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Financial Statements:
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

As of and for the Years Ended
December 31, 2020 and 2019 and
Independent Auditors’ Report

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Contents

Page
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

1

Independent Auditors’ Report

2-3

Abbreviations

4

Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Statements of Condition as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019

5

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 6
2019
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 7
December 31, 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8-52

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

March 17, 2021
To the Board of Directors:
The management of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (Bank) is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation
of the Consolidated Statements of Condition as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the Consolidated Statements of
Operations, and Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital for the years then ended (the consolidated financial
statements). The consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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
consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated
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.

Eric S. Rosengren, President

Steffanie Brady, Chief Financial Officer

Kenneth C. Montgomery, First Vice President

KPMG LLP
Two Financial Center
60 South Street
Boston, MA 02111

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of condition of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Boston and subsidiaries (“FRB Boston”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated
statements of operations and changes in capital for the years then ended. We also have audited the FRB
Boston’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. The FRB Boston’s management is responsible for these consolidated 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 consolidated
financial statements and an opinion on the FRB Boston’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 consolidated
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 Boston’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements and
as set forth in the Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve Banks (“FAM”). The FRB Boston’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 Boston; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with the FAM, and that receipts and
expenditures of the FRB Boston are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the FRB Boston; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the FRB Boston’s assets that could have a material effect on the
consolidated 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
KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of
the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with
KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the FRB Boston has prepared these
consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of the FRB Boston as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of their operations
and changes in capital for the years then ended, on the basis of accounting described in Note 3. Also, in our
opinion, the FRB Boston maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Boston, Massachusetts
March 17, 2021

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Abbreviations
ACH
ASC
ASU
BEP
Bureau
CARES
CMBS
ESF
FAM
FASB
FIMA
FOMC
FRA
FRBB
FRBNY
GAAP
GSE
LLC
MBS
MMLF
Main Street
MSELF
MSNLF
MSPLF
NOELF
NONLF
OEB
PDCF
PMCCF
PPP
PPPLF
RMBS
SBA
SDR
SERP
SOMA
TDF
TIPS
TBA
VIE

Automated clearinghouse
Accounting Standards Codification
Accounting Standards Update
Benefit Equalization Retirement Plan
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
Exchange Stabilization Fund
Financial Accounting Manual for Federal Reserve Banks
Financial Accounting Standards Board
Foreign and International Monetary Authorities
Federal Open Market Committee
Federal Reserve Act
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
Government-sponsored enterprise
Limited Liability Company
Mortgage-backed securities
Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility
MS Facilities LLC
Main Street Expanded Loan Facility
Main Street New Loan Facility
Main Street Priority Loan Facility
Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility
Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility
Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System
Primary Dealer Credit Facility
Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility
Paycheck Protection Program
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility
Residential mortgage-backed securities
Small Business Administration
Special drawing rights
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Select Officers of the Federal Reserve Banks
System Open Market Account
Term Deposit Facility
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities
To be announced
Variable interest entity

4

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Consolidated Statements of Condition
As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
(in millions)
2020
ASSETS
Gold certificates
Special drawing rights certificates
Coin
Loans:
Loans to depository institutions
Other loans
System Open Market Account:
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
Treasury securities, net (of which $755 and $863 is lent as of December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively)
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities, net
Government-sponsored enterprise debt securities, net (of which $0 are lent as of December 31, 2020
and 2019)
Foreign currency denominated investments, net
Central bank liquidity swaps
Accrued interest receivable
Consolidated variable interest entity: Assets held, net (including $129 measured at fair value as of
December 31, 2020)
Other accrued interest receivable
Bank premises and equipment, net
Asset - Treasury funding of lending facility credit protection
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
Consolidated variable interest entity: Other liabilities
Deposit - Treasury funding of lending facility credit protection
Accrued benefit costs
Accrued remittances to the Treasury
Interdistrict settlement account
MMLF facility fees payable to the Treasury
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Reserve Bank capital
Capital paid-in
Surplus (including accumulated other comprehensive income of $8 and $3 at December 31, 2020 and
2019, respectively)
Total Reserve Bank capital
Consolidated variable interest entity formed to administer credit and liquidity facilities: Non-controlling
interest
Total Reserve Bank capital and consolidated variable interest entity non-controlling interest
Total liabilities and capital

$

2019

337
196
31

$

351
196
40

Note 4
62
4,773

-

22

5,303

111,293
47,377

49,824
30,019

59
1,054
849
677

55
892
161
432

51,790
36
110
1,500
34
$ 220,200

115
22,285
33
$ 109,706

$ 62,284

$ 55,345

4,852
130

6,984
3

107,297
1,861
187
1,500
128
12
4,919
130
22
183,322

45,313
67
19
113
14
19
107,877

1,470

1,505

310
1,780

324
1,829

35,098
36,878
$ 220,200

1,829
$ 109,706

Note 5

Note 6

Note 7
Note 4

Note 5

Note 6
Note 4
Notes 9, 10

Note 4

Note 6

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

5

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
(in millions)
2020
INTEREST INCOME
Loans:
Loans to depository institutions
Other loans
System Open Market Account:
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
Treasury securities, net
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed
securities, net
Government-sponsored enterprise debt 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:
Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed
securities gains, net
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net
Other
Reimbursable services to government agencies
Other components of net benefit costs
MMLF facility fees to the Treasury
Other
Total other items of (loss) income
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries and benefits
Occupancy
Equipment
Other
Assessments:
Board of Governors operating expenses and currency costs
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Total operating expenses
Reserve Bank net income from operations
Consolidated variable interest entity: Loss, net
Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling interest loss, net
Reserve Bank and consolidated variable interest entity net income before providing
for remittances to the Treasury
Earnings remittances to the Treasury
Net (loss) income after providing for remittances to the Treasury
Change in prior service costs related to benefit plans
Change in actuarial (losses) gains related to benefit plans
Total other comprehensive income
Comprehensive income

2019

Note 4
$

1
187

$

-

Note 5
15
1,485

20
1,189

707
3
(2)
22
2,418

872
3
(1)
2,083

Note 5
15

122

175
190
2,228

633
755
1,328

Note 5

Notes 9, 10
Note 4

Note 6
Note 6

Notes 9, 10
Notes 9, 10
$

15
74
1
5
(16)
(130)
16
(35)

(7)
1
24
(11)
18
25

201
36
6
66

181
34
6
12

79
24
412
1,781
(2,400)
2,402

69
23
325
1,028
-

1,783
1,784
(1)
13
(8)
5
4

1,028
974
54
8
8
62

$

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

6

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
(in millions, except share data)
Reserve Bank Capital
Surplus

Capital
paid-in
Balance at December 31, 2018
(27,852,809 shares of Reserve Bank capital stock)
Net change in capital stock issued
(2,239,100 shares)
Comprehensive income:
Net income after providing for remittances to the
Treasury
Other comprehensive income
Dividends on capital stock
Net change in capital

$

$

$

112

$

1,505

298
-

112

Balance at December 31, 2019
(30,091,909 shares of Reserve Bank capital stock)
$
Net change in capital stock redeemed (697,899
shares)
Comprehensive income:
Reserve Bank net loss after providing for
remittances to the Treasury
Consolidated variable interest entity: Income
(loss) net
Other comprehensive income
Dividends on capital stock
Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling
interest - capital contribution
Net change in Reserve Bank capital and noncontrolling interest
Balance at December 31, 2020
(29,394,010 shares of Reserve Bank capital stock)

1,393

Net income
retained

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income

(35)

321

Total
surplus
$

-

54
(31)
23

$

(5)

3

293

$

-

8
8

$

Total
Reserve
Bank
capital

54
8
(31)
31

$

324

$

1,686

Consolidated
variable
interest entity:
Non-controlling
interest

Total Reserve
Bank capital and
consolidated
variable interest
entity noncontrolling
interest

$

$

-

1,686

112

-

112

54
8
(31)
143

-

54
8
(31)
143

1,829

$

-

$

1,829

-

-

-

(35)

-

(35)

-

(3)

-

(3)

(3)

-

(3)

-

2
(18)

5
-

2
5
(18)

2
5
(18)

-

-

(35)

1,470

-

(19)

$

302

-

5

$

8

-

(14)

$

310

(49)

$

1,780

$

(2,402)
-

(2,400)
5
(18)

37,500

37,500

35,098

35,049

35,098

$

36,878

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

7

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1) STRUCTURE
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (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
(FRA), 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 First Federal Reserve District, which includes the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and a portion of the state of Connecticut.
In accordance with the FRA, supervision and control of the Bank is exercised by a board of directors. The
FRA 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 national banks and 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 FRA 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 on
behalf of the Reserve Banks as provided in its annual authorization. As such, the FRBNY holds the resulting
securities and agreements in a portfolio known as the System Open Market Account (SOMA). The FOMC
authorizes and directs the FRBNY to conduct operations in domestic markets, including the direct purchase
and sale of Treasury securities, federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) residential
mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), federal agency and GSE commercial mortgage-backed securities
8

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(CMBS), and GSE debt securities; the purchase of these securities under agreements to resell; the sale of
these securities under agreements to repurchase; and the exchange, at market prices, of these securities that
are maturing. The FRBNY is authorized and directed to lend the Treasury securities and GSE debt securities
that are held in the SOMA.
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 certain 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.
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
temporary U.S. dollar liquidity swap arrangements and standing foreign currency liquidity swap
arrangements with various foreign banks. 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.
On March 19, 2020, the FOMC enhanced the standing U.S. dollar 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 in order to provide U.S. dollar liquidity to foreign markets. The FOMC established
temporary swap U.S. dollar liquidity lines to the Reserve Bank of Australia, Banco Central do Brasil,
Danmarks Nationalbank, the Bank of Korea, Banco de Mexico, the Norges Bank, the Reserve Bank of New
Zealand, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Sveriges Riksbank. In pledging foreign currency for
U.S. currency, these central banks borrowed U.S. currency against collateral in their respective
jurisdictions. The temporary swap lines will expire on September 30, 2021.
The FOMC has authorized and directed the FRBNY to conduct small-value exercises periodically for the
purpose of testing operational readiness.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Board of Governors authorized several lending facilities
under section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act. The lending facilities are as follows:


On March 17, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the FRBNY to establish and operate the
Primary Dealer Credit Facility (PDCF). The PDCF is a term loan facility that provides funding to
primary dealers in exchange for a broad range of collateral and is intended to foster the functioning
of financial markets more generally.



On March 17, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the FRBNY to establish and operate the
Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF). The purpose of the CPFF is to provide liquidity to
short-term funding markets. The CPFF provides a liquidity backstop to U.S. issuers of commercial
paper, including municipalities, by purchasing three-month unsecured and asset-backed
commercial paper directly from eligible issuers. The FRBNY established the CP Funding Facility
II Limited Liability Company (LLC) (CPFF II) to administer the CPFF. The Treasury, using the
Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF), made an equity investment in the CPFF II. The CPFF II will
cease purchasing commercial paper on March 31, 2021.



On March 18, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the Bank to establish and operate the
Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF). The MMLF provides funding to U.S.
depository institutions and bank holding companies to finance their purchases of certain types of
9

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
assets from money market mutual funds under certain conditions. No new credit extensions under
the MMLF will be made after March 31, 2021.


On March 22, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the FRBNY to establish and operate the
Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) to provide loans to U.S. companies secured
by certain AAA-rated asset-backed securities (ABS) backed by recently originated consumer and
business loans. The FRBNY established the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility II LLC
(TALF II) to administer the facility. The Treasury, using funds appropriated to the ESF through the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, made an equity investment in
TALF II. TALF II ceased extending new loans on December 31, 2020.



On March 23, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the FRBNY to establish two facilities to
support credit to large employers — the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility (PMCCF) for
new bond and loan issuance and the Secondary Money Corporate Credit Facility (SMCCF) to
provide liquidity for outstanding corporate bonds. The FRBNY established the Corporate Credit
Facilities LLC (CCF) to administer the PMCCF and SMCCF. The Treasury, using funds
appropriated to the ESF through the CARES Act, made an equity investment in CCF. The CCF
ceased purchasing eligible assets on December 31, 2020.



On April 8, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized the FRBNY to establish the Municipal
Liquidity Facility to support lending to state, city, and county governments, certain multistate
entities, and other issuers of municipal securities. The FRBNY established the Municipal Liquidity
Facility LLC (MLF) to administer the facility. The Treasury, using funds appropriated to the ESF
through the CARES Act, made an equity investment in MLF. MLF ceased purchasing eligible
assets on December 31, 2020.



On April 8, 2020, the Board of Governors authorized each of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks to
establish and operate the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPPLF). The PPPLF
offers a source of liquidity to financial institution lenders that lend to small businesses through the
Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). No new extensions
of credit will be made under the PPPLF after June 30, 2021.



The Board of Governors authorized the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) to support lending
to small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial
condition before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The MSLP involves the purchase of
participations in loans originated by eligible lenders. The MSLP includes five facilities: the Main
Street New Loan Facility (MSNLF), Main Street Expanded Loan Facility (MSELF), Main Street
Priority Loan Facility (MSPLF), Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility (NONLF), and
Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility (NOELF). The Bank established the MS Facilities
LLC (“Main Street” or “the LLC”) to administer the facilities. The Treasury, using funds
appropriated to the ESF through the CARES Act, made a preferred equity investment in Main
Street. Main Street ceased purchasing participations on January 8, 2021.

Additional information related to the lending facilities that the Bank participates in is provided in Notes 4,
6, and 13.
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
10

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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 Financial
Support Office and Centralized Accounting Technology Services. The Bank is leading the System’s
initiative to develop a nationwide faster payment settlement service, named the FedNow Service.
(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
consolidated 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 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 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as required by GAAP
because the liquidity and cash position of the Bank are not a primary concern given the 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition, Operations, and Changes in Capital,
and the accompanying notes to the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements highlight those areas where FAM is consistent
with GAAP.
11

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Preparing the consolidated 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 consolidated 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 Consolidated Statements of
Operations to conform to the current year presentation. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic
Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, $7 million of net cost related to the Benefit
Equalization Retirement Plan (BEP) and the Supplemental Retirement Plan for Select Officers of the
Federal Reserve Banks (SERP) previously reported as “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” for the
year ended December 31, 2019 has been reclassified to “Other items of income (loss): Other components
of net benefit costs.”
Significant accounts and accounting policies are explained below.
a. Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and results of operations of the Bank as well as
Main Street, a variable interest entity (VIE). The consolidation of the VIE was assessed in accordance with
FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810 (ASC 810), Consolidation, which requires a
VIE to be consolidated by its controlling financial interest holder. The Bank is the managing member and
the Treasury is the preferred equity member of the VIE. Intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation. See Notes 6 and 13 for additional information on the VIE. The assets and
liabilities of the VIE have been accounted for and consolidated with the assets and liabilities of the Bank.
The Bank consolidates a VIE if the Bank has a controlling financial interest, which is defined as the power
to direct the significant economic activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to
receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. To determine whether it is the
controlling financial interest holder of a VIE, the Bank evaluates the VIEs’ design, capital structure, and
relationships with the variable interest holders. The Bank reconsiders whether it has a controlling financial
interest in a VIE, as required by ASC 810, Consolidation, at each reporting date or if there is an event that
requires consideration.
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
consolidated 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,
12

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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 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 Consolidated 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 and other loans, consisting of the PPPLF and MMLF 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 and foreign official and international account holders. 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 the counterparty. The collateral pledged
13

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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
(TIPS), Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities, and Treasury Floating Rate
Notes); direct obligations of several federal agencies and GSEs, 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition. Interest
income is reported as “System Open Market Account: Securities purchased under agreements to resell” in
the Consolidated 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 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, federal agency and GSE MBS, or GSE debt securities 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition. Interest
expense is reported as “System Open Market Account: Securities sold under agreements to repurchase” in
the Consolidated 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 conduct of open market operations. 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 Consolidated 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 Consolidated
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, Federal Agency and Government-Sponsored Enterprise Residential and
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities, Government-Sponsored Enterprise Debt Securities,
and Foreign Currency Denominated Investments
Interest income on Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, GSE debt securities, and foreign
currency denominated investments included in the SOMA is recorded when earned and includes inflation
14

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
compensation on TIPS and 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, federal agency and
GSE MBS, and GSE debt securities are reported net of premiums and discounts in the Consolidated
Statements of Condition and interest income on those securities is reported net of the amortization of
premiums and accretion of discounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In addition to outright purchases of federal agency and GSE MBS that are held in the SOMA, the FRBNY
enters into RMBS 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, 2020 and 2019, 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 (losses) resulting from MBS transactions are reported as a component of “Other items of income
(loss): System Open Market Account: Federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgagebacked securities gains (losses), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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 Consolidated 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 gains (losses), net” in the Consolidated 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 Consolidated
Statements of Condition.
Activity related to Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and GSE debt securities 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.
15

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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 Consolidated 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 interest 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 Consolidated 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 liquidity swap is recorded as a liability in the amount of foreign
currency that the FRBNY receives.
h. Consolidated Variable Interest Entity: Assets Held, Net
The consolidated VIE holds assets that result from the associated purchase and lending activities and from
the Treasury’s preferred equity contributions. In addition to loans directly related to program activities,
assets may include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and short-term investments in nonmarketable securities. Cash equivalents and short-term investments are recorded at fair value in accordance
with FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, while short-term investments in non-marketable securities are
accounted for at amortized cost in accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments ‐ Debt and Equity
Securities. Main Street holds loan participations through the various programs that are classified as heldfor-investment and measured at principal amount outstanding including interest, net of allowance, in
accordance with FASB ASC 310, Receivables. Additional information related to the assets held by the
consolidated VIE is provided in Notes 6 and 13.
i. 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 and 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.

16

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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 three to ten 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.
j. Leases
Leases are identified in accordance with FASB ASC 842, Leases. The Bank’s material leases involve lessor
and lessee arrangements for premises and are classified as operating leases. When the Bank is a lessee, the
discount rate is based on a risk-free Treasury borrowing rate at lease commencement using a period
comparable to the lease term. The Bank elected the short-term lease recognition exemption and to not
separate lease components from non-lease components for all leases.
k. 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 Consolidated 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.
l. 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 FRA 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition represents the Bank’s
Federal Reserve notes outstanding, reduced by the Bank’s currency holdings of $4,534 million and $5,475
million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
17

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, all Federal Reserve notes outstanding, net, were fully collateralized. At
December 31, 2020 and 2019, all gold certificates, all SDR certificates, and $2,024 billion and $1,743
billion, respectively, of domestic securities held in the SOMA were pledged as collateral. At December 31,
2020 and 2019, no investments denominated in foreign currencies were pledged as collateral.
m. 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. Effective March 26, 2020, the Board of
Governors reduced reserve requirement ratios to zero and, as a result, all balances held were excess
balances. The interest rates paid on required and excess reserve 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 Consolidated 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition. There were no deposits held by the Bank under
the TDF at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Other Deposits
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
Consolidated Statements of Condition.
n. Reserve Bank Capital Paid-in
The FRA 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 have 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 FRA 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 FRA 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 $10.7 billion and $10.5 billion for the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2019, respectively. This threshold is adjusted annually based on the Gross Domestic Product Price Index,
18

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
which is published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The dividend is paid semiannually and is
cumulative.
o. Consolidated variable interest entity formed to administer credit and liquidity facilities: Noncontrolling interest
The Treasury’s preferred equity contribution to the consolidated VIE is reported as a component of
“Consolidated variable interest entity formed to administer credit and liquidity facilities: Non-controlling
interest” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.
The reported amount also includes Treasury's allocated portion of undistributed net VIE assets, determined
in accordance with VIE agreements and accounting policies adopted by the VIE. The Treasury’s noncontrolling interest is reported as “Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling interest” in the
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital. Treasury’s allocated portion of undistributed net assets is
determined in accordance with the hypothetical liquidation at book value methodology. A calculation is
prepared to determine the amounts that would be received if the VIE liquidated all of its assets, measured
as of the balance sheet date, and distributed the proceeds to the members based on the contractually defined
liquidation priorities. The difference between the calculated liquidation distribution amounts at the
beginning and the end of the reporting period is the Bank’s share of the earnings or losses from the equity
investment for the period.
p. Surplus
The FRA 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 paid-in 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, 2020 and 2019 represents the Bank’s allocated
portion of surplus.
Accumulated other comprehensive income is reported as a component of “Surplus” in the Consolidated
Statements of Condition and the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital. Additional information
regarding the classifications of accumulated other comprehensive income is provided in Notes 10 and 11.
q. Earnings Remittances to the Treasury
The FRA 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 Consolidated
Statements of Operations. The amount due to the Treasury is reported as “Accrued remittances to the
Treasury” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. See Note 12 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

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Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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.
r. Income and Costs Related to Treasury Services
When directed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Bank is required by the FRA to serve as fiscal agent
and depositary of the United States Government. By statute, the Treasury has appropriations to pay for
these services. Revenue generated by the Bank in performing fiscal agent activities is recognized when the
Bank’s performance obligations are satisfied. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the
Bank was reimbursed for all services provided to the Treasury as its fiscal agent.
s. Services Provided to Other Reserve Banks
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has overall responsibility for managing the Reserve Banks’ provision
of check and ACH services to depository institutions, the FRBNY has overall responsibility for managing
the Reserve Banks’ provision of Fedwire funds and securities services and National Settlement Service,
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 Consolidated
Statements of Operations. Revenue generated from these services is recognized when the Reserve Banks’
performance obligations are satisfied. Because the performance obligations for these services are not for
any specific term, the Reserve Banks responsible for managing these services recognize income based on
usage of the services. Transaction prices are set by fee schedules published by the System. During the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, earned income was collected timely. The Bank is reimbursed for costs
incurred to provide these services by the Reserve Banks responsible for managing these services and reports
this reimbursement as a component of “Operating expenses: Other” in its Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
t. 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 DoddFrank Act. The percentage of total operating expenses of the System for the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2019 was 13.97 percent ($695.9 million) and 13.63 percent ($678.9 million), respectively. The
Bank’s assessment for Bureau funding is reported as “Operating expenses: Assessments: Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
u. Fair Value
Certain assets of the VIE, discussed in Note 6, are measured at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC
Topic 820 (ASC 820), Fair Value Measurement. 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

20

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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.

•

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.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets and liabilities are not necessarily an indication of the
risk associated with those assets and liabilities.
v. 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 $9 million and $8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively, and are reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Occupancy” in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations.
w. 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 2020 and 2019.
x. 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 FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).
This update was issued to create common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP and International
Financial Reporting Standards. The guidance is applicable to all contracts for the transfer of goods or
services regardless of industry or type of transaction. This update requires recognition of revenue in a
manner that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in return for the transfer of goods or
services to customers. 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 2016-08,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations
(Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net); and ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. This revenue recognition accounting

21

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
guidance was effective for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the relevant disclosures
have been included in Notes 3r and 3s to the Bank’s consolidated 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 was effective
for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2019, and did not have a material effect on the Bank’s
consolidated 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 rightof-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet based on the value of discounted future lease
payments. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Subsequently, the FASB issued a number of related
ASUs, including in July 2018, ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements; in November
2018, ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-scope Improvements for Lessors; and in November,
2019, ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic
815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. This guidance was effective for the Bank for the year ended
December 31, 2020. The Bank used the modified retrospective transition approach to recognize material
leases existing on January 1, 2020 with no adjustment to prior periods presented. There were no cumulative
effect adjustments required. The Bank elected not to reassess prior determinations of whether an existing
contract contains a lease, lease clarification, and initial direct costs. The relevant disclosures have been
included prospectively in Note 8 to the Bank’s consolidated financial statements.
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. Although earlier adoption is permitted, this update is effective for the Bank
for the year ending December 31, 2023. The Bank is continuing to evaluate the effect of this guidance on
its consolidated 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
was effective for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the relevant disclosures have been
included in Note 10 to the Bank’s consolidated financial statements. Adoption of ASU 2017-07 occurred
in multiple phases. ASU 2017-07 was effective in 2019 for the System’s pension and postretirement plans,
then subsequently effective in 2020 for the BEP and SERP plans.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). This update
modifies disclosure requirements for fair value measurements in Topic 820 to provide users of financial
statements with information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value, including the valuation
techniques, the uncertainty in fair value measurements, and how changes in the measurements will affect
financial performance. This update was effective for the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2020, and
relevant disclosure updates have been included in Note 6 to the Bank’s consolidated financial statements.

22

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated 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 Board
of Governors has adopted this standard for the year ended December 31, 2020. Relevant disclosure updates
have been included in Note 10.
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). The Board of Governors early adopted this standard for the year ended December 31,
2019. This update did not have a material effect on the Bank’s consolidated financial statements.
In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to
Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities. This update broadens the existing accounting
alternative available to private companies. This update is effective for the Federal Reserve Bank for the
year ended December 31, 2021, and it is not expected to have an effect on the Bank’s consolidated financial
statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the
Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This update provides optional expedients to apply
to contract modifications and hedging relationships that reference the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate
(LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The Board of Governors has not yet
adopted the new standard as the Board of Governors is continuing to evaluate the effect of this new guidance
on the Bank’s consolidated 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.

23

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Interest income attributable to loans to depository institutions was $1 million for the year ended December
31, 2020 and was immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Other Loans
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility
PPPLF loans are non-recourse loans and only PPP loans guaranteed by the SBA are eligible to serve as
collateral for the PPPLF. An eligible borrower may pledge SBA-guaranteed PPP loans that it has originated
or purchased. Each PPPLF loan is equal to the maturity of the PPP loan pledged and has a term of two years
or five years based on the PPP loan origination date. In an event of default, PPP covered loans are fully
guaranteed as to principal and accrued interest by the SBA. The Bank has the rights to any such loan
forgiveness reimbursement by the SBA to the eligible borrower. The eligible borrower shall pay fully
collected funds to the Bank. Interest income attributable to the PPPLF was $5 million during the year ended
December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, no PPPLF loans were over 90 days past due or on nonaccrual
status.
Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility
Under the MMLF, the Bank extends loans to eligible financial institutions secured by high-quality assets
purchased by the borrowing financial institution from money market mutual funds. Eligible collateral
comprises U.S. Treasuries securities and fully guaranteed agency debt; securities issued by GSEs; and the
following assets in the top credit rating category for asset-backed commercial paper, unsecured commercial
paper, negotiable certificate of deposits, U.S. municipal short-term debt, and variable rate demand notes.
Each MMLF loan has a term equal to the maturity date of the collateral, but may not exceed 12 months.
Interest income attributable to the MMLF was $182 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. At
December 31, 2020, no MMLF loans were over 90 days past due or on nonaccrual status. Additionally, the
Treasury, using the ESF, committed $10 billion as credit protection to the FRBB and has advanced $1.5
billion to the Bank as of December 31, 2020. The funded amount of the credit protection is held at the
FRBNY on behalf of the Bank and is reported as “Asset - Treasury funding of lending facility credit
protection” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The corresponding obligation to return any unused
portion of the funded credit protection is reported as “Deposit – Treasury funding of lending facility credit
protection” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. As of December 31, 2020, no amounts of the
funded credit protection had been used by the Bank.
Facility fees attributable to the MMLF and payable to the Treasury for the credit protection to the FRBB as
noted above were $130 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 and are reported as “Other items
of income (loss): MMLF facility fees to the Treasury” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and as
“MMLF facility fees payable to the Treasury” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The facility
fee is computed for each MMLF loan in an amount equal to 90 percent of the difference between the rate
charged to the related borrower on the MMLF loan and the primary credit rate offered by the Bank to
depository institutions at the time the MMLF loan was advanced. All unused amounts of credit protection
deposit and accrued facility fees are due to be paid to the Treasury as the credit protection agreement with
the Treasury is terminated.
The amounts outstanding at December 31, 2020 for loans to depository institutions and other loans were as
follows (in millions):

24

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2020
Loans to depository institutions
Primary, secondary, and seasonal credit
Other loans
MMLF
PPPLF
Total other loans
Total loans

$

62

$

3,621
1,152
4,773
4,835

The remaining maturity distribution of loans outstanding at December 31, 2020 was as follows (in millions):

Loans to depository institutions
Primary, secondary, and seasonal credit
Other loans
MMLF
PPPLF
Total other loans
Total loans

Within 15
days

Remaining Maturity
16 days to
91 days to
90 days
1 year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

$

52

$

10

$

-

$

1,703
1,703
1,755

$

1,718
1,718
1,728

$

1,152
1,152
1,152

$

-

$

200
200
200

Total

$

62

$

3,621
1,152
4,773
4,835

Loans to depository institutions were immaterial as of December 31, 2019 with a remaining maturity within
15 days.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020 and 2019.
(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 the FOMC directives, in 2019, the FRBNY continued to roll
over principal payments from the SOMA holdings of Treasury securities maturing during each calendar
month that exceeded the monthly cap of $30 billion. Beginning in May 2019, the FOMC directed the
FRBNY to slow the reduction of its holdings of Treasury securities by reducing the monthly cap on
Treasury redemptions to $15 billion. Additionally, during the period from January through July 2019, the
FRBNY continued 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 monthly cap of $20 billion per month, as directed by the FOMC. Beginning in
August 2019, the FOMC directed the FRBNY to conclude the reduction of aggregate SOMA holdings and
to roll over at auction all maturing Treasury securities and reinvest up to $20 billion of principal payments
of GSE debt and federal agency and GSE MBS received during each calendar month in Treasury securities
and the remainder in federal agency and GSE MBS; and to roll over at auction all maturing Treasury
securities in the SOMA portfolio. Beginning in October 2019, the FOMC also directed the FRBNY to

25

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
purchase Treasury bills, at least to the second quarter of 2020, to maintain ample reserve balances at or
above levels that prevailed in early September 2019.
On March 16, 2020, in response to risks to economic activity posed by the coronavirus, the FOMC directed
the FRBNY to increase the SOMA portfolio by purchasing at least $500 billion of Treasury securities and
$200 billion of RMBS at a pace appropriate to smooth market functioning, to roll over at auction all
principal payments from the System’s holdings of Treasury securities, and to reinvest all principal payments
from the System's holdings of agency debt and agency MBS in agency mortgage-backed securities. On
March 23, 2020, the FOMC further directed the FRBNY to increase the SOMA portfolio, with no explicit
limit, by purchasing Treasury securities and RMBS and begin purchasing CMBS as needed to sustain
smooth functioning of markets for those securities. In December 2020, the FOMC directed the FRBNY to
purchase Treasury securities at a pace of $80 billion per month and purchase RMBS at a pace of $40 billion
per month and to increase the SOMA portfolio by purchasing Treasury securities, RMBS, and CMBS as
needed to sustain smooth functioning of markets for these securities.
The Bank’s allocated share of activity related to domestic open market operations was 2.246 percent and
2.075 percent at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Bank’s allocated share of Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and GSE debt securities,
net, excluding accrued interest, held in the SOMA at December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in
millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2020
Unamortized
premiums

Par
Treasury securities
Bills
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS
GSE debt securities

2019
Unaccreted
discounts

Total
amortized cost

Unamortized
premiums

Par

Unaccreted
discounts

Total
amortized cost

$

7,322
68,786
29,190
105,298

$

1,620
4,496
6,116

$

(2)
(36)
(83)
(121)

$

7,320
70,370
33,603
111,293

$

3,517
26,765
18,034
48,316

$

68
1,710
1,778

$

(22)
(66)
(182)
(270)

$

3,495
26,767
19,562
49,824

$

45,578
221
45,799

$

1,556
25
1,581

$

(3)
(3)

$

47,131
246
47,377

$

29,224
29,224

$

800
800

$

(5)
(5)

$

30,019
30,019

$

53

$

6

$

-

$

59

$

49

$

6

$

-

$

55

Total SOMA
2020
Par
Treasury securities
Bills
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities

$

Unamortized
premiums

2019
Unaccreted
discounts

Total
amortized cost

326,044
3,063,037
1,299,848
4,688,929

$

72,129
200,197
272,326

$

(107)
(1,590)
(3,687)
(5,384)

Federal agency and GSE
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS

$ 2,029,627
9,840
2,039,467

$

69,274
1,122
70,396

$

(148)
(148)

GSE debt securities

$

$

287

$

2,347

-

$

325,937
3,133,576
1,496,358
4,955,871

Par

Unaccreted
discounts

Total
amortized cost

169,525
1,290,107
869,301
2,328,933

$

3,275
82,422
85,697

$

(1,064)
(3,181)
(8,781)
(13,026)

$ 2,098,753
10,962
2,109,715

$ 1,408,677
1,408,677

$

38,571
38,571

$

(259)
(259)

$

$

$

310

$

2,634

$

Unamortized
premiums

2,347

-

$

168,461
1,290,201
942,942
2,401,604

$ 1,446,989
1,446,989
$

2,657

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the FRBNY entered into repurchase agreements and
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.

26

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
On April 6, 2020, the Foreign and International Monetary Authorities (FIMA) Repo Facility was
established to allow FIMA account holders to temporarily exchange their U.S. Treasury securities for U.S.
dollars, which can then be available to institutions in their jurisdictions. Administered by the FRBNY, the
FIMA Repo Facility terminates on September 30, 2021. Consistent with the treatment of other repurchase
agreements, these are accounted for as financing transactions and reported at the contractual amount 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 Consolidated Statements of Condition. Interest income is reported as “System Open
Market Account: Securities purchased under agreements to resell” in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
Financial information related to repurchase agreements allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA for the
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2020

Total SOMA

2019

2020

2019

Primary dealers:
Contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year
Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

-

$

5,303

$

-

$ 255,619

2,082

1,182

97,711

56,971

10,284

5,393

495,700

259,950

FIMA Repo Facility:
Contract amount outstanding, end of year

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year
Maximum balance outstanding, during the year
Total repurchase agreement contract amount
outstanding, end of year

22

$

-

$

1,000

$

-

7

-

292

-

32

-

1,404

-

$ 255,619

$

22

$

5,303

$

1,000

$

15

$

20

$

722

Supplemental information - interest income:
Primary dealers
FIMA Repo Facility
Total interest income - securities purchased
under agreements to resell

$

15

$

20

$

1
$

723

971
-

$

971

The contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2020 for FIMA Repo had a remaining term of one
business day and matured on January 4, 2021.
Financial information related to reverse repurchase agreements allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA
for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):

27

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Allocated to the Bank
2020

Total SOMA

2019

2020

2019

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

$

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

217

$

1,329

$

9,651

$

64,087

182

102

8,749

4,981

5,911

1,330

284,908

64,087

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

143

1,255

6,351

60,490

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

217

1,328

9,666

64,008

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

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

$

4,635

$

5,655

$

206,400

$

272,562

Average daily amount outstanding, during the year

4,956

5,476

226,215

269,399

Maximum balance outstanding, during the year

6,515

6,355

290,113

306,311

Securities pledged (par value), end of year

4,506

5,501

200,673

265,139

Securities pledged (fair value), end of year

4,635

5,655

206,410

272,579

Total reverse repurchase agreement contract amount
outstanding, end of year

$

4,852

$

-

$

6,984

$

2

$

216,051

$

14

$

336,649

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

$

15
$

15

120
$

122

697
$

711

102
5,910

$

6,012

Securities pledged as collateral, at December 31, 2020 and 2019, consisted solely of Treasury securities.
The contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2020 of reverse repurchase agreements that were
transacted with primary dealers and expanded counterparties had a remaining term of one business day and
matured on January 4, 2021. The contract amount outstanding as of December 31, 2020 of reverse
repurchase agreements that were transacted with foreign official and international account holders had a
remaining term of one business day and matured on January 4, 2021.
The remaining maturity distribution of Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS bought outright,
GSE debt securities, repurchase agreements, and reverse repurchase agreements that were allocated to the
Bank at December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):

28

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Within 15
days
December 31, 2020:
Treasury securities (par value)
Federal agency and GSE
residential MBS (par value)
Federal agency and GSE

$

1

commercial MBS (par value)

1

GSE debt securities (par value)
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell (contract
amount)
Securities sold under agreements
to repurchase (contract amount)
December 31, 2019:
Treasury securities (par value)
Federal agency and GSE
residential MBS (par value)

1

GSE debt securities (par value)
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell (contract
amount)
Securities sold under agreements
to repurchase (contract amount)
1

$

16 days to 90
days

1,119

$

7,254

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

$

$

14,851

39,518

Over 5 years
to 10 years
$

18,794

Over 10
years
$

Total

23,762

$

105,298

-

-

-

43

1,517

44,018

45,578

-

-

-

2

100

119

221

-

-

-

-

41

12

53

22

-

-

-

-

-

22

4,852

-

-

-

-

-

4,852

171

$

2,399

$

7,241

$

18,544

$

6,672

$

13,289

$

48,316

-

-

-

24

1,525

27,675

29,224

-

-

-

-

10

39

49

4,266

1,037

-

-

-

-

5,303

6,984

-

-

-

-

-

6,984

The par amount shown for federal agency and GSE residential MBS and commercial 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 weightedaverage life of these securities differs from the stated maturity primarily because it factors in scheduled
payments and prepayment assumptions. The estimated weighted-average life of RMBS was approximately
3.1 and 5.3 years as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The estimated weighted-average life of
CMBS was approximately 8.8 years as of December 31, 2020.
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, 2020 and 2019 were as
follows (in millions):

Treasury securities (amortized cost)
Treasury securities (par value)

Allocated to the Bank
2020
2019
$
755
$
863
710
860

$

Total SOMA
2020
2019
33,603
$
41,602
31,635
41,450

Securities pledged as collateral by the counterparties in the securities lending arrangements at December
31, 2020 and 2019 consisted solely of Treasury securities. The securities lending agreements outstanding
as of December 31, 2020 had a term of one business day and matured on January 4, 2021.
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, 2020, the total purchase price of the Treasury securities
under outstanding commitments was $5,232 million, of which $117 million was allocated to the Bank.
These commitments had contractual settlement dates extending through January 5, 2021.
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, 2020, the total purchase price of RMBS under
outstanding purchase commitments was $202,127 million, of which $10,433 million was related to dollar
rolls. As of December 31, 2020, there were no outstanding purchase commitments for CMBS. The total
29

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
purchase price of outstanding purchase commitments allocated to the Bank was $4,539 million, of which
$234 million was related to dollar rolls. These commitments, which had contractual settlement dates
extending through February 18, 2021, are for the purchase of TBA RMBS 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, 2020, the total sales price of RMBS under outstanding sales commitments was $88 million,
of which $2 million is allocated to the Bank. These commitments had contractual settlements dates
extending through January 14, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, there were no outstanding sales
commitments for CMBS. RMBS and CMBS commitments are subject to varying degrees of off-balancesheet market risk and counterparty credit risk that result from their future settlement. The FRBNY requires
the posting of cash margin for RMBS 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 at December 31, 2020 and 2019. Other liabilities
include the FRBNY’s accrued interest payable related to repurchase agreements transactions, obligations
to return cash margin posted by counterparties as collateral under commitments to purchase and sell RMBS,
and obligations that arise from the failure of a seller to deliver Treasury securities and RMBS and CMBS
to the FRBNY on the settlement date. Although the FRBNY has ownership of and records its investments
in Treasury securities and RMBS and CMBS 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, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2020
2019
Other liabilities:
Accrued interest payable
Cash margin
Obligations from residential MBS
transaction fails
Total other liabilities

$

$

130
130

$

$

3
3

Total SOMA
2020
2019
$

$

5,778
3
5,781

$

$

14
115
129

Accrued interest receivable on domestic securities held in the SOMA was $29,978 million and $20,503
million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of which $673 million and $425 million,
respectively, was allocated to the Bank. Accrued interest receivable on repurchase agreements was
immaterial as of December, 31, 2020. These amounts are reported as a component of “System Open Market
Account: Accrued interest receivable” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.
Information about transactions related to Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and GSE debt
securities allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA during the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2019, is summarized as follows (in millions):

30

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Allocated to the Bank

3,942
(1)
(453)
7
3,495
$
3,495
21,127
(17,910)
52
556
3,825
$
7,320

Notes
$ 26,432
5,644
(1)
(7,455)
(37)
15
2,169
335
$ 26,767
49,479
(1)
(9,692)
(399)
40
4,176
43,603
$ 70,370

Bonds
$ 17,543
1,048
(418)
(151)
36
1,504
2,019
$ 19,562
12,592
(525)
(231)
38
2,167
14,041
$ 33,603

Total Treasury
securities
$
43,975
10,634
(2)
(8,326)
(181)
51
3,673
5,849
$
49,824
83,198
(1)
(28,127)
(578)
78
6,899
61,469
$
111,293

$

$

5,631
(1)

$

997
-

$

10,599
(2)

$

47,591
(1)

$

9,749
-

$

78,497
(1)

Bills
Balance at December 31, 2018
1
Purchases
1
Sales
2
Realized gains (losses), net
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
3
Annual reallocation adjustment
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2019
1
Purchases
1
Sales
2
Realized gains (losses), net
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Inflation adjustment on inflation-indexed securities
3
Annual reallocation adjustment
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2020
Year-ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
4
Purchases
Sales
Year-ended December 31, 2020
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
4
Purchases
Sales
1

$

$

3,971
(1)

21,157
-

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.

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

4

Includes inflation compensation.

interdistrict settlement account, as discussed in Note 3k.

31

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Total SOMA

190,009
(50)
(21,824)
326
168,461
$ 168,461
961,511
(806,405)
2,370
157,476
$ 325,937

Notes
$ 1,383,929
273,742
(50)
(366,328)
(1,828)
736
(93,728)
$ 1,290,201
2,297,336
(53)
2
(437,890)
(17,816)
1,796
1,843,375
$ 3,133,576

Bonds
$ 918,533
50,899
(20,755)
(7,468)
1,733
24,409
$ 942,942
586,011
(23,880)
(10,447)
1,732
553,416
$ 1,496,358

Total
Treasury
$ 2,302,462
514,650
(100)
(408,907)
(8,970)
2,469
99,142
$ 2,401,604
3,844,858
(53)
2
(1,268,175)
(25,893)
3,528
2,554,267
$ 4,955,871

Year-ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
3
Purchases
Sales

$ 191,399
(50)

$ 273,096
(50)

$

48,429
-

$

512,924
(100)

Year-ended December 31, 2020
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
3
Purchases
Sales

$ 962,924
-

$ 2,209,074
(50)

$ 452,695
-

$

3,624,693
(50)

Bills
Balance at December 31, 2018
1
Purchases
1
Sales
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 activity
Balance at December 31, 2019
1
Purchases
1
Sales
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 activity
Balance at December 31, 2020

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.

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.

32

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Balance at December 31, 2018
1
Purchases
1
Sales
2
Realized gains (losses), net
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Annual reallocation adjustment
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2019
1
Purchases
1
Sales

Residential
MBS
$ 32,154
709
(7)
(5,357)
(178)

3

$

2

Realized gains (losses), net
Principal payments and maturities
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
Annual reallocation adjustment
Subtotal of activity
Balance at December 31, 2020

2,698
(2,135)
30,019
29,565
(4)

Allocated to the Bank
Total federal
Commercial
agency and
MBS
GSE MBS
$
$
32,154
709
(7)
(5,357)
(178)

$

(14,684)
(516)

3

$

2,751
17,112
47,131

244
-

$

(7)
(2)

$

11
246
246

$

2,698
(2,135)
30,019
29,809
(4)

GSE debt
securities
$
52
(1)
-

$

4
3
55
-

(14,691)
(518)

(1)

2,762
17,358
47,377

5
4
59

$

Year-ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases
Sales

$

697
(6)

$

-

$

697
(6)

$

-

$

28,369
(4)

$

219
-

$

28,588
(4)

$

-

Year-ended December 31, 2020
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases
Sales
1

Purchases and sales may include payments and receipts related to principal, premiums, and discounts. 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 3k.

33

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Residential
MBS
Balance at December 31, 2018
$ 1,683,532
1
34,259
Purchases
1
(316)
Sales
2
Realized gains (losses), net
6
Principal payments and maturities
(261,805)
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
(8,687)
Subtotal of activity
(236,543)
Balance at December 31, 2019
$ 1,446,989
1
1,335,062
Purchases
1
Sales
(167)

Total SOMA
Total federal
Commercial
agency and
MBS
GSE MBS
$
$ 1,683,532
34,259
(316)
6
(261,805)
(8,687)
(236,543)
$
$ 1,446,989
11,375
1,346,437
(167)

2

Realized gains (losses), net
5
Principal payments and maturities
(659,968)
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, net
(23,168)
Subtotal of activity
651,764
Balance at December 31, 2020
$ 2,098,753

$

(330)
(83)
10,962
10,962

GSE debt
securities
$
2,741
(62)
(22)
(84)
$
2,657
-

5
(660,298)
(23,251)
662,726
$ 2,109,715

(23)
(23)
2,634

$

$

33,662
(304)

$

-

$ 1,291,247
(158)

$

-

Year-ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases
Sales

$

33,662
(304)

$

-

$ 1,281,077
(158)

$

10,170
-

Year-ended December 31, 2020
Supplemental information - par value of transactions:
Purchases
Sales
1

Purchases and sales may include payments and receipts related to principal, premiums, and discounts. 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.

b. Foreign Currency Denominated Investments
The FRBNY conducts foreign currency operations and, on behalf of the Reserve Banks, holds the resulting
three types of foreign currency denominated investments in the SOMA.
The FRBNY holds foreign currency deposits with foreign central banks and with the Bank for International
Settlements (BIS). The FRBNY also 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.
The Bank’s allocated share of activity related to foreign currency denominated investments was 4.747
percent and 4.307 percent at December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020
and 2019 was as follows (in millions):

34

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Allocated to Bank
2020
2019
Euro:
Foreign currency deposits
Dutch government debt instruments
French government debt instruments
German government debt instruments
Japanese yen:
Foreign currency deposits
Japanese government debt instruments
Total

Total SOMA
2020
2019

$

313
130
130
51

$

297
62
113
49

$

6,597
2,738
2,746
1,066

$

6,892
1,443
2,629
1,145

$

400
30
1,054

$

334
37
892

$

8,436
621
22,204

$

7,752
850
20,711

$

$

$

$

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no repurchase agreements outstanding and, consequently, no
related foreign securities held as collateral.
Total net interest income earned on foreign currency denominated investments for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2019 was immaterial for the Bank and held in the SOMA as follows (in millions).
Total SOMA
2020

2019

1

Net interest income:
Euro
Japanese yen
Total net interest income

$

(40)
(40)

$

$

(34)
1
(33)

$

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 $51 million and $44 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Accrued interest receivable on foreign currency denominated investments, net was $74 million and $66
million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of which $4 million and $3 million, respectively,
was allocated to the Bank. These amounts are reported as a component of “System Open Market Account:
Accrued interest receivable” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.
The remaining maturity distribution of foreign currency denominated investments that were allocated to
the Bank at December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
Within 15
days
December 31, 2020:
Euro
$
Japanese yen
Total
$

78
400
478

December 31, 2019:
Euro
$
Japanese yen
Total
$

297
334
631

16 days to 90
days
$
$

$
$

11
28
39

2
5
7

91 days to 1
year

Over 1 year
to 5 years

Over 5 years
to 10 years

$

$

$

$

$
$

276
2
278

16
32
48

$

$
$

105
105

118
118

$

$
$

154
154

88
88

Total
$
$

$
$

624
430
1,054

521
371
892

There were no foreign exchange contracts related to foreign currency operations outstanding as of
December 31, 2020.
35

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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, 2020, there were no outstanding commitments to
purchase foreign government debt instruments. During 2020, there were purchases, sales, and maturities of
foreign government debt instruments of $2,281 million, $12 million, and $1,564 million, respectively, of
which $108 million, $1 million, and $74 million, respectively, were allocated to the Bank.
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.
c. Central Bank Liquidity Swaps
U.S. Dollar Liquidity Swaps
The Bank’s allocated share of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps was 4.747 percent and 4.307 percent at December
31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The total foreign currency held in the SOMA under U.S. dollar liquidity swaps at December 31, 2020 and
2019 was $17,883 million and $3,728 million, respectively, of which $849 million and $161 million,
respectively, was allocated to the Bank.
The remaining maturity distribution of U.S. dollar liquidity swaps that were allocated to the Bank at
December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
2020
Currency swap
transacted in
Danish krone
Euro
Mexican peso
Singapore dollar
Swiss franc
Total

Within 15
days
$
150
46
144
$
340

16 days to 90
days
$
17
49
54
57
332
$
509

2019
Total
$

$

17
199
54
103
476
849

Within 15
days
$
161
$
161

16 days to 90
days
$
$
-

Total
$

$

161
161

Net income earned on U.S. dollar liquidity swaps is reported as “System Open Market Account: Central
bank liquidity swaps” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Foreign Currency Liquidity Swaps
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 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 Consolidated
Statements of Condition and the changes in cumulative unrealized gains (losses) are not recognized in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations.
36

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The fair value of the Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and GSE debt securities 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, 2020 and 2019, there are no credit impairments of SOMA securities holdings.
The following table presents the amortized cost, fair value, and cumulative unrealized gains (losses) on the
Treasury securities, federal agency and GSE MBS, and GSE debt securities allocated to the Bank and held
in the SOMA at December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2020

Amortized cost
Treasury securities
Bills
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS
GSE debt securities
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings

2019
Cumulative
unrealized gains
(losses), net

Fair value

Amortized cost

Cumulative
unrealized gains
(losses), net

Fair value

$

7,320
70,370
33,603
111,293

$

7,320
71,680
39,000
118,000

$

1,310
5,397
6,707

$

3,495
26,767
19,562
49,824

$

3,495
27,044
22,171
52,710

$

277
2,609
2,886

$

47,131
246
47,377
59
158,729

$

48,348
251
48,599
80
166,679

$

1,217
5
1,222
21
7,950

$

30,019
30,019
55
79,898

$

30,451
30,451
69
83,230

$

432
432
14
3,332

$

$

$

$

$

$

Memorandum—Commitments for purchases of:
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

117
4,539

$

117
4,561

$

22

$

87

$

87

$

-

Memorandum—Commitments for sales of:
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

2

$

2

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Total SOMA
2020

Amortized cost
Treasury securities
Bills
Notes
Bonds
Total Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS
GSE debt securities
Total domestic SOMA portfolio securities holdings

2019

Fair value

Cumulative
unrealized gains
(losses), net

Amortized cost

Cumulative
unrealized gains
(losses), net

Fair value

$

325,937
3,133,576
1,496,358
4,955,871

$

325,974
3,191,929
1,736,653
5,254,556

$

37
58,353
240,295
298,685

$

168,461
1,290,201
942,942
2,401,604

$

168,479
1,303,576
1,068,675
2,540,730

$

18
13,375
125,733
139,126

$

2,098,753
10,962
2,109,715
2,634
7,068,220

$

2,152,965
11,152
2,164,117
3,544
7,422,217

$

54,212
190
54,402
910
353,997

$

1,446,989
1,446,989
2,657
3,851,250

$

1,467,802
1,467,802
3,344
4,011,876

$

20,813
20,813
687
160,626

$

$

$

$

$

$

Memorandum—Commitments for purchases of:
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

5,232
202,127

$

5,232
203,084

$

957

$

1
4,177

$

1
4,187

$

10

Memorandum—Commitments for sales of:
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS

$

88

$

88

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

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 were determined using pricing services that utilize a model-based
approach that considers observable inputs for similar securities.

37

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of foreign currency denominated investments held in the
SOMA was $22,374 million and $20,829 million, respectively, of which $1,062 million and $897 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 tables provide additional information on the amortized cost and fair value of the federal
agency and GSE MBS portfolios allocated to the Bank and held in the SOMA at December 31, 2020 and
2019 (in millions):
Allocated to the Bank
2020
Distribution of MBS
holdings by coupon rate
Residential
1.5%
2.0%
2.5%
3.0%
3.5%
4.0%
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
6.0%
6.5%
Total
Commercial
1.00% - 1.50%
1.51% - 2.00%
2.01% - 2.50%
2.51% - 3.00%
3.01% - 3.50%
3.51% - 4.00%
4.01% - 4.50%
Total

Amortized cost
$

$

$

$

450
7,439
11,623
13,108
8,534
4,491
1,072
326
76
10
2
47,131

2
10
30
42
73
82
7
246

2019
Fair value

$

$

$

$

453
7,513
11,798
13,388
8,873
4,687
1,166
370
86
12
2
48,348

2
10
30
43
75
84
7
251

Amortized cost
$

$

$

$

128
1,659
11,175
10,347
5,028
1,178
402
88
12
2
30,019

-

Fair value
$

$

$

$

127
1,653
11,215
10,512
5,143
1,256
434
96
13
2
30,451

-

38

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Total SOMA
2020
Distribution of MBS
holdings by coupon rate
Residential
1.5%
2.0%
2.5%
3.0%
3.5%
4.0%
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
6.0%
6.5%
Total
Commercial
1.00% - 1.50%
1.50% - 2.00%
2.01% - 2.50%
2.51% - 3.00%
3.01% - 3.50%
3.51% - 4.00%
4.01% - 4.50%
Total

Amortized cost
$

Fair value

20,021
331,252
517,579
583,681
380,033
200,003
47,732
14,523
3,390
471
68
2,098,753

$

$

$

Amortized cost

20,156
334,549
525,374
596,178
395,114
208,717
51,934
16,481
3,853
534
75
2,152,965

$

84
451
1,330
1,874
3,263
3,661
299
10,962

$

2019

$

83
452
1,352
1,907
3,330
3,726
302
11,152

$

$

Fair value

6,183
79,991
538,642
498,727
242,353
56,789
19,377
4,266
578
83
1,446,989

$

$

$

$

-

$

6,116
79,661
540,588
506,691
247,915
60,551
20,921
4,633
635
91
1,467,802

$

-

$

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, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
Allocated to Bank
2020

Realized gains
(losses), net
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS
GSE debt securities
Total

2019
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

1 ,2

(losses)

$

-

$

15
15
15

Realized gains

3, 4

$

3,180

$

684
4
688
5
3,873

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(losses), net

1 ,2

(losses)

$

-

$

-

3, 4

$

2,107

$

1,271
1,271
4
3,382

39

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Total SOMA
2020

Realized gains
(losses), net
Treasury securities
Federal agency and GSE MBS
Residential
Commercial
Total federal agency and GSE MBS
GSE debt securities
Total
1

2019
Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

1 ,2

Realized gains

3

$

2

$

664
664
666

$

(losses)
159,559

$

33,399
190
33,589
223
193,371

Change in
cumulative
unrealized gains

(losses), net

1 ,2

3

$

-

$

9
9
9

$

(losses)
103,594

$

62,964
62,964
206
166,764

Realized gains (losses) for Treasury securities are reported in “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market Account: Treasury securities

gains (losses), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
2

Realized gains (losses) for federal agency and GSE MBS are reported in “Other items of income (loss): System Open Market Account: Federal

agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities gains (losses), net” in the Consolidated 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 Consolidated

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 position, net related to foreign currency denominated
investments was a gain of $52 million and a gain of $67 million for the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019, respectively, of which $2 million and $3 million, respectively, were allocated to the Bank.
Realized gains, net related to foreign currency denominated investments were immaterial for the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
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 threelevel 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.

•

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, federal agency and GSE MBS, GSE debt securities, and foreign government debt
instruments are classified as Level 2 within the ASC 820 hierarchy because the fair values are based on
40

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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) CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY
a. Summary Information for Consolidated Variable Interest Entity
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the LLC. Extensions of loan
participations by the LLC are funded by loans extended by the Bank, which is the managing member of the
LLC. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The assets and liabilities
held by the LLC are reported as “Consolidated variable interest entity: Assets held, net” and “Consolidated
variable interest entity: Other liabilities”, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The
classification of assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2020 are as follows (in
millions):
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents

1

$

Short-term investments in non-marketable securities
Loan participations
Total assets
Liabilities
Net assets

1

2

3

5,754
31,889

14,147
$ 51,790
187
$ 51,603

Of the $5,754 million (total cash and cash equivalents), cash consists of $5,625 million of Treasury’s preferred equity contribution held as restricted

cash, and cash equivalents of $129 million.
2

Represents the portion of the Treasury preferred equity contribution to the credit facilities which are held as short-term investments in non-

marketable securities at amortized cost and the related earnings on those investments.
3

Reported at principal amount outstanding, net of allowance and including interest receivable.

The following table presents the LLC’s loan participations activities from May 18, 2020, the LLC’s
inception date, to December 31, 2020 (in millions):
Loan participations purchased
Loan participations principal paydowns
Capitalized interest
Loan participations, principal amount outstanding
Allowance for loan losses
Principal and interest receivable
Loan participations, net of allowance, December 31, 2020
1

1

MSELF
$ 1,715
1,715
(316)
6

MSNLF
$ 2,546
3
2,549
(402)
9

MSPLF
$ 12,201
(1)
6
12,206
(1,692)
35

NOELF
$
-

NONLF
$ 40
40
(3)
-

Total
$ 16,502
(1)
9
16,510
(2,413)
50

$ 1,405

$ 2,156

$ 10,549

$

$

$ 14,147

-

37

Reported at principal amount outstanding, net of allowance and including interest receivable.

The following table presents the components of the LLC’s net operating loss recorded by the Bank for the
year ended December 31, 2020 (in millions):

41

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1

Interest income
Other items of income (loss):
Fees
Provision for loan losses

$

73
4
(2,413)

2

(10)
(2,419)

Other
Total other items of loss
3

Less: expenses
Net loss attributable to consolidated VIE

$

54
(2,400)

Allocated to non-controlling Treasury interest

$

(2,402)

1

Recorded when earned.

2

Represents reserve for unfunded commitments.

3

Includes fees, participation loan servicing costs, and other expenses.

At December 31, 2020, the maturity distributions of the LLC’s holdings were as follows (in millions):
Remaining maturity
Over 1 year
Within 15
to 5 years
days
Cash equivalents
Short-term investments in non-marketable securities
Loan Participations, net of allowance
Total

$

$

129
31,889
32,018

$

$

14,147
14,147

Total
$

$

129
31,889
14,147
46,165

Allowance for Loan Losses
The LLC’s allowance for loan losses consists of specific allowances for impaired loan participations and a
general allowance for all other loan participations and collectively reflects management's estimate of
probable loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio at reporting date. In addition to the allowance for loan
losses, the LLC also estimates and records a reserve for unfunded commitments.
A loan participation is considered impaired when it is determined to be probable that the LLC will be unable
to collect all of the contractual interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan participation
agreement. For purposes of the MSLP, a loss is generally deemed probable when (1) an individual loan
participation is assigned a doubtful classification or below, (2) it is placed on nonaccrual status due to
delinquency status or management judgment, for factors including a decline in its fair value to 80 percent
of its outstanding balance (or below), that is determined to be credit-related. For loan participations
purchased by the LLC that have been deemed impaired and meet a certain threshold, a loss allowance is
measured at the individual loan participation level. Loan participations reviewed through this process
deemed not to be impaired and all other loan participations not subject to individual evaluation are subject
to a general allowance. The LLC’s general allowance includes both quantitative and qualitative
components.
The LLC continuously evaluates and challenges inputs and assumptions in these calculations. The process
to determine the allowance for loan participations losses requires Main Street to exercise considerable
judgment regarding the risk characteristics of the loan portfolios and the effect of relevant internal and
external factors. While Main Street evaluates currently available information in establishing the allowance
for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary if conditions differ
substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluations. Main Street performs a comprehensive
review of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.
42

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance and reserve for unfunded commitments is primarily based
upon internal risk rating models that assess probability of default, loss given default and exposure at default
for each loan. The models are primarily driven by individual borrower financial characteristics, such as
measures of profitability, leverage and interest coverage. The models are validated against historical
industry experience. Participations were grouped using North American Industry Classification System
codes into Services and Non-services segments for rating purposes. The Services segment includes and is
not limited to, industries such as accommodation and food services, retail, health care, information, and
professional scientific and technical services. The Non-services segment includes and is not limited to
manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting. Given significant differences
in historical and expected performance, models differ for service and non-service industry loans.
Loan participations are pooled into internal risk rating categories. The allowance considers relevant
estimates of probability of default (“PD”), loss given default (“LGD”) and exposure at default (principal
amount outstanding) factors in light of credit ratings, and other loan characteristics (e.g. collateral
positions). A formula-based credit evaluation approach is applied primarily by loss factors, which includes
estimates of incurred losses over an estimated loss emergence period, assigned to each risk rating pool.
Qualitative factors (including changes in economic and business conditions) are assessed so that loss rates
(product of PD and LGD) appropriately reflect risks within the then-current environment. Additional
overlays can be made based upon additional factors.
After the aggregation of individual borrower incurred loss calculations, the allowance may be adjusted to
reflect the LLC’s current assessment of various qualitative risks, factors and events that may not be
measured in the analysis, with particular consideration being given to changes in economic conditions, the
potential for adverse selection risk in an emergency lending facility, and industry concentrations within the
portfolio.
For loans with an outstanding balance of $15 million or greater and meeting certain triggers tied to
performance, credit rating, or value, the LLC conducts further analysis to determine the probable amount
of loss and establishes a specific allowance for the loan, if appropriate. A specific allowance is generally
set for those loans that meet the threshold and fall in the Ca rating category, indicating that collection is
doubtful. However, other factors such as payment history, may also lead to an impairment assessment.
When a loan is deemed to be impaired, the LLC estimates the impairment amount by comparing the loan’s
carrying amount to the estimated present value of its future cash flows, the fair value of its underlying
collateral, or some combination as appropriate.
Amounts determined to be uncollectible are deducted from the allowance and subsequent recoveries, if any,
are added to the allowance.
In addition to the allowance, the LLC also estimated probable credit losses associated with off-balance
sheet commitments, or those loans for which the LLC had issued a binding commitment to purchase the
participation that was outstanding as of December 31, 2020. Potential losses associated with these loans
were evaluated utilizing the same method for on balance sheet loans and recorded as a reserve for unfunded
loan commitments. Unfunded loan commitments at December 31, 2020, were approximately $39 million.
As of December 31, 2020, there was approximately $2.4 billion in allowance for loan losses attributed to
the LLC, consisting of approximately $1.4 billion in a general allowance and approximately $985 million
of specific impairments.

43

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table shows the breakout of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2020 (in
millions):
Allowance for loan losses
Individually evaluated
General allowance
Nonaccrual interest allowance
Total allowance
Total loan participations, individually evaluated
Total loan participations, general allowance
Total principal and interest receivable
Total evaluated balance
Allowance (% of evaluated balance)
Reserve for unfunded commitments

Service
industry
$
907
1,039
6
$
1,952
$

$

$

Non-service
industry
$
78
382
1
$
461

1,299 $
10,880
37
12,216 $
16.0%
9

$

Total

$

985
1,421
7
2,413

166 $
4,165
13
4,344 $
10.6%

1,465
15,045
50
16,560
14.6%

1

$

$

10

Non-performing loans
Nonperforming loans are those on which accrual of interest has been suspended. Loans are placed on
nonaccrual status and considered nonperforming when full payment of principal and interest is in doubt.
When the LLC places a loan on nonaccrual status, the accrued unpaid interest receivable is offset through
the provision for loan losses and all future income accruals are suspended. Interest collections on
nonaccruing loans for which the ultimate collectability of principal is uncertain are generally applied to first
reduce the carrying value of the loan. Otherwise, interest income may be recognized to the extent of the
cash received. A loan may be returned to accrual status if (i) principal and interest payments have been
brought current, and the LLC expects repayment of the remaining contractual principal and interest, (ii) the
loan has otherwise become well-secured and in the process of collection, or (iii) the borrower has been
making regularly scheduled payments in full for a certain period of time and the LLC is reasonably assured
that the loan will be brought fully current within a reasonable period. Loan participations are generally
placed on nonaccrual status when contractually past due 90 days or more, or earlier if management believes
that the probability of collection is insufficient to warrant further accrual.
As of December 31, 2020, there have been no amounts contractually due on loan participations, no loan
participations are delinquent, and there have been no charge offs, troubled debt restructurings, or
recoveries. As of December 31, 2020, principal amount outstanding of loan participations placed on
nonaccrual was approximately $2.0 billion.
Liabilities: Deferred Revenue / Fees
For all LLC loans equal to or above $250,000, eligible lenders pay the LLC a facility fee of 75-100 basis
points of the principal amount of the loans. In addition, the LLC pays an eligible lender an annual servicing
fee on the original principal amount of the loan participation of 25 basis points for loans with an initial
principal amount of $250,000 or more and 50 basis points for loans with an initial principal amount of less
than $250,000. Servicing fees are paid annually, in arrears, and are accrued on a monthly basis.

44

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
b. Fair Value
The following table presents the LLC’s holdings at December 31, 2020, reported at fair value (in millions).
Amortized cost is provided as supplemental information.
Amortized
cost
$
129

Assets at fair value
Cash equivalents

Unrealized
gains
$

Unrealized
losses
-

$

Fair value
-

$

129

The following table presents the LLC’s holdings at December 31, 2020, reported at amortized cost (in
millions). Fair value is provided as supplemental information.
Unrealized
gains

Amounts
outstanding

Assets at amortized cost
Short term investments in nonmarketable securities

$

31,889

$

Unrealized
losses
-

$

Fair
value
-

$

31,889

The following table presents the financial instruments recorded at fair value as of December 31, 2020 by
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements & Disclosures hierarchy (in millions):
Description
Cash equivalents

$

Level 1
129

Level 2
$

Level 3
-

$

Total
-

$

129
.

The LLC’s cash equivalents are valued at closing net asset value. Short-term investments in nonmarketable securities represent balances invested with the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Services and are
valued at amortized cost.
Cash equivalents are not rated.
government/agency.

Short-term investments in non-marketable securities are rated as

The estimated fair value for loan participations, which are recorded at the cost of purchase, plus capitalized
interest, less any principal paydowns, is approximately $14.0 billion at December 31, 2020. Because
external price information is not available, a market-based discounted cash flow model is used to value loan
participations. Key inputs to the model include market spread data for each credit rating, collateral type,
and other relevant contractual features. Because there is lack of observable pricing information, the loan
participations are classified within level 3.
c. Risk Profile
The LLC’s interest income earned on the invested portion of preferred equity member contributions are
subject to interest rate risk as these are principally short-term government-guaranteed investments.
The average internal risk rating for loan participations held as of December 31, 2020 was equivalent to a
Moody’s rating of B2. The following table shows rating distribution using internally derived risk ratings
on a scale comparable to a Moody’s rating scale as of December 31, 2020:

45

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Rating
Ba or higher
B
Caa
Ca
Total

Percentage of loan
participations
27%
41%
20%
12%
100%

d. Equity Contributions
Treasury provided capital contributions of $37.5 billion for the LLC, which is reported as “Consolidated
variable interest entity: Non-controlling interest – capital contributions” in the Consolidated Statements of
Changes in Capital.
The assets of the VIE and the amounts provided by the Treasury as credit protection are used to secure the
loans from the Bank. Funds provided by the Treasury’s preferred equity contribution are invested as
mutually agreed upon by the VIE and Treasury and consented to by the FRBB. Additionally, the managing
member has been deemed to have contributed a nominal amount to the LLC.
e. Short-Term Investments in Non-Marketable Securities
In accordance with the terms of the Preferred Equity Investment Agreements for the LLC, approximately
85 percent of the Treasury’s initial equity contribution was invested in overnight non-marketable securities
issued by the Treasury to the LLC. These investments are reported as restricted cash and cash equivalents
as there are contractual limitations and restrictions on the use of the funds and ability to withdraw the funds.
The remaining equity contribution of approximately 15 percent of the initial equity contribution was held
in cash on deposit at FRBNY to support the liquidity needs of the LLC. Due to the short-term nature of
cash equivalents and non-marketable securities, the cost basis is estimated to approximate fair value.
(7) BANK PREMISES, EQUIPMENT, AND SOFTWARE
Bank premises and equipment at December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in millions):
2020

2019

Bank premises and equipment:
Land and land improvements

$

Buildings
Building machinery and equipment

27

$

27

209

207

49

48

Construction in progress

1

1

Furniture and equipment

38

39

324

322

(214)

(207)

Subtotal
Accumulated depreciation
Bank premises and equipment, net

$

110

$

115

Depreciation expense, for the years ended December 31

$

13

$

14

46

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Bank leases space to outside tenants with remaining lease terms ranging from 1 to 10 years. Rental
income from such leases was $16 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and is
reported as a component of “Other items of income (loss): Other” in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations. Future minimum lease payments that the Bank will receive under non-cancelable lease
agreements in existence at December 31, 2020, are as follows (in millions):
2021

$

14

2022

15

2023

14

2024

14

2025

12

Thereafter
Total

47
$

116

The Bank had capitalized software assets, net of amortization, of $9 million and $10 million at December
31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Amortization expense was $2 million and $3 million for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Capitalized software assets are reported as a component of
“Other assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition and the related amortization is reported as a
component of “Operating expenses: Other” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Asset impairment losses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were immaterial. The Bank had no asset
impairment losses in 2019.
(8) 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, 2020, the Bank was obligated under one non-cancelable lease for premises with a
remaining term of 4 years. This lease provides for increased lease payments based upon increases in real
estate taxes, operating costs, or selected price indexes.
Rental expense for certain operating facilities (including taxes, insurance, and maintenance when included
in rent) was not material for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
A lease right-of-use asset arising from a non-cancelable lease for premises was $789 thousand at December
31, 2020, and is reported as a component of “Other assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Condition,
while the lease liability was $834 thousand and is reported as a component of “Other liabilities” in the
Consolidated Statements of Condition. Future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2020 were not
material.
At December 31, 2020, there were no material unrecorded unconditional purchase commitments or
obligations in excess of one year.
Under an insurance agreement of the Reserve Banks, each of the Reserve Banks has agreed to bear, on a
per-incident basis, a share of certain losses in excess of 1 percent of the capital paid-in of the claiming
Reserve Bank, up to 50 percent of the total capital paid-in of all Reserve Banks. Losses are borne in the
ratio of a Reserve Bank’s capital paid-in to the total capital paid-in of all Reserve Banks at the beginning

47

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
of the calendar year in which the loss is shared. No claims were outstanding under the agreement at
December 31, 2020 and 2019.
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.
(9) 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, 2020 and 2019,
certain costs associated with the System Plan were reimbursed by the Bureau. In addition, employees at
certain compensation levels participate in the BEP and certain Reserve Bank officers participate in the
SERP.
The FRBNY, on behalf of the System, recognizes the net asset or net liability and costs associated with the
System Plan in its consolidated financial statements. The Bank reports the service cost related to the BEP
and SERP as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in its Consolidated Statements of
Operations, the other net benefit costs related to the BEP and SERP as “Other items of income (loss): Other
components of net benefit costs” in its Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the net liability as a
component of “Accrued benefit costs” in its Consolidated Statements of Condition.
The Bank’s projected benefit obligation, funded status, and net pension expenses for the BEP and the SERP
at December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 $9 million and $8 million for the years ended December
31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are reported as a component of “Operating expenses: Salaries and
benefits” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(10)
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.

1

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

48

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the benefit obligation for the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
2020
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at January 1

$

2019

77.5

$

83.0

Service cost benefits earned during the period

3.3

Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation

2.6

3.2

Net actuarial loss (gain)

7.8

(7.7)

Contributions by plan participants
Benefits paid
Plan amendments
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31

2.6

2.5

2.3

(5.8)

(5.9)

(12.6)
$

-

75.3

$

77.5

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used in developing the
postretirement benefit obligation were 2.61 percent and 3.31 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.
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, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
2020
Fair value of plan assets at January 1

$

2019
-

$

-

Contributions by the employer

3.3

3.6

Contributions by plan participants

2.5

2.3

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

(5.8)

(5.9)

$

-

$

-

$

75.3

$

77.5

$

12.1

$

(1.0)

$

3.0

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

(3.8)
$

8.3

4.0

Accrued postretirement benefit costs are reported as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in the
Consolidated Statements of Condition.
For measurement purposes, the assumed health-care cost trend rates at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are
provided in the table below:

49

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2020
Health-care cost trend rate assumed for next year

2019

5.75%

6.00%

4.75%

4.75%

2025

2025

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

The following is a summary of the components of net periodic postretirement benefit expense for the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
2020
Service cost-benefits earned during the period
Other components of periodic postretirement benefit expense:
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation
Amortization of prior service cost
Other components of periodic postretirement benefit expense
Total periodic postretirement benefit expense

2019

$

3.3

$

2.6

$

2.6
0.5
3.1
6.4

$

3.2
0.4
3.6
6.2

$

$

The service cost component of periodic postretirement benefit expense is reported as a component of
“Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the other
components of periodic postretirement benefit expense are reported as a component of “Other items of
income (loss): Other components of net benefit costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Net postretirement benefit costs are actuarially determined using a January 1 measurement date. At January
1, 2020 and 2019, the weighted-average discount rate assumptions used to determine net periodic
postretirement benefit costs were 3.31 percent and 4.26 percent, respectively.
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 (gain)/loss
in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit expense.
During 2020, the Bank adopted an amendment by closing its Medicare supplement plan effective January
1, 2021. The plan amendment resulted in a change in the Bank’s accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation in an amount of $12.6 million as of December 31, 2020, with an equivalent change in the prior
service component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Federal Medicare Part D subsidy receipts were immaterial in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Expected receipts in 2021, related to benefits paid in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, are
immaterial.
Following is a summary of expected postretirement benefit payments (in millions):

50

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026 - 2030
Total

$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Without subsidy
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.8
20.6
38.8

$
$
$
$
$
$
$

With subsidy
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.8
20.6
38.8

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; and survivor income benefits. The accrued postemployment benefit
costs recognized by the Bank at December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $5 million and $3.6 million,
respectively. This cost is included as a component of “Accrued benefit costs” in the Consolidated
Statements of Condition. Net periodic postemployment benefit expense included in 2020 and 2019
operating expenses were $2.2 million and $519 thousand, respectively, and are recorded as a component of
“Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(11)

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Following is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of accumulated other comprehensive income
as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):

Balance at January 1
Change in funded status of benefit plans:

2020

2019

Amount related to
postretirement
benefits other than
retirement plans

Amount related to
postretirement
benefits other than
retirement plans

$

$

Prior service costs arising during the year

13

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

3

-

13

-

(8)

8

(8)

8

5
$

(5)

8

8
$

3

Additional detail regarding the classification of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in
Note 10.
(12)

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

In accordance with the FRA, 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. The FRA limited aggregate Reserve Bank surplus to
$6.825 billion at December 31, 2020.

51

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table presents the distribution of the Bank’s and System total comprehensive income for the
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
Bank's portion
2020
2019
Reserve Bank and consolidated variable interest entity net
income before providing for remittances to the Treasury
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income

$

1,783

$

5
1,788

$

1,028

$

8
1,036

System total
2020

2019

$

88,552

$

55,458

$

(1,276)
87,276

$

149
55,607

Distribution of comprehensive income:
Transfer (from) to surplus
Dividends
Earnings remittances to the Treasury
Total distribution of comprehensive income

(13)

$

$

(14)
18
1,784
1,788

$

$

31
31
974
1,036

$

$

386
86,890
87,276

$

$

714
54,893
55,607

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The LLC ceased purchasing participations in eligible loans on January 8, 2021. As a result, the LLC
returned a portion of the Treasury’s equity investment in the LLC. The return of these funds occurred on
January 8, 2021. These interim distributions reduced the Treasury’s preferred equity to approximately the
maximum risk to the FRBB given the consolidated VIE holding. The following table presents on a pro
forma basis the effect on the amount reported as “Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling
interest – capital contribution” in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital at December 31, 2020
(in millions):
Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling
interest - capital contribution - as reported
Return of Treasury equity investment
Consolidated variable interest entity: Non-controlling
interest - capital contribution - as adjusted

$

35,098
(20,928)

$

14,170

On January 1, 2021, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021 reduced the statutory limit on
aggregate Reserve Bank surplus from $6.825 billion to $6.785 billion. On February 5, 2021, Reserve Banks
made a $40 million lump sum payment to the Treasury, of which $1.8 million was allocated to the Bank.
Subsequent events were evaluated through March 17, 2021, which is the date that the consolidated financial
statements were available to be issued.

52