Value proposition

Meeting the evolving needs and fostering the integrity, efficiency and accessibility of the U.S. payment system.

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible and more stable monetary and financial system.

The Financial Services division of the Federal Reserve Banks is focused on meeting the evolving needs of payment system users, while remaining true to our longstanding mission to foster the integrity, efficiency and accessibility of the U.S. payment system.

Federal Reserve Financial Services provides services to banks, credit unions and savings and loans in the same way these depository institutions provide services to their customers. These services include electronically transferring funds, collecting checks, and distributing and receiving cash and coin.

Starting in July 2023, the Federal Reserve provides an instant payment offering that enables real-time fund transfer and interbank settlement on a 24x7x365 basis. The FedNow® Service joins a family of Federal Reserve products and services that includes:

• Accounting Information Services (AIS): Provides timely information about entries debited or credited to an institution’s account
• Check Services: Offers a suite of electronic and paper check processing options.
• FedACH® Services: Offers electronic exchange of debit and credit transactions through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network
• FedCash® Services: Ensures a sufficient supply of currency and coin for depository institutions
• Fedwire® Securities and Fedwire Funds Services: Provides issuance, maintenance, transfer and settlement services, as well as electronic funds transfer service for mission-critical, same-day transactions
• National Settlement Services: Provides multilateral settlement to depository institutions with a Federal Reserve master account that settle for participants in private-sector clearing and/or settlement arrangements

This profile is managed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on behalf of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks.

Financial Services, Payment Services, Financial Education, Consumer Affairs, and Banking