, earthquakes, or other natural disasters or 
radiological or biological hazards. There also is no risk-based capital 
requirement for the risks that climate change could pose to property 
values in some localities.
    Third, certain risks and limitations associated with the underlying

[[Page 39295]]

historical data and models used to calibrate the credit risk capital 
requirements reinforce the importance of leverage ratio requirements 
that safeguard against model risk and measurement error. There is 
inevitably a trade-off between, on the one hand, preserving the 
mortgage risk-sensitive framework of the 2018 proposal and, on the 
other hand, managing the model and related risks associated with any 
methodology for developing a granular assessment of credit risk 
specific to different mortgage loan categories. As discussed in Section 
IV.B.2, a disproportionate share of the Enterprises' crisis-era losses 
arose from certain single-family mortgage exposures that are no longer 
eligible for acquisition by the Enterprises. The calibration of the 
credit risk capital requirements attributed a significant portion of 
the Enterprises' crisis-era losses (approximately $108 billion) to 
these products. The statistical methods used to allocate losses between 
borrower-related risk attributes and product-related risk attributes 
pose significant model risk. It is possible that the calibration 
understates the credit losses that would be incurred in an economic 
downturn with national housing price declines of similar magnitude, 
even assuming a repeat of crisis-era Federal support of the economy and 
the declining interest rate environment. To this point, as discussed in 
Section VIII.A.7, had the proposed rule been in effect on December 31, 
2007, the credit risk capital requirements still would not have been 
sufficient to absorb the projected lifetime credit losses on Freddie 
Mac's single-family book. Under a dynamic framework, the aggregate 
credit risk capital requirements would have increased in subsequent 
years as losses were incurred, while there also would have been 
material uncertainty as to an Enterprise's ability to raise sufficient 
quantities of new capital during a period of financial stress and 
significant losses.
    The risk-based capital requirements should, as a general rule, 
exceed the regulatory capital required under the leverage ratio 
requirements. At the same time, if the tier 1 leverage ratio 
requirement is to be an independently meaningful and credible backstop, 
there will inevitably be some exceptions in which the tier 1 leverage 
ratio requirement requires more regulatory capital than the risk-based 
capital requirements. In FHFA's view, the measurement period of 
September 30, 2019 is, in fact, consistent with the circumstances under 
which a credible leverage ratio would be binding, given the exceptional 
single-family house price appreciation since 2012, the strong credit 
performance of both single-family and multifamily mortgage exposures, 
the significant progress by the Enterprises to materially reduce legacy 
exposure to NPLs and re-performing loans, robust CRT market access 
enabling substantial risk transfer, and the generally strong condition 
of key counterparties, such as mortgage insurers.
    Question 4. Is the tier 1 leverage ratio requirement appropriately 
sized to serve as a credible backstop to the risk-based capital 
requirements?
    Question 5. Should the Enterprise's leverage ratio requirements be 
based on total assets, as defined by GAAP, the Enterprise's adjusted 
total assets, or some other basis?

C. Enforcement

    FHFA may draw upon several authorities to address potential 
Enterprise failures to meet the proposed rule's capital requirements 
set forth in VI.A and VI.B. A failure to maintain regulatory capital in 
excess of each of these capital requirements may result in one or more 
enforcement consequences. In all cases, the FHFA Director retains the 
authority to determine the appropriate enforcement consequence.
    The Safety and Soundness Act authorizes FHFA to establish capital 
levels for an Enterprise by regulation.\52\ An Enterprise failure to 
meet a capital threshold that is required by regulation may be 
addressed through enforcement mechanisms for regulatory violations 
including procedures for cease and desist and consent orders.\53\ 
Through a cease and desist or consent order, FHFA could require an 
Enterprise to develop and implement a capital restoration plan, 
restrict asset growth or activities, and take other appropriate action 
to remediate the violation of law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ 12 U.S.C. 4526, 4611, 4612(c).
    \53\ 12 U.S.C. 4581, 12 CFR part 1209.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FHFA may also use the enforcement tools available under its 
authority to prescribe and enforce prudential management and operations 
standards (PMOS).\54\ The proposed rule, other than the PCCBA, the 
PLBA, and the associated payout restrictions, would be prescribed as a 
PMOS guideline that may be enforced under these PMOS authorities. The 
PMOS statute and rule include enforcement remedies similar, although 
not identical, to those under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) 
framework discussed below, focusing on a remediation plan and such 
other measures as the Director deems appropriate, but not 
conservatorship or receivership. The FHFA Director may require as part 
of a remediation plan (which is to be developed within a timeline in 
the PMOS regulation) restrictions on capital distributions, 
restrictions on asset growth, activities, and acquisitions, a 
requirement for new capital-raising, and other restrictions as 
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ 12 U.S.C. 4513b; 12 CFR part 1236.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The PCA framework set out in the Safety and Soundness Act \55\ also 
provides for enforcement tools when a shortfall occurs in capital 
requirements that are set forth in the statute, using the statute's 
prescribed capital concepts. The PCA establishes four capital 
categories with associated increasingly severe enforcement tools: 
``adequately capitalized,'' ``undercapitalized,'' ``significantly 
undercapitalized,'' and ``critically undercapitalized.'' Under the PCA 
framework, the principal remedial tool is a recapitalization plan, and 
other tools include restrictions on capital distributions and asset 
growth, prior approval of acquisitions and new activities, improvement 
of management, and restriction on compensation. In serious enough 
conditions, such as critical undercapitalization, the PCA provides that 
an Enterprise can be placed in conservatorship or receivership. In 
addition, the PCA provisions provide for an Enterprise to be downgraded 
if alternative specified conditions are met. One of those conditions is 
that an Enterprise is in ``an unsafe or unsound condition,'' as 
determined by FHFA after notice and opportunity for a hearing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ 12 U.S.C. 4614 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule would include a leverage requirement and a risk-
based capital requirement using the concepts of total capital and core 
capital as defined in the Safety and Soundness Act. The PCA enforcement 
framework applies to an Enterprise's failure to meet either of these 
statutorily based capital requirements. In addition, FHFA could enforce 
the core capital and total capital requirements under its authority to 
issue an order to cease and desist from a violation of law or under its 
PMOS authority.
    FHFA recognizes that there may be very particular economic 
circumstances during which an Enterprise may meet its risk-based 
capital requirement to maintain total capital in excess of 8.0 percent 
of risk-weighted assets, but fails to meet the leverage ratio 
requirement of core capital in excess of 2.5 percent of adjusted total 
assets. This situation falls outside of the PCA capital classifications 
and enforcement

[[Page 39296]]

framework, but FHFA could address a shortfall through its PMOS or other 
regulatory enforcement authorities. If appropriate to provide greater 
clarity to the Enterprises and other market participants, FHFA may 
issue supervisory guidance regarding progressive application of its 
enforcement authorities as the capital position of an Enterprise 
declines.
    Question 6. Should FHFA consider any changes to its contemplated 
enforcement framework? What supervisory guidance would be helpful to 
promote market understanding of how FHFA expects to apply its 
enforcement authorities?
    Question 7. Should any of the risk-based capital requirements or 
leverage ratio requirements be phased-in over a transition period?
    Question 8. Alternatively, should the enforcement of the risk-based 
capital requirements during the implementation of a capital restoration 
plan be tailored through a consent order or other similar regulatory 
arrangement, and if so how?

VII. Capital Buffers

A. Prescribed Capital Conservation Buffer Amount (PCCBA)

    FHFA is proposing to supplement certain of the risk-based capital 
requirements with a PCCBA. To avoid limits on capital distributions and 
discretionary bonus payments, an Enterprise would have to maintain 
regulatory capital that exceeds each of its adjusted total capital, 
tier 1 capital, and CET1 capital requirements by at least the amount of 
its PCCBA. That PCCBA would consist of three separate component 
buffers--a stress capital buffer, a countercyclical capital buffer, and 
a stability capital buffer.
    The PCCBA would be determined as a percent of an Enterprise's 
adjusted total assets.\56\ Fixing the PCCBA at a specified percent of 
an Enterprise's adjusted total assets, instead of risk-weighted assets, 
is a notable departure from the Basel framework. FHFA intends a fixed-
percent PCCBA, among other things, to reduce the impact that the PCCBA 
potentially could have on higher risk exposures, avoid amplifying the 
secondary effects of any model or similar risks inherent to the 
calibration of granular risk weights for single-family and multifamily 
mortgage exposures, and further mitigate the pro-cyclicality of the 
aggregate risk-based capital requirements.
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    \56\ The stress capital buffer and the countercyclical capital 
buffer amount could vary, which would then result in a change in the 
Enterprise's PCCBA when expressed as a percent of the Enterprise's 
adjusted total assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Stress Capital Buffer
    An Enterprise's stress capital buffer would equal 0.75 percent of 
the Enterprise's adjusted total assets. The proposed stress capital 
buffer is similar in amount and rationale to the 0.75 percent going-
concern buffer contemplated by the 2018 proposal. The 2018 proposal 
acknowledged that each Enterprise is required by charter to provide 
stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary mortgage market 
during and after a period of severe financial stress. The 2018 proposal 
also observed that ``[r]aising new capital during a period of severe 
housing market stress . . . would be very expensive, if not impossible; 
therefore, the [2018 proposal] would require the Enterprises to hold 
additional capital on an on-going basis (`going-concern buffer') in 
order to continue purchasing exposures and to maintain market 
confidence during a period of severe distress.''
    An important difference is that the 2018 proposal's going-concern 
buffer would have been a component of the risk-based capital 
requirement, such that failure to maintain the regulatory capital 
required by the going-concern buffer could have triggered significant 
regulatory sanctions. In contrast, the proposed rule converts the 2018 
proposal's going-concern buffer into a component of the capital 
conservation buffer that FHFA intends to be available for an Enterprise 
to draw down during a period of financial stress. As discussed in 
Section II.D, the potential for less punitive sanctions for drawing 
down the capital conservation buffer should position each Enterprise to 
play a countercyclical role in the market, and would have the further 
benefit of reducing the managerial capital cushion that an Enterprise 
might be expected to maintain above the regulatory capital 
requirements.
    For the reasons given in Section III.B.2, and as contemplated for 
banking organizations by the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks,\57\ 
each Enterprise should be capitalized to remain a viable going concern 
both during and after a severe economic downturn. While the proposed 
regulatory capital requirements are sized to ensure an Enterprise would 
be regarded as a viable going concern by creditors and other 
counterparties, the stress capital buffer is sized to ensure that the 
Enterprise would, in ordinary times, maintain regulatory capital that 
could be drawn down during a financial stress and still be regarded as 
a viable going concern after that stress.
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    \57\ 78 FR at 51105 (``In calibrating the revised risk-based 
capital framework, the BCBS identified those elements of regulatory 
capital that would be available to absorb unexpected losses on a 
going-concern basis. The BCBS agreed that an appropriate regulatory 
minimum level for the risk-based capital requirements should force 
banking organizations to hold enough loss-absorbing capital to 
provide market participants a high level of confidence in their 
viability. The BCBS also determined that a buffer above the minimum 
risk-based capital requirements would enhance stability, and that 
such a buffer should be calibrated to allow banking organizations to 
absorb a severe level of loss, while still remaining above the 
regulatory minimum requirements.'').
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    To a similar end, FHFA sized the 2018 proposal's going-concern 
buffer based on the Enterprises' Dodd Frank Act Stress Test (DFAST) 
results for the severely adverse scenario. Specifically, ``FHFA 
calculated the amount of capital necessary for the Enterprises to meet 
a 2.5 percent leverage requirement at the end of each quarter of the 
simulation of the severely adverse DFAST scenario (without DTA 
valuation allowance) and compared that amount to the aggregate risk-
based capital requirement. The difference between these two measures 
provided an indicator for the size of the going-concern buffer.''
    As further validation of the sizing of the stress capital buffer, 
FHFA's 2018 proposal compared the regulatory capital obtained by 
applying the going-concern buffer to the 2017 single-family book of 
business with the regulatory capital required to fund each Enterprise's 
2017 new acquisitions. FHFA found the proposed going-concern buffer 
would provide sufficient capital for each Enterprise to fund an 
additional one to two years of new acquisitions comparable to their 
2017 new acquisitions. FHFA continues to believe that 2018 proposal's 
approach provides a strong indicator for the appropriate size of the 
stress capital buffer that replaces the going-concern buffer.
    FHFA has also looked to the sizing of analogous buffers under the 
Basel and U.S. banking frameworks. As recently amended by the Federal 
Reserve Board, the U.S. banking framework requires each U.S. banking 
organization to maintain a stress capital buffer that exceeds its 
regulatory capital requirements by at least 2.5 percent of its risk-
weighted assets, potentially more depending on its peak cumulative 
capital exhaustion under its supervisory stress test. Under the current 
average risk weight for the Enterprises' exposures of 28 percent, the 
proposed stress capital buffer is equivalent to 2.68

[[Page 39297]]

percent of the Enterprises' risk-weighted assets.
    While the proposed rule contemplates a stress capital buffer sized 
as a fixed- percent of an Enterprise's adjusted total assets, FHFA is 
also seeking comment on an alternative under which FHFA would implement 
an approach similar to that of the Federal Reserve Board and 
periodically re-size the stress capital buffer to the extent that 
FHFA's eventual program for supervisory stress tests determines that an 
Enterprise's peak capital exhaustion under a severely adverse stress 
would exceed 0.75 percent of adjusted total assets. Under this 
approach, the stress capital buffer would still be determined as a 
percent of adjusted total assets, not risk-weighted assets. A 
dynamically re-sized stress capital buffer would be more risk-sensitive 
than a fixed-percent stress capital buffer, varying in amount across 
the economic cycle and also varying with the riskiness of the 
Enterprise's mortgage exposures. An approach that leverages a 
supervisory stress test could also incorporate assumptions as to the 
continued availability of CRT during a period of financial stress.
    Related to this, FHFA's proposal to incorporate into each 
Enterprise's PCCBA a stress capital buffer should not be construed to 
imply or otherwise suggest that a similar buffer would necessarily be 
appropriate for other market participants in the housing finance 
system. Some of the Enterprises' counterparties, and some other market 
participants in the housing finance system, need not necessarily be 
capitalized to remain a viable going concern both during and after a 
severe economic downturn. For these market participants, calibrating 
capital adequacy based on ``claims paying capacity'' or an insurance-
like or similar standard might be appropriate in light of their size 
and role in the housing finance system.
    Question 9. Is the stress capital buffer appropriately formulated 
and calibrated?
    Question 10. Should an Enterprise's stress capital buffer be 
periodically re-sized to the extent that FHFA's eventual program for 
supervisory stress tests determines that an Enterprise's peak capital 
exhaustion under a severely adverse stress would exceed 0.75 percent of 
adjusted total assets?
    Question 11. Should an Enterprise's stress capital buffer be 
adjusted as the average risk weight of its mortgage exposures and other 
exposures changes?
    Question 12. Should an Enterprise's stress capital buffer be based 
on the Enterprise's adjusted total assets or risk-weighted assets?
2. Countercyclical Capital Buffer
    The U.S. banking regulators adopted a countercyclical capital 
buffer for certain large U.S. banking organizations in June 2013, which 
has been and remains set at 0 percent of risk-weighted assets. The 
countercyclical capital buffer aims to ensure that banking sector 
capital requirements take into account the macro-financial environment 
in which banks operate.\58\ The buffer is to be deployed when excess 
aggregate credit growth is judged to be associated with a build-up of 
system-wide risk to ensure the banking system has a buffer of capital 
to protect it against future potential losses. This focus on excess 
aggregate credit growth means that the buffer is likely to be deployed 
on an infrequent basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ BCBS, Basel: A Global Regulatory Framework for More 
Resilient Banks and Banking Systems, paragraph 137 (Dec. 2010; 
revised June 2011), available at http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs189.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As is currently the case under the U.S. banking framework, the 
countercyclical capital buffer for the Enterprises would initially be 
set at 0 percent of adjusted total assets. FHFA does not expect to 
adjust this buffer in the place of, or to supplement, the 
countercyclical adjustment to the risk-based capital requirements for 
single-family mortgage exposures discussed in Section VIII.A.4. 
Instead, as under the Basel and U.S. banking frameworks, FHFA would 
adjust the countercyclical capital buffer taking into account the 
macro-financial environment in which the Enterprises operate, such that 
it would be deployed only when excess aggregate credit growth is judged 
to be associated with a build-up of system-wide risk. This focus on 
excess aggregate credit growth means the countercyclical buffer likely 
would be deployed on an infrequent basis, and generally only when 
similar buffers are deployed by the U.S. banking regulators. Any 
adjustment to the countercyclical capital buffer would be made in 
accordance with applicable law and after appropriate notice to the 
Enterprises.
    Question 13. Is the countercyclical capital buffer appropriately 
formulated?
    Question 14. What administrative or other process should govern 
FHFA's adjustments to the countercyclical capital buffer?
    Question 15. Should FHFA more explicitly base its determination to 
adjust the countercyclical capital buffer to the determination of the 
U.S. banking regulators to adjust their similar buffer?
3. Stability Capital Buffer
a. Comments on the 2018 Proposal
    FHFA received several comment letters on the 2018 proposal that 
argued that FHFA did not adequately address the risk posed by the size 
and importance of the Enterprises, particularly in light of the fact 
that during the 2008 financial crisis, the Enterprises proved to be 
``too-big-to-fail.'' Multiple commenters recommended FHFA consider 
adding a capital buffer due to the size of the Enterprises' footprints. 
Other commenters suggested FHFA address the Enterprises' size and 
importance in different ways, such as through the leverage ratio, 
through the credit risk capital grids, or with an asset-level surcharge 
that differed by the riskiness of the activity.
b. U.S. Banking Framework
    The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
(Dodd-Frank Act) mandates that the Federal Reserve Board adopt, among 
other prudential measures, enhanced capital standards to mitigate the 
risk posed to financial stability by systemically important financial 
institutions. The Federal Reserve Board has implemented a number of 
measures designed to strengthen firms' capital positions in a manner 
consistent with the Dodd-Frank Act's requirement that such measures 
increase in stringency based on the systemic importance of the firm.
    The Federal Reserve Board has also finalized capital surcharges for 
the U.S. banking organizations of the greatest systemic importance that 
have been deemed global systemically important bank holding companies 
(GSIBs). These GSIB capital surcharges are calibrated based on the 
Federal Reserve Board's measures of each GSIB's systemic footprint 
under an ``expected impact'' framework that considers the harm that the 
GSIB's failure would cause to the financial system as adjusted by the 
likelihood that the GSIB will fail. Because the failure of a GSIB might 
undermine financial stability and thus cause greater negative 
externalities than might the failure of a firm that is not a GSIB, a 
probability of default that would be acceptable for a non-GSIB might be 
unacceptably high for a GSIB. Lowering the probability of a GSIB's 
default reduces the risk to financial stability. The most 
straightforward means of lowering the probability of a GSIB's default 
is to require it to hold more regulatory capital relative to its risk-
weighted assets than non-GSIBs are required to hold.

[[Page 39298]]

c. Rationale and Sizing
    As discussed in Section III.B.4, the lessons of the 2008 financial 
crisis have established that the failure of an Enterprise could do 
significant harm to the national housing finance markets, as well as 
the U.S. economy more generally. The Enterprises remain the dominant 
participants in the housing finance system, owning or guaranteeing 44 
percent of residential mortgage debt outstanding as of September 30, 
2019. The Enterprises also continue to control critical infrastructure 
for securitizing and administering $5.5 trillion of single-family and 
multifamily MBS. The Enterprises' imprudent risk-taking and inadequate 
capitalization led to their near collapse and were among the proximate 
causes of the 2008 financial crisis. The precipitous financial decline 
of the Enterprises was also among the most destabilizing events of the 
2008 financial crisis, leading to their taxpayer-backed rescue in 
September 2008. Even today, a perception continues to persist that the 
Enterprises are ``too big to fail.'' This perception reduces the 
incentives of creditors and other counterparties to discipline risk-
taking by the Enterprises. This perception also produces competitive 
distortions to the extent that the Enterprises can fund themselves at a 
lower cost than other market participants.
    Pursuant to the Safety and Soundness Act, as amended by HERA, the 
FHFA Director's principal duties are, among other duties, to ensure 
that each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and that the 
operations and activities of each Enterprise foster liquid, efficient, 
competitive, and resilient national housing finance markets.\59\ For 
the reasons below, FHFA is proposing to incorporate into each 
Enterprise's PCCBA an Enterprise-specific stability capital buffer that 
is tailored to the risk that the Enterprise's default or other 
financial distress could have on the liquidity, efficiency, 
competitiveness, or resiliency of the national housing finance markets 
(housing finance market stability risk).\60\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ 12 U.S.C. 4513(a)(1).
    \60\ FHFA's proposed stability capital buffer should not be 
construed to imply or otherwise suggest that a similar capital 
surcharge would necessarily be appropriate for the Enterprises' 
counterparties or other market participants in the housing finance 
system. Some of these market participants do not pose much, if any, 
risk to the liquidity, efficiency, competitiveness, or resiliency of 
national housing finance markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First, an Enterprise-specific stability capital buffer would foster 
liquid, efficient, competitive, and resilient national housing finance 
markets by reducing the expected impact of the Enterprise's failure on 
the national housing finance markets. Under a regulatory capital 
framework in which each Enterprise is subject to the same capital 
requirements and has the same probability of default, a larger 
Enterprise's default would nonetheless still pose a greater expected 
impact due to the greater magnitude of the effects of its default on 
the national housing finance markets. As a result, a probability of 
default that might be acceptable for a smaller Enterprise might be 
unacceptably high for a larger Enterprise. By subjecting a larger 
Enterprise to a larger capital surcharge, an Enterprise-specific 
stability capital buffer would reduce the probability of a larger 
Enterprise's default, aligning the expected impact of its default with 
that of a smaller Enterprise.
    Second, an Enterprise-specific stability capital buffer also would 
foster liquid, efficient, competitive, and resilient national housing 
finance markets by creating incentives for each Enterprise to reduce 
its housing finance market stability risk by curbing its market share 
and growth in ordinary times, preserving room for a larger role during 
a period of financial stress.
    Third, an Enterprise-specific stability capital buffer could offset 
any funding advantage that an Enterprise might have on account of being 
perceived as ``too big to fail.'' That, in turn, would remove the 
incentive for counterparties to shift risk to the Enterprise, where 
that incentive not only increases the housing finance market stability 
risk posed by the Enterprise but also undermines the competitiveness of 
the national housing finance markets.
    Fourth, a larger capital cushion at an Enterprise could afford the 
Enterprise and FHFA more time to address emerging weaknesses at the 
Enterprise that could adversely impact the national housing finance 
markets. In addition to mitigating national housing finance market 
risk, the additional time afforded by a larger capital cushion could 
help FHFA ensure that each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound 
manner.
    Finally, again with respect to safety and soundness, any perception 
that an Enterprise is ``too big to fail'' leads to moral hazard that 
undermines market discipline by creditors and other counterparties over 
the risk taking at an Enterprise. By increasing the regulatory capital 
at an Enterprise, the stability capital buffer would shift more tail 
risk back to the Enterprise's shareholders, which should have the added 
benefit of offsetting any ``too big to fail'' funding advantage arising 
from unpriced tail risk. The resulting enhanced market discipline 
should enhance safety and soundness by increasing the likelihood that 
the Enterprise's risks are appropriately managed.
    FHFA is proposing a stability capital buffer based on a market 
share approach. Alternatively, FHFA is seeking comment on an additional 
approach that would have the Enterprises compute their stability 
capital buffer in a manner analogous to the U.S. banking approach for 
determining the GSIB surcharge.
d. Market Share Approach
    Under FHFA's market share approach, an Enterprise's stability 
capital buffer would depend on an Enterprise's share of total 
residential mortgage debt outstanding that exceeds a threshold of 5.0 
percent market share. The stability capital buffer, expressed as a 
percent of adjusted total assets, would increase by 5 basis points for 
each percentage point of market share exceeding that threshold. For 
purposes of determining the stability capital buffer, the Enterprise's 
mortgage assets would mean the sum of:
     The unpaid principal balance of its single-family mortgage 
exposures, including any single-family loans that secure MBS guaranteed 
by the Enterprise;
     The unpaid principal balance of its multifamily mortgage 
exposures, including any multifamily loans that secure MBS guaranteed 
by the Enterprise;
     The carrying value of its Enterprise MBS or Ginnie Mae 
MBS, PLS, and other securitization exposures (other than its retained 
CRT exposures); and
     The exposure amount of any other mortgage assets.
    Residential mortgage debt outstanding would mean the amount of 
mortgage debt outstanding secured by single-family or multifamily 
residences that are located in the United States (excluding any 
mortgage debt outstanding secured by non-farm, non-residential, or farm 
properties). FHFA would publish the residential mortgage debt 
outstanding as of the end of each calendar year, potentially using 
similar data published by the Federal Reserve Board.
    Among other considerations, FHFA developed this market share-based 
calibration of the stability capital buffer based on a linear 
interpolation between two points. First, FHFA began with an assumption 
that an Enterprise that has a share of total residential mortgage debt 
outstanding equal to 5.0 percent--as of September 30, 2019, roughly 
$632 billion in single-family and multifamily mortgage exposures owned 
or

[[Page 39299]]

guaranteed--would not merit a stability capital buffer to mitigate its 
national housing finance stability risk. An Enterprise with that 5.0 
percent market share would have more assets than U.S. Bancorp ($487.6 
billion in total assets, as of September 30, 2019), which is not a 
GSIB, but less assets than the next largest U.S. banking organization, 
Morgan Stanley ($902.6 billion in total assets as of September 30, 
2019), which is a GSIB.
    At the other extreme, the largest GSIB surcharge for a U.S. GSIB is 
that of JPMorgan Chase, at 3.5 percent of risk-weighted assets as of 
September 30, 2019. An Enterprise would roughly approximate an 
equivalent stability capital buffer if it had a 25 percent share of 
total residential mortgage debt outstanding. At that market share, the 
Enterprise's stability capital buffer would be 1.00 percent of its 
adjusted total assets, approximately equivalent to the 3.5 percent 
surcharge expressed as a percent of risk-weighted assets under the 
September 30, 2019 average net credit risk weight on the Enterprises' 
mortgage exposures of 28 percent.
    Under this market share approach, as of September 30, 2019, Fannie 
Mae and Freddie Mac would have had stability capital buffers of, 
respectively, 1.05 and 0.64 percent of adjusted total assets. Under the 
September 30, 2019 28 percent average risk weight on their exposures, 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's stability capital buffers would have been 
3.8 and 2.3 percent of risk-weighted assets, respectively, roughly in 
line with U.S. GSIBs of similar size.
    The following Table 7 details the calculation of the proposed 
stability capital buffer as of December 31, 2007, September 30, 2017, 
and September 30, 2019.

[[Page 39300]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.006

    Question 16. Is the market share approach appropriately formulated 
and calibrated to mitigate the national housing finance market 
stability risk posed by an Enterprise? If not, what modifications 
should FHFA consider to ensure an appropriate calibration?
    Question 17. Is the market share approach appropriately formulated 
and calibrated to ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound 
manner? If not, what modifications should FHFA consider to ensure an 
appropriate calibration?
e. Alternative Approach
    FHFA is soliciting comment on whether to replace or supplement the 
market share approach discussed in Section VII.A.3.d with another 
approach that considers other indicators of the housing finance market 
stability risk posed by an Enterprise. Other such indicators could 
include the ownership of the Enterprise's MBS and debt by other 
financial institutions, the degree of control by the Enterprise over 
key securitization infrastructure, the extent of the Enterprise's role 
in aggregating and distributing credit risk through CRT, the 
Enterprise's reliance on short-term debt funding, or the Enterprise's 
expected debt issuances during a financial stress to fund purchases of 
mortgage exposures out of securitization pools.
    One specific alternative approach under consideration by FHFA is to 
replace or supplement the market share approach with a modified version 
of the U.S. banking framework's two methods for determining a GSIB's 
capital

[[Page 39301]]

surcharge.\61\ Under method 1, a U.S. GSIB determines its capital 
surcharge using the sum of weighted indicator scores that span five 
categories correlated with systemic importance--size, 
interconnectedness, cross-jurisdictional activity, substitutability, 
and complexity. For each indicator, the U.S. GSIB's indicator score is 
its own measure of the indicator divided by the aggregate global 
measure of that indicator, which is based on other GSIBs' measures. 
Method 2 uses similar inputs but replaces the substitutability 
indicators with metrics for the U.S. GSIB's reliance on short-term 
wholesale funding. Method 2 is also calibrated in a manner that 
generally will result in GSIB capital surcharges that are higher than 
those calculated under method 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ 12 CFR part 217, subpart. H (Federal Reserve Board).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FHFA is soliciting comment on whether to calibrate the stability 
capital buffer based on some subset of the U.S. banking framework's 
five categories--for example, size, interconnectedness, and 
substitutability--and exclude the indicators for cross-jurisdictional 
activity or complexity. In particular, cross-jurisdictional activity 
might not be an important driver of the national housing finance market 
stability risk posed by an Enterprise.
    FHFA is also soliciting comment on whether modifications to the 
definitions or calculations of the U.S. banking framework's specific 
GSIB surcharge indicators would be appropriate to ensure the resulting 
score or scores are correlated with an Enterprise's national housing 
finance market stability risk. For example, the Enterprises play an 
integral role in the national housing finance market, and there are 
few, if any, natural substitutes for that role, but an Enterprise's 
amount of underwritten transactions in debt and equity markets, one of 
the substitutability indicators under the U.S. banking framework, might 
not be strongly correlated with that risk.
    Another approach might be to adopt a modified version of the U.S. 
banking framework's method and then use a similar measure of an 
Enterprise's reliance on short-term debt funding (perhaps with 
adjustments for the expected debt issuances during a financial stress 
to fund purchases of NPLs out of securitization pools) as the basis for 
a replacement for the U.S. banking framework's method 2.
    Question 18. Should the Enterprise-specific stability capital 
buffer be determined using the U.S. banking framework's approach to 
calculating capital surcharges for GSIBs?
    Question 19. What, if any, modifications to the U.S. banking 
framework's approach to calculating capital surcharges for GSIBs are 
appropriate for determining the Enterprise-specific stability capital 
buffer?
    Question 20. Should the Enterprise-specific stability capital 
buffer be determined based on a sum of the weighted indicators for 
size, interconnectedness, and substitutability under the U.S. banking 
framework?
    Question 21. Which, if any, indicators of the housing finance 
market stability risk posed by an Enterprise, other than its market 
share, should be used to size the Enterprise's stability capital 
buffer? How should those other indicators be measured and weighted to 
produce a score of the housing finance market stability risk posed by 
an Enterprise?
    Question 22. What, if any, measure of the Enterprise's short-term 
debt funding or expected debt issuances during a financial stress to 
fund purchases of NPLs out of securitization pools should be used to 
size the Enterprise's stability capital buffer?

B. Leverage Buffer

    In addition to the payout restrictions posed by the PCCBA, to avoid 
limits on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments, an 
Enterprise also would be required to maintain tier 1 capital in excess 
of the amount required under the tier 1 leverage ratio requirement by 
at least the amount of a PLBA equal to 1.5 percent of the Enterprise's 
adjusted total assets. The primary purpose of the PLBA would be to 
serve as a non-risk-based supplementary measure that provides a 
credible backstop to the combined PCCBA and risk-based capital 
requirements. From a safety-and-soundness perspective, each of the 
risk-based and leverage ratio requirements offsets potential weaknesses 
of the other. Taken together, well-calibrated risk-based capital 
requirements working with a credible leverage ratio requirement are 
more effective than either would be in isolation. FHFA deems it 
important that the buffer-adjusted risk-based and leverage requirements 
are also closely calibrated to each other so that they have an 
effective complementary relationship.
    To size the PLBA, FHFA looked first to the PCCBA of each 
Enterprise. At 1.5 percent of adjusted total assets, the PLBA for 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be, respectively, $53 billion and $38 
billion as of September 30, 2019. For Fannie Mae, the PLBA would be 
less than its PCCBA, while for Freddie Mac the reverse is true. These 
results suggest that 1.5 percent PLBA is calibrated to ensure that the 
PCCBA and PLBA have an effective complementary relationship such that 
each is independently meaningful.
    FHFA also looked to the sizing of similar leverage buffer 
requirements under the U.S. banking framework. Some large U.S. banking 
organizations are required to maintain a supplementary leverage ratio 
requirement of 3.0 percent of their total leverage exposure and, to 
avoid restrictions on distributions and discretionary bonuses, a 
leverage buffer requirement of 2.0 percent of their total leverage 
exposure. That 2.0 percent total leverage buffer requirement is 40 
percent of the 5.0 percent buffer-adjusted leverage ratio requirement 
to avoid payout restrictions. Similarly, a 1.5 percent PLBA for the 
Enterprises would be 37.5 percent of the 4.0 percent buffer-adjusted 
leverage ratio requirement to avoid payout restrictions.
    Question 23. Is the PLBA appropriately sized to backstop the PCCBA-
adjusted risked-based capital requirements?
    Question 24. Should the PLBA for an Enterprise be sized as a 
fraction or other function of the PCCBA of the Enterprise? If so, how 
should the PLBA of an Enterprise be calibrated based on the 
Enterprise's PCCBA?

C. Payout Restrictions

    An Enterprise would be subject to limits on its capital 
distributions and discretionary bonus payments if either its capital 
conservation buffer is less than its PCCBA, as discussed in Section 
VII.A, or its leverage buffer is less than its PLBA, as discussed in 
Section VII.B. An Enterprise also may not make distributions or 
discretionary bonus payments during the current calendar quarter if, as 
of the end of the previous calendar quarter: (i) The eligible retained 
income of the Enterprise was negative; and (ii) either (A) the capital 
conservation buffer of the Enterprise was less than its stress capital 
buffer, or (B) the leverage buffer of the Enterprise was less than its 
PLBA.
    The capital conservation buffer is composed solely of CET1 capital. 
An Enterprise's capital conservation buffer is equal to the lowest of 
the following, calculated as of the last day of the previous calendar 
quarter:
     The Enterprise's adjusted total capital minus the minimum 
amount of adjusted total capital required under the proposed rule;
     The Enterprise's tier 1 capital minus the minimum amount 
of tier 1

[[Page 39302]]

capital required under the proposed rule; or
     The Enterprise's CET1 capital minus the minimum amount of 
CET1 capital required under the proposed rule.
    An Enterprise's maximum payout ratio determines the extent to which 
it is subject to limits on capital distributions and discretionary 
bonuses. The maximum payout ratio is the percent of eligible retained 
income that an Enterprise can pay out in the form of distributions and 
discretionary bonus payments during the current calendar quarter. The 
eligible retained income of an Enterprise is the greater of: (i) The 
Enterprise's net income for the four calendar quarters preceding the 
current calendar quarter, net of any distributions and associated tax 
effects not already reflected in net income; and (ii) the average of 
the Enterprise's net income, as applicable, for the four calendar 
quarters preceding the current calendar quarter. The maximum payout 
ratio is itself a function of the extent to which the applicable 
capital buffer is less than the applicable prescribed buffer amount, as 
set forth on Table 8.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.007

    If an Enterprise is subject to a maximum payout ratio, the payout 
restrictions would apply to all capital distributions, which generally 
extends to dividends or payments on, or repurchases of, CET1, tier 1, 
or tier 2 capital instruments (except, with respect to a payment on a 
tier 2 capital instrument, if the Enterprise does not have full 
discretion to permanently or temporarily suspend such payments without 
triggering an event of default). The payout restrictions would also 
extend to discretionary bonuses, broadly defined to include any payment 
made to an executive officer of an Enterprise where the Enterprise 
retains discretion as to whether to make, and the amount of, the 
payment, the amount paid is determined by the Enterprise without prior 
promise to, or agreement with, the executive officer, and the executive 
officer has no contractual right to the payment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ An Enterprise's ``capital buffer'' means, as applicable, 
its capital conservation buffer or its leverage buffer.
    \63\ An Enterprise's ``prescribed buffer amount'' means, as 
applicable, its PCCBA or its PLBA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FHFA expects that each Enterprise generally will seek to avoid any 
payout restriction by maintaining regulatory capital in excess of its 
buffer-adjusted risk-based and leverage ratio requirements during 
ordinary times. FHFA also expects that, consistent with its statutory 
mission to provide stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary 
mortgage market across the economic cycle, each Enterprise might draw 
down its buffers during a period of financial stress. However, it would 
not be consistent with the safe and sound operation of an Enterprise 
for the Enterprise to maintain regulatory capital less than its buffer-
adjusted requirements in the ordinary course except for some reasonable 
period after a financial stress, pending the Enterprise's efforts to 
raise and retain regulatory capital.
    Nothing in this proposed rule limits the authority of FHFA to take 
action to address unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law, 
including actions inconsistent with an Enterprise's charter. FHFA 
could, depending on the facts and circumstances, determine that it is 
an unsafe or unsound practice, or that it is inconsistent with the 
Enterprise's statutory mission, for an Enterprise to maintain 
regulatory capital that is less than its buffer-adjusted requirements 
during ordinary times. If FHFA were to make that determination, FHFA 
would have all of its enforcement and other authorities, including its 
authority to issue a cease-and-desist order, to require the Enterprise 
to remediate that unsafe or unsound practice--for example, by 
developing and implementing a plan to raise additional regulatory 
capital.
    FHFA is soliciting comments on whether some or all of the payout 
restrictions should be phased-in over a transition period. In 
anticipation of the potential development and implementation of a 
capital restoration plan by each Enterprise, tailored exceptions to the 
payout restrictions might be appropriate to facilitate an Enterprise's 
issuances of equity to new investors, particularly to the extent that 
any tailored exception would shorten the time required for an 
Enterprise to achieve the regulatory capital amounts contemplated by 
the proposed rule or otherwise enhance its safety and soundness. For 
example, a tailored exception to allow for some distributions on an 
Enterprise's newly issued preferred stock might increase investor 
demand for the offerings of those shares. Similarly, a tailored 
exception for some limited regular dividends on an Enterprise's common 
stock might increase investor demand for those shares.
    Question 25. Are the payout restrictions appropriately formulated 
and calibrated?
    Question 26. Should there be any sanction or consequence other than 
payout restrictions triggered by an Enterprise not maintaining a 
capital conservation buffer or leverage buffer in

[[Page 39303]]

excess of the applicable PCCBA or PLBA?
    Question 27. Should the payout restrictions be phased-in over an 
appropriate transition period? If so, what is an appropriate transition 
period?
    Question 28. Should the payout restrictions provide exceptions for 
dividends on newly issued preferred stock, perhaps with any exceptions 
limited to some transition period following conservatorship?
    Question 29. Should the payout restrictions provide an exception 
for some limited dividends on common stock over some transition period?

VIII. Credit Risk Capital: Standardized Approach

A. Single-Family Mortgage Exposures

    The standardized credit risk-weighted assets for each single-family 
mortgage exposure would be determined using grids and risk multipliers 
that together would assign an exposure-specific risk weight based on 
the risk characteristics of the single-family mortgage exposure. The 
resulting exposure-specific credit risk capital requirements generally 
would be similar to those of the 2018 proposal, subject to some 
simplifications and refinements. As discussed in Section VIII.A.3, the 
base risk weight would be a function of the single-family mortgage 
exposure's MTMLTV, among other things. The MTMLTV would be subject to a 
countercyclical adjustment to the extent that national house prices are 
5.0 percent greater or less than an inflation-adjusted long-term trend, 
as discussed in Section VIII.A.4. This base risk weight would then be 
adjusted based on other risk attributes, including any mortgage 
insurance or other loan-level credit enhancement and the counterparty 
strength on that enhancement, as discussed in Sections VIII.A.5 and 
VIII.A.6. Finally, as discussed in Section VIII.A.7, this adjusted risk 
weight would be subject to a floor of 15 percent.
1. Single-Family Business Models
    The core of an Enterprise's single-family guarantee business is 
acquiring single-family mortgage loans from mortgage companies, 
commercial banks, credit unions, and other mortgage lenders, packaging 
those loans into MBS, and selling the MBS either back to the original 
lenders or to other private investors in exchange for a fee that 
represents a guarantee of timely principal and interest payments on 
those MBS.
    The Enterprises engage in the acquisition and securitization of 
single-family mortgage exposures primarily through two types of 
transactions: Lender swap transactions; and cash window transactions. 
In a lender swap transaction, lenders pool eligible single-family loans 
together and deliver the pool of loans to an Enterprise in exchange for 
an MBS backed by those single-family mortgage loans, which the lenders 
generally then sell in order to use the proceeds to fund more mortgage 
loans. In a cash window transaction, an Enterprise purchases single-
family loans from a large, diverse group of lenders and then, at a 
later date, securitizes the acquired loans into an MBS. For MBS issued 
as a result of either lender swap transactions or cash window 
transactions, the Enterprises provide investors with a guarantee of the 
payment of principal and interest payments in exchange for a guarantee 
fee. Single-family loans that have been purchased but have not yet been 
securitized are held in the Enterprises' whole loan portfolios. In 
addition, the Enterprises also repurchase some delinquent loans from 
their guaranteed MBS subject to certain requirements and restrictions.
    Except to the extent that they transfer the risk to private 
investors, the Enterprises are exposed to credit risk through their 
ownership of single-family mortgage exposures and their guarantees of 
MBS. Consequently, the Enterprises attempt to mitigate the likelihood 
of incurring credit losses in a variety of ways. One way to reduce 
potential credit losses is through loan-level credit enhancements such 
as mortgage insurance. Another way of reducing potential credit losses 
is through the transfer of risk at the pool level through 
securitization or synthetic securitization transactions.
2. Calibration Framework
    In general, FHFA calibrated the base risk weights and risk 
multipliers for single-family mortgage exposures to require credit risk 
capital sufficient to absorb the lifetime unexpected losses incurred on 
single-family mortgage exposures experiencing a shock to house prices 
similar to that observed during the 2008 financial crisis. Lifetime 
unexpected losses are the difference between lifetime credit losses in 
such conditions (also known as stress losses) and expected losses.
    As adverse economic conditions are not explicitly defined, the loss 
projections that underpin the credit risk capital requirements in the 
proposed rule are based on several different economic scenarios. Each 
Enterprise used economic scenarios that it defined to project loan-
level credit risk capital. In addition, FHFA used the baseline and 
severely adverse scenario defined in DFAST to project unexpected 
losses. FHFA used these pre-existing scenarios as a starting point for 
its estimations in order to provide economic scenarios consistent with 
those of the U.S. banking framework for stress tests required under 
DFAST. FHFA also used these scenarios to ensure a straightforward, 
transparent approach to the proposed rule's capital requirements. The 
DFAST scenarios include forecasts for macroeconomic variables, 
including house prices, interest rates, and unemployment rates.
    House prices are used to define the MTMLTV ratio, where the 
likelihood of a loss occurring upon default increases as the proportion 
of equity to loan value decreases. Therefore, the projected house price 
path is the predominant macroeconomic driver of single-family stress 
scenarios.
    The Enterprises used similar house price paths to project stress 
losses. In the stress scenarios used by FHFA and the Enterprises, 
nationally averaged house prices declined by 25 percent from peak to 
trough (the period of time between the shock and the recovery), which 
is consistent with the decline in house prices observed during the 2008 
financial crisis. The 25 percent house price decline is also broadly 
consistent with assumptions used in the DFAST severely adverse scenario 
over the past several years, although the 2020 DFAST cycle assumes a 28 
percent house price decline in its severely adverse scenario. However, 
the trough and recovery assumptions used by FHFA and the Enterprises 
are somewhat more conservative than the observed house price recoveries 
post crisis.
    Using these stress scenarios, the single-family grids were, as a 
general rule, calibrated based on estimates of unexpected losses from 
the Enterprises' internal models and FHFA's publicly available 
model.\64\ The Enterprises and FHFA ran synthetic and actual loans with 
a baseline risk profile through their own credit models using these 
stress scenarios. Each single-family segment has its own baseline risk 
profile, which is discussed segment-by-segment in VIII.A.3. 
Consequently, each cell of each single-family grid represents projected 
unexpected losses, converted to a risk weight, for a baseline loan with 
a

[[Page 39304]]

particular combination of primary risk factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ FHFA's single-family loss model is available on its website 
at fhfa.gov. For performing loans, all three models were used to 
construct the single-family grid. For single-family mortgage 
exposures other than performing loans, FHFA relied primarily on the 
Enterprises' estimates of unexpected losses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The risk multipliers were similarly calibrated based on estimates 
of unexpected losses from the Enterprises' internal models and FHFA's 
publicly available model. The Enterprises varied the secondary risk 
factors, specific to each single-family segment, to estimate each risk 
factor's multiplicative effects on estimates of unexpected losses for 
the baseline loan in each single-family segment. FHFA considered the 
risk multipliers estimated by the Enterprises, which were generally 
consistent in magnitude and direction, in conjunction with its own 
estimated values in determining the proposed single-family risk 
multipliers.
    Question 30. Is the methodology used to calibrate the credit risk 
capital requirements for single-family mortgage exposures appropriate 
to ensure that the exposure is backed by capital sufficient to absorb 
the lifetime unexpected losses incurred on single-family mortgage 
exposures experiencing a shock to house prices similar to that observed 
during the 2008 financial crisis?
    Question 31. What, if any, changes should FHFA consider to the 
methodology for calibrating credit risk capital requirements for 
single-family mortgage exposures?
3. Base Risk Weights
    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to determine a base 
risk weight for each single-family mortgage exposure using one of four 
grids, one for each single-family segment. These segments are based on 
payment performance because as a risk factor it is a material 
determinant of projected unexpected loss. Additional risk factors 
affect unexpected losses differently depending on where a single-family 
mortgage exposure is in its life cycle. The base risk weight for a 
single-family mortgage exposure would therefore change over the life 
cycle of the single-family mortgage exposure, generally decreasing when 
the single-family mortgage exposure is seasoned and performing, and 
increasing when the single-family mortgage exposure is delinquent or 
recently delinquent.
    The four single-family segments would be:
     Non-performing loan (NPL): A single-family mortgage 
exposure that is 60 days or more past due.
     Modified re-performing loan (modified RPL): A single-
family mortgage exposure that is not an NPL and has previously been 
modified or entered a repayment plan.
     Non-modified re-performing loan (non-modified RPL): A 
single-family mortgage exposure that is not an NPL, has not been 
previously modified or entered a repayment plan, and has been an NPL at 
any time in the last 48 calendar months.
     Performing loan: A single-family mortgage exposure that is 
not an NPL, a modified RPL, or a non-modified RPL. A non-modified RPL 
generally transitions to a performing loan after not being an NPL at 
any time in the prior 48 calendar months.
    Each single-family segment would have a unique, two-dimensional 
risk weight grid (single-family grid) that an Enterprise would use to 
determine its base risk weight before subsequently applying risk 
multipliers. The dimensions of the single-family grids would vary by 
single-family segment to allow the single-family grids to 
differentially incorporate key risk drivers into the base risk weights 
on a segment-by-segment basis.
    The single-family grids reflect several notable differences from 
the single-family grids in the 2018 proposal. First, FHFA combined the 
``New Originations'' and ``Performing Seasoned'' base grids into one 
single-family grid for performing loans. Commenters recommended that 
the single-family segmentation could be simplified in this way without 
a meaningful loss of accuracy.
    Second, for purposes of the definition of NPL, the proposed rule 
would define delinquency as 60 days or more past due, while the 2018 
proposal defined delinquency as 30 days past due. Commenters 
recommended this change in order to mitigate variations in regulatory 
capital requirements, and because a significant portion of 30-day past 
due loans become current in the following month or do not become more 
delinquent. The practical effect of this change is that the projected 
unexpected losses on 30-day past due loans has been reallocated from 
the single-family grid for NPLs to the single-family grid for 
performing loans, increasing the base credit risk capital requirements 
for performing loans above where they were in the 2018 proposal. In 
addition, following the redefinition of delinquency, the proposed rule 
does not contemplate a return to performing loan status for a non-
modified RPL with 36 consecutive timely payments and no more than 1 
missed payment in the 12 months preceding that 36-month period.
    Third, the single-family grids would reflect credit risk capital 
that was allocated using the ``number of borrowers'' and ``loan 
balance'' single-family risk multipliers of the 2018 proposal. As 
discussed in Section VIII.A.5, these risk multipliers are not included 
in the proposed rule. In order to ensure the risk-based capital 
requirements do not decrease by the amount of capital that would have 
otherwise been required due to these risk factors, FHFA has 
redistributed the capital requirements across cells of the single-
family grids.
    Fourth, the MTMLTVs used to assign base risk weights in the 
proposed single-family grids would be subject to a countercyclical 
adjustment as described in VIII.A.4.
Performing Loans
    The primary risk factors for performing loans are credit score and 
MTMLTV (after factoring in the loan-level countercyclical adjustment). 
Credit score correlates strongly with the likelihood of a borrower 
default, while MTMLTV relates to both the likelihood of default and the 
severity of a potential loss should a borrower default (loss given 
default).\65\ For the first five scheduled payment dates, an Enterprise 
would use the credit score at origination to determine the base risk 
weight. After that time, an Enterprise would use the refreshed or 
updated credit score. As discussed in Section VIII.A.4, an Enterprise 
would use the adjusted or unadjusted MTMLTV, depending on whether the 
loan-level countercyclical adjustment is non-zero (except that for the 
first five scheduled payment dates after the origination of a single-
family mortgage exposure, an Enterprise would use OLTV rather than 
MTMLTV). The single-family grid for performing loans is presented below 
in Table 9. For purposes of this table, credit score means the original 
credit score of the single-family mortgage exposure if the loan age is 
less than 6, or the refreshed credit score otherwise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ As in the 2018 proposal, FHFA notes that the Enterprises 
currently rely on Classic FICO for product eligibility, loan 
pricing, and financial disclosure purposes, and therefore the 
single-family grid for performing loans was estimated using Classic 
FICO credit scores. Throughout the proposed rule, the use of term 
``credit score'' should be interpreted to mean Classic FICO credit 
scores. If the Enterprises were to begin using a different credit 
score for these purposes, or multiple scores, the single-family 
grids and multipliers might need to be recalibrated. Related to 
that, in February 2020, the Enterprises published a Joint Credit 
Score Solicitation that describes the process for credit score model 
developers to submit applications to the Enterprises. The validation 
and approval of credit score models will be a multi-year effort by 
the Enterprises under requirements established by FHFA's final rule 
on the process for validation and approval of credit score models. 
84 FR 41886 (Aug. 16, 2019).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 39305]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.008

    Credit scores have values ranging from 300 to 850, and OLTVs 
typically range from 10 percent to 97 percent. MTMLTVs typically range 
from 10 percent to upwards of 120 percent. The Enterprises conduct most 
of their new single-family businesses within an OLTV range of 70 
percent to 95 percent. FHFA included MTMLTV buckets beyond 95 percent 
to account for adverse changes in home prices subsequent to 
origination, as well as to account for the inclusion of streamlined 
refinance loans in the single-family segment.
    In the 2018 proposal, the single-family grid for new originations 
had a distinct treatment for loans with an 80 percent OLTV to account 
for the high volume and distinct features of these particular loans. 
FHFA determined that including 80 percent OLTV loans with other single-
family mortgage exposures with LTVs between 75 percent and 80 percent 
did not result in a meaningful loss of accuracy, so the single-family 
grid for performing loans has combined their treatment. As previously 
discussed, the base risk weights for performing loans include projected 
unexpected losses for single-family mortgage exposures that are between 
30 and 60 days past due.
    The base risk weights for performing loans do not reflect credit 
enhancements such as mortgage insurance, which would generally lower an 
Enterprise's risk-based capital requirement for a single-family 
mortgage exposure with an LTV greater than 80 percent. Risk weight 
adjustments for credit enhancements are discussed in Section VIII.A.6.
    Aside from the primary risk factors represented in the dimensions 
of the single-family grid for performing loans, there are several 
secondary risk factors accounted for in the risk profile of the 
synthetic loan used in the calibration of the base risk weights. Those 
secondary risk factors, along with the values that determine the 
baseline risk profile for performing loans, are: Loan age less than 24 
months; 30-year fixed-rate; purchase; owner-occupied; single-unit; 
retail channel sourced; debt-to-income ratio between 25 percent and 40 
percent; no second lien; full documentation; non-interest-only; not 
streamlined refinance loans; and zero cohort burnout (described 
below).\66\ Unlike the 2018 proposal, neither loan size (greater than 
$100,000) nor the number of borrowers (multiple) is a secondary risk 
factor. Variations in the credit risk capital requirements due to these 
secondary risk factors are captured using risk multipliers, as 
discussed in Section VIII.A.5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ The CFPB's ability-to-repay rule generally prohibits 
interest-only and low-documentation loans. However, these risk 
factors may be present on single-family mortgage exposures 
originated prior to the 2008 financial crisis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Modified RPLs
    The primary risk factors for non-modified RPLs are MTMLTV (after 
factoring in the loan-level countercyclical adjustment) and the re-
performing duration. The re-performing duration is the number of 
scheduled payment dates since the non-modified RPL was last an NPL (60 
days or more past due), and is a strong predictor of the likelihood of 
a subsequent default. MTMLTV is a strong predictor of the likelihood of 
default and loss given default for single-family mortgage exposures in 
this segment. The proposed single-family grid for non-modified RPLs is 
presented below in Table 10. For purposes of this table, non-modified 
re-performing duration means the number of scheduled payment dates 
since the non-modified RPL was last an NPL.

[[Page 39306]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.009

    Re-performing duration is divided into four categories such that 
the base risk weights would generally decrease as re-performing 
duration increases. When the re-performing duration is greater than 
three years, the base risk weight for the non-modified RPL would begin 
to approximate the base risk weight for a performing loan. A single-
family mortgage exposure that re-performs for greater than four years, 
and has not been modified, would revert to being classified as a 
performing loan.
    Aside from the primary risk factors represented in the single-
family grid for non-modified RPLs, there are many secondary risk 
factors accounted for in the risk profile of the synthetic loan used in 
the calibration of the base risk weights. These secondary risk factors, 
along with the values that determine the baseline risk profile for non-
modified RPLs, are the same as those for performing loans with the 
inclusion of two additional features--refreshed credit scores between 
660 and 700, and a maximum previous delinquency of less than 60 days--
and the exclusion of loan age and cohort burnout. Variations in the 
credit risk capital requirements due to these secondary risk factors 
would be captured using risk multipliers, as discussed in Section 
VIII.A.5.
Modified RPLs
    The primary risk factors for modified RPLs are similar to non-
modified RPLs. However, along with MTMLTV (after factoring in the loan-
level countercyclical adjustment), the second primary risk factor in 
the segment would be either the re-performing duration or the 
performing duration, whichever is less. The re-performing duration is 
the number of scheduled payment dates since the modified RPL was last 
an NPL (60 days or more past due), while the performing duration 
measures the number of scheduled payment dates since the last 
modification of a modified RPL. The proposed single-family grid for 
modified RPLs is presented below in Table 11. For purposes of this 
table, modified re-performing duration means the lesser of: (i) The 
number of scheduled payment dates since the modified RPL was last 
modified; and (ii) the number of scheduled payments dates the modified 
RPL was last an NPL.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.010

    Aside from the primary risk factors represented in the dimensions 
of the single-family grid for modified RPLs, there are many secondary 
risk factors accounted for in the risk profile of the synthetic loan 
used in the calibration of the base risk weights. These secondary risk 
factors, along with the values that determine the baseline risk profile 
for modified RPLs, are the same as those for non-modified RPLs with one 
addition; a payment change from modification greater than or equal to -
20 percent and less than 0 percent. Variations in the credit risk 
capital requirements due to these secondary risk factors would be 
captured using risk multipliers, as discussed in Section VIII.A.5.
    Unlike non-modified RPLs, modified RPLs never revert to being 
classified as performing loans, even after four or more years of re-
performance.
NPLs
    The primary risk factors for NPLs are the days past due and MTMLTV 
(after factoring in the loan-level countercyclical adjustment). Days 
past due is the number of days a single-family mortgage exposure is 
past due and is a strong predictor of the likelihood of default for 
NPLs. MTMLTV is a strong predictor of loss given default for exposures 
in this segment. The proposed single-family grid for NPLs is presented 
below in Table 12.

[[Page 39307]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.011

    The base risk weights detailed in the single-family grid for NPLs 
are noticeably non-monotonic as the number of days past due increases, 
particularly in the highest (right-most) MTMLTV column. This is because 
as the number of days past due increases for an NPL with higher LTV, so 
does the expected loss. Because the credit risk capital requirement has 
been calibrated as the difference between stress loss and expected 
loss, when expected loss increases and grows closer to stress loss, the 
projected unexpected loss (reflected by the base risk weight) 
decreases. The increase in expected loss should be reflected in 
commensurately higher ALLL.
    Aside from the primary risk factors represented in the single-
family grid for NPLs, there are several secondary risk factors 
accounted for in the risk profile of the synthetic loan used in the 
calibration of the base risk weights. These secondary risk factors, 
along with the values that determine the baseline risk profile for 
NPLs, are: 30-year fixed-rate; owner-occupied; single-unit; retail 
channel sourced; and a refreshed credit score between 640 (inclusive) 
and 700. Variations in the credit risk capital requirements due to 
these secondary risk factors would be captured using risk multipliers, 
as discussed in Section VIII.A.5.
    Question 32. Are the base risk weights for single-family mortgage 
exposures appropriately formulated and calibrated to require credit 
risk capital sufficient to ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe 
and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission 
across the economic cycle?
    Question 33. Are there any adjustments, simplifications, or other 
refinements that FHFA should consider for the base risk weights for 
single-family mortgage exposures?
    Question 34. Should the base risk weight for a single-family 
mortgage exposure be assigned based on OLTV or MTMLTV of the single-
family mortgage exposure, or perhaps on the LTV of the single-family 
mortgage exposure based on the original purchase price and after 
adjusting for any paydowns of the original principal balance?
    Question 35. Should the base risk weight for a single-family 
mortgage exposure be assigned based on the original credit score of the 
borrower or the refreshed credit score of the borrower?
    Question 36. What steps, including any process for soliciting 
public comment on an ongoing basis, should FHFA take to ensure that the 
single-family grids and the real house price trend are updated from 
time to time as market conditions evolve?
    Question 37. Should a delinquency associated with a COVID-19-
related forbearance cause a single-family mortgage exposure to become 
an NPL?
    Question 38. Which, if any, types of forbearances, payment plans, 
or modifications should be excluded from those that cause a single-
family mortgage exposure to become a modified RPL? Should a 
forbearance, payment plan, or modification arising out of a COVID-19-
related forbearance request cause a single-family mortgage exposure to 
become a modified RPL?
4. Countercyclical Adjustment
    The MTMLTVs used to assign base risk weights to single-family 
mortgage exposures in the single-family grids would be subject to a 
countercyclical adjustment an Enterprise would be required to make when 
national house prices increase or decrease by more than 5.0 percent 
from an estimated inflation-adjusted long-term trend. Many commenters 
noted the pro-cyclical nature of the aggregate risk-based capital 
requirements of the 2018 proposal. Certain commenters recommended FHFA 
replace MTMLTV and refreshed credit scores with OLTV and original 
credit scores to reduce pro-cyclicality. Other commenters recommended 
FHFA continue to use MTMLTV and refreshed credit scores in order to 
provide a more accurate view of risk and achieve rational pricing and 
proper incentives. Additional commenters recommended FHFA base capital 
requirements on fundamental house values, while still other commenters 
suggested FHFA introduce a countercyclical requirement either through a 
countercyclical capital buffer or a countercyclical risk-based capital 
requirement.
    The proposed formulaic countercyclical adjustment to loan-level 
single-family MTMLTVs would be based on FHFA's U.S. all-transactions 
house price index (HPI). The adjustment would restrict decreases in 
MTMLTV during periods of rising vulnerabilities in house prices and 
limits increases in MTMLTV when vulnerabilities recede. The adjustment 
is designed to increase the resilience of the Enterprises when there is 
an elevated risk of above-normal losses and to reduce the need for 
additional capital during a period of financial stress.
    An Enterprise would calculate the MTMLTV adjustment by first 
estimating a long-term trend of FHFA's quarterly, not-seasonally-
adjusted HPI using a prescribed trough-to-trough methodology, deflated 
by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, All Items Less 
Shelter in U.S. City Average. If the deflated all-transactions HPI 
exceeds the estimated long-term trend by more than 5 percentage points, 
the Enterprise would adjust upward the MTMLTV of every single-family 
mortgage exposure by the difference between the deflated all-
transactions HPI and 5.0 percent. Otherwise, the Enterprise would use 
the unadjusted MTMLTV. On the other hand, if the deflated all-
transactions HPI falls below the estimated long-term trend by more than 
5 percentage points, the Enterprise would adjust downward the MTMLTV of 
every single-family mortgage exposure by the difference between the 
deflated all-transactions HPI and 5.0 percent. Otherwise, the 
Enterprise would use the unadjusted MTMLTV.
    In other words, if the HPI exceeds its long-term trend by more than 
5 percentage points, the Enterprise would adjust upward the MTMLTV by 
the ratio of the HPI index actual value to the HPI index if it were at 
5.0 percent over long-term trend. This adjustment, in effect, would 
reduce the house price used to calculate MTMLTV to the level expected 
if all house prices nationally adjusted downward by the percent the 
index exceeds 5.0 percent above trend.
    FHFA chose collars of 5.0 percent above and below the long-term 
trend in house prices because it would allow for MTMLTVs to reflect the 
best estimate of

[[Page 39308]]

market value most of the time, while restricting excessive MTMLTV 
increases or decreases during periods where house prices appear to 
deviate more materially from their long-term trend. The figure below 
presents the historical deflated all-transactions HPI series with both 
an estimated long-term trend and 5.0 percent collars above and below 
the trendline. When the HPI series is above or below the collars, the 
MTMLTV adjustment would be non-zero.
    The following Figure 1 and Table 13 provide an illustration of the 
historical data used to calculate the long-term trend in HPI, along 
with the plus/minus 5.0 percent collars, as well as examples of how 
single-family MTMLTVs would be adjusted under the proposed 
framework.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ The parameters of the long-run trend are estimated using 
linear regression on the natural logarithm of real HPI from the Q3 
1975 trough to the Q2 2012 trough. Figure 1 shows the fitted values 
from the estimated long-run trend from Q1 1975 to Q3 2019. FHFA 
might need to revisit the calibration of the parameters in the event 
of future troughs.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.012

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.013


[[Page 39309]]


    Table 13 illustrates three scenarios. Under the first scenario, 
2006, Real HPI exceeds the long-term trend by more than 5.0 percent, so 
single-family house prices would be adjusted downward such that 
adjusted MTMLTV would be greater than MTMLTV. A single-family mortgage 
exposure with a 60 percent MTMLTV would be assigned a base risk weight 
using its adjusted MTMLTV of 71 percent. Similarly, an 80 percent 
MTMLTV would correspond to a 95 percent adjusted MTMLTV, while a 95 
percent MTMLTV would correspond to a 113 percent adjusted MTMLTV. Under 
the second scenario, 2012, Real HPI is less than the long-term trend by 
more than 5.0 percent, so single-family house prices would be adjusted 
upward such that adjusted MTMLTV would be less than MTMLTV. For 
example, a single-family mortgage exposure with an 80 percent MTMLTV 
would be assigned a base risk weight using its adjusted MTMLTV of 69 
percent. In the final scenario, September 30, 2019, Real HPI exceeds 
the long-term trend by 3.0 percent. In this case, because 3.0 percent 
is less than 5.0 percent, single-family house prices would not be 
adjusted, and adjusted MTMLTV would equal MTMLTV for all values of 
MTMLTV.
    Question 39. Is the MTMLTV adjustment appropriately formulated and 
calibrated to require credit risk capital sufficient to ensure each 
Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and is positioned to 
fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle? If not, what 
modifications should FHFA consider to ensure an appropriate formulation 
and calibration?
    Question 40. Does the MTMLTV adjustment strike an appropriate 
balance in mitigating the pro-cyclicality of the aggregate risk-based 
capital requirements while preserving a mortgage risk-sensitive 
framework? Are the collars set appropriately at 5.0 percent above or 
below the long-term index trend?
    Question 41. How should the long-term house price trend be 
determined for the purpose of any countercyclical adjustment to a 
single-family mortgage exposure's credit risk capital requirement?
5. Risk Multipliers
    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to adjust the base 
risk weight for a single-family mortgage exposure to account for 
additional loan characteristics using a set of single-family-specific 
risk multipliers. The risk multipliers would refine the base risk 
weights to account for risk factors beyond the primary risk factors 
reflected in the single-family grids, and for variations in secondary 
risk factors not captured in the risk profiles of the synthetic loans 
used to calibrate the single-family grids. The adjusted risk weight for 
a single-family mortgage exposure would be the product of the base risk 
weight, the combined risk multiplier, and any credit enhancement 
multiplier, which is discussed in Section VIII.A.6.
    The risk multipliers correspond to common characteristics that 
increase or decrease the projected unexpected losses of a single-family 
mortgage exposure. Although the specified risk characteristics are not 
exhaustive, they capture key real estate loan performance drivers, and 
are commonly used in mortgage pricing and underwriting.
    The risk multipliers are substantially the same as those of the 
2018 proposal, with some simplifications and refinements. In 
particular, FHFA eliminated the single-family risk multipliers for 
``number of borrowers'' and ``loan balance,'' and reallocated the 
associated unexpected losses across the single-family grids. The 
practical effect of this change is that the base risk weights in the 
single-family grids are greater than they otherwise would have been if 
the two risk multipliers had not been eliminated.

                                           Table 14--Risk Multipliers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Single-family segment
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Risk factor            Value or range     Performing     Non-modified
                                                       loan             RPL        Modified RPL         NPL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Purpose..................  Purchase........               1               1               1  ..............
                                Cashout                      1.4             1.4             1.4  ..............
                                 Refinance.
                                Rate/Term                    1.3             1.2             1.3  ..............
                                 Refinance.
Occupancy Type................  Owner Occupied                 1               1               1               1
                                 or Second Home.
                                Investment......             1.2             1.5             1.3             1.2
Property Type.................  1 Unit..........               1               1               1               1
                                2-4 Unit........             1.4             1.4             1.3             1.1
                                Condominium.....             1.1               1               1               1
                                Manufactured                 1.3             1.8             1.6             1.2
                                 Home.
Origination Channel...........  Retail..........               1               1               1               1
                                TPO.............             1.1             1.1             1.1               1
DTI...........................  DTI <=25%.......             0.8             0.9             0.9  ..............
                                25% 40%........             1.2             1.2             1.1  ..............
Product Type..................  FRM30...........               1               1               1               1
                                ARM1/1..........             1.7             1.1               1             1.1
                                FRM15...........             0.3             0.3             0.5             0.5
                                FRM20...........             0.6             0.6             0.5             0.8
Subordination.................  No subordination               1               1               1  ..............
                                30% 5%.
                                OLTV >60% and 0%             1.1             1.2             1.1  ..............
                                 60% and                1.4             1.5             1.3  ..............
                                 subordination
                                 >5%.
Loan Age......................  Loan age <=24                  1  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                 months.
                                24 months 60                0.75  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                 months.

[[Page 39310]]

 
Cohort Burnout................  No Burnout......               1  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                Low.............             1.2  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                Medium..........             1.3  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                High............             1.4  ..............  ..............  ..............
Interest-only.................  No IO...........               1               1               1  ..............
                                Yes IO..........             1.6             1.4             1.1  ..............
Loan Documentation............  Full............               1               1               1  ..............
                                None or low.....             1.3             1.3             1.2  ..............
Streamlined Refi..............  No..............               1               1               1  ..............
                                Yes.............               1             1.2             1.1  ..............
Refreshed Credit Score for      Refreshed credit  ..............             1.6             1.4  ..............
 Modified.                       score <620.
  RPLs and Non-modified RPLs..  620 <=refreshed   ..............             1.3             1.2  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <640.
                                640 <=refreshed   ..............             1.2             1.1  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <660.
                                660 <=refreshed   ..............               1               1  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <700.
                                700 <=refreshed   ..............             0.7             0.8  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <720.
                                720 <=refreshed   ..............             0.6             0.7  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <740.
                                740 <=refreshed   ..............             0.5             0.6  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <760.
                                760 <=refreshed   ..............             0.4             0.5  ..............
                                 credit score
                                 <780.
                                Refreshed credit  ..............             0.3             0.4  ..............
                                 score >=780.
Payment Change from             Payment change    ..............  ..............             1.1  ..............
 Modification.                   >=0%.
                                -20% <=payment    ..............  ..............               1  ..............
                                 change <0%.
                                -30% <=payment    ..............  ..............             0.9  ..............
                                 change <-20%.
                                Payment change <- ..............  ..............             0.8  ..............
                                 30%.
Previous Maximum Days Past Due  0-59 days.......  ..............               1               1  ..............
                                60-90 days......  ..............             1.2             1.1  ..............
                                91-150 days.....  ..............             1.3             1.1  ..............
                                151+ days.......  ..............             1.5             1.1  ..............
Refreshed Credit Score for      Refreshed credit  ..............  ..............  ..............             1.2
 NPLs.                           score < 580.
                                580 <=refreshed   ..............  ..............  ..............             1.1
                                 credit score
                                 <640.
                                640 <=refreshed   ..............  ..............  ..............               1
                                 credit score
                                 <700.
                                700 <=refreshed   ..............  ..............  ..............             0.9
                                 credit score
                                 <720.
                                720 <=refreshed   ..............  ..............  ..............             0.8
                                 credit score
                                 <760.
                                760 =780.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 14 is structured in the following way: the first column 
represents secondary risk factors, the second column represents the 
values or ranges each secondary risk factor can take, and the third 
through sixth columns represent risk multipliers for performing loans, 
non-modified RPLs, modified RPLs, and NPLs, respectively. Thus, there 
would be a different set of risk multipliers for each of the four 
single-family segments.
    Each secondary risk factor could take multiple values, and each 
value or range of values would have a risk multiplier associated with 
it. For any particular single-family mortgage exposure, each risk 
multiplier could take a value of 1.0, above 1.0, or below 1.0. A risk 
multiplier of 1.0 would imply that the risk factor value for a single-
family mortgage exposure is similar to, or in a certain range of, the 
particular risk characteristic found in the single-family segment's 
synthetic loan. A risk multiplier value above 1.0 would be assigned to 
a risk factor value that represents a riskier characteristic than the 
one found in the single-family segment's synthetic loan, while a risk 
multiplier value below 1.0 would be assigned to a risk factor value 
that represents a less risky characteristic than the one found in the 
single-family segment's synthetic loan. Finally, the risk multipliers 
would be multiplicative, so each single-family mortgage exposure in a 
single-family segment would receive a risk multiplier for every risk 
factor pertinent to that segment, even if the risk multiplier is 1.0 
(implying no change to the base risk weight for that risk factor). The 
total combined risk multiplier for a single-family mortgage exposure 
would be, in general, the product of all individual risk multipliers 
pertinent to the single-family segment in which the exposure is 
classified.
    There are two general types of single-family risk factors for which 
risk multipliers are applied: Risk factors determined at origination 
and risk factors that change as a loan seasons or ages.
    Risk factors determined at origination include common 
characteristics such as loan purpose, occupancy type, and property 
type. The impacts of this type of risk factor on single-family mortgage 
performance and credit losses are generally well understood and 
commonly used in mortgage pricing and underwriting. Many of these risk 
factors can be quantified and applied in a straightforward manner using 
the proposed risk multipliers. The full set of single-family risk 
factors determined at origination for which the proposed rule would 
require risk multipliers is:
     Loan purpose. Loan purpose reflects the purpose of the 
single-family mortgage exposure at origination. The risk multiplier 
would be at least 1.0 for any purpose other than ``purchase.''
     Occupancy type. Occupancy type reflects the borrower's 
intended use of the property, with an owner-occupied property 
representing a baseline level of risk across all single-family segments 
(a risk multiplier of 1.0), and an investment property being higher 
risk (a risk multiplier greater than 1.0).
     Property type. Property type describes the physical 
structure of the property, with a 1-unit property representing a 
baseline level of risk (a

[[Page 39311]]

risk multiplier of 1.0), and other property types such as 2-4 unit 
properties or manufactured homes being higher risk (a risk multiplier 
greater than 1.0).
     Origination channel. Origination channel is the type of 
institution that originated the single-family mortgage exposure, and 
whether or not it originated from a third-party, including a broker or 
correspondent. Single-family mortgage exposures that did not originate 
from a third-party represent a baseline level of risk (a risk 
multiplier of 1.0).
     Product type. Product type reflects the contractual terms 
of the single-family mortgage exposure as of the origination date, with 
a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and select adjustable-rate mortgages 
(including, for example, ARM 5/1 and ARM 7/1) representing a baseline 
level of risk (a risk multiplier of 1.0). Adjustable-rate loans with an 
initial one-year fixed-rate period followed by a rate that adjusts 
annually (ARM 1/1) are considered higher risk (a risk multiplier 
greater than 1.0), while shorter-term fixed-rate loans are considered 
lower risk (a risk multiplier less than 1.0).
     Interest-only. Interest-only reflects whether or not a 
loan has an interest-only payment feature during all or part of the 
loan term. Interest-only loans are generally considered higher risk (a 
risk multiplier greater than 1.0) than non interest-only loans due to 
their slower principal accumulation and an increased risk of default 
driven by the potential increase in principal payments at the 
expiration of the interest-only period.
     Loan documentation. Loan documentation refers to the 
completeness of the documentation used to underwrite the single-family 
mortgage exposure, as determined under the Guide of the Enterprise. 
Loans with low or no documentation have a high degree of uncertainty 
around a borrower's ability to pay, and are considered higher risk (a 
risk multiplier greater than 1.0) than loans with full documentation 
where a lender is able to verify the income, assets, and employment of 
a borrower.
     Streamlined refinance. Streamlined refinance is an 
indicator for a single-family mortgage exposure that was refinanced 
through a streamlined refinance program of an Enterprise, including 
HARP. These loans generally cannot be refinanced under normal 
circumstances due to high MTMLTV, and therefore would be considered 
higher risk (a risk multiplier greater than 1.0).
    Risk factors that change dynamically and are updated as a single-
family mortgage exposure seasons include characteristics such as loan 
age, current credit score, and delinquency or modification history. 
These risk factors are correlated with probability of default and/or 
loss given default, and are therefore important in projecting 
unexpected losses. The full set of dynamic single-family risk factors 
for which the proposed rule would require risk multipliers is:
     DTI. DTI is the ratio of the borrower's total monthly 
obligations (including housing expense) divided by the borrower's 
monthly income, as calculated under the Guide of the Enterprise. DTI 
affects and reflects a borrower's ability to make payments on a single-
family mortgage exposure. A DTI between 25 percent and 40 percent would 
reflect a baseline level of risk (a risk multiplier of 1.0), and as a 
borrower's income rises relative to the borrower's debt obligations (a 
lower DTI), the single-family mortgage exposure would be considered 
lower risk (a risk multiplier less than 1.0). If a borrower's income 
falls relative to the borrower's debt obligations (a higher DTI), the 
single-family mortgage exposure would be considered higher risk (a risk 
multiplier greater than 1.0).
     Subordination. Subordination is the amount equal to the 
original unpaid principal balance of any second lien single-family 
mortgage exposure divided by the lesser of the appraised value or sale 
price of the property that secures the single-family mortgage exposure. 
Single-family mortgage exposures with no subordination would represent 
a baseline level of risk (a risk multiplier of 1.0), whereas single-
family mortgage exposures with varying combinations of OLTV and 
subordination percentage would be generally considered higher risk (a 
risk multiplier greater than 1.0).
     Loan age. Loan age is the number of scheduled payment 
dates since the single-family mortgage exposure was originated. Older 
single-family mortgage exposures are considered less risky because in 
general as loans age the likelihood of events occurring that would 
trigger mortgage default decreases.
     Cohort burnout. Cohort burnout reflects the number of 
refinance opportunities since the single-family mortgage exposure's 
sixth scheduled payment date. A refinance opportunity is any calendar 
month in which the Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) rate for the 
month and year of the origination of the single-family mortgage 
exposure exceeds the PMMS rate for that calendar month by more than 50 
basis points. Cohort burnout is an indicator that a borrower is less 
likely to refinance in the future given the opportunity to do so. 
Borrowers that demonstrate a lower propensity to refinance have higher 
credit risk, and a single-family mortgage exposure with a cohort 
burnout greater than zero would receive a risk multiplier greater than 
1.0.
     Refreshed credit score for RPLs and NPLs. Refreshed credit 
scores refer to the most recently available credit scores as of the 
capital calculation date. In general, a credit score reflects the 
credit worthiness of a borrower, and a higher credit score implies 
lower risk and a lower risk multiplier. For RPLs, a refreshed credit 
score between 660 and 700 reflects a baseline level of risk (a risk 
multiplier of 1.0). For NPLs, a refreshed credit score between 640 and 
700 represents a baseline level of risk (a risk multiplier of 1.0).
     Payment change from modification. For modified RPLs, the 
payment change from modification reflects the change in the monthly 
payment, as a percent of the original monthly payment, resulting from a 
modification. In general, higher payment reductions tend to reduce the 
likelihood of future default, so single-family mortgage exposures with 
higher payment reductions from modifications would have a lower capital 
requirement (a risk multiplier less than 1.0).
     Previous maximum days past due. For RPLs, previous maximum 
number of days past due reflects the maximum number of days a single-
family mortgage exposure has been past due in the last 36 months. Days 
past due is positively correlated with the likelihood of future 
default. Therefore, a single-family mortgage exposure with a previous 
maximum delinquency between 0 and 59 days represent a baseline level of 
risk (a risk multiplier of 1.0), and a single-family mortgage exposure 
with a maximum delinquency greater than 59 days month would be 
considered higher risk (a risk multiplier greater than 1.0).
    Not all risk multipliers would apply to every single-family 
segment, because the risk multipliers were estimated separately for 
each single-family segment. In cases where a risk factor did not 
influence the projected unexpected loss of single-family mortgage 
exposures in a single-family segment, or a risk factor did not apply at 
all (payment change from modification, in the performing loan segment, 
for example), there would be no risk multiplier for that risk factor in 
that single-family segment.
    Question 42. Are the risk multipliers for single-family mortgage 
exposures appropriately formulated and calibrated

[[Page 39312]]

to require credit risk capital sufficient to ensure each Enterprise 
operates in a safe and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its 
statutory mission across the economic cycle?
    Question 43. Are there any adjustments, simplifications, or other 
refinements that FHFA should consider for the risk multipliers for 
single-family mortgage exposures?
    Question 44. Should the combined risk multiplier for a single-
family mortgage exposure be subject to a cap (e.g., 3.0, as 
contemplated by the 2018 proposal)?
6. Credit Enhancement Multipliers
    The Enterprises' charter acts generally require single-family 
mortgage exposures with an unpaid principal balance exceeding 80 
percent of the value of the property to have one of three forms of 
loan-level credit enhancement at the time of acquisition. This 
requirement can be satisfied through:
     The seller retaining a participation of at least 10 
percent in the single-family loan (participation agreement);
     The seller agreeing to repurchase or replace the single-
family mortgage exposure, or reimburse losses, in the event of default 
(a recourse agreement); or
     A guarantee or insurance on the unpaid principal balance 
which is in excess of 80 percent LTV (mortgage insurance or MI). 
Mortgage insurance is the most common form of loan-level credit 
enhancement.
    Loan-level credit enhancements sometimes provide credit enhancement 
beyond that required by the charter acts.
    To account for the decrease in an Enterprise's exposure to 
unexpected loss on a single-family mortgage exposure subject to loan-
level credit enhancement, an Enterprise would adjust the base risk 
weight using an adjusted credit enhancement multiplier. That adjusted 
credit enhancement multiplier would be based on a credit enhancement 
multiplier (CE multiplier) for the single-family mortgage exposure and 
then adjusted for the strength of the counterparty providing the loan-
level credit enhancement. A smaller CE multiplier (and therefore a 
smaller adjusted credit enhancement multiplier) would correspond to a 
loan-level credit enhancement that transfers more of the projected 
unexpected loss to the counterparty and thus requires less credit risk 
capital of the Enterprise for the single-family mortgage exposure. For 
example, before any adjustment for counterparty strength, a CE 
multiplier of 0.65 for a single-family mortgage exposure subject to 
loan-level credit enhancement means that an Enterprise is exposed to 65 
percent of the projected unexpected loss of the single-family mortgage 
exposure and that the counterparty providing the loan-level credit 
enhancement is projected to absorb, assuming it is an effective 
counterparty, the remaining 35 percent of the projected unexpected 
loss.
    Participation agreements are rarely utilized by the Enterprises, 
and for reasons of simplicity, the proposed rule would not assign any 
benefit for these agreements (i.e., a CE multiplier of 1.0).
    Recourse agreements may be unlimited or limited. Full recourse 
agreements provide full coverage for the life of the loan, while 
partial recourse agreements provide partial coverage or have a limited 
duration. Because a counterparty would be responsible for all credit 
risk pursuant to a full recourse agreement, the single-family mortgage 
exposure would be assigned a CE multiplier of zero, subject to a 
counterparty haircut. For partial recourse agreements, the proposed 
rule would require an Enterprise to take into account the percent 
coverage, adjusted for the term of coverage, to determine the 
appropriate benefit.
    The CE multiplier for a single-family mortgage exposure subject to 
mortgage insurance would vary based on the mortgage insurance coverage 
and loan characteristics, including (i) whether the mortgage insurance 
is cancellable or non-cancellable, (ii) whether the mortgage insurance 
coverage is charter-level or guide-level, and (iii) the loan 
characteristics, including OLTV, loan age, amortization term, and 
single-family segment.
     Cancellation option. Non-cancellable mortgage insurance 
(non-cancellable MI) provides coverage for the life of the single-
family mortgage exposure. Cancellable mortgage insurance (cancellable 
MI) allows for the cancellation of coverage upon a borrower's request 
when the unpaid principal balance falls to 80 percent or less of the 
original property value, or automatic cancellation when either the loan 
balance falls below 78 percent of the original property value or the 
loan reaches the midpoint of the loan's amortization schedule, if the 
loan is current. Due to the longer period of coverage, non-cancellable 
MI provides more credit risk protection than cancellable MI. CE 
multipliers for non-cancellable MI therefore would be lower than CE 
multipliers for cancellable MI.
     Coverage. Charter-level coverage provides mortgage 
insurance that satisfies the minimum requirements of the Enterprises' 
charter acts. Guide-level coverage provides deeper coverage, roughly 
double the coverage provided by charter-level coverage. Therefore, the 
CE multipliers for guide-level coverage would be lower than the CE 
multipliers for charter-level coverage.
     Original LTV. Single-family mortgage exposures with higher 
OLTV generally have greater coverage levels than loans with lower OLTV. 
Higher coverage levels imply greater credit risk protection. Therefore, 
single-family mortgage exposures with higher OLTVs would have lower CE 
multipliers.
     Amortization term. For cancellable MI, single-family 
mortgage exposures with a 15- to 20-year amortization period might have 
cancellation triggered earlier than loans with a 30-year amortization 
period. Therefore, single-family mortgage exposures with longer 
amortization terms have a longer period of credit risk protection from 
mortgage insurance. Single-family mortgage exposures with a 30-year 
amortization period therefore have a lower CE multiplier than single-
family mortgage exposures with a 15- to 20-year amortization period 
with cancellable mortgage insurance.
     Single-family segment. Mortgage insurance coverage on 
delinquent loans cannot be cancelled. Cancellation of mortgage 
insurance coverage on modified RPLs is based on the modified LTV and 
the modified amortization term, which are typically higher than the 
OLTV and the original amortization term. In both of these cases, the 
mortgage insurance coverage is extended for a longer period, resulting 
in greater credit risk protection, relative to mortgage insurance 
coverage on performing loans. Therefore, in the proposed rule, 
delinquent and modified loans would have a lower CE multiplier than 
performing loans.
     Loan age. Mortgage insurance cancellation is often 
triggered sooner for older loans than for younger loans. Therefore, 
older loans with cancellable MI generally have a shorter period of 
remaining mortgage insurance coverage and thus have less credit risk 
protection from mortgage insurance. Older single-family mortgage 
exposures with cancellable MI therefore have higher CE multipliers than 
younger single-family mortgage exposures.
    The following Tables 15 through 19 present the CE multipliers for 
single-family mortgage exposures subject to mortgage insurance.
    Table 15 contains CE multipliers for all single-family mortgage 
exposures subject to non-cancellable MI, except NPLs. The table 
differentiates CE multipliers by type of coverage (charter-level and 
guide-level), OLTV,

[[Page 39313]]

amortization term, and coverage percent.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.014

    The proposed rule would have three sets of multipliers for 
cancellable MI. Table 16 contains CE multipliers for performing loans 
and non-modified RPLs subject to cancellable MI. The table 
differentiates CE multipliers by type of coverage (charter-level and 
guide-level), OLTV, coverage percent, amortization term, and loan age.

[[Page 39314]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.015

    Table 17 contains CE multipliers for the modified RPLs with 30-year 
post-modification amortization and subject to cancellable MI. The table 
differentiates risk multipliers by type of coverage (charter-level and 
guide-level), OLTV, coverage percent, amortization term, and loan age.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.016

    Table 18 contains CE multipliers for modified RPLs with 40-year 
post-modification amortization and subject to cancellable MI. Here, CE 
multipliers are differentiated by type of coverage (charter-level and 
guide-level), OLTV, coverage percent, and loan age.

[[Page 39315]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.017

    Table 19, contains proposed CE multipliers for NPLs. Mortgage 
insurance on delinquent loans cannot be cancelled; therefore, there is 
no differentiation between cancellable MI and non-cancellable MI for 
the NPL segment. The table differentiates CE multipliers by type of 
coverage (charter-level and guide-level), OLTV, amortization term, and 
coverage percent.

[[Page 39316]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.018

Counterparty Credit Risk Adjustments
    Sharing losses with counterparties through loan-level credit 
enhancement exposes an Enterprise to counterparty credit risk. To 
account for this exposure, the proposed rule would reduce the 
recognized benefits from loan-level credit enhancement to incorporate 
the risk that a counterparty is unable to perform its claim 
obligations. To accomplish this, the proposed rule would implement a 
counterparty haircut risk multiplier (CP haircut multiplier) to be 
applied to the CE multiplier. The CP haircut multiplier would take 
values from zero to one. A value of zero, the smallest haircut, would 
mean a counterparty is expected to fully perform its claim obligations, 
while a value of one, the largest haircut, would mean a counterparty is 
not expected to perform its claim obligations. A value between zero and 
one would mean a counterparty is expected to perform a portion of its 
claim obligations.
    The CP haircut multiplier would depend on a number of factors that 
reflect counterparty risk. The three main factors are the 
creditworthiness of the counterparty, the counterparty's level of 
concentration in mortgage credit risk, and the counterparty's status as 
an approved insurer under an Enterprise's counterparty standards for 
private mortgage insurers.
    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to assign 
counterparty financial strength ratings using a provided rating 
framework. In assigning a rating, an Enterprise would assign the 
counterparty financial strength rating that most closely aligns to the 
assessment of the counterparty from the Enterprise's internal 
counterparty risk framework. Descriptions of the 8 different 
counterparty financial strength ratings are presented below in Table 
20.

[[Page 39317]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.019

    Similarly, the proposed rule would require an Enterprise to utilize 
its counterparty risk management framework to assign each counterparty 
a rating of ``not high'' or ``high'' to reflect the counterparty's 
concentration in mortgage credit risk. During the 2008 financial 
crisis, three out of the seven mortgage insurance companies were placed 
in run-off by their state regulators, and payments on the Enterprises' 
claims were deferred by the state regulators. This exposed the 
Enterprises to counterparty risk and potential financial losses. More 
generally, the 2008 financial crisis highlighted that counterparty risk 
can be amplified when the counterparty's credit exposure is highly 
correlated with an Enterprise's credit exposure.
    Counterparties whose primary lines of business are more 
concentrated in mortgage credit risk have a higher probability to 
default on payment obligations when the mortgage default rate is high. 
The proposed rule would assign larger haircuts to counterparties with 
higher levels of mortgage credit risk concentration relative to 
diversified counterparties. An Enterprise would assess the level of 
mortgage credit risk concentration for each individual counterparty to 
determine whether the insurer is well diversified or whether it has a 
high concentration risk.
    Finally, an Enterprise would determine whether a mortgage insurance 
counterparty is in compliance with its own private mortgage eligibility 
standards. If the counterparty satisfies the set of requirements to be 
approved to insure loans acquired by an Enterprise, the insurer would 
be assigned a smaller counterparty haircut.
    To calculate the CP haircut, the proposed rule would use a modified 
version of the Basel framework's IRB approach. The modified version 
leverages the IRB approach to account for the creditworthiness of the 
counterparty, but makes changes to reflect the level of mortgage credit 
risk concentration and the counterparty's status as an approved 
insurer. The Basel IRB framework provides the ability to differentiate 
haircuts between counterparties with different levels of risk. The 
proposed rule would augment the IRB approach to capture risk across 
counterparties. In this way, the proposed adjustment would help capture 
wrong-way risk between the Enterprises and their counterparties.
    In particular, the proposed approach would calculate the 
counterparty haircut by multiplying stress loss given default by the 
probability of default and a maturity adjustment for the asset. The 
following Figure 2 details the counterparty haircut calculation, as 
well as the parameterization of the proposed approach:
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P

[[Page 39318]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.020

    As shown, stress loss given default (LGD) is calibrated to 45 
percent according to the historic average stress severity rates. The 
maturity adjustment is calibrated to 5 years for 30-year products and 
to 3.5 years for 15- to 20-year single-family mortgage exposures to 
approximately reflect the average life of the assets. The expected 
probability of default (PD) is calculated using a historical 1-year PD 
matrix for all financial institutions.
    As discussed above, counterparties with a lower concentration of 
mortgage credit risk and therefore a lower potential for wrong-way risk 
would be afforded a lower haircut relative to the counterparties with 
higher concentrations of mortgage credit risk. Similarly, approved 
insurers would be afforded a lower haircut relative to counterparties 
that do not satisfy an Enterprise's eligibility requirements. These 
differences would be captured through the asset valuation correlation 
risk multiplier, AVCM. An AVCM of 1.75 would be assigned those 
counterparties which are not an approved insurer and have high exposure 
to mortgage credit risk, an AVCM of 1.50 would be assigned those 
counterparties which are an approved insurer and have high exposure to 
mortgage credit risk, and an AVCM of 1.25 would be assigned to 
diversified counterparties which do not have a high exposure to 
mortgage credit risk. The parameters of the Basel IRB formula, 
including the AVCM, were augmented to best fit the internal 
counterparty credit risk haircuts developed by the Enterprises.
    The proposed counterparty haircut would also differ by product type 
and segment. Performing loans, modified RPLs, and non-modified RPLs 
would be treated differently than NPLs, and within 30-year performing 
loans, modified RPLs, and non-modified RPLs would receive a larger 
haircut than 15- or 20-year single-family mortgage exposures.
    The NPL segment represents a different level of counterparty risk 
relative to the performing and re-performing segments. Unlike 
performing loans, modified RPLs, and non-modified RPLs, an Enterprise 
would expect to submit claims for NPLs in the near future. The proposed 
rule would reduce the Basel framework's effective maturity from 5 (or 
3.5 for 15/20Yr) to 1.5 for all loans in the NPL segment. The reduced 
effective maturity would lower counterparty haircuts on loans in the 
NPL segment.

[[Page 39319]]

    The proposed rule would utilize the following CP haircut 
multipliers in Table 21.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.021

BILLING CODE 8070-01-C
    Finally, FHFA notes that the proposed rule's approach generally 
assigns more credit risk mitigation benefit to mortgage insurance and 
other loan-level credit enhancement than would be assigned under the 
U.S. banking framework, in particular with respect to those 
counterparties eligible to provide guarantees or insurance. FHFA is 
soliciting comment on the appropriateness of the differences between 
the proposed rule and the regulatory capital treatment of loan-level 
credit enhancement (including with respect to the U.S. banking 
regulators' stress test assumptions).
    Question 45. Are the CE multipliers and CP haircut multipliers for 
single-family mortgage exposures appropriately formulated and 
calibrated to require credit risk capital sufficient to ensure each 
Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and is positioned to 
fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle?
    Question 46. Are there any adjustments, simplifications, or other 
refinements that FHFA should consider for the CE multipliers and the CP 
haircut multipliers for single-family mortgage exposures?
    Question 47. Are the differences between the proposed rule and the 
U.S. banking framework with respect to the credit risk mitigation 
benefit assigned to loan-level credit enhancement appropriate? Which, 
if any, specific aspects should be aligned?
7. Minimum Adjusted Risk Weight
    The proposed rule would establish a floor on the adjusted risk 
weight for a single-family mortgage exposure equal to 15 percent. FHFA 
has determined that a minimum risk weight is necessary to ensure the 
safety and soundness of each Enterprise and that each Enterprise is 
positioned to fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle, 
including during a period of financial stress.
    First, absent this 15 percent risk weight floor, the proposed 
rule's credit risk capital requirements as of the end of 2007 would not 
have been sufficient to absorb each Enterprise's crisis-era cumulative 
capital losses on its single-family book. Absent the 15 percent risk 
weight floor, Freddie Mac's estimated single-family credit risk capital 
requirement of $61 billion as of December 31, 2007 under the proposed 
rule would have been less than its crisis-era single-family cumulative 
capital losses. With the addition of the 15 percent risk weight floor, 
Freddie Mac's estimated single-family credit risk capital requirement 
would have exceeded its crisis-era single-family cumulative capital 
losses. Absent the 15 percent risk weight floor, Fannie Mae's estimated 
single-family credit risk capital requirement would have exceeded its 
crisis-era single-family cumulative capital losses, but by a relatively 
small amount. The addition of the 15 percent risk weight floor would 
have added approximately $8 billion to Fannie Mae's single-family 
credit risk capital requirement, clearing cumulative capital losses by 
a more comfortable margin.
    Second, as discussed in Section IV.B, a risk weight floor is 
appropriate to mitigate certain risks and limitations associated with 
the underlying historical data and models used to calibrate the credit 
risk capital requirements. These risks and limitations are perhaps 
inherent to any methodology for calibrating granular credit risk 
capital requirements. In particular:
     A disproportionate share of the Enterprises' crisis-era 
credit losses arose from certain single-family mortgage exposures that 
are no longer eligible for acquisition by the Enterprises. The 
calibration of the credit risk capital requirements attributed a 
significant portion of the Enterprises' crisis-era losses to these 
products. The statistical methods used to allocate losses between 
borrower-related risk attributes and product-related risk attributes 
pose significant model risk. The sizing of the regulatory capital 
requirements also

[[Page 39320]]

must guard against potential future relaxation of underwriting 
standards and regulatory oversight over those underwriting standards.
     The Enterprises' crisis-era losses likely were mitigated 
to at least some extent by the unprecedented support by the federal 
government of the housing market and the economy and also by the 
declining interest rate environment of the period. There is therefore 
some risk that the risk-based capital requirements are not specifically 
calibrated to ensure each Enterprise would be regarded as a viable 
going concern following a future severe economic downturn that 
potentially entails more unexpected losses, whether because there is 
less or no Federal support of the economy, because there is less or no 
reduction in interest rates, or because of other causes.
     There are some potentially material risks to the 
Enterprises that are not assigned a risk-based capital requirement--for 
example, risks relating to uninsured or underinsured losses from 
flooding, earthquakes, or other natural disasters or radiological or 
biological hazards. There also is no risk-based capital requirement for 
the risks that climate change could pose to property values in some 
localities.
    Third, comparison to the Basel and U.S. banking framework's credit 
risk capital requirements for similar exposures reinforces FHFA's view 
that a risk weight floor is appropriate to mitigate certain risks and 
limitations associated with the underlying historical data and models 
used to calibrate the credit risk capital requirements.\68\ Absent this 
risk weight floor, as of September 30, 2019, the average pre-CRT net 
credit risk capital requirement on the Enterprises' single-family 
mortgage exposures (which reflects the benefit of private mortgage 
insurance but no adjustments for CRT) would have been 1.7 percent of 
unpaid principal balance, implying an average risk weight of 21 
percent. With the 15 percent risk weight floor, the average requirement 
would have increased by approximately 0.5 percent of unpaid principal 
balance to an average risk weight of 26 percent. The U.S. banking 
framework generally assigns a 50 percent risk weight to these exposures 
to determine the credit risk capital requirement (equivalent to a 4.0 
percent adjusted total capital requirement), while the current Basel 
framework generally assigns a 35 percent risk weight (equivalent to a 
2.8 percent adjusted total capital requirement). Before the risk weight 
floor, before adjusting for CRT, and before adjusting for the capital 
buffers under the proposed rule and the Basel and U.S. banking 
frameworks, the Enterprises' credit risk capital requirements for 
single-family mortgage exposures would have been roughly 40 percent 
that of U.S. banking organizations and roughly 60 percent that of non-
U.S. banking organizations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ As discussed in Section IV.B.2, while the interest rate and 
funding risk profiles of the Enterprises and large banking 
organizations are different, that difference should not preclude 
comparisons of the credit risk capital requirements of the U.S. 
banking framework to the credit risk capital requirements of the 
Enterprises.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The BCBS has finalized a more risk-sensitive set of risk weights 
for residential mortgage exposures, which are to be implemented by 
January 1, 2022. With those changes, the lowest standardized risk 
weight would be 20 percent for single-family residential mortgage loans 
with OLTVs less than 50 percent. The 21 percent average risk weight 
would have been about the same as this 20 percent minimum, 
notwithstanding the Enterprises having an average single-family OLTV of 
approximately 75 percent as of September 30, 2019.
    These comparisons are complicated by the fact that the 21 percent 
and 26 percent average risk weights reflect loan-level credit 
enhancement and adjustments for MTMLTV. In particular, some meaningful 
portion of the gap currently between the credit risk capital 
requirements of the Enterprises and banking organizations under the 
proposed rule is due to the proposed rule's use of MTMLTV instead of 
OLTV, as under the U.S. banking framework, to assign credit risk 
capital requirements for mortgage exposures. On the one hand, the 
comparison illustrates how low risk-based capital requirements can 
become in a mark-to-market framework without prudential floors. On the 
other hand, in a different house price environment, perhaps after 
several years of declining house prices, the mark-to-market framework 
could have resulted in higher credit risk capital requirements than the 
Basel and U.S. banking frameworks.\69\ Some of this gap might be 
expected to narrow were real property prices to move toward their long-
term trend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \69\ In consideration that the U.S. banking and Basel frameworks 
utilize OLTVs, a comparison of the credit risk capital requirements 
for newly acquired single-family mortgage exposures under the 2018 
proposal and the proposed rule provides the most direct comparison 
of credit risk capital requirements for new originations. Under the 
proposed rule, gross credit risk capital (prior to adjustments for 
credit enhancements and CRT) on newly originated (i.e., loan age 
less than six months) single-family mortgage exposures as of 
September 30, 2019, with an average OLTV of 77 percent, would have 
been 3.8 percent of unpaid principal balance, implying an average 
risk weight of 47 percent. This compares to the 50 percent risk 
weight under the U.S. banking framework and 30 percent under the 
newest BCBS framework for loans with OLTV of 60 to 80 percent. After 
consideration of charter-required credit enhancements, the average 
net credit risk capital requirement on the Enterprises' newly 
originated single-family mortgage exposures as of September 30, 2019 
would have been 2.8 percent of unpaid principal balance, implying an 
average risk weight of 36 percent. These risk weights would then 
decline to the extent house prices appreciate or increase to the 
extent house prices depreciate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, the current sizing of that gap between the credit risk 
capital requirements of banking organizations and the Enterprises under 
the proposed rule is an important consideration informing the 
enhancements to the 2018 proposal.
    Reinforcing that point, the 21 percent average risk weight would 
have been about the same as the Basel framework's 20 percent risk 
weight assigned to exposures to sovereigns and central banks with 
ratings A+ to A- and claims on banks and corporates with ratings AAA to 
AA-.\70\ The 21 percent average risk weight also would have been about 
the same as the 20 percent risk weight assigned under the U.S. banking 
framework to Enterprise-guaranteed MBS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \70\ See BCBS, The Basel Framework, paragraphs 20.4 and 20.14 at 
181 and 185 (Dec. 15, 2019), available at https://www.bis.org/basel_framework/index.htm?export=pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In light of these considerations, FHFA has determined that a 
minimum risk weight is necessary to ensure the safety and soundness of 
each Enterprise and that each Enterprise is positioned to fulfill its 
statutory mission during a period of financial stress. FHFA sized the 
15 percent risk weight floor taking into consideration the 20 percent 
minimum risk weight contemplated by the amendments to the Basel 
framework for similar exposures, while also seeking to preserve the 
mortgage risk-sensitive framework by avoiding a risk weight floor that 
was, in effect, the binding constraint for a substantial portion of 
single-family mortgage exposures. FHFA is soliciting comment on the 
sizing of the risk weight floor, including whether to perhaps align the 
floor with the more risk-sensitive standardized risk weights assigned 
to similar exposures under the Basel framework.
    Question 48. Is the minimum floor on the adjusted risk weight for a 
single-family mortgage exposure appropriately calibrated to mitigate 
model and related risks associated with the calibration of the 
underlying base risk weights and risk multipliers and to otherwise 
ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and is 
positioned to

[[Page 39321]]

fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle?
    Question 49. Should the minimum floor on the adjusted risk weight 
for a single-family mortgage exposure be decreased or increased, 
perhaps to align the minimum floor with the more risk-sensitive 
standardized risk weights assigned to similar exposures under the Basel 
framework (e.g., 20 percent for a single-family residential mortgage 
loan with LTV at origination less than 50 percent)?
    Question 50. Should the floor or other limit used to determine a 
single-family mortgage exposure's credit risk capital requirement be 
assessed against the base risk weight, the risk weight adjusted for the 
combined risk multipliers, or some other input used to determine that 
credit risk capital requirement?

B. Multifamily Mortgage Exposures

    The standardized credit risk-weighted assets for each multifamily 
mortgage exposure would be determined using grids and risk multipliers 
that together would assign an exposure-specific risk weight based on 
the risk characteristics of the multifamily mortgage exposure. The 
resulting exposure-specific credit risk capital requirements generally 
would be similar to those in the 2018 proposal, subject to some 
simplifications and refinements. As discussed in Section VIII.B.3, the 
base risk weight generally would be a function of the multifamily 
mortgage exposure's MTMLTV, among other things. This base risk weight 
would then be adjusted based on other risk attributes, as discussed in 
Section VIII.B.5. Finally, as discussed in Section VIII.B.6, this 
adjusted risk weight would be subject to a minimum floor of 15 percent.
1. Multifamily Business Models
    The proposed rule would apply to both Enterprises. However, when 
appropriate, the proposed rule would account for differences in the 
Enterprises' multifamily business models. These differences are 
evident, for example, when considering certain elements of the proposed 
rule related to credit risk transfer.
    Multifamily mortgage exposures finance the acquisition and 
operation of commercial property collateral, typically apartment 
buildings. This section discusses multifamily mortgage exposures that 
take the form of whole loans and guarantees. Multifamily whole loans 
are those that an Enterprise keeps in its portfolio after acquisition. 
Multifamily guarantees are guarantees provided by an Enterprise of the 
payment of principal and interest payments to investors in MBS that 
have been issued by an Enterprise or another security issuer and are 
backed by previously acquired multifamily whole loans. Except to the 
extent an Enterprise transfers credit risk to third-party private 
investors, the credit risk from multifamily mortgage exposures is 
retained.
    Fannie Mae's multifamily business historically has generally relied 
on the Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS) program. The DUS 
program is a loss-sharing program that seeks to facilitate the 
implementation of common underwriting and servicing guidelines across a 
defined group of multifamily lenders. The number of multifamily lenders 
in the DUS program has historically ranged between 25 and 30 since the 
program's inception in the late 1980s. Fannie Mae typically transfers 
about one-third of the credit risk to those lenders, while retaining 
the remaining two-thirds of the credit risk and the counterparty risk 
associated with the DUS lender business relationship. The proportion of 
risk transferred to the lender may be more or less than one-third under 
a modified version of the typical DUS loss-sharing agreement. Fannie 
Mae has also reduced its exposure to the credit risk retained on DUS 
loans through programmatic ``back-end'' risk transfer activities, 
including reinsurance transactions (MCIRT) on multifamily mortgages 
with unpaid principal balances (UPBs) generally smaller than $30 
million and note offerings (MCAS) on multifamily mortgages with UPBs 
generally greater than or equal to $30 million.
    In contrast, Freddie Mac's multifamily model has focused on 
structured, multi-class securitizations. While Freddie Mac has a number 
of securitization programs for multifamily loans, the largest is the K-
Deal program. Under the K-Deal program, which started in 2009, Freddie 
Mac sells a portion of unguaranteed bonds (mezzanine and subordinate), 
generally 10 to 15 percent, to private market participants. These sales 
typically result in a transfer of a high percentage of the credit risk. 
Freddie Mac generally assumes credit and market risk during the period 
between loan acquisition and securitization. After securitization, 
Freddie Mac generally retains a portion of the credit risk through 
ownership or guarantee of senior K-Deal tranches.
    As of 2019, the differences between the two business models have 
become somewhat less pronounced. The proposed rule is tailored to each 
Enterprise's current lending practices, and would not preclude either 
from evolving its business model in the future.
    Commenters on the 2018 proposal supported the inclusion of 
multifamily-specific credit risk capital requirements in order to 
capture the unique nature of each Enterprise's multifamily business and 
its particular risk drivers. In addition, commenters generally 
supported the structure and methodology of those proposed requirements. 
However, commenters also provided FHFA with critical feedback. Foremost 
among commenters' concerns was a perceived imbalance of the 2018 
proposal as related to the Enterprises' different multifamily business 
models.
    Commenters on the 2018 proposal stressed the importance of having a 
multifamily market with multiple viable and competing execution 
methods. To this end, some commenters raised concerns that the 
multifamily capital requirements in the 2018 proposal would 
disadvantage the loss sharing business model relative to the 
securitization business model, potentially to the point where the loss 
sharing model would no longer be viable. Commenters suggested that the 
2018 proposal did not sufficiently account for certain benefits or risk 
mitigants of the loss sharing business model, particularly relative to 
the historical loss experience of Fannie Mae's DUS loans. Commenters 
also suggested that the 2018 proposal's different market risk treatment 
of multifamily mortgage exposures compared to Enterprise- or Ginnie 
Mae-backed MBS provided a further disadvantage to using a loss sharing 
model relative to a securitization model.
    FHFA has considered the commenters' feedback and believes that the 
framework for calculating multifamily credit risk capital requirements 
under the 2018 proposal was generally appropriately tailored to 
accommodate both Enterprises' historical business practices.
    However, FHFA has addressed the commenters' concerns in two ways. 
First, FHFA has revised the capital treatment for contractual claims to 
at-risk servicing rights and clarified the capital treatment for 
restricted liquidity in Fannie Mae's loss sharing model. The 2018 
proposal would have afforded capital relief in multifamily loss sharing 
transactions by including restricted liquidity as collateral, and by 
reducing uncollateralized exposure to a counterparty by 50 percent if 
the Enterprise had a contractual claim to at-risk servicing rights. The 
proposed rule would retain this treatment of restricted liquidity, but 
would implement an

[[Page 39322]]

updated treatment of servicing rights such that in the counterparty 
haircut calculation, an Enterprise may reduce uncollateralized exposure 
by 1 year of estimated servicing revenue if the Enterprise has a 
contractual claim to the at-risk servicing rights.
    Second, the proposed rule would introduce a prudential floor of 10 
percent for the risk weight assigned to each tranche in a CRT. Such a 
floor would mitigate potential risks associated with CRT, including the 
structuring, recourse, and other risks associated with these 
securitizations.
2. Calibration Framework
    As with single-family mortgage exposures, FHFA generally calibrated 
the base risk weights and risk multipliers for multifamily mortgage 
exposures to require credit risk capital sufficient to absorb the 
lifetime unexpected losses incurred on multifamily mortgage exposures 
experiencing a shock to property values similar to that observed during 
the 2008 financial crisis. The multifamily-specific stress scenarios 
used to generate the base risk weights and risk multipliers involve two 
parameters: (i) Net operating income (NOI), where NOI represents gross 
potential income (gross rents) net of vacancy and operating expenses, 
and (ii) property values.
    Adverse economic conditions are generally accompanied by either a 
decrease in expected property revenue or an increase in perceived risk 
in the multifamily asset class, or both. A decrease in expected 
occupancy would lead to a decline in income generated by the property, 
or a lower NOI, while an increase in perceived risk would lead to an 
increase in the capitalization rate used to discount the NOI when 
assessing property value. A capitalization rate is defined as NOI 
divided by property value, so if NOI is held constant, an increase in 
the capitalization rate is directly related to a decrease in property 
values. For the purpose of the proposed rule, the multifamily-specific 
stress scenario assumes an NOI decline of 15 percent and a property 
value decline of 35 percent. This stress scenario is consistent with 
market conditions observed during the recent financial crisis, views 
from third-party market participants and data vendors, and assumptions 
behind the DFAST severely adverse scenario. Using this stress scenario, 
the multifamily grids and multipliers were calibrated based on 
estimates of unexpected losses from the Enterprises' internal models.
    Question 51. Is the methodology used to calibrate the credit risk 
capital requirements for multifamily mortgage exposures appropriate to 
ensure that the exposure is backed by capital sufficient to absorb the 
lifetime unexpected losses incurred on multifamily mortgage exposures 
experiencing a shock to house prices similar to that observed during 
the 2008 financial crisis?
    Question 52. What, if any, changes should FHFA consider to the 
methodology for calibrating credit risk capital requirements for 
multifamily mortgage exposures?
3. Base Risk Weights
    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to determine a base 
risk weight for each multifamily mortgage exposure using a set of two 
multifamily grids--one for multifamily mortgage exposures with fixed 
rates (multifamily FRMs), and one for multifamily mortgage exposures 
with adjustable rates (multifamily ARMs). A multifamily mortgage 
exposure that has both a fixed-rate period and an adjustable-rate 
period (hybrid loans) would be deemed a multifamily FRM during the 
fixed-rate period and a multifamily ARM during the adjustable-rate 
period.
    The multifamily grids reflect two important multifamily mortgage 
exposure characteristics: Debt-service-coverage-ratio (DSCR) and 
MTMLTV. These two risk factors are key drivers of the future 
performance of multifamily mortgage exposures. DSCR is the ratio of 
property NOI to the loan payment. A DSCR greater than 1.0 indicates 
that the property generates funds sufficient to cover the loan 
obligation, while the opposite is true for a DSCR less than 1.0.
    The multifamily grids are quantitatively identical to the 
multifamily grids in the 2018 proposal, except the credit risk capital 
requirements are presented as base risk weights relative to the 8.0 
percent adjusted total capital requirement rather than as a percent of 
UPB. The multifamily FRM grid was populated using projected unexpected 
losses for a multifamily FRM with varying DSCR and MTMLTV combinations 
and the following risk characteristics: $10 million loan amount, 10-
year balloon with a 30-year amortization period, non-interest-only, not 
a special product, and never been delinquent or modified. Similarly, 
the multifamily ARM grid was populated using projected unexpected 
losses for a multifamily ARM with varying DSCR and MTMLTV combinations 
and the following risk characteristics: 3.0 percent origination 
interest rate, $10 million loan amount, 10-year balloon with a 30-year 
amortization period, non-interest-only, not a special product, and 
never been delinquent or modified. Thus, each cell of the multifamily 
grid represents the average estimated difference, in basis points, 
between stress losses and expected losses for these synthetic loans 
with a DSCR and LTV in the tabulated ranges, converted to a risk 
weight.
    For the first five scheduled payment dates after a multifamily 
mortgage exposure is acquired, an Enterprise would use the multifamily 
mortgage exposure's LTV at acquisition or origination to determine the 
base risk weight. After that point, an Enterprise would use the 
multifamily mortgage exposure's MTMLTV, which would be calculated by 
adjusting the acquisition LTV using a multifamily property value index 
or property value estimate based on net operating income and 
capitalization rate indices. Unlike single-family mortgage exposures, 
an Enterprise would not make a countercyclicality adjustment to a 
multifamily mortgage exposure's MTMLTV. For the purposes of the 
multifamily grids, LTV means either MTMLTV or LTV at acquisition or 
origination, and DSCR means either MTMDSCR or DSCR at acquisition, 
depending on the age of the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    The multifamily grids for the multifamily FRM and multifamily ARM 
segments are presented in the following Table 22 and Table 23, 
respectively.
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P

[[Page 39323]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.022

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.023

    In both the multifamily FRM and multifamily ARM grids, the base 
risk weight would increase as DSCR decreases (moving toward the top of 
a grid) and as MTMLTV increases (moving toward the right of the grid). 
Thus, an Enterprise would generally be required to hold more credit 
risk capital for a higher-risk multifamily mortgage exposure with a low 
DSCR and a high MTMLTV (the upper-right corner of each grid) than for a 
lower-risk multifamily mortgage exposure with a high DSCR and a low 
MTMLTV (the lower-left corner of each grid). The DSCR and MTMLTV 
breakpoints and ranges represented along the dimensions of the 
multifamily grids combine to form granular buckets without sacrificing 
simplicity or mortgage risk sensitivity.
    An Enterprise also would use the multifamily grids to calculate the 
base risk weight for interest-only loans. Interest-only loans allow for 
payment of interest without any principal amortization during all or 
part of the loan term, potentially creating increased amortization risk 
and additional leveraging incentives for the borrower. To partially 
capture these increased risks, the proposed rule would require an 
Enterprise to use an interest-only loan's fully amortized payment to 
calculate DSCR during the interest-only period in order to calculate 
the multifamily mortgage exposure's base risk weight. That is, an 
Enterprise would assign each multifamily interest-only mortgage 
exposure into a multifamily segment, either multifamily FRM or 
multifamily ARM, and calculate the base risk capital requirement using 
the corresponding segment-specific multifamily grid, where the DSCR is 
based on the interest-only loan's fully amortized payment.
    FHFA received a number of comments on the multifamily grids in the 
2018 proposal. Some commenters stated that the multifamily credit risk 
capital requirements in the 2018 proposal were too high given the 
Enterprises' historical multifamily losses. Similarly, some commenters 
suggested that the credit risk capital required under the 2018 
proposal's multifamily grids might be appropriate if FHFA included 
revenue as a source of

[[Page 39324]]

loss-absorbing capital, or if FHFA benchmarked its credit risk capital 
requirements to those published by the National Association of 
Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which include revenue offsets.
    After consideration of the commenters' suggestions, FHFA believes 
the calibration of the multifamily grids is appropriate. The base risk 
weights in the multifamily grids represent estimates of lifetime losses 
(net of expected losses), so one should expect the base risk weights in 
the multifamily grids to be larger than observed losses experienced 
during the recent financial crisis. As discussed in Section V.B.1, 
consistent with the 2018 proposal, neither the statutory definitions 
nor the supplemental definitions of regulatory capital include a 
measure of future guarantee fees or other future revenues.
    One commenter recommended FHFA add granularity to the multifamily 
grids, particularly in the high MTMLTV ranges. FHFA notes that the 
multifamily grids were constructed using synthetic loans at 
acquisition, so data in the high MTMLTV range is limited due to the 
Enterprises' acquisition history. Adding granularity to the outer 
ranges of the multifamily grids would necessitate further assumptions 
and extrapolations.
    Question 53. Are the base risk weights for multifamily mortgage 
exposures appropriately formulated and calibrated to require credit 
risk capital sufficient to ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe 
and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission 
across the economic cycle?
    Question 54. Are there any adjustments, simplifications, or other 
refinements that FHFA should consider for the base risk weights for 
multifamily mortgage exposures?
    Question 55. Should the base risk weight for a multifamily mortgage 
exposure be assigned based on OLTV or MTMLTV of the multifamily 
mortgage exposure, or perhaps on the LTV of the multifamily mortgage 
exposure based on the original purchase price and after adjusting for 
any paydowns of the original principal balance?
    Question 56. What steps, including any process for soliciting 
public comment on an ongoing basis, should FHFA take to ensure that the 
multifamily grids are updated from time to time as market conditions 
evolve?
4. Countercyclical Adjustment
    In contrast to the single-family framework, the proposed 
multifamily credit risk capital framework does not include an 
adjustment to mitigate the pro-cyclicality of the aggregate risk-based 
capital requirements, although FHFA believes such an adjustment could 
be merited. The proposed single-family countercyclical adjustment is 
based on an estimated long-term trend in FHFA's inflation-adjusted all-
transactions HPI. FHFA does not currently produce a comparable 
multifamily series, and it is unclear whether there is sufficient data 
from which to develop a reliable long-term trend in multifamily 
property values. FHFA is aware of the pro-cyclicality that would be 
introduced by its multifamily credit risk capital framework, and FHFA 
could see considerable merit to a countercyclical or similar 
adjustment. FHFA is soliciting comments on options and available data 
for a countercyclical adjustment to the credit risk capital 
requirements for multifamily mortgage exposures.
    Question 57. What approach, if any, should FHFA consider to 
mitigate the pro-cyclicality of the credit risk capital requirements 
for multifamily mortgage exposures?
5. Risk Multipliers
    As with single-family mortgage exposures, the proposed rule would 
require an Enterprise to adjust the base risk weight for each 
multifamily mortgage exposure to account for additional loan 
characteristics using a set of multifamily-specific risk multipliers. 
The risk multipliers would refine the base risk weights to account for 
risk factors beyond the primary risk factors reflected in the 
multifamily grids, and for variations in secondary risk factors not 
captured in the risk profiles of the synthetic loans used to calibrate 
the multifamily grids. The adjusted risk weight for a multifamily 
mortgage exposure would be the product of the base risk weight and the 
combined risk multiplier.
    The risk multipliers represent common loan characteristics that 
increase or decrease the projected unexpected losses of a multifamily 
mortgage exposure. Although the specified risk characteristics are not 
exhaustive, they capture key commercial real estate loan performance 
drivers, and are commonly used in commercial real estate loan 
underwriting and rating.
    The risk multipliers are substantially the same as those of the 
2018 proposal, with some simplifications and refinements. In 
particular, FHFA enhanced the risk multiplier for loan size to 
simultaneously make it more granular and less prone to large jumps in 
credit risk capital from moving from one bracket to the next. FHFA also 
removed the risk multiplier for multifamily loans with a government 
subsidy. The multifamily risk multipliers are presented below in Table 
24.

[[Page 39325]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.024

BILLING CODE 8070-01-C
    As with the single-family risk multipliers, each risk factor could 
take multiple values, and each value or range of values would have a 
risk multiplier associated with it. For any particular multifamily 
mortgage exposure, each risk multiplier could take a value of 1.0, 
above 1.0, or below 1.0. A risk multiplier of 1.0 would imply that the

[[Page 39326]]

risk factor value for a multifamily mortgage exposure is similar to, or 
in a certain range of, the particular risk characteristic found in the 
multifamily segment's synthetic loan. A risk multiplier value above 1.0 
would be assigned to a risk factor value that represents a riskier 
characteristic than the one found in the multifamily segment's 
synthetic loan, while a risk multiplier value below 1.0 would be 
assigned to a risk factor value that represents a less risky 
characteristic than the one found in the multifamily segment's 
synthetic loan. Finally, the risk multipliers would be multiplicative, 
so each multifamily mortgage exposure in a multifamily segment would 
receive a risk multiplier for every risk factor pertinent to that 
multifamily segment, even if the risk multiplier is 1.0 (implying no 
change to the base risk weight for that risk factor). The total 
combined risk multiplier for a multifamily mortgage exposure would be, 
in general, the product of all individual risk multipliers pertinent to 
the multifamily segment in which the exposure is classified. The 
proposed multifamily risk multipliers are:
     Payment performance. The payment performance risk 
multiplier would capture risks associated with historical payment 
performance. Multifamily mortgage exposures would be assigned one of 
four values: Performing, delinquent, re-performing (without 
modification), and modified. A performing loan would be one that has 
never been delinquent in its payments; a delinquent loan would be one 
that is 60 days or more past due; a re-performing loan would be one 
that is current in its payments, but has been delinquent in its 
payments at least once since origination and has cured without 
modification; and a modified loan would be one that is current in its 
payments, but has been modified at least once since origination or has 
gone through a workout plan. An Enterprise would be required to hold 
more credit risk capital for multifamily mortgage exposures that have a 
delinquency and/or modification history than for those that do not. 
Specifically, performing multifamily mortgage exposures would receive a 
risk multiplier of 1.0, while delinquent, re-performing, and modified 
exposures would receive a risk multiplier greater than 1.0.
     Interest-only. The interest-only risk multiplier would 
capture risks associated with interest-only exposures during the 
interest-only period. Interest-only loans are generally riskier than 
non-interest-only loans, all else equal, and the proposed rule would 
partially account for this increased amortization and leveraging risk 
by requiring an Enterprise to use its fully amortized payments to 
calculate DSCR. Using amortized payment would lower the DSCR, resulting 
in a higher credit risk capital requirement all else equal. In 
addition, the proposed rule would further account for interest-only 
risk with a risk multiplier. Specifically, non-interest-only exposures 
would receive a risk multiplier of 1.0, while interest-only exposures 
would receive a risk multiplier of 1.1 during the interest-only period.
     Loan term. The loan term risk multiplier would capture 
risks associated with the remaining term of a multifamily mortgage 
exposure. The majority of the Enterprises' multifamily mortgage 
exposures have a loan term of five years or longer, and in general, 
multifamily mortgage exposures with a shorter term are less risky than 
those with a longer term. Multifamily mortgage exposures with shorter 
loan terms carry relatively less uncertainty about eventual changes in 
property performance and future refinancing opportunities, while 
multifamily mortgage exposures with longer loan terms carry relatively 
higher uncertainty about the borrower's ability to refinance in the 
future. In the proposed rule, a 10-year loan term would be considered a 
baseline risk, so exposures with a remaining loan term between 7 years 
and 10 years would receive a risk multiplier of 1.0. The 7- to-10-year 
range represents a conservative range FHFA believes is appropriate. 
Multifamily mortgage exposures with remaining loan terms shorter than 7 
years would receive risk multipliers less than 1.0, and multifamily 
mortgage exposures with remaining loan terms longer than 10 years would 
receive a risk multiplier greater than 1.0. At origination, the 
remaining loan term would equal the original loan term.
     Original amortization term. The amortization term risk 
multiplier would capture risks associated with the amortization term of 
a multifamily mortgage exposure. In general, a multifamily mortgage 
exposure with a shorter repayment period faces less risk of a borrower 
defaulting on its payments than does a multifamily mortgage exposure 
with a longer repayment period. The most common amortization term for 
multifamily mortgage exposures is 30 years, even though most have an 
original loan term with a balloon payment due earlier, often in 10 
years. While amortization terms can potentially take any value, FHFA 
believes that given the high number of multifamily mortgage exposures 
with an amortization term between 25 and 30 years, the values 
represented in the risk multiplier table would sufficiently account for 
the differences in risk associated with amortization term. In the 
proposed rule, a 30-year amortization term would represent a baseline 
level of risk, and a multifamily mortgage exposure with a 30-year 
amortization term would receive a risk multiplier of 1.0. A multifamily 
mortgage exposure with an amortization term less than 25 years would 
receive a risk multiplier less than 1.0, while a multifamily mortgage 
exposure with an amortization term greater than 30 years would receive 
a risk multiplier of 1.1.
     Original loan size. Multifamily mortgage exposures with 
larger original loan balances are generally considered less risky than 
those with smaller balances, because larger balances are commonly 
associated with larger investors with more access to capital and 
experience. In addition, the collateral securing a large loan is often 
a larger, more established, and/or newer property. Alternatively, 
multifamily mortgage exposures with smaller original balances are often 
associated with investors with limited funding and smaller, less 
competitive properties. An original loan size of $10 million would 
represent a baseline level of risk, and multifamily mortgage exposures 
meeting that criterion would receive a risk multiplier of 1.0. In a 
change from the 2018 proposal, and in response to commenters that 
recommended FHFA add granularity to the loan size risk multiplier in 
part to avoid large jumps in the credit risk capital requirement when 
moving from one risk multiplier bucket to the next, multifamily 
mortgage exposures above or below $10 million would receive a loan size 
risk multiplier that changes in $1 million increments between $3 
million and $25 million. The loan size risk multipliers in the proposed 
rule were calculated by extrapolating between the loan size risk 
multiplier breakpoints in the 2018 proposal. Multifamily mortgage 
exposures with an original loan balance greater than $10 million would 
receive a risk multiplier less than 1.0, and multifamily mortgage 
exposures with an original loan balance less than $10 million would 
receive a risk multiplier greater than 1.0.
     Special products. The multifamily special products that 
would receive a multifamily risk multiplier were selected for their 
importance based on FHFA staff analysis and expertise, pursuant to 
discussions with the Enterprises and their collective multifamily 
business experiences, and in recognition of commenter feedback on the 
2018 proposal. The special

[[Page 39327]]

products, discussed individually below, are student housing and rehab/
value-add/lease-up loans.
    Student housing loans provide financing for the operation of 
apartment buildings for college students. The rental periods for units 
in these properties often correspond to the institution's academic 
calendar, so the properties have a high annual turnover of occupants. 
Student renters, by and large, might not be as careful with the use and 
maintenance of the rental units as more mature households. As a result, 
apartment buildings focusing on student housing customarily have more 
volatile occupancy and less predictable maintenance expenses. In the 
proposed rule, this would imply higher risk, which leads to a risk 
multiplier greater than 1.0 for student housing exposures.
    The second type of special product includes loans issued to finance 
rehab/value-add/lease-up projects. Rehab and value-add projects refer 
to types of renovations, where a rehab project is a like-for-like 
renovation and a value-add project is one that increases a property's 
value by adding a new feature to an existing property or converts one 
component of a property into a more marketable feature, such as 
converting unused storage units into a fitness center. A lease-up 
property is one that is recently constructed and still in the process 
of securing tenants for occupancy. Recently built properties, and those 
subject to improvements, typically require more intense marketing 
efforts in the early stages of property operation. It often takes 
longer for these properties to reach and stabilize at reasonable 
occupancy levels. These factors elevate the property's risk, which in 
the proposed rule would lead to a risk multiplier greater than 1.0 for 
exposures backing these properties.
    Although not requiring a risk multiplier, a special type of 
multifamily mortgage exposure contemplated by the proposed rule is a 
supplemental loan. Supplemental loans refer to multifamily loans issued 
to a borrower for a property against which the borrower has previously 
received a loan. There can be more than one supplemental loan for any 
borrower/property combination. These loans, by definition, increase 
loan balances, which lead to higher LTVs and could lead to lower DSCRs, 
which could lead to higher risk. Therefore, the proposed rule would 
require an Enterprise to account for this potentially higher risk by 
recalculating DSCRs and LTVs for the original and supplemental loans 
using combined loan balances and income/payment information. The 
Enterprise would calculate risk weights for the original and 
supplemental loans using the aggregate LTV and DSCR and the separate 
loan characteristics of each loan, with the exception of the loan size 
risk multiplier which would be determined using the aggregate UPB of 
the original loan and all supplemental loans.
    In a change from the 2018 proposal, the proposed rule would not 
include a risk multiplier for multifamily mortgage exposures with a 
government subsidy. FHFA sought feedback on the government subsidy risk 
multiplier in the 2018 proposal, and commenters recommended FHFA 
consider implementing the risk multiplier based on the level of 
subsidy. FHFA analyzed the available performance data for government-
subsidized multifamily mortgage exposures, due to the relatively low 
instances of loss across multifamily loan programs that include a 
government subsidy, FHFA determined it was not feasible to accurately 
calibrate thresholds at which the level of government subsidy impacted 
the probability of loss occurring or the severity of that loss. As a 
result of that analysis, FHFA has determined to take the approach of 
eliminating the government subsidy risk multiplier from the proposed 
rule to avoid instances where a loan with a limited subsidy would 
qualify for the risk multiplier.
    FHFA received several additional comments on the multifamily risk 
multipliers in the 2018 proposal. Two commenters recommended FHFA add 
granularity to the interest-only risk multiplier, with one commenter 
suggesting gradations be added to the risk multiplier for the length of 
the interest-only term, or at least a differentiation for a partial 
interest-only versus a full interest-only. FHFA is proposing the 
interest-only risk multiplier as in the 2018 proposal because FHFA 
continues to believe in the validity of the analysis supporting the 
interest-only risk multiplier. In that analysis, historical data with 
which to calibrate an interest-only risk multiplier by interest-only 
term length was limited, and feedback from the industry participants 
with whom FHFA consulted disagreed as to the nature of a more granular 
risk multiplier. Another commenter recommended FHFA add risk 
multipliers for additional product types such as construction and mod-
rehab loans, for loan features such as cross-collateralization, and for 
non-financial structural terms such as borrower covenants. While FHFA 
acknowledges different product types and features may represent 
differential levels of risk, the risk multipliers were selected in part 
due to data availability, and in part because FHFA concluded that the 
risk multipliers would represent a simple and transparent way to adjust 
the base capital requirements for the most important multifamily risks 
faced by an Enterprise in a regulatory capital framework.
    Question 58. Are the risk multipliers for multifamily mortgage 
exposures appropriately formulated and calibrated to require credit 
risk capital sufficient to ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe 
and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its statutory mission 
across the economic cycle?
    Question 59. Are there any adjustments, simplifications, or other 
refinements that FHFA should consider for the risk multipliers for 
multifamily exposures?
    Question 60. Should the combined risk multiplier for a multifamily 
mortgage exposure be subject to a floor or a cap?
6. Minimum Adjusted Risk Weight
    The 2018 proposal acknowledged that combinations of overlapping 
characteristics could potentially result in unduly low credit risk 
capital requirements for certain multifamily mortgage exposures. Under 
the 2018 proposal, the Enterprises were required to impose a floor of 
0.5 to any combined multifamily risk multiplier. FHFA has taken a 
somewhat different approach in the proposed rule. As for single-family 
mortgage exposures, the proposed rule would establish a floor on the 
adjusted risk weight for a multifamily mortgage exposure equal to 15 
percent.
    First, as discussed in Section IV.B, a risk weight floor is 
appropriate to mitigate certain risks and limitations associated with 
the underlying historical data and models. These risks include the 
potential that crisis-era losses were mitigated by the unprecedented 
federal government support of the economy and the impact of lower 
interest rates. In addition, they include potentially material risks 
that are not assigned a risk-based requirement, for example those that 
might arise from natural or other disasters.
    Second, comparison to the U.S. banking framework's credit risk 
capital requirements for similar exposures contributed to FHFA's view 
that a risk weight floor is appropriate, while also raising important 
questions as to the sizing of that risk weight floor. As of September 
30, 2019, with the proposed 15 percent risk weight floor, the average 
pre-CRT net credit risk capital requirement on the Enterprises' 
multifamily mortgage exposures would have been 4.1 percent of unpaid

[[Page 39328]]

principal balance, implying an average risk weight of 51 percent. That 
51 percent average risk weight is only modestly greater than the 50 
percent average risk weight without the floor. The U.S. banking 
framework generally assigns a 100 percent risk weight to multifamily 
mortgage exposures to determine the credit risk capital requirement 
(equivalent to an 8.0 percent adjusted total capital requirement), 
although some multifamily mortgage exposures are eligible for a 50 
percent risk weight. Before adjusting for the capital buffers under the 
proposed rule and the U.S. banking framework, the Enterprises' credit 
risk capital requirements for multifamily mortgage exposures would have 
been roughly half that of the default risk weight under the U.S. 
banking framework.
    This comparison is complicated by the fact that the 51 percent 
average risk weight reflects adjustments for MTMLTV. In particular, 
some meaningful portion of the gap currently between the credit risk 
capital requirements of the Enterprises and U.S. banking organizations 
under the proposed rule is due to the proposed rule's use of MTMLTV 
instead of OLTV, as under the U.S. banking framework, to assign credit 
risk capital requirements for mortgage exposures. In a different 
economic environment, perhaps after several years of declining 
multifamily property prices, the mark-to-market framework could have 
resulted in higher credit risk capital requirements than the U.S. 
banking framework.\71\
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    \71\ In consideration that the U.S. banking framework utilizes 
OLTVs, a comparison of the credit risk capital requirements for 
newly acquired multifamily mortgage exposures under the 2018 
proposal and the proposed rule provides the most direct comparison 
of credit risk capital requirements for new originations. Under the 
proposed rule, gross credit risk capital (prior to adjustments for 
CRT) on newly acquired multifamily mortgage exposures as of 
September 30, 2019, with an average MTMLTV of approximately 67 
percent, would have been approximately 5.3 percent of unpaid 
principal balance, implying an average risk weight of 67 percent. 
This compares to the 100 percent default risk weight generally 
applicable under the U.S. banking framework. These risk weights 
would then decline to the extent multifamily property prices 
appreciate or increase to the extent multifamily property prices 
depreciate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, the current gap between the credit risk capital 
requirements of U.S. banking organizations and the Enterprises under 
the proposed rule is still informative to the calibration of an 
appropriate risk weight floor. FHFA sized the 15 percent risk weight 
floor to mirror the risk weight floor for single-family mortgage 
exposures. FHFA is soliciting comment on that sizing, in particular 
whether a multifamily-specific risk-weight floor might be more 
appropriate.
    Question 61. Is the minimum floor on the adjusted risk weight for a 
multifamily mortgage exposure appropriately calibrated to mitigate 
model and related risks associated with the calibration of the 
underlying base risk weights and risk multipliers and to otherwise 
ensure each Enterprise operates in a safe and sound manner and is 
positioned to fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle?
    Question 62. Should the minimum floor on the adjusted risk weight 
for a multifamily mortgage exposure be decreased or increased, perhaps 
to align the minimum floor with the more risk-sensitive standardized 
risk weights assigned to similar exposures under the Basel or U.S. 
banking framework?
    Question 63. Should the risk weight floor for a multifamily 
mortgage exposure be different from the risk weight floor for a single-
family mortgage exposure?
    Question 64. Should the floor or other limit used to determine a 
multifamily mortgage exposure's credit risk capital requirement be 
assessed against the base risk weight, the risk weight adjusted for the 
risk multipliers, or some other input used to determine that credit 
risk capital requirement?

C. CRT and Other Securitization Exposures

1. Background
a. PLS and CMBS Investments
    The Enterprises have exposure to PLS and commercial mortgage-backed 
securities (CMBS) to the extent that they invest in PLS or CMBS or 
guarantee PLS or CMBS that have been re-securitized by an Enterprise. 
In the lead up to the 2008 financial crisis, each Enterprise 
substantially increased its investments in PLS, and those PLS 
investments were a source of a meaningful portion of each Enterprise's 
initial crisis-era capital exhaustion. The Enterprises have not 
acquired material amounts of PLS since 2008. However, the Enterprises 
do retain some relatively small amount of legacy PLS, and each 
Enterprise might acquire PLS in the future, subject to any regulations 
that FHFA may prescribe. The proposed rule therefore contemplates 
regulatory capital requirements for the credit, spread, and operational 
risk posed by these PLS and CMBS exposures.
b. Single-Family CRT
    CRT transactions provide credit protection beyond that provided by 
loan-level credit enhancements. CRT can be viewed as an Enterprise 
paying a portion of its guarantee fee as a cost of transferring credit 
risk to private sector investors. To date, single-family CRT have 
included transferring expected and unexpected losses. The Enterprises 
have developed a variety of single-family CRT product types, including 
structured debt issuances (known as Structured Agency Credit Risk 
(STACR) for Freddie Mac and Connecticut Avenue Securities (CAS) for 
Fannie Mae), insurance/reinsurance transactions (known as Agency Credit 
Insurance Structure (ACIS) for Freddie Mac and Credit Insurance Risk 
Transfer (CIRT) for Fannie Mae), and senior-subordinate securities.
    The STACR and CAS securities account for the majority of single-
family CRT to date. These securities are issued as notes from a trust 
and do not constitute the sale of mortgage loans or their cash flows. 
Instead, STACR and CAS are considered to be synthetic notes because 
their cash flows are determined by the credit risk performance of a 
notional reference pool of mortgage loans. For the STACR and CAS 
transactions, the Enterprises receive the proceeds of the note issuance 
at the time of sale to investors. The Enterprises pay interest to 
investors on a monthly basis and allocate principal to investors based 
on the repayment and credit performance of the single-family mortgage 
exposures in the underlying reference pool. Investors ultimately 
receive a return of their principal, less any covered credit losses. 
The transactions are fully collateralized since investors pay for the 
notes in full. Thus, the Enterprises do not bear any counterparty 
credit risk on debt transactions.
    Pool-level reinsurance transactions such as CIRT and ACIS, which 
generally cover hundreds or thousands of single-family mortgage loans, 
are considered CRT. Pool insurance transactions are typically 
structured with an aggregated loss amount. The Enterprises, as policy 
holders, typically retain some portion (or all) of the first loss. The 
cost of pool-level insurance is generally paid by the Enterprise, not 
the lender or borrower. In general, an Enterprise may bear counterparty 
credit risk because insurance transactions are not fully 
collateralized. This counterparty credit risk may be somewhat 
mitigated, however, by conducting transactions with diversified 
reinsurers that have books of business that may be less correlated with 
the Enterprises or with insurers in compliance with an Enterprise's 
insurer eligibility standards.
    In a senior-subordinate (senior-sub) securitization, the Enterprise 
sells a

[[Page 39329]]

pool of single-family mortgage exposures to a trust that securitizes 
cash flows from the pool into several tranches of bonds, similar to PLS 
transactions. The subordinated bonds, also called mezzanine and first-
loss bonds, provide the credit protection for the senior bond. Unlike 
STACR and CAS, the bonds created in a senior-sub transaction are MBS, 
not synthetic securities. In addition, unlike typical MBS issued by the 
Enterprises, generally only the senior tranche is guaranteed by the 
Enterprise.
    Historically the Enterprises have also engaged in front-end (or 
upfront) lender risk sharing transactions similar to CRT, but the 
single-family lender risk sharing programs will be discontinued by 
year-end 2020.
c. Multifamily CRT
    The Enterprises also reduce the credit risk on their multifamily 
guarantee books of business by transferring and sharing risk through 
multifamily CRT. As discussed in Section VIII.B.1, the Enterprises have 
historically operated different multifamily business models, which has 
led to the utilization of two broad types of multifamily CRT: Loss 
sharing and securitizations. Within each type, individual CRT 
transactions can have unique structures. The proposed rule's approach 
would be general enough to accommodate the full range of multifamily 
CRT currently utilized by the Enterprises.
    The loss sharing CRT structure is a front-end risk transfer, which 
is defined as a CRT an Enterprise enters into with a lender before the 
lender delivers the loan to the Enterprise. The Enterprise and lender 
share future losses according to a specified arrangement, commonly from 
the first dollar of loss, and in exchange the lender is compensated for 
taking on credit risk. Because these transactions are not always fully 
collateralized, a loss sharing CRT generally exposes the Enterprise to 
counterparty credit risk.
    In the multiclass securitization CRT structure, an Enterprise sells 
a pool of multifamily mortgage exposures to a trust that securitizes 
cash flows from the pool into several tranches of bonds. The 
subordinated bonds, also called mezzanine and first-loss bonds, are 
sold to market participants. These subordinated bonds provide credit 
protection for the senior bond, which is the only tranche that is 
guaranteed by the Enterprise. These sales typically result in a 
significant transfer of the credit risk on the underlying multifamily 
mortgage exposures.
    In addition to, and often on top of, loss sharing and 
securitization CRT structures, the Enterprises also transfer 
multifamily credit risk using reinsurance CRT transactions. In these 
back-end transactions, such as Fannie Mae's CIRT program, an Enterprise 
enters into agreements with third parties to cover losses on a pool of 
multifamily mortgage exposures up to a certain percentage. The 
Enterprise, as policy holder, typically retains some portion (or all) 
of the first losses on the pool and compensates the third parties, 
generally reinsurers, for bearing subsequent losses up to a detachment 
point. To the extent that these deals are not fully collateralized, the 
proposed rule would increase an Enterprise's post-deal exposure to 
reflect counterparty risk.
2. PLS and Other Non-CRT Securitization Exposures
    As contemplated by the 2018 proposal, an Enterprise would determine 
its credit risk capital requirement for PLS and other securitization 
exposures under a securitization framework that would be substantially 
the same as that of the U.S. banking framework. As discussed in Section 
VIII.C.3, an Enterprise may elect to determine its credit risk capital 
requirement for a retained CRT exposure under a somewhat different 
framework, even if that retained CRT exposure might be similar to an 
exposure to a traditional or synthetic securitization under the 
securitization framework.
    The exposure amount of an Enterprise's on-balance sheet 
securitization exposure generally would be the carrying value of the 
exposure, while the exposure amount of an off-balance sheet 
securitization exposure generally would be the notional amount of the 
exposure.\72\
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    \72\ For both on- and off-balance sheet securitization 
exposures, there would be special rules for determining the exposure 
amount and risk weights for repo-style transactions, eligible margin 
loans, OTC derivative contracts, and derivatives that are cleared 
transactions (other than credit derivatives).
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    An Enterprise generally would assign a risk weight for a PLS or 
other securitization exposure using the simplified supervisory formula 
approach (SSFA). Pursuant to the SSFA, an Enterprise would determine 
the risk weight for a securitization exposure using a formula that is 
based, among other things, on the subordination level of the 
securitization exposure and the adjusted aggregate credit risk capital 
requirement of the underlying exposures. A 1,250 percent risk weight 
would be assigned to any securitization exposure that absorbs losses up 
to the adjusted aggregate credit risk capital requirement of the 
underlying exposures. After that point, the risk weight for a 
securitization exposure would be assigned pursuant to an exponential 
decay function that decreases as the detachment point or attachment 
point increases, subject to a minimum risk weight of 20 percent.
    At the inception of a securitization, the SSFA's exponential decay 
function for risk weights, together with the 20 percent risk weight 
floor, would require more regulatory capital on a transaction-wide 
basis than would be required if the underlying exposures had not been 
securitized. That is, if the Enterprise held every tranche of a 
securitization, its overall regulatory capital requirement would be 
greater than if the Enterprise owned all of the underlying exposures. 
Like the U.S. banking regulators, FHFA believes this outcome is 
important to reduce regulatory capital arbitrage through 
securitizations and to manage the structural and other risks that might 
be posed by a securitization.\73\
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    \73\ See Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, 
Implementation of Basel III, Capital Adequacy, Transition 
Provisions, Prompt Corrective Action, Standardized Approach for 
Risk-weighted Assets, Market Discipline and Disclosure Requirements, 
Advanced Approaches Risk-Based Capital Rule, and Market Risk Capital 
Rule, 78 FR 62018, 62119 (Oct. 11, 2013) (hereinafter Joint Agency 
Regulatory Capital Final Rule) (``At the inception of a 
securitization, the SSFA requires more capital on a transaction-wide 
basis than would be required if the underlying assets had not been 
securitized. That is, if the banking organization held every tranche 
of a securitization, its overall capital requirement would be 
greater than if the banking organization held the underlying assets 
in portfolio. The agencies believe this overall outcome is important 
in reducing the likelihood of regulatory capital arbitrage through 
securitizations.'').
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3. Retained CRT Exposures
a. Assessment Framework
    As discussed in the 2018 proposal, FHFA has established certain 
core principles to guide the developments of the Enterprises' CRT 
programs. Each CRT must transfer a meaningful amount of credit risk to 
private investors to reduce risk to the Enterprises, and the cost of 
the CRT must be economically sensible. In addition, a CRT must not 
interfere with the Enterprise's core business, including the ability of 
borrowers to access credit. The CRT programs have been intended to 
attract a broad investor base, be scalable, and incorporate a regular 
program of issuances. In transactions where credit risk may not be 
fully collateralized, the CRT counterparties must be financially 
strong, post collateral for a portion of their exposure, and be 
expected to fulfill

[[Page 39330]]

their commitments in adverse market conditions.
    FHFA has continued to refine the assessment framework based on its 
understanding of the safety and soundness risks and limits relating to 
the effectiveness of CRT in transferring credit risk on the underlying 
exposures. Commenters on the 2018 proposal argued that CRT has less 
loss-absorbing capacity than an equivalent amount of equity financing. 
FHFA agrees that CRT transfers credit risk only on a specified 
reference pool, while equity financing is available to ``cross cover'' 
credit risk on other exposures of the Enterprise. FHFA also agrees that 
CRT transfers only credit risk, while equity financing can absorb 
losses arising from operational and market risks. Related to this, an 
Enterprise generally may pause distributions on equity financing during 
a financial stress but typically must continue debt service or other 
payments on CRT instruments. Therefore, equity financing provides more 
robust safety and soundness benefits across exposures and risks than a 
similar amount of credit exposure transferred through CRT.
    One of the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis is that 
securitization structures, especially complex securitizations, might 
not perform as expected during a financial stress, with some large 
banking organizations even electing to reconsolidate some of their 
securitizations.\74\ Similarly, there might be unique legal risks posed 
by the contractual terms of CRT structures and by the practices 
associated with contractual enforcement. While the 2018 proposal 
already contemplated reductions to the capital relief provided by a CRT 
based on the counterparty risk and maturity-related risk of CRT, FHFA 
agrees that there are structural and other risks that were not 
reflected in those adjustments that could further limit the 
effectiveness of CRT in transferring credit risk. FHFA continues to 
look to opportunities to enhance its framework for assessing the 
Enterprises' CRT programs to mitigate these safety and soundness risks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ See Risk-Based Capital Guidelines; Capital Adequacy 
Guidelines; Capital Maintenance: Regulatory Capital; Impact of 
Modifications to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; 
Consolidation of Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Programs; and Other 
Related Issues, 74 FR 47138, 47142 (Sept. 15, 2009) (``In the case 
of some structures that banking organizations were not required to 
consolidate prior to the 2009 GAAP modifications, the recent turmoil 
in the financial markets has demonstrated the extent to which the 
credit risk exposure of the sponsoring banking organization to such 
structures (and their related assets) has in fact been greater than 
the agencies estimated, and more associated with non-contractual 
considerations than the agencies had expected. For example, recent 
performance data on structures involving revolving assets show that 
banking organizations have often provided non-contractual (implicit) 
support to prevent senior securities of the structure from being 
downgraded, thereby mitigating reputational risk and the associated 
alienation of investors, and preserving access to cost-effective 
funding.''); see also FCIC Report at 246, available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf (``When the 
mortgage securities market dried up and money market mutual funds 
became skittish about broad categories of ABCP, the banks would be 
required under these liquidity puts to stand behind the paper and 
bring the assets onto their balance sheets, transferring losses back 
into the commercial banking system. In some cases, to protect 
relationships with investors, banks would support programs they had 
sponsored even when they had made no prior commitment to do so.''); 
see also FCIC Report at 138-139 (``The events of 2007 would reveal 
the fallacy of those assumptions and catapult the entire $25 billion 
in commercial paper straight onto the bank's balance sheet, 
requiring it to come up with $25 billion in cash as well as more 
capital to satisfy bank regulators.'').
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    Besides safety and soundness, FHFA's assessment framework also 
considers the extent to which an Enterprise's CRT program could limit 
the Enterprise's ability to fulfill its statutory mission to provide 
stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary mortgage market 
across the economic cycle. As discussed in the 2018 proposal, a 
financial stress could reduce investor demand for, or increase the cost 
of, new CRT issuances or undermine the financial strength of some 
existing CRT counterparties. The pro-cyclicality of some CRT structures 
could adversely impact an Enterprise's ability to support the secondary 
mortgage market if an Enterprise were not to have sufficient equity 
financing to support new acquisitions of mortgage exposures. To fulfill 
its mission, an Enterprise should avoid overreliance on CRT and should 
maintain at least enough equity capital to support new originations 
during a period of financial stress, when new CRT issuances might not 
be available. For these and other reasons, capital relief for CRT under 
the 2018 proposal did not extend to the going- concern buffer, and the 
proposed rule also would not provide CRT capital relief for the capital 
conservation buffer.
    FHFA's assessment framework also seeks to prevent each Enterprise's 
CRT program from undermining the liquidity, efficiency, 
competitiveness, or resiliency of the national housing finance markets. 
Some CRT structures might tend to increase the leverage in the housing 
finance system, especially to the extent some CRT investors themselves 
rely on short-term debt funding. The disruption in the CRT markets 
during the recent COVID-19-related financial stress might have been 
driven in part by leveraged market participants that had invested in 
CRT rapidly de-levering when confronted by margin calls on short-term 
financing.
b. Enhancements to the 2018 Proposal
    FHFA is proposing enhancements to the 2018 proposal's regulatory 
capital treatment of CRT to refine its balancing of the safety and 
soundness benefits of CRT against the potential safety and soundness, 
mission, and housing market stability risks that might be posed by CRT.
    Consistent with the U.S. banking framework, FHFA is proposing 
operational criteria to mitigate the risk that the terms or structure 
of the CRT would not be effective in transferring credit risk. FHFA's 
proposed operational criteria would provide capital relief on a CRT 
only if certain conditions are satisfied, including:
     The CRT is of a category of CRT structures that has been 
approved by FHFA as effective in transferring credit risk.
     The terms and conditions in the CRT do not include 
provisions that might undermine the effectiveness of the transfer of 
the credit risk (e.g., by allowing for the termination of the CRT due 
to deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures).
     Clean-up calls relating to the CRT are limited to 
specified circumstances.
     The Enterprise publicly discloses--
    [cir] The material recourse or other risks that might reduce the 
effectiveness of the CRT in transferring credit risk; and
    [cir] Each operational criterion for a traditional securitization 
or a synthetic securitization that is not satisfied by the CRT and the 
reasons that each such condition is not satisfied.
    These operational criteria for CRT are less restrictive than those 
applicable to traditional or synthetic securitizations under the U.S. 
banking framework. For example, a senior/subordinated structure need 
not be off-balance sheet under GAAP, as required for traditional 
securitizations under the U.S. banking framework, while a financial 
guarantee need not be provided by a company that is not predominantly 
engaged in the business of providing credit protection, as required for 
an eligible guarantee under the U.S. banking framework. To partially 
mitigate the safety and soundness risks posed by this less restrictive 
approach, FHFA would require an Enterprise to publicly disclose 
material risks to the effectiveness of the CRT so as to foster market 
discipline and FHFA's supervision and regulation. FHFA is also seeking 
comment on other operational criteria it might adopt for CRT.

[[Page 39331]]

    FHFA is also proposing to prescribe the regulatory capital 
consequences of an Enterprise providing support to a CRT in excess of 
the Enterprise's pre-determined contractual obligations. As under the 
U.S. banking framework, if an Enterprise provides implicit support for 
a CRT, the Enterprise would be required to include in its risk-weighted 
assets all of the underlying exposures associated with the CRT as if 
the exposures were not covered by the CRT. The Enterprise also would be 
required to disclose publicly (i) that it has provided implicit support 
to the CRT and (ii) the risk-based capital impact to the Enterprise of 
providing that implicit support. These requirements are intended to 
discourage an Enterprise from providing implicit support during a 
financial stress or otherwise, for example by providing financing to 
CRT investors or by repurchasing CRT exposures during a financial 
stress.
    Generally consistent with the U.S. banking framework, FHFA also is 
proposing a prudential floor of 10 percent on the risk weight assigned 
to any retained CRT exposure. Under the 2018 proposal, a retained CRT 
exposure with a detachment point less than the net credit risk capital 
requirement of the underlying mortgage exposures would, in effect, have 
had a risk weight of 1,250 percent, while a retained exposure with an 
attachment point only marginally greater than that net credit risk 
capital requirement would have had a risk weight of 0 percent. A 
retained CRT exposure with an attachment point just beyond that cut-off 
point likely still would pose some credit risk as a result of the model 
risks associated with the calibration of the credit risk capital 
requirement of the underlying exposures, and also the risk that a CRT 
will not perform as expected in transferring credit risk to third 
parties.\75\ The prudential floor for a retained CRT exposure avoids 
treating that exposure as posing no credit risk.
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    \75\ For these and other reasons, the Basel and U.S. banking 
frameworks impose a prudential floor on the risk weight for any 
securitization exposure. BCBS, Revisions to the Securitisation 
Framework Consultative Document at 17 (Dec. 2013; final July 2016), 
available at https://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs269.pdf. (``The objectives 
of a risk-weight floor are: [m]itigate concerns related to incorrect 
model specifications and error from banks' estimates of inputs to 
capital formulas ([i.e.] model risk); and [r]educe the variation in 
outcomes for similar risks.'').
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    The 10 percent minimum risk weight is less than the 20 percent 
minimum risk weight under the U.S. banking framework for securitization 
exposures. FHFA's sizing of the minimum risk weight seeks to strike an 
appropriate balance between permitting CRT while also mitigating the 
safety and soundness, mission, and housing stability risk that might be 
posed by some CRT. FHFA is soliciting comment on whether to align the 
risk weight floor for retained CRT exposures with the various different 
floors for securitizations exposures under the Basel and U.S. banking 
frameworks.
    Finally, FHFA is proposing refinements to the adjustments to the 
regulatory capital treatment of CRT for the counterparty, loss-timing, 
and other risks that a CRT might not be effective in transferring 
credit risk to third parties. As discussed in Section VIII.C.3.c, FHFA 
is proposing to refine the 2018 proposal's adjustments for counterparty 
risk and loss-timing risk, and proposing to add a general adjustment 
for the differences between CRT and regulatory capital. These CRT-
specific adjustments do introduce some complexity, and as discussed in 
Section VIII.C.3.d, FHFA is also soliciting comment on an alternative 
approach based on the U.S. banking framework's SSFA that is simpler but 
also less tailored.
    Under either FHFA's proposed or alternative approach, at the 
inception of a CRT, FHFA generally would require more credit risk 
capital on a transaction-wide basis than would be required if the 
underlying mortgage exposures had not been made subject to a CRT. That 
is, if an Enterprise held every tranche of a CRT, its credit risk 
capital requirement on the retained CRT exposures generally would be 
greater than the credit risk capital requirement of the underlying 
mortgage exposures. As under the securitization framework, this 
departure from strict capital neutrality is important to manage the 
potential safety and soundness risks of CRT. This approach would help 
mitigate the model risk associated with the calibration of the credit 
risk capital requirements of the underlying exposures and also the 
model risk posed by the calibration of the adjustments for loss-timing 
and counterparty risks.\76\ Complex CRT also may pose structural risk 
and other risks that merit a departure from capital neutrality.\77\ 
This departure from capital neutrality also is important to reducing 
the likelihood of regulatory capital arbitrage through CRT.\78\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ BCBS, Revisions to the Securitisation Framework 
Consultative Document at 4 (Dec. 2013; final July 2016), available 
at https://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs269.pdf. (``Capital requirements 
should be calibrated to reasonably conservative standards. This 
requires the framework to account for the model risk of determining 
the risks of specific exposures. Models for securitisation tranche 
performance depend in turn on models for underlying pools. In 
addition, securitisations have a wide range of structural features 
that do not exist for banks holding the underlying pool outright and 
that are impossible to capture in models. This layering of models 
and simplifying assumptions can exacerbate model risk, justifying a 
rejection of a strict ``capital neutrality'' premise ([i.e.] the 
total capital required after securitisation should not be identical 
to the total capital before securitisation).'').
    \77\ BCBS, Revisions to the Securitisation Framework at 6 (Dec. 
2014; rev. July 2016), available at https://www.bis.org/bcbs/publ/d374.pdf (``All other things being equal, a securitisation with 
lower structural risk needs a lower capital surcharge than a 
securitisation with higher structural risk; and a securitisation 
with less risky underlying assets requires a lower capital surcharge 
than a securitisation with riskier underlying assets.'').
    \78\ See Joint Agency Regulatory Capital Final Rule, 78 FR at 
62119 (``At the inception of a securitization, the SSFA requires 
more capital on a transaction-wide basis than would be required if 
the underlying assets had not been securitized. That is, if the 
banking organization held every tranche of a securitization, its 
overall capital requirement would be greater than if the banking 
organization held the underlying assets in portfolio. The agencies 
believe this overall outcome is important in reducing the likelihood 
of regulatory capital arbitrage through securitizations.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One implication of departing from capital neutrality is that an 
Enterprise might have some existing CRT structures for which the 
aggregate credit risk capital requirement of the retained CRT exposures 
actually would be greater than the aggregate credit risk capital 
requirement of the underlying exposures. This outcome might be more 
likely, all else equal, where the underlying exposures have a lower 
average risk weight, for example, a CRT with respect to seasoned 
single-family mortgage exposures. As under the U.S. banking framework, 
an Enterprise may elect to not recognize a CRT for purposes of the 
credit risk capital requirements and instead hold risk-based capital 
against the underlying exposures. FHFA has assumed for purposes of the 
proposed rule that an Enterprise would make this election in those 
cases where the aggregate credit risk capital requirement of the 
underlying exposures is less than that of the retained CRT exposures.
    Question 65. What changes, if any, should FHFA consider to the 
operational criteria for CRT?
    Question 66. What changes, if any, should FHFA consider to the 
regulatory consequences of an Enterprise providing implicit support to 
a CRT?
    Question 67. Is the 10 percent prudential floor on the risk weight 
for a retained CRT exposure appropriately calibrated?
    Question 68. Should FHFA increase the prudential floor on the risk 
weight for a retained CRT exposure, for example so that it aligns with 
the 20

[[Page 39332]]

percent minimum risk weight under the U.S. banking framework?
    Question 69. Should FHFA take a different approach to an 
Enterprise's existing CRT?
c. Adjustments to CRT Capital Relief
    The proposed rule would implement a framework through which an 
Enterprise would determine its credit risk-weighted assets for any 
retained CRT exposures and any other credit risk that might be retained 
on its CRT. An Enterprise would calculate credit risk-weighted assets 
for retained credit risk in a CRT using risk weights and exposure 
amounts for each CRT tranche. The exposure amount of the retained CRT 
exposures for each tranche would be increased by adjustments to reflect 
counterparty credit risk and the length of CRT coverage (i.e., 
remaining time until maturity). The proposed rule would also set a 
credit risk capital requirement floor for retained risk effectuated 
through a tranche-level risk weight floor.
    In addition, the approach would reduce the risk-weighted assets for 
risk sold by 10 percent to account for the fact that CRT transactions 
do not provide the same protection as regulatory capital. As discussed 
by several commenters on the 2018 proposal, the credit protection from 
a CRT is not fungible to cover losses on other exposures. Furthermore, 
during a financial stress the Enterprises can stop equity dividend 
payments whereas the cost of CRT credit protection, in many cases, is 
an ongoing liability. Therefore, for each tranche, an Enterprise would 
reduce the risk-weighted assets assigned to private investors or 
covered by a loss sharing agreement by 10 percent and add the reduction 
to the Enterprise's apportioned exposure amount in the tranche.
    Overall, the proposed rule would require each Enterprise to hold 
either: (i) Credit risk capital on any credit risk which it has 
retained or to which it is otherwise exposed (including non-
transferable counterparty credit risk on the CRT's underlying mortgage 
exposures); or (ii) the aggregate credit risk capital on the CRT's 
underlying mortgage exposures. If the Enterprise chooses the former, 
then in general, an Enterprise would be required to hold less 
regulatory capital for CRT transactions that provide coverage (i) on a 
higher percentage of unexpected losses, (ii) for a longer period, and 
(iii) with lower levels of counterparty credit risk.
    The following example provides an illustration of the proposed 
rule's capital requirements if an Enterprise elects to hold capital 
against the credit risk from its retained CRT exposures. Consider the 
following inputs from an illustrative CRT (see Figure 3):
     $1,000 million in unpaid principal balance of performing 
30-year fixed rate single-family mortgage exposures with OLTVs greater 
than 60 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent;
     CRT coverage term of 10 years;
     Three tranches--B, M1, and AH--where tranche B attaches at 
0% and detaches at 0.5%, tranche M1 attaches at 0.5% and detaches at 
4.5%, and tranche AH attaches at 4.5% and detaches at 100%;
     Tranches B and AH are retained by the Enterprise, and 
ownership of tranche M1 is split between capital markets (60 percent), 
a reinsurer (35 percent), and the Enterprise (5.0 percent);
     The aggregate credit risk-weighted assets on the single-
family mortgage exposures underlying the CRT are $343.8 million;
     Aggregate expected losses on the single-family mortgage 
exposures underlying the CRT of $2.5 million; and
     The reinsurer posts $2.8 million in collateral, has a 
counterparty financial strength rating of 3, and does not have a high 
level of mortgage concentration risk.

[[Page 39333]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.025

    The Enterprises would first calculate the risk weights for each 
tranche assuming full effectiveness of the CRT in transferring credit 
risk on the underlying mortgage exposures. In general, tranche risk 
weights are the highest for the riskiest, most junior tranches (such as 
tranche B), and lower for the more senior tranches (such as tranches M1 
and AH). For the illustrative CRT, the overall risk weights for 
tranches AH, M1, and B are 10%, 781%, and 1,250%, where 10% reflects 
the minimum risk weight.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.026


where

[[Page 39334]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.027

    Next, the Enterprise would calculate the adjusted exposure amount 
of its retained CRT exposures to reflect the effectiveness of the CRT 
in transferring credit risk on the underlying mortgage exposures. For 
the illustrative CRT, tranches AH and B are retained by the Enterprise, 
and do not need further adjustment. Risk associated with tranche M1 is 
transferred through a capital markets transaction and a loss sharing 
agreement. Risk transfer on this tranche is subject to the following 
three effectiveness adjustments, which are reflected in the 
Enterprise's adjusted exposure amount: Loss sharing effectiveness 
adjustment (LSEA), loss timing effectiveness adjustment (LTEA), and 
overall effectiveness adjustment (OEA).
    To account for the effectiveness of loss sharing on tranche M1, the 
proposed rule would adjust its exposure amount on tranche M1 to reflect 
the retention of some of the counterparty credit risk that was 
nominally transferred to the counterparty. The proposed rule adjusts 
effectiveness for (i) uncollateralized unexpected loss (UnCollatUL) and 
(ii) uncollateralized risk-in-force above stress loss (SRIF). For the 
illustrative CRT, the counterparty haircut is 5.2% as per the proposed 
single-family CP haircuts, from Table 21, UnCollatUL is 42.5%, and SRIF 
is 37.5%. The proposed rule's LTEA on tranche M1 would be 96.4%.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.028

where
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.029

    To account for effectiveness from the timing of coverage, the 
proposed rule would adjust the Enterprise's exposure amount for tranche 
M1 to reflect the retention of some loss timing risk that was nominally 
transferred. The loss timing factor addresses the mismatch between 
lifetime losses on the 30-year fixed-rate single-family mortgage 
exposures underlying the CRT and the CRT's coverage. The loss timing 
factor for the illustrative CRT with 10 years of coverage and backed by 
30-year fixed-rate single-family whole loans and guarantees with OLTVs 
greater than 60 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent is 88 
percent for both the capital markets transaction and loss sharing 
agreement. For the illustrative CRT, tranche M1's LTEA is 85.6% and is 
derived by scaling stress loss by the 88% loss timing factor.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.030

where

LTKA  = max((2.75% + 0.25%) * 88%-0.25%, 0%) = 
2.39%

    For the last adjustment, the proposed rule would include a 10% 
overall reduction in capital relief to reflect for the fact that CRT 
transactions do not provide the same loss-absorbing capacity as 
regulatory capital (OEA).

OEA = (1-10%) = 90%

    The adjusted exposure amounts (AEAs) combine the effectiveness 
adjustments, aggregate UPB, tranche thickness, and an adjustment for 
expected losses (to tranche B in the example). For the illustrative 
CRT, the proposed rule would calculate AEAs as follows:

[[Page 39335]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.031

where the Enterprise's adjusted exposures (EAEs) for tranches A and B 
are 100% and

EAE,M1 = 100%-(60% * 85.6% * 90%)-(35% * 96.4% * 
85.6% * 90%) = 27.8%.

    Finally, to calculate risk weighted assets after CRT, the proposed 
rule combines AEAs with the tranche-level risk weights. For the 
illustrative CRT, the proposed rule would calculate risk weighted 
assets (RWA) as follows:

RWA$,AH = AEA$,AH * RW,AH = 
$955m * 10% = 95.5m
RWA$,M1 = AEA$,M1 * RWA,M1 = 
11.1m * 781% = 86.7m
RWA$,B = AEA$,B * RW,B = 2.5m 
* 1250% = $31.3m

with total RWAs on the retained CRT exposures at $213.5 million, a 
decline of $130.3 million from the aggregate credit risk-weighted 
assets on the underlying single-family mortgage exposures of $343.8 
million.
Seasoned CRT
    A seasoned CRT differs from when it was newly issued due to the 
changing risk profile on the mortgage exposures underlying the CRT, and 
changes to the CRT structure which may have developed since issuance. 
Therefore, an Enterprise would be required to periodically re-calculate 
capital adjustments on its seasoned CRT transactions.
    For each seasoned CRT, the proposed rule would require the 
Enterprise to update the data elements originally considered. In 
particular, the proposed rule would require the Enterprise to update 
credit risk capital and expected losses on the underlying whole loans 
and guarantees, tranche structure, ownership, and counterparty credit 
risk.
CRT Prepayments
    The rate at which principal on a CRT's underlying exposures is paid 
down (principal paydowns) affects the allocation of credit losses 
between the Enterprises and investors/reinsurers. Principal paydowns 
include regularly scheduled principal payments and unscheduled 
principal prepayments. In general, a CRT's tranches are paid down in 
the order of their seniority outlined in the CRT's transaction 
documents. For tranches with shared ownership, principal paydowns are 
allocated on a pro-rata basis. Under certain conditions unusually fast 
prepayments can erode the credit protection provided by the CRT by 
paying down the subordinate tranches and leave the Enterprises more 
vulnerable to credit losses. In particular, unexpectedly high 
prepayments can compromise the protection afforded by CRT and reduce 
the CRT's benefit or capital relief.
    FHFA reviewed the effect on capital relief of applying stressful 
prepayment and loan delinquency projections to recent CRT. FHFA 
concluded that deal features, specifically triggers, mitigate the 
effects of fast prepayments by diverting unscheduled principal 
prepayments to the Enterprise-held senior tranche. For example, a 
minimum credit enhancement trigger redirects prepayments to the senior 
tranche when the senior credit enhancement falls below a pre-specified 
threshold. Similarly, a delinquency trigger diverts prepayments when 
the average monthly delinquency balance (i.e., underlying single-family 
mortgage exposures that are 90 days or more delinquent, in foreclosure, 
bankruptcy, or REO) exceeds a pre-specified threshold.
    FHFA considered whether it would be desirable to include language 
in the proposed rule requiring specific triggers in CRT transactions. 
However, FHFA decided against such language because variations across 
transactions complicate the establishment of fixed triggers that could 
be prudently applied uniformly across deals. Further, mandating a fixed 
set of triggers could reduce innovation in managing principal paydowns. 
For these reasons, FHFA believes that the proposed rule would 
appropriately consider single-family CRT prepayments.
Multifamily Loss-Timing Factors
    One notable enhancement in the proposed CRT capital framework for 
multifamily mortgage exposures would be the application of multifamily 
loss timing factors. The loss timing factor would address the mismatch 
between lifetime multifamily losses on the whole loans and guarantees 
underlying a CRT and the term of coverage on the CRT. In the 2018 
proposal, FHFA sought comment on how to implement a multifamily loss 
timing adjustment, but commenters did not suggest an approach. The 
proposed rule would implement a simple adjustment based on the 
contractual maturity of the CRT and the maturities of the underlying 
multifamily mortgage exposures.
Multifamily Counterparty Risk
    In multifamily CRT transactions involving loss sharing and/or 
reinsurance agreements, an Enterprise is exposed to counterparty credit 
risk. In such instances, the Enterprise would consider posted 
collateral, concentration risk, and the financial strength of the 
counterparty before applying the counterparty haircut. In multifamily 
loss sharing agreements, the Enterprise would also consider at-risk 
servicing rights before applying the haircut.
    In the proposed CRT capital framework, an Enterprise would be 
permitted to offset counterparty credit risk with collateral by 
reducing the Enterprise's uncollateralized exposure subject to a 
counterparty haircut. Fannie Mae has historically required DUS lenders 
to post collateral subject to certain terms and conditions, referred to 
as restricted liquidity, which Fannie Mae can access in the event of a 
lender default. In the proposed rule, restricted liquidity would be 
considered equivalent to other forms of collateral. In addition, as 
part of its DUS loss sharing agreements, Fannie Mae generally retains a 
contractual claim to the lenders' at-risk servicing rights that can be 
exercised by Fannie Mae under different circumstances. The 2018 
proposal included a provision for an Enterprise to decrease its 
uncollateralized exposure by 50 percent if the Enterprise had any 
contractual claim to at-risk servicing rights. In response to comments 
that suggested FHFA should clarify the treatment of

[[Page 39336]]

servicing rights, the proposed rule would include an updated treatment 
of servicing rights such that in the counterparty haircut calculation, 
an Enterprise may reduce its uncollateralized exposure by 1 year of 
estimated future servicing revenue if the Enterprise has a contractual 
claim to the at-risk servicing rights. FHFA believes that this more 
explicit accounting of the value of lender servicing rights would 
reduce the possibility of manipulation without materially affecting the 
magnitude of the adjustment to uncollateralized exposure in the CRT 
capital calculation.
    In response to comments on the 2018 proposal, FHFA considered 
additional potential risk mitigants that may be present in loss-sharing 
CRT transactions such as entity-based capital, lender CRT transactions, 
and intrinsic risk-retention benefits, but opted not to include 
counterparty credit risk offsets for these features in the proposed 
rule. While these features may lead to benefits that decrease the 
credit risk faced by an Enterprise, FHFA does not have sufficient 
information to accurately quantify the magnitude of these potential 
benefits. However, to the extent that features such as entity-based 
capital and lender CRT transactions lead to stronger counterparty 
financial strength ratings, these loss mitigating factors would be 
reflected in an Enterprise's risk-based capital requirements in the 
form of smaller counterparty haircuts.
    To calculate the counterparty haircut in the proposed rule, an 
Enterprise would use a modified version of the Basel IRB approach that 
considers the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Similar to the 
single-family discussion of how counterparty risk is amplified due to 
the correlation between a counterparty's credit exposure and the 
Enterprises' credit exposure (concentration risk), the proposed rule 
would assign larger haircuts to multifamily counterparties with higher 
levels of concentration risk relative to diversified counterparties. An 
Enterprise would assess the level of multifamily mortgage risk 
concentration for each individual counterparty to determine whether the 
counterparty is well diversified or whether it has a high concentration 
risk, and counterparties with a lower concentration risk would be 
assigned a smaller counterparty haircut relative to counterparties with 
higher concentration risk. This difference is captured through the 
asset valuation correlation multiplier, AVCM. An Enterprise would 
assign an AVCM of 1.75 to counterparties with high concentration risk 
and an AVCM of 1.25 to more well-diversified counterparties.
    The counterparty haircut would be calculated as the product of 
stress loss given default (LGD), stress probability of default (PD), 
and a maturity adjustment for the asset. Along with the AVCM, other 
parameterization assumptions in the proposed rule include a stress LGD 
of 45 percent, a maturity adjustment calibrated to five years, a 
stringency level of 99.9 percent, and expected PDs calculated using an 
historical one-year PD matrix for all financial institutions. For each 
CRT that involves counterparty credit risk, an Enterprise would select 
a counterparty haircut and apply it to the uncollateralized exposure in 
the CRT. The proposed multifamily counterparty risk haircut multipliers 
are presented below in Table 25.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.032

    Question 70. Is the proposed approach to determining the credit 
risk capital requirement for retained CRT exposures appropriately 
formulated?
    Question 71. Are the adjustments for counterparty risk 
appropriately calibrated?
    Question 72. Are the adjustments for loss-timing and other 
maturity-related risk appropriately calibrated?
    Question 73. Is the 10 percent adjustment for the general 
effectiveness of CRT appropriately calibrated?
    Question 74. Is the 10 percent adjustment for the general 
effectiveness of CRT appropriate in light of the proposed rule's 
prudential floor on the risk weight for retained CRT exposures?
    Question 75. Should FHFA impose any restrictions on the collateral 
eligible to secure CRT that pose counterparty risk?
d. Alternative Approach
    The proposed approach to CRT described under VIII.C.3.c has 
significant advantages over the approach to CRT taken by the Basel and 
U.S. banking framework's SSFA to the extent that it provides a more 
granular and mortgage risk-sensitive framework for determining the 
capital relief from CRT. There is, however, a trade-off between a more 
risk-sensitive approach

[[Page 39337]]

and the complexity and other operational burdens of that more granular 
approach. FHFA is also soliciting comment on a simpler but less 
tailored alternative approach under which the Enterprise would 
determine the risk weight for a retained CRT exposure using the SSFA of 
the securitization framework. A 1,250 percent risk weight would be 
assigned to any retained CRT exposure that absorbs losses up to the 
adjusted aggregate credit risk capital requirement of the underlying 
exposures. After that point, the risk weight for the retained CRT 
exposure would be assigned pursuant to an exponential decay function 
that decreases as the detachment point or attachment point increases. 
The key difference from the SSFA under the securitization framework 
would be that the prudential floor for the risk weight for a retained 
CRT exposure would be 10 percent instead of 20 percent.
    Under this approach, there would be no specific, tailored 
adjustment for counterparty risk or loss-timing risk or a general 
adjustment for the differences between CRT and equity financing. 
Instead, as under the Basel and U.S. banking framework's SSFA, FHFA 
proposes to use a supervisory adjustment factor, the constant term p, 
to determine the overall level of regulatory capital required for all 
tranches of a CRT under the SSFA. A higher value of p would increase 
the amount of regulatory capital required under the SSFA with 
detachment points beyond the adjusted aggregate credit risk capital 
requirement of the underlying exposures. As described by the BCBS, 
``[t]he supervisory adjustment factor in the SSFA is intended to reduce 
cliff effects and apply conservatism for tranches with detachment 
points beyond [the adjusted aggregate credit risk capital requirement 
of the underlying exposures]. In addition, the supervisory adjustment 
factor can be seen to account for imprecision or uncertainty associated 
with using standardized approach risk weights for underlying exposures. 
. . .'' \79\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ BCBS, Revisions to the Basel Securisation Framework 
Consultative Document at 23 (Dec. 2012; final Dec. 2014) available 
at https://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs236.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Question 76. Should FHFA require an Enterprise to determine the 
credit risk capital requirement for retained CRT exposures using a 
modified version of the SSFA?
    Question 77. Is the SSFA properly formulated for retained CRT 
exposures or should other risk drivers, such as maturity, be 
incorporated?
    Question 78. Is the SSFA (particularly the supervisory adjustment 
factor, p) appropriately calibrated for retained CRT exposures?

D. Other Exposures

    While substantially all of an Enterprise's credit risk is posed by 
its single-family and multifamily mortgage exposures, each Enterprise 
does have some amount of credit risk arising from a wide variety of 
other exposures, including non-traditional mortgage exposures and non-
mortgage exposures. Some of these non-mortgage exposures--for example, 
an Enterprise's OTC and cleared derivatives and repo-style 
transactions--raise complex and technical issues to calibrating credit 
risk capital requirements. FHFA believes it is important to assign a 
credit risk capital requirement to all material exposures, even if 
small in amount relative to an Enterprise's aggregate credit risk 
exposure. As under the 2018 proposal, FHFA proposes to incorporate into 
the proposed rule the extensive expertise of the U.S. and international 
banking regulators in calibrating credit risk capital requirements for 
these other exposures, with adjustments as appropriate for the 
Enterprises. The Basel framework has evolved over almost four decades 
of debate and collaboration among the world's experts in regulatory 
capital. That framework also has been revamped to incorporate the 
lessons of the 2008 financial crisis. Moreover, the complex and 
technical issues posed by these other exposures risk distracting FHFA 
from its core area of relative expertise--fashioning a mortgage risk-
sensitive framework for the Enterprises--were FHFA to endeavor to 
develop its own framework for assigning credit risk capital 
requirements for these other exposures.
    As discussed in this Section VIII.D, an Enterprise generally would 
assign risk weight for exposures other than mortgage exposures using 
the same risk weights assigned under the U.S. banking framework's 
standardized approach, in particular the Federal Reserve Board's 
regulatory capital requirements at subpart D of 12 CFR part 217 
(Regulation Q).\80\ Exposures that would be assigned risk weights under 
the U.S. banking framework include corporate exposures, exposures to 
sovereigns, OTC derivatives, cleared transactions, collateralized 
transactions, and off-balance sheet exposures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ The proposed rule cross-references relevant sections of 12 
CFR part 217 as in effect on April 23, 2020. For the final rule, 
FHFA will assess whether the final rule will cross-reference 
sections of 12 CFR part 217 as of that same date or as of a later 
date, taking into account the materiality and nature of any 
amendments to that part after April 23, 2020 and any restrictions 
under applicable law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, some exposures that were assigned credit risk capital 
requirements under the 2018 proposal would instead have a risk weight 
assigned under the U.S. banking framework. These would include some 
DTAs, municipal debt, reverse mortgage loans, reverse MBS, and cash and 
cash equivalents.
    For any exposure that is not assigned a specific risk weight under 
the proposed rule, the default risk weight would be 100 percent, 
consistent with the U.S. banking framework.
1. Commitments and Other Off-Balance Sheet Exposures
    As under the U.S. banking framework, the proposed rule would 
require an Enterprise to calculate the exposure amount of an off-
balance sheet item by multiplying the off-balance sheet component, 
which is usually the notional amount, by the applicable credit 
conversion factor (CCF). Off-balance sheet items subject to this 
approach would include guarantees, mortgage commitments, contingent 
items, certain repo-style transactions, financial standby letters of 
credit, and forward agreements.
    An Enterprise would apply a zero percent CCF to the unused portion 
of commitments that are unconditionally cancelable by the Enterprise. A 
commitment would be any legally binding arrangement that obligates an 
Enterprise to extend credit or to purchase assets.
    The CCF would increase to 20 percent for a commitment with an 
original maturity of one year or less that is not unconditionally 
cancelable by the Enterprise. The CCF would increase to 50 percent for 
a commitment with an original maturity of more than one year that is 
not unconditionally cancelable by the Enterprise. An Enterprise would 
apply a 100 percent CCF to off-balance sheet guarantees, repurchase 
agreements, securities lending or borrowing transactions, financial 
standby letters of credit, and forward agreements.
    The off-balance sheet component of a repurchase agreement would 
equal the sum of the current market values of all positions the 
Enterprise has sold subject to repurchase. The off-balance sheet 
component of a securities lending transaction would equal the sum of 
the current fair values of all positions the Enterprise has lent under 
the transaction. For securities borrowing transactions, the off-balance 
sheet component would equal the sum of the current fair values of all 
non-cash

[[Page 39338]]

positions the Enterprise has posted as collateral under the 
transaction.
2. Exposures to Sovereigns
    Consistent with the U.S. banking framework, exposures to the U.S. 
government, its central bank, or a U.S. government agency and the 
portion of an exposure that is directly and unconditionally guaranteed 
by the U.S. government, its central bank, or a U.S. government agency 
would receive a zero percent risk weight. The portion of a deposit 
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the 
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) also may be assigned a zero 
percent risk weight. An exposure conditionally guaranteed by the U.S. 
government, its central bank, or a U.S. government agency would receive 
a 20 percent risk weight.
3. Crossholdings of Enterprise MBS
    Under the 2018 proposal, an MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise would 
have had a credit risk capital requirement of 0 percent. Consistent 
with the U.S. banking framework, the proposed rule would assign a 20 
percent risk weight to the exposures of an Enterprise to the other 
Enterprise or another GSE (other than equity exposures and acquired CRT 
exposures). The 20 percent risk weight would extend to an Enterprise's 
exposures to MBS guaranteed by the other Enterprise.
    The Enterprises currently are in conservatorship and benefit from 
Treasury support under the PSPA. However, the Enterprises remain 
privately-owned corporations, and their obligations do not have the 
explicit guarantee of the full faith and credit of the United States. 
The U.S. banking regulators ``have long held the view that obligations 
of the GSEs should not be accorded the same treatment as obligations 
that carry the explicit guarantee of the U.S. government.'' \81\ FHFA 
agrees that the MBS and other obligations of an Enterprise should be 
subject to a credit risk capital requirement that is greater than that 
assigned to those obligations that have an explicit guarantee of the 
full faith and credit of the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ 77 FR 52888, 52896 (Aug. 30, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the direction of FHFA, the Enterprises have implemented a 
single security initiative that is intended to increase the liquidity 
of the to-be-announced (TBA) market. Under the initiative, each 
Enterprise has begun issuing a single MBS known as the Uniform 
Mortgage-Backed Security (UMBS). On March 12, 2019, UMBS trading began 
in the forward TBA market, marking the consolidation of the formerly 
distinct markets for each Enterprise's MBS. In June 2019, settlement of 
TBA trades for UMBS began.
    FHFA believes that the new, consolidated UMBS market will lead to a 
more efficient, resilient, and liquid secondary mortgage market and 
further FHFA's statutory obligation and the Enterprises' charter 
obligations to support the liquidity of U.S. housing finance markets. 
For the UMBS market to continue to work, market participants must 
continue to view UMBS as fungible with respect to the issuing 
Enterprise. That is, investors must generally agree that a UMBS of a 
certain coupon and maturity issued by one Enterprise is roughly 
equivalent to the corresponding UMBS issued by the other.\82\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ To support investor confidence in that fungibility, FHFA 
promulgated a final rule governing Enterprise actions that affect 
UMBS cash flows to investors, issues quarterly prepayment monitoring 
reports, and has used its powers as the Enterprises' conservator to 
limit certain pooling practices with respect to the creation of 
UMBS. In November 2019, FHFA issued a request for input on 
Enterprise UMBS pooling practices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To foster that fungibility, each Enterprise may issue a ``Supers'' 
mortgage-related security, which is a re-securitization of UMBS and 
certain other TBA-eligible securities, including other Supers. If an 
Enterprise guarantees a security backed in whole or in part by 
securities of the other Enterprise, the Enterprise is obligated under 
its guarantee to fund any shortfall in the event that the other 
Enterprise fails to make a payment due on its securities. The 
Enterprises have entered into an indemnification agreement relating to 
commingled securities issued by the Enterprises. The indemnification 
agreement obligates each Enterprise to reimburse the other for any such 
shortfall.
    Question 79. Should FHFA adjust the regulatory capital treatment 
for exposures to MBS guaranteed by the other Enterprise to mitigate any 
risk of disruption to the UMBS?
    Question 80. Should FHFA consider a different risk weight for 
second-level re-securitizations backed by UMBS?
    Question 81. What should be the regulatory capital treatment of any 
credit risk mitigation effect of any indemnification or similar 
arrangements between the Enterprises relating to UMBS re-
securitizations?
    Question 82. Should FHFA adopt different risk weights for MBS 
guaranteed by an Enterprise and the unsecured debt of an Enterprise?
4. Corporate Exposures
    Consistent with the U.S. banking framework, credit exposures to 
companies that are not depository institutions or securitization 
vehicles generally would be assigned a 100 percent risk weight. A 
corporate exposure is an exposure to a company that is not an exposure 
to a sovereign, the Bank for International Settlements, the European 
Central Bank, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, 
the European Stability Mechanism, the European Financial Stability 
Facility, a multi-lateral development bank (MDB), a depository 
institution, a foreign bank, a credit union, or a public sector entity 
(PSE), a GSE, a mortgage exposure, a cleared transaction, a default 
fund contribution, a securitization exposure, an equity exposure, or an 
unsettled transaction.
5. OTC Derivative Contracts
    An Enterprise would determine its credit risk capital requirement 
for the counterparty risk for OTC derivative contracts as if it were a 
banking organization subject to the Federal Reserve Board's risk-based 
capital requirements, in particular 12 CFR 217.34. An OTC derivative 
contract generally would not include a derivative contract that is a 
cleared transaction, which would be subject to a different approach as 
discussed in Section VIII.D.6.
    A derivative contract is a financial contract whose value is 
derived from the values of one or more underlying assets, reference 
rates, or indices of asset values or reference rates. Derivative 
contracts include interest rate derivative contracts, exchange rate 
derivative contracts, equity derivative contracts, commodity derivative 
contracts, credit derivative contracts, and any other instrument that 
poses similar counterparty credit risks. Derivative contracts also 
include unsettled securities, commodities, and foreign exchange 
transactions with a contractual settlement or delivery lag that is 
longer than the lesser of the market standard for the particular 
instrument or five business days.
    To determine the risk-weighted assets for an OTC derivative 
contract, an Enterprise would first determine its exposure amount for 
the OTC derivative contract and then apply to that amount a risk weight 
based on the counterparty, eligible guarantor, or recognized 
collateral.
    For a single OTC derivative contract that is not subject to a 
qualifying master netting agreement, the exposure amount would be the 
sum of (i) the current

[[Page 39339]]

credit exposure, which would be the greater of the mark-to-market value 
or zero, and (ii) the potential future exposure (PFE), which would be 
calculated by multiplying the notional principal amount of the OTC 
derivative contract by a prescribed conversion factor.
    For multiple OTC derivative contracts subject to a qualifying 
master netting agreement, the exposure amount would be calculated by 
adding the net current credit exposure and the adjusted sum of the PFE 
amounts for all OTC derivative contracts subject to the qualifying 
master netting agreement. The net current credit exposure would be the 
greater of zero and the net sum of all positive and negative mark-to-
market values of the individual OTC derivative contracts subject to the 
qualifying master netting agreement.
    If an OTC derivative contract is collateralized by financial 
collateral, an Enterprise may recognize the credit risk mitigation 
benefits of the financial collateral pursuant to the rules governing 
collateralized transactions, as discussed in Section VIII.D.7.
6. Cleared Transactions
    An Enterprise would determine its credit risk capital requirement 
for the counterparty risk for derivatives and repo-style transactions 
cleared through a central counterparty as if it were a banking 
organization subject to the Federal Reserve Board's risk-based capital 
requirements, in particular 12 CFR 217.35. To determine the risk-
weighted assets for a cleared transaction, an Enterprise that is a 
clearing member client or a clearing member would multiply the trade 
exposure amount for the cleared transaction by the appropriate risk 
weight. An Enterprise also would be subject to a credit risk capital 
requirement for default fund contributions to CCPs.
7. Credit Risk Mitigation
    An Enterprise may recognize the risk-mitigation effects of 
guarantees, credit derivatives, and collateral for purposes of its 
risk-based capital requirements in the same way a banking organization 
may under the Federal Reserve Board's risk-based capital requirements, 
in particular 12 CFR 217.36 and 217.37. Under that approach, an 
Enterprise generally may use the substitution approach to recognize the 
credit risk-mitigation effect of an eligible guarantee from an eligible 
guarantor or eligible credit derivative and the simple approach to 
recognize the effect of eligible collateral. Under the substitution 
approach, if the protection amount of an eligible guarantee or eligible 
credit derivative is greater than or equal to the exposure amount of 
the hedged exposure, an Enterprise generally may substitute the risk 
weight applicable to the guarantor or credit derivative protection 
provider for the risk weight assigned to the hedged exposure. Under the 
simple approach, the collateralized portion of the exposure generally 
would receive the risk weight applicable to the eligible collateral 
(with an exception for repo-style transactions, eligible margin loans, 
collateralized derivative contracts, and single-product netting sets of 
such transactions).

IX. Credit Risk Capital: Advanced Approach

    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to comply with the 
risk-based capital requirements using the higher of its risk-weighted 
assets calculated under the standardized approach and the advanced 
approach, where risk-weighted assets include credit risk, operational 
risk, and market risk components. The advanced approach requirements 
would require each Enterprise to maintain its own processes for 
identifying and assessing credit risk, market risk, and operational 
risk. These requirements should ensure that each Enterprise continues 
to enhance its risk management system and also that neither Enterprise 
simply relies on the standardized approach's lookup grids and 
multipliers to define credit risk tolerances, measure its credit risk, 
or allocate economic capital. In the course of FHFA's supervision of 
each Enterprise's internal models for credit risk, FHFA also could 
identify opportunities to update or otherwise enhance the standardized 
approach's lookup grids and multipliers through future rulemakings as 
market conditions evolve.
    Under the proposed rule's advanced approach requirements, an 
Enterprise would be required to have a process for assessing its 
overall capital adequacy in relation to its risk profile and maintain 
infrastructure with risk measurement and management processes that are 
appropriate given the Enterprise's size and complexity. An Enterprise's 
senior management would be required to ensure that the Enterprise's 
internal models, operational risk quantification systems, and related 
advanced systems functions comply with the proposed rule's minimum 
requirements. The Enterprise's board of directors (or a designated 
committee of the board) would be required to at least annually review 
the effectiveness of, and approve, the Enterprise's advanced systems.
    An Enterprise's advanced systems would be required to include an 
internal risk rating and segmentation system that differentiates among 
degrees of credit risk for the Enterprise's mortgage and other 
exposures. An Enterprise also would be required to have a process that 
estimates risk parameters for the Enterprise's exposures. An 
Enterprise's estimates of risk parameters must incorporate relevant and 
available data, and an Enterprise generally must demonstrate, among 
other things, that its estimates are representative of long run 
experience and take into account any changes in underwriting or 
recovery practices. Default, loss severity, and exposure amount data 
generally must include periods of economic downturn conditions. An 
Enterprise would be required to review--at least annually--its 
reference data.
    An Enterprise would be required to conduct an independent 
validation, on an ongoing basis, of its advanced systems. The 
validation must include an evaluation of the conceptual soundness of 
the advanced systems, an ongoing monitoring process that includes 
verification of processes and benchmarking, and an outcomes analysis 
process that includes backtesting.
    An Enterprise also would be required to periodically stress test 
its advanced systems including a consideration of how economic cycles, 
especially downturns, affect risk-based capital requirements.
    An Enterprise would be required to meet these minimum requirements 
on an ongoing basis. An Enterprise also would be required to notify 
FHFA when the Enterprise makes any material change to its advanced 
systems.
    In addition to the proposed rule's requirements, an Enterprise's 
advanced systems would be implemented under FHFA's supervisory review. 
As part of that review process, FHFA issues advisory bulletins to 
communicate its supervisory expectations to FHFA supervision staff and 
to the Enterprises on specific supervisory matters and topics. Through 
FHFA's supervision program, FHFA on-site examiners conduct supervisory 
activities to ensure safe and sound operations of the Enterprises. 
These supervisory activities may include the examination of the 
Enterprises to determine whether they meet the expectations set in the 
advisory bulletins. Examinations may also be conducted to determine 
whether the Enterprises comply with their own policies and procedures, 
regulatory and

[[Page 39340]]

statutory requirements, or FHFA directives.
    FHFA's 2013-07 Advisory Bulletin reflects supervisory expectations 
for an Enterprise's model risk management. The Advisory Bulletin sets 
minimum thresholds for model risk management and differentiates between 
large, complex entities and smaller, less complex entities. As the 
Enterprises are large complex entities, the Advisory Bulletin subjects 
them to heightened standards for internal audit, model risk management, 
model control framework, and model lifecycle management.
    The proposed rule would not provide a comprehensive set of 
guardrails and prescriptions for an Enterprise's internal models 
outside of the minimum requirements discussed above and FHFA's 
supervision.
    Question 83. Should FHFA require an Enterprise to separately 
determine its credit risk-weighted assets using its own internal 
models?
    Question 84. Should there be a prudential floor on the credit risk 
capital requirement for a mortgage exposure determined by an Enterprise 
using its internal models?
    Question 85. Should FHFA prescribe more specific requirements and 
restrictions governing the internal models and other procedures used by 
an Enterprise to determine its advanced credit risk-weighted assets?
    Question 86. Should FHFA require an Enterprise to determine its 
advanced credit risk-weighted assets under subpart E of the Federal 
Reserve Board's Regulation Q? If so, what changes to that subpart E 
would be appropriate?
    Question 87. Alternatively, should compliance with subpart E of the 
Federal Reserve Board's Regulation Q offer a safe harbor for compliance 
with the proposed rule's advanced approaches requirements?
    Question 88. Should FHFA preserve the U.S. banking framework's 
scalar factor of 1.06 for determining advanced credit risk-weighted 
assets calculated?
    Question 89. What transition period, if any, is appropriate for an 
Enterprise to comply with the proposed rule's requirements governing 
the determination of the Enterprise's advanced credit risk-weighted 
assets?
    Question 90. What transition period would be appropriate if an 
Enterprise were required to determine its advanced credit risk-weighted 
assets under subpart E of the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation Q?
    Question 91. Should there be an additional capital requirement to 
mitigate any model risk associated with the internal models used by an 
Enterprise to determine its advanced credit risk-weighted assets?

X. Market Risk Capital

    The proposed rule would require an Enterprise to calculate its 
market risk-weighted assets for mortgage exposures and other exposures 
with spread risk. Single-family and multifamily loans and investments 
in securities held in an Enterprise's portfolio have market risk from 
changes in value due to movements in interest rates and credit spreads, 
among other things. As the Enterprises currently hedge interest rate 
risk at the portfolio level, and under the assumption that the 
Enterprises' hedging effectively manages that risk, the market risk 
capital requirements would be limited only to spread risk.\83\
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    \83\ FHFA's supervision of each Enterprise includes examinations 
of the effectiveness of the Enterprise's hedging of its interest 
rate risk.
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    This proposed approach is considerably different from that of the 
U.S. banking framework. Under the U.S. banking framework, covered 
banking organizations are required to measure and otherwise manage 
market risk and hold a commensurate amount of capital. Generally, an 
asset held by a covered banking organization for trading purposes is 
not included in the calculation of credit risk-weighted assets. 
Instead, the covered banking organization determines the market risk 
capital requirement for its trading assets using prescribed 
methodologies, multiplies that market risk capital requirement by 12.5 
to determine the market risk-weighted assets for its covered positions, 
and then adds the market risk-weighted assets to its credit risk-
weighted assets to determine its risk-based capital requirements. The 
prescribed methodologies under the U.S. banking framework determine 
market risk capital requirements for trading assets based on the 
general and specific market risk of the assets. General risk is the 
risk of loss in the market value of positions resulting from broad 
market movements (e.g., changes in interest rates), while specific risk 
is the risk of loss in the market value of positions due to factors 
other than broad market movements, including event risk or default 
risk. Notably, the U.S. banking framework's approach to market risk 
capital is not limited only to spread risk, as is contemplated by the 
proposed rule. FHFA is seeking comment on whether to adopt a different 
approach, perhaps one more similar to that of the U.S. banking 
framework.
    Exposures subject to the market risk capital requirement would 
include any tangible asset that has more than de minimis spread risk, 
regardless of whether the position is marked-to-market for financial 
statement reporting purposes and regardless of whether the position is 
held by the Enterprise for the purpose of short-term resale or with the 
intent of benefiting from actual or expected short-term price 
movements, or to lock in arbitrage profits. Covered positions include:
     Any NPL, re-performing loan (RPL), reverse mortgage loan, 
or other mortgage exposure that, in any case, does not secure an MBS 
guaranteed by the Enterprise;
     Any MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise, MBS guaranteed by 
Ginnie Mae, reverse mortgage security, PLS, CRT exposure, or other 
securitization exposure; and
     Any other trading asset or trading liability, whether on- 
or off-balance sheet.

A. Standardized Approach

    Under the standardized approach, an Enterprise would calculate 
market risk-weighted assets using a prescribed single point approach, a 
spread duration approach, or the Enterprise's internal models depending 
on the risk characteristics of the covered position.
1. Single Point Approach
    An Enterprise would utilize the single point approach for any RPL, 
NPL, reverse mortgage loan, or reverse mortgage security. The primary 
risk for these assets generally is credit risk. The underlying 
borrowers may have limited refinancing opportunities due to recent or 
current delinquencies, and these covered positions are often relatively 
insensitive to prepayment risk. For these reasons, FHFA believes the 
spread risk profile of these covered positions would be sufficiently 
represented by a single point estimate.
    An Enterprise would calculate the market risk-weighted assets for 
these covered positions as the product of the market value of the 
covered position, the applicable single point shock assumption for the 
covered position, and 12.5. The applicable single point shock 
assumptions would be:
     0.0475 for an RPL or an NPL;
     0.0160 for a reverse mortgage loan; and
     0.0410 for a reverse mortgage security.
2. Spread Duration Approach
    An Enterprise would utilize the spread duration approach for any 
multifamily mortgage exposure, any PLS, or any MBS guaranteed by an 
Enterprise or Ginnie Mae and secured

[[Page 39341]]

by multifamily mortgage exposures due to their increased complexity 
relative to exposures in the single point approach category. Despite 
their complexity, PLS represent only a small portion of the 
Enterprises' portfolios, as the Enterprises' purchases of PLS have been 
restricted during conservatorship. Under the spread duration approach, 
an Enterprise would multiply the amount of the applicable spread shock 
by the spread duration of the covered position. Spread shock is 
typically based on historical spread shocks. Spread duration, or the 
sensitivity of the market value of an asset to changes in the spread, 
is often determined by using models that involve assumptions about 
interest rate movements and prepayment sensitivity.
    An Enterprise would calculate the market risk-weighted assets for 
each of these covered positions as the product of the market value of 
the covered position, the spread duration as estimated by the 
Enterprise using its internal models, the applicable spread shock for 
the covered position, and 12.5. The applicable spread shocks would be:
     0.0015 for a multifamily mortgage exposure that does not 
secure an MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise;
     0.0265 for a PLS; and
     0.0100 for an MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise or by Ginnie 
Mae and secured by multifamily mortgage exposures (other than interest-
only (IO) securities guaranteed by an Enterprise or Ginnie Mae).
    FHFA received a comment on the 2018 proposal suggesting the 
multifamily mortgage exposure spread shock of 15 basis points was too 
low relative to the 100 basis point spread shock prescribed for 
Enterprise- and Ginnie Mae-guaranteed multifamily MBS, considering that 
the Enterprises' MBS are pass-through securities and that historically, 
multifamily mortgage exposures have been less liquid than multifamily 
MBS. The commenter recommended that FHFA, at a minimum, equate the 
spread shocks.
    FHFA analyzed the impact of increasing the multifamily mortgage 
exposure spread shock from 15 basis points to 100 basis points. In 
addition to a market risk capital requirement, multifamily mortgage 
exposures would also have a credit risk capital requirement, and in 
practice, perceptions of credit risk might be a component of market 
risk. In the proposed rule, Ginnie Mae-guaranteed MBS would not have a 
credit risk capital requirement, while Enterprise-guaranteed MBS would 
have a 20 percent risk weight for purposes of the credit risk capital 
requirements. FHFA determined that if the market risk capital 
requirement for multifamily mortgage exposures were increased through 
the imposition of a 100 basis point spread shock, the total risk-based 
capital requirement (credit risk capital plus market risk capital plus 
operational risk capital) for multifamily mortgage exposures would 
exceed, to an undesirable degree, the total risk-based capital 
requirement for Enterprise- and Ginnie Mae-guaranteed multifamily MBS. 
For this reason, FHFA is opting not to implement the commenter's 
recommendation.
3. Internal Models Approach
    An Enterprise would utilize the internal models approach for 
covered positions with spread risk not covered under the single point 
approach or the spread duration approach. This would include an 
Enterprise's CMBS exposures, which in the 2018 proposal would have 
received a combined single-point capital requirement for credit risk 
and spread risk. In general, an Enterprise would use the internal 
models approach for covered positions with relatively higher levels of 
complexity or higher prepayment sensitivity.
    Single-family exposures in this category would include performing 
loans and Enterprise- and Ginnie Mae-guaranteed single-family MBS. The 
spread risk profile on performing loans is relatively complex due to 
high prepayment sensitivity. Prepayment risk on performing loans might 
vary significantly across amortization terms, vintages, and mortgage 
rates. The high prepayment sensitivity might suggest that more 
simplified approaches, such as the single point approach, would not 
capture key risk drivers. Also, spread shocks may vary across a variety 
of single-family mortgage exposure characteristics. Thus, the spread 
duration approach, which relies on a constant spread shock, might not 
capture key single-family market movements. An internal models 
approach, however, would allow the Enterprises to differentiate spread 
risk across multiple risk characteristics such as amortization term, 
vintage, and mortgage rates. Further, the Enterprises could account for 
important market risk factors, such as updated spread shocks, to 
reflect market changes.
    Similarly, the spread risk profile on Enterprise- and Ginnie Mae-
guaranteed single-family MBS is relatively complex due to high 
prepayment sensitivity of the underlying collateral. Further, CMOs can 
often contain complex features and structures that alter prepayments 
across different tranches based on the CMO's structure. As a result, 
spread durations might vary significantly across mortgage products, 
amortization terms, vintages and mortgage rates and tranches. The use 
of an Enterprise's internal models to calculate market risk capital 
requirements would allow the Enterprise to account for important market 
risk factors that affect spreads and spread durations.
    One commenter on the 2018 proposal recommended FHFA allow the 
Enterprises to utilize internal models for complex multifamily MBS in 
order to maintain flexibility in allowing the spread shocks to vary 
according to each security's features and structure, as well as 
underlying market conditions. FHFA determined that multifamily IO 
securities represent, in general, the more complex of Enterprise-
guaranteed MBS. In consideration of the commenter's suggestion and in 
alignment with the proposed market risk capital requirement for 
Enterprise- and Ginnie Mae-guaranteed single-family IO securities, the 
proposed rule would require an Enterprise to use its internal models to 
calculate the market risk-weighted assets for Enterprise- and Ginnie 
Mae-guaranteed multifamily IO securities.
    Because an Enterprise would calculate the market risk-weighted 
assets for these covered positions using its internal models, the 
Enterprise would be subject to certain model risk management 
requirements, as discussed in Section X.B. In addition, an Enterprise 
utilizing its internal models would be subject to FHFA's general 
regulatory oversight and supervisory review.
    Question 92. Are the point and spread measures used to determine 
spread risk capital requirements for certain covered positions 
appropriately calibrated for that purpose?
    Question 93. Should there be a minimum floor on the spread risk 
capital requirement for any covered position subject to the internal 
models approach?
    Question 94. Should FHFA adopt an approach to market risk capital 
that is more similar to the Basel framework, for example by limiting 
the scope of the market risk capital requirements to a smaller set of 
positions (e.g., those positions analogous to the trading book) or by 
requiring market risk capital for market risks other than spread risk 
(e.g., value-at-risk, stress value-at-risk, incremental risk, etc.)? If 
so, what positions and activities of the Enterprises should be subject 
to that approach?

[[Page 39342]]

    Question 95. Should the spread risk and other market risks for 
single-family and multifamily whole loans instead be set in an 
Enterprise-specific manner through the supervisory process, taking into 
account the market risk management strategies employed by the 
Enterprise?
    Question 96. Should FHFA assume interest rate risk is fully hedged 
for purposes of determining market risk capital requirements?
    Question 97. What requirements and restrictions should apply to the 
internal models used to determine standardized market risk-weighted 
assets?

B. Advanced Approach

    An Enterprise also would calculate its advanced market risk-
weighted assets using its own internal models. An Enterprise would have 
significant latitude in the scope and design of those internal models 
for measuring spread risk on its covered positions. FHFA is soliciting 
comment on whether to adopt a more prescriptive approach, perhaps 
requiring an Enterprise to determine a measure of market risk that 
includes a VaR-based capital requirement, a stressed VaR-based capital 
requirement, specific risk add-ons, incremental risk capital 
requirements, and comprehensive risk capital requirements, as under the 
U.S. banking framework.
    Given the central role of the Enterprises' internal models in 
determining both standardized and advanced market risk capital 
requirements, the proposed rule includes a number of requirements and 
restrictions relating to the management of the related model risks. An 
independent risk control unit would be required to approve any internal 
model to calculate its risk-based capital requirement. An Enterprise 
must notify FHFA when the Enterprise plans to extend the use of a model 
to an additional business line or product type or the Enterprise makes 
any material change to its internal models.
    The Enterprise would be required to periodically review (and at 
least annually) its internal models, and enhance those models as 
appropriate. The Enterprise also must integrate the internal models 
used for calculating its spread risk measure into its daily risk 
management process.
    More generally, the sophistication of an Enterprise's internal 
models would have to be commensurate with the complexity and amount of 
its covered positions. The Enterprise's internal models must properly 
measure all the material risks. The Enterprise would be required to 
have a process for updating its internal models to ensure continued 
applicability and relevance.
    The Enterprise also must have an independent risk control unit that 
reports directly to senior management. The Enterprise must have an 
independent validation process that includes an evaluation of the 
conceptual soundness of the internal models, an ongoing monitoring 
process that includes verification of processes and the comparison of 
the Enterprise's model outputs with relevant internal and external data 
sources or estimation techniques, and an outcomes analysis process that 
includes backtesting.
    Question 98. Are the requirements governing an Enterprise's 
internal models for determining spread risk capital requirements 
appropriately formulated?
    Question 99. Should FHFA adopt a more prescriptive approach to the 
determination of advanced market risk-weighted assets, perhaps 
requiring an Enterprise to determine a measure of market risk that 
includes a VaR-based capital requirement, a stressed VaR-based capital 
requirement, specific risk add-ons, incremental risk capital 
requirements, and comprehensive risk capital requirements, as under the 
U.S. banking framework?

C. Market Risk Management

    The reliability of the internal models used in determining an 
Enterprise's standardized and advanced market risk-weighted assets will 
depend in part on the Enterprise's market risk management practices 
more generally. Consistent with the U.S. banking framework, the 
proposed rule includes a number of requirements and restrictions 
relating to the management of spread risk and also other market risks.
    An Enterprise would be required to have a process for assessing its 
overall capital adequacy in relation to its market risk. An Enterprise 
also would be required to have policies and procedures for actively 
managing all covered positions. At a minimum, these policies and 
procedures must require, among other things, marking covered positions 
to market or to model on a daily basis, daily assessment of the 
Enterprise's ability to hedge position and portfolio risks, and 
establishment and daily monitoring of limits on covered positions by an 
independent risk control unit.
    An Enterprise also would be required to have a process for 
valuation of its covered positions that includes policies and 
procedures on marking positions to market or to model, independent 
price verification, and valuation adjustments or reserves.
    An Enterprise would be required to periodically (and at least 
quarterly) stress test the market risk of its covered positions. The 
stress tests must take into account concentration risk, illiquidity 
under stressed market conditions, and risks arising from the 
Enterprise's trading activities that may not be adequately captured in 
its internal models.
    An Enterprise also must have an internal audit function that at 
least annually assesses the effectiveness of the controls supporting 
the Enterprise's market risk measurement systems and reports its 
findings to the Enterprise's board of directors (or a committee 
thereof).

XI. Operational Risk Capital

    The proposed rule would establish an operational risk capital 
requirement to be calculated using the advanced measurement approach of 
the U.S. banking framework, but with a floor set at 15 basis points of 
adjusted total assets. The operational risk capital requirement would 
be included in an Enterprise's risk-weighted assets for the purposes of 
calculating risk-based capital requirements. This approach has been 
developed in response to comments on the 2018 proposal. Commenters on 
the 2018 proposal suggested that the proposed Basel basic indicators 
approach was insufficient because the Enterprises were too complex to 
justify such a simple approach and also because FHFA's implementation 
did not allow the requirement to vary appropriately under the basic 
indicators approach.
    Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or 
failed internal processes, people, and systems or from external events 
(including legal risk but excluding strategic and reputational risk). 
Under the proposed rule, the Enterprise's risk-based capital 
requirement for operational risk generally would be its operational 
risk exposure minus any eligible operational risk offsets. That amount 
would potentially be subject to adjustments if the Enterprise qualifies 
to use operational risk mitigants. An Enterprise's operational risk 
exposure would be the 99.9th percentile of the distribution of 
potential aggregate operational losses, as generated by the 
Enterprise's operational risk quantification system over a one-year 
horizon (and not incorporating eligible operational risk offsets or 
qualifying operational risk mitigants).
    While the advanced measurement approach is risk-sensitive, the 
proposed

[[Page 39343]]

operational risk capital requirement would be subject to a floor of 15 
basis points of adjusted total assets. It is important that operational 
risk capital does not fall below a meaningful, credible amount. Fifteen 
(15) basis points of adjusted total assets would represent 
approximately double what FHFA originally proposed in the 2018 
proposal, and approximately double the amount of operational risk 
capital estimated internally by the Enterprises using the Basel 
standardized approach. FHFA believes doubling the internally estimated 
figure is appropriate given the estimates were calculated using 
historical results achieved exclusively while in conservatorship. FHFA 
also calibrated this floor taking into account the operational risk 
capital requirements of large U.S. banking organizations. Of the U.S. 
bank holding companies with at least $500 billion in total assets at 
the end of 2019, the smallest operational risk capital requirement was 
0.69 percent of that U.S. banking organization's total leverage 
exposure.
    Question 100. Is the advanced measurement approach appropriately 
formulated and calibrated as a measure of operational risk capital for 
the Enterprises?
    Question 101. Should FHFA consider other approaches to calculating 
operational risk capital requirements (e.g., the Basel standardized 
approach)?
    Question 102. Is the minimum floor on an Enterprise's operational 
risk capital appropriately calibrated?

XII. Impact of the Enterprise Capital Rule

A. Enterprise-Wide

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B. Single-Family Business

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C. Multifamily Business
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D. Other Assets
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BILLING CODE 8070-01-C

XIII. Comparisons to the U.S. Banking Framework

    As discussed in Section V.B.2 and also in the 2018 proposal, 
comparisons to the U.S. banking framework's capital requirements are 
complicated by the different risk profiles of the Enterprises and large 
banking organizations.\84\ The Enterprises, for example, transfer much 
of the interest rate and funding risk on their mortgage exposures 
through their sales of guaranteed MBS, while banking organizations 
generally fund themselves through customer deposits and other sources. 
On the other hand, the monoline nature of the Enterprises' mortgage-
focused businesses suggests that the concentration risk profile of an 
Enterprise is generally greater than that of a diversified banking 
organization

[[Page 39355]]

with a similar amount of mortgage credit risk.
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    \84\ 83 FR at 33323.
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    While the Enterprises and large banking organizations' risk 
profiles are different with respect to some risks, those differences 
should not preclude a comparison of the credit risk capital requirement 
of a large U.S. banking organization for a specific mortgage exposure 
to the credit risk capital requirement of an Enterprise for a similar 
mortgage exposure. Under both frameworks, the credit risk capital 
requirements for mortgage exposures are calibrated to absorb unexpected 
losses. Comparisons of credit risk capital requirements of the large 
U.S. banking organizations to credit risk capital requirements of the 
Enterprises under the proposed rule are, however, still complicated by 
the fact that the proposed rule's requirements could be very different 
depending on the economic environment. In a favorable economic 
environment, particularly after sustained periods of house price growth 
and strong employment such as experienced in the U.S. prior to the 
first quarter of 2020, the proposed rule's mortgage risk-sensitive 
framework is likely to show lower credit risk capital requirements than 
the U.S. banking framework. Conversely, in a period of financial 
stress, the proposed rule's mortgage risk-sensitive framework could 
show higher credit risk capital requirements than the U.S. banking 
framework.
    FHFA's mortgage risk-sensitive framework results in a more granular 
calibration of credit risk capital requirements for mortgage exposures, 
and some meaningful portion of the current gap between the credit risk 
capital requirements of the Enterprises and large banking organizations 
under the proposed rule is due to the proposed rule's use of MTMLTV 
instead of OLTV, as under the U.S. banking framework, to assign credit 
risk capital requirements. Adjusting for the appreciation in the value 
of the underlying real property generally has led to lower actual 
credit risk capital requirements at the Enterprises, and some of the 
gap between the credit risk capital requirements of the Enterprises and 
large U.S. banking organizations might be expected to narrow were real 
property prices to move toward their long-term trend.
    With that context, FHFA is seeking comment on the appropriateness 
of key differences between the credit risk capital requirements for 
mortgage exposures under the proposed rule and the U.S. banking 
framework.
     Risk-based credit risk capital requirements. As discussed 
in Sections VIII.A.7 and VIII.B.6, as of September 30, 2019 and before 
adjusting for CRT or the buffers under both frameworks, the average 
credit risk capital requirements for the Enterprises' single-family and 
multifamily mortgage exposures generally were roughly half those of 
similar exposures under the U.S. banking framework. Those lower average 
credit risk capital requirements are before any capital relief afforded 
through CRT.
     CRT capital treatment. As discussed in Sections VIII.C.3.c 
and VIII.C.3.d, the proposed rule solicits comments on two different 
approaches to determining the remaining credit risk on exposures of a 
CRT that are retained by the Enterprise and any credit risk in effect 
retained by the Enterprise as a result of the potential ineffectiveness 
of CRT in transferring credit risk. Under both approaches, the minimum 
risk weight assigned to retained CRT exposures would be 10 percent, 
which is less than the 20 percent risk weight floor for securitization 
exposures under the U.S. banking framework.
     CRT eligibility. As discussed in Section VIII.C.3.b, the 
proposed rule provides credit risk capital relief for a number of CRT 
structures that would not be eligible for capital relief under the U.S. 
banking framework. The proposed rule also generally subjects CRT 
structures to less restrictive operational criteria.
     Mortgage insurance. Similarly, as discussed in Section 
VIII.A.6, the proposed rule generally provides more credit risk capital 
relief for mortgage insurance and other loan-level credit enhancement, 
and for a broader range of counterparties, than the U.S. banking 
framework.
    In addition to these different credit risk capital requirements for 
mortgage exposures, FHFA is seeking comment on other aspects in which 
the proposed rule and the U.S. banking framework differs. For example:
     Leverage ratio requirements. Under the proposed rule's 
leverage ratio requirement, an Enterprise would be required to maintain 
tier 1 capital in excess of 2.5 percent of its adjusted total assets. 
An Enterprise also would be required to maintain tier 1 capital in 
excess of 4.0 percent of its adjusted total assets to avoid 
restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. 
A U.S. banking organization is required to maintain tier 1 capital 
greater than 4.0 percent of its total assets. A large U.S. banking 
organization also must maintain tier 1 capital in excess of 5.0 percent 
of its total leverage exposure to avoid restrictions on capital 
distributions and discretionary bonus payments.\85\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ Insured depository institutions subsidiaries of certain 
large U.S. bank holding companies must maintain tier 1 capital of 
6.0 percent or greater of total assets to be ``well capitalized.'' 
See, e.g., 12 CFR 6.4(b)(1)(i)(D).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Market risk capital. The proposed rule and U.S. banking 
framework take considerably different approaches to market risk capital 
requirements. As discussed in Section X, the proposed rule generally 
assigns market risk capital requirements to a broader set of exposures, 
including ones already subject to credit risk capital requirements, 
while the U.S. banking framework requires market risk capital not just 
for spread risk but also a broader range of market risks.
     Capital conservation buffer. As discussed in Section 
VII.A, the proposed rule's PCCBA is assessed against adjusted total 
assets, not risk-weighted assets. This risk-insensitive approach 
reduces the impact that the PCCBA potentially could have on higher risk 
exposures, avoids amplifying the secondary effects of any model or 
similar risks inherent to the calibration of granular risk weights for 
mortgage exposures, and further mitigates the pro-cyclicality in 
aggregate risk-based capital requirements.
     Stability capital buffer. The proposed rule's stability 
capital buffer is tailored to the risk that an Enterprise's default or 
other financial distress could have on the liquidity, efficiency, 
competitiveness, and resiliency of national housing finance markets. 
The U.S. banking framework's GSIB surcharge is tailored to equalize the 
expected impact on the stability of the financial system of the failure 
of a GSIB with the expected systemic impact of the failure of a large 
bank holding company that is not a GSIB. Because the stability capital 
buffer is a component of the capital conservation buffer, the stability 
capital buffer is assessed against an Enterprise's adjusted total 
assets, while the GSIB surcharge is more risk-sensitive in that it is 
assessed against risk-weighted assets.
     Internal-ratings approach. Like the U.S. banking 
framework, each Enterprise would be required to determine its risk-
weighted assets under two approaches--a standardized approach and an 
advanced approach--with the greater of the two risk-weighted assets 
used to determine its risk-based capital requirements. Unlike the U.S. 
banking framework, the proposed rule would be significantly less 
prescriptive as to requirements and restrictions governing the internal 
models used to

[[Page 39356]]

determine the advanced risk-weighted assets.
    Question 103. Are the differences between the credit risk capital 
requirements for mortgage exposures under the proposed rule and the 
U.S. banking framework appropriate?
    Question 104. Which, if any, aspects of the proposed rule should be 
further aligned with the U.S. banking framework?

XIV. Compliance Period

    This proposed rule would establish a post-conservatorship 
regulatory capital framework that ensures that each Enterprise operates 
in a safe and sound manner and is positioned to fulfill its statutory 
mission to provide stability and ongoing assistance to the secondary 
mortgage market across the economic cycle. Given the Enterprises' 
current conservatorship status and capitalization, certain sections and 
subparts of the proposed rule would be subject to delayed compliance 
dates as set forth in Sec.  1240.4. The capital requirements and 
buffers set out in subpart B of the proposed rule would have a delayed 
compliance date, unless adjusted by FHFA as described below, of the 
later of one year from publication of the final rule or the date of the 
termination of conservatorship. FHFA recognizes that the path for 
transition out of conservatorship and meeting the full capital 
requirements and buffers is not settled at this time. Therefore, the 
proposed rule would provide FHFA with the discretion, based on FHFA's 
assessment of capital market conditions and the likely feasibility of 
an Enterprise to achieve capital levels sufficient to comply with the 
capital requirements proposed at Sec.  1240.10, to defer compliance 
with the capital requirements and thereby not subject an Enterprise to 
statutory prohibitions on capital distributions that would apply if 
those requirements were not met. During that deferral period, the PCCBA 
would be the CET1 capital that would otherwise be required under Sec.  
1240.10 plus the PCCBA that would otherwise apply under normal 
conditions under Sec.  1240.11(a)(5); and the PLBA would be 4.0 percent 
of the adjusted total assets of the Enterprise. To benefit from the 
deferral period, an Enterprise would be required to comply with any 
corrective plan or agreement or order that sets out the actions by 
which an Enterprise will achieve compliance with the capital 
requirements by a specified date.
    In addition, the proposed rule would delay compliance for reporting 
under Sec.  1240.1(f) for one year from the date of publication of the 
final rule.
    Question 105. Are the delayed compliance dates tailored in a manner 
to promote the ability of an Enterprise to achieve compliant regulatory 
capital levels?

XV. Temporary Increases of Minimum Capital Requirements and Other 
Conforming Amendments

    To reinforce its reserved authorities under Sec.  1240.1(d), FHFA 
is proposing to amend its existing rule, 12 CFR part 1225, ``Minimum 
Capital--Temporary Increase,'' to clarify that the authority 
implemented in that rule to temporarily increase a regulated entity's 
required capital minimums applies to risk-based minimum capital levels 
as well as to minimum leverage ratios. This amendment aligns the scope 
of this regulation, adopted under 12 U.S.C. 4612(d), with the FHFA 
Director's authority under 12 U.S.C. 4612(e) to establish additional 
capital and reserve requirements for particular purposes, which 
authorizes risk-based adjustments to capital requirements for 
particular products and activities and is not limited to adjustments to 
the leverage ratio. FHFA is also proposing to amend the definition of 
``total exposure'' in Sec.  1206.2 to have the same meaning as 
``adjusted total assets'' as defined in Sec.  1240.2. FHFA is also 
proposing to remove 12 CFR part 1750.
    Question 106. Should FHFA conform the definition of ``total 
exposure'' in Sec.  1206.2 to have the same meaning as ``adjusted total 
assets'' as defined in Sec.  1240.2?
    Question 107. In addition to the questions asked above, FHFA 
requests comments on any aspect of the proposed rule.

XVI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) requires 
that regulations involving the collection of information receive 
clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The proposed 
rule contains no such collection of information requiring OMB approval 
under the PRA. Therefore, no information has been submitted to OMB for 
review.

XVII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires that 
a regulation that has a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, small businesses, or small organizations must 
include an initial regulatory flexibility analysis describing the 
regulation's impact on small entities. FHFA need not undertake such an 
analysis if the agency has certified that the regulation will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b). FHFA has considered the impact of the 
proposed rule under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The General Counsel 
of FHFA certifies that the proposed rule, if adopted as a final rule, 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities because the proposed rule is applicable only to the 
Enterprises, which are not small entities for purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 1206

    Assessments, Federal home loan banks, Government-sponsored 
enterprises, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 1225

    Federal home loan banks, Federal National Mortgage Association, 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Capital, Filings, Minimum 
capital, Procedures, Standards.

12 CFR Part 1240

    Capital, Credit, Enterprise, Investments, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 1750

    Banks, banking, Capital classification, Mortgages, Organization and 
functions (Government agencies), Risk-based capital, Securities.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, under the authority of 12 
U.S.C. 4511, 4513, 4513b, 4514, 4515-17, 4526, 4611-4612, 4631-36, FHFA 
proposes to amend chapters XII and XVII, of title 12 of the Code of 
Federal Regulation as follows:

CHAPTER XII--FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

SUBCHAPTER A--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

PART 1206--ASSESSMENTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1206 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4516.

0
2. Amend 12 CFR 1206.2 by revising the definition of ``Total exposure'' 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.2   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Total exposure has the same meaning given to adjusted total assets 
in 12 CFR 1240.2.
* * * * *

[[Page 39357]]

SUBCHAPTER B--ENTITY REGULATIONS

PART 1225--MINIMUM CAPITAL--TEMPORARY INCREASE

0
3. The authority citation for part 1225 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4513, 4526 and 4612.

0
4. Amend 12 CFR 1225.2 by revising the definition of ``Minimum capital 
level'' to read as follows:


Sec.  1225.2   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Minimum capital level means the lowest amount of capital meeting 
any regulation or orders issued pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1426 and 12 
U.S.C. 4612, or any similar requirement established by regulation, 
order or other action.
* * * * *

SUBCHAPTER C--ENTERPRISES

0
5. Add part 1240 to subchapter C to read as follows:

PART 1240--CAPITAL ADEQUACY OF ENTERPRISES

Sec.
Subpart A--General Provisions
1240.1 Purpose, applicability, reservations of authority, and 
reporting.
1240.2 Definitions.
1240.3 Operational requirements for counterparty credit risk.
1240.4 Compliance dates.
Subpart B--Capital Requirements and Buffers
1240.10 Capital requirements.
1240.11 Capital conservation buffer and leverage buffer.
Subpart C--Definition of Capital
1240.20 Capital components and eligibility criteria for regulatory 
capital instruments.
1240.21 [Reserved]
1240.22 Regulatory capital adjustments and deductions.
Subpart D--Risk-Weighted Assets--Standardized Approach
1240.30 Applicability.

Risk-Weighted Assets for General Credit Risk

1240.31 Mechanics for calculating risk-weighted assets for general 
credit risk.
1240.32 General risk weights.
1240.33 Single-family mortgage exposures.
1240.34 Multifamily mortgage exposures.
1240.35 Off-balance sheet exposures.
1240.36 Derivative contracts.
1240.37 Cleared transactions.
1240.38 Guarantees and credit derivatives: Substitution treatment.
1240.39 Collateralized transactions.

Risk-Weighted Assets for Unsettled Transactions

1240.40 Unsettled transactions.

Risk-Weighted Assets for CRT and Other Securitization Exposures

1240.41 Operational requirements for CRT and other securitization 
exposures.
1240.42 Risk-weighted assets for CRT and other securitization 
exposures.
1240.43 Simplified supervisory formula approach (SSFA).
1240.44 Credit risk transfer approach (CRTA).
1240.45 Securitization exposures to which the SSFA and the CRTA do 
not apply.
1240.46 Recognition of credit risk mitigants for securitization 
exposures.

Risk-Weighted Assets for Equity Exposures

1240.51 Exposure measurement.
Subpart E--Risk-Weighted Assets--Internal Ratings-Based and Advanced 
Measurement Approaches
1240.100 Purpose, applicability, and principle of conservatism.
1240.101 Definitions.
1240.121 Minimum requirements.
1240.122 Ongoing qualification.
1240.123 Advanced approaches credit risk-weighted asset 
calculations.
1240.161 Qualification requirements for incorporation of operational 
risk mitigants.
1240.162 Mechanics of operational risk risk-weighted asset 
calculation.
Subpart F--Risk-Weighted Assets--Market Risk
1240.201 Purpose, applicability, and reservation of authority.
1240.202 Definitions.
1240.203 Requirements for managing market risk.
1240.204 Measure for spread risk.
Subpart G--Stability Capital Buffer
1240.400 Stability capital buffer.

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4511, 4513, 4513b, 4514, 4515, 4517, 4526, 
4611-4612, 4631-36.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  1240.1   Purpose, applicability, reservations of authority, and 
reporting.

    (a) Purpose. This part establishes capital requirements and overall 
capital adequacy standards for the Enterprises. This part includes 
methodologies for calculating capital requirements.
    (b) Authorities--(1) Limitations of authority. Nothing in this part 
shall be read to limit the authority of FHFA to take action under other 
provisions of law, including action to address unsafe or unsound 
practices or conditions, deficient capital levels, or violations of law 
or regulation under the Safety and Soundness Act, and including action 
under sections 1313(a)(2), 1365-1367, 1371-1376 (12 U.S.C. 4513(a)(2), 
4615-4617, and 4631-4636).
    (2) Permissible activities. Nothing in this part may be construed 
to authorize, permit, or require an Enterprise to engage in any 
activity not authorized by its authorizing statute or that would 
otherwise be inconsistent with its authorizing statute or the Safety 
and Soundness Act.
    (c) Applicability--(1) Covered regulated entities. This part 
applies on a consolidated basis to each Enterprise.
    (2) Capital requirements and overall capital adequacy standards. 
Each Enterprise must calculate its capital requirements and meet the 
overall capital adequacy standards in subpart B of this part.
    (3) Regulatory capital. Each Enterprise must calculate its 
regulatory capital in accordance with subpart C of this part.
    (4) Risk-weighted assets. (i) Each Enterprise must use the 
methodologies in subparts D and F of this part to calculate 
standardized total risk-weighted assets.
    (ii) Each Enterprise must use the methodologies in subpart E and 
subpart F of this part to calculate advanced approaches total risk-
weighted assets.
    (d) Reservation of authority regarding capital. Subject to 
applicable provisions of the Safety and Soundness Act--
    (1) Additional capital in the aggregate. FHFA may require an 
Enterprise to hold an amount of regulatory capital greater than 
otherwise required under this part if FHFA determines that the 
Enterprise's capital requirements under this part are not commensurate 
with the Enterprise's credit, market, operational, or other risks.
    (2) Regulatory capital elements. (i) If FHFA determines that a 
particular common equity tier 1 capital, additional tier 1 capital, or 
tier 2 capital element has characteristics or terms that diminish its 
ability to absorb losses, or otherwise present safety and soundness 
concerns, FHFA may require the Enterprise to exclude all or a portion 
of such element from common equity tier 1 capital, additional tier 1 
capital, or tier 2 capital, as appropriate.
    (ii) Notwithstanding the criteria for regulatory capital 
instruments set forth in subpart C of this part, FHFA may find that a 
capital element may be included in an Enterprise's common equity tier 1 
capital, additional tier 1 capital, or tier 2 capital on a permanent or 
temporary basis consistent with the loss absorption capacity of the 
element and in accordance with Sec.  1240.20(e).
    (3) Risk-weighted asset amounts. If FHFA determines that the risk-
weighted asset amount calculated under this part by the Enterprise for 
one or more exposures is not commensurate with the risks associated 
with those exposures, FHFA may require the Enterprise to assign a 
different risk-weighted asset amount to the exposure(s) or to deduct

[[Page 39358]]

the amount of the exposure(s) from its regulatory capital.
    (4) Total leverage. If FHFA determines that the adjusted total 
asset amount calculated by an Enterprise under Sec.  1240.10 is 
inappropriate for the exposure(s) or the circumstances of the 
Enterprise, FHFA may require the Enterprise to adjust this exposure 
amount in the numerator and the denominator for purposes of the 
leverage ratio calculations.
    (5) Consolidation of certain exposures. FHFA may determine that the 
risk-based capital treatment for an exposure or the treatment provided 
to an entity that is not consolidated on the Enterprise's balance sheet 
is not commensurate with the risk of the exposure and the relationship 
of the Enterprise to the entity. Upon making this determination, FHFA 
may require the Enterprise to treat the exposure or entity as if it 
were consolidated on the balance sheet of the Enterprise for purposes 
of determining the Enterprise's risk-based capital requirements and 
calculating the Enterprise's risk-based capital ratios accordingly. 
FHFA will look to the substance of, and risk associated with, the 
transaction, as well as other relevant factors FHFA deems appropriate 
in determining whether to require such treatment.
    (6) Other reservation of authority. With respect to any deduction 
or limitation required under this part, FHFA may require a different 
deduction or limitation, provided that such alternative deduction or 
limitation is commensurate with the Enterprise's risk and consistent 
with safety and soundness.
    (e) Corrective action and enforcement. FHFA may enforce this part 
pursuant to sections 1371, 1372, and 1376 of the Safety and Soundness 
Act (12 U.S.C. 4631, 4632, 4636) and also may enforce the total capital 
requirement established under Sec.  1240.10(a) and the core capital 
requirement established under Sec.  1240.10(e) pursuant to section 1364 
of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4614). This part is also a 
prudential standard adopted under section 1313b of the Safety and 
Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4513b), excluding Sec.  1240.11, which is a 
prudential standard only for purposes of Sec.  1240.4(d). That section 
authorizes the Director to require that an Enterprise submit a 
corrective plan under 12 CFR 1236.4 specifying the actions the 
Enterprise will take to correct the deficiency if the Director 
determines that an Enterprise is not in compliance with this part.
    (f) Reporting procedure and timing--(1) Capital Reports. Each 
Enterprise shall file a capital report with FHFA every calendar quarter 
providing the information and data required by FHFA. The specifics of 
required information and data, and the report format, will be 
separately provided to the Enterprise by FHFA. The report shall include 
the ratio of capital requirement under Sec.  1240.10 to the adjusted 
total assets of the Enterprise and the maximum payout ratio of the 
Enterprise.
    (2) Timing. The capital report shall be submitted not later than 60 
days after calendar quarter end or at such other time as the Director 
requires.
    (3) Approval. The capital report must be approved by the Chief Risk 
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of an Enterprise prior to 
submission to FHFA.
    (4) Adjustment. In the event an Enterprise makes an adjustment to 
its financial statements for a quarter or a date for which information 
was provided pursuant to this paragraph (f), which would cause an 
adjustment to a capital report, an Enterprise must file with the 
Director an amended capital report not later than 15 days after the 
date of such adjustment.


Sec.  1240.2   Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    12 CFR 217 means the regulation published at 12 CFR part 217 as of 
April 23, 2020.
    Acquired CRT exposure means, with respect to an Enterprise:
    (1) Any exposure that arises from a credit risk transfer of the 
Enterprise and has been acquired by the Enterprise since the issuance 
or entry into the credit risk transfer by the Enterprise; or
    (2) Any exposure that arises from a credit risk transfer of the 
other Enterprise.
    Additional tier 1 capital is defined in Sec.  1240.20(c).
    Adjusted allowances for credit losses (AACL) means valuation 
allowances that have been established through a charge against earnings 
or retained earnings for expected credit losses on financial assets 
measured at amortized cost and a lessor's net investment in leases that 
have been established to reduce the amortized cost basis of the assets 
to amounts expected to be collected as determined in accordance with 
GAAP. For purposes of this part, adjusted allowances for credit losses 
include allowances for expected credit losses on off-balance sheet 
credit exposures not accounted for as insurance as determined in 
accordance with GAAP. Adjusted allowances for credit losses allowances 
created that reflect credit losses on purchased credit deteriorated 
assets and available-for-sale debt securities.
    Adjusted total assets means the sum of the items described in 
paragraphs (1) though (9) of this definition, as adjusted pursuant to 
paragraph (9) for a clearing member Enterprise:
    (1) The balance sheet carrying value of all of the Enterprise's on-
balance sheet assets, plus the value of securities sold under a 
repurchase transaction or a securities lending transaction that 
qualifies for sales treatment under GAAP, less amounts deducted from 
tier 1 capital under Sec.  1240.22(a), (c), and (d), and less the value 
of securities received in security-for-security repo-style 
transactions, where the Enterprise acts as a securities lender and 
includes the securities received in its on-balance sheet assets but has 
not sold or re-hypothecated the securities received, and less the fair 
value of any derivative contracts;
    (2) The potential future credit exposure (PFE) for each derivative 
contract or each single-product netting set of derivative contracts 
(including a cleared transaction except as provided in paragraph (9) of 
this definition and, at the discretion of the Enterprise, excluding a 
forward agreement treated as a derivative contract that is part of a 
repurchase or reverse repurchase or a securities borrowing or lending 
transaction that qualifies for sales treatment under GAAP), to which 
the Enterprise is a counterparty as determined under 12 CFR 217.34, but 
without regard to 12 CFR 217.34(b), provided that:
    (i) An Enterprise may choose to exclude the PFE of all credit 
derivatives or other similar instruments through which it provides 
credit protection when calculating the PFE under 12 CFR 217.34, but 
without regard to 12 CFR 217.34(b), provided that it does not adjust 
the net-to-gross ratio (NGR); and
    (ii) An Enterprise that chooses to exclude the PFE of credit 
derivatives or other similar instruments through which it provides 
credit protection pursuant to paragraph (2)(i) of this definition must 
do so consistently over time for the calculation of the PFE for all 
such instruments;
    (3) The amount of cash collateral that is received from a 
counterparty to a derivative contract and that has offset the mark-to-
fair value of the derivative asset, or cash collateral that is posted 
to a counterparty to a derivative contract and that has reduced the 
Enterprise's on-balance sheet assets, unless such cash collateral is 
all or part of variation margin that satisfies the following 
requirements:
    (i) The variation margin is used to reduce the current credit 
exposure of the derivative contract, calculated as

[[Page 39359]]

described in 12 CFR 217.34(b) and not the PFE; and
    (ii) For derivative contracts that are not cleared through a QCCP, 
the cash collateral received by the recipient counterparty is not 
segregated (by law, regulation, or an agreement with the counterparty);
    (iii) Variation margin is calculated and transferred on a daily 
basis based on the mark-to-fair value of the derivative contract;
    (iv) The variation margin transferred under the derivative contract 
or the governing rules of the CCP or QCCP for a cleared transaction is 
the full amount that is necessary to fully extinguish the net current 
credit exposure to the counterparty of the derivative contracts, 
subject to the threshold and minimum transfer amounts applicable to the 
counterparty under the terms of the derivative contract or the 
governing rules for a cleared transaction;
    (v) The variation margin is in the form of cash in the same 
currency as the currency of settlement set forth in the derivative 
contract, provided that for the purposes of this paragraph, currency of 
settlement means any currency for settlement specified in the governing 
qualifying master netting agreement and the credit support annex to the 
qualifying master netting agreement, or in the governing rules for a 
cleared transaction; and
    (vi) The derivative contract and the variation margin are governed 
by a qualifying master netting agreement between the legal entities 
that are the counterparties to the derivative contract or by the 
governing rules for a cleared transaction, and the qualifying master 
netting agreement or the governing rules for a cleared transaction must 
explicitly stipulate that the counterparties agree to settle any 
payment obligations on a net basis, taking into account any variation 
margin received or provided under the contract if a credit event 
involving either counterparty occurs;
    (4) The effective notional principal amount (that is, the apparent 
or stated notional principal amount multiplied by any multiplier in the 
derivative contract) of a credit derivative, or other similar 
instrument, through which the Enterprise provides credit protection, 
provided that:
    (i) The Enterprise may reduce the effective notional principal 
amount of the credit derivative by the amount of any reduction in the 
mark-to-fair value of the credit derivative if the reduction is 
recognized in common equity tier 1 capital;
    (ii) The Enterprise may reduce the effective notional principal 
amount of the credit derivative by the effective notional principal 
amount of a purchased credit derivative or other similar instrument, 
provided that the remaining maturity of the purchased credit derivative 
is equal to or greater than the remaining maturity of the credit 
derivative through which the Enterprise provides credit protection and 
that:
    (A) With respect to a credit derivative that references a single 
exposure, the reference exposure of the purchased credit derivative is 
to the same legal entity and ranks pari passu with, or is junior to, 
the reference exposure of the credit derivative through which the 
Enterprise provides credit protection; or
    (B) With respect to a credit derivative that references multiple 
exposures, the reference exposures of the purchased credit derivative 
are to the same legal entities and rank pari passu with the reference 
exposures of the credit derivative through which the Enterprise 
provides credit protection, and the level of seniority of the purchased 
credit derivative ranks pari passu to the level of seniority of the 
credit derivative through which the Enterprise provides credit 
protection;
    (C) Where an Enterprise has reduced the effective notional amount 
of a credit derivative through which the Enterprise provides credit 
protection in accordance with paragraph (4)(i) of this definition, the 
Enterprise must also reduce the effective notional principal amount of 
a purchased credit derivative used to offset the credit derivative 
through which the Enterprise provides credit protection, by the amount 
of any increase in the mark-to-fair value of the purchased credit 
derivative that is recognized in common equity tier 1 capital; and
    (D) Where the Enterprise purchases credit protection through a 
total return swap and records the net payments received on a credit 
derivative through which the Enterprise provides credit protection in 
net income, but does not record offsetting deterioration in the mark-
to-fair value of the credit derivative through which the Enterprise 
provides credit protection in net income (either through reductions in 
fair value or by additions to reserves), the Enterprise may not use the 
purchased credit protection to offset the effective notional principal 
amount of the related credit derivative through which the Enterprise 
provides credit protection;
    (5) Where an Enterprise acting as a principal has more than one 
repo-style transaction with the same counterparty and has offset the 
gross value of receivables due from a counterparty under reverse 
repurchase transactions by the gross value of payables under repurchase 
transactions due to the same counterparty, the gross value of 
receivables associated with the repo-style transactions less any on-
balance sheet receivables amount associated with these repo-style 
transactions included under paragraph (1) of this definition, unless 
the following criteria are met:
    (i) The offsetting transactions have the same explicit final 
settlement date under their governing agreements;
    (ii) The right to offset the amount owed to the counterparty with 
the amount owed by the counterparty is legally enforceable in the 
normal course of business and in the event of receivership, insolvency, 
liquidation, or similar proceeding; and
    (iii) Under the governing agreements, the counterparties intend to 
settle net, settle simultaneously, or settle according to a process 
that is the functional equivalent of net settlement, (that is, the cash 
flows of the transactions are equivalent, in effect, to a single net 
amount on the settlement date), where both transactions are settled 
through the same settlement system, the settlement arrangements are 
supported by cash or intraday credit facilities intended to ensure that 
settlement of both transactions will occur by the end of the business 
day, and the settlement of the underlying securities does not interfere 
with the net cash settlement;
    (6) The counterparty credit risk of a repo-style transaction, 
including where the Enterprise acts as an agent for a repo-style 
transaction and indemnifies the customer with respect to the 
performance of the customer's counterparty in an amount limited to the 
difference between the fair value of the security or cash its customer 
has lent and the fair value of the collateral the borrower has 
provided, calculated as follows:
    (i) If the transaction is not subject to a qualifying master 
netting agreement, the counterparty credit risk (E*) for transactions 
with a counterparty must be calculated on a transaction by transaction 
basis, such that each transaction i is treated as its own netting set, 
in accordance with the following formula, where Ei is the fair value of 
the instruments, gold, or cash that the Enterprise has lent, sold 
subject to repurchase, or provided as collateral to the counterparty, 
and Ci is the fair value of the instruments, gold, or cash that the 
Enterprise has borrowed, purchased subject to resale, or received as 
collateral from the counterparty:

Ei* = max {0, [Ei-Ci]{time} 


[[Page 39360]]


    (ii) If the transaction is subject to a qualifying master netting 
agreement, the counterparty credit risk (E*) must be calculated as the 
greater of zero and the total fair value of the instruments, gold, or 
cash that the Enterprise has lent, sold subject to repurchase or 
provided as collateral to a counterparty for all transactions included 
in the qualifying master netting agreement ([Sigma]Ei), less the total 
fair value of the instruments, gold, or cash that the Enterprise 
borrowed, purchased subject to resale or received as collateral from 
the counterparty for those transactions ([Sigma]Ci), in accordance with 
the following formula:

E* = max {0, [[Sigma]Ei-[Sigma]Ci]{time} 

    (7) If an Enterprise acting as an agent for a repo-style 
transaction provides a guarantee to a customer of the security or cash 
its customer has lent or borrowed with respect to the performance of 
the customer's counterparty and the guarantee is not limited to the 
difference between the fair value of the security or cash its customer 
has lent and the fair value of the collateral the borrower has 
provided, the amount of the guarantee that is greater than the 
difference between the fair value of the security or cash its customer 
has lent and the value of the collateral the borrower has provided;
    (8) The credit equivalent amount of all off-balance sheet exposures 
of the Enterprise, excluding repo-style transactions, repurchase or 
reverse repurchase or securities borrowing or lending transactions that 
qualify for sales treatment under GAAP, and derivative transactions, 
determined using the applicable credit conversion factor under 12 CFR 
217.33(b), provided, however, that the minimum credit conversion factor 
that may be assigned to an off-balance sheet exposure under this 
paragraph is 10 percent; and
    (9) For an Enterprise that is a clearing member:
    (i) A clearing member Enterprise that guarantees the performance of 
a clearing member client with respect to a cleared transaction must 
treat its exposure to the clearing member client as a derivative 
contract for purposes of determining its adjusted total assets;
    (ii) A clearing member Enterprise that guarantees the performance 
of a CCP with respect to a transaction cleared on behalf of a clearing 
member client must treat its exposure to the CCP as a derivative 
contract for purposes of determining its adjusted total assets;
    (iii) A clearing member Enterprise that does not guarantee the 
performance of a CCP with respect to a transaction cleared on behalf of 
a clearing member client may exclude its exposure to the CCP for 
purposes of determining its adjusted total assets;
    (iv) An Enterprise that is a clearing member may exclude from its 
adjusted total assets the effective notional principal amount of credit 
protection sold through a credit derivative contract, or other similar 
instrument, that it clears on behalf of a clearing member client 
through a CCP as calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) of this 
definition; and
    (v) Notwithstanding paragraphs (9)(i) through (iii) of this 
definition, an Enterprise may exclude from its adjusted total assets a 
clearing member's exposure to a clearing member client for a derivative 
contract, if the clearing member client and the clearing member are 
affiliates and consolidated for financial reporting purposes on the 
Enterprise's balance sheet.
    Adjusted total capital means the sum of tier 1 capital and tier 2 
capital.
    Advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets means:
    (1) The sum of:
    (i) Credit-risk-weighted assets for general credit risk (including 
for mortgage exposures), cleared transactions, default fund 
contributions, unsettled transactions, securitization exposures 
(including retained CRT exposures), equity exposures, and the fair 
value adjustment to reflect counterparty credit risk in valuation of 
OTC derivative contracts, each as calculated under Sec.  1240.123.
    (ii) Risk-weighted assets for operational risk, as calculated under 
Sec.  1240.162(c); and
    (iii) Advanced market risk-weighted assets; minus
    (2) Excess eligible credit reserves not included in the 
Enterprise's tier 2 capital.
    Advanced market risk-weighted assets means the advanced measure for 
spread risk calculated under Sec.  1240.204(a) multiplied by 12.5.
    Affiliate has the meaning given in section 1303(1) of the Safety 
and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(1)).
    Allowances for loan and lease losses (ALLL) means valuation 
allowances that have been established through a charge against earnings 
to cover estimated credit losses on loans, lease financing receivables 
or other extensions of credit as determined in accordance with GAAP. 
For purposes of this part, ALLL includes allowances that have been 
established through a charge against earnings to cover estimated credit 
losses associated with off-balance sheet credit exposures as determined 
in accordance with GAAP.
    Carrying value means, with respect to an asset, the value of the 
asset on the balance sheet of an Enterprise as determined in accordance 
with GAAP. For all assets other than available-for-sale debt securities 
or purchased credit deteriorated assets, the carrying value is not 
reduced by any associated credit loss allowance that is determined in 
accordance with GAAP.
    Central counterparty (CCP) means a counterparty (for example, a 
clearing house) that facilitates trades between counterparties in one 
or more financial markets by either guaranteeing trades or novating 
contracts.
    CFTC means the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
    Clean-up call means a contractual provision that permits an 
originating Enterprise or servicer to call securitization exposures 
before their stated maturity or call date.
    Cleared transaction means an exposure associated with an 
outstanding derivative contract or repo-style transaction that an 
Enterprise or clearing member has entered into with a central 
counterparty (that is, a transaction that a central counterparty has 
accepted).
    (1) The following transactions are cleared transactions:
    (i) A transaction between a CCP and an Enterprise that is a 
clearing member of the CCP where the Enterprise enters into the 
transaction with the CCP for the Enterprise's own account;
    (ii) A transaction between a CCP and an Enterprise that is a 
clearing member of the CCP where the Enterprise is acting as a 
financial intermediary on behalf of a clearing member client and the 
transaction offsets another transaction that satisfies the requirements 
set forth in Sec.  1240.3(a);
    (iii) A transaction between a clearing member client Enterprise and 
a clearing member where the clearing member acts as a financial 
intermediary on behalf of the clearing member client and enters into an 
offsetting transaction with a CCP, provided that the requirements set 
forth in Sec.  1240.3(a) are met; or
    (iv) A transaction between a clearing member client Enterprise and 
a CCP where a clearing member guarantees the performance of the 
clearing member client Enterprise to the CCP and the transaction meets 
the requirements of Sec.  1240.3(a)(2) and (a)(3).
    (2) The exposure of an Enterprise that is a clearing member to its 
clearing member client is not a cleared transaction where the 
Enterprise is either acting as a financial intermediary and enters into 
an offsetting transaction with a CCP or where the Enterprise

[[Page 39361]]

provides a guarantee to the CCP on the performance of the client.
    Clearing member means a member of, or direct participant in, a CCP 
that is entitled to enter into transactions with the CCP.
    Clearing member client means a party to a cleared transaction 
associated with a CCP in which a clearing member acts either as a 
financial intermediary with respect to the party or guarantees the 
performance of the party to the CCP.
    Client-facing derivative transaction means a derivative contract 
that is not a cleared transaction where the Enterprise is either acting 
as a financial intermediary and enters into an offsetting transaction 
with a qualifying central counterparty (QCCP) or where the Enterprise 
provides a guarantee on the performance of a client on a transaction 
between the client and a QCCP.
    Collateral agreement means a legal contract that specifies the time 
when, and circumstances under which, a counterparty is required to 
pledge collateral to an Enterprise for a single financial contract or 
for all financial contracts in a netting set and confers upon the 
Enterprise a perfected, first-priority security interest 
(notwithstanding the prior security interest of any custodial agent), 
or the legal equivalent thereof, in the collateral posted by the 
counterparty under the agreement. This security interest must provide 
the Enterprise with a right to close-out the financial positions and 
liquidate the collateral upon an event of default of, or failure to 
perform by, the counterparty under the collateral agreement. A contract 
would not satisfy this requirement if the Enterprise's exercise of 
rights under the agreement may be stayed or avoided:
    (1) Under applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions, other than
    (i) In receivership, conservatorship, or resolution under the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, or under 
any similar insolvency law applicable to GSEs, or laws of foreign 
jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the U.S. laws 
referenced in this paragraph (1)(i) in order to facilitate the orderly 
resolution of the defaulting counterparty;
    (ii) Where the agreement is subject by its terms to, or 
incorporates, any of the laws referenced in paragraph (1)(i) of this 
definition; or
    (2) Other than to the extent necessary for the counterparty to 
comply with the requirements of subpart I of Federal Reserve Board's 
Regulation YY (part 252 of this title), part 47 of this title, or part 
382 of this title, as applicable.
    Commitment means any legally binding arrangement that obligates an 
Enterprise to extend credit or to purchase assets.
    Common equity tier 1 capital is defined in Sec.  1240.20(b).
    Company means a corporation, partnership, limited liability 
company, depository institution, business trust, special purpose 
entity, association, or similar organization.
    Core capital has the meaning given at section 1303(7) of the Safety 
and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(7)).
    Corporate exposure means an exposure to a company that is not:
    (1) An exposure to a sovereign, the Bank for International 
Settlements, the European Central Bank, the European Commission, the 
International Monetary Fund, the European Stability Mechanism, the 
European Financial Stability Facility, a multi-lateral development bank 
(MDB), a depository institution, a foreign bank, a credit union, or a 
public sector entity (PSE);
    (2) An exposure to a GSE;
    (3) A mortgage exposure;
    (4) A cleared transaction;
    (5) A default fund contribution;
    (6) A securitization exposure; or
    (7) An equity exposure.
    Credit derivative means a financial contract executed under 
standard industry credit derivative documentation that allows one party 
(the protection purchaser) to transfer the credit risk of one or more 
exposures (reference exposure(s)) to another party (the protection 
provider) for a certain period of time.
    Credit-enhancing interest-only strip (CEIO) means an on-balance 
sheet asset that, in form or in substance:
    (1) Represents a contractual right to receive some or all of the 
interest and no more than a minimal amount of principal due on the 
underlying exposures of a securitization; and
    (2) Exposes the holder of the CEIO to credit risk directly or 
indirectly associated with the underlying exposures that exceeds a pro 
rata share of the holder's claim on the underlying exposures, whether 
through subordination provisions or other credit-enhancement 
techniques.
    Credit risk mitigant means collateral, a credit derivative, or a 
guarantee.
    Credit union means an insured credit union as defined under the 
Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752 et seq.).
    Credit risk transfer (CRT) means any traditional securitization, 
synthetic securitization, senior/subordinated structure, credit 
derivative, guarantee, or other structure or arrangement (other than 
primary mortgage insurance, a traditional securitization that satisfies 
the conditions under Sec.  1240.41(a), or a synthetic securitization 
that satisfies the conditions under Sec.  1240.41(b)) that allows an 
Enterprise to transfer the credit risk of one or more mortgage 
exposures (reference exposure(s)) to another party (the protection 
provider).
    Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) means the current expected 
credit losses methodology under GAAP.
    Default fund contribution means the funds contributed or 
commitments made by a clearing member to a CCP's mutualized loss 
sharing arrangement.
    Depository institution means a depository institution as defined in 
section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
    Derivative contract means a financial contract whose value is 
derived from the values of one or more underlying assets, reference 
rates, or indices of asset values or reference rates. Derivative 
contracts include interest rate derivative contracts, exchange rate 
derivative contracts, equity derivative contracts, commodity derivative 
contracts, credit derivative contracts, and any other instrument that 
poses similar counterparty credit risks. Derivative contracts also 
include unsettled securities, commodities, and foreign exchange 
transactions with a contractual settlement or delivery lag that is 
longer than the lesser of the market standard for the particular 
instrument or five business days.
    Discretionary bonus payment means a payment made to an executive 
officer of an Enterprise, where:
    (1) The Enterprise retains discretion as to whether to make, and 
the amount of, the payment until the payment is awarded to the 
executive officer;
    (2) The amount paid is determined by the Enterprise without prior 
promise to, or agreement with, the executive officer; and
    (3) The executive officer has no contractual right, whether express 
or implied, to the bonus payment.
    Distribution means:
    (1) A reduction of tier 1 capital through the repurchase of a tier 
1 capital instrument or by other means, except when an Enterprise, 
within the same quarter when the repurchase is announced, fully 
replaces a tier 1 capital instrument it has repurchased by issuing 
another capital instrument that meets the eligibility criteria for:
    (i) A common equity tier 1 capital instrument if the instrument 
being repurchased was part of the Enterprise's common equity tier 1 
capital, or
    (ii) A common equity tier 1 or additional tier 1 capital instrument 
if

[[Page 39362]]

the instrument being repurchased was part of the Enterprise's tier 1 
capital;
    (2) A reduction of tier 2 capital through the repurchase, or 
redemption prior to maturity, of a tier 2 capital instrument or by 
other means, except when an Enterprise, within the same quarter when 
the repurchase or redemption is announced, fully replaces a tier 2 
capital instrument it has repurchased by issuing another capital 
instrument that meets the eligibility criteria for a tier 1 or tier 2 
capital instrument;
    (3) A dividend declaration or payment on any tier 1 capital 
instrument;
    (4) A dividend declaration or interest payment on any tier 2 
capital instrument if the Enterprise has full discretion to permanently 
or temporarily suspend such payments without triggering an event of 
default; or
    (5) Any similar transaction that FHFA determines to be in substance 
a distribution of capital.
    Dodd-Frank Act means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376).
    Early amortization provision means a provision in the documentation 
governing a securitization that, when triggered, causes investors in 
the securitization exposures to be repaid before the original stated 
maturity of the securitization exposures, unless the provision:
    (1) Is triggered solely by events not directly related to the 
performance of the underlying exposures or the originating Enterprise 
(such as material changes in tax laws or regulations); or
    (2) Leaves investors fully exposed to future draws by borrowers on 
the underlying exposures even after the provision is triggered.
    Effective notional amount means for an eligible guarantee or 
eligible credit derivative, the lesser of the contractual notional 
amount of the credit risk mitigant and the exposure amount of the 
hedged exposure, multiplied by the percentage coverage of the credit 
risk mitigant.
    Eligible clean-up call means a clean-up call that:
    (1) Is exercisable solely at the discretion of the originating 
Enterprise or servicer;
    (2) Is not structured to avoid allocating losses to securitization 
exposures held by investors or otherwise structured to provide credit 
enhancement to the securitization; and
    (3)(i) For a traditional securitization, is only exercisable when 
10 percent or less of the principal amount of the underlying exposures 
or securitization exposures (determined as of the inception of the 
securitization) is outstanding; or
    (ii) For a synthetic securitization or credit risk transfer, is 
only exercisable when 10 percent or less of the principal amount of the 
reference portfolio of underlying exposures (determined as of the 
inception of the securitization) is outstanding.
    Eligible credit derivative means a credit derivative in the form of 
a credit default swap, nth-to-default swap, total return swap, or any 
other form of credit derivative approved by FHFA, provided that:
    (1) The contract meets the requirements of an eligible guarantee 
and has been confirmed by the protection purchaser and the protection 
provider;
    (2) Any assignment of the contract has been confirmed by all 
relevant parties;
    (3) If the credit derivative is a credit default swap or nth-to-
default swap, the contract includes the following credit events:
    (i) Failure to pay any amount due under the terms of the reference 
exposure, subject to any applicable minimal payment threshold that is 
consistent with standard market practice and with a grace period that 
is closely in line with the grace period of the reference exposure; and
    (ii) Receivership, insolvency, liquidation, conservatorship or 
inability of the reference exposure issuer to pay its debts, or its 
failure or admission in writing of its inability generally to pay its 
debts as they become due, and similar events;
    (4) The terms and conditions dictating the manner in which the 
contract is to be settled are incorporated into the contract;
    (5) If the contract allows for cash settlement, the contract 
incorporates a robust valuation process to estimate loss reliably and 
specifies a reasonable period for obtaining post-credit event 
valuations of the reference exposure;
    (6) If the contract requires the protection purchaser to transfer 
an exposure to the protection provider at settlement, the terms of at 
least one of the exposures that is permitted to be transferred under 
the contract provide that any required consent to transfer may not be 
unreasonably withheld;
    (7) If the credit derivative is a credit default swap or nth-to-
default swap, the contract clearly identifies the parties responsible 
for determining whether a credit event has occurred, specifies that 
this determination is not the sole responsibility of the protection 
provider, and gives the protection purchaser the right to notify the 
protection provider of the occurrence of a credit event; and
    (8) If the credit derivative is a total return swap and the 
Enterprise records net payments received on the swap as net income, the 
Enterprise records offsetting deterioration in the value of the hedged 
exposure (either through reductions in fair value or by an addition to 
reserves).
    Eligible credit reserves means all general allowances that have 
been established through a charge against earnings or retained earnings 
to cover expected credit losses associated with on- or off-balance 
sheet wholesale and retail exposures, including AACL associated with 
such exposures. Eligible credit reserves exclude allowances that 
reflect credit losses on purchased credit deteriorated assets and 
available-for-sale debt securities and other specific reserves created 
against recognized losses.
    Eligible CRT structure means any category of credit risk transfers 
that has been approved by FHFA as effective in transferring the credit 
risk of one or more mortgage exposures to another party, taking into 
account any counterparty, recourse, or other risk to the Enterprise and 
any capital, liquidity, or other requirements applicable to 
counterparties (including any arrangement under which an entity that is 
approved by an Enterprise to originate multifamily mortgage exposures 
retains credit risk of one or more multifamily mortgage exposures pari 
passu with the Enterprise on substantially the same terms and 
conditions as in effect on [the date the proposed rule is published] 
for Fannie Mae's credit risk transfers known as the ``Delegated 
Underwriting and Servicing program'').
    Eligible guarantee means a guarantee that:
    (1) Is written;
    (2) Is either:
    (i) Unconditional, or
    (ii) A contingent obligation of the U.S. government or its 
agencies, the enforceability of which is dependent upon some 
affirmative action on the part of the beneficiary of the guarantee or a 
third party (for example, meeting servicing requirements);
    (3) Covers all or a pro rata portion of all contractual payments of 
the obligated party on the reference exposure;
    (4) Gives the beneficiary a direct claim against the protection 
provider;
    (5) Is not unilaterally cancelable by the protection provider for 
reasons other than the breach of the contract by the beneficiary;
    (6) Except for a guarantee by a sovereign, is legally enforceable 
against

[[Page 39363]]

the protection provider in a jurisdiction where the protection provider 
has sufficient assets against which a judgment may be attached and 
enforced;
    (7) Requires the protection provider to make payment to the 
beneficiary on the occurrence of a default (as defined in the 
guarantee) of the obligated party on the reference exposure in a timely 
manner without the beneficiary first having to take legal actions to 
pursue the obligor for payment;
    (8) Does not increase the beneficiary's cost of credit protection 
on the guarantee in response to deterioration in the credit quality of 
the reference exposure;
    (9) Is not provided by an affiliate of the Enterprise; and
    (10) Is provided by an eligible guarantor.
    Eligible guarantor means:
    (1) A sovereign, the Bank for International Settlements, the 
International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, the European 
Commission, a Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Agricultural Mortgage 
Corporation (Farmer Mac), the European Stability Mechanism, the 
European Financial Stability Facility, a multilateral development bank 
(MDB), a depository institution, a bank holding company as defined in 
section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (12 
U.S.C. 1841 et seq.), a savings and loan holding company, a credit 
union, a foreign bank, or a qualifying central counterparty; or
    (2) An entity (other than a special purpose entity):
    (i) That at the time the guarantee is issued or anytime thereafter, 
has issued and outstanding an unsecured debt security without credit 
enhancement that is investment grade;
    (ii) Whose creditworthiness is not positively correlated with the 
credit risk of the exposures for which it has provided guarantees; and
    (iii) That is not an insurance company engaged predominately in the 
business of providing credit protection (such as a monoline bond 
insurer or re-insurer).
    Eligible margin loan means:
    (1) An extension of credit where:
    (i) The extension of credit is collateralized exclusively by liquid 
and readily marketable debt or equity securities, or gold;
    (ii) The collateral is marked-to-fair value daily, and the 
transaction is subject to daily margin maintenance requirements; and
    (iii) The extension of credit is conducted under an agreement that 
provides the Enterprise the right to accelerate and terminate the 
extension of credit and to liquidate or set-off collateral promptly 
upon an event of default, including upon an event of receivership, 
insolvency, liquidation, conservatorship, or similar proceeding, of the 
counterparty, provided that, in any such case:
    (A) Any exercise of rights under the agreement will not be stayed 
or avoided under applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions, other 
than:
    (1) In receivership, conservatorship, or resolution under the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, or under 
any similar insolvency law applicable to GSEs,\1\ or laws of foreign 
jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the U.S. laws 
referenced in this paragraph (1)(iii)(A)(1) in order to facilitate the 
orderly resolution of the defaulting counterparty; or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This requirement is met where all transactions under the 
agreement are (i) executed under U.S. law and (ii) constitute 
``securities contracts'' under section 555 of the Bankruptcy Code 
(11 U.S.C. 555), qualified financial contracts under section 
11(e)(8) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or netting contracts 
between or among financial institutions under sections 401-407 of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act or the 
Federal Reserve's Regulation EE (12 CFR part 231).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Where the agreement is subject by its terms to, or 
incorporates, any of the laws referenced in paragraph (1)(iii)(A)(1) of 
this definition; and
    (B) The agreement may limit the right to accelerate, terminate, and 
close-out on a net basis all transactions under the agreement and to 
liquidate or set-off collateral promptly upon an event of default of 
the counterparty to the extent necessary for the counterparty to comply 
with the requirements of subpart I of the Federal Reserve Board's 
Regulation YY (part 252 of this title), part 47 of this title, or part 
382 of this title, as applicable.
    (2) In order to recognize an exposure as an eligible margin loan 
for purposes of this subpart, an Enterprise must comply with the 
requirements of Sec.  1240.3(b) with respect to that exposure.
    Equity exposure means:
    (1) A security or instrument (whether voting or non-voting) that 
represents a direct or an indirect ownership interest in, and is a 
residual claim on, the assets and income of a company, unless:
    (i) The issuing company is consolidated with the Enterprise under 
GAAP;
    (ii) The Enterprise is required to deduct the ownership interest 
from tier 1 or tier 2 capital under this part;
    (iii) The ownership interest incorporates a payment or other 
similar obligation on the part of the issuing company (such as an 
obligation to make periodic payments); or
    (iv) The ownership interest is a securitization exposure;
    (2) A security or instrument that is mandatorily convertible into a 
security or instrument described in paragraph (1) of this definition;
    (3) An option or warrant that is exercisable for a security or 
instrument described in paragraph (1) of this definition; or
    (4) Any other security or instrument (other than a securitization 
exposure) to the extent the return on the security or instrument is 
based on the performance of a security or instrument described in 
paragraph (1) of this definition.
    ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974 
(29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
    Executive officer means a person who holds the title or, without 
regard to title, salary, or compensation, performs the function of one 
or more of the following positions: President, chief executive officer, 
executive chairman, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, 
chief investment officer, chief legal officer, chief lending officer, 
chief risk officer, or head of a major business line, and other staff 
that the board of directors of the Enterprise deems to have equivalent 
responsibility.
    Exposure amount means:
    (1) For the on-balance sheet component of an exposure (including a 
mortgage exposure); an OTC derivative contract; a repo-style 
transaction or an eligible margin loan for which the Enterprise 
determines the exposure amount under Sec.  1240.39; a cleared 
transaction; a default fund contribution; or a securitization 
exposure), the Enterprise's carrying value of the exposure.
    (2) For the off-balance sheet component of an exposure (other than 
an OTC derivative contract; a repo-style transaction or an eligible 
margin loan for which the Enterprise calculates the exposure amount 
under Sec.  1240.39; a cleared transaction; a default fund 
contribution; or a securitization exposure), the notional amount of the 
off-balance sheet component multiplied by the appropriate credit 
conversion factor (CCF) in Sec.  1240.35.
    (3) For an exposure that is an OTC derivative contract, the 
exposure amount determined under Sec.  1240.36.
    (4) For an exposure that is a cleared transaction, the exposure 
amount determined under Sec.  1240.37.
    (5) For an exposure that is an eligible margin loan or repo-style 
transaction for which the Enterprise calculates the exposure amount as 
provided in Sec.  1240.39, the exposure amount determined under Sec.  
1240.39.

[[Page 39364]]

    (6) For an exposure that is a securitization exposure, the exposure 
amount determined under Sec.  1240.42.
    Federal Deposit Insurance Act means the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act means the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (12 U.S.C. 4401).
    Federal Reserve Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System.
    Financial collateral means collateral:
    (1) In the form of:
    (i) Cash on deposit with the Enterprise (including cash held for 
the Enterprise by a third-party custodian or trustee);
    (ii) Gold bullion;
    (iii) Long-term debt securities that are not resecuritization 
exposures and that are investment grade;
    (iv) Short-term debt instruments that are not resecuritization 
exposures and that are investment grade;
    (v) Equity securities that are publicly traded;
    (vi) Convertible bonds that are publicly traded; or
    (vii) Money market fund shares and other mutual fund shares if a 
price for the shares is publicly quoted daily; and
    (2) In which the Enterprise has a perfected, first-priority 
security interest or, outside of the United States, the legal 
equivalent thereof (with the exception of cash on deposit and 
notwithstanding the prior security interest of any custodial agent).
    Foreign bank means a foreign bank as defined in Sec.  211.2 of the 
Federal Reserve Board's Regulation K (12 CFR 211.2) (other than a 
depository institution).
    Gain-on-sale means an increase in the equity capital of an 
Enterprise resulting from a traditional securitization other than an 
increase in equity capital resulting from:
    (1) The Enterprise's receipt of cash in connection with the 
securitization; or
    (2) The reporting of a mortgage servicing asset.
    General obligation means a bond or similar obligation that is 
backed by the full faith and credit of a public sector entity (PSE).
    Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) means an entity established 
or chartered by the U.S. government to serve public purposes specified 
by the U.S. Congress but whose debt obligations are not explicitly 
guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, 
including an Enterprise.
    Guarantee means a financial guarantee, letter of credit, insurance, 
or other similar financial instrument (other than a credit derivative) 
that allows one party (beneficiary) to transfer the credit risk of one 
or more specific exposures (reference exposure) to another party 
(protection provider).
    Investment grade means that the entity to which the Enterprise is 
exposed through a loan or security, or the reference entity with 
respect to a credit derivative, has adequate capacity to meet financial 
commitments for the projected life of the asset or exposure. Such an 
entity or reference entity has adequate capacity to meet financial 
commitments if the risk of its default is low and the full and timely 
repayment of principal and interest is expected.
    Mortgage-backed security (MBS) means a security collateralized by a 
pool or pools of mortgage exposures, including any pass-through or 
collateralized mortgage obligation.
    Mortgage exposure means either a single-family mortgage exposure or 
a multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Multifamily mortgage exposure means an exposure that is secured by 
a first or subsequent lien on a property with five or more residential 
units.
    Mortgage servicing assets (MSAs) means the contractual rights owned 
by an Enterprise to service for a fee mortgage loans that are owned by 
others.
    Multilateral development bank (MDB) means the International Bank 
for Reconstruction and Development, the Multilateral Investment 
Guarantee Agency, the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-
American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African 
Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 
the European Investment Bank, the European Investment Fund, the Nordic 
Investment Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Islamic 
Development Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, and any other 
multilateral lending institution or regional development bank in which 
the U.S. government is a shareholder or contributing member or which 
FHFA determines poses comparable credit risk.
    Netting set means a group of transactions with a single 
counterparty that are subject to a qualifying master netting agreement 
or a qualifying cross-product master netting agreement. For purposes of 
calculating risk-based capital requirements using the internal models 
methodology in subpart E of this part, this term does not cover a 
transaction:
    (1) That is not subject to such a master netting agreement; or
    (2) Where the Enterprise has identified specific wrong-way risk.
    Nth-to-default credit derivative means a credit derivative that 
provides credit protection only for the nth-defaulting reference 
exposure in a group of reference exposures.
    Originating Enterprise, with respect to a securitization, means an 
Enterprise that directly or indirectly originated or securitized the 
underlying exposures included in the securitization.
    Over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contract means a derivative 
contract that is not a cleared transaction. An OTC derivative includes 
a transaction:
    (1) Between an Enterprise that is a clearing member and a 
counterparty where the Enterprise is acting as a financial intermediary 
and enters into a cleared transaction with a CCP that offsets the 
transaction with the counterparty; or
    (2) In which an Enterprise that is a clearing member provides a CCP 
a guarantee on the performance of the counterparty to the transaction.
    Protection amount (P) means, with respect to an exposure hedged by 
an eligible guarantee or eligible credit derivative, the effective 
notional amount of the guarantee or credit derivative, reduced to 
reflect any currency mismatch, maturity mismatch, or lack of 
restructuring coverage (as provided in Sec.  1240.38).
    Publicly-traded means traded on:
    (1) Any exchange registered with the SEC as a national securities 
exchange under section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act; or
    (2) Any non-U.S.-based securities exchange that:
    (i) Is registered with, or approved by, a national securities 
regulatory authority; and
    (ii) Provides a liquid, two-way market for the instrument in 
question.
    Public sector entity (PSE) means a state, local authority, or other 
governmental subdivision below the sovereign level.
    Qualifying central counterparty (QCCP) means a central counterparty 
that:
    (1)(i) Is a designated financial market utility (FMU) under Title 
VIII of the Dodd-Frank Act;
    (ii) If not located in the United States, is regulated and 
supervised in a manner equivalent to a designated FMU; or
    (iii) Meets the following standards:
    (A) The central counterparty requires all parties to contracts 
cleared by the counterparty to be fully collateralized on a daily 
basis;
    (B) The Enterprise demonstrates to the satisfaction of FHFA that 
the central counterparty:

[[Page 39365]]

    (1) Is in sound financial condition;
    (2) Is subject to supervision by the Federal Reserve Board, the 
CFTC, or the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), or, if the central 
counterparty is not located in the United States, is subject to 
effective oversight by a national supervisory authority in its home 
country; and
    (3) Meets or exceeds the risk-management standards for central 
counterparties set forth in regulations established by the Federal 
Reserve Board, the CFTC, or the SEC under Title VII or Title VIII of 
the Dodd-Frank Act; or if the central counterparty is not located in 
the United States, meets or exceeds similar risk-management standards 
established under the law of its home country that are consistent with 
international standards for central counterparty risk management as 
established by the relevant standard setting body of the Bank of 
International Settlements; and
    (2)(i) Provides the Enterprise with the central counterparty's 
hypothetical capital requirement or the information necessary to 
calculate such hypothetical capital requirement, and other information 
the Enterprise is required to obtain under 12 CFR 217.35(d)(3);
    (ii) Makes available to FHFA and the CCP's regulator the 
information described in paragraph (2)(i) of this definition; and
    (iii) Has not otherwise been determined by FHFA to not be a QCCP 
due to its financial condition, risk profile, failure to meet 
supervisory risk management standards, or other weaknesses or 
supervisory concerns that are inconsistent with the risk weight 
assigned to qualifying central counterparties under Sec.  1240.37.
    (3) A QCCP that fails to meet the requirements of a QCCP in the 
future may still be treated as a QCCP under the conditions specified in 
Sec.  1240.3(e).
    Qualifying master netting agreement means a written, legally 
enforceable agreement provided that:
    (1) The agreement creates a single legal obligation for all 
individual transactions covered by the agreement upon an event of 
default following any stay permitted by paragraph (2) of this 
definition, including upon an event of receivership, conservatorship, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding, of the counterparty;
    (2) The agreement provides the Enterprise the right to accelerate, 
terminate, and close-out on a net basis all transactions under the 
agreement and to liquidate or set-off collateral promptly upon an event 
of default, including upon an event of receivership, conservatorship, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding, of the counterparty, 
provided that, in any such case:
    (i) Any exercise of rights under the agreement will not be stayed 
or avoided under applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions, other 
than:
    (A) In receivership, conservatorship, or resolution under the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, or under 
any similar insolvency law applicable to GSEs, or laws of foreign 
jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the U.S. laws 
referenced in this paragraph (2)(i)(A) in order to facilitate the 
orderly resolution of the defaulting counterparty; or
    (B) Where the agreement is subject by its terms to, or 
incorporates, any of the laws referenced in paragraph (2)(i)(A) of this 
definition; and
    (ii) The agreement may limit the right to accelerate, terminate, 
and close-out on a net basis all transactions under the agreement and 
to liquidate or set-off collateral promptly upon an event of default of 
the counterparty to the extent necessary for the counterparty to comply 
with the requirements of subpart I of the Federal Reserve Board's 
Regulation YY (part 252 of this title), part 47 of this title, or part 
382 of this title, as applicable.
    Repo-style transaction means a repurchase or reverse repurchase 
transaction, or a securities borrowing or securities lending 
transaction, including a transaction in which the Enterprise acts as 
agent for a customer and indemnifies the customer against loss, 
provided that:
    (1) The transaction is based solely on liquid and readily 
marketable securities, cash, or gold;
    (2) The transaction is marked-to-fair value daily and subject to 
daily margin maintenance requirements;
    (3)(i) The transaction is a ``securities contract'' or ``repurchase 
agreement'' under section 555 or 559, respectively, of the Bankruptcy 
Code (11 U.S.C. 555 or 559), a qualified financial contract under 
section 11(e)(8) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or a netting 
contract between or among financial institutions under sections 401-407 
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act or the 
Federal Reserve Board's Regulation EE (12 CFR part 231); or
    (ii) If the transaction does not meet the criteria set forth in 
paragraph (3)(i) of this definition, then either:
    (A) The transaction is executed under an agreement that provides 
the Enterprise the right to accelerate, terminate, and close-out the 
transaction on a net basis and to liquidate or set-off collateral 
promptly upon an event of default, including upon an event of 
receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding, of the 
counterparty, provided that, in any such case:
    (1) Any exercise of rights under the agreement will not be stayed 
or avoided under applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions, other 
than:
    (i) In receivership, conservatorship, or resolution under the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, or under 
any similar insolvency law applicable to GSEs, or laws of foreign 
jurisdictions that are substantially similar to the U.S. laws 
referenced in this paragraph (3)(ii)(A)(1)(i) in order to facilitate 
the orderly resolution of the defaulting counterparty;
    (ii) Where the agreement is subject by its terms to, or 
incorporates, any of the laws referenced in paragraph (3)(ii)(A)(1)(i) 
of this definition; and
    (2) The agreement may limit the right to accelerate, terminate, and 
close-out on a net basis all transactions under the agreement and to 
liquidate or set-off collateral promptly upon an event of default of 
the counterparty to the extent necessary for the counterparty to comply 
with the requirements of subpart I of the Federal Reserve Board's 
Regulation YY (part 252 of this title), part 47 of this title, or part 
382 of this title, as applicable; or
    (B) The transaction is:
    (1) Either overnight or unconditionally cancelable at any time by 
the Enterprise; and
    (2) Executed under an agreement that provides the Enterprise the 
right to accelerate, terminate, and close-out the transaction on a net 
basis and to liquidate or set-off collateral promptly upon an event of 
counterparty default; and
    (3) In order to recognize an exposure as a repo-style transaction 
for purposes of this subpart, an Enterprise must comply with the 
requirements of Sec.  1240.3(e) with respect to that exposure.
    Resecuritization means a securitization which has more than one 
underlying exposure and in which one or more of the underlying 
exposures is a securitization exposure.
    Resecuritization exposure means:
    (1) An on- or off-balance sheet exposure to a resecuritization; or
    (2) An exposure that directly or indirectly references a 
resecuritization exposure.
    Retained CRT exposure means, with respect to an Enterprise, any 
exposure that arises from a credit risk transfer of the Enterprise and 
has been retained by the Enterprise since the issuance or

[[Page 39366]]

entry into the credit risk transfer by the Enterprise.
    Revenue obligation means a bond or similar obligation that is an 
obligation of a PSE, but which the PSE is committed to repay with 
revenues from the specific project financed rather than general tax 
funds.
    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) means the U.S. Securities 
and Exchange Commission.
    Securities Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78).
    Securitization exposure means:
    (1) An on-balance sheet or off-balance sheet credit exposure 
(including credit-enhancing representations and warranties) that arises 
from a traditional securitization or synthetic securitization 
(including a resecuritization);
    (2) An exposure that directly or indirectly references a 
securitization exposure described in paragraph (1) of this definition;
    (3) A retained CRT exposure; or
    (4) An acquired CRT exposure.
    Securitization special purpose entity (securitization SPE) means a 
corporation, trust, or other entity organized for the specific purpose 
of holding underlying exposures of a securitization, the activities of 
which are limited to those appropriate to accomplish this purpose, and 
the structure of which is intended to isolate the underlying exposures 
held by the entity from the credit risk of the seller of the underlying 
exposures to the entity.
    Servicer cash advance facility means a facility under which the 
servicer of the underlying exposures of a securitization may advance 
cash to ensure an uninterrupted flow of payments to investors in the 
securitization, including advances made to cover foreclosure costs or 
other expenses to facilitate the timely collection of the underlying 
exposures.
    Single-family mortgage exposure means an exposure that is secured 
by a first or subsequent lien on a property with one to four 
residential units.
    Sovereign means a central government (including the U.S. 
government) or an agency, department, ministry, or central bank of a 
central government.
    Sovereign default means noncompliance by a sovereign with its 
external debt service obligations or the inability or unwillingness of 
a sovereign government to service an existing loan according to its 
original terms, as evidenced by failure to pay principal and interest 
timely and fully, arrearages, or restructuring.
    Sovereign exposure means:
    (1) A direct exposure to a sovereign; or
    (2) An exposure directly and unconditionally backed by the full 
faith and credit of a sovereign.
    Standardized market risk-weighted assets means the standardized 
measure for spread risk calculated under Sec.  1240.204(a) multiplied 
by 12.5.
    Standardized total risk-weighted assets means:
    (1) The sum of:
    (i) Total risk-weighted assets for general credit risk as 
calculated under Sec.  1240.31;
    (ii) Total risk-weighted assets for cleared transactions and 
default fund contributions as calculated under Sec.  1240.37;
    (iii) Total risk-weighted assets for unsettled transactions as 
calculated under Sec.  1240.40;
    (iv) Total risk-weighted assets for CRT and other securitization 
exposures as calculated under Sec.  1240.42;
    (v) Total risk-weighted assets for equity exposures as calculated 
under Sec.  1240.51;
    (vi) Risk-weighted assets for operational risk, as calculated under 
Sec.  1240.162(c); and
    (vii) Standardized market risk-weighted assets; minus
    (2) Excess eligible credit reserves not included in the 
Enterprise's tier 2 capital.
    Subsidiary means, with respect to a company, a company controlled 
by that company.
    Synthetic securitization means a transaction in which:
    (1) All or a portion of the credit risk of one or more underlying 
exposures is retained or transferred to one or more third parties 
through the use of one or more credit derivatives or guarantees (other 
than a guarantee that transfers only the credit risk of an individual 
mortgage exposure or other retail exposure);
    (2) The credit risk associated with the underlying exposures has 
been separated into at least two tranches reflecting different levels 
of seniority;
    (3) Performance of the securitization exposures depends upon the 
performance of the underlying exposures; and
    (4) All or substantially all of the underlying exposures are 
financial exposures (such as mortgage exposures, loans, commitments, 
credit derivatives, guarantees, receivables, asset-backed securities, 
mortgage-backed securities, other debt securities, or equity 
securities).
    Tier 1 capital means the sum of common equity tier 1 capital and 
additional tier 1 capital.
    Tier 2 capital is defined in Sec.  1240.20(d).
    Total capital has the meaning given at section 1303(23) of the 
Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(23)).
    Traditional securitization means a transaction in which:
    (1) All or a portion of the credit risk of one or more underlying 
exposures is transferred to one or more third parties other than 
through the use of credit derivatives or guarantees;
    (2) The credit risk associated with the underlying exposures has 
been separated into at least two tranches reflecting different levels 
of seniority;
    (3) Performance of the securitization exposures depends upon the 
performance of the underlying exposures;
    (4) All or substantially all of the underlying exposures are 
financial exposures (such as mortgage exposures, loans, commitments, 
credit derivatives, guarantees, receivables, asset-backed securities, 
mortgage-backed securities, other debt securities, or equity 
securities);
    (5) The underlying exposures are not owned by an operating company;
    (6) The underlying exposures are not owned by a small business 
investment company defined in section 302 of the Small Business 
Investment Act;
    (7) The underlying exposures are not owned by a firm an investment 
in which qualifies as a community development investment under section 
24 (Eleventh) of the National Bank Act;
    (8) FHFA may determine that a transaction in which the underlying 
exposures are owned by an investment firm that exercises substantially 
unfettered control over the size and composition of its assets, 
liabilities, and off-balance sheet exposures is not a traditional 
securitization based on the transaction's leverage, risk profile, or 
economic substance;
    (9) FHFA may deem a transaction that meets the definition of a 
traditional securitization, notwithstanding paragraph (5), (6), or (7) 
of this definition, to be a traditional securitization based on the 
transaction's leverage, risk profile, or economic substance; and
    (10) The transaction is not:
    (i) An investment fund;
    (ii) A collective investment fund (as defined in 12 CFR 208.34);
    (iii) An employee benefit plan (as defined in 29 U.S.C. 1002(3)), a 
governmental plan (as defined in 29 U.S.C. 1002(32)) that complies with 
the tax deferral qualification requirements provided in the Internal 
Revenue Code;
    (iv) A synthetic exposure to the capital of a financial institution 
to the

[[Page 39367]]

extent deducted from capital under Sec.  1240.22; or
    (v) Registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) or foreign equivalents thereof.
    Tranche means all securitization exposures associated with a 
securitization that have the same seniority level.
    Underlying exposures means one or more exposures that have been 
securitized in a securitization transaction.
    Wrong-way risk means the risk that arises when an exposure to a 
particular counterparty is positively correlated with the probability 
of default of such counterparty itself.


Sec.  1240.3   Operational requirements for counterparty credit risk.

    For purposes of calculating risk-weighted assets under subpart D of 
this part:
    (a) Cleared transaction. In order to recognize certain exposures as 
cleared transactions pursuant to paragraphs (1)(ii), (iii), or (iv) of 
the definition of ``cleared transaction'' in Sec.  1240.2, the 
exposures must meet the applicable requirements set forth in this 
paragraph (a).
    (1) The offsetting transaction must be identified by the CCP as a 
transaction for the clearing member client.
    (2) The collateral supporting the transaction must be held in a 
manner that prevents the Enterprise from facing any loss due to an 
event of default, including from a liquidation, receivership, 
insolvency, or similar proceeding of either the clearing member or the 
clearing member's other clients. Omnibus accounts established under 17 
CFR parts 190 and 300 satisfy the requirements of this paragraph (a).
    (3) The Enterprise must conduct sufficient legal review to conclude 
with a well-founded basis (and maintain sufficient written 
documentation of that legal review) that in the event of a legal 
challenge (including one resulting from a default or receivership, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding) the relevant court and 
administrative authorities would find the arrangements of paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable 
under the law of the relevant jurisdictions.
    (4) The offsetting transaction with a clearing member must be 
transferable under the transaction documents and applicable laws in the 
relevant jurisdiction(s) to another clearing member should the clearing 
member default, become insolvent, or enter receivership, insolvency, 
liquidation, or similar proceedings.
    (b) Eligible margin loan. In order to recognize an exposure as an 
eligible margin loan as defined in Sec.  1240.2, an Enterprise must 
conduct sufficient legal review to conclude with a well-founded basis 
(and maintain sufficient written documentation of that legal review) 
that the agreement underlying the exposure:
    (1) Meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(iii) of the definition 
of eligible margin loan in Sec.  1240.2, and
    (2) Is legal, valid, binding, and enforceable under applicable law 
in the relevant jurisdictions.
    (c) Qualifying master netting agreement. In order to recognize an 
agreement as a qualifying master netting agreement as defined in Sec.  
1240.2, an Enterprise must:
    (1) Conduct sufficient legal review to conclude with a well-founded 
basis (and maintain sufficient written documentation of that legal 
review) that:
    (i) The agreement meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of the 
definition of qualifying master netting agreement in Sec.  1240.2; and
    (ii) In the event of a legal challenge (including one resulting 
from default or from receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar 
proceeding) the relevant court and administrative authorities would 
find the agreement to be legal, valid, binding, and enforceable under 
the law of the relevant jurisdictions; and
    (2) Establish and maintain written procedures to monitor possible 
changes in relevant law and to ensure that the agreement continues to 
satisfy the requirements of the definition of qualifying master netting 
agreement in Sec.  1240.2.
    (d) Repo-style transaction. In order to recognize an exposure as a 
repo-style transaction as defined in Sec.  1240.2, an Enterprise must 
conduct sufficient legal review to conclude with a well-founded basis 
(and maintain sufficient written documentation of that legal review) 
that the agreement underlying the exposure:
    (1) Meets the requirements of paragraph (3) of the definition of 
``repo-style transaction'' in Sec.  1240.2, and
    (2) Is legal, valid, binding, and enforceable under applicable law 
in the relevant jurisdictions.
    (e) Failure of a QCCP to satisfy the rule's requirements. If an 
Enterprise determines that a CCP ceases to be a QCCP due to the failure 
of the CCP to satisfy one or more of the requirements set forth in 
paragraphs (2)(i) through (2)(iii) of the definition of a QCCP in Sec.  
1240.2, the Enterprise may continue to treat the CCP as a QCCP for up 
to three months following the determination. If the CCP fails to remedy 
the relevant deficiency within three months after the initial 
determination, or the CCP fails to satisfy the requirements set forth 
in paragraphs (2)(i) through (2)(iii) of the definition of a ``QCCP'' 
continuously for a three-month period after remedying the relevant 
deficiency, an Enterprise may not treat the CCP as a QCCP for the 
purposes of this part until after the Enterprise has determined that 
the CCP has satisfied the requirements in paragraphs (2)(i) through 
(2)(iii) of the definition of a QCCP for three continuous months.


Sec.  1240.4   Compliance dates.

    (a) Delayed compliance dates. Certain sections and subparts of this 
part are subject to delayed compliance dates under this section.
    (b) Reporting compliance. Section 1240.1(f) has a compliance date 
of one year from [DATE OF PUBLICATION OF FINAL RULE].
    (c) Capital requirements and buffers. Subject to paragraph (d) of 
this section, subpart B of this part has a compliance date with respect 
to an Enterprise of the later of:
    (1) One year from [DATE OF PUBLICATION OF FINAL RULE]; and
    (2) The date of the termination of the conservatorship of the 
Enterprise.
    (d) Capital restoration plan or other interim order. (1) The 
Director may determine to direct a later compliance date for an 
Enterprise to achieve compliance with Sec.  1240.10 based on his 
assessment of capital market conditions and the likely feasibility of 
the plan of the Enterprise to achieve capital levels sufficient to 
comply with Sec.  1240.10 and avoid restrictions on capital 
distributions and discretionary bonuses under Sec.  1240.11(b).
    (2) If the Director makes a determination under paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section:
    (i) For the period between the compliance date for Sec.  1240.11 
under paragraph (c) of this section and any later compliance date for 
Sec.  1240.10 under this paragraph (d), the prescribed capital 
conservation buffer amount of the Enterprise will be the amount equal 
to:
    (A) The CET1 capital that would otherwise be required under Sec.  
1240.10(d); plus
    (B) The prescribed capital conservation buffer amount that would 
otherwise apply under Sec.  1240.11(a)(5);
    (ii) For the period between the compliance date for Sec.  1240.11 
under paragraph (c) of this section and the later compliance date for 
Sec.  1240.10 under this paragraph (d), the prescribed leverage buffer 
amount of the Enterprise

[[Page 39368]]

will be equal to 4.0 percent of the adjusted total assets of the 
Enterprise; and
    (iii) The compliance date for Sec.  1240.10 will be tolled if the 
Enterprise is in compliance with:
    (A) Any corrective plan pursuant to section 1313B of the Safety and 
Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4513b(b)(1)) and 12 CFR 1236.4(c), approved by 
FHFA, which may prescribe the feasible actions and milestones by which 
the Enterprise will achieve compliance with Sec.  1240.10 by the date 
directed by FHFA; and
    (B) Any agreement or order pursuant to section 1371 of the Safety 
and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4631), including any requirement under any 
plan required under that agreement or order to achieve compliance with 
Sec.  1240.10.

Subpart B--Capital Requirements and Buffers


Sec.  1240.10   Capital requirements.

    (a) Total capital. An Enterprise must maintain total capital not 
less than the amount equal to 8.0 percent of the greater of:
    (1) Standardized total risk-weighted assets; and
    (2) Advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets.
    (b) Adjusted total capital. An Enterprise must maintain adjusted 
total capital not less than the amount equal to 8.0 percent of the 
greater of:
    (1) Standardized total risk-weighted assets; and
    (2) Advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets.
    (c) Tier 1 capital. An Enterprise must maintain tier 1 capital not 
less than the amount equal to 6.0 percent of the greater of:
    (1) Standardized total risk-weighted assets; and
    (2) Advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets.
    (d) Common equity tier 1 capital. An Enterprise must maintain 
common equity tier 1 capital not less than the amount equal to 4.5 
percent of the greater of:
    (1) Standardized total risk-weighted assets; and
    (2) Advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets.
    (e) Core capital. An Enterprise must maintain core capital not less 
than the amount equal to 2.5 percent of adjusted total assets.
    (f) Leverage ratio. An Enterprise must maintain tier 1 capital not 
less than the amount equal to 2.5 percent of adjusted total assets.
    (g) Capital adequacy. (1) Notwithstanding the minimum requirements 
in this part, an Enterprise must maintain capital commensurate with the 
level and nature of all risks to which the Enterprise is exposed. The 
supervisory evaluation of an Enterprise's capital adequacy is based on 
an individual assessment of numerous factors, including the character 
and condition of the Enterprise's assets and its existing and 
prospective liabilities and other corporate responsibilities.
    (2) An Enterprise must have a process for assessing its overall 
capital adequacy in relation to its risk profile and a comprehensive 
strategy for maintaining an appropriate level of capital.


Sec.  1240.11   Capital conservation buffer and leverage buffer.

    (a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
    (1) Capital conservation buffer. An Enterprise's capital 
conservation buffer is the amount calculated under paragraph (c)(2) of 
this section.
    (2) Eligible retained income. The eligible retained income of an 
Enterprise is the greater of:
    (i) The Enterprise's net income, as defined under GAAP, for the 
four calendar quarters preceding the current calendar quarter, net of 
any distributions and associated tax effects not already reflected in 
net income; and
    (ii) The average of the Enterprise's net income for the four 
calendar quarters preceding the current calendar quarter.
    (3) Leverage buffer. An Enterprise's leverage buffer is the amount 
calculated under paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
    (4) Maximum payout ratio. The maximum payout ratio is the 
percentage of eligible retained income that an Enterprise can pay out 
in the form of distributions and discretionary bonus payments during 
the current calendar quarter. The maximum payout ratio is determined 
under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (5) Prescribed capital conservation buffer amount. An Enterprise's 
prescribed capital conservation buffer amount is equal to its stress 
capital buffer in accordance with paragraph (a)(7) of this section plus 
its applicable countercyclical capital buffer amount in accordance with 
paragraph (e) of this section plus its applicable stability capital 
buffer in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.
    (6) Prescribed leverage buffer amount. An Enterprise's prescribed 
leverage buffer amount is 1.5 percent of the Enterprise's adjusted 
total assets, as of the last day of the previous calendar quarter.
    (7) Stress capital buffer. An Enterprise's stress capital buffer is 
0.75 percent of the Enterprise's adjusted total assets, as of the last 
day of the previous calendar quarter.
    (b) Maximum payout amount. (1) Limits on distributions and 
discretionary bonus payments. An Enterprise shall not make 
distributions or discretionary bonus payments or create an obligation 
to make such distributions or payments during the current calendar 
quarter that, in the aggregate, exceed the amount equal to the 
Enterprise's eligible retained income for the calendar quarter, 
multiplied by its maximum payout ratio.
    (2) Maximum payout ratio. The maximum payout ratio of an Enterprise 
is the lowest of the payout ratios determined by its capital 
conservation buffer and its leverage buffer, as set forth on Table 1 to 
paragraph (b)(5) of this section.
    (3) No maximum payout amount limitation. An Enterprise is not 
subject to a restriction under paragraph (b)(1) of this section if it 
has:
    (i) A capital conservation buffer that is greater than its 
prescribed capital conservation buffer amount; and
    (ii) A leverage buffer that is greater than its prescribed leverage 
buffer amount.
    (4) Negative eligible retained income. An Enterprise may not make 
distributions or discretionary bonus payments during the current 
calendar quarter if:
    (i) The eligible retained income of the Enterprise is negative; and
    (ii) Either:
    (A) The capital conservation buffer of the Enterprise was less than 
its stress capital buffer; or
    (B) The leverage buffer of the Enterprise was less than its 
prescribed leverage buffer amount.
    (5) Prior approval. Notwithstanding the limitations in paragraphs 
(b)(1) through (b)(3) of this section, FHFA may permit an Enterprise to 
make a distribution or discretionary bonus payment upon a request of 
the Enterprise, if FHFA determines that the distribution or 
discretionary bonus payment would not be contrary to the purposes of 
this section or to the safety and soundness of the Enterprise. In 
making such a determination, FHFA will consider the nature and extent 
of the request and the particular circumstances giving rise to the 
request.

[[Page 39369]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.046

    (c) Capital conservation buffer--(1) Composition of the capital 
conservation buffer. The capital conservation buffer is composed solely 
of common equity tier 1 capital.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ An Enterprise's ``capital buffer'' means, as applicable, its 
capital conservation buffer or its leverage buffer.
    \3\ An Enterprise's ``prescribed buffer amount'' means, as 
applicable, its prescribed capital conservation buffer amount or its 
leverage prescribed buffer amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Calculation of capital conservation buffer. (i) An Enterprise's 
capital conservation buffer is equal to the lowest of the following, 
calculated as of the last day of the previous calendar quarter:
    (A) The Enterprise's adjusted total capital minus the minimum 
amount of adjusted total capital under Sec.  1240.10(b);
    (B) The Enterprise's tier 1 capital minus the minimum amount of 
tier 1 capital under Sec.  1240.10(c); or
    (C) The Enterprise's common equity tier 1 capital minus the minimum 
amount of common equity tier 1 capital under Sec.  1240.10(d).
    (ii) Notwithstanding paragraphs (c)(2)(i)(A) through (C) of this 
section, if the Enterprise's adjusted total capital, tier 1 capital, or 
common equity tier 1 capital is less than or equal to the Enterprise's 
minimum adjusted total capital, tier 1 capital, or common equity tier 1 
capital, respectively, the Enterprise's capital conservation buffer is 
zero.
    (d) Leverage buffer--(1) Composition of the leverage buffer. The 
leverage buffer is composed solely of tier 1 capital.
    (2) Calculation of the leverage buffer. (i) An Enterprise's 
leverage buffer is equal to the Enterprise's tier 1 capital minus the 
minimum amount of tier 1 capital under Sec.  1240.10(f), calculated as 
of the last day of the previous calendar quarter.
    (ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, if the 
Enterprise's tier 1 capital is less than or equal to the minimum amount 
of tier 1 capital under Sec.  1240.10(d), the Enterprise's leverage 
buffer is zero.
    (e) Countercyclical capital buffer amount--(1) Composition of the 
countercyclical capital buffer amount. The countercyclical capital 
buffer amount is composed solely of common equity tier 1 capital.
    (2) Amount--(i) Initial countercyclical capital buffer. The initial 
countercyclical capital buffer amount is zero.
    (ii) Adjustment of the countercyclical capital buffer amount. FHFA 
will adjust the countercyclical capital buffer amount in accordance 
with applicable law.
    (iii) Range of countercyclical capital buffer amount. FHFA will 
adjust the countercyclical capital buffer amount between zero percent 
and 0.75 percent of adjusted total assets.
    (iv) Adjustment determination. FHFA will base its decision to 
adjust the countercyclical capital buffer amount under this section on 
a range of macroeconomic, financial, and supervisory information 
indicating an increase in systemic risk, including the ratio of credit 
to gross domestic product, a variety of asset prices, other factors 
indicative of relative credit and liquidity expansion or contraction, 
funding spreads, credit condition surveys, indices based on credit 
default swap spreads, options implied volatility, and measures of 
systemic risk.
    (3) Effective date of adjusted countercyclical capital buffer 
amount--
    (i) Increase adjustment. A determination by FHFA under paragraph 
(e)(2)(ii) of this section to increase the countercyclical capital 
buffer amount will be effective 12 months from the date of 
announcement, unless FHFA establishes an earlier effective date and 
includes a statement articulating the reasons for the earlier effective 
date.
    (ii) Decrease adjustment. A determination by FHFA to decrease the 
established countercyclical capital buffer amount under paragraph 
(e)(2)(ii) of this section will be effective on the day following 
announcement of the final determination or the earliest date 
permissible under applicable law or regulation, whichever is later.
    (iii) Twelve month sunset. The countercyclical capital buffer 
amount will return to zero percent 12 months after the effective date 
that the adjusted countercyclical capital buffer amount is announced, 
unless FHFA announces a decision to maintain the adjusted 
countercyclical capital buffer amount or adjust it again before the 
expiration of the 12-month period.
    (f) Stability capital buffer. An Enterprise must use its stability 
capital buffer calculated in accordance with subpart G of this part for 
purposes of determining its maximum payout ratio under Table 1 to 
paragraph (b)(5) of this section.

Subpart C--Definition of Capital


Sec.  1240.20   Capital components and eligibility criteria for 
regulatory capital instruments.

    (a) Regulatory capital components. An Enterprise's regulatory 
capital components are:
    (1) Common equity tier 1 capital;
    (2) Additional tier 1 capital;
    (3) Tier 2 capital;
    (4) Core capital; and
    (5) Total capital.

[[Page 39370]]

    (b) Common equity tier 1 capital. Common equity tier 1 capital is 
the sum of the common equity tier 1 capital elements in this paragraph 
(b), minus regulatory adjustments and deductions in Sec.  1240.22. The 
common equity tier 1 capital elements are:
    (1) Any common stock instruments (plus any related surplus) issued 
by the Enterprise, net of treasury stock, that meet all the following 
criteria:
    (i) The instrument is paid-in, issued directly by the Enterprise, 
and represents the most subordinated claim in a receivership, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding of the Enterprise;
    (ii) The holder of the instrument is entitled to a claim on the 
residual assets of the Enterprise that is proportional with the 
holder's share of the Enterprise's issued capital after all senior 
claims have been satisfied in a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, 
or similar proceeding;
    (iii) The instrument has no maturity date, can only be redeemed via 
discretionary repurchases with the prior approval of FHFA to the extent 
otherwise required by law or regulation, and does not contain any term 
or feature that creates an incentive to redeem;
    (iv) The Enterprise did not create at issuance of the instrument 
through any action or communication an expectation that it will buy 
back, cancel, or redeem the instrument, and the instrument does not 
include any term or feature that might give rise to such an 
expectation;
    (v) Any cash dividend payments on the instrument are paid out of 
the Enterprise's net income, retained earnings, or surplus related to 
common stock, and are not subject to a limit imposed by the contractual 
terms governing the instrument.
    (vi) The Enterprise has full discretion at all times to refrain 
from paying any dividends and making any other distributions on the 
instrument without triggering an event of default, a requirement to 
make a payment-in-kind, or an imposition of any other restrictions on 
the Enterprise;
    (vii) Dividend payments and any other distributions on the 
instrument may be paid only after all legal and contractual obligations 
of the Enterprise have been satisfied, including payments due on more 
senior claims;
    (viii) The holders of the instrument bear losses as they occur 
equally, proportionately, and simultaneously with the holders of all 
other common stock instruments before any losses are borne by holders 
of claims on the Enterprise with greater priority in a receivership, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding;
    (ix) The paid-in amount is classified as equity under GAAP;
    (x) The Enterprise, or an entity that the Enterprise controls, did 
not purchase or directly or indirectly fund the purchase of the 
instrument;
    (xi) The instrument is not secured, not covered by a guarantee of 
the Enterprise or of an affiliate of the Enterprise, and is not subject 
to any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the 
seniority of the instrument;
    (xii) The instrument has been issued in accordance with applicable 
laws and regulations; and
    (xiii) The instrument is reported on the Enterprise's regulatory 
financial statements separately from other capital instruments.
    (2) Retained earnings.
    (3) Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) as reported under 
GAAP.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Sec.  1240.22 for specific adjustments related to AOCI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) Notwithstanding the criteria for common stock instruments 
referenced above, an Enterprise's common stock issued and held in trust 
for the benefit of its employees as part of an employee stock ownership 
plan does not violate any of the criteria in paragraphs (b)(1)(iii), 
(b)(1)(iv) or (b)(1)(xi) of this section, provided that any repurchase 
of the stock is required solely by virtue of ERISA for an instrument of 
an Enterprise that is not publicly-traded. In addition, an instrument 
issued by an Enterprise to its employee stock ownership plan does not 
violate the criterion in paragraph (b)(1)(x) of this section.
    (c) Additional tier 1 capital. Additional tier 1 capital is the sum 
of additional tier 1 capital elements and any related surplus, minus 
the regulatory adjustments and deductions in Sec.  1240.22. Additional 
tier 1 capital elements are:
    (1) Subject to paragraph (e)(2) of this section, instruments (plus 
any related surplus) that meet the following criteria:
    (i) The instrument is issued and paid-in;
    (ii) The instrument is subordinated to general creditors and 
subordinated debt holders of the Enterprise in a receivership, 
insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding;
    (iii) The instrument is not secured, not covered by a guarantee of 
the Enterprise or of an affiliate of the Enterprise, and not subject to 
any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the 
seniority of the instrument;
    (iv) The instrument has no maturity date and does not contain a 
dividend step-up or any other term or feature that creates an incentive 
to redeem; and
    (v) If callable by its terms, the instrument may be called by the 
Enterprise only after a minimum of five years following issuance, 
except that the terms of the instrument may allow it to be called 
earlier than five years upon the occurrence of a regulatory event that 
precludes the instrument from being included in additional tier 1 
capital, a tax event, or if the issuing entity is required to register 
as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 
(15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.). In addition:
    (A) The Enterprise must receive prior approval from FHFA to 
exercise a call option on the instrument.
    (B) The Enterprise does not create at issuance of the instrument, 
through any action or communication, an expectation that the call 
option will be exercised.
    (C) Prior to exercising the call option, or immediately thereafter, 
the Enterprise must either: Replace the instrument to be called with an 
equal amount of instruments that meet the criteria under paragraph (b) 
of this section or this paragraph (c); \5\ or demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of FHFA that following redemption, the Enterprise will 
continue to hold capital commensurate with its risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Replacement can be concurrent with redemption of existing 
additional tier 1 capital instruments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (vi) Redemption or repurchase of the instrument requires prior 
approval from FHFA.
    (vii) The Enterprise has full discretion at all times to cancel 
dividends or other distributions on the instrument without triggering 
an event of default, a requirement to make a payment-in-kind, or an 
imposition of other restrictions on the Enterprise except in relation 
to any distributions to holders of common stock or instruments that are 
pari passu with the instrument.
    (viii) Any distributions on the instrument are paid out of the 
Enterprise's net income, retained earnings, or surplus related to other 
additional tier 1 capital instruments.
    (ix) The instrument does not have a credit-sensitive feature, such 
as a dividend rate that is reset periodically based in whole or in part 
on the Enterprise's credit quality, but may have a dividend rate that 
is adjusted periodically independent of the Enterprise's credit 
quality, in relation to general market interest rates or similar 
adjustments.
    (x) The paid-in amount is classified as equity under GAAP.

[[Page 39371]]

    (xi) The Enterprise, or an entity that the Enterprise controls, did 
not purchase or directly or indirectly fund the purchase of the 
instrument.
    (xii) The instrument does not have any features that would limit or 
discourage additional issuance of capital by the Enterprise, such as 
provisions that require the Enterprise to compensate holders of the 
instrument if a new instrument is issued at a lower price during a 
specified time frame.
    (xiii) If the instrument is not issued directly by the Enterprise 
or by a subsidiary of the Enterprise that is an operating entity, the 
only asset of the issuing entity is its investment in the capital of 
the Enterprise, and proceeds must be immediately available without 
limitation to the Enterprise or to the Enterprise's top-tier holding 
company in a form which meets or exceeds all of the other criteria for 
additional tier 1 capital instruments.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ De minimis assets related to the operation of the issuing 
entity can be disregarded for purposes of this criterion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (xiv) The governing agreement, offering circular, or prospectus of 
an instrument issued after [the effective date of the final rule] must 
disclose that the holders of the instrument may be fully subordinated 
to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that the 
Enterprise enters into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or 
similar proceeding.
    (2) Notwithstanding the criteria for additional tier 1 capital 
instruments referenced above, an instrument issued by an Enterprise and 
held in trust for the benefit of its employees as part of an employee 
stock ownership plan does not violate any of the criteria in paragraph 
(c)(1)(iii) of this section, provided that any repurchase is required 
solely by virtue of ERISA for an instrument of an Enterprise that is 
not publicly-traded. In addition, an instrument issued by an Enterprise 
to its employee stock ownership plan does not violate the criteria in 
paragraphs (c)(1)(v) or (c)(1)(xi) of this section.
    (d) Tier 2 Capital. Tier 2 capital is the sum of tier 2 capital 
elements and any related surplus, minus the regulatory adjustments and 
deductions in Sec.  1240.22. Tier 2 capital elements are:
    (1) Subject to paragraph (e)(2) of this section, instruments (plus 
related surplus) that meet the following criteria:
    (i) The instrument is issued and paid-in.
    (ii) The instrument is subordinated to general creditors of the 
Enterprise.
    (iii) The instrument is not secured, not covered by a guarantee of 
the Enterprise or of an affiliate of the Enterprise, and not subject to 
any other arrangement that legally or economically enhances the 
seniority of the instrument in relation to more senior claims.
    (iv) The instrument has a minimum original maturity of at least 
five years. At the beginning of each of the last five years of the life 
of the instrument, the amount that is eligible to be included in tier 2 
capital is reduced by 20 percent of the original amount of the 
instrument (net of redemptions) and is excluded from regulatory capital 
when the remaining maturity is less than one year. In addition, the 
instrument must not have any terms or features that require, or create 
significant incentives for, the Enterprise to redeem the instrument 
prior to maturity.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ An instrument that by its terms automatically converts into 
a tier 1 capital instrument prior to five years after issuance 
complies with the five-year maturity requirement of this criterion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (v) The instrument, by its terms, may be called by the Enterprise 
only after a minimum of five years following issuance, except that the 
terms of the instrument may allow it to be called sooner upon the 
occurrence of an event that would preclude the instrument from being 
included in tier 2 capital, a tax event. In addition:
    (A) The Enterprise must receive the prior approval of FHFA to 
exercise a call option on the instrument.
    (B) The Enterprise does not create at issuance, through action or 
communication, an expectation the call option will be exercised.
    (C) Prior to exercising the call option, or immediately thereafter, 
the Enterprise must either: Replace any amount called with an 
equivalent amount of an instrument that meets the criteria for 
regulatory capital under this section; \8\ or demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of FHFA that following redemption, the Enterprise would 
continue to hold an amount of capital that is commensurate with its 
risk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ An Enterprise may replace tier 2 capital instruments 
concurrent with the redemption of existing tier 2 capital 
instruments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (vi) The holder of the instrument must have no contractual right to 
accelerate payment of principal or interest on the instrument, except 
in the event of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar 
proceeding of the Enterprise.
    (vii) The instrument has no credit-sensitive feature, such as a 
dividend or interest rate that is reset periodically based in whole or 
in part on the Enterprise's credit standing, but may have a dividend 
rate that is adjusted periodically independent of the Enterprise's 
credit standing, in relation to general market interest rates or 
similar adjustments.
    (viii) The Enterprise, or an entity that the Enterprise controls, 
has not purchased and has not directly or indirectly funded the 
purchase of the instrument.
    (ix) If the instrument is not issued directly by the Enterprise or 
by a subsidiary of the Enterprise that is an operating entity, the only 
asset of the issuing entity is its investment in the capital of the 
Enterprise, and proceeds must be immediately available without 
limitation to the Enterprise or the Enterprise's top-tier holding 
company in a form that meets or exceeds all the other criteria for tier 
2 capital instruments under this section.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ An Enterprise may disregard de minimis assets related to the 
operation of the issuing entity for purposes of this criterion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (x) Redemption of the instrument prior to maturity or repurchase 
requires the prior approval of FHFA.
    (xi) The governing agreement, offering circular, or prospectus of 
an instrument issued after [the effective date of the final rule] must 
disclose that the holders of the instrument may be fully subordinated 
to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that the 
Enterprise enters into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or 
similar proceeding.
    (2) Any eligible credit reserves that exceed expected credit losses 
to the extent that the excess reserve amount does not exceed 0.6 
percent of credit risk-weighted assets.
    (e) FHFA approval of a capital element. (1) An Enterprise must 
receive FHFA prior approval to include a capital element (as listed in 
this section) in its common equity tier 1 capital, additional tier 1 
capital, or tier 2 capital unless the element:
    (i) Was included in an Enterprise's tier 1 capital or tier 2 
capital prior to [the publication date of the proposed rule] and the 
underlying instrument may continue to be included under the criteria 
set forth in this section; or
    (ii) Is equivalent, in terms of capital quality and ability to 
absorb losses with respect to all material terms, to a regulatory 
capital element FHFA determined may be included in regulatory capital 
pursuant to paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
    (2) An Enterprise may not include an instrument in its additional 
tier 1 capital or a tier 2 capital unless FHFA has determined that the 
Enterprise has made appropriate provision, including in any resolution 
plan of the Enterprise, to ensure that the instrument would not pose a 
material impediment to the

[[Page 39372]]

ability of an Enterprise to issue common stock instruments following 
the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver under the Safety and 
Soundness Act.
    (3) After determining that a regulatory capital element may be 
included in an Enterprise's common equity tier 1 capital, additional 
tier 1 capital, or tier 2 capital, FHFA will make its decision publicly 
available, including a brief description of the material terms of the 
regulatory capital element and the rationale for the determination.
    (f) FHFA prior approval. An Enterprise may not repurchase or redeem 
any common equity tier 1 capital, additional tier 1, or tier 2 capital 
instrument without the prior approval of FHFA to the extent such prior 
approval is required by paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section, as 
applicable.


Sec.  1240.21   [Reserved]


Sec.  1240.22   Regulatory capital adjustments and deductions.

    (a) Regulatory capital deductions from common equity tier 1 
capital. An Enterprise must deduct from the sum of its common equity 
tier 1 capital elements the items set forth in this paragraph (a):
    (1) Goodwill, net of associated deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) in 
accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, including goodwill that 
is embedded in the valuation of a significant investment in the capital 
of an unconsolidated financial institution in the form of common stock 
(and that is reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the 
Enterprise), in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section;
    (2) Intangible assets, other than MSAs, net of associated DTLs in 
accordance with paragraph (e) of this section;
    (3) Deferred tax assets (DTAs) that arise from net operating loss 
and tax credit carryforwards net of any related valuation allowances 
and net of DTLs in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section;
    (4) Any gain-on-sale in connection with a securitization exposure;
    (5) Any defined benefit pension fund net asset, net of any 
associated DTL in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, held 
by the Enterprise. With the prior approval of FHFA, this deduction is 
not required for any defined benefit pension fund net asset to the 
extent the Enterprise has unrestricted and unfettered access to the 
assets in that fund. An Enterprise must risk weight any portion of the 
defined benefit pension fund asset that is not deducted under this 
paragraph (a) as if the Enterprise directly holds a proportional 
ownership share of each exposure in the defined benefit pension fund.
    (6) The amount of expected credit loss that exceeds its eligible 
credit reserves.
    (b) Regulatory adjustments to common equity tier 1 capital. (1) An 
Enterprise must adjust the sum of common equity tier 1 capital elements 
pursuant to the requirements set forth in this paragraph (b). Such 
adjustments to common equity tier 1 capital must be made net of the 
associated deferred tax effects.
    (i) An Enterprise must deduct any accumulated net gains and add any 
accumulated net losses on cash flow hedges included in AOCI that relate 
to the hedging of items that are not recognized at fair value on the 
balance sheet.
    (ii) An Enterprise must deduct any net gain and add any net loss 
related to changes in the fair value of liabilities that are due to 
changes in the Enterprise's own credit risk. An Enterprise must deduct 
the difference between its credit spread premium and the risk-free rate 
for derivatives that are liabilities as part of this adjustment.
    (c) Deductions from regulatory capital related to investments in 
capital instruments.\10\ An Enterprise must deduct an investment in the 
Enterprise's own capital instruments as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The Enterprise must calculate amounts deducted under 
paragraphs (c) through (f) of this section after it calculates the 
amount of ALLL or AACL, as applicable, includable in tier 2 capital 
under Sec.  1240.20(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) An Enterprise must deduct an investment in the Enterprise's own 
common stock instruments from its common equity tier 1 capital elements 
to the extent such instruments are not excluded from regulatory capital 
under Sec.  1240.20(b)(1);
    (2) An Enterprise must deduct an investment in the Enterprise's own 
additional tier 1 capital instruments from its additional tier 1 
capital elements; and
    (3) An Enterprise must deduct an investment in the Enterprise's own 
tier 2 capital instruments from its tier 2 capital elements.
    (d) Items subject to the 10 and 15 percent common equity tier 1 
capital deduction thresholds. (1) An Enterprise must deduct from common 
equity tier 1 capital elements the amount of each of the items set 
forth in this paragraph (d) that, individually, exceeds 10 percent of 
the sum of the Enterprise's common equity tier 1 capital elements, less 
adjustments to and deductions from common equity tier 1 capital 
required under paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section (the 10 
percent common equity tier 1 capital deduction threshold).
    (i) DTAs arising from temporary differences that the Enterprise 
could not realize through net operating loss carrybacks, net of any 
related valuation allowances and net of DTLs, in accordance with 
paragraph (e) of this section. An Enterprise is not required to deduct 
from the sum of its common equity tier 1 capital elements DTAs (net of 
any related valuation allowances and net of DTLs, in accordance with 
paragraph (e) of this section) arising from timing differences that the 
Enterprise could realize through net operating loss carrybacks. The 
Enterprise must risk weight these assets at 100 percent.
    (ii) MSAs net of associated DTLs, in accordance with paragraph (e) 
of this section.
    (2) An Enterprise must deduct from common equity tier 1 capital 
elements the items listed in paragraph (d)(1) of this section that are 
not deducted as a result of the application of the 10 percent common 
equity tier 1 capital deduction threshold, and that, in aggregate, 
exceed 17.65 percent of the sum of the Enterprise's common equity tier 
1 capital elements, minus adjustments to and deductions from common 
equity tier 1 capital required under paragraphs (a) through (c) of this 
section, minus the items listed in paragraph (d)(1) of this section 
(the 15 percent common equity tier 1 capital deduction threshold).\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The amount of the items in paragraph (d) of this section 
that is not deducted from common equity tier 1 capital pursuant to 
this section must be included in the risk-weighted assets of the 
Enterprise and assigned a 250 percent risk weight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) For purposes of calculating the amount of DTAs subject to the 
10 and 15 percent common equity tier 1 capital deduction thresholds, an 
Enterprise may exclude DTAs and DTLs relating to adjustments made to 
common equity tier 1 capital under paragraph (b) of this section. An 
Enterprise that elects to exclude DTAs relating to adjustments under 
paragraph (b) of this section also must exclude DTLs and must do so 
consistently in all future calculations. An Enterprise may change its 
exclusion preference only after obtaining the prior approval of FHFA.
    (e) Netting of DTLs against assets subject to deduction. (1) Except 
as described in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, netting of DTLs 
against assets that are subject to deduction under this section is 
permitted, but not required, if the following conditions are met:
    (i) The DTL is associated with the asset; and

[[Page 39373]]

    (ii) The DTL would be extinguished if the associated asset becomes 
impaired or is derecognized under GAAP.
    (2) A DTL may only be netted against a single asset.
    (3) For purposes of calculating the amount of DTAs subject to the 
threshold deduction in paragraph (d) of this section, the amount of 
DTAs that arise from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, 
net of any related valuation allowances, and of DTAs arising from 
temporary differences that the Enterprise could not realize through net 
operating loss carrybacks, net of any related valuation allowances, may 
be offset by DTLs (that have not been netted against assets subject to 
deduction pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this section) subject to the 
conditions set forth in this paragraph (e).
    (i) Only the DTAs and DTLs that relate to taxes levied by the same 
taxation authority and that are eligible for offsetting by that 
authority may be offset for purposes of this deduction.
    (ii) The amount of DTLs that the Enterprise nets against DTAs that 
arise from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, net of any 
related valuation allowances, and against DTAs arising from temporary 
differences that the Enterprise could not realize through net operating 
loss carrybacks, net of any related valuation allowances, must be 
allocated in proportion to the amount of DTAs that arise from net 
operating loss and tax credit carryforwards (net of any related 
valuation allowances, but before any offsetting of DTLs) and of DTAs 
arising from temporary differences that the Enterprise could not 
realize through net operating loss carrybacks (net of any related 
valuation allowances, but before any offsetting of DTLs), respectively.
    (4) An Enterprise must net DTLs against assets subject to deduction 
under this section in a consistent manner from reporting period to 
reporting period. An Enterprise may change its preference regarding the 
manner in which it nets DTLs against specific assets subject to 
deduction under this section only after obtaining the prior approval of 
FHFA.
    (f) Insufficient amounts of a specific regulatory capital component 
to effect deductions. Under the corresponding deduction approach, if an 
Enterprise does not have a sufficient amount of a specific component of 
capital to effect the required deduction after completing the 
deductions required under paragraph (d) of this section, the Enterprise 
must deduct the shortfall from the next higher (that is, more 
subordinated) component of regulatory capital.
    (g) Treatment of assets that are deducted. An Enterprise must 
exclude from standardized total risk-weighted assets and advanced 
approaches total risk-weighted assets any item deducted from regulatory 
capital under paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) of this section.

Subpart D--Risk-Weighted Assets--Standardized Approach


Sec.  1240.30   Applicability.

    (a) This subpart sets forth methodologies for determining risk-
weighted assets for purposes of the generally applicable risk-based 
capital requirements for the Enterprises.
    (b) This subpart is also applicable to covered positions, as 
defined in subpart F of this part.

Risk-Weighted Assets For General Credit Risk


Sec.  1240.31   Mechanics for calculating risk-weighted assets for 
general credit risk.

    (a) General risk-weighting requirements. An Enterprise must apply 
risk weights to its exposures as follows:
    (1) An Enterprise must determine the exposure amount of each 
mortgage exposure, each other on-balance sheet exposure, each OTC 
derivative contract, and each off-balance sheet commitment, trade and 
transaction-related contingency, guarantee, repo-style transaction, 
forward agreement, or other similar transaction that is not:
    (i) An unsettled transaction subject to Sec.  1240.40;
    (ii) A cleared transaction subject to Sec.  1240.37;
    (iii) A default fund contribution subject to Sec.  1240.37;
    (iv) A retained CRT exposure, acquired CRT exposure, or other 
securitization exposure subject to Sec. Sec.  1240.41 through 1240.46; 
or
    (v) An equity exposure (other than an equity OTC derivative 
contract) subject to Sec.  1240.51.
    (2) An Enterprise must multiply each exposure amount by the risk 
weight appropriate to the exposure based on the exposure type or 
counterparty, eligible guarantor, or financial collateral to determine 
the risk-weighted asset amount for each exposure.
    (b) Total risk-weighted assets for general credit risk. Total risk-
weighted assets for general credit risk equals the sum of the risk-
weighted asset amounts calculated under this section.


Sec.  1240.32   General risk weights.

    (a) Exposures to the U.S. government. (1) Notwithstanding any other 
requirement in this subpart, an Enterprise must assign a zero percent 
risk weight to:
    (i) An exposure to the U.S. government, its central bank, or a U.S. 
government agency; and
    (ii) The portion of an exposure that is directly and 
unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. government, its central bank, or 
a U.S. government agency. This includes a deposit or other exposure, or 
the portion of a deposit or other exposure, that is insured or 
otherwise unconditionally guaranteed by the FDIC or NCUA.
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a 20 percent risk weight to the 
portion of an exposure that is conditionally guaranteed by the U.S. 
government, its central bank, or a U.S. government agency. This 
includes an exposure, or the portion of an exposure, that is 
conditionally guaranteed by the FDIC or NCUA.
    (b) Certain supranational entities and multilateral development 
banks (MDBs). An Enterprise must assign a zero percent risk weight to 
an exposure to the Bank for International Settlements, the European 
Central Bank, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, 
the European Stability Mechanism, the European Financial Stability 
Facility, or an MDB.
    (c) Exposures to GSEs. (1) An Enterprise must assign a zero percent 
risk weight to any MBS guaranteed by the Enterprise (other than any 
retained CRT exposure).
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a 20 percent risk weight to an 
exposure to another GSE, including an MBS guaranteed by the other 
Enterprise, other than an equity exposure or preferred stock.
    (d) Exposures to depository institutions and credit unions. (1) An 
Enterprise must assign a 20 percent risk weight to an exposure to a 
depository institution or credit union that is organized under the laws 
of the United States or any state thereof, except as otherwise provided 
under paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a 100 percent risk weight to an 
exposure to a financial institution if the exposure may be included in 
that financial institution's capital unless the exposure is:
    (i) An equity exposure; or
    (ii) Deducted from regulatory capital under Sec.  1240.22.
    (e) Exposures to U.S. public sector entities (PSEs). (1) An 
Enterprise must assign a 20 percent risk weight to a general obligation 
exposure to a PSE that is organized under the laws of the United States 
or any state or political subdivision thereof.
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a 50 percent risk weight to a revenue

[[Page 39374]]

obligation exposure to a PSE that is organized under the laws of the 
United States or any state or political subdivision thereof.
    (f) Corporate exposures. An Enterprise must assign a 100 percent 
risk weight to all its corporate exposures.
    (g) Residential mortgage exposures--(1) Single-family mortgage 
exposures. An Enterprise must assign a risk weight to a single-family 
mortgage exposure in accordance with Sec.  1240.33.
    (2) Multifamily mortgage exposures. An Enterprise must assign a 
risk weight to a multifamily mortgage exposure in accordance with Sec.  
1240.34.
    (h) Past due exposures. Except for an exposure to a sovereign 
entity or a mortgage exposure, if an exposure is 90 days or more past 
due or on nonaccrual:
    (1) An Enterprise must assign a 150 percent risk weight to the 
portion of the exposure that is not guaranteed or that is unsecured;
    (2) An Enterprise may assign a risk weight to the guaranteed 
portion of a past due exposure based on the risk weight that applies 
under Sec.  1240.38 if the guarantee or credit derivative meets the 
requirements of that section; and
    (3) An Enterprise may assign a risk weight to the collateralized 
portion of a past due exposure based on the risk weight that applies 
under Sec.  1240.39 if the collateral meets the requirements of that 
section.
    (i) Other assets. (1) An Enterprise must assign a zero percent risk 
weight to cash owned and held in the offices of an insured depository 
institution or in transit.
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a 20 percent risk weight to cash 
items in the process of collection.
    (3) An Enterprise must assign a 100 percent risk weight to DTAs 
arising from temporary differences that the Enterprise could realize 
through net operating loss carrybacks.
    (4) An Enterprise must assign a 250 percent risk weight to the 
portion of each of the following items to the extent it is not deducted 
from common equity tier 1 capital pursuant to Sec.  1240.22(d):
    (i) MSAs; and
    (ii) DTAs arising from temporary differences that the Enterprise 
could not realize through net operating loss carrybacks.
    (5) An Enterprise must assign a 100 percent risk weight to all 
assets not specifically assigned a different risk weight under this 
subpart and that are not deducted from tier 1 or tier 2 capital 
pursuant to Sec.  1240.22.
    (j) Insurance assets. (1) An Enterprise must risk-weight the 
individual assets held in a separate account that does not qualify as a 
non-guaranteed separate account as if the individual assets were held 
directly by the Enterprise.
    (2) An Enterprise must assign a zero percent risk weight to an 
asset that is held in a non-guaranteed separate account.


Sec.  1240.33   Single-family mortgage exposures.

    (a) Definitions. Subject to any additional instructions set forth 
on Table 1 to this paragraph (a), for purposes of this section:
    Adjusted MTMLTV means, with respect to a single-family mortgage 
exposure, the amount equal to:
    (i) The MTMLTV of the single-family mortgage exposure (or, if the 
loan age of the single-family mortgage exposure is less than 6, the 
OLTV of the single-family mortgage exposure); divided by
    (ii) The amount equal to 1 plus the single-family countercyclical 
adjustment of the single-family mortgage exposure.
    Approved insurer means an insurance company that is currently 
approved by an Enterprise to guarantee or insure single-family mortgage 
exposures acquired by the Enterprise.
    Cancellable mortgage insurance means a mortgage insurance policy 
that, pursuant to its terms, may or will be terminated before the 
maturity date of the insured single-family mortgage exposure, including 
as required or permitted by the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 
U.S.C. 4901).
    Charter-level coverage means mortgage insurance that satisfies the 
minimum requirements of the authorizing statute of an Enterprise.
    Cohort burnout means the number of refinance opportunities since 
the loan age of the single-family mortgage exposure was 6, categorized 
into ranges pursuant to the instructions set forth on Table 1 to this 
paragraph (a).
    Coverage percent means, with respect to mortgage insurance or a 
recourse agreement, the percent of the sum of the unpaid principal 
balance, any lost interest, and any foreclosure costs that is used to 
determine the benefit or other coverage under a mortgage insurance 
policy or recourse agreement.
    Days past due means the number of days a single-family mortgage 
exposure is past due.
    Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) means the ratio of a borrower's total 
monthly obligations (including housing expense) divided by the 
borrower's monthly income, as calculated under the Guide of the 
Enterprise.
    Deflated single-family house price index (DeflatedSFHPI) means the 
amount equal to:
    (i) The most recently available FHFA quarterly, not-seasonally-
adjusted U.S. all transactions house price index; divided by
    (ii) The average quarterly observation from the Consumer Price 
Index for All Urban Consumers, All Items Less Shelter in U.S. City 
Average, that corresponds to the same quarter.
    Full recourse agreement means a recourse agreement that provides 
for a coverage percent of 100 percent and has a term of the coverage 
that is equal to the life of the single-family mortgage exposure.
    Guide means, as applicable, the Fannie Mae Single Family Selling 
Guide, the Fannie Mae Single Family Servicing Guide and the Freddie Mac 
Single-family Seller/Servicers Guide.
    Guide-level coverage means mortgage insurance that satisfies the 
requirements of the Guide of the Enterprise with respect to mortgage 
insurance that has a coverage percent that exceeds charter-level 
coverage.
    Interest-only (IO) means a single-family mortgage exposure that 
requires only payment of interest without any principal amortization 
during all or part of the loan term.
    Loan age means the number of scheduled payment dates since the 
origination of a single-family mortgage exposure.
    Loan-level credit enhancement means:
    (i) Mortgage insurance;
    (ii) A recourse agreement; or
    (iii) A participation agreement.
    Loan documentation means the completeness of the documentation used 
to underwrite a single-family mortgage exposure, as determined under 
the Guide of the Enterprise.
    Loan purpose means the purpose of a single-family mortgage exposure 
at origination.
    Long-run single-family house price index trend (LRSFHPITrend) 
means,

    LRSFHPITrend = 
1.0873681e0.00294746 * (Number of Quarters)


where equal to the number of quarters from 1975Q1 to the given 
reporting quarter and where 1975Q1 is counted as one.
    MI cancellation feature means an indicator for whether mortgage 
insurance is cancellable mortgage insurance or non-cancellable mortgage 
insurance, assigned pursuant to the instructions set forth on Table 1 
to this paragraph (a).
    Modification means:
    (i) Any permanent amendment or other change to the interest rate, 
maturity date, unpaid principal balance, or other contractual term of a 
single-family mortgage exposure; or
    (ii) Entry into any repayment plan with respect to any amounts that 
are

[[Page 39375]]

past due under the terms of a single-family mortgage exposure.
    Modified re-performing loan (modified RPL) means a single-family 
mortgage exposure (other than an NPL) that has been subject to a 
modification.
    Months since last modification means the number of scheduled 
payment dates since the effective date of the last modification of a 
single-family mortgage exposure.
    Mortgage concentration risk means the extent to which a mortgage 
insurer or other counterparty is exposed to mortgage credit risk 
relative to other risks.
    MTMLTV means, with respect to a single-family mortgage exposure, 
the amount equal to:
    (i) The unpaid principal balance of the single-family mortgage 
exposure; divided by
    (ii) The amount equal to:
    (A) The unpaid principal balance of the single-family mortgage 
exposure at origination; divided by
    (B) The OLTV of the single-family mortgage exposure; multiplied by
    (C) The most recently available FHFA Purchase-only State-level 
House Price Index of the State in which the property securing the 
singe-family mortgage exposure is located; divided by
    (D) The FHFA Purchase-only State-level House Price Index, as of 
date of the origination of the single-family mortgage exposure, in 
which the property securing the singe-family mortgage exposure is 
located.
    Non-cancellable mortgage insurance means a mortgage insurance 
policy that, pursuant to its terms, may not be terminated before the 
maturity date of the insured single-family mortgage exposure.
    Non-modified re-performing loan (non-modified RPL) means a single-
family mortgage exposure (other than a modified RPL or an NPL) that was 
previously an NPL at any time in the prior 48 calendar months.
    Non-performing loan (NPL) means a single-family mortgage exposure 
that is 60 days or more past due.
    Occupancy type means the borrowers' intended use of the property 
securing a single-family mortgage exposure.
    Original credit score means the borrower's credit score as of the 
origination date of a single-family mortgage exposure.
    OLTV means, with respect to a single-family mortgage exposure, the 
amount equal to:
    (i) The unpaid principal balance of the single-family mortgage 
exposure at origination; divided by
    (ii) The lesser of:
    (A) The appraised value of the property securing the single-family 
mortgage exposure; and
    (B) The sale price of the property securing the single-family 
mortgage exposure.
    Origination channel means the type of institution that originated a 
single-family mortgage exposure, assigned pursuant to the instructions 
set forth on Table 1 to this paragraph (a).
    Partial recourse agreement means a recourse agreement that is not a 
full recourse agreement.
    Participation agreement means, with respect to a single-family 
mortgage exposure, any agreement between an Enterprise and the seller 
of the single-family mortgage exposure pursuant to which the seller 
retains a participation of not less than 10 percent in the single-
family mortgage exposure.
    Past due means, with respect to a single-family mortgage exposure, 
that any amount required to be paid by the borrower under the terms of 
the single-family mortgage exposure has not been paid.
    Payment change from modification means the amount, expressed as a 
percent, equal to:
    (i) The amount equal to:
    (A) The monthly payment of a single-family mortgage exposure after 
a modification; divided by
    (B) The monthly payment of the single-family mortgage exposure 
before the modification; minus
    (ii) 1.0.
    Percentage difference between DeflatedSFHPI and LRSFHPITrend 
(DiffLRSFHPITrend%) means
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.047

    Performing loan means any single-family mortgage exposure that is 
not an NPL, a modified RPL, or a non-modified RPL.
    Previous maximum days past due means the maximum number of days a 
modified RPL or non-modified RPL was past due in the prior 36 calendar 
months.
    Product type means an indicator reflecting the contractual terms of 
a single-family mortgage exposure as of the origination date, assigned 
pursuant to the instructions set forth on Table 1 to this paragraph 
(a).
    Property type means the physical structure of the property securing 
a single-family mortgage exposure.
    Recourse agreement means, with respect to a single-family mortgage 
exposure, any agreement (other than a participation agreement) between 
an Enterprise and the seller of the single-family mortgage exposure 
pursuant to which the seller agrees either to reimburse the Enterprise 
for any loss arising out of the default of single-family mortgage 
exposure or to repurchase or replace the single-family mortgage 
exposure in the event of the default of the single-family mortgage 
exposure.
    Refinance opportunity means, with respect to a single-family 
mortgage exposure, any calendar month in which the Primary Mortgage 
Market Survey (PMMS) rate for the month and year of the origination of 
the single-family mortgage exposure exceeds the PMMS rate for that 
calendar month by more than 50 basis points.
    Refreshed credit score means the borrower's most recently available 
credit score.
    Single-family countercyclical adjustment (SFCCyCAdj%) means


[[Page 39376]]


    if DiffLRSFHPITrend% is greater than 5% then
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.048
    
    if DiffLRSFHPITrend% is less than -5% then
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.049
    
    Otherwise SFCCyCAdj% = 0%.

    Streamlined refi means a single-family mortgage exposure that was 
refinanced through a streamlined refinance program of an Enterprise, 
including the Home Affordable Refinance Program, Relief Refi, and Refi-
Plus.
    Subordination means, with respect to a single-family mortgage 
exposure, the amount equal to the original unpaid principal balance of 
any second lien single-family mortgage exposure divided by the lesser 
of the appraised value or sale price of the property that secures the 
single-family mortgage exposure.

Table 1 to Paragraph (a): Permissible Values and Additional Instructions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Additional
        Defined term           Permissible values       instructions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cohort burnout..............  ``No burnout,'' if    High if unable to
                               the single-family     determine.
                               mortgage exposure
                               has not had a
                               refinance
                               opportunity since
                               the loan age of the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               was 6.
                              ``Low,'' if the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               has had 12 or fewer
                               refinance
                               opportunities since
                               the loan age of the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               was 6.
                              ``Medium,'' if the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               has had between 13
                               and 24 refinance
                               opportunities since
                               the loan age of the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               was 6.
                              ``High,'' if the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               has had more than
                               24 refinance
                               opportunities since
                               the loan age of the
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               was 6.
Coverage percent............  0 percent <=          0 percent if outside
                               coverage percent <=   of permissible
                               100 percent.          range or unable to
                                                     determine.
Days past due...............  Non-negative integer  210 if negative or
                                                     unable to
                                                     determine.
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio..  0 percent < DTI <     42 percent if
                               100 percent.          outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.
Interest-only (IO)..........  Yes, no.............  Yes if unable to
                                                     determine.
Loan age....................  0 <= loan age <= 500  500 if outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.
Loan documentation..........  None, low, full.....  None if unable to
                                                     determine.
Loan purpose................  Purchase, cashout     Cashout refinance if
                               refinance, rate/      unable to
                               term refinance.       determine.
MTMLTV......................  0 percent < MTMLTV    If the property
                               <= 300 percent.       securing the single-
                                                     family mortgage
                                                     exposure is located
                                                     in Puerto Rico or
                                                     the U.S. Virgin
                                                     Islands, use the
                                                     FHFA House Price
                                                     Index of the United
                                                     States.
                                                    If the property
                                                     securing the single-
                                                     family mortgage
                                                     exposure is located
                                                     in Hawaii, use the
                                                     FHFA Purchase-only
                                                     State-level House
                                                     Price Index of
                                                     Guam.
                                                    If the single-family
                                                     mortgage exposure
                                                     was originated
                                                     before 1991, use
                                                     the Enterprise's
                                                     proprietary housing
                                                     price index.
                                                    Use geometric
                                                     interpolation to
                                                     convert quarterly
                                                     housing price index
                                                     data to monthly
                                                     data.
                                                    300 percent if
                                                     outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.
Mortgage concentration risk.  High, not high......  High if unable to
                                                     determine.
MI cancellation feature.....  Cancellable mortgage  Cancellable mortgage
                               insurance, non-       insurance, if
                               cancellable           unable to
                               mortgage insurance.   determine.
Occupancy type..............  Investment, owner-    Investment if unable
                               occupied, second      to determine.
                               home.
OLTV........................  0 percent < OLTV <=   300 percent if
                               300 percent.          outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.

[[Page 39377]]

 
Original credit score.......  300 <= original       If there are credit
                               credit score <= 850.  scores from
                                                     multiple credit
                                                     repositories for a
                                                     borrower, use the
                                                     following logic to
                                                     determine a single
                                                     original credit
                                                     score:
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from two
                                                        repositories,
                                                        take the lower
                                                        credit score.
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from
                                                        three
                                                        repositories,
                                                        use the middle
                                                        credit score.
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from
                                                        three
                                                        repositories and
                                                        two of the
                                                        credit scores
                                                        are identical,
                                                        use the
                                                        identical credit
                                                        score.
                                                    If there are
                                                     multiple borrowers,
                                                     use the following
                                                     logic to determine
                                                     a single original
                                                     credit score:
                                                        Using
                                                        the logic above,
                                                        determine a
                                                        single credit
                                                        score for each
                                                        borrower.
                                                        Select
                                                        the lowest
                                                        single credit
                                                        score across all
                                                        borrowers.
                                                    600 if outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.
Origination channel.........  Retail, third-party   TPO includes broker
                               origination (TPO).    and correspondent
                                                     channels.
                                                    TPO if unable to
                                                     determine.
Payment change from           -80 percent <         If the single-family
 modification.                 payment change from   mortgage exposure
                               modification < 50     initially had an
                               percent.              adjustable or step-
                                                     rate feature, the
                                                     monthly payment
                                                     after a permanent
                                                     modification is
                                                     calculated using
                                                     the initial
                                                     modified rate.
                                                    0 percent if unable
                                                     to determine.
                                                    -79 percent if less
                                                     than or equal to -
                                                     80 percent.
                                                    49 percent if
                                                     greater than or
                                                     equal to 50
                                                     percent.
Previous maximum days past    Non-negative integer  181 months if
 due.                                                negative or unable
                                                     to determine.
Product type................  ``FRM30'' means a     Product types other
                               fixed-rate single-    than FRM30, FRM20,
                               family mortgage       FRM15 or ARM1/1
                               exposure with an      should be assigned
                               original              to FRM30.
                               amortization term    Use the post-
                               greater than 309      modification
                               months and less       product type for
                               than or equal to      modified mortgage
                               429 months.           exposures.
                              ``FRM20'' means a     ARM1/1 if unable to
                               fixed-rate single-    determine.
                               family mortgage
                               exposure with an
                               original
                               amortization term
                               greater than 189
                               months and less
                               than or equal to
                               309 months.
                              ``FRM15'' means a
                               fixed-rate single-
                               family mortgage
                               exposure with an
                               original
                               amortization term
                               less than or equal
                               to 189 months.
                              ``ARM1/1'' is an
                               adjustable-rate
                               single-family
                               mortgage exposure
                               that has a mortgage
                               rate and required
                               payment that adjust
                               annually.
Property type...............  1-unit, 2-4 units,    Use condominium for
                               condominium,          cooperatives.
                               manufactured home.   2-4 units if unable
                                                     to determine.
Refreshed credit score......  300 <= refreshed      If there are credit
                               credit score <= 850.  scores from
                                                     multiple credit
                                                     repositories for a
                                                     borrower, use the
                                                     following logic to
                                                     determine a single
                                                     refreshed credit
                                                     score:
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from two
                                                        repositories,
                                                        take the lower
                                                        credit score.
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from
                                                        three
                                                        repositories,
                                                        use the middle
                                                        credit score.
                                                        If there
                                                        are credit
                                                        scores from
                                                        three
                                                        repositories and
                                                        two of the
                                                        credit scores
                                                        are identical,
                                                        use the
                                                        identical credit
                                                        score.
                                                    If there are
                                                     multiple borrowers,
                                                     use the following
                                                     logic to determine
                                                     a single Original
                                                     Credit Score:
                                                        Using
                                                        the logic above,
                                                        determine a
                                                        single credit
                                                        score for each
                                                        borrower.
                                                        Select
                                                        the lowest
                                                        single credit
                                                        score across all
                                                        borrowers.
                                                    600 if outside of
                                                     permissible range
                                                     or unable to
                                                     determine.
Streamlined refi............  Yes, no.............  No if unable to
                                                     determine.
Subordination...............  0 percent <=          80 percent if
                               Subordination <= 80   outside permissible
                               percent.              range.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Risk weight--(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (b)(2) of 
this section, an Enterprise must assign a risk weight to a single-
family mortgage exposure equal to:
    (i) The base risk weight for the single-family mortgage exposure as 
determined under paragraph (c) of this section; multiplied by
    (ii) The combined risk multiplier for the single-family mortgage 
exposure as

[[Page 39378]]

determined under paragraph (d) of this section; multiplied by
    (iii) The adjusted credit enhancement multiplier for the single-
family mortgage exposure as determined under paragraph (e) of this 
section.
    (2) Minimum risk weight. Notwithstanding the risk weight determined 
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the risk weight assigned to a 
single-family mortgage exposure may not be less than 15 percent.
    (c) Base risk weight--(1) Performing loan. The base risk weight for 
a performing loan is set forth on Table 2 to this paragraph (c)(1). For 
purposes of this paragraph (c)(1), credit score means, with respect to 
a single-family mortgage exposure, (i) the original credit score of the 
single-family mortgage exposure, if the loan age of the single-family 
mortgage exposure is less than 6, or (ii) the refreshed credit score of 
the single-family mortgage exposure.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.050

    (2) Non-modified RPL. The base risk weight for a non-modified RPL 
is set forth on Table 3 to this paragraph (c)(2). For purposes of this 
paragraph (c)(2), re-performing duration means, with respect to a non-
modified RPL, the number of scheduled payment dates since the non-
modified RPL was last an NPL.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.051

    (3) Modified RPL. The base risk weight for a modified RPL is set 
forth on Table 4 to this paragraph (c)(3). For purposes of this 
paragraph (c)(3), re-performing duration means, with respect to a 
modified RPL, the lesser of: (i) The months since last modification of 
the modified RPL; and (ii) the number of scheduled payment dates since 
the modified RPL was last an NPL.

[[Page 39379]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.052

    (4) NPL. The base risk weight for an NPL is set forth on Table 5 to 
this paragraph (c)(4).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.053

    (d) Combined risk multiplier. The combined risk multiplier for a 
single-family mortgage exposure is equal to the product of each of the 
applicable risk multipliers set forth under the applicable single-
family segment on Table 6 to this paragraph (d).

                                   Table 6 to Paragraph (d): Risk Multipliers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Single-family segment
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Risk factor            Value or range     Performing     Non-modified
                                                       loan             RPL        Modified RPL         NPL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Purpose..................  Purchase........             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                Cashout                      1.4             1.4             1.4
                                 refinance.
                                Rate/term                    1.3             1.2             1.3
                                 refinance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Occupancy Type................  Owner-occupied               1.0             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                 or second home.
                                Investment......             1.2             1.5             1.3             1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property Type.................  1-unit..........             1.0             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                2-4 unit........             1.4             1.4             1.3             1.1
                                Condominium.....             1.1             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                Manufactured                 1.3             1.8             1.6             1.2
                                 home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origination Channel...........  Retail..........             1.0             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                TPO.............             1.1             1.1             1.1             1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTI...........................  DTI <= 25%......             0.8             0.9             0.9
                                25% < DTI <= 40%             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                DTI > 40%.......             1.2             1.2             1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Type..................  FRM30...........             1.0             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                ARM1/1..........             1.7             1.1             1.0             1.1
                                FRM15...........             0.3             0.3             0.5             0.5
                                FRM20...........             0.6             0.6             0.5             0.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subordination.................  No subordination             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                30% < OLTV <=                1.1             0.8             1.0
                                 60% and.
                                0% <
                                 subordination
                                 <= 5%.
                                30% < OLTV <=                1.5             1.1             1.2
                                 60% and
                                 subordination >
                                 5%.
                                OLTV > 60% and..             1.1             1.2             1.1
                                0% <
                                 subordination
                                 <= 5%.

[[Page 39380]]

 
                                OLTV > 60% and..             1.4             1.5             1.3
                                subordination >
                                 5%.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Age......................  Loan age <= 24               1.0
                                 months.
                                24 months < loan            0.95
                                 age <= 36
                                 months.
                                36 months < loan            0.80
                                 Age <= 60
                                 months.
                                Loan age > 60               0.75
                                 months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cohort Burnout................  No burnout......             1.0
                                Low.............             1.2
                                Medium..........             1.3
                                High............             1.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest-only.................  No IO...........             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                Yes IO..........             1.6             1.4             1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Documentation............  Full............             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                None or low.....             1.3             1.3             1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Streamlined Refi..............  No..............             1.0             1.0             1.0
                                Yes.............             1.0             1.2             1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refreshed Credit Score for      Refreshed credit  ..............             1.6             1.4
 Modified RPLs and Non-          score < 620.
 modified RPLs.
                                620 <= refreshed  ..............             1.3             1.2
                                 credit score <
                                 640.
                                640 <= refreshed  ..............             1.2             1.1
                                 credit score <
                                 660.
                                660 <= refreshed  ..............             1.0             1.0
                                 credit score <
                                 700.
                                700 <= refreshed  ..............             0.7             0.8
                                 credit score <
                                 720.
                                720 <= refreshed  ..............             0.6             0.7
                                 credit score <
                                 740.
                                740 <= refreshed  ..............             0.5             0.6
                                 credit score <
                                 760.
                                760 <= refreshed  ..............             0.4             0.5
                                 credit score <
                                 780.
                                Refreshed credit  ..............             0.3             0.4
                                 score >= 780.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment Change from             Payment change    ..............  ..............             1.1
 Modification.                   >= 0%.
                                -20% <= payment   ..............  ..............             1.0
                                 change < 0%.
                                -30% <= payment   ..............  ..............             0.9
                                 change < -20%.
                                Payment change <  ..............  ..............             0.8
                                 -30%.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Maximum Days Past Due  0-59 days.......  ..............             1.0             1.0
                                60-90 days......  ..............             1.2             1.1
                                91-150 days.....  ..............             1.3             1.1
                                151+ days.......  ..............             1.5             1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refreshed Credit Score for      Refreshed credit  ..............  ..............  ..............             1.2
 NPLs.                           score < 580.
                                580 <= refreshed  ..............  ..............  ..............             1.1
                                 credit score <
                                 640.
                                640 <= refreshed  ..............  ..............  ..............             1.0
                                 credit score <
                                 700.
                                700 <= refreshed  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.9
                                 credit score <
                                 720.
                                720 <= refreshed  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.8
                                 credit score <
                                 760.
                                760 <= refreshed  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.7
                                 credit score <
                                 780.
                                Refreshed credit  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.5
                                 score >= 780.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Credit enhancement multiplier--(1) Amount--(i) In general. The 
adjusted credit enhancement multiplier for a single-family mortgage 
exposure that is subject to loan-level credit enhancement is equal to 
1.0 minus the product of:
    (A) 1.0 minus the credit enhancement multiplier for the single-
family mortgage exposure as determined under paragraph (e)(2) of this 
section; multiplied by
    (B) 1.0 minus the counterparty haircut for the loan-level credit 
enhancement as determined under paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
    (ii) No loan-level credit enhancement. The adjusted credit 
enhancement multiplier for a single-family mortgage exposure that is 
not subject to loan-level credit enhancement is equal to 1.0.
    (2) Credit enhancement multiplier. (i) The credit enhancement 
multiplier for a single-family mortgage exposure that is subject to a 
participation agreement is 1.0.
    (ii) The credit enhancement multiplier for a single-family mortgage 
exposure that is subject to a full recourse agreement is 0.
    (iii) The credit enhancement multiplier for a single-family 
mortgage exposure that is subject to a partial recourse agreement is:
    (A) 1.0; minus
    (B) The amount equal to:
    (1) The coverage percent of the partial recourse agreement; 
multiplied by

[[Page 39381]]

    (2) A loss timing adjustment determined under Sec.  1240.44(g) as 
if the partial recourse agreement were a CRT.
    (iv) Subject to paragraph (e)(2)(v) of this section, the credit 
enhancement multiplier for--
    (A) A performing loan, non-modified RPL, or modified RPL that is 
subject to non-cancellable mortgage insurance is set forth on Table 7 
to paragraph (e)(2)(v)(E) of this section;
    (B) A performing loan or non-modified RPL that is subject to 
cancellable mortgage insurance is set forth on Table 8 to paragraph 
(e)(2)(v)(E) of this section;
    (C) A modified RPL with a 30-year post-modification amortization 
that is subject to cancellable mortgage insurance is set forth on Table 
9 to paragraph (e)(2)(v)(E) of this section;
    (D) A modified RPL with a 40-year post-modification amortization 
that is subject to cancellable mortgage insurance is set forth on Table 
10 to paragraph (e)(2)(v)(E) of this section; and
    (E) NPL, whether subject to non-cancellable mortgage insurance or 
cancellable mortgage insurance, is set forth on Table 11 to paragraph 
(e)(2)(v)(E) of this section.
    (v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), 
for purposes of paragraph (e)(2)(iv) of this section:
    (A) The OLTV of a single-family mortgage exposure will be deemed to 
be 80 percent if the single-family mortgage exposure has an OLTV less 
than or equal to 80 percent.
    (B) If the single-family mortgage exposure has an interest-only 
feature, any cancellable mortgage insurance will be deemed to be non-
cancellable mortgage insurance.
    (C) If the coverage percent of the mortgage insurance is greater 
than charter-level coverage and less than guide-level coverage, the 
credit enhancement multiplier is the amount equal to a linear 
interpolation between the credit enhancement multiplier of the single-
family mortgage exposure for charter-level coverage and the credit 
enhancement multiplier of the single-family mortgage exposure for 
guide-level coverage.
    (D) If the coverage percent of the mortgage insurance is less than 
charter-level coverage, the credit enhancement multiplier is the amount 
equal to the midpoint of a linear interpolation between a credit 
enhancement multiplier of 1.0 and the credit enhancement multiplier of 
the single-family mortgage exposure for charter-level coverage.
    (E) If the coverage percent of the mortgage insurance is greater 
than guide-level coverage, the credit enhancement multiplier is 
determined as if the coverage percent were guide-level coverage.
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P
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[[Page 39382]]


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BILLING CODE 8070-01-C
    (3) Credit enhancement counterparty haircut--(i) Definitions. For 
purposes of this paragraph (e)(3), the counterparty rating for a 
counterparty is:
    (A) 1, if the Enterprise has determined that the counterparty is 
expected to perform all of its contractual obligations under 
foreseeable adverse events.
    (B) 2, if the Enterprise has determined that there is negligible 
risk the counterparty may not be able to perform all of its contractual 
obligations under foreseeable adverse events.
    (C) 3, if the Enterprise has determined that there is a slight risk 
the counterparty might not be able to perform all of its contractual 
obligations under foreseeable adverse events.
    (D) 4, if the Enterprise has determined that foreseeable adverse 
events will have a greater impact on ``4'' rated counterparties than 
higher rated counterparties.
    (E) 5, if the Enterprise has determined that the counterparty might 
not perform all of its contractual obligations under foreseeable 
adverse events.
    (F) 6, if the Enterprise has determined that the counterparty is 
not expected to meet its contractual obligations under foreseeable 
adverse events.
    (G) 7, if the Enterprise has determined that the counterparty's 
ability to perform its contractual obligations is questionable.
    (H) 8, if the Enterprise has determined that the counterparty is in 
default on a material contractual obligation or is under a resolution 
proceeding or similar regulatory proceeding.
    (ii) Counterparty haircut. The counterparty haircut is set forth on 
Table 12 to this paragraph (e)(3)(ii). For purposes of this paragraph 
(e)(3)(ii), RPL means either a modified RPL or a non-modified RPL.

[[Page 39385]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.059

Sec.  1240.34   Multifamily mortgage exposures.

    (a) Definitions. Subject to any additional instructions set forth 
on Table 1 to this paragraph (a), for purposes of this section:
    Acquisition debt-service-coverage ratio (acquisition DSCR) means, 
with respect to a multifamily mortgage exposure, the amount equal to:
    (i) The net operating income (NOI) (or, if not available, the net 
cash flow) of the multifamily property that secures the multifamily 
mortgage exposure, at the time of the acquisition by the Enterprise 
(or, if not available, at the time of the underwriting or origination) 
of the multifamily mortgage exposure; divided by
    (ii) The scheduled periodic payment on the multifamily mortgage 
exposure (or, if interest-only, fully amortizing payment), at the time 
of the acquisition by the Enterprise (or, if not available, at the time 
of the origination) of the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Acquisition loan-to-value (acquisition LTV) means, with respect to 
a multifamily mortgage exposure, the amount, determined as of the time 
of the acquisition by the Enterprise (or, if not available, at the time 
of the underwriting or origination) of the multifamily mortgage 
exposure, equal to:
    (i) The unpaid principal balance of the multifamily mortgage 
exposure; divided by
    (ii) The value of the multifamily property securing the multifamily 
mortgage exposure.
    Debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) means, with respect to a 
multifamily mortgage exposure:
    (i) The acquisition DSCR of the multifamily mortgage exposure if 
the loan age of the multifamily mortgage exposure is less than 6; or
    (ii) The MTMDSCR of the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Interest-only (IO) means a multifamily mortgage exposure that 
requires only payment of interest without any principal amortization 
during all or part of the loan term.
    Loan age means the number of scheduled payment dates since the 
origination of the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Loan term means the number of years until final loan payment (which 
may be a balloon payment) under the terms of a multifamily mortgage 
exposure.
    LTV means, with respect to a multifamily mortgage exposure;
    (i) The acquisition LTV of the multifamily mortgage exposure if the 
loan age of the multifamily mortgage exposure is less than 6, or
    (ii) The MTMLTV of the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Mark-to-market debt-service coverage ratio (MTMDSCR) means, with 
respect to a multifamily mortgage exposure, the amount equal to--
    (i) The net operating income (or, if not available, the net cash 
flow) of the multifamily property that secures the multifamily mortgage 
exposure, as reported on the most recently available property operating 
statement; divided by
    (ii) The scheduled periodic payment on the multifamily mortgage 
exposure (or, for interest-only, fully amortizing payment), as reported 
on the most recently available property operating statement.
    Mark-to-market loan-to-value (MTMLTV) means, with respect to a 
multifamily mortgage exposure, the amount calculated by adjusting the 
acquisition LTV using a multifamily property value index or property 
value estimated based on net operating income and capitalization rate 
indices.
    Multifamily adjustable-rate exposure means a multifamily mortgage 
exposure that is not, at that time, a multifamily fixed-rate exposure.
    Multifamily fixed-rate exposure means a multifamily mortgage 
exposure that, at that time, has an interest rate that may not then 
increase or decrease based on a change in a reference index or other 
methodology, including:
    (i) A multifamily mortgage exposure that has an interest rate that 
is fixed over the life of the loan; and
    (ii) A multifamily mortgage exposure that has an interest rate that 
may increase or decrease in the future, but is fixed at that time.
    Net cash flow means, with respect to a multifamily mortgage 
exposure, the amount equal to:
    (i) The net operating income of the multifamily mortgage exposure; 
minus
    (ii) Reserves for capital improvements; minus
    (iii) Other expenses not included in net operating income required 
for the proper operation of the multifamily

[[Page 39386]]

property securing the multifamily mortgage exposure, including any 
commissions paid to leasing agents in securing renters and special 
improvements to the property to accommodate the needs of certain 
renters.
    Net operating income means, with respect to a multifamily mortgage 
exposure, the amount equal to:
    (i) The rental income generated by the multifamily property 
securing the multifamily mortgage exposure; minus
    (ii) The vacancy and property operating expenses of the multifamily 
property securing the multifamily mortgage exposure.
    Original amortization term means the number of years, determined as 
of the time of the origination of a multifamily mortgage exposure, that 
it would take a borrower to pay a multifamily mortgage exposure 
completely if the borrower only makes the scheduled payments, and 
without making any balloon payment.
    Original loan size means the dollar amount of the unpaid principal 
balance of a multifamily mortgage exposure at origination.
    Payment performance means the payment status of history of a 
multifamily mortgage exposure, assigned pursuant to the instructions 
set forth on Table 1 to this paragraph (a).
    Supplemental mortgage exposure means any multifamily fixed-rate 
exposure or multifamily adjustable-rate exposure that is originated 
after the origination of a multifamily mortgage exposure that is 
secured by all or part of the same multifamily property.
    Unpaid principal balance (UPB) means the outstanding loan amount of 
a multifamily mortgage exposure.

[[Page 39387]]

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    (b) Risk weight--(1) In general. Subject to paragraphs (b)(2) and 
(b)(3) of this section, an Enterprise must assign a risk weight to a 
multifamily mortgage exposure equal to:
    (i) The base risk weight for the multifamily mortgage exposure as 
determined under paragraph (c) of this section; multiplied by
    (ii) The combined risk multiplier for the multifamily mortgage 
exposure as determined under paragraph (d) of this section.
    (2) Minimum risk weight. Notwithstanding the risk weight determined 
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the risk weight assigned to a 
multifamily mortgage exposure may not be less than 15 percent.
    (3) Loan groups. If a multifamily property that secures a 
multifamily mortgage exposure also secures one or more supplemental 
mortgage exposures:
    (i) A multifamily mortgage exposure-specific base risk weight must 
be determined under paragraph (c) of this section using for each of 
these multifamily mortgage exposures a single DSCR and single LTV, both 
calculated as if all of the multifamily mortgage exposures secured by 
the multifamily

[[Page 39388]]

property were consolidated into a single multifamily mortgage exposure; 
and
    (ii) A multifamily mortgage exposure-specific combined risk 
multiplier must be determined under paragraph (d) of this section based 
on the risk characteristics of the multifamily mortgage exposure 
(except with respect to the loan size multiplier, which would be 
determined using the aggregate unpaid principal balance of these 
multifamily mortgage exposures).
    (c) Base risk weight--(1) Multifamily fixed-rate exposure. The base 
risk weight for a multifamily fixed-rate exposure is set forth on Table 
2 to this paragraph (c)(1).
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P
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    (2) Multifamily adjustable-rate exposure. The base risk weight for 
a multifamily adjustable-rate exposure is set forth on Table 3 to this 
paragraph (c)(2).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.062

    (d) Combined risk multiplier. The combined risk multiplier for a 
multifamily mortgage exposure is equal to the product of each of the 
applicable risk multipliers set forth on Table 4 to this paragraph (d).

[[Page 39389]]

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BILLING CODE 8070-01-C


Sec.  1240.35   Off-balance sheet exposures.

    (a) General. (1) An Enterprise must calculate the exposure amount 
of an off-balance sheet exposure using the credit conversion factors 
(CCFs) in paragraph (b) of this section.

[[Page 39390]]

    (2) Where an Enterprise commits to provide a commitment, the 
Enterprise may apply the lower of the two applicable CCFs.
    (3) Where an Enterprise provides a commitment structured as a 
syndication or participation, the Enterprise is only required to 
calculate the exposure amount for its pro rata share of the commitment.
    (4) Where an Enterprise provides a commitment or enters into a 
repurchase agreement and such commitment or repurchase agreement, the 
exposure amount shall be no greater than the maximum contractual amount 
of the commitment, repurchase agreement, or credit-enhancing 
representation and warranty, as applicable.
    (b) Credit conversion factors--(1) Zero percent CCF. An Enterprise 
must apply a zero percent CCF to the unused portion of a commitment 
that is unconditionally cancelable by the Enterprise.
    (2) 20 percent CCF. An Enterprise must apply a 20 percent CCF to 
the amount of commitments with an original maturity of one year or less 
that are not unconditionally cancelable by the Enterprise.
    (3) 50 percent CCF. An Enterprise must apply a 50 percent CCF to 
the amount of commitments with an original maturity of more than one 
year that are not unconditionally cancelable by the Enterprise.
    (4) 100 percent CCF. An Enterprise must apply a 100 percent CCF to 
the amount of the following off-balance sheet items and other similar 
transactions:
    (i) Guarantees;
    (ii) Repurchase agreements (the off-balance sheet component of 
which equals the sum of the current fair values of all positions the 
Enterprise has sold subject to repurchase);
    (iii) Off-balance sheet securities lending transactions (the off-
balance sheet component of which equals the sum of the current fair 
values of all positions the Enterprise has lent under the transaction);
    (iv) Off-balance sheet securities borrowing transactions (the off-
balance sheet component of which equals the sum of the current fair 
values of all non-cash positions the Enterprise has posted as 
collateral under the transaction); and
    (v) Forward agreements.


Sec.  1240.36   Derivative contracts.

    An Enterprise must determine its risk-weighted assets for OTC 
derivative contracts as provided under 12 CFR 217.34, substituting 
``Enterprise'' for ``Board-regulated institution''.


Sec.  1240.37   Cleared transactions.

    An Enterprise must determine its risk-weighted assets for cleared 
transactions as provided under 12 CFR 217.35, substituting 
``Enterprise'' for ``Board-regulated institution.''


Sec.  1240.38   Guarantees and credit derivatives: Substitution 
treatment.

    An Enterprise may recognize the credit risk mitigation benefits of 
an eligible guarantee or eligible credit derivative by substituting the 
risk weight associated with the protection provider for the risk weight 
assigned to an exposure, as provided under 12 CFR 217.36, substituting 
``Enterprise'' for ``Board-regulated institution.''


Sec.  1240.39   Collateralized transactions.

    An Enterprise may recognize the risk-mitigating effects of 
financial collateral as provided under 12 CFR 217.37, substituting 
``Enterprise'' for ``Board-regulated institution.''

Risk-Weighted Assets for Unsettled Transactions


Sec.  1240.40   Unsettled transactions.

    An Enterprise must determine its risk-weighted assets for unsettled 
transactions under 12 CFR 217.38, substituting ``Enterprise'' for 
``Board-regulated institution.''

Risk-Weighted Assets for CRT and Other Securitization Exposures


Sec.  1240.41   Operational requirements for CRT and other 
securitization exposures.

    (a) Operational criteria for traditional securitizations. An 
Enterprise that transfers exposures it has purchased or otherwise 
acquired to a securitization SPE or other third party in connection 
with a traditional securitization may exclude the exposures from the 
calculation of its risk-weighted assets only if each condition in this 
section is satisfied. An Enterprise that meets these conditions must 
hold risk-based capital against any credit risk it retains in 
connection with the securitization. An Enterprise that fails to meet 
these conditions must hold risk-based capital against the transferred 
exposures as if they had not been securitized and must deduct from 
common equity tier 1 capital any after-tax gain-on-sale resulting from 
the transaction. The conditions are:
    (1) The exposures are not reported on the Enterprise's consolidated 
balance sheet under GAAP;
    (2) The Enterprise has transferred to one or more third parties 
credit risk associated with the underlying exposures;
    (3) Any clean-up calls relating to the securitization are eligible 
clean-up calls; and
    (4) The securitization does not:
    (i) Include one or more underlying exposures in which the borrower 
is permitted to vary the drawn amount within an agreed limit under a 
line of credit; and
    (ii) Contain an early amortization provision.
    (b) Operational criteria for synthetic securitizations. For 
synthetic securitizations, an Enterprise may recognize for risk-based 
capital purposes the use of a credit risk mitigant to hedge underlying 
exposures only if each condition in this paragraph (b) is satisfied. An 
Enterprise that meets these conditions must hold risk-based capital 
against any credit risk of the exposures it retains in connection with 
the synthetic securitization. An Enterprise that fails to meet these 
conditions or chooses not to recognize the credit risk mitigant for 
purposes of this section must instead hold risk-based capital against 
the underlying exposures as if they had not been synthetically 
securitized. The conditions are:
    (1) The credit risk mitigant is:
    (i) Financial collateral;
    (ii) A guarantee that meets all criteria as set forth in the 
definition of ``eligible guarantee'' in Sec.  1240.2, except for the 
criteria in paragraph (3) of that definition; or
    (iii) A credit derivative that meets all criteria as set forth in 
the definition of ``eligible credit derivative'' in Sec.  1240.2, 
except for the criteria in paragraph (3) of the definition of 
``eligible guarantee'' in Sec.  1240.2.
    (2) The Enterprise transfers credit risk associated with the 
underlying exposures to one or more third parties, and the terms and 
conditions in the credit risk mitigants employed do not include 
provisions that:
    (i) Allow for the termination of the credit protection due to 
deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures;
    (ii) Require the Enterprise to alter or replace the underlying 
exposures to improve the credit quality of the underlying exposures;
    (iii) Increase the Enterprise's cost of credit protection in 
response to deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying 
exposures;
    (iv) Increase the yield payable to parties other than the 
Enterprise in response to a deterioration in the credit quality of the 
underlying exposures; or
    (v) Provide for increases in a retained first loss position or 
credit enhancement

[[Page 39391]]

provided by the Enterprise after the inception of the securitization;
    (3) The Enterprise obtains a well-reasoned opinion from legal 
counsel that confirms the enforceability of the credit risk mitigant in 
all relevant jurisdictions; and
    (4) Any clean-up calls relating to the securitization are eligible 
clean-up calls.
    (c) Operational criteria for credit risk transfers. For credit risk 
transfers, an Enterprise may recognize for risk-based capital purposes, 
the use of a credit risk transfer only if each condition in this 
paragraph (c) is satisfied. An Enterprise that meets these conditions 
must hold risk-based capital against any credit risk of the exposures 
it retains in connection with the credit risk transfer. An Enterprise 
that fails to meet these conditions or chooses not to recognize the 
credit risk transfer for purposes of this section must instead hold 
risk-based capital against the underlying exposures as if they had not 
been subject to the credit risk transfer. The conditions are:
    (1) The credit risk transfer is an eligible CRT structure.
    (2) The Enterprise transfers credit risk associated with the 
underlying exposures to one or more third parties, and the terms and 
conditions in the credit risk transfer employed do not include 
provisions that:
    (i) Allow for the termination of the credit risk transfer due to 
deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying exposures;
    (ii) Require the Enterprise to alter or replace the underlying 
exposures to improve the credit quality of the underlying exposures;
    (iii) Increase the Enterprise's cost of credit protection in 
response to deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying 
exposures;
    (iv) Increase the yield payable to parties other than the 
Enterprise in response to a deterioration in the credit quality of the 
underlying exposures; or
    (v) Provide for increases in a retained first loss position or 
credit enhancement provided by the Enterprise after the inception of 
the credit risk transfer;
    (3) The Enterprise obtains a well-reasoned opinion from legal 
counsel that confirms the enforceability of the credit risk transfer in 
all relevant jurisdictions; and
    (4) Any clean-up calls relating to the credit risk transfer are 
eligible clean-up calls.
    (5) The Enterprise includes in its periodic disclosures under the 
Federal securities laws, or in other appropriate public disclosures, a 
reasonably detailed description of--
    (i) The material recourse or other risks that might reduce the 
effectiveness of the credit risk transfer in transferring the credit 
risk on the underlying exposures to third parties; and
    (ii) Each condition under paragraph (a) of this section (governing 
traditional securitizations) or paragraph (b) of this section 
(governing synthetic securitizations) that is not satisfied by the 
credit risk transfer and the reasons that each such condition is not 
satisfied.
    (d) Due diligence requirements for securitization exposures. (1) 
Except for exposures that are deducted from common equity tier 1 
capital and exposures subject to Sec.  1240.42(h), if an Enterprise is 
unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of FHFA a comprehensive 
understanding of the features of a securitization exposure that would 
materially affect the performance of the exposure, the Enterprise must 
assign the securitization exposure a risk weight of 1,250 percent. The 
Enterprise's analysis must be commensurate with the complexity of the 
securitization exposure and the materiality of the exposure in relation 
to its capital.
    (2) An Enterprise must demonstrate its comprehensive understanding 
of a securitization exposure under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, 
for each securitization exposure by:
    (i) Conducting an analysis of the risk characteristics of a 
securitization exposure prior to acquiring the exposure, and 
documenting such analysis within three business days after acquiring 
the exposure, considering:
    (A) Structural features of the securitization that would materially 
impact the performance of the exposure, for example, the contractual 
cash flow waterfall, waterfall-related triggers, credit enhancements, 
liquidity enhancements, fair value triggers, the performance of 
organizations that service the exposure, and deal-specific definitions 
of default;
    (B) Relevant information regarding the performance of the 
underlying credit exposure(s), for example, the percentage of loans 30, 
60, and 90 days past due; default rates; prepayment rates; loans in 
foreclosure; property types; occupancy; average credit score or other 
measures of creditworthiness; average LTV ratio; and industry and 
geographic diversification data on the underlying exposure(s);
    (C) Relevant market data of the securitization, for example, bid-
ask spread, most recent sales price and historic price volatility, 
trading volume, implied market rating, and size, depth and 
concentration level of the market for the securitization; and
    (D) For resecuritization exposures, performance information on the 
underlying securitization exposures, for example, the issuer name and 
credit quality, and the characteristics and performance of the 
exposures underlying the securitization exposures; and
    (ii) On an on-going basis (no less frequently than quarterly), 
evaluating, reviewing, and updating as appropriate the analysis 
required under paragraph (c)(1) of this section for each securitization 
exposure.


Sec.  1240.42   Risk-weighted assets for CRT and other securitization 
exposures.

    (a) Securitization risk weight approaches. Except as provided 
elsewhere in this section or in Sec.  1240.41:
    (1) An Enterprise must deduct from common equity tier 1 capital any 
after-tax gain-on-sale resulting from a securitization and apply a 
1,250 percent risk weight to the portion of a CEIO that does not 
constitute after-tax gain-on-sale.
    (2) If a securitization exposure does not require deduction under 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section, an Enterprise may assign a risk 
weight to the securitization exposure either using the simplified 
supervisory formula approach (SSFA) in accordance with Sec. Sec.  
1240.43(a) through 1240.43(d) for a securitization exposure that is not 
a retained CRT exposure or an acquired CRT exposure or using the credit 
risk transfer approach (CRTA) in accordance with Sec.  1240.44 for a 
retained CRT exposure, and in either case, subject to the limitation 
under paragraph (e) of this section.
    (3) If a securitization exposure does not require deduction under 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section and the Enterprise cannot, or chooses 
not to apply the SSFA or the CRTA to the exposure, the Enterprise must 
assign a risk weight to the exposure as described in Sec.  1240.45.
    (4) If a securitization exposure is a derivative contract (other 
than protection provided by an Enterprise in the form of a credit 
derivative) that has a first priority claim on the cash flows from the 
underlying exposures (notwithstanding amounts due under interest rate 
or currency derivative contracts, fees due, or other similar payments), 
an Enterprise may choose to set the risk-weighted asset amount of the 
exposure equal to the amount of the exposure as determined in paragraph 
(c) of this section.
    (b) Total risk-weighted assets for securitization exposures. An 
Enterprise's total risk-weighted assets for securitization exposures 
equals the sum of the risk-weighted asset amount

[[Page 39392]]

for securitization exposures that the Enterprise risk weights under 
Sec. Sec.  1240.41(d), 1240.42(a)(1), 1240.43, 1240.44, or 1240.45, and 
paragraphs (e) through (h) of this section, as applicable.
    (c) Exposure amount of a CRT or other securitization exposure--(1) 
On-balance sheet securitization exposures. Except as provided for 
retained CRT exposures in Sec.  1240.44(f), the exposure amount of an 
on-balance sheet securitization exposure (excluding a repo-style 
transaction, eligible margin loan, OTC derivative contract, or cleared 
transaction) is equal to the carrying value of the exposure.
    (2) Off-balance sheet securitization exposures. Except as provided 
in paragraph (h) of this section or as provided for retained CRT 
exposures in Sec.  1240.44(f), the exposure amount of an off-balance 
sheet securitization exposure that is not a repo-style transaction, 
eligible margin loan, cleared transaction (other than a credit 
derivative), or an OTC derivative contract (other than a credit 
derivative) is the notional amount of the exposure.
    (3) Repo-style transactions, eligible margin loans, and derivative 
contracts. The exposure amount of a securitization exposure that is a 
repo-style transaction, eligible margin loan, or derivative contract 
(other than a credit derivative) is the exposure amount of the 
transaction as calculated under Sec.  1240.36 or Sec.  1240.39, as 
applicable.
    (d) Overlapping exposures. If an Enterprise has multiple 
securitization exposures that provide duplicative coverage to the 
underlying exposures of a securitization, the Enterprise is not 
required to hold duplicative risk-based capital against the overlapping 
position. Instead, the Enterprise may apply to the overlapping position 
the applicable risk-based capital treatment that results in the highest 
risk-based capital requirement.
    (e) Implicit support. If an Enterprise provides support to a 
securitization (including a CRT) in excess of the Enterprise's 
contractual obligation to provide credit support to the securitization 
(implicit support):
    (1) The Enterprise must include in risk-weighted assets all of the 
underlying exposures associated with the securitization as if the 
exposures had not been securitized and must deduct from common equity 
tier 1 capital any after-tax gain-on-sale resulting from the 
securitization; and
    (2) The Enterprise must disclose publicly:
    (i) That it has provided implicit support to the securitization; 
and
    (ii) The risk-based capital impact to the Enterprise of providing 
such implicit support.
    (f) Interest-only mortgage-backed securities. Regardless of any 
other provisions in this subpart, the risk weight for a non-credit-
enhancing interest-only mortgage-backed security may not be less than 
100 percent.
    (g) Nth-to-default credit derivatives--(1) Protection provider. An 
Enterprise may assign a risk weight using the SSFA in Sec.  1240.43 to 
an nth-to-default credit derivative in accordance with this paragraph 
(g). An Enterprise must determine its exposure in the nth-to-default 
credit derivative as the largest notional amount of all the underlying 
exposures.
    (2) Attachment and detachment points. For purposes of determining 
the risk weight for an nth-to-default credit derivative using the SSFA, 
the Enterprise must calculate the attachment point and detachment point 
of its exposure as follows:
    (i) The attachment point (parameter A) is the ratio of the sum of 
the notional amounts of all underlying exposures that are subordinated 
to the Enterprise's exposure to the total notional amount of all 
underlying exposures. The ratio is expressed as a decimal value between 
zero and one. In the case of a first-to-default credit derivative, 
there are no underlying exposures that are subordinated to the 
Enterprise's exposure. In the case of a second-or-subsequent-to-default 
credit derivative, the smallest (n-1) notional amounts of the 
underlying exposure(s) are subordinated to the Enterprise's exposure.
    (ii) The detachment point (parameter D) equals the sum of parameter 
A plus the ratio of the notional amount of the Enterprise's exposure in 
the nth-to-default credit derivative to the total notional amount of 
all underlying exposures. The ratio is expressed as a decimal value 
between zero and one.
    (3) Risk weights. An Enterprise that does not use the SSFA to 
determine a risk weight for its nth-to-default credit derivative must 
assign a risk weight of 1,250 percent to the exposure.
    (4) Protection purchaser--(i) First-to-default credit derivatives. 
An Enterprise that obtains credit protection on a group of underlying 
exposures through a first-to-default credit derivative that meets the 
rules of recognition of 12 CFR 217.36(b) must determine its risk-based 
capital requirement for the underlying exposures as if the Enterprise 
synthetically securitized the underlying exposure with the smallest 
risk-weighted asset amount and had obtained no credit risk mitigant on 
the other underlying exposures. An Enterprise must calculate a risk-
based capital requirement for counterparty credit risk according to 12 
CFR 217.34 for a first-to-default credit derivative that does not meet 
the rules of recognition of 12 CFR 217.36(b).
    (ii) Second-or-subsequent-to-default credit derivatives. (A) An 
Enterprise that obtains credit protection on a group of underlying 
exposures through a nth-to-default credit derivative that meets the 
rules of recognition of 12 CFR 217.36(b) (other than a first-to-default 
credit derivative) may recognize the credit risk mitigation benefits of 
the derivative only if:
    (1) The Enterprise also has obtained credit protection on the same 
underlying exposures in the form of first-through-(n-1)-to-default 
credit derivatives; or
    (2) If n-1 of the underlying exposures have already defaulted.
    (B) If an Enterprise satisfies the requirements of paragraph 
(i)(4)(ii)(A) of this section, the Enterprise must determine its risk-
based capital requirement for the underlying exposures as if the 
Enterprise had only synthetically securitized the underlying exposure 
with the nth smallest risk-weighted asset amount and had obtained no 
credit risk mitigant on the other underlying exposures.
    (C) An Enterprise must calculate a risk-based capital requirement 
for counterparty credit risk according to 12 CFR 217.34 for a nth-to-
default credit derivative that does not meet the rules of recognition 
of 12 CFR 217.36(b).
    (h) Guarantees and credit derivatives other than nth-to-default 
credit derivatives--(1) Protection provider. For a guarantee or credit 
derivative (other than an nth-to-default credit derivative) provided by 
an Enterprise that covers the full amount or a pro rata share of a 
securitization exposure's principal and interest, the Enterprise must 
risk weight the guarantee or credit derivative as if it holds the 
portion of the reference exposure covered by the guarantee or credit 
derivative.
    (2) Protection purchaser. (i) An Enterprise that purchases a 
guarantee or OTC credit derivative (other than an nth-to-default credit 
derivative) that is recognized under Sec.  1240.46 as a credit risk 
mitigant (including via collateral recognized under Sec.  1240.39) is 
not required to compute a separate counterparty credit risk capital 
requirement under Sec.  1240.31, in accordance with 12 CFR 217.34(c).
    (ii) If an Enterprise cannot, or chooses not to, recognize a 
purchased credit derivative as a credit risk mitigant under Sec.  
1240.46, the Enterprise must

[[Page 39393]]

determine the exposure amount of the credit derivative under Sec.  
1240.36.
    (A) If the Enterprise purchases credit protection from a 
counterparty that is not a securitization SPE, the Enterprise must 
determine the risk weight for the exposure according to this subpart D.
    (B) If the Enterprise purchases the credit protection from a 
counterparty that is a securitization SPE, the Enterprise must 
determine the risk weight for the exposure according to section Sec.  
1240.42, including Sec.  1240.42(a)(4) for a credit derivative that has 
a first priority claim on the cash flows from the underlying exposures 
of the securitization SPE (notwithstanding amounts due under interest 
rate or currency derivative contracts, fees due, or other similar 
payments).


Sec.  1240.43   Simplified supervisory formula approach (SSFA).

    (a) General requirements for the SSFA. To use the SSFA to determine 
the risk weight for a securitization exposure, an Enterprise must have 
data that enables it to assign accurately the parameters described in 
paragraph (b) of this section. Data used to assign the parameters 
described in paragraph (b) of this section must be the most currently 
available data; if the contracts governing the underlying exposures of 
the securitization require payments on a monthly or quarterly basis, 
the data used to assign the parameters described in paragraph (b) of 
this section must be no more than 91 calendar days old. An Enterprise 
that does not have the appropriate data to assign the parameters 
described in paragraph (b) of this section must assign a risk weight of 
1,250 percent to the exposure.
    (b) SSFA parameters. To calculate the risk weight for a 
securitization exposure using the SSFA, an Enterprise must have 
accurate information on the following five inputs to the SSFA 
calculation:
    (1) KG is the weighted-average (with unpaid principal 
used as the weight for each exposure) adjusted total capital 
requirement of the underlying exposures calculated using this subpart. 
KG is expressed as a decimal value between zero and one 
(that is, an average risk weight of 100 percent represents a value of 
KG equal to 0.08).
    (2) Parameter W is expressed as a decimal value between zero and 
one. Parameter W is the ratio of the sum of the dollar amounts of any 
underlying exposures of the securitization that meet any of the 
criteria as set forth in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (vi) of this 
section to the balance, measured in dollars, of underlying exposures:
    (i) Ninety days or more past due;
    (ii) Subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;
    (iii) In the process of foreclosure;
    (iv) Held as real estate owned;
    (v) Has contractually deferred payments for 90 days or more, other 
than principal or interest payments deferred on:
    (A) Federally-guaranteed student loans, in accordance with the 
terms of those guarantee programs; or
    (B) Consumer loans, including non-federally-guaranteed student 
loans, provided that such payments are deferred pursuant to provisions 
included in the contract at the time funds are disbursed that provide 
for period(s) of deferral that are not initiated based on changes in 
the creditworthiness of the borrower; or
    (vi) Is in default.
    (3) Parameter A is the attachment point for the exposure, which 
represents the threshold at which credit losses will first be allocated 
to the exposure. Except as provided in Sec.  1240.42(g) for nth-to-
default credit derivatives, parameter A equals the ratio of the current 
dollar amount of underlying exposures that are subordinated to the 
exposure of the Enterprise to the current dollar amount of underlying 
exposures. Any reserve account funded by the accumulated cash flows 
from the underlying exposures that is subordinated to the Enterprise's 
securitization exposure may be included in the calculation of parameter 
A to the extent that cash is present in the account. Parameter A is 
expressed as a decimal value between zero and one.
    (4) Parameter D is the detachment point for the exposure, which 
represents the threshold at which credit losses of principal allocated 
to the exposure would result in a total loss of principal. Except as 
provided in Sec.  1240.42(g) for nth-to-default credit derivatives, 
parameter D equals parameter A plus the ratio of the current dollar 
amount of the securitization exposures that are pari passu with the 
exposure (that is, have equal seniority with respect to credit risk) to 
the current dollar amount of the underlying exposures. Parameter D is 
expressed as a decimal value between zero and one.
    (5) A supervisory calibration parameter, p, is equal to 0.5 for 
securitization exposures that are not resecuritization exposures and 
equal to 1.5 for resecuritization exposures (except p is equal to 0.5 
for resecuritization exposures secured by MBS guaranteed by an 
Enterprise).
    (c) Mechanics of the SSFA. KG and W are used to 
calculate KA, the augmented value of KG, which 
reflects the observed credit quality of the underlying exposures. 
KA is defined in paragraph (d) of this section. The values 
of parameters A and D, relative to KA determine the risk 
weight assigned to a securitization exposure as described in paragraph 
(d) of this section. The risk weight assigned to a securitization 
exposure, or portion of a securitization exposure, as appropriate, is 
the larger of the risk weight determined in accordance with this 
paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) of this section and a risk weight of 20 
percent.
    (1) When the detachment point, parameter D, for a securitization 
exposure is less than or equal to KA, the exposure must be 
assigned a risk weight of 1,250 percent.
    (2) When the attachment point, parameter A, for a securitization 
exposure is greater than or equal to KA, the 
Enterprise must calculate the risk weight in accordance with paragraph 
(d) of this section.
    (3) When A is less than KA and D is greater than 
KA, the risk weight is a weighted-average of 1,250 percent 
and 1,250 percent times KSSFA calculated in accordance with 
paragraph (d) of this section. For the purpose of this weighted-average 
calculation:
    (i) The weight assigned to 1,250 percent equals
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.064
    
    (ii) The weight assigned to 1,250 percent times KSSFA 
equals
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.065

    (iii) The risk weight will be set equal to:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.066
    
    (d) SFA equation. (1) The Enterprise must define the following 
parameters:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.087

e = 2.71828, the base of the natural logarithms.

    (2) Then the Enterprise must calculate according to the following 
equation:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.067


[[Page 39394]]


    (3) The risk weight for the exposure (expressed as a percent) is 
equal to KSSFA * 1,250.
    (e) Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, an Enterprise must assign a risk weight of not less than 20 
percent to a securitization exposure.


Sec.  1240.44   Credit risk transfer approach (CRTA).

    (a) General requirements for the CRTA. To use the CRTA to determine 
the risk weighted assets for a retained CRT exposure, an Enterprise 
must have data that enables it to assign accurately the parameters 
described in paragraph (b) of this section. Data used to assign the 
parameters described in paragraph (b) of this section must be the most 
currently available data; if the contracts governing the underlying 
exposures of the credit risk transfer require payments on a monthly or 
quarterly basis, the data used to assign the parameters described in 
paragraph (b) of this section must be no more than 91 calendar days 
old. An Enterprise that does not have the appropriate data to assign 
the parameters described in paragraph (b) of this section must assign a 
risk weight of 1,250 percent to the retained CRT exposure.
    (b) CRTA parameters. To calculate the risk weighted assets for a 
retained CRT exposure, an Enterprise must have accurate information on 
the following ten inputs to the CRTA calculation.
    (1) Parameter A is the attachment point for the exposure, which 
represents the threshold at which credit losses will first be allocated 
to the exposure. Parameter A equals the ratio of the current dollar 
amount of underlying exposures that are subordinated to the exposure of 
the Enterprise to the current dollar amount of underlying exposures. 
Any reserve account funded by the accumulated cash flows from the 
underlying exposures that is subordinated to the Enterprise's exposure 
may be included in the calculation of parameter A to the extent that 
cash is present in the account. Parameter A is expressed as a value 
between 0 and 100 percent.
    (2) Parameter AggUPB$ is the aggregate unpaid principal balance of 
the underlying mortgage exposures.
    (3) Parameter CM% is the percentage of a tranche sold in the 
capital markets. CM% is expressed as a value between 0 and 100 percent.
    (4) Parameter Collat%RIF is the amount of financial collateral 
posted by a counterparty under a loss sharing contract expressed as a 
percentage of the risk in force. For multifamily lender loss sharing 
transactions where an Enterprise has the contractual right to receive 
future lender guarantee-fee revenue, the Enterprise may include up to 
12 months of expected guarantee-fee revenue in collateral. Collat%RIF 
is expressed as a value between 0 and 100 percent.
    (5) Parameter D is the detachment point for the exposure, which 
represents the threshold at which credit losses of principal allocated 
to the exposure would result in a total loss of principal. Parameter D 
equals parameter A plus the ratio of the current dollar amount of the 
exposures that are pari passu with the exposure (that is, have equal 
seniority with respect to credit risk) to the current dollar amount of 
the underlying exposures. Parameter D is expressed as a value between 0 
and 100 percent.
    (6) Parameter EL$ is the remaining lifetime net expected credit 
risk losses of the underlying mortgage exposures. EL$ must be 
calculated internally by an Enterprise. If the contractual terms of the 
CRT do not provide for the transfer of the counterparty credit risk 
associated with any loan-level credit enhancement or other loss sharing 
on the underlying mortgage exposures, then the Enterprise must 
calculate EL$ assuming no counterparty haircuts. Parameter EL$ is 
expressed in dollars.
    (7) Parameter HC is the haircut for the counterparty in contractual 
loss sharing transactions.
    (i) For a CRT with respect to single-family mortgage exposures, the 
counterparty haircut is set forth on Table 12 to paragraph (e)(3)(ii) 
of Sec.  1240.33, determined as if the counterparty to the CRT were a 
counterparty to loan-level credit enhancement (as defined in Sec.  
1240.33(a)) and considering the counterparty rating and mortgage 
concentration risk of the counterparty to the CRT and the single-family 
segment and product of the underlying single-family mortgage exposures.
    (ii) For a CRT with respect to multifamily mortgage exposures, the 
counterparty haircut is set forth on Table 1 to this paragraph 
(b)(7)(ii), with counterparty rating and mortgage concentration risk 
having the meaning given in Sec.  1240.33(a).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.068


[[Page 39395]]


    (8) Parameter LS is the percentage of a tranche that is 
either insured, reinsured, or afforded coverage through lender 
reimbursement of credit losses of principal. LS is expressed as 
a value between 0 and 100 percent.
    (9) Parameter LTF is the loss timing factor which accounts 
for maturity differences between the CRT and the underlying mortgage 
exposures. Maturity differences arise when the maturity date of the CRT 
is before the maturity dates of the underlying mortgage exposures. 
LTF is expressed as a value between 0 and 100 percent.
    (i) An Enterprise must have the following information to calculate 
LTF for a CRT with respect to multifamily mortgage exposures:
    (A) The remaining months to the contractual maturity of the CRT 
(CRTRMM).
    (B) The remaining months to maturity of the underlying multifamily 
mortgage exposures (MMERMM). If the underlying multifamily mortgage 
exposures have different maturity dates, MMERMM should reflect the 
multifamily mortgage exposure with the longest maturity.
    (C) An Enterprise must use the following method to calculate 
LTF for multifamily CRTs:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.069

    (ii) An Enterprise must have the following information to calculate 
LTF for a newly issued CRT with respect to single-family 
mortgage exposures:
    (A) The original closing date (or effective date) of the CRT and 
the maturity date on the CRT.
    (B) UPB share of single-family mortgage exposures that have 
original amortization terms of less than or equal to 189 months 
(CRTF15).
    (C) UPB share of single-family mortgage exposures that have 
original amortization terms greater than 189 months and OLTVs of less 
than or equal to 80 percent (CRT80NotF15).
    (D) The duration of seasoning.
    (E) An Enterprise must use the following method to calculate 
LTF for single-family CRTs: Calculate CRT months to maturity 
(CRTMthstoMaturity) using one of the following methods:
    (1) For single-family CRTs with reimbursement based upon occurrence 
or resolution of delinquency, CRTMthstoMaturity is the difference 
between the CRT's maturity date and original closing date, except for 
the following:
    (i) If the coverage based upon delinquency is between one and three 
months, add 24 months to the difference between the CRT's maturity date 
and original closing date; and
    (ii) If the coverage based upon delinquency is between four and six 
months, add 18 months to the difference between the CRT's maturity date 
and original closing date.
    (2) For all other single-family CRTs, CRTMthstoMaturity is the 
difference between the CRT's maturity date and original closing date.
    (i) If CRTMthstoMaturity is a multiple of 12, then an Enterprise 
must use the first column of Table 2 to paragraph (b)(9)(ii)(E)(2)(iii) 
of this section to identify the row matching CRTMthstoMaturity and take 
a weighted average of the three loss timing factors in columns 2, 3, 
and 4 as follows:

LTF% = (CRTLT15 * CRTF15) + (CRTLT80Not15 * 
CRT80NotF15) + (CRTLTGT80Not15 * CRT80NotF15) + 
(CRTLTGT80Not15 * (1-CRT80NotF15 -CRTF15))

    (ii) If CRTMthstoMaturity is not a multiple of 12, an Enterprise 
must use the first column of Table 2 to paragraph (b)(9)(ii)(E)(2)(iii) 
of this section to identify the two rows that are closest to 
CRTMthstoMaturity and take a weighted average between the two rows of 
loss timing factors using linear interpolation, where the weights 
reflect CRTMthstoMaturity.
    (iii) For seasoned single-family CRTs, the LTF is 
calculated:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.070


where
CRTLTM is the loss timing factor calculated under (ii) of 
this subsection.
CRTLTS is the loss timing factor calculated under (ii) of 
this subsection replacing
CRTMthstoMaturity with the duration of seasoning.

[[Page 39396]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.071

BILLING CODE 8070-01-P
    (10) Parameter RWA$ is the aggregate credit risk-weighted assets 
associated with the underlying mortgage exposures.
    (11) Parameter CntptyRWA$ is the aggregate credit risk-weighted 
assets due to counterparty haircuts from loan-level credit 
enhancements. CntptyRWA$ is the difference between:
    (i) Parameter RWA$; and
    (ii) Aggregate credit risk-weighted assets associated with the 
underlying mortgage exposures where the counterparty haircuts for loan-
level credit enhancements are set to zero.
    (c) Mechanics of the CRTA. The risk weight assigned to a retained 
CRT exposure, or portion of a retained CRT

[[Page 39397]]

exposure, as appropriate, is the larger of RW determined in 
accordance with paragraph (d) of this section and a risk weight of 10 
percent.
    (1) When the detachment point, parameter D, for a retained CRT 
exposure is less than or equal to the sum of KA and AggEL, the 
exposure must be assigned a risk weight of 1,250 percent.
    (2) When the attachment point, parameter A, for a retained CRT 
exposure is greater than or equal to or equal to the sum of KA and 
AggEL, determined in accordance with paragraph (d) of this 
section, the exposure must be assigned a risk weight of 10 percent.
    (3) When parameter A is less than or equal to the sum of KA and 
AggEL, and parameter D is greater than the sum of KA and 
AggEL, the Enterprise must calculate the risk weight as 1,250% 
multiplied by the ratio of (i) the sum of KA and AggEL less 
parameter A to (ii) the difference between parameter D and parameter A.
    (d) CRTA equations.
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.072
    
    If the contractual terms of the CRT do not provide for the transfer 
of the counterparty credit risk associated with any loan-level credit 
enhancement or other loss sharing on the underlying mortgage exposures, 
then the Enterprise shall calculate KA as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.073

    Otherwise the Enterprise shall calculate KA as follows:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.074
    
    (e) Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, an Enterprise must assign an overall risk weight of not less 
than 10 percent to a retained CRT exposure.
    (f) Adjusted exposure amount (AEA)--(1) In general. The adjusted 
exposure amount (AEA) of a retained CRT exposure is equal to:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.075

    (2) Inputs--(i) Enterprise Adjusted Exposure. The adjusted exposure 
(EAE) of an Enterprise with respect to a retained CRT exposure is as 
follows:

EAE,Tranche = 100% - (CM,Tranche 
* LTEA,Tranche,CM * OEA%) - 
(LS,Tranche * LSEA,Tranche,LS * 
LTEA,Tranche,LS * OEA%),


Where the loss timing effectiveness adjustments (LTEA) for a retained 
CRT exposure are determined under paragraph (g) of this section, the 
loss sharing effectiveness adjustment (LSEA) for a retained CRT 
exposure is determine under paragraph (h) of this section, and the 
overall effectiveness adjustment (OEA) is determined under paragraph 
(i) of this section.
    (ii) Expected Loss Share. The expected loss share is the share of a 
tranche that is covered by expected loss (ELS):

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.076


[[Page 39398]]


    (iii) Risk weight. The risk weight of a retained CRT exposure is 
determined under paragraph (d) of this section.
    (g) Loss timing effectiveness adjustments. The loss timing 
effectiveness adjustments (LTEA) for a retained CRT exposure is 
calculated according to the following calculation:

if (SLS,Tranche - ELS,Tranche) > 
0 then
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.077

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.078

    Otherwise LTEA,Tranche,CM = 100% and 
LTEA,Tranche,LS = 100% where KA adjusted 
for loss timing (LTKA) is as follows:

LTKA,CM = max ((KA + AggEL) * LTF,CM
LTKA,LS = max ((KA + AggEL) * LTF,LS;
    and
LTF,CM is LTF calculated for the capital 
markets component of the tranche,
LTF,LS is LTF calculated for the loss 
sharing component of the tranche, and the share of the tranche that is 
covered by expected loss (ELS) and the share of the tranche that is 
covered by stress loss (SLS) are
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.079

    (h) Loss sharing effectiveness adjustment. The loss sharing 
effectiveness adjustment (LSEA) for a retained CRT exposure is 
calculated according to the following calculation:

if (RW,Tranche - ELS,Tranche * 
1250%) > 0 then
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.080

Otherwise

LESA,Tranche = 100%

where

UnCollatUL,Tranche = max (0%, 
SLS,Tranche - max (CollatRIF,Tranche, 
ELS,Tranche))
SRIF,Tranche = 100% - max 
(SLS,Tranche, CollatRIF,Tranche)


and the share of the tranche that is covered by expected loss (ELS) and 
the share of the tranche that is covered by stress loss (SLS) are

[[Page 39399]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP30JN20.081

    (i) Overall effectiveness adjustment. The overall effectiveness 
adjustment (OEA) for a retained CRT exposure is calculated according to 
the following calculation:

OEA = 90%

    (j) RWA supplement for retained loan-level counterparty credit 
risk. If the Enterprise elects to use the CRTA for a retained CRT 
exposure and if the contractual terms of the CRT do not provide for the 
transfer of the counterparty credit risk associated with any loan-level 
credit enhancement or other loss sharing on the underlying mortgage 
exposures, then the Enterprise must add the following risk-weighted 
assets supplement (RWASup$) to risk weighted assets for the 
retained CRT exposure.

RWASup$,Tranche = CntptyRWA$ * (D - A)

    Otherwise the Enterprise shall add an RWASup$ of $0.

    (k) Credit risk-weighted assets for the retained CRT exposure are 
as follows:

RWA$,Tranche = AEA$,Tranche * RW,Tranche 
+ RWASup$,Tranche

[Alternative: Modified SSFA]

    (a) General requirements. To use the CRT approach to determine the 
risk weight for a CRT exposure, an Enterprise must have data that 
enables it to assign accurately the parameters described in paragraph 
(b) of this section. Data used to assign the parameters described in 
paragraph (b) of this section must be the most currently available 
data; if the contracts governing the underlying exposures of the CRT 
require payments on a monthly or quarterly basis, the data used to 
assign the parameters described in paragraph (b) of this section must 
be no more than 91 calendar days old. An Enterprise that does not have 
the appropriate data to assign the parameters described in paragraph 
(b) of this section must assign a risk weight of 1,250 percent to the 
exposure.
    (b) CRTA parameters. To calculate the risk weight for a CRT 
exposure using the CRTA, an Enterprise must have accurate information 
on the following five inputs to the CRTA calculation, each as defined 
and calculated under Sec.  1240.43(b): KG; W; A; D; and p.
    (c) Mechanics of the CRTA. The risk weight assigned to a CRT 
exposure, or portion of a CRT exposure, as appropriate, is the larger 
of the risk weight determined in accordance with this paragraph (c) or 
paragraph (d) of Sec.  1240.43 and a risk weight of 10 percent.
    (d) Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, an Enterprise must assign a risk weight of not less than 10 
percent to a CRT exposure.
    (e) Adjusted exposure amount. The exposure amount for a CRT 
exposure is not subject to an adjustment under this section.
    (f) RWA adjustment for retained loan-level counterparty credit 
risk. If the Enterprise elects to use the CRTA for a retained CRT 
exposure and if the contractual terms of the CRT do not provide for the 
transfer of the counterparty credit risk associated with any loan-level 
credit enhancement or other loss sharing on the underlying mortgage 
exposures, then the Enterprise must increase the risk-weighted assets 
of the retained CRT exposure by the amount equal to the portion of 
aggregate RWAs on the underlying mortgage exposures associated with 
counterparty credit risk.


Sec.  1240.45   Securitization exposures to which the SSFA and the CRTA 
do not apply.

    An Enterprise must assign a 1,250 percent risk weight to any 
acquired CRT exposure and all securitization exposures to which the 
Enterprise does not apply the SSFA under Sec.  1240.43 or the CRTA 
under Sec.  1240.44.


Sec.  1240.46   Recognition of credit risk mitigants for securitization 
exposures.

    (a) General. (1) An originating Enterprise that has obtained a 
credit risk mitigant to hedge its exposure to a synthetic or 
traditional securitization that satisfies the operational criteria 
provided in Sec.  1240.41 may recognize the credit risk mitigant under 
Sec. Sec.  1240.38 or 1240.39, but only as provided in this section.
    (2) An investing Enterprise that has obtained a credit risk 
mitigant to hedge a securitization exposure may recognize the credit 
risk mitigant under Sec. Sec.  1240.38 or 1240.39, but only as provided 
in this section.
    (b) Mismatches. An Enterprise must make any applicable adjustment 
to the protection amount of an eligible guarantee or credit derivative 
as required in 12 CFR 217.36(d) through (f) for any hedged 
securitization exposure. In the context of a synthetic securitization, 
when an eligible guarantee or eligible credit derivative covers 
multiple hedged exposures that have different residual maturities, the 
Enterprise must use the longest residual maturity of any of the hedged 
exposures as the residual maturity of all hedged exposures.

Risk-Weighted Assets for Equity Exposures


Sec.  1240.51   Exposure measurement.

    An Enterprise must calculate its risk-weighted assets for any 
equity exposures that are permissible under the Enterprise's 
authorizing statute under 12 CFR 217.51 through 217.53 of this title, 
substituting ``Enterprise for ``Board-regulated institution.''

Subpart E--Risk-Weighted Assets--Internal Ratings-Based and 
Advanced Measurement Approaches


Sec.  1240.100   Purpose, applicability, and principle of conservatism.

    (a) Purpose. This subpart E establishes:
    (1) Minimum requirements for using Enterprise-specific internal 
risk measurement and management processes for calculating risk-based 
capital requirements; and
    (2) Methodologies for the Enterprises to calculate their advanced 
approaches total risk-weighted assets.

[[Page 39400]]

    (b) Applicability. (1) This subpart applies to each Enterprise.
    (2) An Enterprise must also include in its calculation of advanced 
credit risk-weighted assets under this subpart all covered positions, 
as defined in subpart F of this part.
    (c) Principle of conservatism. Notwithstanding the requirements of 
this subpart, an Enterprise may choose not to apply a provision of this 
subpart to one or more exposures provided that:
    (1) The Enterprise can demonstrate on an ongoing basis to the 
satisfaction of FHFA that not applying the provision would, in all 
circumstances, unambiguously generate a risk-based capital requirement 
for each such exposure greater than that which would otherwise be 
required under this subpart;
    (2) The Enterprise appropriately manages the risk of each such 
exposure;
    (3) The Enterprise notifies FHFA in writing prior to applying this 
principle to each such exposure; and
    (4) The exposures to which the Enterprise applies this principle 
are not, in the aggregate, material to the Enterprise.


Sec.  1240.101   Definitions.

    (a) Terms that are set forth in Sec.  1240.2 and used in this 
subpart have the definitions assigned thereto in Sec.  1240.2.
    (b) For the purposes of this subpart, the following terms are 
defined as follows:
    Advanced internal ratings-based (IRB) systems means an Enterprise's 
internal risk rating and segmentation system; risk parameter 
quantification system; data management and maintenance system; and 
control, oversight, and validation system for credit risk of exposures.
    Advanced systems means an Enterprise's advanced IRB systems, 
operational risk management processes, operational risk data and 
assessment systems, operational risk quantification systems, and, to 
the extent used by the Enterprise, the internal models methodology, 
advanced CVA approach, double default excessive correlation detection 
process, and internal models approach (IMA) for equity exposures.
    Backtesting means the comparison of an Enterprise's internal 
estimates with actual outcomes during a sample period not used in model 
development. In this context, backtesting is one form of out-of-sample 
testing.
    Benchmarking means the comparison of an Enterprise's internal 
estimates with relevant internal and external data or with estimates 
based on other estimation techniques.
    Business environment and internal control factors means the 
indicators of an Enterprise's operational risk profile that reflect a 
current and forward-looking assessment of the Enterprise's underlying 
business risk factors and internal control environment.
    Dependence means a measure of the association among operational 
losses across and within units of measure.
    Economic downturn conditions means, with respect to an exposure 
held by the Enterprise, those conditions in which the aggregate default 
rates for that exposure's exposure subcategory (or subdivision of such 
subcategory selected by the Enterprise) in the exposure's jurisdiction 
(or subdivision of such jurisdiction selected by the Enterprise) are 
significantly higher than average.
    Eligible operational risk offsets means amounts, not to exceed 
expected operational loss, that:
    (i) Are generated by internal business practices to absorb highly 
predictable and reasonably stable operational losses, including 
reserves calculated consistent with GAAP; and
    (ii) Are available to cover expected operational losses with a high 
degree of certainty over a one-year horizon.
    Expected operational loss (EOL) means the expected value of the 
distribution of potential aggregate operational losses, as generated by 
the Enterprise's operational risk quantification system using a one-
year horizon.
    External operational loss event data means, with respect to an 
Enterprise, gross operational loss amounts, dates, recoveries, and 
relevant causal information for operational loss events occurring at 
organizations other than the Enterprise.
    Internal operational loss event data means, with respect to an 
Enterprise, gross operational loss amounts, dates, recoveries, and 
relevant causal information for operational loss events occurring at 
the Enterprise.
    Operational loss means a loss (excluding insurance or tax effects) 
resulting from an operational loss event. Operational loss includes all 
expenses associated with an operational loss event except for 
opportunity costs, forgone revenue, and costs related to risk 
management and control enhancements implemented to prevent future 
operational losses.
    Operational loss event means an event that results in loss and is 
associated with any of the following seven operational loss event type 
categories:
    (i) Internal fraud, which means the operational loss event type 
category that comprises operational losses resulting from an act 
involving at least one internal party of a type intended to defraud, 
misappropriate property, or circumvent regulations, the law, or company 
policy excluding diversity- and discrimination-type events.
    (ii) External fraud, which means the operational loss event type 
category that comprises operational losses resulting from an act by a 
third party of a type intended to defraud, misappropriate property, or 
circumvent the law. All third-party-initiated credit losses are to be 
treated as credit risk losses.
    (iii) Employment practices and workplace safety, which means the 
operational loss event type category that comprises operational losses 
resulting from an act inconsistent with employment, health, or safety 
laws or agreements, payment of personal injury claims, or payment 
arising from diversity- and discrimination-type events.
    (iv) Clients, products, and business practices, which means the 
operational loss event type category that comprises operational losses 
resulting from the nature or design of a product or from an 
unintentional or negligent failure to meet a professional obligation to 
specific clients (including fiduciary and suitability requirements).
    (v) Damage to physical assets, which means the operational loss 
event type category that comprises operational losses resulting from 
the loss of or damage to physical assets from natural disaster or other 
events.
    (vi) Business disruption and system failures, which means the 
operational loss event type category that comprises operational losses 
resulting from disruption of business or system failures.
    (vii) Execution, delivery, and process management, which means the 
operational loss event type category that comprises operational losses 
resulting from failed transaction processing or process management or 
losses arising from relations with trade counterparties and vendors.
    Operational risk means the risk of loss resulting from inadequate 
or failed internal processes, people, and systems or from external 
events (including legal risk but excluding strategic and reputational 
risk).
    Operational risk exposure means the 99.9th percentile of the 
distribution of potential aggregate operational losses, as generated by 
the Enterprise's operational risk quantification system over a one-year 
horizon (and not incorporating eligible operational risk offsets or 
qualifying operational risk mitigants).
    Risk parameter means a variable used in determining risk-based 
capital requirements for exposures, such as

[[Page 39401]]

probability of default, loss given default, exposure at default, or 
effective maturity.
    Scenario analysis means a systematic process of obtaining expert 
opinions from business managers and risk management experts to derive 
reasoned assessments of the likelihood and loss impact of plausible 
high-severity operational losses. Scenario analysis may include the 
well-reasoned evaluation and use of external operational loss event 
data, adjusted as appropriate to ensure relevance to an Enterprise's 
operational risk profile and control structure.
    Unexpected operational loss (UOL) means the difference between the 
Enterprise's operational risk exposure and the Enterprise's expected 
operational loss.
    Unit of measure means the level (for example, organizational unit 
or operational loss event type) at which the Enterprise's operational 
risk quantification system generates a separate distribution of 
potential operational losses.


Sec.  1240.121   Minimum requirements.

    (a) Process and systems requirements. (1) An Enterprise must have a 
rigorous process for assessing its overall capital adequacy in relation 
to its risk profile and a comprehensive strategy for maintaining an 
appropriate level of capital.
    (2) The systems and processes used by an Enterprise for risk-based 
capital purposes under this subpart must be consistent with the 
Enterprise's internal risk management processes and management 
information reporting systems.
    (3) Each Enterprise must have an appropriate infrastructure with 
risk measurement and management processes that meet the requirements of 
this section and are appropriate given the Enterprise's size and level 
of complexity. The Enterprise must ensure that the risk parameters and 
reference data used to determine its risk-based capital requirements 
are representative of long run experience with respect to its credit 
risk and operational risk exposures.
    (b) Risk rating and segmentation systems for exposures. (1) An 
Enterprise must have an internal risk rating and segmentation system 
that accurately, reliably, and meaningfully differentiates among 
degrees of credit risk for the Enterprise's exposures. When assigning 
an internal risk rating, an Enterprise may consider a third-party 
assessment of credit risk, provided that the Enterprise's internal risk 
rating assignment does not rely solely on the external assessment.
    (2) If an Enterprise uses multiple rating or segmentation systems, 
the Enterprise's rationale for assigning an exposure to a particular 
system must be documented and applied in a manner that best reflects 
the obligor or exposure's level of risk. An Enterprise must not 
inappropriately allocate exposures across systems to minimize 
regulatory capital requirements.
    (3) In assigning ratings to exposures, an Enterprise must use all 
relevant and material information and ensure that the information is 
current.
    (c) Quantification of risk parameters for exposures. (1) The 
Enterprise must have a comprehensive risk parameter quantification 
process that produces accurate, timely, and reliable estimates of the 
risk parameters on a consistent basis for the Enterprise's exposures.
    (2) An Enterprise's estimates of risk parameters must incorporate 
all relevant, material, and available data that is reflective of the 
Enterprise's actual exposures and of sufficient quality to support the 
determination of risk-based capital requirements for the exposures. In 
particular, the population of exposures in the data used for estimation 
purposes, the underwriting standards in use when the data were 
generated, and other relevant characteristics, should closely match or 
be comparable to the Enterprise's exposures and standards. In addition, 
an Enterprise must:
    (i) Demonstrate that its estimates are representative of long run 
experience, including periods of economic downturn conditions, whether 
internal or external data are used;
    (ii) Take into account any changes in underwriting practice or the 
process for pursuing recoveries over the observation period;
    (iii) Promptly reflect technical advances, new data, and other 
information as they become available;
    (iv) Demonstrate that the data used to estimate risk parameters 
support the accuracy and robustness of those estimates; and
    (v) Demonstrate that its estimation technique performs well in out-
of-sample tests whenever possible.
    (3) The Enterprise's risk parameter quantification process must 
produce appropriately conservative risk parameter estimates where the 
Enterprise has limited relevant data, and any adjustments that are part 
of the quantification process must not result in a pattern of bias 
toward lower risk parameter estimates.
    (4) The Enterprise's risk parameter estimation process should not 
rely on the possibility of U.S. government financial assistance.
    (5) Default, loss severity, and exposure amount data must include 
periods of economic downturn conditions, or the Enterprise must adjust 
its estimates of risk parameters to compensate for the lack of data 
from periods of economic downturn conditions.
    (6) If an Enterprise uses internal data obtained prior to becoming 
subject to this subpart E or external data to arrive at risk parameter 
estimates, the Enterprise must demonstrate to FHFA that the Enterprise 
has made appropriate adjustments if necessary to be consistent with the 
Enterprise's definition of default. Internal data obtained after the 
Enterprise becomes subject to this subpart E must be consistent with 
the Enterprise's definition of default.
    (7) The Enterprise must review and update (as appropriate) its risk 
parameters and its risk parameter quantification process at least 
annually.
    (8) The Enterprise must, at least annually, conduct a comprehensive 
review and analysis of reference data to determine relevance of the 
reference data to the Enterprise's exposures, quality of reference data 
to support risk parameter estimates, and consistency of reference data 
to the Enterprise's definition of default.
    (d) Operational risk--(1) Operational risk management processes. An 
Enterprise must:
    (i) Have an operational risk management function that:
    (A) Is independent of business line management; and
    (B) Is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the 
Enterprise's operational risk data and assessment systems, operational 
risk quantification systems, and related processes;
    (ii) Have and document a process (which must capture business 
environment and internal control factors affecting the Enterprise's 
operational risk profile) to identify, measure, monitor, and control 
operational risk in the Enterprise's products, activities, processes, 
and systems; and
    (iii) Report operational risk exposures, operational loss events, 
and other relevant operational risk information to business unit 
management, senior management, and the board of directors (or a 
designated committee of the board).
    (2) Operational risk data and assessment systems. An Enterprise 
must have operational risk data and assessment systems that capture 
operational risks to which the

[[Page 39402]]

Enterprise is exposed. The Enterprise's operational risk data and 
assessment systems must:
    (i) Be structured in a manner consistent with the Enterprise's 
current business activities, risk profile, technological processes, and 
risk management processes; and
    (ii) Include credible, transparent, systematic, and verifiable 
processes that incorporate the following elements on an ongoing basis:
    (A) Internal operational loss event data. The Enterprise must have 
a systematic process for capturing and using internal operational loss 
event data in its operational risk data and assessment systems.
    (1) The Enterprise's operational risk data and assessment systems 
must include a historical observation period of at least five years for 
internal operational loss event data (or such shorter period approved 
by FHFA to address transitional situations, such as integrating a new 
business line).
    (2) The Enterprise must be able to map its internal operational 
loss event data into the seven operational loss event type categories.
    (3) The Enterprise may refrain from collecting internal operational 
loss event data for individual operational losses below established 
dollar threshold amounts if the Enterprise can demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of FHFA that the thresholds are reasonable, do not exclude 
important internal operational loss event data, and permit the 
Enterprise to capture substantially all the dollar value of the 
Enterprise's operational losses.
    (B) External operational loss event data. The Enterprise must have 
a systematic process for determining its methodologies for 
incorporating external operational loss event data into its operational 
risk data and assessment systems.
    (C) Scenario analysis. The Enterprise must have a systematic 
process for determining its methodologies for incorporating scenario 
analysis into its operational risk data and assessment systems.
    (D) Business environment and internal control factors. The 
Enterprise must incorporate business environment and internal control 
factors into its operational risk data and assessment systems. The 
Enterprise must also periodically compare the results of its prior 
business environment and internal control factor assessments against 
its actual operational losses incurred in the intervening period.
    (3) Operational risk quantification systems. The Enterprise's 
operational risk quantification systems:
    (i) Must generate estimates of the Enterprise's operational risk 
exposure using its operational risk data and assessment systems;
    (ii) Must employ a unit of measure that is appropriate for the 
Enterprise's range of business activities and the variety of 
operational loss events to which it is exposed, and that does not 
combine business activities or operational loss events with 
demonstrably different risk profiles within the same loss distribution;
    (iii) Must include a credible, transparent, systematic, and 
verifiable approach for weighting each of the four elements, described 
in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, that an Enterprise is required 
to incorporate into its operational risk data and assessment systems;
    (iv) May use internal estimates of dependence among operational 
losses across and within units of measure if the Enterprise can 
demonstrate to the satisfaction of FHFA that its process for estimating 
dependence is sound, robust to a variety of scenarios, and implemented 
with integrity, and allows for uncertainty surrounding the estimates. 
If the Enterprise has not made such a demonstration, it must sum 
operational risk exposure estimates across units of measure to 
calculate its total operational risk exposure; and
    (v) Must be reviewed and updated (as appropriate) whenever the 
Enterprise becomes aware of information that may have a material effect 
on the Enterprise's estimate of operational risk exposure, but the 
review and update must occur no less frequently than annually.
    (e) Data management and maintenance. (1) An Enterprise must have 
data management and maintenance systems that adequately support all 
aspects of its advanced systems and the timely and accurate reporting 
of risk-based capital requirements.
    (2) An Enterprise must retain data using an electronic format that 
allows timely retrieval of data for analysis, validation, reporting, 
and disclosure purposes.
    (3) An Enterprise must retain sufficient data elements related to 
key risk drivers to permit adequate monitoring, validation, and 
refinement of its advanced systems.
    (f) Control, oversight, and validation mechanisms. (1) The 
Enterprise's senior management must ensure that all components of the 
Enterprise's advanced systems function effectively and comply with the 
minimum requirements in this section.
    (2) The Enterprise's board of directors (or a designated committee 
of the board) must at least annually review the effectiveness of, and 
approve, the Enterprise's advanced systems.
    (3) An Enterprise must have an effective system of controls and 
oversight that:
    (i) Ensures ongoing compliance with the minimum requirements in 
this section;
    (ii) Maintains the integrity, reliability, and accuracy of the 
Enterprise's advanced systems; and
    (iii) Includes adequate governance and project management 
processes.
    (4) The Enterprise must validate, on an ongoing basis, its advanced 
systems. The Enterprise's validation process must be independent of the 
advanced systems' development, implementation, and operation, or the 
validation process must be subjected to an independent review of its 
adequacy and effectiveness. Validation must include:
    (i) An evaluation of the conceptual soundness of (including 
developmental evidence supporting) the advanced systems;
    (ii) An ongoing monitoring process that includes verification of 
processes and benchmarking; and
    (iii) An outcomes analysis process that includes backtesting.
    (5) The Enterprise must have an internal audit function or 
equivalent function that is independent of business-line management 
that at least annually:
    (i) Reviews the Enterprise's advanced systems and associated 
operations, including the operations of its credit function and 
estimations of risk parameters;
    (ii) Assesses the effectiveness of the controls supporting the 
Enterprise's advanced systems; and
    (iii) Documents and reports its findings to the Enterprise's board 
of directors (or a committee thereof).
    (6) The Enterprise must periodically stress test its advanced 
systems. The stress testing must include a consideration of how 
economic cycles, especially downturns, affect risk-based capital 
requirements (including migration across rating grades and segments and 
the credit risk mitigation benefits of double default treatment).
    (g) Documentation. The Enterprise must adequately document all 
material aspects of its advanced systems.


Sec.  1240.122   Ongoing qualification.

    (a) Changes to advanced systems. An Enterprise must meet all the 
minimum requirements in Sec.  1240.121 on an ongoing basis. An 
Enterprise must notify FHFA when the Enterprise makes any change to an 
advanced system that would result in a material change in the 
Enterprise's advanced approaches total

[[Page 39403]]

risk-weighted asset amount for an exposure type or when the Enterprise 
makes any significant change to its modeling assumptions.
    (b) Failure to comply with qualification requirements. (1) If FHFA 
determines that an Enterprise fails to comply with the requirements in 
Sec.  1240.121, FHFA will notify the Enterprise in writing of the 
Enterprise's failure to comply.
    (2) The Enterprise must establish and submit a plan satisfactory to 
FHFA to return to compliance with the qualification requirements.
    (3) In addition, if FHFA determines that the Enterprise's advanced 
approaches total risk-weighted assets are not commensurate with the 
Enterprise's credit, market, operational, or other risks, FHFA may 
require such an Enterprise to calculate its advanced approaches total 
risk-weighted assets with any modifications provided by FHFA.


Sec.  1240.123   Advanced approaches credit risk-weighted asset 
calculations.

    (a) An Enterprise must use its advanced systems to determine its 
credit risk capital requirements for each of the following exposures:
    (1) General credit risk (including for mortgage exposures);
    (2) Cleared transactions;
    (3) Default fund contributions;
    (4) Unsettled transactions;
    (5) Securitization exposures;
    (6) Equity exposures; and
    (7) The fair value adjustment to reflect counterparty credit risk 
in valuation of OTC derivative contracts.
    (b) The credit-risk-weighted assets calculated under this subpart E 
equals the aggregate credit risk capital requirement under paragraph 
(a) of this section multiplied by 12.5.


Sec.  1240.161   Qualification requirements for incorporation of 
operational risk mitigants.

    (a) Qualification to use operational risk mitigants. An Enterprise 
may adjust its estimate of operational risk exposure to reflect 
qualifying operational risk mitigants if:
    (1) The Enterprise's operational risk quantification system is able 
to generate an estimate of the Enterprise's operational risk exposure 
(which does not incorporate qualifying operational risk mitigants) and 
an estimate of the Enterprise's operational risk exposure adjusted to 
incorporate qualifying operational risk mitigants; and
    (2) The Enterprise's methodology for incorporating the effects of 
insurance, if the Enterprise uses insurance as an operational risk 
mitigant, captures through appropriate discounts to the amount of risk 
mitigation:
    (i) The residual term of the policy, where less than one year;
    (ii) The cancellation terms of the policy, where less than one 
year;
    (iii) The policy's timeliness of payment;
    (iv) The uncertainty of payment by the provider of the policy; and
    (v) Mismatches in coverage between the policy and the hedged 
operational loss event.
    (b) Qualifying operational risk mitigants. Qualifying operational 
risk mitigants are:
    (1) Insurance that:
    (i) Is provided by an unaffiliated company that the Enterprise 
deems to have strong capacity to meet its claims payment obligations 
and the Enterprise assigns the company a probability of default equal 
to or less than 10 basis points;
    (ii) Has an initial term of at least one year and a residual term 
of more than 90 days;
    (iii) Has a minimum notice period for cancellation by the provider 
of 90 days;
    (iv) Has no exclusions or limitations based upon regulatory action 
or for the receiver or liquidator of a failed depository institution; 
and
    (v) Is explicitly mapped to a potential operational loss event;
    (2) In evaluating an operational risk mitigant other than 
insurance, FHFA will consider whether the operational risk mitigant 
covers potential operational losses in a manner equivalent to holding 
total capital.


Sec.  1240.162   Mechanics of operational risk risk-weighted asset 
calculation.

    (a) If an Enterprise does not qualify to use or does not have 
qualifying operational risk mitigants, the Enterprise's dollar risk-
based capital requirement for operational risk is its operational risk 
exposure minus eligible operational risk offsets (if any).
    (b) If an Enterprise qualifies to use operational risk mitigants 
and has qualifying operational risk mitigants, the Enterprise's dollar 
risk-based capital requirement for operational risk is the greater of:
    (1) The Enterprise's operational risk exposure adjusted for 
qualifying operational risk mitigants minus eligible operational risk 
offsets (if any); or
    (2) 0.8 multiplied by the difference between:
    (i) The Enterprise's operational risk exposure; and
    (ii) Eligible operational risk offsets (if any).
    (c) The Enterprise's risk-weighted asset amount for operational 
risk equals the greater of:
    (1) The Enterprise's dollar risk-based capital requirement for 
operational risk determined under paragraphs (a) or (b) multiplied by 
12.5; and
    (2) The Enterprise's adjusted total assets multiplied by 0.0015 
multiplied by 12.5.

Subpart F--Risk-Weighted Assets--Market Risk


Sec.  1240.201   Purpose, applicability, and reservation of authority.

    (a) Purpose. This subpart F establishes risk-based capital 
requirements for spread risk and provides methods for the Enterprises 
to calculate their measure for spread risk.
    (b) Applicability. This subpart applies to each Enterprise.
    (c) Reservation of authority. Subject to applicable provisions of 
the Safety and Soundness Act:
    (1) FHFA may require an Enterprise to hold an amount of capital 
greater than otherwise required under this subpart if FHFA determines 
that the Enterprise's capital requirement for spread risk as calculated 
under this subpart is not commensurate with the spread risk of the 
Enterprise's covered positions.
    (2) If FHFA determines that the risk-based capital requirement 
calculated under this subpart by the Enterprise for one or more covered 
positions or portfolios of covered positions is not commensurate with 
the risks associated with those positions or portfolios, FHFA may 
require the Enterprise to assign a different risk-based capital 
requirement to the positions or portfolios that more accurately 
reflects the risk of the positions or portfolios.
    (3) In addition to calculating risk-based capital requirements for 
specific positions or portfolios under this subpart, the Enterprise 
must also calculate risk-based capital requirements for covered 
positions under subpart D or subpart E of this part, as appropriate.
    (4) Nothing in this subpart limits the authority of FHFA under any 
other provision of law or regulation to take supervisory or enforcement 
action, including action to address unsafe or unsound practices or 
conditions, deficient capital levels, or violations of law.


Sec.  1240.202   Definitions.

    (a) Terms set forth in Sec.  1240.2 and used in this subpart have 
the definitions assigned in Sec.  1240.2.
    (b) For the purposes of this subpart, the following terms are 
defined as follows:
    Backtesting means the comparison of an Enterprise's internal 
estimates with actual outcomes during a sample period not used in model 
development. For

[[Page 39404]]

purposes of this subpart, backtesting is one form of out-of-sample 
testing.
    Covered position means, any asset that has more than de minimis 
spread risk (other than any intangible asset, such as any servicing 
asset), including:
    (i) Any NPL, RPL, reverse mortgage loan, or other mortgage exposure 
that, in any case, does not secure an MBS guaranteed by the Enterprise;
    (ii) Any MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise, MBS guaranteed by Ginnie 
Mae, reverse mortgage security, PLS, commercial MBS, CRT exposure, or 
other securitization exposure, regardless of whether the position is 
held by the Enterprise for the purpose of short-term resale or with the 
intent of benefiting from actual or expected short-term price 
movements, or to lock in arbitrage profits; and
    (iii) Any other trading asset or trading liability (whether on- or 
off-balance sheet).\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Securities subject to repurchase and lending agreements are 
included as if they are still owned by the Enterprise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Market risk means the risk of loss on a position that could result 
from movements in market prices, including spread risk.
    Private label security (PLS) means any MBS that is collateralized 
by a pool or pools of single-family mortgage exposures and that is not 
guaranteed by an Enterprise or by Ginnie Mae.
    Reverse mortgage means a mortgage loan secured by a residential 
property in which a homeowner relinquishes equity in their home in 
exchange for regular payments.
    Reverse mortgage security means a security collateralized by 
reverse mortgages.
    Spread risk means the risk of loss on a position that could result 
from a change in the bid or offer price of such position relative to a 
risk free or funding benchmark, including when due to a change in 
perceptions of performance or liquidity of the position.


Sec.  1240.203   Requirements for managing market risk.

    (a) Management of covered positions--(1) Active management. An 
Enterprise must have clearly defined policies and procedures for 
actively managing all covered positions. At a minimum, these policies 
and procedures must require:
    (i) Marking covered positions to market or to model on a daily 
basis;
    (ii) Daily assessment of the Enterprise's ability to hedge position 
and portfolio risks, and of the extent of market liquidity;
    (iii) Establishment and daily monitoring of limits on covered 
positions by a risk control unit independent of the business unit;
    (iv) Routine monitoring by senior management of information 
described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (a)(1)(iii) of this section;
    (v) At least annual reassessment of established limits on positions 
by senior management; and
    (vi) At least annual assessments by qualified personnel of the 
quality of market inputs to the valuation process, the soundness of key 
assumptions, the reliability of parameter estimation in pricing models, 
and the stability and accuracy of model calibration under alternative 
market scenarios.
    (2) Valuation of covered positions. The Enterprise must have a 
process for prudent valuation of its covered positions that includes 
policies and procedures on the valuation of positions, marking 
positions to market or to model, independent price verification, and 
valuation adjustments or reserves. The valuation process must consider, 
as appropriate, unearned credit spreads, close-out costs, early 
termination costs, investing and funding costs, liquidity, and model 
risk.
    (b) Requirements for internal models. (1) A risk control unit 
independent of the business unit must approve any internal model to 
calculate its risk-based capital requirement under this subpart.
    (2) An Enterprise must meet all of the requirements of this section 
on an ongoing basis. The Enterprise must promptly notify FHFA when:
    (i) The Enterprise plans to extend the use of a model to an 
additional business line or product type;
    (ii) The Enterprise makes any change to an internal model that 
would result in a material change in the Enterprise's risk-weighted 
asset amount for a portfolio of covered positions; or
    (iii) The Enterprise makes any material change to its modeling 
assumptions.
    (3) FHFA may determine an appropriate capital requirement for the 
covered positions to which a model would apply, if FHFA determines that 
the model no longer complies with this subpart or fails to reflect 
accurately the risks of the Enterprise's covered positions.
    (4) The Enterprise must periodically, but no less frequently than 
annually, review its internal models in light of developments in 
financial markets and modeling technologies, and enhance those models 
as appropriate to ensure that they continue to meet the Enterprise's 
standards for model approval and employ risk measurement methodologies 
that are most appropriate for the Enterprise's covered positions.
    (5) The Enterprise must incorporate its internal models into its 
risk management process and integrate the internal models used for 
calculating its market risk measure into its daily risk management 
process.
    (6) The level of sophistication of an Enterprise's internal models 
must be commensurate with the complexity and amount of its covered 
positions. An Enterprise's internal models may use any of the generally 
accepted approaches, including variance-covariance models, historical 
simulations, or Monte Carlo simulations, to measure market risk.
    (7) The Enterprise's internal models must properly measure all the 
material risks in the covered positions to which they are applied.
    (8) The Enterprise's internal models must conservatively assess the 
risks arising from less liquid positions and positions with limited 
price transparency under realistic market scenarios.
    (9) The Enterprise must have a rigorous and well-defined process 
for re-estimating, re-evaluating, and updating its internal models to 
ensure continued applicability and relevance.
    (c) Control, oversight, and validation mechanisms. (1) The 
Enterprise must have a risk control unit that reports directly to 
senior management and is independent from the business units.
    (2) The Enterprise must validate its internal models initially and 
on an ongoing basis. The Enterprise's validation process must be 
independent of the internal models' development, implementation, and 
operation, or the validation process must be subjected to an 
independent review of its adequacy and effectiveness. Validation must 
include:
    (i) An evaluation of the conceptual soundness of (including 
developmental evidence supporting) the internal models;
    (ii) An ongoing monitoring process that includes verification of 
processes and the comparison of the Enterprise's model outputs with 
relevant internal and external data sources or estimation techniques; 
and
    (iii) An outcomes analysis process that includes backtesting.
    (3) The Enterprise must stress test the market risk of its covered 
positions at a frequency appropriate to each portfolio, and in no case 
less frequently than quarterly. The stress tests must take into account 
concentration risk (including concentrations in single issuers, 
industries, sectors, or markets), illiquidity under stressed market 
conditions, and risks arising from the Enterprise's trading activities 
that may

[[Page 39405]]

not be adequately captured in its internal models.
    (4) The Enterprise must have an internal audit function independent 
of business-line management that at least annually assesses the 
effectiveness of the controls supporting the Enterprise's market risk 
measurement systems, including the activities of the business units and 
independent risk control unit, compliance with policies and procedures, 
and calculation of the Enterprise's measures for spread risk under this 
subpart. At least annually, the internal audit function must report its 
findings to the Enterprise's board of directors (or a committee 
thereof).
    (d) Internal assessment of capital adequacy. The Enterprise must 
have a rigorous process for assessing its overall capital adequacy in 
relation to its market risk.
    (e) Documentation. The Enterprise must adequately document all 
material aspects of its internal models, management and valuation of 
covered positions, control, oversight, validation and review processes 
and results, and internal assessment of capital adequacy.


Sec.  1240.204   Measure for spread risk.

    (a) General requirement--(1) In general. An Enterprise must 
calculate its standardized measure for spread risk by following the 
steps described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. An Enterprise also 
must calculate an advanced measure for spread risk by following the 
steps in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
    (2) Measure for spread risk. An Enterprise must calculate the 
standardized measure for spread risk, which equals the sum of the 
spread risk capital requirements of all covered positions using one or 
more of its internal models except as contemplated by paragraphs (b) or 
(c) of this section. An Enterprise also must calculate the advanced 
measure for spread risk, which equals the sum of the spread risk 
capital requirements of all covered positions calculated using one or 
more of its internal models.
    (b) Single point approach--(1) General. For purposes of the 
standardized measure for spread risk, the spread risk capital 
requirement for a covered position that is an RPL, an NPL, a reverse 
mortgage loan, or a reverse mortgage security is the amount equal to:
    (i) The market value of the covered position; multiplied by
    (ii) The applicable single point shock assumption for the covered 
position under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
    (2) Applicable single point shock assumption. The applicable single 
point shock assumption is:
    (i) 0.0475 for an RPL or an NPL;
    (ii) 0.0160 for a reverse mortgage loan; and
    (iii) 0.0410 for a reverse mortgage security.
    (c) Spread duration approach--(1) General. For purposes of the 
standardized measure for spread risk, the spread risk capital 
requirement for a covered position that is a multifamily mortgage 
exposure, a PLS, or an MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise or Ginnie Mae 
and secured by multifamily mortgage exposures is the amount equal to:
    (i) The market value of the covered position; multiplied by
    (ii) The spread duration of the covered position determined by the 
Enterprise using one or more of its internal models; multiplied by
    (iii) The applicable spread shock assumption under paragraph (c)(2) 
of this section.
    (2) Applicable spread shock assumption. The applicable spread shock 
is:
    (i) 0.0015 for a multifamily mortgage exposure;
    (ii) 0.0265 for a PLS; and
    (iii) 0.0100 for an MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise or by Ginnie 
Mae and secured by multifamily mortgage exposures (other than IO 
securities guaranteed by an Enterprise or Ginnie Mae).

Subpart G--Stability Capital Buffer


Sec.  1240.400   Stability capital buffer.

    (a) Definitions. For purposes of this subpart:
    (1) Mortgage assets means, with respect to an Enterprise, the 
dollar amount equal to the sum of:
    (i) The unpaid principal balance of its single-family mortgage 
exposures, including any single-family loans that secure MBS guaranteed 
by the Enterprise;
    (ii) The unpaid principal balance of its multifamily mortgage 
exposures, including any multifamily mortgage exposures that secure MBS 
guaranteed by the Enterprise;
    (iii) The carrying value of its MBS guaranteed by an Enterprise or 
Ginnie Mae, PLS, and other securitization exposures (other than its 
retained CRT exposures); and
    (iv) The exposure amount of any other mortgage assets.
    (2) Residential mortgage debt outstanding means the dollar amount 
of mortgage debt outstanding secured by one- to four-family residences 
or multifamily residences that are located in the United States (and 
excluding any mortgage debt outstanding secured by non-farm, non-
residential or farm properties).
    (b) Amount. An Enterprise must calculate its stability capital 
buffer under this section on an annual basis by December 31 of each 
year. The stability capital buffer of an Enterprise is equal to:
    (1) The ratio of:
    (i) The mortgage assets of the Enterprise as of December 31 of the 
previous calendar year; to
    (ii) The residential mortgage debt outstanding as of December 31 of 
the previous calendar year, as published by FHFA;
    (2) Minus 0.05;
    (3) Multiplied by 5;
    (4) Divided by 100; and
    (5) Multiplied by the adjusted total assets of the Enterprise.
    (c) Effective date of an adjusted stability capital buffer--(1) 
Increase in stability capital buffer. An increase in the stability 
capital buffer of an Enterprise under this section will take effect 
(i.e., be incorporated into the maximum payout ratio under Table 1 to 
paragraph (b)(5) of Sec.  1240.11) on January 1 of the year that is one 
full calendar year after the increased stability capital buffer was 
calculated.
    (2) Decrease in stability capital buffer. A decrease in the 
stability capital buffer of an Enterprise will take effect (i.e., be 
incorporated into the maximum payout ratio under Table 1 to paragraph 
(b)(5) of Sec.  1240.11) on January 1 of the year immediately following 
the calendar year in which the decreased stability capital buffer was 
calculated.

[Alternative Approach]


Sec.  1240.400   Stability capital buffer.

    (a) Amount. An Enterprise must calculate its stability capital 
buffer under this section on an annual basis by December 31 of each 
year. The stability capital buffer of an Enterprise is equal to:
    (1) Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, the GSIB surcharge as 
calculated under subpart H of 12 CFR 217 (expressed as a percent), as 
if the Enterprise were a globally systemic important BHC under 12 CFR 
217.402; multiplied by
    (2) The weighted average of the risk weights of the mortgage 
exposures of the Enterprise (weighted by exposure amount) as of the 
effective date of the final rule; multiplied by
    (3) The adjusted total assets of the Enterprise.
    (b) Adjustment to systemic indicator score. In calculating the GSIB 
surcharge

[[Page 39406]]

under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the Enterprise must:
    (1) Exclude from the sum of its systemic indicator scores the 
systemic indicators for substitutability (payments activity, assets 
under custody, and underwritten transactions in debt and equity 
markets) and cross-jurisdictional activity (cross-jurisdictional claims 
and cross-jurisdictional liabilities); and
    (2) Divide the sum of its systemic indicator scores, as adjusted 
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, by the amount equal to 0.60.
    (c) Effective date of an adjusted stability buffer--(1) Increase in 
stability capital buffer. An increase in the stability buffer of an 
Enterprise under this section will take effect (i.e., be incorporated 
into the maximum payout ratio under Table 1 to paragraph (b)(5) of 
Sec.  1240.11) on January 1 of the year that is one full calendar year 
after the increased stability capital buffer was calculated.
    (2) Decrease in stability capital buffer. A decrease in the 
stability buffer of an Enterprise will take effect (i.e., be 
incorporated into the maximum payout ratio under Table 1 to paragraph 
(b)(5) of Sec.  1240.11) on January 1 of the year immediately following 
the calendar year in which the decreased stability capital buffer was 
calculated.

CHAPTER XII--FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

SUBCHAPTER C--SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS

PART 1750--[REMOVED]

0
6. Remove part 1750.

Mark A. Calabria,
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020-11279 Filed 6-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P