Circular
Treasury and Federal Reserve Announce Launch of Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility
March 3, 2009
Circular No. 12074

In carrying out the Financial Stability Plan, the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board have announced the launch of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), a component of the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative (CBLI). The TALF has the potential to generate up to $1 trillion of lending for businesses and households.

The TALF is designed to catalyze the securitization markets by providing financing to investors to support their purchases of certain AAA-rated asset-backed securities (ABS). These markets have historically been a critical component of lending in our financial system, but they have been virtually shuttered since the worsening of the financial crisis in October. By reopening these markets, the TALF will assist lenders in meeting the borrowing needs of consumers and small businesses, helping to stimulate the broader economy.

Under this announcement, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will lend up to $200 billion to eligible owners of certain AAA-rated ABS backed by newly and recently originated auto loans, credit card loans, student loans and SBA-guaranteed small business loans.

Issuers and investors in the private sector are expected to begin arranging and marketing new securitizations of recently generated loans, and subscriptions for funding in March will be accepted on March 17, 2009. On March 25, 2009, those new securitizations will be funded by the program, creating new lending capacity for additional future loans. The program will hold monthly fundings through December 2009 or longer if the Federal Reserve Board chooses to extend the facility.

The Board has also released revised terms and conditions for the facility and a revised set of frequently asked questions.

See the press release for full details.

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