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{{Short description|Mechanism for central bank lending to eligible depository institutions}}
The '''discount window''' is an instrument of [[monetary policy]] (usually controlled by [[central bank]]s) that allows eligible institutions to borrow money from the central bank, usually on a short-term basis, to meet temporary shortages of [[liquidity]] caused by internal or external disruptions.

The [[interest rate]] charged on such loans by a central bank is called the '''[[bank rate]]''', '''discount rate''', '''policy rate''', '''base rate''', or '''[[Repurchase agreement|repo]] rate''', and is separate and distinct from the [[prime rate]]. It is also not the same thing as the [[federal funds rate]] or its equivalents in other currencies, which determine the rate at which banks lend money to ''each other''.  In recent years, the discount rate has been approximately a percentage point above the federal funds rate (see [[Lombard credit]]).  Because of this, it is a relatively unimportant factor in the control of the [[money supply]] and is only taken advantage of at large volume during emergencies.

==Etymology==
The term originated with the practice of sending a bank representative to a reserve bank teller window when a bank needed to borrow money.{{r|scaggs20230317}}

==In the United States==
{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2021}}

The Federal Reserve created the discount window to help banks avoid [[bank run]]s. Because the rate was below market, the Fed discouraged its use, causing a stigma against companies that did borrow from the window. In 2003 the Fed raised the rate to make using the window less appealing.{{r|scaggs20230317}}

In the United States, there are several different rates charged to institutions borrowing at the discount window. In 2006, these were the primary credit rate (the most common), the secondary credit rate (for banks that are less financially sound), and the seasonal credit rate. The Federal Reserve does not publish information regarding institutions' eligibility for primary or secondary credit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frbdiscountwindow.org/faqs.cfm?hdrID=14&dtlID=75#ps10 |title=Federal Reserve Q&A #10 |publisher=Frbdiscountwindow.org |access-date=2013-08-24}}</ref> Primary and secondary credit is normally offered on a secured overnight basis, while seasonal credit is extended up to nine months. The primary credit is normally set 100 [[basis points]] (bp) above the federal funds target and the secondary credit rate is set 50 bp above the primary rate. The seasonal credit rate is set from an averaging of the effective [[federal funds rate]] and 90-day [[certificate of deposit]] rates.

Institutions must provide acceptable [[collateral (finance)|collateral]] to secure the loan. Such includes [[Treasury securities]], [[municipal bond]]s, and [[mortgage loan]]s.{{r|scaggs20230317}}

=== Use after September 11, 2001 ===
After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|11 September 2001 attacks]], as the volume of borrowing requests increased dramatically, lending to banks through the discount window totaled about $46 billion, more than 200 times the daily average for the previous month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2003/20030205/default.htm|title=September 11, the Federal Reserve, and the Financial System|last=W. Ferguson Jr.|first=Roger|date=February 5, 2003|publisher=The Federal Reserve Board|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> The flood of funds released into the banking system reduced the need for banks to rely on immediate payments from other banks so they could pay what they owed others. That kept liquidity in the banking system despite interruptions of communications and cash flow between banks.

=== Alterations during 2007–2009 credit crunch ===
On August 17, 2007, the [[Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve]] announced<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Federal Reserve | title = FOMC Statement | url = http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/monetary/20070817a.htm | date = 2007-08-17 | access-date = 2008-09-19}}</ref> a temporary change to primary credit lending terms. The discount rate was cut by 50 bp—to 5.75% from 6.25%—and the term of loans was extended from overnight to up to thirty days. That reduced the spread of the primary credit rate over the federal funds rate from 100 basis points to 50 basis points.

On March 16, 2008, concurrent with measures to rescue [[Bear Stearns]] from insolvency and to stem further institutional [[bank run]]s, the Federal Reserve announced<ref>{{cite press release | publisher=Federal Reserve | url = http://federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/monetary/20080316a.htm | title =Federal Reserve announces two initiatives designed to bolster market liquidity and promote orderly market functioning | date=2008-03-16 | access-date=2008-03-17}}</ref> significant and temporary changes to primary credit lending terms. The maximum term of loans was extended from thirty days to ninety days. Less than a year before, the term had been only overnight. The primary credit rate was also reduced to 3.25% from 3.50%, which cut the spread of the primary credit rate over the federal funds rate to 25 basis points from 50 basis points.

<div style="text-align:center;">
{| class="wikitable"
|+Recent changes to rates
|-
!Date
!Discount rate (change)
!Federal funds target rate/range (change)
|-
!Jan - July, 2007
|6.25% 
|5.25% 
|-
!August 17, 2007
|5.75% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|5.25% (no change)
|-
!September 18, 2007
|5.25% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|4.75% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|-
!October 31, 2007
|5.00% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|4.50% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|-
!December 11, 2007
|4.75% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|4.25% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|-
!January 22, 2008
|4.00% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|3.50% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|-
!January 30, 2008
|3.50% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|3.00% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|-
!March 16, 2008
|3.25% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|3.00% (no change)
|-
!March 18, 2008
|2.50% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|2.25% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|-
!April 30, 2008
|2.25% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|2.00% (−25&nbsp;bp)
|-
!October 8, 2008
|1.75% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|1.50% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|-
!October 29, 2008
|1.25% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|1.00% (−50&nbsp;bp)
|-
!December 16, 2008
|0.50% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|0–0.25% (−75&nbsp;bp)
|-
!January 16, 2009
|0.50% (no change)
|0-0.25% (no change)
|-
!February 18, 2010
|0.75% (+25bp)
|0−0.25% (no change)
|}
</div>

The ''Wall Street Journal'' reported in November 2019 that banks were "desperate to avoid the stigma attached to accessing the window" and were "hoarding cash at levels well above what regulators require".<ref>{{cite news|page=B1 |title=Banks Shun Fed Discount Window to Avoid Stigma |author=David Benoit |date=November 22, 2019}}</ref>

===March 2023 United States bank failures===
During the [[March 2023 United States bank failures]], banks drew $153 billion from the discount window {{asof|2023|03|15|lc=y}}, a new record. It was much more popular than the new [[Bank Term Funding Program]], which distributed $12 billion.<ref name="scaggs20230317">{{Cite news |last=Scaggs |first=Alexandra |date=2023-03-17 |title=Banking goes back to the 1920s |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/598759cb-0777-4f12-840e-a873b1310f23 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref>

== In the Eurozone ==
[[File:ECB deposit facility.svg|thumb|300px|Usage of the deposit facility of the European Central Bank]]

In the [[Eurozone]], the facility nearest to the discount window is called '''Standing Facilities'''. These are used to manage overnight liquidity. Qualifying counter-parties can use the [[European Central Bank|ECB]]'s Standing Facilities to increase the amount of cash they have available for overnight settlements using the '''Marginal Lending Facility'''. Conversely, excess funds can be deposited within the [[European Central Bank]] System (ECBS) using the '''Deposit Facility'''.{{Cn|date=August 2021}}

Counter-parties must have [[Collateral (finance)|collateral]] for the funds they receive from the Marginal Lending Facility and will be charged the [[overnight rate]] set by the ECBS. Excess capital can be deposited with the Deposit Facility and it will earn (or pay) interest at the rate offered by the ECBS. The rates for these two facilities signal the central bank system's outlook for commercial interest rates and set respectively ECB's upper and lower limit for interest rates in the overnight market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fxpedia.com/European_Central_Bank|title=European Central Bank|publisher=FXPedia.com|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2015}}

==See also==
*[[Bank rate]]
*[[Discount policy]]
*[[Overnight indexed swap|LIBOR-OIS spread]]
*[[Primary Dealer Credit Facility]]
*[[TED spread]]
*[[ZIRP]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/discountrate.htm Definition of the "Discount Rate" from the Federal Reserve Board's official site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140705010416/http://www.frbdiscountwindow.org/index.cfm Official Discount Window website from the Federal Reserve System]
*[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704530204576235213193119194?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection Fed Kept Taps Open for Banks in Crisis]
*[https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/subject/4141 Historical documents that discuss the use, effect, or possible changes to the mechanics of the discount window.]

{{Central banks}}
{{Federal Reserve System}}

[[Category:Operations of central banks]]
[[Category:Federal Reserve System]]