Board of Governors Financial Statements

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(1) Structure

The Federal Reserve System (System) was established by Congress in 1913 and consists of the Board of Governors (Board), the Federal Open Market Committee, the twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks, the Federal Advisory Council, and the private commercial banks that are members of the System. The Board, unlike the Reserve Banks, was established as a federal government agency and is supported by Washington, DC based staff numbering approximately 2,000, as it carries out its responsibilities in conjunction with other components of the Federal Reserve System.

The Board is required by the Federal Reserve Act to report its operations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Act also requires the Board, each year, to order a financial audit of each Federal Reserve Bank and to publish each week a statement of the financial condition of each such Reserve Bank and a consolidated statement for all of the Reserve Banks. Accordingly, the Board believes that the best financial disclosure consistent with law is achieved by issuing separate financial statements for the Board and for the Reserve Banks. Therefore, the accompanying financial statements include only the results of operations and activities of the Board. Combined financial statements for the Federal Reserve Banks are included in the Board's annual report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Operations and Services

The Board's responsibilities require thorough analysis of domestic and international financial and economic developments. The Board carries out those responsibilities in conjunction with other components of the Federal Reserve System. The Board also supervises and regulates the operations of the Federal Reserve Banks, exercises broad responsibility in the nation's payments system, and administers most of the nation's laws regarding consumer credit protection. Policy regarding open market operations is established by the Federal Open Market Committee. However, the Board has sole authority over changes in reserve requirements, and it must approve any change in the discount rate initiated by a Federal Reserve Bank.

The Board also plays a major role in the supervision and regulation of the U.S. banking system. It has supervisory responsibilities for state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System, bank holding companies, foreign activities of member banks, and U.S. activities of foreign banks.

(3) Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting -- The Board prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Revenues -- The Board assesses the Federal Reserve Banks for operating expenses and additions to property, which are based on expected cash needs.

Currency Costs -- Federal Reserve Banks issue new and fit currency to the public and destroy currency already in circulation as it becomes unfit or when a new design is issued. Each year, the Board orders new currency from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The Board incurs expenses and assesses the Federal Reserve Banks for costs related to currency. These expenses and assessments are reported separately from the Board's operating transactions in the Board's Statement of Revenues and Expenses and Changes in Cumulative Results of Operations.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts -- Accounts receivable considered uncollectible are charged against the allowance account in the year they are deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is adjusted monthly, based upon a review of outstanding receivables.

Property, Equipment, and Software -- The Board's property, buildings, equipment, and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years for furniture and equipment, ten to fifty years for building equipment and structures, and two to ten years for software. Upon the sale or other disposition of a depreciable asset, the cost and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is recognized.

The Board complies with Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, which requires that certain costs incurred in the development of internal use software be capitalized and amortized over its useful life.

Art Collections -- The Board has collections of works of art, historical treasures, and similar assets. These collections are maintained and held for public exhibition in furtherance of public service. Proceeds from any sales of collections are used to acquire other items for collections. As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 116, Accounting for Contributions Received and Contributions Made, the cost of collections purchased by the Board is charged to expense in the year purchased and donated collection items are not recorded. The value of the Board's collections has not been determined.

Estimates -- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(4) Property and Equipment

The following is a summary of the components of the Board's property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Construction in process includes costs incurred in 2008 and 2007 for long-term security projects and building enhancements.

In May 2008, the Board received an asset contribution from a federal government agency with an estimated fair market value (FMV) of $80,000. The Board recognized the FMV as revenue and capitalized the asset in June 2008.

The Board entered into capital leases for printing equipment during 2003, which terminated in May 2008. The Board subsequently entered into new capital leases in 2008. Under the new commitments, the capital lease term extends through 2012. Furniture and equipment includes $1,923,000 and $1,230,000 in 2008 and 2007, respectively, for capitalized leases. Accumulated depreciation includes $280,000 and $1,123,000 for capitalized leases as of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Board paid interest related to these capital leases in the amount of $26,000 and $31,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The future minimum lease payments required under the capital leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2008, are as follows:

(5) Accumulated Retirement Benefits

Substantially all of the Board's employees participate in the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System (System Plan). The System Plan provides retirement benefits only to employees of the Board, the Federal Reserve Banks, and the Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System (OEB). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRB NY), on behalf of the System, recognizes the net asset and costs associated with the System Plan in its financial statements. Costs associated with the System Plan are not redistributed to other participating employers.

Employees of the Board who became employed prior to 1984 are covered by a contributory defined benefits program under the System Plan. Employees of the Board who became employed after 1983 are covered by a non-contributory defined benefits program under the System Plan. Contributions to the System Plan are actuarially determined and funded by participating employers. Based on actuarial calculations, it was determined that employer funding contributions were not required for the years 2008 and 2007, and the Board was not assessed a contribution for these years. In late 2008, the Committee on Plan Administration reviewed the System Plan's funding status and recommended additional contributions during 2009. The System began making contributions to the Plan of $20 million per month starting in January 2009; these contributions will continue to be made each month and may be adjusted upon completion of the 2009 actuarial valuation.

Effective January 1, 1996, Board employees covered under the System Plan are also covered under a Benefits Equalization Plan (BEP). Benefits paid under the BEP are limited to those benefits that cannot be paid from the System Plan due to limitations imposed by sections 401(a)(17), 415(b) and 415(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Activity for the BEP for 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the following tables:

On October 30, 2008, the Board approved a nonqualified plan for Officers of the Board. The retirement benefits covered under the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (BSERP) increases the pension benefit calculation from 1.8 percent above the Social Security integration level to 2.0 percent. Activity for the BSERP for 2008 is summarized in the following tables:

The total accumulated retirement benefit obligation for both the Benefits Equalization Plan (BEP) and Supplemental Retirement Plan (BSERP) are as follows:

A relatively small number of Board employees participate in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). These defined benefit plans are administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which determines the required employer contribution levels. The Board's contributions to these plans totaled $305,000 and $316,000 in 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Board has no liability for future payments to retirees under these programs and is not accountable for the assets of the plans.

Employees of the Board may also participate in the Federal Reserve System's Thrift Plan or Roth 401(k). Board contributions to members' accounts are based upon a fixed percentage of each member's basic contribution and were $11,815,000 and $9,542,000 in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

(6) Accumulated Postretirement Benefits

The Board provides certain life insurance programs for its active employees and retirees. Activity for 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the following tables:

(7) Accumulated Postemployment Benefits

The Board provides certain postemployment benefits to eligible former or inactive employees and their dependents during the period subsequent to employment but prior to retirement. Postemployment costs were actuarially determined using a December 31 measurement date and discount rates of 2.50 percent and 5.75 percent as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The accrued postemployment benefit costs recognized by the Board as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, were $5,974,000 and $3,055,000, respectively.

(8) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Following is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Additional detail regarding the classification of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in notes 5 and 6.

(9) Federal Reserve Banks

The Board performs certain functions for the Reserve Banks in conjunction with its responsibilities for the System, and the Reserve Banks provide certain administrative functions for the Board. Activity related to the Board and Reserve Banks is summarized in the following table:

The Board contracted for audit services on behalf of entities that are included in the combined financial statements of the Federal Reserve Banks. The entities will reimburse the Board for the cost of the audit services. The Board accrued liabilities of $313,000 in audit services and recorded receivables of $313,000 from the entities as of December 31, 2008.

(10) Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council

The Board is one of the five member agencies of the Council, and currently performs certain management functions for the Council. The five agencies which are represented on the Council are the Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Office of Thrift Supervision. The Board's financial statements do not include financial data for the Council. Activity related to the Board and Council for 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the following table:

(11) The Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System

The Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System (OEB) administers certain System benefit programs on behalf of the Board and the Reserve Banks, and costs associated with the OEB's activities are assessed to the Board and Reserve Banks. The Board was assessed $2,867,208 and $2,866,676 as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

(12) Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is the principal supplier for currency printing and retirement services. The currency costs incurred and outstanding balances owed to BEP as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, are reflected in the following table:

Rental expenses under the operating leases were $2,207,000 and $539,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The amount of additional deferred rent is $537,000 and $318,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The Board has entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, through the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (the Council) to fund a portion of enhancements and maintenance fees for a central data repository project through 2010 with an option to extend maintenance through 2013. The estimated Board expense to support this effort is $7.9 million for the base period and $2.6 million for the option period.

In 2007, the Council began a rewrite of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act processing system, for which the Board provides data processing services. The estimated total expense to the Council of the rewrite is $3.2 million through 2010. The estimated total Board expense to support this effort with the maintenance extension option is $533,000.

(14) Litigation and Contingent Liabilities

The Board is subject to contingent liabilities which arise from litigation cases and various business contracts. These contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown. Based on information currently available to management, it is management's opinion that the expected outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a materially adverse effect on the financial statements.

One case alleges employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and is pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A second action alleges discrimination on behalf of a class of African American secretaries at the Board and was dismissed by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on January 31, 2007, and the plaintiffs' motion to alter or amend judgment was denied by that court on March 2, 2009. The plaintiffs have until May 1, 2009, to appeal the matter to the United States Court of Appeals. The Board has substantial defenses for both cases and intends to defend the matters vigorously. Management believes that the likelihood of an adverse judgment for both cases is small.

The estimated contingent liabilities related to business contracts were $69,720 and $0 as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.