Federal Funds? Definition and How Loans and Rates Work
Federal funds (often called “fed funds”) are overnight, unsecured loans of reserve balances that depository institutions hold at Federal Reserve Banks. Banks with surplus…
FUTA? Definition and How to Calculate FUTA Liability
Summary The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) requires employers — not employees — to pay a federal payroll tax that helps fund state unemployment…
Federal Housing Administration (FHA): Overview, History, FAQ
Key takeaways – The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a U.S. government agency that insures mortgages made by FHA-approved lenders, making it easier for…
Federal Direct Loan Program: Meaning, Types, Pros and Cons
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (often shortened to “Direct Loan” or “Federal Direct Loan”) is the U.S. Department of Education’s primary…
Federal Agency? Definition, Purposes, Bond Issues
A federal agency is a government-created organization with a focused public purpose—examples include managing resources, supervising industries, providing federally guaranteed credit, or carrying out…
Fed Balance Sheet: The Federal Reserve’s Assets and Liabilities
The Federal Reserve’s balance sheet is the central bank’s financial statement showing what it owns (assets) and what it owes (liabilities and capital). It’s…
Feasibility Study: What It Is, Benefits, and Examples
A feasibility study is a structured assessment of whether a proposed project, investment, or change is practical, viable, and likely to succeed. It evaluates…
How CNN’s Fear & Greed Index Guides Investor Sentiment and Decisions
Key takeaways – The Fear & Greed Index (developed by CNN Business) measures investor sentiment on a 0–100 scale: 0 = extreme fear, 100…
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC): Definition & Limits
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) is an independent U.S. federal agency that protects depositors if an FDIC‑insured bank or savings association fails.…
FDIC Insured Account Definition, Requirements, Pros/Cons
• An FDIC‑insured account is a deposit account at a bank that is protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) if the bank…