This was my husband's conversation with the nice lady in the Educational Branch of the St Louis Federal Reserve Bank: We didn't record, but I was taking notes during the conversation and we filled in what I didn't get down right afterwards...
SH: I was wondering, “Has the FED recently loaned any money to the Europeans in connection with the financial crisis with the Euro?”
FED: I’m sorry, I don’t know why they gave you my #, that’s a decision made by the Board of Governors in DC.. that would have been something they would have to do...
SH: is there anywhere on the website that I can go to follow this information
FED: it would be on the board’s website...if they did anything like that
federalreserve.gov (You should be able to) find anthing that we have done in regards to that situation
SH: I was there and I guess, well, everyone talks about the 16.1 T they loaned out in 2007-2010 period when their balance sheet went from 800 billion to over 2 trillion..... I looked at their website and total assets are now 2.8 trillion... Shouldn’t those loans (16.1T) show up on their balance sheet?
FED: I don’t know
SH: If they loaned out money now, wouldn’t it show up on the balance sheet?
FED: For that specific information you need to go the Board of Governors
SH: Are you familiar with the Federal Reserve’s website?
FED: Yes
SH: Right now the website shows a balance of 2.8 T... am I reading that correctly?
FED: OK
SH: Could they create, for example, $16 trillion and it not show up on their balance sheet?
FED: (in polite exasperation) Sir, I cannot answer that question... you’ll have to call the Board of Governors
SH: Oh, I’m sorry. So, what was their # ?
FED: 202-452-3000
SH: Thank you!