FedCash® Services Business Continuity

Overview - Disruption to Federal Reserve FedCash Services

The Federal Reserve System's FedCash Services processes orders for currency and coin and accepts deposits of excess fit and unfit currency and excess coin from domestic and international depository financial institutions. In addition, the Federal Reserve System processes food coupon deposits on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Orders are typically made via FedLine Web or FedPhone – our telephone ordering system.

Disruptions to Federal Reserve FedCash Services will typically take two forms: network outages, and building or other site-specific disruptions. Financial institutions will be notified of a disruption based on the type of outage, as well as your local Federal Reserve office’s availability and notification procedures. For large-scale disruptions, customers may receive notification on FedLine Web, or on this Web site.

Network Outages

In the event of an outage that affects the automated Cash ordering systems at a Federal Reserve office, the processing of FedLine Web and FedPhone orders may be suspended until such a time as the affected system is restored. When automated ordering systems are unavailable, Cash customers can place orders for currency or coin via telephone or facsimile, and the orders will be processed manually. If you cannot use your normal ordering channels, please call your local Federal Reserve office.

Building and Other Site-Specific Disruptions

Federal Reserve FedCash operations may be affected by inclement weather (hurricane, flooding, snowstorms, etc.), power outages, and other events. Such events may cause disruptions to normal Federal Reserve office operations, as well as to local transportation networks and other key infrastructure. If your local Federal Reserve office becomes inaccessible for an extended period of time, your financial institution may be directed to place orders with other Federal Reserve offices. Federal Reserve offices have established various means of informing customers of such events. To learn more about how your local Federal Reserve office will respond to a site-specific disruption, please refer to your local Reserve Bank's business continuity information.

Local FedCash Business Continuity Links

If our automated cash ordering systems are unavailable, or if you need to speak with somebody at your local Federal Reserve office, emergency contact numbers are available for all FedCash offices.

Preparing for Cash Service Disruptions

If a major disruption to service occurs, your local Federal Reserve office may not be able to meet your ordinary needs for currency and coin. If you experience such a disruption to your normal currency and coin supply resulting from an emergency situation, you may want to consider the following:

  • Have a business resumption plan in place that has been tested and considers issues such as access to currency and coin.
  • Have Federal Reserve office contact numbers and local FedCash office Web site addresses available.
  • Have backup systems in place if primary ordering systems are unavailable (e.g., be setup to order using FedPhone if FedLine is unavailable, or vice-versa)
  • Consider how your institution will respond to a Federal Reserve office outage and communicate those plans to appropriate staff. Refer to ”What You Should Do” for suggestions about what to do during and after a major disruption.

During FedCash Service Disruption - What to Expect

Service Levels

Federal Reserve System FedCash Services has devoted significant attention and resources to reduce the likelihood of a service disruption, and to ensure a quick recovery in case problems do occur. However, and particularly in the early stages of a problem, your institution may encounter a temporary disruption in normal service levels. This may include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

Debits and Credits

Your institution may experience delays in receiving debits and credits for currency and coin orders and deposits.

Currency and Coin Orders

In the event of an emergency, temporary restrictions may be placed on the amount of currency and coin your institution can order from a particular Federal Reserve office.

Shipments

Disruptions that affect Federal Reserve FedCash operations may cause your institution to experience delays in shipments. If a Federal Reserve office is aware of an incoming shipment, and is in a position to do so, they may work with your institution’s armored carrier to redirect that shipment.

Hours of Operation

Your institution should expect changes in pickup and delivery schedules.

What the Fed Asks of Depository Institutions During a Disruption

  • For large-scale business disruptions, check this Web site, your local Federal Reserve office’s Web site or FedLine Web for updated information.
  • If you become aware of a business disruption at a Federal Reserve office, please notify appropriate operations personnel in your organization.
  • To help your Federal Reserve office expedite a full recovery, please attempt to minimize the points of contact within your organization who are calling that Fed office.
  • If our automated ordering systems are unavailable, or you need to speak with somebody at the Fed, emergency contact numbers are available for all Federal Reserve Cash offices.
  • Notify armored carriers of alternate site and revised hours of operation, if known.
  • Place only critical orders.
  • Retain and/or reuse your excess currency (fit and unfit).
  • Exchange currency and coin among your branches.
  • Contact your correspondent and other depository institutions for cash services.
  • If you can, use your branches/cash vaults in other Federal Reserve zones to order and receive on your behalf.
  • Please note that if there is a disruption at a Federal Reserve office that causes your institution’s orders or deposits to be delayed or directed to another Federal Reserve office, cross-shipping monitoring will be waived.

What the Fed Asks of Armored Carriers During a Disruption

Though it is usually depository institutions (DIs) that hire armored carrier services, during business continuity events, the Fed may communicate with carriers directly about Fed operations or obtain armored carrier services on its own behalf. No communications or actions by the Fed are intended to interfere with the carrier-DI business relationship.

  • For large-scale business disruptions, check www.frbservices.org or your local Federal Reserve office’s Web site for updated information from the Fed.
  • If you become aware of a business disruption at a Federal Reserve office, please notify appropriate personnel in your organization.
  • To help your Federal Reserve office expedite a full recovery, please attempt to minimize the points of contact within your organization who are calling the Fed office.
  • If you need to speak with somebody at the Fed, emergency contact numbers are available for all Federal Reserve Cash offices.
  • If the Fed changes its hours of operation or switches to alternate site(s), you may receive notification from DIs, the Fed, or both.
  • The Fed may ask you to communicate with it directly about your status and concerns or ask you to participate in conference calls.
  • The Fed may inquire about your availability and/or fees to: (a) provide transportation for special shipments, (b) operate your services outside normal working hours, (c) operate a Fed-sponsored Stem Run (special armored carrier transportation run that delivers currency orders directly to a DI or carrier location), etc. as part of responding to an event.
  • The Fed may ask you to participate in a Fed-sponsored Stem Run as a drop point, which involves providing information about facilities, contacts, and potential drop-off schedules and confirming your willingness to comply with Stem Run controls and procedures.
  • You may be asked to use your sites in other Federal Reserve cities to pick up orders and make deposits.
  • Because DIs may be asked to exchange currency and coin among branches or between DIs, you may be asked to provide transportation or other services to facilitate exchanges, either within your facility, among your sites, or with other carriers.
  • Because DIs may be asked to retain and re-use currency, you may be asked to provide services to facilitate retention and re-use, which may include changes to ATM servicing arrangements.
  • Ensure you are prepared during a disruption by reviewing the Checklist for Fed-Related Preparations (PDF).

After an Outage

Continue to use the designated site for pickups and deliveries until your institution has been notified that the Federal Reserve office has returned to normal business operations.

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