Proposed Revisions to the Federal Reserve Policy on Payment System Risk and the Guidelines for Account and Services Requests

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is issuing a notice and request for comment on proposed revisions to the Federal Reserve Policy on Payment System Risk (PSR Policy), including the proposed addition of a new Part IV, to accommodate the provision by Reserve Banks of special-purpose accounts that would clear and settle certain payment activity (Payment Accounts). The Board is also proposing updates to its guidelines for Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks) to utilize in evaluating requests for access to Reserve Bank account and services (Account Access Guidelines or Guidelines) to accommodate requests for access to Payment Accounts. Finally, the Board is encouraging Reserve Banks to pause decisions on requests for Reserve Bank accounts and services from institutions that are Tier 3 under the Account Access Guidelines until the Board has completed its policy development process on the Payment Account proposal.