Fed proposes to automate routine Fed stock adjustments

The Federal Reserve Board has announced it is requesting public comment on a proposal to automate non-merger-related adjustments to member banks' subscriptions to Federal Reserve Bank capital stock. The automated process would eliminate the need for member banks to file applications to adjust their stock subscriptions—except in the context of mergers—and would significantly reduce the annual reporting burden.

Regulation I, which governs the issuance and cancellation of capital stock by the Reserve Banks, currently requires that a member bank apply to adjust its stock subscription at least annually and sometimes quarterly. A member bank determines its required stock subscription based on its capital and surplus (or total deposit liabilities for a mutual savings bank) as reported in the member bank's most recent Call Report. The Reserve Banks are developing software that will automatically pull the information needed to calculate member banks' required stock subscriptions from Call Reports and thereby automate the stock adjustment process. Further, the Board proposes that a Reserve Bank would adjust a member bank's stock subscription each time the member bank files a Call Report.

The proposal would also make certain other technical changes to the regulation. Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication of the proposal.

PUBLICATION AND COMMENT PERIOD UPDATE: Scheduled for publication on 4/13/2021, with comments due by 6/14/2021.
STATUS UPDATE: On 1/10/2022, the Board of Governors announced a final rule that is substantially similar to this proposal. It will become effective 30 days after publication.