what banks are part of the federal home loan system 
the 11 banks of the federal home loan bank system are scattered around the country each one services a geographic region made up of several states the 11 federal home loan banks include the approximate number of banks credit unions insurance companies thrifts and certified community development financial institutions that are members of the fhlb and receive funding from it fhlb servicesas cooperatives fhlbanks maintain moderate costs and overhead reflected in the interest they charge their member banks this means the member banks have access to low cost loans which they in turn lend to their customers the fhlbanks primary focus is real estate financing unlike the other real estate oriented government sponsored enterprises fannie mae and freddie mac fhlbs do not guarantee or ensure mortgage loans however instead fhlbs act as a bank to banks by providing long and short term loans called advances to their members as well as specialized grants and loans aimed at increasing affordable housing and economic development in some cases fhlbs also provide secondary market outlets for members interested in selling mortgage loans fhlbanks participate in and operate through various federal programs these include the affordable housing program the community investment program the mortgage partnership finance program and the mortgage purchase program about 80 of u s lending institutions rely on federal home loan banks 