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Board Report: March 12, 2014

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and Independent Auditors' Reports

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Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012

  2013 2012
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash $ 90,851,317 $ 53,965,151
Accounts receivable — net 7,911,011 2,437,241
Prepaid expenses and other assets 4,621,633 4,518,080
Total current assets 103,383,961 60,920,472
NONCURRENT ASSETS:
Property, equipment, and software — net 195,347,206 186,703,851
Other assets 1,959,389 1,081,446
Total noncurrent assets 197,306,595 187,785,297
TOTAL $ 300,690,556 $ 248,705,769
LIABILITIES AND CUMULATIVE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 22,376,801 $ 16,181,003
Accrued payroll and related taxes 25,105,590 20,907,437
Accrued annual leave 31,288,437 29,218,663
Capital lease payable 465,219 456,896
Unearned revenues and other liabilities 2,509,202 617,787
Total current liabilities 81,745,249 67,381,786
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Capital lease payable 603,897 1,069,116
Retirement benefit obligation 30,129,567 33,740,310
Postretirement benefit obligation 11,294,443 13,249,648
Postemployment benefit obligation 8,490,921 10,695,165
Other liabilities 22,060,853 21,261,795
Total long-term liabilities 72,579,681 80,016,034
Total liabilities 154,324,930 147,397,820
CUMULATIVE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
Fund balance 153,616,578 119,140,439
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (7,250,952) (17,832,490)
Total cumulative results of operations 146,365,626 101,307,949
TOTAL $ 300,690,556 $ 248,705,769

See notes to financial statements.

Statements of Operations
for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

  2013 2012
BOARD OPERATING REVENUES:
Assessments levied on Federal Reserve Banks for Board    
operating expenses and capital expenditures $ 580,000,000 $ 490,000,000
Other revenues 14,888,833  9,793,604
Total operating revenues 594,888,833 499,793,604
BOARD OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries 322,740,797 299,889,043
Retirement, insurance, and benefits 73,336,663 70,232,938
Contractual services and professional fees 63,094,846 50,873,548
Depreciation, amortization, and net gains or losses on disposals 24,694,987 21,969,729
Travel 14,726,855 15,068,161
Postage, supplies, and non-capital furniture and equipment 10,955,269 11,256,753
Utilities 9,330,903 9,016,693
Software 11,592,703 10,967,296
Rentals of space 14,790,457 14,120,215
Repairs and maintenance 5,866,831 5,696,326
Printing and binding 1,899,711 2,126,056
Other expenses 7,382,672 7,887,650
Total operating expenses 560,412,694 519,104,408
NET INCOME (LOSS) 34,476,139 (19,310,804)
CURRENCY COSTS:
Assessments levied or to be levied on Federal Reserve Banks for    
currency costs 705,030,765 721,074,064
Expenses for costs related to currency 705,030,765 721,074,064
Currency assessments over (under) expenses - -
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION (BUREAU):
Assessments levied on the Federal Reserve Banks for the Bureau 563,200,000 385,200,000
Transfers to the Bureau 563,200,000 385,200,000
Bureau assessments over (under) transfers - -
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESEARCH (OFFICE):
Assessments levied on the Federal Reserve Banks for the Office - 2,078,298
Transfers to the Office - 2,078,298
Office assessments over (under) transfers - -
TOTAL NET INCOME (LOSS) 34,476,139 (19,310,804)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost $605,684 584,890
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss 1,218,367 1,659,956
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising during the year 8,757,487 (2,983,794)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) 10,581,538 (738,948)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) 45,057,677 (20,049,752)
CUMULATIVE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Beginning of year 101,307,949 121,357,701
CUMULATIVE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — End of year $146,365,626 $101,307,949

See notes to financial statements.

Statements of Cash Flows
for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

  2013 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) $ 34,476,139 $ (19,310,804)
Adjustments to reconcile results of operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 22,804,365 21,901,984
Net loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 1,890,621 67,745
Other additional non-cash adjustments to results of operations 119,355 492,739
(Increase) decrease in assets:
Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets (6,455,266) 1,211,886
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 4,260,385 (6,317,712)
Accrued payroll and related taxes 4,198,153 2,290,903
Accrued annual leave 2,069,774 1,936,913
Unearned revenues and other liabilities 1,891,415 (255,081)
Net retirement benefit obligation 4,694,408 6,363,414
Net postretirement benefit obligation 321,182 602,805
Net postemployment benefit obligation (2,204,244) (449,979)
Other long-term liabilities (523,133) 437,509
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 67,543,154 8,972,322
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures (30,200,771) (28,057,137)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (30,200,771) (28,057,137)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Capital lease payments (456,217) (542,160)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (456,217) (542,160)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 36,886,166 (19,626,975)
CASH BALANCE — Beginning of year 53,965,151 73,592,126
CASH BALANCE — End of year $ 90,851,317 $ 53,965,151

See notes to financial statements.

Notes to the Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

1. Structure

The Federal Reserve System (the System) was established by Congress in 1913 and consists of the Board of Governors (the Board), the Federal Open Market Committee, the twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks), the Federal Advisory Council, and the private commercial banks that are members of the System. The Board, unlike the Reserve Banks, was established as a federal government agency and is located in Washington, DC.

The Board is required by the Federal Reserve Act (the Act) to report its operations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Act also requires the Board, each year, to order a financial audit of each Reserve Bank and to publish each week a statement of the financial condition of each Reserve Bank and a combined statement for all of the Reserve Banks. Accordingly, the Board believes that the best financial disclosure consistent with law is achieved by issuing separate financial statements for the Board and for the Reserve Banks. Therefore, the accompanying financial statements include only the results of operations and activities of the Board. Combined financial statements for the Reserve Banks are included in the Board’s annual report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and weekly statements are available on the Board’s public website.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) established the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) as an independent bureau within the System and designated the Board’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) as the OIG for the Bureau. As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the Board transferred certain responsibilities to the Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the Board to fund the Bureau from the combined earnings of the System. The Dodd-Frank Act also created the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), of which the Chairman of the Board is a member, as well as the Office of Financial Research (Office) within the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) to provide support to the FSOC and the member agencies. The Dodd-Frank Act required that the Board provide funding for the FSOC and the Office until July 2012. Section 1017 of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that the financial statements of the Bureau are not to be consolidated with those of the Board or the System; the Board has also determined that neither the FSOC nor the Office should be consolidated in the Board’s financial statements. Accordingly, the Board’s financial statements do not include financial data of the Bureau, the FSOC, or the Office other than the funding that the Board is required by the Dodd-Frank Act to provide.

2. Operations and Services

The Board’s responsibilities require thorough analysis of domestic and international financial and economic developments. The Board carries out those responsibilities in conjunction with the Reserve Banks and the Federal Open Market Committee. The Board also exercises general oversight of the operations of the Reserve Banks and exercises broad responsibility in the nation’s payments system. Policy regarding open market operations is established by the Federal Open Market Committee. However, the Board has sole authority over changes in reserve requirements, and it must approve any change in the discount rate initiated by a Reserve Bank. The Board also plays a major role in the supervision and regulation of the U.S. banking system. It has supervisory responsibilities for state-chartered banks that are members of the System, bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies, foreign activities of member banks, U.S. activities of foreign banks, and any systemically important nonbank financial companies that are designated as such by the FSOC. Although the Dodd-Frank Act gave the Bureau general rule-writing responsibility for Federal consumer financial laws, the Board retains rule-writing responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act and other specific statutory provisions. The Board also enforces the requirements of Federal consumer financial laws for state member banks with assets of $10 billion or less. In addition, the Board enforces certain other consumer laws at all state member banks, regardless of size.

3. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting — The Board prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).

Revenues — The Federal Reserve Act authorizes the Board to levy an assessment on the Reserve Banks to fund its operations. The Board allocates the assessment to each Reserve Bank based on the Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus balances.

Assessments to Fund the Bureau and the Office — The Board assesses the Reserve Banks for the funds transferred to the Bureau and the Office based on each Reserve Bank’s capital and surplus balances. These assessments and transfers are reported separately from the Board’s operating activities in the Board’s Statements of Operations.

Assessments for Supervision and Regulation (S&R) — The Dodd Frank Act directs the Board to collect assessments, fees, or other charges equal to the total expenses the Board estimates are necessary or appropriate to carry out the supervisory and regulatory responsibilities of the Board for bank holding companies and savings and loan holding companies with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more and nonbank financial companies designated for Board supervision by the FSOC. More comprehensive information about these assessments is available on the Board’s public website. As a collecting entity, the Board does not recognize the S&R assessments as revenue nor does the Board use the collections to fund Board expenses; the funds are transferred to the Treasury. The Board collected and transferred $433,483,299 during 2013.

Civil Money Penalties — The Board has enforcement authority over the financial institutions it supervises and their affiliated parties, including the authority to assess civil money penalties. As directed by statute, all civil money penalties that are assessed and collected by the Board are remitted to either the Treasury or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As a collecting entity, the Board does not recognize civil money penalties as revenue nor does the Board use the civil money penalty to fund Board expenses. Civil money penalties whose collection is contingent upon fulfillment of certain conditions in the enforcement action are not recorded in the Board’s financial records. Checks for civil money penalties made payable to the National Flood Insurance Program are forwarded to FEMA and are not recorded in the Board’s financial records.

Currency Costs — The Board issues the nation’s currency (in the form of Federal Reserve notes), and the Reserve Banks distribute currency through depository institutions. The Board incurs expenses and assesses the Reserve Banks for the expenses related to producing, issuing, and retiring Federal Reserve notes as well as providing educational services. The assessment is allocated based on each Reserve Bank’s share of the number of notes comprising the System’s net liability for Federal Reserve notes on December 31 of the prior year. These expenses and assessments are reported separately from the Board’s operating activities in the Board’s Statements of Operations.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts — Accounts receivable are recorded when amounts are earned but not yet received and are shown net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable considered uncollectible are charged against the allowance account in the year they are deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is adjusted monthly, based upon a review of outstanding receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts is $122,000 and $30,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Property, Equipment, and Software — The Board’s property, equipment, and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years for furniture and equipment, ten to fifty years for building equipment and structures, and two to five years for software. Upon the sale or other disposition of a depreciable asset, the cost and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed and any gain or loss is recognized. Construction in process includes costs incurred for short-term and long-term projects that have not been placed into service; the majority of the balance represents long-term building enhancement projects.

Art Collections — The Board has collections of works of art, historical treasures, and similar assets. These collections are maintained and held for public exhibition in furtherance of public service. Proceeds from any sales of collections are used to acquire other items for collections. The cost of collections purchased by the Board is charged to expense in the year purchased and donated collection items are not recorded. The value of the Board’s collections has not been determined.

Deferred Rent — Leases for certain space contain scheduled rent increases over the term of the lease. Rent abatements, lease incentives, and scheduled rent increases must be considered in determining the annual rent expense to be recognized. The deferred rent represents the difference between the actual lease payments and the rent expense recognized. Lease incentives impact deferred rent and are non-cash transactions.

Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income related to reporting of significant reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income. This update improves the transparency of changes in other comprehensive income and items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income in the financial statements. The required disclosures in ASU 2013-02 are effective for the Board for the year ended December 31, 2013, and are reflected in the Board’s 2013 financial statements and Note 9.

4. Property, Equipment, and Software

The following is a summary of the components of the Board’s property, equipment, and software, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:

  2013 2012
Land $ 18,640,314 $ 18,640,314
Buildings and improvements 217,293,649 205,006,985
Construction in process 15,436,635 14,362,523
Furniture and equipment 62,655,420 74,519,266
Software in use 33,690,483 29,147,933
Software in process 1,641,886 2,422,381
Vehicles 1,205,025 960,745
Other intangible asset 0 496,675
Subtotal 350,563,412 345,556,822
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (155,216,206) (158,852,971)
Property, equipment, and software - net $ 195,347,206 $ 186,703,851

The Board retired $28,331,000 and $5,972,000 of long-term assets during 2013 and 2012, respectively.

5. Leases

Capital Leases —The Board entered into capital leases for copier equipment in 2008 and 2009 that terminated in March 2012. The Board subsequently entered into new capital leases in 2012. Under the new commitments, the capital lease term extends through 2016. Furniture and equipment includes capitalized leases of $1,853,000 as of 2013 and 2012. Accumulated depreciation includes $801,000 and $337,000 related to assets under capital leases as of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The depreciation expense for the leased equipment is $464,000 and $471,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The future minimum lease payments required under the capital leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2013, are as follows:

Years Ended
December 31,
Amount
2014 $711,659
2015 $711,659
2016 $192,799
Total minimum lease payments 1,616,117
Less amount representing maintenance (523,816)
Net minimum lease payments 1,092,301
Less amount representing interest (23,185)
Present value of net minimum lease payments 1,069,116
Less current maturities of capital lease payments (465,219)
Long-term capital lease obligations $ 603,897

Operating Leases — The Board has entered into several operating leases to secure office, training, data center, and warehouse space. Minimum annual payments under the multi-year operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year at December 31, 2013, are as follows:

Years Ended
December 31,
 
2014 $ 15,315,273
2015 24,172,153
2016 26,260,510
2017 27,067,576
After 2017 138,751,173
  $231,566,685

Rental expenses under the multi-year operating leases were $13,978,000 and $13,553,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Board entered into four operating leases in 2013, which are reflected in the schedule above. The Board entered into a new operating lease in early 2014. The estimated future minimum lease payments associated with the new lease total $1,068,000 over a ten year period, which is not reflected in the schedule above.

The Board leases and subleases space, primarily to other governmental agencies. The revenues collected for these leases from governmental agencies were $508,000 and $480,000 in 2013 and 2012.

Deferred Rent — Other long-term liabilities include deferred rent of $21,783,000 and $20,924,000 as of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Board recorded non-cash lease incentives of $1,322,000 and $563,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

6. Retirement Benefits

Substantially all of the Board’s employees participate in the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System (the System Plan). The System Plan provides retirement benefits to employees of the Board, the Reserve Banks, the Office of Employee Benefits of the Federal Reserve System (OEB), and certain employees of the Bureau. The Reserve Bank of New York (FRB NY), on behalf of the System, recognizes the net assets and costs associated with the System Plan in its financial statements. Costs associated with the System Plan were not redistributed to the Board during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Employees of the Board who became employed prior to 1984 are covered by a contributory defined benefits program under the System Plan. Employees of the Board who became employed after 1983 are covered by a non-contributory defined benefits program under the System Plan. FRB NY, on behalf of the System, funded $900 million and $780 million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Board was not assessed a contribution for 2013 or 2012.

Board employees covered under the System Plan are also covered under a Benefits Equalization Plan (BEP). Benefits paid under the BEP are limited to those benefits that cannot be paid from the System Plan due to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Activity for the BEP as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, is summarized in the following tables:
 

  2013 2012
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation — beginning of year $ 15,152,833 $ 14,147,186
Service cost 1,361,346 2,100,366
Interest cost 656,007 867,002
Plan participants’ contributions - -
Actuarial (gain) loss (4,473,905) (1,928,409)
Gross benefits paid (22,389) (33,312)
Benefit obligation — end of year $ 12,673,892 $ 15,152,833
Accumulated benefit obligation — end of year $ 1,699,943 $ 3,149,276
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation as of December 31:
Discount rate 5.26 % 4.25 %
Rate of compensation increase 4.50 % 4.50 %
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year $ - $ -
Employer contributions 22,389 33,312
Plan participants’ contributions - -
Gross benefits paid (22,389) (33,312)
Fair value of plan assets — end of year $ - $ -
Funded status:
Reconciliation of funded status — end of year:
Fair value of plan assets $ - $ -
Benefit obligation (current) 55,061 97,085
Benefit obligation (noncurrent) 12,618,831 15,055,748
Funded status (12,673,892) (15,152,833)
Amount recognized — end of year $ (12,673,892) $ (15,152,833)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:
Asset $ - $ -
Liability - current (55,061) (97,085)
Liability - noncurrent (12,618,831) (15,055,748)
Net amount recognized $ (12,673,892) $ (15,152,833)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss (gain) $ (1,534,296) $ 2,939,609
Prior service cost (credit) 521,188 620,967
Net amount recognized $ (1,013,108) $ 3,560,576
Expected cash flows:
Expected employer contributions — 2014 $ 55,061
Expected benefit payments:*
2014 $ 55,061
2015 $ 60,238
2016 $ 78,421
2017 $ 99,944
2018 $ 110,329
2019–2023 $ 971,366

Expected benefit payments to be made by the Board

  2013 2012
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost $1,361,346 $2,100,366
Interest cost 656,007 867,002
Expected return on plan assets - -
Amortization:    
Actuarial (gain) loss - 667,775
Prior service (credit) cost 99,779 78,985
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) $2,117,132 $3,714,128
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate 4.25% 4.50%
Rate of compensation increase 4.50% 5.00%
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income:
Current year actuarial (gain) loss $(4,473,905) $(1,928,409)
Amortization of prior service credit (cost) (99,779) (78,985)
Amortization of actuarial gain (loss) - (667,775)
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss $(4,573,684) $(2,675,169)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income $(2,456,552) $1,038,959

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost (credit) in 2014 are shown below:

Net actuarial (gain) loss $(25,667)
Prior service (credit) cost 99,578
Total $73,911

The Board also provides another non-qualified plan for officers of the Board. The retirement benefits covered under the Pension Enhancement Plan (PEP) increase the pension benefit calculation from 1.8% above the Social Security integration level to 2.0%. Activity for the PEP as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, is summarized in the following tables:

  2013 2012
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation — beginning of year $18,440,730 $13,250,209
Service cost 795,619 684,473
Interest cost 821,785 750,474
Plan participants' contributions - -
Actuarial (gain) loss (2,312,328) 3,856,673
Gross benefits paid (152,139) (101,099)
Benefit obligation — end of year $17,593,667 $ 18,440,730
Accumulated benefit obligation — end of year $14,172,160 $14,766,590
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation as of December 31:
Discount rate 5.06 % 4.00 %
Rate of compensation increase 4.50 % 4.50 %
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year $ - $ -
Employer contributions 152,139  101,099 
Plan participants’ contributions -  -
Gross benefits paid (152,139) (101,099)
Fair value of plan assets — end of year $ - $ -
Funded status:
Reconciliation of funded status — end of year:
Fair value of plan assets $ - $ -
Benefit obligation - current 240,788 97,867
Benefit obligation - noncurrent 17,352,879 18,342,863
Funded status (17,593,667) (18,440,730)
Amount recognized — end of year $(17,593,667) $(18,440,730)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:
Asset $ - $ -
Liability - current (240,788) (97,867)
Liability - noncurrent (17,352,879) (18,342,863)
Net amount recognized $(17,593,667) $(18,440,730)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss (gain) $5,314,468 $8,514,540
Prior service cost (credit) 1,649,093 2,180,488
Net amount recognized $6,963,561 $10,695,028
Expected cash flows:
Expected employer contributions — 2014 $240,788
Expected benefit payments.**
2014 $240,788
2015 $318,244
2016 $399,161
2017 $483,738
2018 $576,898
2019–2023 $4,398,804

**Expected benefit payments to be made by the Board

  2013 2012
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost $795,619 $684,473
Interest cost 821,785 750,474
Expected return on plan assets - -
Amortization:
Actuarial (gain) loss 887,744 758,925
Prior service (credit) cost 531,395 531,395
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) $3,036,543 $2,725,267
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate 4.00 % 4.50 %
Rate of compensation increase 4.50 % 5.00 %
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income:
Current year actuarial (gain) loss $(2,312,328) $3,856,673
Amortization of prior service credit (cost) (531,395) (531,395)
Amortization of actuarial gain (loss) (887,744) (758,925)
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss $(3,731,467) $2,566,353
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income $(694,924) $5,291,620

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost (credit) in 2014 are shown below:

Net actuarial (gain) loss $387,019
Prior service (credit) cost 531,395
Total $918,414

The total accumulated retirement benefit obligation includes a liability for a supplemental retirement agreement and a benefits equalization plan under the Federal Reserve System’s Thrift Plan. The total obligation as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is summarized in the following table:

  2013 2012
Retirement benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation — BEP $12,673,892 $15,152,833
Benefit obligation — PEP 17,593,667 18,440,730
Additional benefit obligations 157,857 146,747
Total accumulated retirement benefit obligation $30,425,416 $33,740,310

A relatively small number of Board employees participate in the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System. These defined benefit plans are administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which determines the required employer contribution levels. The Board’s contributions to these plans totaled $778,000 and $586,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Board has no liability for future payments to retirees under these programs and is not accountable for the assets of the plans.

Employees of the Board may also participate in the Federal Reserve System’s Thrift Plan or Roth 401(k). Board contributions to members’ accounts were $20,288,000 and $19,211,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

7. Postretirement Benefits

The Board provides certain life insurance programs for its active employees and retirees. Activity as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, is summarized in the following tables:

  2013 2012
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation — beginning of year $13,249,648  $11,799,079 
Service cost 219,222  210,030 
Interest cost 533,435  534,224 
Plan participants’ contributions - -
Actuarial (gain) loss (1,971,254) 1,055,530 
Gross benefits paid (337,740) (349,215)
Benefit obligation — end of year $11,693,311  $13,249,648 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation as of December 31 — discount rate 4.97 % 4.00 %
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year $ - $ -
Employer contributions 337,740  349,215 
Gross benefits paid (337,740) (349,215)
Fair value of plan assets — end of year $ - $ -
Funded status:
Reconciliation of funded status — end of year:
Fair value of plan assets $ - $ -
Benefit obligation - current 398,868  345,021 
Benefit obligation - noncurrent 11,294,443  12,904,627 
Funded status (11,693,311) (13,249,648)
Amount recognized — end of year $(11,693,311) $(13,249,648)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:
Asset $ - $ -
Liability - current (398,868) (345,021)
Liability - noncurrent (11,294,443) (12,904,627)
Net amount recognized $(11,693,311) $(13,249,648)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss (gain) $1,500,562 $3,802,439
Prior service cost (credit) (200,064) (225,554)
Net amount recognized $1,300,498 $3,576,885
Expected cash flows:
Expected employer contributions — 2014 $398,868 
Expected benefit payments:*
2014 $398,868 
2015 $426,704 
2016 $458,916 
2017 $489,011 
2018 $504,713 
2019–2023 $2,989,203 

*Expected benefit payments to be made by the Board

  2013 2012
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost $219,222  $210,030 
Interest cost 533,435  534,224 
Expected return on plan assets - -
Amortization:
Actuarial (gain) loss 330,623 233,256
Prior service (credit) cost (25,490) (25,490)
 
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) $1,057,790  $952,020 
 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost — discount rate 4.00 % 4.50 %
 
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income:
Current year actuarial (gain) loss $(1,971,254) $1,055,530 
Amortization of prior service credit (cost) 25,490  25,490 
Amortization of actuarial gain (loss) (330,623) (233,256)
 
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss $(2,276,387) $847,764 
 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income $(1,218,597) $1,799,784 

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost (credit) in 2014 are shown below:

Net actuarial (gain) loss $46,594
Prior service (credit) cost (25,490)
Total $21,104

8. Postemployment Benefits

The Board provides certain postemployment benefits to eligible former or inactive employees and their dependents during the period subsequent to employment but prior to retirement. Postemployment costs were actuarially determined using a December 31 measurement date and discount rates of 3.43% and 2.50% as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The net periodic postemployment benefit cost (credit) recognized by the Board as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, was ($217,000) and $518,000, respectively.

9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

A reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows:

  Amount Related to Defined Benefit Retirement Plans Amount Related to Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance — January 1, 2012 $(14,364,420) $(2,729,122) $(17,093,542)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising during the year(a) (1,928,264) (1,055,530) (2,983,794)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications (1,928,264) (1,055,530) (2,983,794)
Amortization of prior service (credit) costs(a)(b) 610,380 (25,490) 584,890
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss(a)(b) 1,426,700 233,256 1,659,956
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income
2,037,080 207,766 2,244,846
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 108,816 (847,764) (738,948)
Balance — December 31, 2012 (14,255,604) (3,576,886) (17,832,490)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising during the year(a) 6,786,233 1,971,254 8,757,487
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 6,786,233 1,971,254 8,757,487
Amortization of prior service (credit) costs(a)(b) 631,174 (25,490) 605,684
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss(a)(b) 887,744 330,623 1,218,367
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income
1,518,918 305,133 1,824,051
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 8,305,151 2,276,387 10,581,538
Balance — December 31, 2013 $(5,950,453) $(1,300,499) $(7,250,952)

(a) These components of accumulated other comprehensive income are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see footnotes 6 & 7 for additional details). 

(b) These components of accumulated other comprehensive income are reflected in the “Retirement, insurance, and benefits” line on the Statements of Operations.

10. Reserve Banks

The Board performs certain functions for the Reserve Banks in conjunction with its responsibilities for the System, and the Reserve Banks provide certain administrative functions for the Board. The Board assesses the Reserve Banks for its operating expenses, to include expenses related to its currency responsibilities, as well as for the funding the Board is required to provide to the Bureau and the Office. Activity related to the Board and Reserve Banks is summarized in the following table:

  2013 2012
For the years ended December 31:
Assessments levied or to be levied on Reserve Banks for:
Currency expenses $705,030,765  $721,074,064
Board Operations 580,000,000 490,000,000
Transfers of funds to the Bureau 563,200,000 385,200,000
Transfers of funds to the Office - 2,078,298
Total Assessments levied or to be levied on Reserve Banks $1,848,230,765 $1,598,352,362
Board expenses charged to the Reserve Banks for data processing & office space  $417,324 $423,209
Reserve Bank expenses charged to the Board:
Data processing and communication $861,671 $1,313,902
Office space 1,289,714 -
Contingency site 1,262,616 1,191,220
Total Reserve Bank expenses charged to the Board $3,414,001 $2,505,122
Net transactions with Reserve Banks $1,845,234,088 $1,596,270,449
As of the years ended December 31:
Accounts receivable due from the Reserve Banks $5,496,852 $751,614
Accounts payable due to the Reserve Banks $1,000,923 $334,665

The Board contracted for audit services on behalf of entities that are included in the combined financial statements of the Reserve Banks. The entities reimburse the Board for the cost of the audit services. The Board accrued liabilities of $47,000 and $185,000 in audit services and recorded net receivables of $47,000 and $170,000 from the entities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The OEB administers certain System benefit programs on behalf of the Board and the Reserve Banks, and costs associated with the OEB’s activities are assessed to the Board and Reserve Banks. The Board was assessed $2,402,000 and $2,530,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

11. Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council

The Board is one of the five member agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (the Council), and currently performs certain management functions for the Council. The five agencies that are represented on the Council are the Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Bureau.

The Board’s financial statements do not include financial data for the Council. Activity related to the Board and Council is summarized in the following table:

  2013 2012
For the years ended December 31:
Council expenses charged to the Board:
Assessments for operating expenses $141,111 $137,466
Assessments for examiner education 988,233 1,043,917
Central Data Repository 1,049,787 1,111,793
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act/Community Reinvestment Act 717,177 753,464
Uniform Bank Performance Report 134,977 132,294
Total Council expenses charged to the Board $3,031,285 $3,178,934
Board expenses charged to the Council:
Data processing related services $4,233,290 $4,392,625
Administrative services 223,000 261,000
Total Board expenses charged to the Council $4,456,290 $4,653,625
As of the years ended December 31:
Accounts receivable due from the Council $442,749 $545,770
Accounts payable due to the Council $326,875 $211,061

12. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

Beginning July 2011, Sec. 1017 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the Board to fund the Bureau from the combined earnings of the System, in an amount determined by the Director of the Bureau to be reasonably necessary to carry out the authorities of the Bureau under Federal consumer financial law, taking into account such other sums made available to the Bureau from the preceding year (or quarter of such year). The Dodd-Frank Act limits the amount to be transferred each fiscal year to a fixed percentage of the System’s total operating expenses. The Board received and processed funding requests for the Bureau totaling $563,200,000 and $385,200,000 during calendar years 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Bureau transferred to the Board funding for the operations of the OIG of $10 million and $3 million in 2013 and 2012 respectively. Beginning in 2014, the Bureau’s funding share of OIG operations will be adjusted based on actual OIG expenses and work allocation from the previous year. The Board accrued a liability of $1.84 million as of December 31, 2013, which will be applied to subsequent Bureau transfers.

As part of the transfer of responsibilities from the Board to the Bureau, certain Board staff were transferred to the Bureau during 2011. The Board continued to administer certain non-retirement benefits for all transferred Board employees through July 20, 2012.

13. The Office of Financial Research

Sec. 155(c) of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the Board to provide an amount sufficient to cover the expenses of the Office for the two-year period following the date of the enactment (July 21, 2010). The expenses of the FSOC are included in the expenses of the Office. The Board received and processed funding requests for the Office totaling $42,000,000 during 2012. At the end of the two-year period in 2012, the Office returned $39,921,702 to the Board which was returned to the Reserve Banks.

14. Currency

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is the sole supplier for currency printing and also provides currency retirement services. The Board provides or contracts for other services associated with currency, such as shipping, education, and quality assurance. The currency costs incurred by the Board for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, are reflected in the following table:

  2013 2012
Expenses related to BEP services:
Printing $660,957,789 $687,704,624
Retirement 3,081,392 3,132,105
Subtotal related to BEP services $664,039,181 $690,836,729
Other currency expenses:
Shipping $20,732,476 $17,179,610
Research and development 5,393,220 5,316,005
Quality assurance services 11,284,687 7,259,900
Education services 3,581,201 481,820
Subtotal other currency expenses $40,991,584  $30,237,335 
Total currency expenses $705,030,765  $721,074,064 

15. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments — The Board has entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, through the Council, to fund a portion of the enhancements and maintenance fees for a central data repository project that requires maintenance through 2019 with two one year option periods. The estimated Board expense to support this effort is $5 to $6 million.

Litigation and Contingent Liabilities — The Board is subject to contingent liabilities which arise from litigation cases and various business contracts. These contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown. Based on information currently available to management, it is management’s opinion that the expected outcome of these matters, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial statements.

16. Subsequent Events

There were no subsequent events that require adjustments to or disclosures in the financial statements as of December 31, 2013. Subsequent events were evaluated through March 12, 2014, which is the date the financial statements were available to be issued.