Title 12 › CHAPTER 45 — PAYMENT SYSTEM RISK REDUCTION › SUBCHAPTER I — BILATERAL AND CLEARING ORGANIZATION NETTING › § 4402
Defines key words used in this part of the law. Each term is given in plain language so people know what they mean here. Broker or dealer: a company licensed under federal or state law to trade, underwrite, or broker securities in the U.S., and sometimes its affiliates that enter netting deals if the Federal Reserve allows. Clearing organization: a clearinghouse or similar group that clears, nets, or settles trades for its members and that meets certain membership or registration rules (like SEC or derivatives clearing registration or being multilateral). Covered clearing obligation: a member’s duty to pay another member that is covered by a netting agreement. Covered contractual payment entitlement: a right to receive a payment under a netting agreement, either between financial institutions or among clearing members. Covered contractual payment obligation: a duty to pay under a netting agreement, including covered clearing obligations. Depository institution: certain banks, foreign bank branches, and specific corporations tied to the Federal Reserve, as listed in federal law. Failed financial institution: a financial institution that fails to pay covered obligations when due, enters insolvency or similar proceedings, or generally stops meeting its obligations. Failed member: a member that fails to pay covered clearing obligations, enters insolvency-type proceedings, or stops meeting obligations. Financial institution: a broker/dealer, depository institution, futures commission merchant, or another institution the Federal Reserve names. Futures commission merchant: a firm licensed to sell commodity futures and options. Member: a participant in a clearing organization, including the clearing organization itself and other clearing organizations with netting contracts with it. Net entitlement: the amount by which a party’s receivables exceed its payables after netting. Net obligation: the amount by which a party’s payables exceed its receivables after netting. Netting contract: an agreement among parties to combine (net) their payment rights and duties, including clearing rules, but not contracts illegal under federal law. Payment: money in U.S. dollars or other currencies, a combo of currencies, or noncash deliveries, including deliveries that settle unpaid obligations.
Full Legal Text
Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 4402
Title 12, Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110