Understanding Money and Financial Institutions Chapter 20 Chapter

Understanding Money and Financial Institutions Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Learning Goals 1. What is money, what are its characteristics and functions, and what are three parts of the U. S. money supply? 2. What are the basic functions of the Federal Reserve System, and what tools does it use to manage the money supply? 3. What are the key financial institutions, and what role do they play in the process of financial intermediation?

Chapter 20 Learning Goals (cont’d. ) 4. How does the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protect depositors’ funds? 5. What role do U. S. banks play in the international marketplace? 6. What trends are reshaping the banking industry?

Learning Goal 1 • What is money, what are its characteristics and functions, and what are three parts of the U. S. money supply? – Money • Anything accepted as payment for goods and services – Characteristics • Scarce, durable, portable, and divisible – Functions • Medium of exchange • Standard and store of value – U. S. money supply • Currency (coins and paper money) • Demand deposits (checking accounts) • Time deposits (interest-bearing deposits that cannot be withdrawn on demand)

Money: Anything that is acceptable as payment for goods and services

Characteristics of Money • Scarcity • Durability – US paper money does wear out; 95% of the new money printed in 1990 was to replace ‘unfit notes’ & 5% was for economic growth (Source: Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco, www. frbsf. org) • Portability • Divisibility

Functions of Money • medium of exchange • standard of value • store of value

Learning Goal 2 • What are the basic functions of the Federal Reserve System, and what tools does it use to manage the money supply? – Four major functions of the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) • • Carrying out monetary policy Setting rules on credit Distributing currency Making check clearing easier – Three money-managing tools of the Fed • Open market operations • Reserve requirements • Discount rate

The Federal Reserve System • Carrying out monetary policy – open market operations, reserve requirement, discount rate • Setting rules on credit – selective credit controls, consumer credit rules, margin requirements • Distributing currency • Making check clearing easier

Distributing Currency • $150 billion in cash typically exists at the Federal Reserve & at banks • Anticipating a high demand for cash prior to Y 2 K, the Federal Reserve printed an extra $70 billion – the extra money was distributed to banks – this was enough for every US citizen (including children) to have $255

Federal Monetary Tools Money Interest Economic Action supply rates activity buy bonds sell bonds ¯ ¯ ¯ raise reserve lower reserve ¯ ¯ raise discount rate ¯ lower discount rate ¯ ¯ ¯

Financial Intermediation Process Financial intermediaries: banks, life insurance companies, pension funds Demanders of funds: businesses, governments $ Suppliers of funds: households $

Learning Goal 3 • What are the key financial institutions, and what role do they play in the process of financial intermediation? – Depository institutions • Commercial banks • Thrift institutions • Credit unions – Nondepository institutions • Insurance and finance companies • Pension funds • Brokerage firms – Financial institutions • Ease the transfer of funds between suppliers and demanders

The US Financial System • Depository financial institutions – commercial banks, thrift institutions, credit unions • Nondepository financial institutions – insurance companies, pension funds, brokerage firms, finance companies

Learning Goal 4 • How does the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protect depositors’ funds? – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) • Insures deposits in commercial banks through the Bank Insurance Fund • Deposits in thrift institutions through the Savings Association Insurance Fund • Sets banking policies and practices • Reviews banks annually to ensure that they operate fairly and profitably

Insuring Bank Deposits • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – protection for bank failure – insures deposits up to $100, 000 per account – backed by the credit of the US government – all banks in the Federal Reserve must have insurance

Learning Goal 5 • What role do U. S. banks play in the international marketplace? – U. S. banks • Provide loans and trade-related services to – Foreign governments – Foreign businesses • Offer specialized services – Cash management – Foreign currency exchange

International Banking • Some countries do not allow US banks to enter • Foreign banks have fewer regulations • International banking is high-risk • US banks provide loans to foreign governments and businesses

International Banking Top 5 Global Banks: 1. Deutsche Bank (Germany) 2. Sanwa Bank (Japan) 3. Sumitomo (Japan) 4. Dai-Ichi Kangyo (Japan) 5. Fuji (Japan) Source: Corporate Finance Network, corpfinet. com

Learning Goal 6 • What trends are reshaping the banking industry? – Banks are delivering more online services – Bank mergers and acquisitions are: • • Consolidating the banking industry Helping banks to improve their operating efficiency Reducing costs Extending their geographic reach – Passage of bank reform legislation • Allows banks to market securities and insurance products • Helps banks compete with nondepository institutions

Trends in Banking Online banking Consolidation - one expert predicts that 12 finance companies will hold 85% of the world’s private-sector financial assets by 2020 (Source: Eugene Ludwig in The Arizona Republic, Jan. 3, 2000, p. D 1)

Trends in Banking · Integration of banking, brokerage, & insurance services – Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 allowing companies in these areas to offer each other’s services – The legislation is expected to lead to healthy competition & lower prices for consumers (Source: Georgia Bankers Association, www. gabankers. com) – This will likely lead to cross-industry mergers (Source: The Arizona Republic, Jan. 3, 2000, p. D 1)