How the Fed Distributes Billions of Dollars in Cash

We all know that the Federal Reserve tries to stabilize the economy by raising or cutting interest rates to balance inflation and unemployment. But the central bank’s mandate actually goes beyond monetary policy. The Fed is also responsible for reviewing and distributing billions of dollars in cash to banks all over the US. In this episode, we go deep inside the vaults of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to see how physical money actually gets moved around. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee is our guide for the tour, and you’ll hear how the central bank gets its cash, how it checks it for authenticity and condition, and how it gets currency to where it needs to be. Read more: Fed’s Goolsbee Sees Uncertainty Driving Shallower Rate-Cut Path Odd Lots is going to Washington, DC! Get your tickets here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.