The Federal Reserve Bank attempts to fulfill its macroeconomic objectives, in part, by using three methods to influence the level of member bank reserves:

1. Lending at the Fed Discount Window
   • Least Effective
   • Least used (until now)
2. Operations of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)
   • Second Most Effective
   • Most used
3. Establishment of Required Reserve Ratios
   • Most Effective
   • Least used