[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45752-45753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21924]


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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, 
Extensions of Credit by Federal Reserve Banks to reflect its approval 
of a decrease 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.

DATES: The amendments to part 201 (Regulation A) were effective August 
21, 2001. 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, at (202)452-3259, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, 20th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 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 for up to 30 days. In decreasing the basic discount 
rate from 3.25 percent to 3.0 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. The 
25-basis-point decrease in the discount rate was associated with a 
similar decrease in the federal funds rate approved by the Federal Open 
Market Committee (FOMC) and announced at the same time.
    In a joint press release announcing these actions, the FOMC and the 
Board of Governors noted that household demand has been sustained, but 
business profits and capital spending continue to weaken and growth 
abroad is slowing, weighing on the U.S. economy. The associated easing 
of pressures on labor and product markets is expected to keep inflation 
contained.
    Although long-term prospects for productivity growth and the 
economy remain favorable, the FOMC continues to believe that against 
the background of its long-run goals of price stability and sustainable 
economic growth and of the information currently available, the risks 
are weighted mainly toward conditions that may generate economic 
weakness in the foreseeable future.

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

[[Page 45753]]

fostering price stability and 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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Federal Reserve Bank           Rate            Effective
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston..............................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
New York............................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
Philadelphia........................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
Cleveland...........................     3.0  Aug. 23, 2001.
Richmond............................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
Atlanta.............................     3.0  Aug. 23, 2001.
Chicago.............................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
St. Louis...........................     3.0  Aug. 23, 2001.
Minneapolis.........................     3.0  Aug. 22, 2001.
Kansas City.........................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
Dallas..............................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
San Francisco.......................     3.0  Aug. 21, 2001.
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    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, August 27, 2001.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 01-21924 Filed 8-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P