Why does the Federal Reserve want to pay interest on excess balances?
Paying interest on excess balances should help to establish a lower bound on the federal funds rate by lessening the incentive for institutions to trade balances in the market at rates much below the rate paid on excess balances. Paying interest on excess balances will permit the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to support financial stability while implementing the monetary policy that is appropriate in light of the System’s macroeconomic objectives of maximum employment and price stability. For more information about the implementation of monetary policy with the payment of interest on required reserve balances and on excess balances, please see the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website.
