Skip to main content
OCC Flag

An official website of the United States government

News Release 2011-104 | August 5, 2011

Agencies Issue Guidance on Federal Debt

Joint Release

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Earlier today, Standard & Poor's rating agency lowered the long-term rating of the U.S. government and federal agencies from AAA to AA+. With regard to this action, the federal banking agencies are providing the following guidance to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and bank and savings and loan holding companies (collectively, banking organizations).

For risk-based capital purposes, the risk weights for Treasury securities and other securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, government agencies, and government-sponsored entities will not change. The treatment of Treasury securities and other securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, government agencies, and government-sponsored entities under other federal banking agency regulations, including, for example, the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation W, will also be unaffected.

Media Contacts:

Federal ReserveBarbara Hagenbaugh(202) 452-2955
FDICDavid Barr(202) 898-6992
NCUADavid Small(703) 518-6336
OCCBryan Hubbard(202) 874-5307