Comprised of the Board of Governors in Washington DC and 12 regional banks, the Federal Reserve's mandate is the following:
  • Setting monetary policy to ensure a stable currency and economic growth.
  • Regulating US banking institutions
  • Maintaining the overall all stability of the US financial system
  • Providing financial services to the US government.

Monetary Policy

The Fed is primarily responsible for setting monetary policy to ensure a stable currency and economic growth. It does this by controlling the cost and availability of money through actions decided by the Federal Open Market Committee (a 12-members group, 7 from the Fed Board, 4 rotating from regional bank presidencies and the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York) The FOMC sets reserve requirements (the percentage of deposits banks are required to hold on reserve), the discount rate (essentially the prime interest rate, or the cost of short term lending) and open market operations (where the Fed may move markets through intervention)

Learn About the Market Impact of FOMC Meetings

Bank Regulation

The Board of Governors also broadly regulates banks that operate inside the United States. Regulating what activities banks may perform and how they may perform them, as well as facilitating an efficient and continuously improving bank settlement system.

Board Membership

Members to the 7-person board are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate to 14-year terms.


For more information on the above term, try: Monetary Policy Money And Interest Rates - By Country