12 CFR § 261.1 - Authority, purpose, and scope.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t12/s261.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "12 CFR § 261.1 - Authority, purpose, and scope."
title_number: 12
title_name: "Banks and Banking"
section_number: "261.1"
section_name: "Authority, purpose, and scope."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM"
part_number: "261"
part_name: "RULES REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552; 12 U.S.C. 248(i) and (k), 321  611  1442, 1467a, 1817(a)(2)(A), 1817(a)(8), 1818(u) and (v), 1821(o), 1821(t), 1830, 1844, 1951  2601, 2801  2901  3101  3401  15 U.S.C. 77uuu(b), 78q(c)(3); 29 U.S.C. 1204; 31 U.S.C. 5301  42 U.S.C. 3601; 44 U.S.C. 3510."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 57627, Sept. 15, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "261"
---


# 261.1 Authority, purpose, and scope.

(a) *Authority and purpose.* This part establishes mechanisms for carrying out the Board's statutory responsibilities relating to the disclosure, production, or withholding of information to facilitate the Board's interaction with financial institutions and the public. In this regard, the Board has determined that the Board or its delegees may disclose nonpublic information of the Board, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this part, whenever it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the exercise of any of the Board's authorities, including but not limited to authority granted to the Board in the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. 221 *et seq.,* the Bank Holding Company Act, 12 U.S.C. 1841 *et seq.,* the Home Owners' Loan Act, 12 U.S.C. 1461 *et seq.,* and the International Banking Act, 12 U.S.C. 3101 *et seq.* the Board has determined that all such disclosures made in accordance with the rules and procedures specified in this part are authorized by law, and are, as applicable, disclosures to proper persons pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 326. This part also sets forth the categories of information made available to the public, the procedures for obtaining information and records, the procedures for limited release of nonpublic information, and the procedures for protecting confidential business information.

(b) *Scope.* (1) This subpart A contains general provisions and definitions of terms used in this part.

(2) Subpart B implements the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552).

(3) Subpart C sets forth:

(i) The kinds of nonpublic information made available to supervised financial institutions, governmental agencies, and others in certain circumstances;

(ii) The procedures for disclosure; and

(iii) The procedures with respect to subpoenas, orders compelling production, and other process.