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How the High Level of Reserves Benefits the Payment System

Author

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  • Morten L. Bech
  • Antoine Martin
  • James J. McAndrews

Abstract

Since October 2008, the Federal Reserve has increased the size of its balance sheet by lending to financial intermediaries and purchasing assets on a large scale. While these actions have increased the amount of reserves in the U.S. banking system and therefore raised concerns about excessive bank lending and inflation, we can document an important and overlooked benefit of the high level of reserves: a significantly earlier settlement of payments on Fedwire, the Federal Reserve’s large-value payment system. Quicker settlement on Fedwire improves liquidity throughout the economy, reducing uncertainty and risk for people and firms that rely on banks. At the same time, the Fed has been extending less intraday credit, which reduces the public’s risk exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Morten L. Bech & Antoine Martin & James J. McAndrews, 2012. "How the High Level of Reserves Benefits the Payment System," Liberty Street Economics 20120227, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fednls:86791
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    Cited by:

    1. Biliana Alexandrova Kabadjova & Anton Badev & Saulo Benchimol Bastos & Evangelos Benos & Freddy Cepeda- Lopéz & James Chapman & Martin Diehl & Ioana Duca-Radu & Rodney Garratt & Ronald Heijmans & Anne, 2023. "Intraday liquidity around the world," BIS Working Papers 1089, Bank for International Settlements.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Large balance sheet; payment systems;

    JEL classification:

    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit
    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services

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