Federal Reserve Bank Services Private Sector Adjustment Factor — 2012-11-08 [2012-26918]

The Board has approved modifications to its method for calculating the private-sector adjustment factor (PSAF). The PSAF is part of the Board's calculation, as required by the Monetary Control Act of 1980 (MCA), to establish the fees that Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks) charge for certain financial services provided to depository institutions. Because the Federal Reserve priced services have historically had characteristics most analogous to correspondent banks, clearing balances held by depository institutions at Reserve Banks were a primary component in computing the PSAF. The clearing balance program was largely modeled after similar programs offered by correspondent banks, wherein banks maintain balances with their correspondents. The Board was prompted to consider a new PSAF methodology because clearing balances held at Reserve Banks were declining following the Board's implementation of the payment of interest on required reserve and excess balances held at Reserve Banks.