SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(2)) requires each depository institution to maintain reserves against its transaction accounts and nonpersonal time deposits, as prescribed by Board regulations, for the purpose of implementing monetary policy. The Board's actions with respect to this provision are discussed below.

I. Reserve Requirements

Section 19(b) of the Act authorizes different ranges of reserve requirement ratios depending on the amount of transaction account balances at a depository institution. Section 19(b)(11)(A) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(11)(A)) provides that a zero percent reserve requirement ratio shall apply at each depository institution to total reservable liabilities that do not exceed a certain amount, known as the reserve requirement exemption amount. Section 19(b)(11)(B) provides that, before December 31 of each year, the Board shall issue a regulation adjusting the reserve requirement exemption amount for the next calendar year if total reservable liabilities held at all depository institutions increase from one year to the next. The Act requires the percentage increase in the reserve requirement exemption amount to be 80 percent of the percentage increase in total reservable liabilities of all depository institutions over the one-year period that ends on the June 30 prior to the adjustment. No adjustment is made to the reserve requirement exemption amount if total reservable liabilities held at all depository institutions should decrease during the applicable time period.

Total reservable liabilities of all depository institutions decreased by 8.6 percent, from $20,841 billion to $19,057 billion, between June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023.^[1] Accordingly, the reserve requirement exemption amount for 2024 will remain at $36.1 million, unchanged from its level in 2023.^[2]

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(2)), transaction account balances maintained at each depository institution over the reserve requirement exemption amount and up to a certain amount, known as the low reserve tranche, may be subject to a reserve requirement ratio of not more than 3 percent (and which may be zero). Transaction account balances over the low reserve tranche may be subject to a reserve requirement ratio of not more than 14 percent (and which may be zero). Section 19(b)(2) also provides that, before December 31 of each year, the Board shall issue a regulation adjusting the low reserve tranche for the next calendar year. The Act requires the adjustment in the low reserve tranche to be 80 percent of the percentage increase or decrease in total transaction accounts of all depository institutions over the one-year period that ends on the June 30 prior to the adjustment.

Net transaction accounts of all depository institutions decreased 8.6 percent, from $17,549 billion to $16,037 billion, between June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023.^[3] Accordingly, the Board is amending Regulation D to set the low reserve tranche for net transaction accounts for 2024 at $644.0 million, a decrease of $47.7 million from 2023. The new low reserve tranche will be effective for all depository institutions beginning January 1, 2024.

Effective March 26, 2020, the Board reduced reserve requirement ratios on all net transaction accounts to zero percent, eliminating reserve requirements for all depository institutions. The annual indexation of the reserve requirement exemption amount and the low reserve tranche for 2024 is required by statute but will not affect depository institutions' reserve requirements, which will remain zero.

II. Regulatory Analysis

Administrative Procedure Act

The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) relating to notice of proposed rulemaking have not been followed in connection with the adoption of these amendments. The amendments involve expected, ministerial adjustments prescribed by statute and by the Board's policy concerning reporting practices. The adjustments in the reserve requirement exemption amount and the low reserve tranche serve to reduce regulatory burdens on depository institutions. Accordingly, the Board finds good cause for determining, and so ( printed page 83317) determines, that notice in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) does not apply to a rulemaking where a general notice of proposed rulemaking is not required.^[4] As noted previously, the Board has determined that it is unnecessary to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking for this final rule. Accordingly, the RFA's requirements relating to an initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply.

Paperwork Reduction Act

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,^[5] the Board reviewed this final rule. No collections of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act are contained in the final rule.

Authority and Issuance

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board is amending 12 CFR part 204 as follows: