1913 Federal Reserve Act
Candlefocus EditorThe act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913 and formally implemented on December 23, 1913. Prior to this, the country was dependent on the banking systems of individual states which varied in terms of regulation and oversight. There was also little uniformity in the regulations relating to currency issuance, lending and deposit operations, and monetary policies.
The 1913 Federal Reserve Act was proposed to solve the many financial issues at the time, such as having a decentralized banking system and a lack of a uniform currency. It addressed the possibility of panic and bank runs. It also created the Federal Reserve Board, comprised of seven members, to oversee the operations of the Federal Reserve System and implement decisions on it.
The act had a lasting effect on the financial system, creating a more structured and efficient banking system than existed before. The act ensured that the country could fund its own debt, with the Federal Reserve issuing its own currency, known as Federal Reserve notes. It also allowed for easier creditworthiness assessments of banks and borrowers, setting certain qualifications for banks to issue and accept deposits.
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 provided the Federal Reserve with the tools to set American interest rates, bank reserve requirements, and develop monetary policy in response to economic shifts. This allowed the Federal Reserve to act as a lender of last resort for banks and generate liquidity to prevent, or at least contain, financial crises.
The Federal Reserve system has been, and continues to be, the primary tool used to maintain financial stability in the US. It has given the US the ability to finance its public debt and enabled the country to become one of the most influential economies in the world. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was an important legislative achievement that allowed this to be accomplished and remain an integral part of the US financial system even today.