12 CFR § 261.3 - Custodian of records; certification; service; alternative authority.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t12/s261.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "12 CFR § 261.3 - Custodian of records; certification; service; alternative authority."
title_number: 12
title_name: "Banks and Banking"
section_number: "261.3"
section_name: "Custodian of records; certification; service; alternative authority."
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"
---


# 261.3 Custodian of records; certification; service; alternative authority.

(a) *Custodian of records.* The Secretary of the Board (Secretary) is the official custodian of all records of the Board.

(b) *Certification of record.* The Secretary may certify the authenticity of any Board record, or any copy of such record, for any purpose, and for or before any duly constituted Federal or State court, tribunal, or agency.

(c) *Service of subpoenas or other process.* Subpoenas or other judicial or administrative process demanding access to any Board records or making any claim against the Board or against Board members or staff in their official capacity shall be addressed to and served upon the Secretary of the Board at the Board's office at 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551. The Board does not accept service of process on behalf of any employee in respect of purely private legal disputes.

(d) *Alternative authority.* Any action or determination required or permitted by this part to be done by the Board, the Secretary, the General Counsel, the Director of any Division, or any Reserve Bank, may be done by any employee who has been duly authorized or designated for this purpose by the Board, the Secretary, the General Counsel, the appropriate Director, or the appropriate Reserve Bank, respectively.