The Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a proposed rule last week that would reduce the amount of approval the Federal Home Loan Banks would need from the regulator before engaging in new business activities. This comes after the FHLBanks wrote the FHFA in 2013 following a request for public comment on existing regulations. The agency said this was done to help improve the banks’ effectiveness and reduce their burden. The agency announced the rule modifying part of its regulations regarding requirements for the FHLBanks’ new business activity in the Aug. 23, 2016, Federal Register.