[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48274-48275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22958]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 201

[Regulation A]


Extensions of Credit by Federal Reserve Banks; Change in Discount 
Rate

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Board of Governors has amended its Regulation A on 
Extensions of Credit by Federal Reserve Banks to reflect its approval 
of an increase in the basic discount rate at each Federal Reserve Bank. 
The Board acted on requests submitted by the Boards of Directors of the 
twelve Federal Reserve Banks.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The amendments to part 201 (Regulation A) were 
effective August 24, 1999. The rate changes for adjustment credit were 
effective on the dates specified in 12 CFR 201.51.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the 
Board, (202) 452-3259; for users of Telecommunications Device for the 
Deaf (TDD), contact Diane Jenkins, (202) 452-3544, Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets NW., Washington, D.C. 
20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the authority of sections 10(b), 
13, 14, 19, et al., of the Federal Reserve Act, the Board has amended 
its Regulation A (12 CFR part 201) to incorporate changes in discount 
rates on Federal Reserve Bank extensions of credit. The discount rates 
are the interest rates charged to depository institutions when they 
borrow from their district Reserve Banks.
    The ``basic discount rate'' is a fixed rate charged by Reserve 
Banks for adjustment credit and, at the Reserve Banks' discretion, for 
extended credit. In increasing the basic discount rate from 4.5 percent 
to 4.75 percent, the Board acted on requests submitted by the Boards of 
Directors of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks. The new rates were 
effective on the dates specified below.
    With financial markets functioning more normally, and with 
persistent strength in domestic demand, foreign economies firming, and 
labor markets remaining very tight, the degree of monetary ease 
required to address the global financial market turmoil of last fall is 
no longer consistent with sustained, non-inflationary, economic 
expansion. The 25-basis-point increase in the discount rate was 
associated with a similar increase in the federal funds rate announced 
at the same time.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 605(b)), the Board certifies that the change in the basic 
discount rate will not have a significant adverse economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The rule does not impose any 
additional requirements on entities affected by the regulation.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) relating to notice and public 
participation were not followed in connection with the adoption of the 
amendment because the Board for good cause finds that delaying the 
change in the basic discount rate in order to allow notice and public 
comment on the change is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to 
the public interest in fostering sustainable economic growth.
    The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(d) that prescribe 30 days prior 
notice of the effective date of a rule have not been followed because 
section 553(d) provides that such prior notice is not necessary 
whenever there is good cause for finding that such notice is contrary 
to the public interest. As previously stated, the Board determined that 
delaying the changes in the basic discount rate is contrary to the 
public interest.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 201

    Banks, banking, Credit, Federal Reserve System.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 12 CFR part 201 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 201--EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT BY FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS (REGULATION 
A)

    1. The authority citation for 12 CFR part 201 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 343 et seq., 347a, 347b, 347c, 347d, 348 et 
seq., 357, 374, 374a and 461.

    2. Section 201.51 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 201.51  Adjustment credit for depository institutions.

    The rates for adjustment credit provided to depository institutions 
under Sec. 201.3(a) are:

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       Federal Reserve Bank          Rate            Effective
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Boston............................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
New York..........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Philadelphia......................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Cleveland.........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.

[[Page 48275]]

 
Richmond..........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Atlanta...........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Chicago...........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
St. Louis.........................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Minneapolis.......................   4.75  August 25, 1999.
Kansas City.......................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
Dallas............................   4.75  August 26, 1999.
San Francisco.....................   4.75  August 24, 1999.
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    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, August 30, 1999.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 99-22958 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P