The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is part of the central bank of the United States. The Federal Reserve System—the Fed, as it is often called—consists of twelve Reserve Banks located around the country and the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
The Atlanta Fed territory covers the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which includes Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, and portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
The Atlanta Fed has branch offices in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, and New Orleans.
At the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, we embrace diversity and inclusion as essential to who we are. The Bank's values—integrity, excellence, and respect—are a clear statement supporting the notion that every employee is an important part of the Atlanta Fed's story and success. We advocate a simple truth: only by drawing on the talent, expertise, and perspectives of our entire staff and our external stakeholders will our Bank achieve its greatest potential in fulfilling our mission.
The Atlanta Fed and the 11 other Reserve Banks and Board of Governors play an important part in all five of the Fed's functions:
- conducting monetary policy
- promoting the stability of the financial system
- promoting the safety and soundness of individual financial systems
- fostering payment and settlement system safety and efficiency
- promoting consumer protection and community development
In its monetary policy role, the Federal Reserve seeks to keep prices stable and economic growth at its maximum sustainable rate. The Atlanta Fed president participates in deciding the direction of interest rates, convening with the other Reserve Bank presidents and the seven Board governors every six weeks at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
Along with other Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors, the Atlanta Fed monitors financial risks to help support a stable financial system. In a stable system, financial institutions and financial markets can provide households, communities, and businesses with the resources they need to invest, grow, and participate in a well-functioning economy.
The Atlanta Fed's Supervision, Regulation, and Credit staff seek to promote the safety and soundness of the individual financial institutions in the Sixth District, encourage them to responsibly meet the financial needs of their communities, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Atlanta Fed and some of its branches provide cash to depository institutions in the region. In addition, as home of the Federal Reserve’s Retail Payments Office, the Atlanta Fed processes transactions made through the Fed's automated clearing house (ACH) service, an electronic network that facilitates credit and debit payments between banks. The office also clears millions of checks every day.
The Atlanta Fed supports the Federal Reserve System in promoting consumer protection and community development through consumer-focused supervision and examination, research and analysis of emerging consumer issues and trends, community economic development activities, and the administration of consumer laws and regulations. This function also works to activate underutilized financial, human, and social capital to foster the conditions that facilitate inclusive economic growth.
