The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Federal Reserve Board announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to improve co-operation and co-ordination between the agencies.

Under the MOU, the SEC and the Fed would share information and co-operate across a number of areas, including anti-money laundering, bank brokerage activities, clearance and settlement in the banking and securities industries, and the regulation of transfer agents. The MOU specifically covers bank holding companies and consolidated financial institutions that own securities firms.

The MOU will improve the ability of the SEC to perform its role as primary supervisor of consolidated supervised entities and primary dealers, and improve the ability of the Federal Reserve to perform its role in overseeing the stability of the financial system,” they said, adding, “The importance of this deepened co-operation is highlighted by the recent stress in the financial markets affecting commercial and investment banks, as well as many other market participants.”

The two agencies said that the agreement formalizes long-standing co-operative arrangements between them, as well as the more recent co-operation on matters including banking and investment banking capital and liquidity following the Fed’s emergency opening of credit facilities to primary dealers.

“This agreement represents a valuable coordination of the roles of the SEC and the Fed in our capital markets,” said SEC chairman Christopher Cox. “Years ago, when the dividing lines between commercial and investment banking were bright, the high level of coordination we are establishing today was not a priority for the U.S. government. But today, the interconnectedness of mortgage and lending markets, credit derivatives, securitizations, and counterparty relationships requires the U.S. government to adopt a more coherent and coordinated approach.”

The SEC recently entered into a similar MOU with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “Just as with our similar arrangement with the CFTC, this agreement will permit the expanded sharing of information on a confidential basis, and help ensure that regulated entities receive a coherent message from Uncle Sam,” Cox added.

An agreement between the SEC and the Department of Labor is anticipated later this summer.