Federal Reserve Accountability and Justification Act

To require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve to satisfy certain requirements before providing any new payment service, or substantially changing or expanding any existing payment service, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Reserve Accountability and Justification Act 2. Payment services Section 11A of the Federal Reserve Act ( 12 U.S.C. 248a (f) Payment service (1) In general The Board may not provide any new payment service, or substantially change or expand any existing payment service unless the Board determines that— (A) any costs associated with such service will be recovered; (B) providing such service will yield a clear public benefit, such as promoting the integrity of the payments system, improving the effectiveness of financial markets, reducing the risk associated with payments and securities-transfer services, or improving the efficiency of the payments system; (C) no other providers can be expected to provide such service with reasonable effectiveness, scope, and equity; and (D) other providers are able to compete with the Federal Reserve Banks in offering such service, based on a competitive impact study. (2) Reasonable effectiveness, scope, and equity (A) In general For the purposes of paragraph 1(A), the Board shall determine that other providers can be expected to provide such service with reasonable effectiveness, scope, and equity if the Board has found that other providers— (i) offer a service that substantially performs the material functions of such service that the Board would provide and offer the service to member and nonmember depository institutions on nondiscriminatory terms, regardless of the size of the institution; or (ii) are capable within a reasonable time of offering a service that substantially performs the material functions of such service that the Board would provide and of offering the service to member and nonmember depository institutions on nondiscriminatory terms, regardless of the size of the institution. (B) Central bank money The ability of the Board to settle interbank obligations using balances at the central bank (also referred to as central bank money) shall not alone be sufficient to support a determination by the Board that other providers alone cannot be expected to provide such service with reasonable effectiveness, scope, and equity. (3) Exception The service offered by the Board known as the Federal Funds Wire Service (4) Final rule The Board shall publish in the Federal Register, in accordance with section 553 of title 5 of the United States Code, a final rule that states any determination made pursuant to paragraph (1) and explains the basis for such determination. (5) Judicial review (A) In general Any person adversely affected or aggrieved by a failure of the Board to properly make a determination under this subsection before providing a new payment service or substantially changing or expanding an existing payment service is entitled to judicial review thereof. (B) Deference A court may not give deference to the Board when conducting a review under this paragraph. .

Summary: Federal Reserve Accountability and Justification Act This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board to satisfy certain requirements prior to providing a new payment service or substantially changing existing payment services.