1. U.S. Code
  2. title 12
  3. chapter 3
  4. subchapter I
  5. § 221

Collapse to view only § 221. Definitions

§ 221. Definitions

Wherever the word “bank” is used in this chapter, the word shall be held to include State bank, banking association, and trust company, except where national banks or Federal reserve banks are specifically referred to. For purposes of this chapter, a State bank includes any bank which is operating under the Code of Law for the District of Columbia.

The terms “national bank” and “national banking association” used in this chapter shall be held to be synonymous and interchangeable. The term “member bank” shall be held to mean any national bank, State bank, or bank or trust company which has become a member of one of the Federal reserve banks. The term “board” shall be held to mean Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the term “district” shall be held to mean Federal reserve district; the term “reserve bank” shall be held to mean Federal reserve bank; the term “the continental United States” means the States of the United States and the District of Columbia.

The terms “bonds and notes of the United States”, “bonds and notes of the Government of the United States”, and “bonds or notes of the United States” used in this chapter shall be held to include certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills issued under section 3104 of title 31.

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 1 (pars.), 38 Stat. 251; Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 614, title II, § 203(a), 49 Stat. 704; Pub. L. 86–70, § 8(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 142; Pub. L. 97–258, § 2(c), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1058; Pub. L. 109–351, title VII, § 725(a)(1), Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 2001; Pub. L. 109–356, title I, § 123(a)(1), Oct. 16, 2006, 120 Stat. 2028.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 221

§ 221a. Additional definitionsAs used in this chapter—
(a) The terms “banks”, “national bank”, “national banking association”, “member bank”, “board”, “district”, and “reserve bank” shall have the meanings assigned to them in section 221 of this title.
(b) Except where otherwise specifically provided, the term “affiliate” shall include any corporation, business trust, association, or other similar organization—
(1) Of which a member bank, directly or indirectly, owns or controls either a majority of the voting shares or more than 50 per centum of the number of shares voted for the election of its directors, trustees, or other persons exercising similar functions at the preceding election, or controls in any manner the election of a majority of its directors, trustees, or other persons exercising similar functions; or
(2) Of which control is held, directly or indirectly, through stock ownership or in any other manner, by the shareholders of a member bank who own or control either a majority of the shares of such bank or more than 50 per centum of the number of shares voted for the election of directors of such bank at the preceding election, or by trustees for the benefit of the shareholders of any such bank; or
(3) Of which a majority of its directors, trustees, or other persons exercising similar functions are directors of any one member bank; or
(4) Which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, either a majority of the shares of capital stock of a member bank or more than 50 per centum of the number of shares voted for the election of directors of a member bank at the preceding election, or controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of a member bank, or for the benefit of whose shareholders or members all or substantially all the capital stock of a member bank is held by trustees.
(June 16, 1933, ch. 89, § 2, 48 Stat. 162; Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 614, title III, § 301, 49 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 89–485, § 13(a), (b), July 1, 1966, 80 Stat. 242.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 221a

§ 222. Federal reserve districts; membership of national banks

The continental United States, excluding Alaska, shall be divided into not less than eight nor more than twelve districts. Such districts may be readjusted and new districts may from time to time be created by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, not to exceed twelve in all: Provided, That the districts shall be apportioned with due regard to the convenience and customary course of business and shall not necessarily be coterminous with any State or States. Such districts shall be known as Federal reserve districts and may be designated by number. When the State of Alaska or Hawaii is hereafter admitted to the Union the Federal Reserve 1

1 Capitalized as in original.
districts shall be readjusted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in such manner as to include such State. Every national bank in any State shall, upon commencing business or within ninety days after admission into the Union of the State in which it is located, become a member bank of the Federal Reserve System by subscribing and paying for stock in the Federal Reserve bank of its district in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and shall thereupon be an insured bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.], and failure to do so shall subject such bank to the penalty provided by section 501a of this title.

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2 (part), 38 Stat. 251; Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 614, title II, § 203(a), 49 Stat. 704; Pub. L. 85–508, § 19, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 350; Pub. L. 86–3, § 17, Mar. 18, 1959, 73 Stat. 12.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 222

§ 223. Number of Federal reserve cities in district

A Federal reserve district shall contain only one Federal reserve city.

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2 (part), 38 Stat. 251.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 223

§ 224. Status of reserve cities under former statutes

The organization of reserve districts and Federal reserve cities shall not be construed as changing the present status of reserve cities except in so far as this chapter changes the amount of reserves that may be carried with approved reserve agents located therein.

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2 (part), 38 Stat. 253; Pub. L. 86–114, § 3(b)(5), July 28, 1959, 73 Stat. 264.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 224

§ 225. Federal reserve banks; title

A Federal reserve bank shall include in its title the name of the city in which it is situated, as “Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.”

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2 (part), 38 Stat. 252.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 225

§ 225a. Maintenance of long run growth of monetary and credit aggregates

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee shall maintain long run growth of the monetary and credit aggregates commensurate with the economy’s long run potential to increase production, so as to promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates.

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2A, as added Pub. L. 95–188, title II, § 202, Nov. 16, 1977, 91 Stat. 1387; amended Pub. L. 95–523, title I, § 108(a), Oct. 27, 1978, 92 Stat. 1897; Pub. L. 100–418, title III, § 3005(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1375; Pub. L. 106–569, title X, § 1003(a), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 3028.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 225a

§ 225b. Appearances before and reports to the Congress
(a) Appearances before the Congress
(1) In general
The Chairman of the Board shall appear before the Congress at semi-annual hearings, as specified in paragraph (2), regarding—
(A) the efforts, activities, objectives and plans of the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee with respect to the conduct of monetary policy; and
(B) economic developments and prospects for the future described in the report required in subsection (b).
(2) Schedule
The Chairman of the Board shall appear—
(A) before the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of Representatives on or about February 20 of even numbered calendar years and on or about July 20 of odd numbered calendar years;
(B) before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on or about July 20 of even numbered calendar years and on or about February 20 of odd numbered calendar years; and
(C) before either Committee referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B), upon request, following the scheduled appearance of the Chairman before the other Committee under subparagraph (A) or (B).
(b) Congressional report

The Board shall, concurrent with each semi-annual hearing required by this section, submit a written report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of Representatives, containing a discussion of the conduct of monetary policy and economic developments and prospects for the future, taking into account past and prospective developments in employment, unemployment, production, investment, real income, productivity, exchange rates, international trade and payments, and prices.

(c) Public access to information
The Board shall place on its home Internet website, a link entitled “Audit”, which shall link to a webpage that shall serve as a repository of information made available to the public for a reasonable period of time, not less than 6 months following the date of release of the relevant information, including—
(1) the reports prepared by the Comptroller General under section 714 of title 31;
(2) the annual financial statements prepared by an independent auditor for the Board in accordance with section 248b of this title;
(3) the reports to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate required under section 343(3) of this title (relating to emergency lending authority); and
(4) such other information as the Board reasonably believes is necessary or helpful to the public in understanding the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of the Board and the Federal reserve banks.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 2B, as added Pub. L. 106–569, title X, § 1003(b)(1), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 3028; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title XI, § 1103(a), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2118.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 225b

§ 226. “Federal Reserve Act”

The short title of the Act of December 23, 1913, ch. 6, 38 Stat. 251, shall be the “Federal Reserve Act.”

(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, § 1 (par.), 38 Stat. 251.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 226

§ 227. “Banking Act of 1933”

The short title of the Act of June 16, 1933, ch. 89, 48 Stat. 162, shall be the “Banking Act of 1933.”

(June 16, 1933, ch. 89, § 1, 48 Stat. 162.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 227

§ 228. “Banking Act of 1935”

The act of August 23, 1935, ch. 614, 49 Stat. 684, may be cited as the “Banking Act of 1935.”

(Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 614, § 1, 49 Stat. 684.)

CITE AS: 12 USC 228