The cash and deposits held by a financial institution exceeding the reserve requirement that an authority
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Written byCFI Team
What are Excess Reserves?
Excess reserves refer to the cash held by a bank or other financial institution above the reserve requirement that an authority sets. The amount of excess reserves is equal to the total reserves reduced by the required reserves. Holding excess reserves leads to the opportunity cost of investing the cash for higher returns.
Summary
- Excess reserves refer to the cash and deposits held by a financial institution (e.g., a commercial bank) exceeding the reserve requirement that an authority (e.g., the central bank) sets.
- Excess reserves protect the banking system by providing additional liquidity buffers.
- The Federal Reserve implements Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER) to adjust the banks’ holding of excess reserves and influence the monetary supply.
Understanding Excess Reserves
Financial institutions are required to hold a minimum amount of reserves to ensure sufficient liquidity when clients want to withdraw cash under normal circ*mstances. The central bank sets the reserve requirement for commercial banks as a percentage of the deposit liabilities that a commercial bank holds. A bank’s reserves consist of its cash holdings and deposit balance with the central bank.
Banks are required to meet the reserves requirement by holding a minimum amount of cash and deposits. However, prudent banks often hold an additional amount as a margin of safety to cover unexpected events, such as a sudden large loan loss or cash withdrawal. This additional amount of reserves is known as excess reserves.
Excess reserves provide extra liquidity and safety for the banking system. A financial institution can earn a higher credit rating by increasing its level of excess reserves. However, higher excess reserves also lead to higher opportunity costs since the cash or deposit held is not invested to generate higher returns, especially in the long run.
Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER)
There are several interest rates related to excess reserves. Before 2008, banks in the U.S. were not paid with interests for holding excess reserves. The 2008 Global Financial Crisis accelerated the decision that the Federal Reserve is authorized to pay a rate of interest to banks on their holding of excess reserves. This is known as Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER), which gives banks an incentive to increase their liquidity buffer.
The central bank can also use the IOER rate as a tool of monetary policy. By raising the IOER rate, the central bank gives commercial banks more incentives to hold excess reserves, which reduces the money supply. To conduct an expansionary monetary policy, the central bank can lower the IOER rate. This will lead to commercial banks reducing their excess reserves.
Excess Reserves and Interbank Rate
Interbank rate is an interest rate on short-term borrowing and lending between banks. The Federal Fund rate is set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) as a target rate for the borrowing and lending of excess reserves between commercial banks on an overnight basis. If a commercial bank sees its cash and deposit holdings falling below the minimum requirement at the end of a day, the bank can borrow from another who has excess reserves overnight to meet the reserves requirement.
The Federal Reserve can impact the interbank rate by adjusting the money supply. Increasing the money supply reduces the demand for overnight borrowing between banks, leading to a lower rate. Conversely, contracting the money supply can lead to a higher interbank rate.
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a widely-accepted benchmark rate for international interbank short-term loans between major global banks. The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) queries the major banks for their interest charges on lending to other banks. Unlike the Federal Funds Rate, which only covers the borrowing in the U.S. dollar, LIBOR includes a currency basis of the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen, euro, British pound, and Swiss franc.
Excess Reserves vs. Free Reserves
Free reserves are the part of excess reserves, excluding the reserves borrowed from the central bank. A higher level of excess reserves does not necessarily mean a higher level of free reserves. A commercial bank’s free reserve is the amount that the bank can lend out. If commercial banks have more free reserves, greater amounts of credits are available to businesses and individuals. It means a lower cost of financing and may lead to inflation.
The mechanisms of excess reserves and free reserves as tools of monetary policy are similar. During economic downturns, the central bank can implement a lower IOER rate and Federal Funds rate to promote commercial banks to lower their free reserves and free up more money supply in the economy.
Related Readings
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As a seasoned financial expert with a profound understanding of monetary policy and banking operations, I can delve into the intricacies outlined in the provided article with a high degree of expertise. My knowledge spans various aspects of finance, including central banking, interest rates, and the utilization of reserves as instruments of monetary policy.
The article discusses a crucial concept in banking known as "Excess Reserves." These reserves represent the cash and deposits that a financial institution, such as a commercial bank, holds above the reserve requirement mandated by the central bank. Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Excess Reserves:
- Definition: Cash and deposits held by a financial institution exceeding the reserve requirement set by the central bank.
- Purpose: Provides additional liquidity buffers to safeguard the banking system.
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Reserve Requirement:
- Definition: The minimum amount of reserves (cash and deposits) that financial institutions must hold to ensure liquidity.
- Determined by: Set by the central bank as a percentage of a commercial bank's deposit liabilities.
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Opportunity Cost:
- Definition: The cost incurred by forgoing the opportunity to invest excess reserves for higher returns.
- Trade-off: While excess reserves enhance safety, they also limit potential investment gains.
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Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER):
- Definition: Interest paid by the central bank to commercial banks on their excess reserves.
- Purpose: Provides an incentive for banks to increase their liquidity buffer.
- Monetary Policy Tool: The central bank can adjust the IOER rate to influence banks' holding of excess reserves and, consequently, the money supply.
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Interbank Rate:
- Definition: Interest rate for short-term borrowing and lending between banks.
- Federal Fund Rate: Set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) as the target rate for overnight borrowing and lending of excess reserves between commercial banks.
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London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR):
- Definition: Benchmark rate for international interbank short-term loans.
- Coverage: Includes a currency basis of the U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, euro, British pound, and Swiss franc.
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Free Reserves:
- Definition: Part of excess reserves excluding reserves borrowed from the central bank.
- Significance: Represents the amount that a commercial bank can lend out.
- Impact on Economy: More free reserves can lead to increased credit availability, lower financing costs, and potential inflation.
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Monetary Policy Tools:
- IOER and Federal Funds Rate: Used by the central bank to influence the level of excess reserves and the money supply.
- During Economic Downturns: Lowering IOER and Federal Funds Rate encourages banks to lower free reserves, injecting more money into the economy.
This comprehensive understanding of excess reserves, monetary policy tools, and interbank dynamics is crucial for professionals in the financial industry, and the article emphasizes the importance of these concepts in maintaining a stable and efficient banking system.
