The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not an agency as defined by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and is therefore not subject to the provisions of FOIA. However, the New York Fed is committed to complying with the spirit of FOIA.
Any Freedom of Information request should be submitted in writing to the Freedom of Information Office of the New York Fed.
Each request must contain the following:
- The requester's contact information, including a phone number;
- A detailed description of the records requested, including relevant dates;
- The name of any pending litigation to which the request relates and the court and its location; and
- The agreement to pay any fees related to the request, or a request for a waiver of such fees (see below).
Requests can be submitted by mail:
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
Or by email:
The New York Fed may decline to make certain information available under 11 different exemptions defined below.
- Exemption 1: Records specifically authorized by an Executive Order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy;
- Exemption 2: Records related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the New York Fed;
- Exemption 3: Records specifically exempted from disclosure by statute or regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
- Exemption 4: Records containing trade secrets and privileged or confidential commercial or financial information obtained from a person or organization;
- Exemption 5: Inter- department or intra- department memoranda, notes or letters consisting of analysis, minutes, opinions or recommendations and including those records that are privileged and confidential attorney work product, attorney-client communications, pre-decisional, or otherwise privileged and confidential;
- Exemption 6: Personnel and medical files and similar files or information the disclosure of which could constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
- Exemption 7: Records that are related to the security procedures of the New York Fed or are investigatory records compiled for law enforcement or security purposes;
- Exemption 8: Records contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports related to the regulation or supervision of financial institutions (to the extent such records are deemed to be records of the New York Fed);
- Exemption 9: Records related to specific extensions of credit made by the New York Fed;
- Exemption 10: Records contained in statements of account or which reflect entries made to any account maintained at the New York Fed; and
- Exemption 11: Records containing data, formulas or other information used by the New York Fed in determining the prices to be charged for Federal Reserve services.
The New York Fed may decline to make information available if disclosure would materially interfere with the New York Fed's performance of its responsibilities as mandated by statute or regulation.
A Freedom of Information request should include an agreement to pay any fees related to the request according to the below schedule.
Duplication:
- Photocopy, per standard page: $0.10
- Paper copies of microfiche, per frame: $0.10
- Duplicate microfiche, per microfiche: $0.30
Search and Review:
- Clerical/Technical, hourly rate: $17.00
- Professional/Supervisory, hourly rate: $32.00
- Manager/Senior Professional, hourly rate: $53.00
Computer Search and Production:
- Operator search time, hourly rate: $25.00
- Compact disc: $5.00
- PC or mainframe computer output: Actual Cost
The New York Fed may grant a fee waiver if it determines that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it contributes significantly to the public understanding of the operations or activities of the New York Fed, and the disclosure is not in the commercial interest of the requester.
Each request for a fee waiver must contain the following:
- A clear statement of the requester's interest in the request document and the basis for the requester's claim that a waiver of the fee is appropriate;
- The use proposed for the document(s) and whether the requester will derive a benefit, monetary or otherwise, from such use;
- A statement of how the public will benefit from the information; and
- If specialized use of the information is requested is contemplated, a statement of the requester's relevant qualifications which would justify specialized use.
For more information, see the New York Fed's Freedom of Information Policy.
