What is the Federal Funds Rate?
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
• Updated March 22, 2023 to reflect the latest Fed rate change.
The federal funds rate — often called the Fed rate — is the federal interest rate that U.S. banks pay one another to borrow or loan money overnight. Since banks are legally required to keep a minimum amount of money in reserves, banks with excess reserves often loan money to banks that can’t meet those reserve requirements.
The Fed rate is currently 4.75% to 5%. After sitting at 0% for more than a year during the coronavirus pandemic, the rate has steadily climbed since March 2022 as the Federal Reserve aims to combat rising inflation.
But inflation is still rising. And questions remain about the banking industry, which saw Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) collapse and the government’s intervention earlier in March, as well as the failure of Signature Bank. Looking at the rest of 2023, it’s unclear how Fed rates will be impacted by these circumstances. But in the shorter term, the Fed announced a 0.25% rate increase on March 22.
The Federal Open Market Committee sets rates. The committee meets next on May 2-3, 2023.
Why is the federal funds rate significant?
When the federal funds rate rises, it doesn’t just affect banks sending and receiving money. Interest rates also increase on everyday consumer products such as credit cards and mortgages.
Here’s why that happens: The Federal Reserve can change the federal funds rate only. But since that rate is tied to other rates and variables, those changes have wide-reaching effects. When the fed rate goes up, it’s more expensive for banks to borrow money. So it gets more expensive for consumers to borrow money, too. Anything tied to financing, including credit cards, car payments, student loans or mortgages, can get pricier.
On the other hand, a rising rate can lead to higher yields for savers in some bank accounts.
How is the federal funds rate set?
The Federal Open Market Committee, a 12-member group of banking leaders from around the country, determines much of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, including the federal funds rate. It meets eight times a year and sometimes makes rate changes outside its scheduled meetings.
Federal Open Market Committee meetings in 2023:
Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2023.
March 21 - 22, 2023.
May 2 - 3, 2023.
June 13 - 14, 2023.
July 25 - 26, 2023.
Sept. 19 - 20, 2023.
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2023.
Dec. 12 - 13, 2023.
What is the Federal Reserve Board?
The Federal Reserve Board is the umbrella agency that governs the Federal Reserve System. It comprises three groups: the 12 Federal Reserve Banks in the U.S., the Board of Governors and the Federal Open Market Committee.
It’s responsible for the Federal Reserve achieving its three congressional mandates: maintaining maximum employment, steady prices on goods and services, and moderate interest rates throughout the country.
