Federal Reserve
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The Federal Reserve System or "the Fed," was created by the Congress to provide the nation with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States.
Responsibilities fall into four general areas:
1. Conducting the nation's monetary policy - by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices.
2. Supervising and regulating banks - ensure the safety and soundness of the nation's banking and financial system and to protect the credit rights of consumers.
3. Maintaining the stability of the financial system
4. Providing certain financial services to the U.S. government, U.S. financial institutions, and foreign official institutions, and playing a major role in operating and overseeing the nation's payments systems.
