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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neil Cotiaux, FHLBank Pittsburgh: 412-288-2851, cell: 412-335-9488;

Hughlett Kirby, vice president for commercial real estate, Wilmington Trust;
302-651-8946

Wilmington Trust's Hughlett Kirby Honored for Community Building:
Grants for Low-Income Homebuyers, Funds for Affordable Housing Cited

PAOLI, PA, June 7, 2007 - A. Hughlett Kirby, vice president for commercial real estate at Wilmington Trust Company, was chosen today as the single banker across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia who best demonstrates a lifelong commitment to affordable housing and community investment.

Kirby received the special Council’s Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank), a congressionally-chartered wholesale bank that assists local financial institutions in meeting the affordable housing needs of the communities they serve. According to the FHLBank, Kirby “has provided exemplary leadership to Wilmington Trust Company, helping it to become a star in community and economic development in the region.”

Specifically, Kirby was cited for helping 774 low-income families buy their first homes by providing more than $3 million in grants through the First Front Door program to help meet down payment and closing costs. She also was recognized for creating a new financing model through which special purpose banks, credit card companies, private foundations and churches could participate with Wilmington Trust in funding affordable housing projects. In addition, Kirby has been instrumental in securing financing for startup entrepreneurs or growing small businesses that might not otherwise receive funding. She has also delivered affordable housing grants to twelve rental and homeownership projects in the region.

Employed by Wilmington Trust for more than 15 years, Kirby serves on the board of the Delaware Community Investment Corporation and the Wilmington Housing Partnership. She is also a committee member of the Delaware Homebuilders Association.

Presenting the Council’s Award to Kirby at a meeting of regional bankers was John Bendel, director of Community Investment at FHLBank.