FedLine Solutions

The Federal Reserve offers multiple products for credit unions to choose from to gain direct access to the Federal Reserve’s Financial Services information and critical payment services. These products are generally referred to as the Federal Reserve’s FedLine Solutions.

Credit unions commonly use products offered by the Federal Reserve for servicing their EPS products for ACH, checks and wires. If the credit union uses the Federal Reserve solutions for any of its EPS processing, the examiner should complete the Payment Systems FRB questionnaire. Also, the credit union should an internal audit program relative to its use of FedLine products.

Product Description
FedLine Direct
  • Unattended IP-based access solution
  • Fedwire Funds, Fedwire Securities, and FedACH Services
  • High volume of transactions
  • Highly secure computer-to-computer interface
FedLine Command
  • Unattended IP-based access solution
  • FedACH Services
  • Business-to-business interface
  • Leverages closed user-group technology
FedLine Advantage
  • Internet protocol technology with layered security to control access
  • Fedwire Funds, Fedwire Securities, FedACH Services, and National Settlement Services
  • Many options for technical customization and integration
  • Internet-based access to critical payment services

FedLine Advantage is an electronic delivery system by which credit unions access the Federal Reserve to provide settlement services, cash services, and a means to transfer funds and securities between institutions. Many larger natural-person credit unions access FedLine Advantage directly to conduct their own transactions.
FedLine Web
  • Internet-based access to information services
  • FedACH Information Services, FedCash® Services, and Accounting and Billing information
  • Ability to perform limited transactional services (cash ordering, FedACH Returns and NOCs, Check 21 Services)
FedMail
  • An electronic messaging system used to transmit information via fax or email from the Federal Reserve Banks to financial institutions and other subscribing organizations
  • Offers same-day delivery of statements and advices from a number of financial service areas as an alternative to paper-based delivery

The Federal Reserve provides guidance to accessing its financial services in a number of ways:

  • OC5 - Includes the terms for accessing services and applications and for sending and receiving certain data from a Federal Reserve Bank by means of an electronic connection
  • CPS - Describes the policies and practices of the Federal Reserve Banks’ public key infrastructure with respect to issuing, managing, and using digital certificates and sets forth the obligations of certificate users
  • PPS - Describes the policies and practices with respect to Federal Reserve Bank-issued passwords used to access Federal Reserve Bank business applications

This guidance outlines the provisions by which participants (a depository institution or other authorized entity subject to the provisions set forth by the FRB) and subscribers (an authorized user of FedLine Solutions) must abide. Specifically, participants must:

  • Identify the names and contact information for at least two security contacts (generally known as EEUACs)
  • Complete the necessary subscriber information to request passwords for the subscriber,
  • Be solely responsible for distributing the PPS to its subscribers, and
  • Be solely responsible for ensuring subscribers comply with all of the provisions of the PPS.

Last updated November 12, 2020