What 12 banks own the Federal Reserve?
All nationally chartered banks hold stock in one of the Federal Reserve banks. State-chartered banks may choose to be members (and hold stock in a regional Federal Reserve bank), upon meeting certain standards. Holding stock in a Federal Reserve bank is not, however, like owning publicly traded stock.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
All nationally chartered banks hold stock in one of the Federal Reserve banks. State-chartered banks may choose to be members (and hold stock in a regional Federal Reserve bank), upon meeting certain standards. Holding stock in a Federal Reserve bank is not, however, like owning publicly traded stock.
The Board of Governors--located in Washington, D.C.--is the governing body of the Federal Reserve System. It is run by seven members, or "governors," who are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed in their positions by the U.S. Senate.
In establishing the Federal Reserve System, the United States was divided geographically into 12 Districts, each with a separately incorporated Reserve Bank. District boundaries were based on prevailing trade regions that existed in 1913 and related economic considerations.
State-chartered banks may ultimately decide to refrain from membership under the Fed because regulation can be less onerous based on state laws and under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which oversees non-member banks. Other examples of non-member banks include the Bank of the West and GMC Bank.
So is the Fed private or public? The answer is both. While the Board of Governors is an independent government agency, the Federal Reserve Banks are set up like private corporations. Member banks hold stock in the Federal Reserve Banks and earn dividends.
The bank responded with copies of what it calls its Capital Stock Master Report, a compendium of shareholdings of member banks, for each of those years. The big reveal for year-end 2018: Citibank, the No. 1 institution on the roster, held 87.9 million New York Federal Reserve Bank shares – or 42.8 percent of the total.
More than one-third of U.S. commercial banks are members of the Federal Reserve System. National banks must be members; state chartered banks may join by meeting certain requirements.
U.S currency is produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and U.S. coins are produced by the U.S. Mint. Both organizations are bureaus of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Who are the 7 members who run the Federal Reserve?
| Current governor | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Powell (Chair) | Republican | January 31, 2028 (as Governor) |
| Philip Jefferson (Vice Chair) | Democratic | September 7, 2027 (as Vice Chair) |
| January 31, 2036 (as Governor) | ||
| Michael Barr (Vice Chair for Supervision) | Democratic | July 13, 2026 (as Vice Chair for Supervision) |
- Jerome H. Powell. Chair.
- Philip N. Jefferson. Vice Chair.
- Michael S. Barr. Vice Chair for Supervision.
- Michelle W. Bowman.
- Lisa D. Cook.
- Adriana D. Kugler.
- Christopher J. Waller.
The Federal Reserve, like many other central banks, is an independent government agency but also one that is ultimately accountable to the public and the Congress.
The Board of Governors, an agency of the federal government that reports to and is directly accountable to Congress, provides general guidance for the System and oversees the 12 Reserve Banks.
Many people are surprised to learn that the central bank of the United States, the Federal Reserve ("the Fed," for short), operates for the most part independently of the federal government. But the Fed is also a quasi-governmental agency with a board of governors selected by the President and approved by Congress.
Federal Reserve notes are no longer backed by assets such as gold. Instead, Federal Reserve notes are supported solely by the government's declaration that "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private" in the United States.
What bank operates in all 50 states? No bank currently operates a branch location in all 50 states, though several of the nation's largest institutions come close. Chase Bank, for one, has over 4,700 branch locations in 49 states and Washington D.C. Wells Fargo also offers around 4,600 branches in 36 states.
The Federal Reserve does not supervise or regulate credit unions. Federally chartered credit unions are regulated by the National Credit Union Administration, while state-chartered credit unions are regulated at the state level. The Fed is one of several banking regulatory agencies at the federal level.
The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations as well as federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The OCC is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Critics have also raised concerns about the Fed's role in fractional reserve banking, its contribution to economic cycles, and its transparency. The Fed has been accused of causing economic downturns, including the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and of being influenced by private interests.
Who pays the Federal Reserve salaries?
Members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, including the chair of the Federal Reserve System, are government employees whose pay is set by Congress.
The Federal Reserve System was created on December 23, 1913, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law.
1. JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan Chase, or Chase Bank, is the biggest bank in America with nearly $3.4 trillion in assets. It boasts a vast network of over 4,800 physical branches and more than 15,000 ATMs.
Bank of America (BAC)
Currently, Buffett owns more than 1 billion shares of BAC stock, a stake that's valued at approximately $35 billion. This is Buffett's largest bank holding and one that he has held on to for a long time despite market swings.
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