The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions–commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions–foster homeownership, expand access to quality housing, seed or sustain small businesses, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant and resilient.

For most financial institutions, especially small community lenders, direct borrowing from the global capital markets is not an option. As part of a network of 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks across the country, we are able to raise funds in the global capital markets at favorable rates and terms. This allows us to provide our members with prompt, reliable access to low-cost loans (we call them “advances”) and financial risk management tools that help them meet housing finance and economic development needs in the regions they serve.

The credit we deliver enables community lenders to make home mortgage, commercial real estate, small business, and other loans. Working with our members, community nonprofits, and cities and towns across our region, we also support affordable housing and economic development through targeted grant and loan programs. As part of this effort, we set aside 10% of our income each year to fund Affordable Housing Program grants for lower-income households.