Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§243 Assessments upon Federal reserve banks to pay expenses

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM › § 243

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Federal Reserve Board can charge the Federal Reserve banks twice a year, based on each bank's capital and surplus, enough to pay the Board’s expected costs and staff salaries for the next half-year plus any leftover deficit. These charges can also pay to buy a site or building in Washington, D.C. After September 1, 2000, the Board may buy more sites or buildings, approve plans, build and equip them, and later maintain, enlarge, or remodel them, and it has sole control of those buildings and their space.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §243

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall have power to levy semiannually upon the Federal reserve banks, in proportion to their capital stock and surplus, an assessment sufficient to pay its estimated expenses and the salaries of its members and employees for the half year succeeding the levying of such assessment, together with any deficit carried forward from the preceding half year, and such assessments may include amounts sufficient to provide for the acquisition by the Board in its own name of such site or building in the District of Columbia as in its judgment alone shall be necessary for the purpose of providing suitable and adequate quarters for the performance of its functions. After September 1, 2000, the Board may also use such assessments to acquire, in its own name, a site or building (in addition to the facilities existing on such date) to provide for the performance of the functions of the Board. After approving such plans, estimates, and specifications as it shall have caused to be prepared, the Board may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, cause to be constructed on any site so acquired by it a building or buildings suitable and adequate in its judgment for its purposes and proceed to take all such steps as it may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the construction, equipment, and furnishing of such building or buildings. The Board may maintain, enlarge, or remodel any building or buildings so acquired or constructed and shall have sole control of such building or buildings and space therein.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of third par. of section 10 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 10, see note set out under section 241 of this title.

Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–569 inserted “After
September 1, 2000, the Board may also use such assessments to acquire, in its own name, a site or building (in addition to the facilities existing on such date) to provide for the performance of the functions of the Board.” after first sentence, inserted “or buildings” after “building” wherever appearing in third and fourth sentences, and substituted “constructed on any site” for “constructed on the site” in third sentence. 1934—Act
June 19, 1934, inserted provisions after “the preceding half year” in first sentence and inserted second and third sentences.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 243

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73