Who owns the Fed?
Federal Reserve Banks, created by an act of Congress in 1913, are operated in the public interest rather than for profit or to benefit any private group. Member banks hold stock in their regional Reserve Banks, but do not control the Federal Reserve System. Holding this stock does not carry with it the control and financial interest that holding publicly traded stock allows. Fed stock cannot be sold or traded. Member banks receive a fixed 6 percent dividend annually on their stock and elect six of the nine members of the Reserve Bank s board of directors. So, who owns the Fed? Although it is set up like a private corporation and member banks hold its stock, the Fed owes its existence to an act of Congress and has a mandate to serve the public. Therefore, the most accurate answer may be that the Fed is “owned” by the citizens of the United States.
