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Financial Statements:
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

As of and for the Years Ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017 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, 2018 and December 31, 2017

5

Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017

6

Statements of Changes in Capital for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017

7

Notes to Financial Statements

8-38

2

FEDERAL
RESERVE
BANK

of ATLANTA
March 8, 2019

To the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta:

1000 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-4470
404.498.8500
www.frbatlanta.org

The management of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Bank) is responsible for the preparation and fair
presentation of the Statements of Condition as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the Statements of
Operations, and Statements of Changes in Capital for the years then ended (the financial statements). The
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the accounting principles, policies, and practices
established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as set forth in the Financial Accounting
Manual for Federal Reserve Banks (FAM), and, as such, include some amounts that are based on management
judgments and estimates. To our knowledge, the financial statements are, in all material respects, fairly
presented in conformity with the accounting principles, policies and practices documented in the FAM and
include all disclosures necessary for such fair presentation.
The management of the Bank is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over
financial reporting as it relates to the financial statements. The Bank's internal control over financial reporting
is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with the FAM. The Bank's internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of
records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Bank's
assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with FAM, and that the Bank's receipts and expenditures are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of its management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Bank's assets
that could have a material effect on its financial statements.
Even effective internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility
of human error, and therefore can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation of reliable
financial statements. 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.
The management of the Bank assessed its internal control over financial reporting based upon the criteria
established in the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, we believe that the Bank maintained
effective internal control over financial reporting.
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Raphael W. Bostic
President and Chief Executive Officer

André T. Anderson
First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

W. Brian Bowling
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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 statements of condition of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (“FRB
Atlanta”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related statements of operations and changes in capital
for the years then ended. We also have audited the FRB Atlanta’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2018, 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 audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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 audits 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 audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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 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.

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

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, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations for the years
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, 2018, based on
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Atlanta, Georgia
March 8, 2019

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

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

Automated clearinghouse
Accounting Standards Codification
Accounting Standards Update
Benefit Equalization Retirement Plan
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve Banks
Financial Accounting Standards Board
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, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(in millions)
2018
ASSETS
Gold certificates
Special drawing rights certificates
Coin
Loans
Note 4
System Open Market Account:
Note 5
Treasury securities, net (of which $1,507 and $1,651 is lent as of December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively)
Government-sponsored enterprise debt securities, net (of which $0 is lent as of December 31,
2018 and 2017)
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
Note 6
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 and others
Accrued benefit costs
Deferred credit items
Accrued remittances to the Treasury
Other liabilities
Total liabilities

$

1,491
654
180
6

2017
$

1,520
654
198
26

138,209

149,851

$

165
101,057
1,208
243
1,335
226
236
46,747
64
291,821

$

280
106,996
1,243
704
1,456
1
226
81
32,445
83
295,764

$

233,949

$

220,248

Note 5

Notes 8,9

Capital paid-in
Surplus (including accumulated other comprehensive income of $6 and loss of $11 at December
31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)
Total capital
Total liabilities and capital

$

18,249
2

33,197
33

35,885
33
28
200
1,006
170
22
289,544

37,214
1,257
16
209
1,001
173
24
293,372

1,880

1,814

397
2,277
291,821

578
2,392
295,764

$

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

5

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Statements of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(in millions)
2018
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
Central bank liquidity swaps
Total interest income
INTEREST EXPENSE
System Open Market Account:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Deposits:
Depository institutions and others
Total interest expense
Net interest income
OTHER ITEMS OF INCOME (LOSS)
System Open Market Account:
Treasury securities gains, net
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains, net
Other
Income from services
Compensation received for service costs provided
Reimbursable services to government agencies
Other
Total other items of income

Note 5
$

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

3,749
11
2,942
(2)
1
6,701

$

3,730
24
2,836
(1)
1
6,590

Note 5
272

196

673
945
5,756

432
628
5,962

(22)
1
236
1
24
7
247

2
109
2
237
1
24
6
381

275
21
12
81
113

263
22
12
77
104

178
19
699

150
33
661

5,304
5,442
(138)

5,682
5,634
48

(3)
20
17
(121)

(4)
2
(2)
46

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
Net (loss) income after providing for remittances to the Treasury

2017

Note 3o

Note 9
Note 9
$

$

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, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(in millions, except share data)

Net income
retained

Capital paid-in
Balance at December 31, 2016
(35,516,345 shares)
Net change in capital stock issued
(761,060 shares)
Comprehensive income:
Net income
Other comprehensive loss
Dividends on capital stock
Net change in capital
Balance at December 31, 2017
(36,277,405 shares)
Net change in capital stock issued
(1,331,570 shares)
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss
Other comprehensive income
Dividends on capital stock
Net change in capital
Balance at December 31, 2018
(37,608,975 shares)

$

$

$

1,776

Surplus
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

$

592

$

Total surplus

(9)

$

Total capital

583

$

2,359

38

-

-

-

38

38

48
(51)
(3)

(2)
(2)

48
(2)
(51)
(5)

48
(2)
(51)
33

1,814

$

589

$

(11)

$

578

$

2,392

66

-

-

-

66

66

(138)
(60)
(198)

17
17

(138)
17
(60)
(181)

(138)
17
(60)
(115)

1,880

$

391

$

6

$

397

$

2,277

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 director 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, edge and agreement corporations, and certain financial market utilities that have been designated as
systemically important. Certain services are provided to foreign official and international account holders, primarily
by the FRBNY.
The FOMC, in conducting monetary policy, establishes policy regarding domestic open market operations and
oversees these operations. The FOMC has selected the FRBNY to execute open market transactions for the System
Open Market Account (SOMA) as provided in its annual authorization. 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 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 meet the needs specified by the FOMC to carry out the System’s central bank responsibilities,
the FOMC authorized and directed the FRBNY to execute standalone spot and forward foreign exchange
transactions in the resultant 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 agreements in the
SOMA. The FOMC also authorized and directed 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 at the request of the Treasury to conduct swap transactions with the United States Exchange Stabilization Fund
in the maximum amount of $5 billion, also known as warehousing.
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 maintain standing U.S. dollar liquidity
swap arrangements and standing foreign currency liquidity swap arrangements with the Bank of Canada, the Bank
of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and the Swiss National Bank. The FRBNY holds
amounts outstanding under these liquidity swap lines in the SOMA. These liquidity swap lines are subject to annual
review and approval by the FOMC.
The FOMC has authorized and directed the FRBNY to conduct small-value exercises periodically for the purpose
of testing operational readiness.
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 among 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.
(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.
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 Board has adopted accounting principles and
practices in the FAM that differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(GAAP). The more significant differences are the presentation of all SOMA securities holdings at amortized cost,
adjusted for credit impairment, if any, and the recording of all SOMA securities on a settlement-date basis.
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 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 primarily motivated by monetary policy and
9

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
financial stability 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.
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, Operations, and Changes in Capital, and the accompanying notes to the financial
statements. Other than those described above, the accounting policies described in FAM are generally consistent
with those in GAAP and the references to GAAP in the notes to the financial statements highlight those areas where
FAM is consistent with 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.
Certain amounts relating to the prior year have been reclassified in the Statements of Condition to conform to the
current year presentation. $1,248 million previously reported as “Liabilities and Capital: Deposits: Depository
institutions” as of December 31, 2017 have been reclassified as “Liabilities and Capital: Deposits: Other deposits.”
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 Reserve 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
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

10

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
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 Reserve 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 under agreements to resell (repurchase agreements) with
primary dealers. Transactions under these repurchase agreements are typically settled through a tri-party
arrangement, in which 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 agreements 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 agreements are accounted for as financing transactions with the associated
interest income recognized over the life of the transaction. These repurchase agreements 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. Interest income is reported as a component of “System Open Market
Account: Securities purchased under agreements to resell” in the Statements of Operations.
The FRBNY may engage in sales of securities under agreements to repurchase (reverse repurchase agreements)
with primary dealers and with a set of expanded counterparties that includes banks, savings associations, GSEs, and
domestic money market funds. Transactions under these reverse repurchase agreements are designed to have a

11

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
margin of zero and are settled through a tri-party arrangement, similar to repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase
agreements 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 agreements are
accounted for as financing transactions, and the associated interest expense is recognized over the life of the
transaction. These reverse repurchase agreements 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. Interest expense is
reported as a component of “System Open Market Account: Securities sold under agreements to repurchase” in the
Statements of Operations.
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 “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market
Account: Other” in the Statements of Operations.
Activity related to repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, 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, federal agency and GSE MBS, and foreign currency
denominated investments included in the SOMA is recorded when earned and includes amortization of premiums
and accretion of discounts using the effective interest method. Interest income on federal agency and GSE MBS
also includes 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 Operations.
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, 2018 and 2017, 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
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. Net gains and losses resulting from MBS transactions are reported as a component
of “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market Account: Other” in the Statements of Operations.

12

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
Foreign currency denominated investments, which can include foreign currency deposits, repurchase agreements,
and government debt instruments, are revalued daily at current foreign currency market exchange rates in order to
report these assets in U.S. dollars. Any negative interest associated with these foreign currency denominated
investments is included as a component of “Interest income: System Open Market Account: Foreign currency
denominated investments, net” in the Statements of Operations. Foreign currency translation gains and losses that
result from the daily revaluation of foreign currency denominated investments are reported as “Other items of
income (loss): System Open Market Account: Foreign currency translation (losses) gains, net” in the Statements of
Operations.
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 to each Reserve Bank on a percentage basis, adjusted annually in the second
quarter of each year, calculated as 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 to each Reserve Bank
based on a percentage basis, adjusted annually in the second quarter of each year, calculated as the ratio of each
Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus to the Reserve Banks’ aggregate capital and surplus at the preceding December
31.
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.
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 Operations.
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.

13

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
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 pledged
as collateral under reverse repurchase agreements is deducted from the eligible collateral value.
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 $28,508 million and $24,170 million at December
31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

14

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, all Federal Reserve notes outstanding, net, were fully collateralized. At December
31, 2018 and 2017, all gold certificates, all SDR certificates, and $1,655 billion and $1,554 billion, respectively, of
domestic securities held in the SOMA were pledged as collateral. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, 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 and others” 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 deposits held by the Reserve Banks under the TDF is accrued daily at the appropriate rate. Interest
payable is reported as a component of “Interest payable to depository institutions and others” in the Statements of
Condition. There were no deposits held by the Bank under the TDF at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
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 and GSE deposits held by the Bank. Interest payable is
reported as a component of “Interest payable to depository institutions and others” in the Statements of Condition.
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.
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.
The Federal Reserve Act requires each Reserve Bank to pay each member bank an annual dividend based on the
amount of the member bank’s paid-in capital stock and a rate determined by the member bank’s total consolidated
assets. Member banks with total consolidated assets in excess of a threshold established in the Federal Reserve Act
receive a dividend equal 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. Member banks with total consolidated assets
equal to or less than the threshold receive a dividend of 6 percent. The threshold for total consolidated assets was
$10.2 billion and $10.1 billion for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. This threshold is

15

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
adjusted annually based on the Gross Domestic Product Price Index, which is published by the Bureau of Economic
Analysis. The dividend is paid semiannually and is cumulative.
n. Surplus
The Federal Reserve Act limits aggregate Reserve Bank surplus. Effective February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget
Act of 2018 (Budget Act) reduced the statutory limit on aggregate Reserve Bank surplus from $10 billion to $7.5
billion. Effective May 24, 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Economic
Growth Act), further reduced the statutory limit on aggregate Reserve Bank surplus from $7.5 billion to $6.825
billion. Reserve Bank surplus is allocated among the Reserve Banks based on the ratio of each Bank’s capital paidin to total Reserve Bank capital paid-in as of December 31 of each year. The amount reported as surplus by the
Bank as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 represents the Bank’s allocated portion of surplus.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 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 (loss) is provided in Notes 9 and 10.
o. Earnings Remittances to the Treasury
The Federal Reserve Act requires that any amounts of the surplus funds of the Reserve Banks that exceed, or would
exceed, the aggregate surplus limitation 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 aggregate surplus
limitation. Remittances to the Treasury are made on a weekly basis. The amount of the remittances to the Treasury
is reported as “Earnings remittances to the Treasury” in the Statements of Operations. The amount due to the
Treasury is reported as “Accrued remittances to the Treasury” in the Statements of Condition. See Note 11 for
additional information on earnings remittances to the Treasury.
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 aggregate surplus limitation,
remittances to the Treasury are suspended. This decrease in earnings remittances to the Treasury results in a deferred
asset that represents the amount of net earnings a Reserve Bank will need to realize before remittances to the
Treasury resume.
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, 2018 and 2017, 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 “Other items of income
(loss): Income from services” in its Statements of Operations. 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 Operations.

16

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
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 Operations. 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 “Other items of income (loss): Compensation received for service costs
provided” in its Statements of Operations.
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, 2018 and 2017 was 13.31 percent ($663.0
million) and 12.98 percent ($646.2 million), respectively. The Bank’s assessment for Bureau funding is reported as
“Operating expenses: Assessments: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection” in the Statements of Operations.
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 $2 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively,
and are reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Occupancy” in the Statements of Operations.
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 2018 and 2017.
u. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Other than the significant differences described in Note 3, the accounting policies described in FAM are generally
consistent with those in GAAP. The following items represent recent GAAP accounting standards and describe how
FAM was or will be revised to be consistent with these standards.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 201409, 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. Subsequently, the FASB issued a number of related ASUs including
ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date; ASU

17

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations
(Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net); ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):
Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing; ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients; and ASU 2016-20, Technical
Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This revenue
recognition accounting guidance is effective for the Bank for the year ending December 31, 2019 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, and is not expected to have a material effect 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. Subsequently, in July 2018, the FASB issued additional related ASUs,
ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted
Improvements; and in November 2018, ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-scope Improvements for
Lessors. This lease accounting guidance is effective for the Bank for the year ending December 31, 2020. The Board
of Governors is continuing to evaluate the effect of this guidance on the Bank’s financial statements, and is
considering the information and processes necessary to adopt the guidance.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement
of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This update revises the methodology for assessing expected credit
losses and requires consideration of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates.
Subsequently, in November 2018, the FASB issued one related ASU, ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to
Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. The update is effective for the Bank for the year ending
December 31, 2022, although earlier adoption is permitted, and is not expected to have a material effect on the
Bank’s financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net
Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This update requires an employer to disaggregate the service cost component
from the other components of net benefit cost. It also provides explicit guidance on how to present the service cost
component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allows only the service cost
component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. This update is effective for the Bank for the year
ending December 31, 2019, and is not expected to have a material effect on the Bank’s financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefits Plans-General (Subtopic
715-20). This update modifies the disclosure requirements for postretirement plans. The update is effective for the
Bank for the year ending December 31, 2021, although earlier adoption is permitted. The Board of Governors is
continuing to evaluate the effect of this new guidance on the Bank’s financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic
350-40). This update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting
arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to
develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license).
This update is effective for the Bank for the year ending December 31, 2021, although earlier adoption is permitted.
The Board of Governors plans to early adopt this standard for the year ending December 31, 2019, and it is not
expected to have a material effect on the Bank’s financial statements.

18

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to 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 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 $6 million and $26 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively,
with a remaining maturity within 15 days.
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, 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, 2018 and 2017. Interest income attributable to loans to depository institutions was immaterial
during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
(5) SYSTEM OPEN MARKET ACCOUNT
a. Domestic Securities Holdings
The FRBNY executes domestic open market operations and, on behalf of the Reserve Banks, holds the resulting
securities in the SOMA.
Pursuant to FOMC directives, during the period from January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, the FRBNY
continued to reinvest all principal payments from the SOMA’s holdings of GSE debt securities and federal agency
and GSE MBS in federal agency and GSE MBS and to roll over maturing Treasury securities at auction. In October
2017, the FOMC initiated a balance sheet normalization program intended to reduce gradually the SOMA holdings
by decreasing reinvestment of the principal payments received from securities held in the SOMA through the
implementation of monthly caps. Effective from October 2017 and through December 2017, the FOMC directed
the FRBNY to roll over principal payments from the SOMA holdings of Treasury securities maturing during each
calendar month that exceeded a $6 billion cap, and to reinvest in federal agency and GSE MBS the amount of
principal payments from the SOMA holdings of GSE debt securities and federal agency and GSE MBS received
during each calendar month that exceeded a $4 billion cap. Effective 2018, the monthly cap on Treasury
redemptions increased in steps of $6 billion at three-month intervals until it reached $30 billion per month, and the
monthly cap for federal agency and GSE MBS increased in steps of $4 billion at three-month intervals until it
reached $20 billion per month. The FOMC also anticipates that the caps will remain in place so that the SOMA
holdings will continue to decline in a gradual and predictable manner until the FOMC judges that the SOMA is

19

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
holding no more securities than necessary to implement monetary policy efficiently and effectively. The Bank’s
allocated share of activity related to domestic open market operations was 6.003 percent and 5.886 percent at
December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.
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, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (in millions):
2018
Unamortized
premiums

Par
Treasury securities
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities

$

$

$

82,997
50,416
133,413

GSE debt securities

$

Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

Unaccreted
discounts
$

$

326
5,257
5,583

145

$

20

$

98,271

$

2,806

$

$

Total amortized
cost

(250)
(537)
(787)
(20)

$
$

83,073
55,136
138,209

$

165

$

101,057

2017
Unamortized
premiums

Par
Treasury securities
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities

$

$

$

95,631
48,833
144,464

GSE debt securities

$

Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

Unaccreted
discounts
$

$

569
5,626
6,195

259

$

21

$

103,890

$

3,129

$

$

Total amortized
cost

(278)
(530)
(808)
(23)

$
$

95,922
53,929
149,851

$

280

$

106,996

There were no material transactions related to repurchase agreements during the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017.

20

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the FRBNY entered into reverse repurchase agreements as
part of its monetary policy activities. These operations have been undertaken as necessary to maintain the federal
funds rate in a target range. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements are entered into as part of a service offering
to foreign official and international account holders. Financial information related to reverse repurchase agreements
allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (in
millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018

Total SOMA

2017

2018

2017

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

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

2,512

$

18,813

$

41,848

$

319,595

744

8,449

12,552

145,959

18,813

26,213

319,595

468,355

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

2,550

17,817

42,485

302,690

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

2,516

18,839

41,919

320,048

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

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

$

15,737

$

14,384

$

262,164

$

244,363

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

14,139

14,016

236,818

241,581

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

15,737

15,278

262,164

264,290

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

15,704

14,166

261,615

240,660

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

15,738

14,387

262,184

244,417

Total contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

18,249

$

33,197

$

304,012

$

563,958

$

11

$

71

$

186

$

1,224

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

261
$

272

125
$

196

4,373
$

4,559

2,141
$

3,365

Securities pledged as collateral, at December 31, 2018 and 2017, consisted solely of Treasury securities. The
contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2018 of reverse repurchase agreements that were transacted with
primary dealers and expanded counterparties had a term of one business day and matured on January 2, 2019. The
contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2018 of reverse repurchase agreements that were transacted with
foreign official and international account holders had a term of one business day and matured on January 2, 2019.

21

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 reverse repurchase agreements that were allocated to the Bank at December 31, 2018 and 2017
was as follows (in millions):
Within 15
days
December 31, 2018:
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, 2017:
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

126

$

5,560

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

$

$

17,421

57,510

Over 5 years
to 10 years

$

15,661

Over 10
years

$

Total

37,135

$

133,413

-

4

-

-

-

141

145

-

-

-

13

3,764

94,494

98,271

18,249

-

-

-

-

-

18,249

1,213

$

6,337

$

18,567

$

63,412

$

18,270

$

36,665

$

144,464

-

-

117

4

-

138

259

-

-

-

10

1,178

102,702

103,890

33,197

-

-

-

-

-

33,197

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 7.0 and 6.9 years as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The amortized cost and par value of Treasury securities that were loaned from the SOMA under securities lending
agreements allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in
millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018
2017
Treasury securities (amortized cost)
Treasury securities (par value)

$

1,507
1,486

$

1,651
1,589

Total SOMA
2018
2017
$

25,102
24,761

$

28,053
26,990

Securities pledged as collateral by the counterparties in the securities lending arrangements at December 31, 2018
and 2017 consisted solely of Treasury securities. The securities lending agreements outstanding as of December 31,
2018 had a term of one business day and matured on January 2, 2019.
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, 2018, there were no outstanding commitments.

22

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
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, 2018, the total purchase price of the federal agency and
GSE MBS under outstanding purchase commitments was $294 million, none of which was related to dollar rolls.
The total purchase price of outstanding purchase commitments allocated to the Bank was $18 million, none of
which was related to dollar rolls. These commitments, which had contractual settlement dates extending through
January 2019, are 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, 2018, there were no outstanding
sales commitments for federal agency and GSE MBS. MBS commitments are subject to varying degrees of offbalance-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 held in the SOMA consist primarily of cash and short-term investments related to the federal agency
and GSE MBS portfolio and were immaterial and $13 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of
which $1 million was allocated to the Bank at December 31, 2017. Other liabilities include the FRBNY’s accrued
interest payable related to repurchase agreements transactions, obligation to return cash margin posted by
counterparties as collateral under commitments to purchase and sell federal agency and GSE MBS, and 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 liabilities allocated to the Bank and held in
the SOMA at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018
2017
Other liabilities:
Accrued interest payable
Cash margin
Obligations from MBS transaction fails
Total other liabilities

$

$

1
1
2

$

$

4
28
1
33

Total SOMA
2018
2017
$

$

25
8
1
34

$

$

63
481
14
558

In 2018, the description of the line item “Other liabilities: Other” has been revised to “Other liabilities: Accrued
interest payable” in the preceding table to better reflect the nature of the item. The amount related to this line item
was not changed from the prior year, only the nomenclature for the line item was revised.
Accrued interest receivable on domestic securities held in the SOMA was $22,160 million and $24,655 million as
of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of which $1,330 million and $1,451 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.

23

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 allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, is
summarized as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank

Bills
Balance at December 31, 2016
Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains (losses), net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Annual reallocation adjustment 3
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2017
Purchases 1
Sales 1
Realized gains (losses), net 2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Annual reallocation adjustment 3
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2018
Year-ended December 31, 2017
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 4
Sales
Year-ended December 31, 2018
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 4
Sales 4

$

-

$

-

Notes
$

92,200

$

9,347
(7)
(10,194)
(220)
41
4,755
3,722
95,922

$

11,452
(3)
(26,020)
(174)
57
1,839
(12,849)
83,073

8
(3)
(5)

$

$

$

-

-

$

8
(3)

Bonds

$

9,371
(8)

11,496
(3)

Total
Treasury
securities

GSE debt
securities

Federal
agency and
GSE MBS

$

932

$ 100,465

$

(686)
(6)
40
(652)
280

18,771
(20)
(16,917)
(614)
5,311
6,531
$ 106,996

(119)
(2)
6
(115)
165

7,204
(15)
(14,712)
(525)
2,109
(5,939)
$ 101,057

$

51,497

$ 143,697

$

923
(19)
2
(789)
(460)
107
2,668
2,432
53,929

10,270
(26)
2
(10,983)
(680)
148
7,423
6,154
$ 149,851

$

928
(4)
(464)
(465)
142
1,070
1,207
55,136

12,388
(10)
(26,489)
(639)
199
2,909
(11,642)
$ 138,209

$

$

930
(16)

$

10,301
(24)

$

$

937

$

12,441

$

(3)

(9)

-

$

18,207
(19)

-

$

7,060

-

(15)

1

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 (losses), net is the offset of 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.

24

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements

Bills
Balance at December 31, 2016

Notes
-

$ 1,647,339

$ 920,083

$ 2,567,422

Purchases 1

-

161,378

15,849

177,227

Sales 1

-

(124)

(326)

(450)

-

(2)
(175,933)
(3,796)
709
(17,768)
$ 1,629,571

30
(13,402)
(7,917)
1,845
(3,921)
$ 916,162

28
(189,335)
(11,713)
2,554
(21,689)
$ 2,545,733

Realized gains (losses), net2
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Subtotal of activty
Balance at December 31, 2017

$

Total SOMA
Total
Treasury
Bonds
securities

$

-

GSE debt
securities

Federal
agency and
GSE MBS

$

16,648

$ 1,795,003

-

324,524

-

$

Purchases 1

126

Sales 1

(47)

(49)

(65)

(161)

(79)
-

(1)
(435,970)
(2,929)
961
(245,642)
$ 1,383,929

6
(7,731)
(7,781)
2,382
2,371
$ 918,533

5
(443,780)
(10,710)
3,343
(243,271)
$ 2,302,462

$

2

Realized gains (losses), net
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
Subtotal of activty
Balance at December 31, 2018

$

192,346

15,560

208,032

(11,789)
(107)
(11,896)
4,752

(331)
2
(290,939)
(10,559)
22,697
$ 1,817,700

-

121,190

(1,982)
(29)
(2,011)
2,741

(253)
(5)
(246,316)
(8,784)
(134,168)
$ 1,683,532

Year-ended December 31, 2017
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 3
Sales

$

-

$

161,796
(125)

$

15,976
(275)

$

177,772
(400)

$

$

126

$

193,093

$

15,713

$

208,932

$

-

$

314,797
(320)

-

$

118,762

Year-ended December 31, 2018
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases 3
Sales 3

(47)

(51)

(59)

(157)

-

(251)

1

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 (losses), net is the offset of 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 invests in foreign government debt
instruments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, 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
repurchase agreements to purchase government debt securities for which the accepted collateral is the debt
instruments issued by a foreign government.
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no repurchase agreements outstanding and, consequently, no related
foreign securities held as collateral.

25

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank’s allocated share of activity related to foreign currency operations was 5.779 percent and 5.833 percent
at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Information about foreign currency denominated investments recorded at amortized cost and valued at foreign
currency market exchange rates allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was
as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018
2017
Euro:
Foreign currency deposits
French government debt instruments
German government debt instruments
Dutch government debt instruments
Japanese yen:
Foreign currency deposits
Japanese government debt instruments
Total

$

$

369
176
83
88

421
71
1,208

$

$

Total SOMA
2018
2017

354
180
131
95

394
89
1,243

$

$

6,390
3,045
1,440
1,511

7,286
1,234
20,906

$

$

6,070
3,089
2,239
1,626

6,765
1,527
21,316

Net interest income earned on foreign currency denominated investments for the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017 was immaterial for the Bank and held in the SOMA as follows (in millions):
Total SOMA
2018
2017
Net interest income:1
Euro
Japanese yen
Total net interest income

$
$

(30)
1
(29)

$
$

(19)
2
(17)

1

As a result of negative interest rates in certain foreign currency denominated investments held in the SOMA,
interest income on foreign currency denominated investments, net contains negative interest of $43 million and
$36 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Accrued interest receivable on foreign currency denominated investments, net was $72 million and $82 million as
of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of which $4 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.

26

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The remaining maturity distribution of foreign currency denominated investments that were allocated to the Bank
at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (in millions):
Within 15
days
December 31, 2018:
Euro
Japanese yen
Total
December 31, 2017:
Euro
Japanese yen
Total

$
$

$
$

371
421
792

359
395
754

16 days to 90
days
$
$

$
$

5
5
10

6
3
9

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

Over 5 years
to 10 years

$

$

$

$

$
$

26
17
43

72
15
87

$

$
$

161
49
210

183
70
253

$

$
$

Total

153
153

$

140
140

$

$

$

716
492
1,208

760
483
1,243

There were no foreign exchange contracts related to foreign currency operations outstanding as of December 31,
2018.
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, 2018, there were no outstanding commitments to purchase foreign
government debt instruments. During 2018, there were purchases and maturities of foreign government debt
instruments of $842 million and $1,734 million, respectively, of which $49 million and $100 million, respectively,
were allocated to the Bank. There were immaterial sales of foreign government debt instruments in 2018.
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
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 immaterial as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
c. Central Bank Liquidity Swaps
U.S. Dollar Liquidity Swaps
The Bank’s allocated share of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps was 5.779 percent and 5.833 percent at December 31,
2018 and 2017, respectively.
The total foreign currency held in the SOMA under U.S. dollar liquidity swaps at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was
$4,207 million and $12,067 million, respectively, of which $243 million and $704 million, respectively, was
allocated to the Bank.

27

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The remaining maturity distribution of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps that were allocated to the Bank at December 31,
2018 and 2017 was as follows (in millions):

Euro
Japanese yen
Total

2018

2017

Within 15
days
$
242
1
$
243

Within 15
days
$
695
9
$
704

Foreign Currency Liquidity Swaps
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, 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
Operations.
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, 2018 and
2017, 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 allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA at
December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018

Amortized cost
Treasury securities:
Notes
$
83,073
55,136
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
138,209
165
GSE debt securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
101,057
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings $
239,431
Memorandum - Commitments for:
Purchases of Treasury securities
Purchases of Federal agency and GSE MBS
Sales of Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

18
-

2017
Cumulative
unrealized
gains (losses),
net

Amortized cost

82,268
58,075
140,343
193
98,526
239,062

$

(805)
2,939
2,134
28
(2,531)
(369)

$

18
-

$

-

$

Fair value
$

$

$

$

$

Fair value

95,922
53,929
149,851
280
106,996
257,127

$

674
1,134
-

$

$

Cumulative
unrealized
gains (losses),
net

95,626
59,362
154,988
317
106,538
261,843

$

675
1,135
-

$

(296)
5,433
5,137
37
(458)
4,716

$

1
1
-

Total SOMA
2018

Amortized cost
Treasury securities:
Notes
$ 1,383,929
918,533
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
2,302,462
GSE debt securities
2,741
Federal agency and GSE MBS
1,683,532
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings $ 3,988,735
Memorandum - Commitments for:
Purchases of Treasury securities
Purchases of Federal agency and GSE MBS
Sales of Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

294
-

2017
Cumulative
unrealized
gains (losses),
net

Amortized cost

1,370,515
967,479
2,337,994
3,222
1,641,381
3,982,597

$

(13,414)
48,946
35,532
481
(42,151)
(6,138)

$

296
-

$

2
-

$

Fair value
$

$

$

$

$

Fair value

1,629,571
916,162
2,545,733
4,752
1,817,700
4,368,185

$

11,447
19,257
-

$

$

Cumulative
unrealized
gains (losses),
net

1,624,540
1,008,468
2,633,008
5,383
1,809,918
4,448,309

$

11,467
19,285
-

$

$

(5,031)
92,306
87,275
631
(7,782)
80,124

20
28
-

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 pricing services that utilize a model-based approach that considers
observable inputs for similar securities.
The cost bases of repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, central bank liquidity swaps, and other
investments held in the SOMA 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 approximates fair value.

29

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the fair value of foreign currency denominated investments held in the SOMA
was $20,957 million and $21,348 million, respectively, of which $1,211 million and $1,245 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. Due to
the short-term nature of foreign currency deposits, the cost basis is estimated to approximate fair value.
The following table provides additional information on the amortized cost and fair value of the federal agency and
GSE MBS portfolio held in the SOMA and allocated to the Bank at December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
2018
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

$

$

$

$

452
5,575
36,124
35,123
17,861
4,170
1,398
306
42
6
101,057

7,532
92,877
601,805
585,114
297,546
69,474
23,296
5,097
691
100
1,683,532

2017
Fair value

$

$

$

$

438
5,374
34,655
34,300
17,650
4,295
1,448
317
43
6
98,526

7,296
89,530
577,317
571,406
294,038
71,559
24,128
5,277
722
108
1,641,381

Amortized cost

$

$

$

$

528
6,501
39,682
37,119
17,060
4,007
1,669
372
51
7
106,996

8,968
110,452
674,138
630,590
289,819
68,069
28,352
6,318
870
124
1,817,700

Fair value

$

$

$

$

514
6,379
38,905
37,099
17,180
4,232
1,769
397
55
8
106,538

8,739
108,371
660,939
630,245
291,868
71,896
30,048
6,739
939
134
1,809,918

30

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The following tables present the realized gains (losses) and the change in the cumulative unrealized gains (losses)
related to SOMA domestic securities holdings allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA during the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2018

Realized gains
(losses), net
Treasury securities

2017
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

1, 2

$

3, 4

(losses)
-

$

(3,041)

Realized gains

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(losses), net 1, 2

(losses)3, 4

$

2

$

743

GSE debt securities

-

(9)

-

(10)

Federal agency and GSE MBS

-

(2,015)

-

(50)

Total

$

-

$

(5,065)

$

2

$

683

Total SOMA
2018

Treasury securities

$

GSE debt securities

Realized gains

Realized gains

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(losses), net 1, 2

(losses)3

(losses), net 1, 2

(losses)3

5

$

$

2

(51,743)

$

(150)

(3)

Federal agency and GSE MBS
Total

2017
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(86,262)

$

-

(34,369)
$

28

(163)

8
$

36

13,991
(263)

$

13,565

1

Realized gains for Treasury securities are reported in “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market Account: Treasury securities gains, net” in the
Statements of Operations.
2
Realized (losses) gains for federal agency and GSE MBS are reported in “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market Account: Other” in the
Statements of Operations.
3
Because SOMA securities are recorded at amortized cost, the change in the cumulative unrealized gains (losses) is not reported in the Statements of
Operations.
4
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 gain of $19 million and a loss of $36 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively, of which $1 million and $2 million, respectively, were allocated to the Bank. Realized gains, net
related to foreign currency denominated investments was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017.
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, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions):
2018

2017

Bank premises and equipment:
Land and land improvements

$

39

Buildings
Building machinery and equipment

$

39

253

249

60

53

Construction in progress

3

2

Furniture and equipment

71

70

426

413

(200)

(187)

Subtotal
Accumulated depreciation
Bank premises and equipment, net

$

226

$

226

Depreciation expense, for the years ended December 31

$

15

$

14

The Bank leases space to outside tenants with remaining lease terms ranging from 1 to 15 years. Rental income
from such leases was $3 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and is reported as a
component of “Other items of income (loss): Other” in the Statements of Operations. Future minimum lease
payments that the Bank will receive under non-cancelable lease agreements in existence at December 31, 2018, are
as follows (in millions):
2019

$

2

2020

3

2021

2

2022

1

2023

1
12

Thereafter
Total

$

21

32

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
The Bank had capitalized software assets, net of amortization, of $34 million and $35 million at December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively. Amortization expense was $5 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively. 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 Operations.
(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, 2018, the Bank was obligated under non-cancelable leases for premises and equipment with
remaining terms ranging from one to approximately five 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 and office equipment (including taxes,
insurance, and maintenance when included in rent) was $1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases with terms of one year or more, at December
31, 2018, were immaterial.
At December 31, 2018, 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 perincident 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, 2018 and 2017.
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, eligible Bureau employees may participate in
the System Plan and, during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, 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).

1

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

33

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
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 Operations and reports the net
liability as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in its Statements of Condition.
The Bank’s projected benefit obligation, funded status, and net pension expenses for the BEP and the SERP at
December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for the years then ended, were immaterial.
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 $11 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and are reported as a
component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Statements of Operations.
(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 for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
2018
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at January 1

$

181.1

$

8.7

Service cost benefits earned during the period
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation
Net actuarial gain
Contributions by plan participants
$

174.1
7.8

6.4

6.8

(20.3)

(1.6)

2.6

2.5

(8.5)

Benefits paid
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31

2017

170.0

(8.5)
$

181.1

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used in developing the
postretirement benefit obligation were 4.26 percent and 3.59 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.

34

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 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
millions):
2018
Fair value of plan assets at January 1

$

2017
-

$

-

Contributions by the employer

5.9

6.0

Contributions by plan participants

2.6

2.5

(8.5)

(8.5)

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

$

-

$

-

$

170.0

$

181.1

10.1

$

13.5

Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are shown below:
Prior service cost

$

(4.0)

Net actuarial loss
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

$

(24.3)

6.1

$

(10.8)

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, 2018 and 2017 are provided
in the table below:
2018
Health-care cost trend rate assumed for next year

2017

6.25%

6.20%

4.75%

4.75%

2025

2022

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, 2018 (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

$

3.2
26.8

$

(2.5)
(21.9)

35

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, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
2018
Service cost-benefits earned during the period

$

Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation
Amortization of prior service cost
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense

$

2017
8.7

$

7.8

6.4

6.8

(3.4)

(3.6)

11.7

$

11.0

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic
postretirement benefit expense in 2019 are shown below:
Prior service cost

$

(3.5)

Net actuarial loss

-

Total

$

(3.5)

Net postretirement benefit costs are actuarially determined using a January 1 measurement date. At January 1, 2018
and 2017, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used to determine net periodic postretirement benefit
costs were 3.59 percent and 4.07 percent, respectively.
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense is reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and
benefits” in the Statements of Operations.
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 the actuarial loss in the accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit expense.
Federal Medicare Part D subsidy receipts were immaterial in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Expected receipts in 2019, related to benefits paid in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, are immaterial.
Following is a summary of expected postretirement benefit payments (in millions):
Without subsidy
2019

$

6.1

With subsidy
$

6.1

2020

7.0

7.0

2021

7.6

7.6

2022

8.2

8.2

2023

8.8

8.8

53.5

53.5

2024 - 2028
Total

$

91.2

$

91.2

36

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 providing disability; medical, dental,
and vision insurance; survivor income benefits, and certain workers’ compensation expenses. The accrued
postemployment benefit costs recognized by the Bank at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $8 million and $9
million, respectively. This cost is included as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in the Statements of
Condition. Net periodic postemployment benefit credit included in 2018 and 2017 operating expenses were $148
thousand and $1 million, respectively, and are recorded as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and
benefits” in the Statements of Operations.
(10)

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Following is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):

Balance at January 1

2018

2017

Amount related
to
postretirement
benefits other
than retirement
plans

Amount related
to
postretirement
benefits other
than retirement
plans

$

(10.8)

$

(8.8)

Change in funded status of benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost

(3.4)

Change in prior service costs related to benefit plans
Net actuarial gain arising during the year
Change in actuarial gain related to benefit plans
Change in funded status of benefit plans - other comprehensive income (loss)
Balance at December 31
1

1

(3.6)

(3.4)

(3.6)

20.3

1.6

20.3

1.6

16.9

(2.0)

$

6.1

$

1

(10.8)

Reclassification is reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Statements of Operations.

Additional detail regarding the classification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is included in Note
9.
(11)

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

In accordance with the Federal Reserve Act, 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 the Bank’s allocated
portion of the aggregate surplus limitation.
For the year ending December 31, 2017 and through February 8, 2018, the aggregate surplus limitation was $10
billion. On February 9, 2018, the Budget Act reduced the aggregate surplus limitation to $7.5 billion, which
required the Reserve Banks to make a lump-sum payment to the Treasury in the amount of $2.5 billion; the payment
was remitted to the Treasury on February 22, 2018, and the Bank’s share of this remittance was $144 million. After
making the transfer required by the Budget Act, the Bank’s allocated portion of the aggregate $7.5 billion surplus
was $433 million.
37

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Notes to Financial Statements
On May 24, 2018, the Economic Growth Act reduced the aggregate surplus limitation to $6.825 billion, which
required the Reserve Banks to make a lump-sum payment to the Treasury in the amount of $675 million; the
payment was remitted to the Treasury on June 21, 2018, and the Bank’s share of this remittance was $39 million.
After making the transfer required by the Economic Growth Act, the Bank’s allocated portion of the aggregate
$6.825 billion surplus was $394 million.
The following table presents the distribution of the Bank’s and System total comprehensive income for the years
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
Bank's portion
2018
2017
Net income before providing for remittances
to Treasury
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income - available for
distribution
Distribution of comprehensive income:
Transfer from surplus
Dividends
Earnings remittances to the Treasury 1
Total distribution of comprehensive income

1

System total
2018
2017

$

5,304
17

$

5,682
(2)

$

63,101
42

$

80,692
651

$

5,321

$

5,680

$

63,143

$

81,343

$

(3,175)
999

$

784

$

$

(181)
60
5,442
5,321

(5)
51

$

$

5,634
5,680

$

65,319
63,143

$

80,559
81,343

Inclusive of lump-sum payments required by legislation enacted during the year ended December 31, 2018.

(12)

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

There were no subsequent events that required adjustments to or disclosures in the financial statements as of
December 31, 2018. Subsequent events were evaluated through March 8, 2019, which is the date that the financial
statements were available to be issued.

38