The Federal Reserve System plays a major role in maintaining the stability and integrity of the nation's payments systems. Since the vast majority of dollars that move through the U.S. payments systems rely in some way on electronic networks, it is critical that we continuously revisit and update our Business Continuity plans.
The Reserve Banks constantly seek ways to minimize the likelihood of a service disruption. However, your business continuity plan should include your institution's preparations for an emergency situation, and the actions your institution would take during and immediately following a Federal Reserve business disruption.
The Boston Reserve Bank and the Federal Reserve System are committed to providing you and your customers with quality payment and other business services that are reliable and secure. Nonetheless, our services could be disrupted for a number of reasons, such as fire or water damage, or another event that prevents access to one of our buildings. We strongly encourage you to develop and refine your own business continuity plans that will facilitate the timely resumption of those business functions critical to your institution and your customers.
The Boston Reserve Bank subscribes to multiple energy and communications vendors to minimize chances of a communications or other disruption in the event of an outage. We maintain a state-of-the-art security system and continuously monitor and improve our facilities to prevent disruption to the building and our critical operations. In the event that our building did have to be evacuated, all of our critical business functions would be moved to a District relocation facility or remote processing locations. Designated staff regularly visit our relocation facility for test drills to evaluate our business resumption plans and to maintain familiarity with our business continuity procedures.
The Boston Reserve Bank has comprehensive procedures in place to assist in resuming critical business functions in the event of a disruption. We exercise these procedures on a regular basis to prepare our systems, staff and customers for recovery from all types of disruption situations. Our goal is to recover our systems and continue critical function processing the same day.
During an emergency or Federal Reserve business disruption, the Federal Reseve Bank of Boston will provide information to our customers and other stakeholders via the following means.
In the Event of
A Business Disruption at the Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve Cash Services maintains comprehensive
business continuity plans that will be activated in
the event of a business disruption. The Federal Reserve
Bank of Boston's business continuity plans are aligned
with those of other Federal Reserve Districts to support
continuity of service. Please visit our National
Cash Services business continuity page for
more information.
If the normal provision of cash services is impaired, the First District will notify its customers via: FedLine broadcast message, the District's Emergency Information Line message, and email messages to customers that have provided Cash contact email addresses.
Accessing
Federal Reserve Cash Services
If your normal currency and coin ordering channels (e.g.,
FedLine for the Web) are unavailable, you
can also place orders by contacting your local Federal
Reserve office via telephone. Please see contact numbers
provided below.
If the Boston Reserve Bank becomes inaccessible for an extended period of time, your financial institution may be directed to place orders with other Federal Reserve offices. You may also be informed about restrictions on currency and coin orders and deposits, and may be directed to alternative pick-up and delivery points.
FRB Boston Cash Services Contact Numbers
Customer Service: | 617-973-3816 |
Currency and Coin Order Inquiries: | 617-973-3816 |
Fax Orders - Currency and Coin: | 617-973-3825 |
After-hours Emergency Bank Number: | 617-973-3602 |
District Relocation Facility: | 617-928-6470 |
The Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks have incorporated pandemic flu planning into our business continuity activities.
We recommend the following official web sites that provide general information about pandemic flu, and resources that can help your institution develop an appropriate plan for your business needs.
National
Business Continuity Guide
National
Cash Services Business Continuity
National
Check Services Business Continuity