Chandler appointed to federal bank board [05/03/2003]

Bush appoints him to Federal Home Loan Bank

Gene Chandler, Speaker of the N.H. House and chair of Bartlett Board of Selectmen, has been appointed to the board of directors of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.Chandler, who was named to the post by President Bush earlier this week, has already attended one meeting in Boston and is scheduled to attend another in Washington this weekend. "I'm excited about doing it," Chandler, who is in the real estate, land and timber business and has been a selectmen for 29 years, said. "It's a new assignment and I've got a great deal to learn because it's something I'm not overly familiar with."Chandler said he "is looking forward" to learning more about the process.Federal Home Loan Bank is a $44 billion, cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing finance in the six New England states. It's mission is to support the residential-mortgage and community-development lending activities of its members, which include more than 450 financial institutions across New England. To accomplish its mission, the bank uses private-sector capital to provide members and other qualified customers with reliable access to low-cost wholesale funds, liquidity, a competitive outlet for the sale of loans, special lending programs, technical assistance and other products and services.Joining Chandler as new Bush appointees to the bank board are N.H. Senate President Thomas R. Eaton and Maine attorney Ann Robinson.