View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Financial Statements:
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

As of and for the Years Ended
December 31, 2015 and 2014 and
Independent Auditors’ Report

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Contents

Page
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

1

Independent Auditors’ Report

2-3

Abbreviations

4

Financial Statements:
Statements of Condition as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

5

Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and
December 31, 2014

6

Statements of Changes in Capital for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

7

Notes to Financial Statements

8-39

KPMG LLP
Suite 2000
303 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30308-3210

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta:
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (“FRB
Atlanta”) as of December 31, 2015, and the related statements of income and comprehensive income and
changes in capital for the year then ended. We also have audited the FRB Atlanta’s internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The
FRB Atlanta’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the FRB Atlanta’s
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. The accompanying financial statements of the
FRB Atlanta as of December 31, 2014 and for the year then ended were audited by other auditors whose
report thereon dated March 11, 2015, expressed an unmodified opinion on those financial statements and
contained an emphasis of matter paragraph that described the FRB Atlanta’s basis of accounting discussed
in Note 3 to the 2014 financial statements.
We conducted our audit of the financial statements in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and in accordance with auditing
standards generally accepted in the United States of America. We conducted our audit of internal control
over financial reporting in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with
attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting
was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of the financial statements included examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and
evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit
also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
The FRB Atlanta’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with the accounting principles established by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the “Board”) as described in Note 3 of the financial statements and as set forth in
the Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve Banks (“FAM”). The FRB Atlanta’s internal control
over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records
that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the

KPMG LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership,
the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative
(“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.

FRB Atlanta; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with the FAM, and that receipts and expenditures of the
FRB Atlanta are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the FRB
Atlanta; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the FRB Atlanta’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with
the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As described in Note 3 to the financial statements, the FRB Atlanta has prepared these financial statements
in conformity with the accounting principles established by the Board, as set forth in the FAM, which is a
basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the FRB Atlanta as of December 31, 2015, and the results of its operations for the year then ended,
on the basis of accounting described in Note 3. Also, in our opinion, the FRB Atlanta maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Atlanta, GA
March 8, 2016

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Abbreviations
ACH
ASC
ASU
BEP
Bureau
FAM
FASB
FAST Act
FOMC
FRBNY
GAAP
GSE
IMF
MBS
OEB
SDR
SERP
SOMA
TBA
TDF

Automated clearinghouse
Accounting Standards Codification
Accounting Standards Update
Benefit Equalization Retirement Plan
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve Banks
Financial Accounting Standards Board
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
Federal Open Market Committee
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
Government-sponsored enterprise
International Monetary Fund
Mortgage-backed securities
Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System
Special drawing rights
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Select Officers of the Federal Reserve Banks
System Open Market Account
To be announced
Term Deposit Facility

4

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Statements of Condition
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
(in millions)
2015
ASSETS
Gold certificates
Special drawing rights certificates
Coin
Loans
System Open Market Account:
Treasury securities, net (of which $1,068 and $616 is lent as of December 31, 2015 and 2014,
respectively)
Government-sponsored enterprise debt securities, net (of which $8 and $35 is lent as of
December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively)
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities, net
Foreign currency denominated investments, net
Central bank liquidity swaps
Accrued interest receivable
Other assets
Bank premises and equipment, net
Items in process of collection
Interdistrict settlement account
Other assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
Federal Reserve notes outstanding, net
System Open Market Account:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Other liabilities
Deposits:
Depository institutions
Other deposits
Interest payable to depository institutions
Accrued benefit costs
Deferred credit items
Accrued remittances to the Treasury
Other liabilities
Total liabilities

$

Note 4
Note 5

1,600
654
184
31

2014
$

1,349
654
208
5

145,323

143,519

$

1,900
101,387
1,113
57
1,431
1
233
210
27,634
65
281,823

$

2,211
98,899
1,202
88
1,418
2
239
85
13,938
74
263,891

$

198,529

$

191,944

Note 6

Note 5

Notes 8 and 9

Capital paid-in
Surplus (including accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16 and $35 at December 31, 2015
and 2014, respectively)
Total capital
Total liabilities and capital

$

40,117
29

28,183
46

40,417
9
4
196
163
150
15
279,629

39,629
9
2
204
556
51
15
260,639

1,639

1,626

555
2,194
281,823

1,626
3,252
263,891

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
(in millions)
2015
INTEREST INCOME
System Open Market Account:
Treasury securities, net
Government-sponsored enterprise debt securities, net
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities, net
Foreign currency denominated investments, net
Total interest income
INTEREST EXPENSE
System Open Market Account:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Deposits:
Depository institutions
Term Deposit Facility
Total interest expense
Net interest income
NON-INTEREST INCOME
System Open Market Account:
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities gains, net
Foreign currency translation losses, net
Other
Income from services
Compensation received for service costs provided
Reimbursable services to government agencies
Other
Total non-interest income

Note 5
$

Change in prior service costs and actuarial gains (losses) related to benefit plans
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive (loss) income

3,548
75
2,740
2
6,365

$

3,660
93
2,985
4
6,742

Note 5
14

6

109
123
6,242

111
1
118
6,624

Note 5

OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries and benefits
Occupancy
Equipment
Compensation paid for service costs incurred
Other
Assessments:
Board of Governors operating expenses and currency costs
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Total operating expenses
Net income before providing for remittances to the Treasury
Earnings remittances to the Treasury:
Interest on Federal Reserve notes
Required by the Federal Reserve Act, as amended by the FAST Act
Total earnings remittances to the Treasury
Net (loss) income after providing for remittances to the Treasury

2014

2
(79)
1
242
1
24
6
197

5
(167)
1
253
1
22
4
119

222
22
11
124
66

216
21
11
127
100

141
28
614

135
32
642

5,825

6,101

5,329
1,488
6,817
(992)

5,945
5,945
156

Note 11
Note 3o

Note 9
$

19
19
(973)

$

(16)
(16)
140

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Statements of Changes in Capital
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
(in millions, except share data)

Net income
retained

Capital paid-in
Balance at December 31, 2013
(31,632,006 shares)
Net change in capital stock issued
(884,703 shares)
Comprehensive income:
Net income
Other comprehensive loss
Dividends on capital stock
Net change in capital
Balance at December 31, 2014
(32,516,709 shares)
Net change in capital stock issued
(252,714 shares)
Comprehensive income:
Net loss
Other comprehensive income
Dividends on capital stock
Net change in capital
Balance at December 31, 2015
(32,769,423 shares)

$

$

$

1,582

$

1,601

Surplus
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
$

(19)

Total surplus
$

1,582

44

-

-

-

44

156
(96)
60

(16)
(16)

156
(16)
(96)
44

1,626

$

1,661

13

-

13

(992)
(98)
(1,090)

1,639

$

571

$

(35)

$

-

(16)

$

156
(16)
(96)
88
$

555

3,252
13

(992)
19
(98)
(1,071)
$

3,164
44

-

19
19
$

1,626

Total capital

(992)
19
(98)
(1,058)
$

2,194

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
(1) STRUCTURE
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Bank) is part of the Federal Reserve System (System) and is one of the 12
Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks) created by Congress under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 (Federal
Reserve Act), which established the central bank of the United States. The Reserve Banks are chartered by the
federal government and possess a unique set of governmental, corporate, and central bank characteristics. The Bank
serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which includes Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and portions of Louisiana,
Tennessee, and Mississippi.
In accordance with the Federal Reserve Act, supervision and control of the Bank is exercised by a board of
directors. The Federal Reserve Act specifies the composition of the board of directors for each of the Reserve
Banks. Each board is composed of nine members serving three-year terms: three directors, including those
designated as chairman and deputy chairman, are appointed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (Board of Governors) to represent the public, and six directors are elected by member banks. Banks that are
members of the System include all nationally-chartered banks and any state-chartered banks that apply and are
approved for membership. Member banks are divided into three classes according to size. Member banks in each
class elect one director representing member banks and one representing the public. In any election of directors,
each member bank receives one vote, regardless of the number of shares of Reserve Bank stock it holds.
In addition to the 12 Reserve Banks, the System also consists, in part, of the Board of Governors and the Federal
Open Market Committee (FOMC). The Board of Governors, an independent federal agency, is charged by the
Federal Reserve Act with a number of specific duties, including general supervision over the Reserve Banks. The
FOMC is composed of members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
(FRBNY), and, on a rotating basis, four other Reserve Bank presidents.
(2) OPERATIONS AND SERVICES
The Reserve Banks perform a variety of services and operations. These functions include participating in
formulating and conducting monetary policy; participating in the payment system, including transfers of funds,
automated clearinghouse (ACH) operations, and check collection; distributing coin and currency; performing fiscal
agency functions for the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), certain federal agencies, and other entities;
serving as the federal government’s bank; providing short-term loans to depository institutions; providing loans to
participants in programs or facilities with broad-based eligibility in unusual and exigent circumstances; serving
consumers and communities by providing educational materials and information regarding financial consumer
protection rights and laws and information on community development programs and activities; and supervising
bank holding companies, state member banks, savings and loan holding companies, U.S. offices of foreign banking
organizations, and designated financial market utilities pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Governors.
Certain services are provided to foreign and international monetary authorities, primarily by the FRBNY.
The FOMC, in conducting monetary policy, establishes policy regarding domestic open market operations,
oversees these operations, and issues authorizations and directives to the FRBNY to execute transactions. The
FOMC authorizes and directs the FRBNY to conduct operations in domestic markets, including the direct purchase
and sale of Treasury securities, government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) debt securities, and federal agency and
GSE mortgage-backed securities (MBS); the purchase of these securities under agreements to resell; and the sale of
these securities under agreements to repurchase. The FRBNY holds the resulting securities and agreements in a
portfolio known as the System Open Market Account (SOMA). The FRBNY is authorized and directed to lend the
Treasury securities and GSE debt securities that are held in the SOMA.

8

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
To be prepared to counter disorderly conditions in foreign exchange markets or to meet other needs specified by the
FOMC to carry out the System’s central bank responsibilities, the FOMC has authorized and directed the FRBNY to
execute spot and forward foreign exchange transactions in 14 foreign currencies, to hold balances in those
currencies, and to invest such foreign currency holdings, while maintaining adequate liquidity. The FRBNY holds
these securities and obligations in the SOMA. The FOMC has also authorized the FRBNY to maintain reciprocal
currency arrangements with the Bank of Canada and the Bank of Mexico in the maximum amounts of $2 billion and
$3 billion, respectively, and to warehouse foreign currencies for the Treasury and the Exchange Stabilization Fund
in the maximum amount of $5 billion.
Because of the global character of bank funding markets, the System has at times coordinated with other central
banks to provide liquidity. The FOMC authorized and directed the FRBNY to establish U.S. dollar liquidity and
reciprocal foreign currency liquidity swap lines with the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the European
Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, and the Swiss National Bank. The FRBNY holds amounts outstanding under these
swap lines in the SOMA. These swap lines, which were originally established as temporary arrangements, were
converted to standing arrangements on October 31, 2013, and will remain in place until further notice.
Although the Reserve Banks are separate legal entities, they collaborate on the delivery of certain services to
achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. This collaboration takes the form of centralized operations and product
or function offices that have responsibility for the delivery of certain services on behalf of the Reserve Banks.
Various operational and management models are used and are supported by service agreements between the
Reserve Banks. In some cases, costs incurred by a Reserve Bank for services provided to other Reserve Banks are
not shared; in other cases, the Reserve Banks are reimbursed for costs incurred in providing services to other
Reserve Banks. Major services provided by the Bank on behalf of the System for which the costs were not
reimbursed by the other Reserve Banks include the Retail Payments Office and Central Billing Services.
(3) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting principles for entities with the unique powers and responsibilities of the nation’s central bank have not
been formulated by accounting standard-setting bodies. The Board of Governors has developed specialized
accounting principles and practices that it considers to be appropriate for the nature and function of a central bank.
These accounting principles and practices are documented in the Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve
Banks (FAM), which is issued by the Board of Governors. The Reserve Banks are required to adopt and apply
accounting policies and practices that are consistent with the FAM. The financial statements and associated
disclosures have been prepared in accordance with the FAM.
Limited differences exist between the accounting principles and practices in the FAM and accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), due to the unique nature of the Bank’s powers and
responsibilities as part of the nation’s central bank and given the System’s unique responsibility to conduct
monetary policy. The primary differences are the presentation of all SOMA securities holdings at amortized cost,
adjusted for credit impairment, if any, the recording of all SOMA securities on a settlement-date basis, and the use
of straight-line amortization for Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and foreign currency denominated
investments. Amortized cost, rather than the fair value presentation, more appropriately reflects the financial
position associated with the Bank’s securities holdings given the System’s unique responsibility to conduct
monetary policy. Although the application of fair value measurements to the securities holdings may result in values
substantially greater or less than their carrying values, these unrealized changes in value have no direct effect on the
quantity of reserves available to the banking system or on the ability of the Reserve Banks, as the central bank, to
meet their financial obligations and responsibilities. Both the domestic and foreign components of the SOMA

9

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
portfolio may involve transactions that result in gains or losses when holdings are sold before maturity. Decisions
regarding securities and foreign currency transactions, including their purchase and sale, are motivated by monetary
policy objectives rather than profit. Accordingly, fair values, earnings, and gains or losses resulting from the sale of
such securities and currencies are incidental to open market operations and do not motivate decisions related to
policy or open market activities. Accounting for these securities on a settlement-date basis, rather than the
trade-date basis required by GAAP, better reflects the timing of the transaction’s effect on the quantity of reserves in
the banking system. The cost bases of Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and foreign government debt
instruments are adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts on a straight-line basis, rather than
using the interest method required by GAAP.
In addition, the Bank does not present a Statement of Cash Flows as required by GAAP because the liquidity and
cash position of the Bank are not a primary concern given the Reserve Bank’s unique powers and responsibilities as
a central bank. Other information regarding the Bank’s activities is provided in, or may be derived from, the
Statements of Condition, Income and Comprehensive Income, and Changes in Capital, and the accompanying notes
to the financial statements. Other than those described above, there are no significant differences between the
policies outlined in the FAM and GAAP.
Preparing the financial statements in conformity with the FAM requires management to make certain estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant accounts and accounting policies are explained below.
a. Consolidation
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) established the
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) as an independent bureau within the System that has
supervisory authority over some institutions previously supervised by the Reserve Banks in connection with those
institutions’ compliance with consumer protection statutes. Section 1017 of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that the
financial statements of the Bureau are not to be consolidated with those of the Board of Governors or the System.
The Board of Governors funds the Bureau through assessments on the Reserve Banks as required by the
Dodd-Frank Act. The Reserve Banks reviewed the law and evaluated the design of and their relationship to the
Bureau and determined that it should not be consolidated in the Bank’s financial statements.
b. Gold and Special Drawing Rights Certificates
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue gold certificates to the Reserve Banks. Upon authorization, the
Reserve Banks acquire gold certificates by crediting equivalent amounts in dollars to the account established for the
Treasury. The gold certificates held by the Reserve Banks are required to be backed by the gold owned by the
Treasury. The Treasury may reacquire the gold certificates at any time, and the Reserve Banks must deliver them to
the Treasury. At such time, the Treasury’s account is charged, and the Reserve Banks’ gold certificate accounts are
reduced. The value of gold for purposes of backing the gold certificates is set by law at $42 2/9 per fine troy ounce.
Gold certificates are recorded by the Banks at original cost. The Board of Governors allocates the gold certificates
among the Reserve Banks once a year based on each Reserve Bank’s average Federal Reserve notes outstanding
during the preceding 12 months.
Special drawing rights (SDR) are issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its members in proportion to
each member’s quota in the IMF at the time of issuance. SDRs serve as a supplement to international monetary

10

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
reserves and may be transferred from one national monetary authority to another. Under the law providing for U.S.
participation in the SDR system, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue SDR certificates to the Reserve
Banks. When SDR certificates are issued to the Reserve Banks, equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars are credited to
the account established for the Treasury and the Reserve Banks’ SDR certificate accounts are increased. The
Reserve Banks are required to purchase SDR certificates, at the direction of the Treasury, for the purpose of
financing SDR acquisitions or for financing exchange-stabilization operations. At the time SDR certificate
transactions occur, the Board of Governors allocates the SDR certificates among the Reserve Banks based upon
each Reserve Bank’s Federal Reserve notes outstanding at the end of the preceding calendar year. SDR certificates
are recorded by the Banks at original cost.
c. Coin
The amount reported as coin in the Statements of Condition represents the face value of all United States coin held
by the Bank. The Bank buys coin at face value from the U.S. Mint in order to fill depository institution orders.
d. Loans
Loans to depository institutions are reported at their outstanding principal balances and interest income is
recognized on an accrual basis.
Loans are impaired when current information and events indicate that it is probable that the Bank will not receive
the principal and interest that are due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans
are evaluated to determine whether an allowance for loan loss is required. The Bank has developed procedures for
assessing the adequacy of any allowance for loan losses using all available information to identify incurred losses.
This assessment includes monitoring information obtained from banking supervisors, borrowers, and other sources
to assess the credit condition of the borrowers and, as appropriate, evaluating collateral values. Generally, the Bank
would discontinue recognizing interest income on impaired loans until the borrower’s repayment performance
demonstrates principal and interest would be received in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement. If the
Bank discontinues recording interest on an impaired loan, cash payments are first applied to principal until the loan
balance is reduced to zero; subsequent payments are applied as recoveries of amounts previously deemed
uncollectible, if any, and then as interest income.
e. Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell, Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase, and
Securities Lending
The FRBNY may engage in purchases of securities with primary dealers under agreements to resell (repurchase
transactions). These repurchase transactions are typically settled through a tri-party arrangement. In the United
States, there are two commercial custodial banks that provide these services. In a tri-party arrangement, a
commercial custodial bank manages the collateral clearing, settlement, pricing, and pledging, and provides cash and
securities custodial services for and on behalf of the FRBNY and counterparty. The collateral pledged must exceed
the principal amount of the transaction by a margin determined by the FRBNY for each class and maturity of
acceptable collateral. Collateral designated by the FRBNY as acceptable under repurchase transactions primarily
includes Treasury securities (including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, Separate Trading of Registered
Interest and Principal of Securities Treasury securities, and Treasury Floating Rate Notes); direct obligations of
several federal and GSE-related agencies, including Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation, and Federal Home Loan Banks; and pass-through federal agency and GSE MBS. The
repurchase transactions are accounted for as financing transactions with the associated interest income recognized
over the life of the transaction. These transactions are reported at their contractual amounts as “System Open Market
Account: Securities purchased under agreements to resell” and the related accrued interest receivable is reported as
a component of “System Open Market Account: Accrued interest receivable” in the Statements of Condition.

11

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The FRBNY may engage in sales of securities under agreements to repurchase with primary dealers and with a set
of expanded counterparties that includes banks, savings associations, GSEs, and domestic money market funds
(Primary dealer and expanded counterparties reverse repurchase agreements). These reverse repurchase
transactions are designed to have a margin of zero and are settled through a tri-party arrangement, similar to
repurchase transactions. Reverse repurchase transactions may also be executed with foreign official and
international account holders as part of a service offering. Reverse repurchase agreements are collateralized by a
pledge of an amount of Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, or federal agency and GSE MBS that are held in
the SOMA. Reverse repurchase transactions are accounted for as financing transactions, and the associated interest
expense is recognized over the life of the transaction. These transactions are reported at their contractual amounts as
“System Open Market Account: Securities sold under agreements to repurchase” and the related accrued interest
payable is reported as a component of “System Open Market Account: Other liabilities” in the Statements of
Condition.
Treasury securities and GSE debt securities held in the SOMA may be lent to primary dealers, typically overnight,
to facilitate the effective functioning of the domestic securities markets. The amortized cost basis of securities lent
continues to be reported as “System Open Market Account: Treasury securities, net” and “System Open Market
Account: Government-sponsored enterprise debt securities, net,” as appropriate, in the Statements of Condition.
Securities lending transactions are fully collateralized by Treasury securities based on the fair values of the
securities lent increased by a margin determined by the FRBNY. The FRBNY charges the primary dealer a fee for
borrowing securities, and these fees are reported as a component of “Non-interest income: System Open Market
Account: Other” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Activity related to securities purchased under agreements to resell, securities sold under agreements to repurchase,
and securities lending is allocated to each of the Reserve Banks on a percentage basis derived from an annual
settlement of the interdistrict settlement account that occurs in the second quarter of each year.
f. Treasury Securities, Government-Sponsored Enterprise Debt Securities, Federal Agency and
Government-Sponsored Enterprise Mortgage-Backed Securities, and Foreign Currency Denominated
Investments
Interest income on Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and foreign currency denominated investments
included in the SOMA is accrued using the straight-line method. Interest income on federal agency and GSE MBS
is accrued using the interest method and includes amortization of premiums, accretion of discounts, and gains or
losses associated with principal paydowns. Premiums and discounts related to federal agency and GSE MBS are
amortized or accreted over the term of the security to stated maturity, and the amortization of premiums and
accretion of discounts are accelerated when principal payments are received. Gains and losses resulting from sales
of securities are determined by specific issue based on average cost. Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and
federal agency and GSE MBS are reported net of premiums and discounts in the Statements of Condition and
interest income on those securities is reported net of the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts in the
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
In addition to outright purchases of federal agency and GSE MBS that are held in the SOMA, the FRBNY enters
into dollar roll transactions (dollar rolls), which primarily involve an initial transaction to purchase or sell “to be
announced” (TBA) MBS for delivery in the current month combined with a simultaneous agreement to sell or
purchase TBA MBS on a specified future date. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the FRBNY
executed dollar rolls to facilitate settlement of outstanding purchases of federal agency and GSE MBS. The FRBNY
accounts for dollar rolls as individual purchases and sales, on a settlement-date basis. Accounting for these
transactions as purchases and sales, rather than as financing transactions, is appropriate because the purchase or sale

12

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
component of the MBS TBA dollar roll is paired off or assigned prior to settlement and, as a result, there is no
transfer and return of securities. The FRBNY also conducts small-value exercises from time to time for the purpose
of testing operational readiness. Small-value exercises may include sales of federal agency and GSE MBS. Net
gains resulting from MBS transactions are reported as a component of “Non-interest income: System Open Market
Account: Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities gains, net” in the
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Foreign currency denominated investments, which can include foreign currency deposits, securities purchased
under agreements to resell, and government debt instruments, are revalued daily at current foreign currency market
exchange rates in order to report these assets in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency translation gains and losses that result
from the daily revaluation of foreign currency denominated investments are reported as “Non-interest income:
System Open Market Account: Foreign currency translation losses, net” in the Statements of Income and
Comprehensive Income.
Because the FRBNY enters into commitments to buy Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and
foreign government debt instruments and records the related securities on a settlement-date basis in accordance with
the FAM, the related outstanding commitments are not reflected in the Statements of Condition.
Activity related to Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and federal agency and GSE MBS, including the
premiums, discounts, and realized gains and losses, is allocated to each Reserve Bank on a percentage basis derived
from an annual settlement of the interdistrict settlement account that occurs in the second quarter of each year.
Activity related to foreign currency denominated investments, including the premiums, discounts, and realized and
unrealized gains and losses, is allocated in the first quarter of each year to each Reserve Bank based on the ratio of
each Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus to the Reserve Banks’ aggregate capital and surplus at the preceding
December 31.
g. Central Bank Liquidity Swaps
Central bank liquidity swaps, which are transacted between the FRBNY and a foreign central bank, can be
structured as either U.S. dollar or foreign currency liquidity swap arrangements.
Central bank liquidity swaps activity, including the related income and expense, is allocated in the first quarter of
each year to each Reserve Bank based on the ratio of each Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus to the Reserve Banks’
aggregate capital and surplus at the preceding December 31. The foreign currency amounts associated with these
central bank liquidity swap arrangements are revalued daily at current foreign currency market exchange rates.
U.S. dollar liquidity swaps
At the initiation of each U.S. dollar liquidity swap transaction, the foreign central bank transfers a specified amount
of its currency to a restricted account for the FRBNY in exchange for U.S. dollars at the prevailing market exchange
rate. Concurrent with this transaction, the FRBNY and the foreign central bank agree to a second transaction that
obligates the foreign central bank to return the U.S. dollars and the FRBNY to return the foreign currency on a
specified future date at the same exchange rate as the initial transaction. The Bank’s allocated portion of the foreign
currency amounts that the FRBNY acquires are reported as “System Open Market Account: Central bank liquidity
swaps” in the Statements of Condition. Because the swap transaction will be unwound at the same U.S. dollar
amount and exchange rate that were used in the initial transaction, the recorded value of the foreign currency
amounts is not affected by changes in the market exchange rate.

13

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The foreign central bank compensates the FRBNY based on the amount outstanding and the rate under the swap
agreement. The Bank’s allocated portion of the amount of compensation received during the term of the swap
transaction is reported as “Interest income: System Open Market Account: Central bank liquidity swaps” in the
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Foreign currency liquidity swaps
Foreign currency liquidity swap transactions involve the transfer by the FRBNY, at the prevailing market exchange
rate, of a specified amount of U.S. dollars to an account for the foreign central bank in exchange for its currency.
The foreign currency amounts that the FRBNY receives are recorded as a liability.
h. Bank Premises, Equipment, and Software
Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a
straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 2 to 50 years. Major alterations,
renovations, and improvements are capitalized at cost as additions to the asset accounts and are depreciated over the
remaining useful life of the asset or, if appropriate, over the unique useful life of the alteration, renovation, or
improvement. Maintenance, repairs, and minor replacements are charged to operating expense in the year incurred.
Reserve Banks may transfer assets to other Reserve Banks or may lease property of other Reserve Banks.
Costs incurred to acquire software are capitalized based on the purchase price. Costs incurred during the application
development stage to develop internal-use software are capitalized based on the cost of direct services and materials
associated with designing, coding, installing, and testing the software. Capitalized software costs are amortized on a
straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the software applications, which generally range from two to
five years. Maintenance costs and minor replacements related to software are charged to operating expense in the
year incurred.
Capitalized assets, including software, buildings, leasehold improvements, furniture, and equipment, are impaired
and an adjustment is recorded when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets
or asset groups is not recoverable and significantly exceeds the assets’ fair value.
i. Interdistrict Settlement Account
Each Reserve Bank aggregates the payments due to or from other Reserve Banks. These payments result from
transactions between the Reserve Banks and transactions that involve depository institution accounts held by other
Reserve Banks, such as Fedwire funds and securities transfers and check and ACH transactions. The cumulative net
amount due to or from the other Reserve Banks is reflected in the “Interdistrict settlement account” in the
Statements of Condition.
An annual settlement of the interdistrict settlement account occurs in the second quarter of each year. As a result of
the annual settlement, the balance in each Bank’s interdistrict settlement account is adjusted by an amount equal to
the average balance in the account during the previous twelve-month period ended March 31. An equal and
offsetting adjustment is made to each Bank’s allocated portion of SOMA assets and liabilities.
j. Federal Reserve Notes
Federal Reserve notes are the circulating currency of the United States. These notes, which are identified as issued
to a specific Reserve Bank, must be fully collateralized. All of the Bank’s assets are eligible to be pledged as
collateral. The collateral value is equal to the book value of the collateral tendered with the exception of securities,
for which the collateral value is equal to the par value of the securities tendered. The par value of securities sold
under agreements to repurchase is deducted from the eligible collateral value.

14

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Board of Governors may, at any time, call upon a Reserve Bank for additional security to adequately
collateralize outstanding Federal Reserve notes. To satisfy the obligation to provide sufficient collateral for
outstanding Federal Reserve notes, the Reserve Banks have entered into an agreement that provides for certain
assets of the Reserve Banks to be jointly pledged as collateral for the Federal Reserve notes issued to all Reserve
Banks. In the event that this collateral is insufficient, the Federal Reserve Act provides that Federal Reserve notes
become a first and paramount lien on all the assets of the Reserve Banks. Finally, Federal Reserve notes are
obligations of the United States government.
“Federal Reserve notes outstanding, net” in the Statements of Condition represents the Bank’s Federal Reserve
notes outstanding, reduced by the Bank’s currency holdings of $20,469 million and $22,254 million at December
31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, all Federal Reserve notes outstanding, reduced by the Reserve Bank’s currency
holdings, were fully collateralized. At December 31, 2015, all gold certificates, all special drawing rights
certificates, and $1,363 billion of domestic securities held in the SOMA were pledged as collateral. At December
31, 2015, no investments denominated in foreign currencies were pledged as collateral.
k. Deposits
Depository Institutions
Depository institutions’ deposits represent the reserve and service-related balances in the accounts that depository
institutions hold at the Bank. Required reserve balances are those that a depository institution must hold to satisfy its
reserve requirement. Reserve requirements are the amount of funds that a depository institution must hold in reserve
against specified deposit liabilities. Excess reserves are those held by the depository institutions in excess of their
required reserve balances. The interest rates paid on required reserve balances and excess balances are determined
by the Board of Governors, based on an FOMC-established target range for the federal funds rate. Interest expense
on depository institutions’ deposits is accrued daily at the appropriate rate. Interest payable is reported as a
component of “Interest payable to depository institutions” in the Statements of Condition.
The Term Deposit Facility (TDF) consists of deposits with specific maturities held by eligible institutions at the
Reserve Banks. The Reserve Banks pay interest on these deposits at interest rates determined by auction. Interest
expense on depository institutions’ deposits is accrued daily at the appropriate rate. Interest payable is reported as a
component of “Interest payable to depository institutions” in the Statements of Condition. There were no deposits
held by the Bank under the TDF at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Other
Other deposits include the Bank’s allocated portion of foreign central bank and foreign government deposits held at
the FRBNY. Other deposits also include cash collateral held by the Bank.
l. Items in Process of Collection and Deferred Credit Items
Items in process of collection primarily represents amounts attributable to checks that have been deposited for
collection and that, as of the balance sheet date, have not yet been presented to the paying bank. Deferred credit
items represents the counterpart liability to items in process of collection. The amounts in this account arise from
deferring credit for deposited items until the amounts are collected.

15

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
m. Capital Paid-in
The Federal Reserve Act requires that each member bank subscribe to the capital stock of the Reserve Bank in an
amount equal to 6 percent of the capital and surplus of the member bank. These shares are nonvoting, with a par
value of $100, and may not be transferred or hypothecated. As a member bank’s capital and surplus changes, its
holdings of Reserve Bank stock must be adjusted. Currently, only one-half of the subscription is paid in, and the
remainder is subject to call. A member bank is liable for Reserve Bank liabilities up to twice the par value of stock
subscribed by it.
By law, each Reserve Bank is required to pay each member bank an annual dividend of 6 percent on the paid-in
capital stock. This cumulative dividend is paid semiannually.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which was enacted on December 4, 2015, amended
section 7 of the Federal Reserve Act related to Reserve Bank surplus and the payment of dividends to member
banks. The FAST Act changed the dividend rate for member banks with more than $10 billion of consolidated
assets, effective January 1, 2016, to the smaller of 6 percent or the rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year
Treasury note auctioned at the last auction held prior to the payment of the dividend. The FAST Act did not change
the 6 percent dividend rate for member banks with $10 billion or less of total consolidated assets. The provisions of
the FAST Act related to dividend payments did not affect the amounts reported by the Bank for the year ended
December 31, 2015, but are expected to reduce the amount of dividend payments made to member banks in future
years.
n. Surplus
Before the enactment of the FAST Act, the Board of Governors required the Reserve Banks to maintain a surplus
equal to the amount of capital paid-in. On a daily basis, surplus was adjusted to equate the balance to capital paid-in.
Effective December 4, 2015, the FAST Act limits aggregate Reserve Bank surplus to $10 billion. Reserve Bank
surplus is allocated among the Reserve Banks based on the ratio of each Bank’s capital paid-in to total Reserve
Bank capital paid-in as of December 31 of each year.
Accumulated other comprehensive income is reported as a component of “Surplus” in the Statements of Condition
and the Statements of Changes in Capital. Additional information regarding the classifications of accumulated other
comprehensive income is provided in Notes 9 and 10.
o. Earnings Remittances to the Treasury
Before the enactment of the FAST Act, the Board of Governors required the Reserve Banks to transfer excess
earnings to the Treasury as interest on Federal Reserve notes after providing for the costs of operations, payment of
dividends, and reservation of an amount necessary to equate surplus with capital paid-in. The Federal Reserve Act,
as amended by the FAST Act effective December 4, 2015, now requires that any amounts of the surplus funds of the
Reserve Banks that exceed, or would exceed, the aggregate limitation of $10 billion shall be transferred to the Board
of Governors for transfer to the Treasury. The Bank remits excess earnings to the Treasury after providing for the
cost of operations, payment of dividends, and reservation of an amount necessary to maintain surplus at the Bank’s
allocated portion of the $10 billion aggregate surplus limitation. Remittances to the Treasury are made on a weekly
basis. The amount of the remittances to the Treasury that were required under the Board of Governor’s policy is
reported as “Earnings remittances to the Treasury: Interest on Federal Reserve notes” in the Statements of Income
and Comprehensive Income. The amount of the remittances to the Treasury that are required by the FAST Act is
reported as “Earnings remittances to the Treasury: Required by the Federal Reserve Act, as amended by the FAST
Act” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The amount due to the Treasury is reported as

16

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
“Accrued remittances to the Treasury” in the Statements of Condition. See Note 11 for additional information on
earnings remittances to the Treasury.
Under the previous Board of Governor’s policy, if earnings during the year were not sufficient to provide for the
costs of operations, payment of dividends, and equating surplus and capital paid-in, remittances to the Treasury
were suspended, and under the FAST Act, if earnings during the year are not sufficient to provide for the costs of
operations, payment of dividends, and maintaining surplus at an amount equal to the Bank’s allocated portion of the
$10 billion aggregate surplus limitation, remittances to the Treasury are suspended. A deferred asset is recorded that
represents the amount of net earnings a Reserve Bank will need to realize before remittances to the Treasury
resume. This deferred asset is periodically reviewed for impairment.
p. Income and Costs Related to Treasury Services
When directed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Bank is required by the Federal Reserve Act to serve as fiscal
agent and depositary of the United States Government. By statute, the Treasury has appropriations to pay for these
services. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Bank was reimbursed for all services provided to
the Treasury as its fiscal agent.
q. Income from Services, Compensation Received for Service Costs Provided, and Compensation Paid for
Service Costs Incurred
The Bank has overall responsibility for managing the Reserve Banks’ provision of check and ACH services to
depository institutions and, as a result, reports total System revenue for these services as “Income from services” in
its Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The Bank compensates the applicable Reserve Banks for the
costs incurred to provide these services and reports the resulting compensation paid as “Operating expenses:
Compensation paid for service costs incurred” in its Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
The FRBNY has overall responsibility for managing the Reserve Banks’ provision of Fedwire funds and securities
services, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has overall responsibility for managing the Reserve Banks’
provision of electronic access services to depository institutions. The Reserve Bank that has overall responsibility
for managing these services recognizes the related total System revenue in its Statements of Income and
Comprehensive Income. The Bank is compensated for costs incurred to provide these services by the Reserve
Banks responsible for managing these services and reports this compensation as “Non-interest income:
Compensation received for service costs provided” in its Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
r. Assessments
The Board of Governors assesses the Reserve Banks to fund its operations and the operations of the Bureau. These
assessments are allocated to each Reserve Bank based on each Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus balances. The
Board of Governors also assesses each Reserve Bank for expenses related to producing, issuing, and retiring Federal
Reserve notes based on each Reserve Bank’s share of the number of notes comprising the System’s net liability for
Federal Reserve notes on December 31 of the prior year.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires that, after the transfer of its responsibilities to the Bureau on July 21, 2011, the Board
of Governors fund the Bureau in an amount not to exceed a fixed percentage of the total operating expenses of the
System as reported in the Board of Governor’s 2009 annual report, which totaled $4.98 billion. After 2013, the
amount will be adjusted annually in accordance with the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The percentage of total
operating expenses of the System for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 12.42 percent ($618.7
million) and 12.22 percent ($608.4 million), respectively. The Bank’s assessment for Bureau funding is reported as
“Assessments: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

17

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
s. Taxes
The Reserve Banks are exempt from federal, state, and local taxes, except for taxes on real property. The Bank’s
real property taxes were $3 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and are reported as a
component of “Operating expenses: Occupancy” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
t. Restructuring Charges
The Reserve Banks recognize restructuring charges for exit or disposal costs incurred as part of the closure of
business activities in a particular location, the relocation of business activities from one location to another, or a
fundamental reorganization that affects the nature of operations. Restructuring charges may include costs associated
with employee separations, contract terminations, and asset impairments. Expenses are recognized in the period in
which the Bank commits to a formalized restructuring plan or executes the specific actions contemplated in the plan
and all criteria for financial statement recognition have been met.
The Bank had no significant restructuring activities in 2015 and 2014.
u. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360):
Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. This update changes
the requirements for reporting discontinued operations, which may include a component of an entity or a group of
components of an entity, or a business or nonprofit activity. This update is effective for the Bank for the year ended
December 31, 2015, and did not have a material effect on the Bank’s financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update
was issued to create common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting
Standards. The guidance is applicable to all contracts for the transfer of goods or services regardless of industry or
type of transaction. This update requires recognition of revenue in a manner that reflects the consideration that the
entity expects to receive in return for the transfer of goods or services to customers. In August 2015, the FASB
issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which
delayed the required effective date of this accounting by one year. This revenue recognition accounting guidance is
effective for the Bank for the year ending December 31, 2019, although the Bank may elect to adopt guidance
earlier. The Bank is continuing to evaluate the effect of this new guidance on the Bank’s financial statements.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, Transfer and Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity
Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. This update requires certain changes in the accounting for
repurchase-to-maturity transactions and repurchase financing transactions. Additionally, this update provides
guidance for the disclosures for certain transfers of financial assets accounted for as sales, where the transferor
retains substantially all of the exposure to economic return on the transferred financial asset; and repurchase
agreements, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as
secured borrowings. This update is effective for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2015. The update did not
have any effect on the Bank’s accounting for these transactions. The relevant required disclosures have been
included in the Note 3e and Note 5 to the Bank’s financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic
350-40). The amendments in this update provide guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing
arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the
customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other

18

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should
account for the arrangement as a service contract. Consequently, all software licenses within the scope of subtopic
350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets. This update is effective for the Bank
for the year ending December 31, 2016, and is not expected to have a material effect on the Bank’s financial
statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-12, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960),
Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): (Part I) Fully
Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, (Part II) Plan Investment Disclosures, (Part III) Measurement Date
Practical Expedient (consensuses of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). Previously, plans were required to
disclose (1) individual investments representing 5 percent or more of net assets available for benefits and (2) net
appreciation or depreciation for investments by general type. The amendments in Part II of this update (1) eliminate
the required disclosure related to individual investments and (2) removes the requirement to disaggregate net
appreciation or depreciation for investments by general type. This update is effective for the Bank for the year
ending December 31, 2016, and is not expected to have a material effect on the Bank’s financial statements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition
and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The amendments in this update eliminate the
requirement to disclose methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial
instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. This update is effective for the Bank for the year
ending December 31, 2019. The Bank is continuing to evaluate the effect of this new guidance on the Bank’s
financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This update revises the model to assess how
a lease should be classified and provides guidance for lessees, requiring lessees to present right-of-use assets and
lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The update is effective for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2020,
although earlier adoption is permitted. The Bank is continuing to evaluate the effect of this new guidance on its
financial statements.
(4) LOANS
Loans to Depository Institutions
The Bank offers primary, secondary, and seasonal loans to eligible borrowers (depository institutions that maintain
reservable transaction accounts or nonpersonal time deposits and have established discount window borrowing
privileges). Each program has its own interest rate and interest is accrued using the applicable interest rate
established at least every 14 days by the Bank’s board of directors, subject to review and determination by the Board
of Governors. Primary and secondary loans are extended on a short-term basis, typically overnight, whereas
seasonal loans may be extended for a period of up to nine months.
Primary, secondary, and seasonal loans are collateralized to the satisfaction of the Bank to reduce credit risk. Assets
eligible to collateralize these loans include consumer, business, and real estate loans; Treasury securities; GSE debt
securities; foreign sovereign debt; municipal, corporate, and state and local government obligations; asset-backed
securities; corporate bonds; commercial paper; and bank-issued assets, such as certificates of deposit, bank notes,
and deposit notes. Collateral is assigned a lending value that is deemed appropriate by the Bank, which is typically
fair value reduced by a margin. Loans to depository institutions are monitored daily to ensure that borrowers
continue to meet eligibility requirements for these programs. If a borrower no longer qualifies for these programs,
the Bank will generally request full repayment of the outstanding loan or, for primary or seasonal loans, may

19

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
convert the loan to a secondary credit loan. Collateral levels are reviewed daily against outstanding obligations, and
borrowers that no longer have sufficient collateral to support outstanding loans are required to provide additional
collateral or to make partial or full repayment.
Loans to depository institutions were $31 million and $5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively,
with a remaining maturity within 15 days.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Bank did not have any loans that were impaired, restructured, past due, or on
non-accrual status, and no allowance for loan losses was required. There were no impaired loans during the years
ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Interest income attributable to loans to depository institutions was immaterial
during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
(5) SYSTEM OPEN MARKET ACCOUNT
a. Domestic Securities Holdings
The FRBNY conducts domestic open market operations and, on behalf of the Reserve Banks, holds the resulting
securities in the SOMA.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the FRBNY continued the purchase of Treasury securities and federal
agency and GSE MBS under the large-scale asset purchase programs as directed by the FOMC, although at a
reduced pace than previous years. In October 2014, the FOMC concluded its asset purchase program while
maintaining its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its holdings of GSE debt securities and
federal agency and GSE MBS and of rolling over maturing Treasury securities at auction. During the year ended
December 31, 2015, the FRBNY continued the reinvestments.
The Bank’s allocated share of activity related to domestic open market operations was 5.631 percent and 5.528
percent at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

20

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank’s allocated share of Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and federal agency and GSE MBS, net,
excluding accrued interest, held in the SOMA at December 31 was as follows (in millions):
2015
Unamortized
premiums

Par
Treasury securities
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities

$
$

92,057
46,558
138,615

GSE debt securities

$

Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

$

Unaccreted
discounts
$

$

1,179
6,420
7,599

1,855

$

45

$

98,403

$

3,026

$

$

Total amortized
cost

(365)
(526)
(891)

$
$

92,871
52,452
145,323

-

$

1,900

(42)

$

101,387

2014
Unamortized
premiums

Par
Treasury securities
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities

$

$

$

90,379
45,684
136,063

GSE debt securities

$

Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

Unaccreted
discounts
$

$

1,530
6,889
8,419

2,138

$

73

$

96,011

$

2,942

$

$

Total amortized
cost

(427)
(536)
(963)

$
$

91,482
52,037
143,519

-

$

2,211

(54)

$

98,899

The FRBNY enters into transactions for the purchase of securities under agreements to resell and transactions to sell
securities under agreements to repurchase as part of its monetary policy activities. Prior to December 17, 2015,
these operations were for the purpose of further assessing the appropriate structure of such operations in supporting
the implementation of monetary policy during normalization. From December 17, 2015, these operations have been
undertaken as necessary to maintain the federal funds rate in a target range. In addition, transactions to sell securities
under agreements to repurchase are entered into as part of a service offering to foreign official and international
account holders.

21

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
There were no material transactions related to securities purchased under agreements to resell during the years
ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Financial information related to securities sold under agreements to repurchase
for the years ended December 31 was as follows (in millions):
Total SOMA

Allocated to the Bank
2015

2014

2015

2014

Primary dealers and expanded counterparties:
Contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

26,725

$

7,032

21,930

$

7,461

474,592

$

125,656

396,705
130,281

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

26,725

21,930

474,592

396,705

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

24,662

20,190

437,961

365,235

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

26,772

22,031

475,422

398,540

Foreign official and international accounts:
Contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

13,392

$

6,253

$

237,809

$

113,132

8,855

5,993

157,929

102,968

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

13,392

7,850

237,809

122,232

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

12,971

5,990

230,333

108,355

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

13,392

6,254

237,825

113,132

Total contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

40,117

$

28,183

$

712,401

$

509,837

$

5

$

4

$

84

$

68

Supplemental information - interest expense:
Primary dealers and expanded counterparties
Foreign official and international accounts
Total interest expense - securities sold under
agreements to repurchase

9
$

14

2
$

6

164
$

248

44
$

112

Securities pledged as collateral, at December 31, 2015 and 2014, consisted solely of Treasury securities. The
contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2015 of securities sold under agreements to repurchase that were
transacted with primary dealers and expanded counterparties had a term of one business day and matured on
January 4, 2016. The contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2015 of securities sold under agreements to
repurchase that were transacted with foreign official and international accounts had a term of one business day and
matured on January 4, 2016.

22

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The remaining maturity distribution of Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, federal agency and GSE MBS
bought outright, and securities sold under agreements to repurchase that were allocated to the Bank at December 31,
2015 and 2014 was as follows (in millions):
Within 15
days
December 31, 2015:
Treasury securities
(par value)
GSE debt securities
(par value)
Federal agency and GSE

$

MBS (par value)1
Securities sold under
agreements to repurchase
(contract amount)
December 31, 2014:
Treasury securities
(par value)
GSE debt securities
(par value)
Federal agency and GSE
MBS (par value)1
Securities sold under
agreements to repurchase
(contract amount)
1

$

-

16 days to 90
days

$

2,175

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

$

$

9,995

-

208

736

-

-

-

40,117

-

-

-

$

60

-

$

39

194

62,977

Over 5 years
to 10 years

$

779

218

-

$

1,691

37,957

$

-

-

-

357

28,183

-

-

-

-

$

138,615

132

1,855

97,869

98,403

-

40,117

36,390

-

-

Total

35,919

508

-

61,522

$

-

26

$

27,549

Over 10
years

$

136,063

130

2,138

95,654

96,011

-

28,183

The par amount shown for federal agency and GSE MBS is the remaining principal balance of the securities.

Federal agency and GSE MBS are reported at stated maturity in the table above. The estimated weighted average
life of these securities, which differs from the stated maturity primarily because it factors in scheduled payments and
prepayment assumptions, was approximately 6.5 and 5.7 years as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The amortized cost and par value of Treasury securities and GSE debt securities that were loaned from the SOMA
under securities lending agreements, at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2015
2014
Treasury securities (amortized cost)
Treasury securities (par value)

$

1,068

$

Total SOMA
2015
2014

616

$

18,960

$

11,144

1,017

559

18,055

10,105

GSE debt securities (amortized cost)

8

35

146

633

GSE debt securities (par value)

8

34

137

616

23

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Securities pledged as collateral by the counterparties in the securities lending arrangements at December 31, 2015
and 2014, consisted solely of Treasury securities. The securities lending agreements outstanding as of December 31,
2015 had a term of one business day and matured on January 4, 2016.
The FRBNY enters into commitments to buy and sell Treasury securities and records the related securities on a
settlement-date basis. As of December 31, 2015, there were no outstanding commitments.
The FRBNY enters into commitments to buy and sell federal agency and GSE MBS and records the related
securities on a settlement-date basis. As of December 31, 2015, the total purchase price of the federal agency and
GSE MBS under outstanding purchase commitments was $22,187 million, none of which was related to dollar rolls.
The total purchase price of outstanding purchase commitments allocated to the Bank was $1,249 million, none of
which was related to dollar rolls. MBS commitments, which had contractual settlement dates extending through
January 2016, are principally for the purchase of TBA MBS for which the number and identity of the pools that will
be delivered to fulfill the commitment are unknown at the time of the trade. As of December 31, 2015, there were no
outstanding sales commitments for federal agency and GSE MBS. These commitments are subject to varying
degrees of off-balance-sheet market risk and counterparty credit risk that result from their future settlement. The
FRBNY requires the posting of cash collateral for MBS commitments as part of its risk management practices used
to mitigate the counterparty credit risk.
Other assets consists primarily of cash and short-term investments related to the federal agency and GSE MBS
portfolio. Other liabilities, which are primarily related to federal agency and GSE MBS purchases and sales,
includes the FRBNY’s obligation to return cash margin posted by counterparties as collateral under commitments to
purchase and sell federal agency and GSE MBS. In addition, other liabilities includes obligations that arise from the
failure of a seller to deliver MBS to the FRBNY on the settlement date. Although the FRBNY has ownership of and
records its investments in the MBS as of the contractual settlement date, it is not obligated to make payment until the
securities are delivered, and the amount included in other liabilities represents the FRBNY’s obligation to pay for
the securities when delivered. The amount of other assets and other liabilities allocated to the Bank and held in the
SOMA at December 31 was as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2015
2014
Other assets:
MBS portfolio related cash and short
term investments
Other
Total other assets
Other liabilities:
Cash margin
Obligations from MBS transaction fails
Other
Total other liabilities

$

1

$

-

Total SOMA
2015
2014

2

$

-

$

1

$

2

$

$

28
1
29

$

44
2
46

$

$

$

$

13
1
14

$

486
16
6
508

$

$

$

28
1
29
793
30
7
830

Accrued interest receivable on domestic securities holdings was $25,354 million and $25,561 million as of
December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $1,428 million and $1,413 million, respectively, was allocated
to the Bank. These amounts are reported as a component of “System Open Market Account: Accrued interest
receivable” in the Statements of Condition.

24

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Information about transactions related to Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, and federal agency and GSE
MBS during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, is summarized as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank

Notes

3,927

$ 101,892

$

(1,135)
(34)
(547)
2,211

27,504
(2)
(11,684)
(413)
(18,398)
$ 98,899

(320)
(29)
38
1,900

20,005
(25)
1
(18,682)
(657)
1,846
$ 101,387

9,977
(30)
(323)
29
(17,489)
$ 91,482

5,157
(590)
75
(10,021)
$ 52,037

15,134
(30)
(913)
104
(27,510)
$ 143,519

Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains, net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Annual reallocation adjustment 3
Balance at December 31, 2015

154
(168)
(307)
3
1,707
92,871

43
(31)
(574)
9
968
52,452

197
(199)
(881)
12
2,675
$ 145,323

$

Year-ended December 31, 2015
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 4
Sales
1

$

Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains, net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Annual reallocation adjustment 3
Balance at December 31, 2014

$

57,416

$ 156,734

$

Year-ended December 31, 2014
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 4
Sales

$

GSE debt
securities

Balance at December 31, 2013

$

99,318

Bonds

Total
Treasury
securities

Federal
agency and
GSE MBS

$

10,119
-

$

5,055
-

$

15,174
-

$

-

$

26,581
(2)

$

155
-

$

43
-

$

198
-

$

-

$

19,307
(24)

Purchases and sales may include payments and receipts related to principal, premiums, discounts, and inflation compensation adjustments to the basis of

inflation-indexed securities. The amount reported as sales includes the realized gains and losses on such transactions. Purchases and sales exclude MBS TBA
transactions that are settled on a net basis.
2

Realized gains, net offset the amount of realized gains and losses included in the reported sales amount.

3

Reflects the annual adjustment to the Bank's allocated portion of the related SOMA securities that results from the annual settlement of the interdistrict

settlement account, as discussed in Note 3i.
4

Includes inflation compensation.

25

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements

Notes
Balance at December 31, 2013

$ 1,495,115

Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains, net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Balance at December 31, 2014

165,306
(475)
(5,545)
500
$ 1,654,901

Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains, net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Balance at December 31, 2015

2,736
(2,977)
(5,485)
53
$ 1,649,228

Year-ended December 31, 2014
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 3
Sales
Year-ended December 31, 2015
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 3
Sales
1

Bonds
$

864,319

$

85,826
(10,132)
1,327
941,340

$

761
(543)
(10,253)
143
931,448

Total SOMA
Total
Treasury
securities

GSE debt
securities

Federal
agency and
GSE MBS
$ 1,533,860

$

2,359,434

$

$

251,132
(475)
(15,677)
1,827
2,596,241

(18,544)
(588)
$ 39,990

466,384
(29)
(203,933)
(7,199)
$ 1,789,083

$

3,497
(3,520)
(15,738)
196
2,580,676

(5,733)
(509)
33,748

356,976
(464)
16
(333,441)
(11,721)
$ 1,800,449

$

59,122

$

167,497
-

$

83,739
-

$

251,236
-

$

-

$

450,633
(29)

$

2,747
-

$

766
-

$

3,513
-

$

-

$

344,505
(435)

Purchases and sales may include payments and receipts related to principal, premiums, discounts, and inflation compensation adjustments to the basis of

inflation-indexed securities. The amount reported as sales includes the realized gains and losses on such transactions. Purchases and sales exclude MBS TBA
transactions that are settled on a net basis.
2

Realized gains, net offset the amount of realized gains and losses included in the reported sales amount.

3

Includes inflation compensation.

b. Foreign Currency Denominated Investments
The FRBNY conducts foreign currency operations and, on behalf of the Reserve Banks, holds the resulting foreign
currency denominated investments in the SOMA.
The FRBNY holds foreign currency deposits with foreign central banks and the Bank for International Settlements
and invests in foreign government debt instruments of Germany, France, and Japan. These foreign government debt
instruments are backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing foreign governments. In addition, the FRBNY may
enter into transactions to purchase Euro-denominated government debt securities under agreements to resell for
which the accepted collateral is the debt instruments issued by the governments of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands, and Spain, which are backed by the full faith and credit of those issuing governments.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no securities purchased under agreements to resell outstanding and,
consequently, no related foreign securities held as collateral.

26

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank’s allocated share of activity related to foreign currency operations was 5.690 percent and 5.750 percent at
December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Information about foreign currency denominated investments valued at amortized cost and at foreign currency
market exchange rates at December 31 was as follows (in millions):
Allocated to Bank
2015
2014
Euro:
Foreign currency deposits
German government debt instruments
French government debt instruments

$

Japanese yen:
Foreign currency deposits
Japanese government debt instruments
Total

$

354
129
189

$

146
295
1,113

$

Total SOMA
2015
2014
399
143
212

148
300
1,202

$

$

6,218
2,261
3,325

2,568
5,195
19,567

$

$

6,936
2,494
3,687

2,576
5,207
20,900

Accrued interest receivable on foreign currency denominated investments was $64 million and $83 million as of
December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $3 million and $5 million, respectively, was allocated to the
Bank. These amounts are reported as a component of “System Open Market Account: Accrued interest receivable”
in the Statements of Condition.
The remaining maturity distribution of foreign currency denominated investments that were allocated to the Bank at
December 31, 2015 and 2014, was as follows (in millions):
Within 15
days
December 31, 2015:
Euro
Japanese yen
Total
December 31, 2014:
Euro
Japanese yen
Total

$
$

$
$

16 days to 90
days

121
156
277

$

209
159
368

$

$

$

253
20
273

161
23
184

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

Over 5 years
to 10 years

$

$

$

$

$
$

60
91
151

95
88
183

$

$
$

218
174
392

289
178
467

$

$
$

Total

20
20

$

-

$

$

$

672
441
1,113

754
448
1,202

There were no foreign exchange contracts related to foreign currency operations outstanding as of December 31,
2015.
The FRBNY enters into commitments to buy foreign government debt instruments and records the related securities
on a settlement-date basis. As of December 31, 2015, there were no outstanding commitments to purchase foreign
government debt instruments. During 2015, there were purchases and maturities of foreign government debt
instruments of $3,288 million and $3,155 million, respectively, of which $187 million and $180 million,
respectively, were allocated to the Bank. There were no sales of foreign government debt instruments in 2015.
In connection with its foreign currency activities, the FRBNY may enter into transactions that are subject to varying
degrees of off-balance-sheet market risk and counterparty credit risk that result from their future settlement. The

27

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
FRBNY controls these risks by obtaining credit approvals, establishing transaction limits, receiving collateral in
some cases, and performing monitoring procedures.
Foreign currency working balances held and foreign exchange contracts executed by the Bank to facilitate
international payments and currency transactions made on behalf of foreign central banks and U.S. official
institution customers were not material as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
c. Central Bank Liquidity Swaps
U.S. Dollar Liquidity Swaps
The Bank’s allocated share of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps was 5.690 percent and 5.750 percent at December 31,
2015 and 2014, respectively.
The total foreign currency held under U.S. dollar liquidity swaps in the SOMA at December 31, 2015 and 2014, was
$997 million and $1,528 million, respectively, of which $57 million and $88 million, respectively, was allocated to
the Bank.
The remaining maturity distribution of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps that were allocated to the Bank at December 31
was as follows (in millions):

Euro
Japanese yen
Total

2015

2014

Within 15
days
$
53
4
$
57

Within 15
days
$
88
$
88

Foreign Currency Liquidity Swaps
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, there was no balance outstanding related to foreign currency liquidity swaps.
d. Fair Value of SOMA Assets and Liabilities
The fair value amounts below are presented solely for informational purposes and are not intended to comply with
the fair value disclosures required by FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 820 (ASC 820), Fair
Value Measurement. Although the fair value of SOMA security holdings can be substantially greater than or less
than the recorded value at any point in time, these unrealized gains or losses have no effect on the ability of the
Reserve Banks, as the central bank, to meet their financial obligations and responsibilities. Because SOMA
securities are recorded at amortized cost, cumulative unrealized gains (losses) are not recognized in the Statements
of Condition and the changes in cumulative unrealized gains (losses) are not recognized in the Statements of Income
and Comprehensive Income.
The fair value of the Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and foreign
government debt instruments held in the SOMA is subject to market risk, arising from movements in market
variables such as interest rates and credit risk. The fair value of federal agency and GSE MBS is also affected by the
expected rate of prepayments of mortgage loans underlying the securities. The fair value of foreign government
debt instruments is also affected by currency risk. Based on evaluations performed as of December 31, 2015 and
2014, there are no credit impairments of SOMA securities holdings.

28

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The following table presents the amortized cost, fair value, and cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on the Treasury
securities, GSE debt securities, and federal agency and GSE MBS held in the SOMA at December 31 (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2015

Amortized
cost
Treasury securities:
Notes
$
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
GSE debt securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings $
Memorandum - Commitments for:
Purchases of Treasury securities
Purchases of Federal agency and GSE MBS
Sales of Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

Amortized
cost

94,007
56,679
150,686
1,980
101,939
254,605

$

$

$

1,136
4,227
5,363
80
552
5,995

1,248
-

$

-

$

Fair value

92,871
52,452
145,323
1,900
101,387
248,610

$

1,249
-

$

$

2014
Cumulative
unrealized
gains
(losses)

$

Fair value

91,482
52,037
143,519
2,211
98,899
244,629

$

1,586
-

$

(1)
-

$

Cumulative
unrealized
gains
(losses)

93,056
58,205
151,261
2,349
100,639
254,249

$

$

1,574
6,168
7,742
138
1,740
9,620

1,592
-

$

6
-

Total SOMA
2015

Amortized
cost
Treasury securities:
Notes
$ 1,649,228
Bonds
931,448
Total Treasury securities
2,580,676
GSE debt securities
33,748
Federal agency and GSE MBS
1,800,449
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings $ 4,414,873
Memorandum - Commitments for:
Purchases of Treasury securities
Purchases of Federal agency and GSE MBS
Sales of Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

22,187
-

Fair value

2014
Cumulative
unrealized
gains
(losses)

$ 1,669,395
1,006,514
2,675,909
35,165
1,810,256
$ 4,521,330

$

$

$

22,170
-

$

20,167
75,066
95,233
1,417
9,807
106,457

(17)
-

Amortized
cost

Fair value

$ 1,654,901
941,340
2,596,241
39,990
1,789,083
$ 4,425,314

$ 1,683,377
1,052,916
2,736,293
42,499
1,820,544
$ 4,599,336

$

$

28,692
-

28,803
-

Cumulative
unrealized
gains
(losses)
$

$

28,476
111,576
140,052
2,509
31,461
174,022

$

111
-

The fair value of Treasury securities and GSE debt securities was determined using pricing services that provide
market consensus prices based on indicative quotes from various market participants. The fair value of federal
agency and GSE MBS was determined using a pricing service that utilizes a model-based approach that considers
observable inputs for similar securities.
The cost bases of securities purchased under agreements to resell, securities sold under agreements to repurchase,
central bank liquidity swaps and other investments held in the SOMA domestic portfolio approximate fair value.
Due to the short-term nature of these agreements and the defined amount that will be received upon settlement,
the cost basis is estimated to approximate fair value.

29

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the fair value of foreign currency denominated investments was $19,630 million
and $20,996 million, respectively, of which $1,117 million and $1,207 million, respectively, was allocated to the
Bank. The fair value of foreign government debt instruments was determined using pricing services that provide
market consensus prices based on indicative quotes from various market participants. The fair value of foreign
currency deposits and securities purchased under agreements to resell was determined by reference to market
interest rates.
The following table provides additional information on the amortized cost and fair values of the federal agency
and GSE MBS portfolio at December 31 (in millions):
2015
Distribution of MBS
holdings by coupon rate
Allocated to the Bank:
2.0%
2.5%
3.0%
3.5%
4.0%
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
6.0%
6.5%
Total
Total SOMA:
2.0%
2.5%
3.0%
3.5%
4.0%
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
6.0%
6.5%
Total

Amortized cost
$

$

$

$

2014
Fair value

632
6,562
31,221
32,627
20,337
6,527
2,755
627
87
12
101,387

$

11,198
116,527
554,430
579,403
361,149
115,914
48,931
11,138
1,542
217
1,800,449

$

$

$

Amortized cost

619
6,477
30,593
32,770
20,755
6,985
2,958
675
94
13
101,939

$

10,993
115,018
543,270
581,940
368,576
124,043
52,523
11,989
1,666
238
1,810,256

$

$

$

Fair value

707
6,336
28,374
26,606
23,662
8,616
3,623
842
117
16
98,899

$

12,788
114,609
513,289
481,305
428,047
155,867
65,544
15,232
2,110
292
1,789,083

$

$

$

698
6,273
27,987
27,053
24,390
9,278
3,909
907
126
18
100,639

12,618
113,468
506,280
489,390
441,204
167,844
70,719
16,414
2,287
320
1,820,544

30

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The following tables present the realized gains and the change in the cumulative unrealized gains (losses) related
to SOMA domestic securities holdings during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):
Allocated to Bank
2015

2014
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains
(losses)2, 3

Realized gains 1
Treasury securities

$

Federal agency and GSE MBS
Total

$

-

$

$

$

(3,868)

9,335
(34)

-

(62)
2

$

-

4,134

5

(1,233)

2

(losses)2, 3

Realized gains 1

(2,573)

-

GSE debt securities

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

$

5

$

13,435

Total SOMA
2015

2014
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

Realized gains 1
Treasury securities

$

GSE debt securities

1

(losses)2
$

-

Federal agency and GSE MBS
Total

-

43

(44,819)

Realized gains 1
$

(1,092)

43
$

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(67,565)

$

-

(21,654)
$

-

(losses)2
(605)

81
$

81

158,150
69,749

$

227,294

Realized gains are reported in “Non-interest income: System Open Market Account: Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise

mortgage-backed securities gains, net” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
2

Because SOMA securities are recorded at amortized cost, the change in the cumulative unrealized gains (losses) is not reported in the Statements of

Income and Comprehensive Income.
3

The amount reported as change in cumulative unrealized gains (losses) allocated to the Bank is affected by the annual adjustment to the Bank’s allocated

portion of the related SOMA securities, as discussed in Note 3f.

The amount of change in cumulative unrealized gains (losses) position, net, related to foreign currency denominated
investments was a loss of $33 million and a gain of $18 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014,
respectively, of which $2 million and $1 million, respectively, were allocated to the Bank.
ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an
orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a three-level fair
value hierarchy that distinguishes between assumptions developed using market data obtained from independent
sources (observable inputs) and the Bank’s assumptions developed using the best information available in the
circumstances (unobservable inputs). The three levels established by ASC 820 are described as follows:
•

Level 1 – Valuation is based on quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

31

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
•

Level 2 – Valuation is based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for
identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for
which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

•

Level 3 – Valuation is based on model-based techniques that use significant inputs and assumptions not
observable in the market. These unobservable inputs and assumptions reflect the Bank’s estimates of inputs
and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets and liabilities. Valuation
techniques include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.

Treasury securities, GSE debt securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and foreign government debt instruments
are classified as Level 2 within the ASC 820 hierarchy because the fair values are based on indicative quotes and
other observable inputs obtained from independent pricing services. The fair value hierarchy level of SOMA
financial assets is not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with those assets.
(6) BANK PREMISES, EQUIPMENT, AND SOFTWARE
Bank premises and equipment at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
2015

2014

Bank premises and equipment:
Land and land improvements

$

Buildings
Building machinery and equipment
Construction in progress

38

$

246

241

45

43

-

Furniture and equipment
Subtotal
Accumulated depreciation

38

3

74

74

403

399

(170)

(160)

Bank premises and equipment, net

$

233

$

239

Depreciation expense, for the years ended December 31

$

14

$

13

32

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank leases space to outside tenants with remaining lease terms ranging from one to seven years. Rental
income from such leases was $3 million and $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014,
respectively, and is reported as a component of “Non-interest income: Other” in the Statements of Income and
Comprehensive Income. Future minimum lease payments that the Bank will receive under non-cancelable lease
agreements in existence at December 31, 2015, are as follows (in millions):
2016

$

1.8

2017

1.4

2018

1.4

2019

1.2

2020

1.0

Thereafter

0.8

Total

$

7.6

The Bank had capitalized software assets, net of amortization, of $21 million and $29 million at December 31, 2015
and 2014, respectively. Amortization expense was $10 million and $39 million for the years ended December 31,
2015 and 2014, respectively. During 2014, internally developed software assets totaling $37 million were
transferred from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to the Bank. Capitalized software assets are reported as
a component of “Other assets” in the Statements of Condition and the related amortization is reported as a
component of “Operating expenses: Other” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Transferred software assets related to a multiyear ACH technology initiative were impaired and written off due to
the suspension of development efforts. The resulting asset impairment loss of $23 million for the year ended
December 31, 2014 is reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Other” in the Statements of Income and
Comprehensive Income. The Bank had no impairment losses in 2015.
(7) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In conducting its operations, the Bank enters into contractual commitments, normally with fixed expiration dates or
termination provisions, at specific rates and for specific purposes.
At December 31, 2015, the Bank was obligated under non-cancelable leases for premises and equipment with
remaining terms ranging from one to approximately four years. These leases provide for increased lease payments
based upon increases in real estate taxes and operating costs.
Rental expense under operating leases for certain operating facilities, warehouses, and office equipment (including
taxes, insurance, and maintenance when included in rent), net of sublease rentals, was $1 million for each of the
years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

33

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, net of sublease rentals, with remaining
terms of one year or more, at December 31, 2015, are as follows (in thousands):
Operating leases
2016

$

338

2017

270

2018

246

2019

196

Future minimum lease payments

$

1,050

At December 31, 2015, there were no material unrecorded unconditional purchase commitments or obligations in
excess of one year.
Under the Insurance Agreement of the Reserve Banks, each of the Reserve Banks has agreed to bear, on a
per-incident basis, a share of certain losses in excess of 1 percent of the capital paid-in of the claiming Reserve
Bank, up to 50 percent of the total capital paid-in of all Reserve Banks. Losses are borne in the ratio of a Reserve
Bank’s capital paid-in to the total capital paid-in of all Reserve Banks at the beginning of the calendar year in which
the loss is shared. No claims were outstanding under the agreement at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
The Bank is involved in certain legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Although it is
difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these actions, in management’s opinion, based on discussions with
counsel, the legal actions and claims will be resolved without material adverse effect on the financial position or
results of operations of the Bank.
(8) RETIREMENT AND THRIFT PLANS
Retirement Plans
The Bank currently offers three defined benefit retirement plans to its employees, based on length of service and
level of compensation. Substantially all of the employees of the Reserve Banks, Board of Governors, and Office of
Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System (OEB) participate in the Retirement Plan for Employees of the
Federal Reserve System (System Plan). 1 Under the Dodd-Frank Act, newly hired Bureau employees are eligible to
participate in the System Plan and, during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, certain costs associated
with the System Plan were reimbursed by the Bureau. In addition, employees at certain compensation levels
participate in the Benefit Equalization Retirement Plan (BEP) and certain Reserve Bank officers participate in the
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Select Officers of the Federal Reserve Banks (SERP).
The FRBNY, on behalf of the System, recognizes the net asset or net liability and costs associated with the System
Plan in its consolidated financial statements. The Bank reports the net cost related to the BEP and SERP as a
component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in its Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
and reports the net liability as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in its Statements of Condition.

1

The OEB was established by the System to administer selected System benefit plans.

34

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank’s projected benefit obligation, funded status, and net pension expenses for the BEP and the SERP at
December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for the years then ended, were not material.
Thrift Plan
Employees of the Bank participate in the defined contribution Thrift Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve
System (Thrift Plan). The Bank matches 100 percent of the first 6 percent of employee contributions from the date
of hire and provides an automatic employer contribution of 1 percent of eligible pay. The Bank’s Thrift Plan
contributions totaled $9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and are reported as a
component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive
Income.
(9) POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN RETIREMENT PLANS AND
POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Retirement Plans
In addition to the Bank’s retirement plans, employees who have met certain age and length-of-service requirements
are eligible for both medical and life insurance benefits during retirement.
The Bank and plan participants fund benefits payable under the medical and life insurance plans as due and the
plans have no assets.
Following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the benefit obligation (in millions):
2015
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at January 1

$

Service cost benefits earned during the period

2014

180.2

$

7.3

Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation

6.2

7.3

Net actuarial (gain) loss

7.5

(17.6)

Contributions by plan participants
Benefits paid

155.1

16.5

2.2

2.4

(8.3)

(8.0)

Medicare Part D subsidies

0.4

0.4

Plan amendments

-

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31

$

171.5

0.1
$

180.2

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used in developing the
postretirement benefit obligation were 4.31 percent and 3.96 percent, respectively.
Discount rates reflect yields available on high-quality corporate bonds that would generate the cash flows necessary
to pay the plan’s benefits when due. The System Plan discount rate assumption setting convention uses an
unrounded rate.

35

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the plan assets, and the unfunded
postretirement benefit obligation and accrued postretirement benefit costs (in millions):
2015
Fair value of plan assets at January 1

$

2014
-

$

-

Contributions by the employer

5.7

5.2

Contributions by plan participants

2.2

2.4

(8.3)

(8.0)

Benefits paid
Medicare Part D subsidies

0.4

Fair value of plan assets at December 31
Unfunded obligation and accrued postretirement benefit cost

0.4

$

-

$

-

$

171.5

$

180.2

$

0.9

$

1.3

$

(15.9)

$

(35.1)

Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are shown below:
Prior service cost
Net actuarial loss

(16.8)

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

(36.4)

Accrued postretirement benefit costs are reported as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in the Statements of
Condition.
For measurement purposes, the assumed health-care cost trend rates at December 31 are provided in the table
below. The current health-care cost trend rate for next year is expected to decline ratably each year until achieving
the ultimate trend rate in 2022:
2015
Health-care cost trend rate assumed for next year

2014

7.00%

6.60%

4.75%

4.75%

2022

2019

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline
(the ultimate trend rate)
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

Assumed health-care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health-care plans. A one
percentage point change in assumed health-care cost trend rates would have the following effects for the year ended
December 31, 2015 (in millions):
One percentage
point increase

One percentage
point decrease

Effect on aggregate of service and interest cost components
of net periodic postretirement benefit costs
Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

$

2.9
25.7

$

(2.3)
(21.1)

36

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The following is a summary of the components of net periodic postretirement benefit expense for the years ended
December 31 (in millions):
2014

2015
$

Service cost-benefits earned during the period

7.3

Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation
Amortization of prior service cost

$

6.2

7.3

7.5

(0.5)

(0.5)
0.6

2.1

Amortization of net actuarial loss
$

Net periodic postretirement benefit expense

16.2

$

13.8

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic
postretirement benefit expense in 2016 are shown below:
Prior service cost

$

(0.3)

Net actuarial loss

-

Total

$

(0.3)

Net postretirement benefit costs are actuarially determined using a January 1 measurement date. At January 1, 2015
and 2014, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used to determine net periodic postretirement benefit
costs were 3.96 percent and 4.79 percent, respectively.
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense is reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and
benefits” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 established a prescription drug
benefit under Medicare (Medicare Part D) and a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health-care benefit plans that
provide benefits that are at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. The benefits provided under the Bank’s
plan to certain participants are at least actuarially equivalent to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. The
estimated effects of the subsidy are reflected in actuarial loss in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
and net periodic postretirement benefit expense.
Federal Medicare Part D subsidy receipts were $366 thousand and $450 thousand in the years ended December 31,
2015 and 2014, respectively. Expected receipts in 2016, related to benefits paid in the years ended December 31,
2015 and 2014, are $88 thousand and $72 thousand, respectively.
Following is a summary of expected postretirement benefit payments (in millions):
Without subsidy
2016

$

7.1

With subsidy
$

6.7

2017

7.5

7.1

2018

8.1

7.6

2019

8.6

8.1

2020

9.1

8.5

53.3

49.3

2021 - 2025
Total

$

93.7

$

87.3

37

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Postemployment Benefits
The Bank offers benefits to former qualifying or inactive employees. Postemployment benefit costs are actuarially
determined using a December 31 measurement date and include the cost of medical, dental, and vision insurance;
survivor income; disability benefits; and self-insured workers’ compensation expenses. The accrued
postemployment benefit costs recognized by the Bank at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $12 million. This cost
is included as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in the Statements of Condition. Net periodic postemployment
benefit expense included in 2015 and 2014 operating expenses were $1 million and $2 million, respectively, and are
recorded as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Statements of Income and
Comprehensive Income.
(10) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
Following is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of
December 31 (in millions):

Balance at January 1

2015

2014

Amount related
to
postretirement
benefits other
than retirement
plans

Amount related
to
postretirement
benefits other
than retirement
plans

$

(35.1)

$

(18.7)

Change in funded status of benefit plans:
Prior service costs arising during the year

-

Amortization of prior service cost
Change in prior service costs related to benefit plans

(0.5)
(0.5)

Net actuarial gain (loss) arising during the year

17.6

Amortization of net actuarial loss
Change in actuarial gain (loss) related to benefit plans

2.1
19.7

Change in funded status of benefit plans - other
comprehensive income (loss)
Balance at December 31

1

1

(0.5)
(0.5)
(16.5)

1

0.6
(15.9)

19.2
$

(15.9)

1

1

(16.4)
$

(35.1)

Reclassification is reported as a component of “Operating Expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Additional detail regarding the classification of accumulated other comprehensive loss is included in Note 9.

38

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
(11) DISTRIBUTION OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The following table presents the distribution of the Bank’s comprehensive income for the years ended December 31
(in millions):
2015
Dividends on capital stock
Transfer (from) to surplus
Earnings remittances to the Treasury
Interest on Federal Reserve notes
Required by the Federal Reserve Act, as
amended by the FAST Act
Total distribution

$

98
(1,071)

2014
$

5,329

$

1,488
5,844

96
44
5,945

$

6,085

Before the enactment of the FAST Act, the amount reported as transfer (from) to surplus represented the amount
necessary to equate surplus with capital paid-in, in accordance with the Board of Governor’s policy. Subsequent to
the enactment of the FAST Act, the amount reported as transfer (from) to surplus represents the amount necessary to
maintain surplus at an amount equal to the Bank’s allocated portion of the aggregate surplus limitation.
On December 28, 2015, the Reserve Banks reduced the aggregate surplus to the $10 billion limit in the FAST Act
by remitting $19.3 billion to the Treasury. The Bank’s share of this remittance was $1,069 million, which is
reported as a component of “Earnings remittances to the Treasury: Required by the Federal Reserve Act, as
amended by the FAST Act” in the Bank’s Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, and in the table above.
(12) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The FAST Act includes provisions that, effective on January 1, 2016, will change the rate of dividends paid to
member banks by the Bank. See Note 3m for additional information on these FAST Act provisions.
There were no other subsequent events that require adjustments to or disclosures in the financial statements as of
December 31, 2015. Subsequent events were evaluated through March 8, 2016, which is the date that the financial
statements were available to be issued.

39