Federal Reserve

Board of the Federal Reserve Announces Final Rule Amending Regulation EE

Posted on

 

On February 18, the Board of the Federal Reserve announced a final rule amending Regulation EE, which is intended to reduce risk and increase efficiency in the financial system. The final rule applies netting protections to a broader range of financial institutions. The expanded definition of financial institutions now includes swap dealers and security-based swap dealers, nonbank systemically important financial institutions, foreign banks and qualifying central counterparties, among other new additions. The final rule also made minor clarifications to the existing activities-based test in Regulation EE, which clarify the application of the test following a consolidation of legal entities. Release.

Federal Reserve Extends Termination Date of Main Street Lending Program to January 8, 2021

Posted on

 

On December 29, the Federal Reserve announced it would extend the termination date of Main Street Lending program facilities to January 8, 2021. The extension will allow additional time for lenders to process and fund loans that were submitted to the Main Street lender portal on or before December 14, 2020. Release.

Federal Reserve Announces the Extension of its Temporary U.S. Dollar Liquidity Swap Lines and the Temporary Repurchase Agreement Facility

Posted on

 

On December 16, the Federal Reserve announced an extension through September 30, 2021, of its temporary U.S. dollar liquidity swap lines and the temporary repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities (FIMA repo facility). In March 2020, these facilities were temporarily established with the goal to ease strains in global dollar funding markets created by the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the supply of credit to households and businesses. These facilities were previously extended as of July 29, 2020. Release.

Federal Bank Regulatory Agencies Modify Liquidity Coverage Ratio for Banks Participating in Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility and Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility

Posted on

 

On May 5, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) announced an interim final rule to facilitate the flow of credit to households and businesses from banking organizations participating in the Federal Reserve’s Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility and the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility. The rule neutralizes the impact of the Liquidity Coverage Ratio rule associated with the funding provided by these facilities. Release. Rule.

Federal Reserve Board Announces Expansion of Municipal Liquidity Facility

Posted on

 

On April 27, the Federal Reserve released an updated Term Sheet and FAQs expanding the scope and duration of its Municipal Liquidity Facility. Among other changes, the updated Term Sheet provides that eligible notes must have less than 36 months maturity (previously 24 months) and eligible issuers include counties with at least 500,000 residents and cities with at least 250,000 residents (previously 2 million and 1 million). The Federal Reserve also extended the program’s termination date by three months to December 31. Release. Updated Term Sheet. FAQs.

Federal Reserve Announces its Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility is Fully Operational and Available to Provide Liquidity to Eligible Financial Institutions

Posted on

 

On April 16, the Federal Reserve announced that its Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility is fully operational and available to provide liquidity to eligible financial institutions, which will help support small businesses. The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, guarantees loans extended by qualified lenders to small businesses so that those businesses can keep workers employed. Release.

Federal Bank Regulators Issue Interim Final Rule for Paycheck Protection Program Facility

Posted on

 

On April 9, the federal bank regulatory agencies today announced an interim final rule to encourage lending to small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The interim final rule modifies the agencies’ capital rules to neutralize the regulatory capital effects of participating in the Federal Reserve’s PPP facility because there is no credit or market risk in association with PPP loans pledged to the facility. Consistent with the agencies’ current capital rules and the CARES Act requirements, the interim final rule also clarifies that a zero percent risk weight applies to loans covered by the PPP for capital purposes. The rule is effective immediately. Release.

Federal Agencies Make Joint Release Announcing Actions to Support Lending to Households and Businesses

Posted on

 

On March 27, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the OCC announced two actions to support continued lending by banking organizations to households and businesses. The first action is early adoption of the standardized approach for measuring counterparty credit risks finalized in November 2019, with a new effective date of April 1, 2020. The second action is an interim final rule that allows banking organizations that would otherwise be required to adopt the new current expected credit loss accounting standard this year, to have the option of delaying adopting the new standard for up to two years. Federal Reserve Release. FDIC Release. OCC Release.

Federal Reserve Announces New Efforts to Stabilize U.S. Economy

Posted on

 

On March 23, the Federal Reserve announced several new measures it will take in an effort to support and stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Open Market Committee will purchase Treasury securities and agency mortgage-backed securities (including commercial mortgage-backed securities). Several new credit facilities will be established to support the flow of credit – the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility (PMCCF), the Secondary Corporate Credit Facility (SMCCF) and the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF). Certain existing credit facilities will be expanded to include additional securities – the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) and the Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF). The Federal Reserve also announced plans to create a Main Street Business Lending Program to facilitate lending to small businesses. Release.

Federal Reserve and FDIC Release Public Sections of Resolution Plans for Largest U.S. Banks

Posted on

 

On July 23, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released the public sections of the resolution plans submitted by the eight U.S. global systemically important banks. The full resolution plans, which are required by the Dodd-Frank Act and commonly known as living wills, were submitted for the agencies’ review on July 1. Release.