Reciprocal Currency Arrangement

Temporary arrangement between central banks to maintain a supply of a country's currency for trade with other central banks at a specified exchange rate. A reciprocal currency arrangement is only intended for overnight or short-term lending in order to maintain reserve requirements, liquidity and to keep financial markets functioning smoothly.

Also known as a swap line or swap network.

Reciprocal currency arrangements exist to provide short-term access to foreign currencies. In the U.S., for example, a reciprocal currency arrangement entails both a spot (immediate delivery) transaction, where the Federal Reserve transfers dollars to a central bank and receives foreign currency in exchange; and a concurrent forward (future delivery) transaction, where the two central banks consent to reversing the spot transaction at a specified date. One purpose of a reciprocal currency arrangement is the support of a country's currency during periods of uncertainty or unusual market disruptions.