Abstract
This paper models the relationship between interest rate swaps and capital in savings and loan associations. The interest rate swap is a way in which financial institutions exchange the flexible rate on their liabilities with a fixed interest rate to hedge themselves from interest rate risk, and therefore reduce the need for a capital cushion. The empirical evidence, however, shows that a small capital cushion reduces the firm's possibility of using interest rate swaps because no partner is willing to engage in a rate swapping contract with a firm that does not have adequate capital and soundness.