Federal Reserve Updates Bank Service Fees for 2026 Fairness
Published Date: 12/9/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting January 1, 2026, the Federal Reserve is updating its fees for bank services to cover all costs plus a fair profit, totaling a $34.1 million private-sector adjustment. Banks and financial institutions using these services will see new prices that reflect the true cost of running these operations. This change keeps things fair and transparent, making sure fees match what it really costs to provide these important services.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
Overall Federal Reserve Price Update
Starting January 1, 2026, the Federal Reserve approved a 2026 private-sector adjustment factor (PSAF) of $34.1 million and new fee schedules that together produce an average price change of 0.9 percent for customers. The Board says these fee changes are intended to recover all costs plus a fair profit over the long run.
Check Services: Big Paper-Check Fee Hikes
For 2026 the Reserve Banks raised many Check Services fees effective January 1, 2026 — for example, Check 21 participation fees will rise (Tier 1 from $550 to $1,100), forward and return paper fees increase, and Premium Delivery fees rise (8:00 a.m. ET target from $0.037 to $0.048). The Reserve Banks project these cumulative Check Services changes will average a 5.9 percent price increase for Check customers and plan to sunset the Foreign and Canadian Check Service at the end of 2026.
Fedwire Funds & National Settlement Fee Increases
Effective January 1, 2026, the Fedwire Funds Service participation fee will increase from $120 to $125, Tier 2 and Tier 3 monthly fixed fees will rise (Tier 2 from $250 to $300; Tier 3 from $500 to $600), the National Settlement Service per-file fee will increase from $40 to $45, and the per-entry fee will increase from $1.95 to $2.10. The Reserve Banks estimate a 2.8 percent average price increase for customers of these services.
Fedwire Securities Fees Reduced (Some ACAP Fees Up)
For 2026 the Reserve Banks will decrease Fedwire Securities transfer fees from $0.61 to $0.55 per transfer and reduce monthly account maintenance from $57.50 to $51.50; issue maintenance also falls from $0.61 to $0.55 per issue per account. Some Automated Claim Adjustment Process (ACAP) fees will rise modestly (for example, fail claim adjustment from $1.00 to $1.10). Overall, the Reserve Banks estimate a 9.4 percent average price decrease for Fedwire Securities customers in 2026.
FedACH: Discount Expansion, New Tool, Small Fee Changes
In 2026 the Reserve Banks will lower the FedACH Receipt Discount Program Level Two monthly threshold from 5 million to 1 million items, increase the FedACH Information File Extract Fee from $180 to $190 per month, and introduce a Payee Name Verification tool priced at $0.02 per transaction (initially available only to FedACH customers). The Reserve Banks estimate these cumulative FedACH price changes will result in a 0.1 percent average decrease for FedACH customers.
FedNow Discounts Continued Through 2026
The Reserve Banks will maintain FedNow discounts and incentives through 2026: participation fee discounted to $0, the first 2,500 transactions per month discounted to $0, and the FedLine connectivity discount program continues. The Board says it will revisit FedNow discounts and pricing structures after 2026.
FedLine: Bundles End, Direct WAN Fee Rises
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Reserve Banks will discontinue FedComplete packages and bill previously bundled customers as unbundled FedLine Advantage base/Plus/Premier customers. The monthly fee for the FedLine Direct Solution's additional 2 mbps WAN connection will increase from $3,000 to $3,300. The Reserve Banks estimate a 2.5 percent average price increase for FedLine customers.
Sunset of Remaining FedGlobal ACH Payments
The Reserve Banks intend to discontinue the remaining FedGlobal ACH Payments services to Mexico and Panama at the end of 2026; Foreign and Canadian FedGlobal ACH Payments ended earlier. The Board will provide more detailed wind-down communications before service discontinuation.
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Key Dates
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