General Info

The United States Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible and more stable monetary and financial system. It is a federal system, composed of a central, governmental agency and 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. These 12 banks and their branches carry out a variety of system functions, including operating a nationwide payments system; distributing the nation s currency and coin; supervising and regulating member banks and bank holding companies; and serving as banker for the U.S. Treasury. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, with one branch in Helena, Mont, serves the Ninth Federal Reserve District. Included in the district are Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, 26 counties in northwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Ninth Federal Reserve District has a diverse economy, from mining to tourism to agriculture and technology.