I think the Federal Reserve Banks are essentially government agencies. I know US courts have ruled that they are "private corporations". However, that's really

I think the Federal Reserve Banks are essentially government agencies. I know US courts have ruled that they are "private corporations". However, that's really a technical legal definition of "private" vs "government" under US law. In a broader, globally applicable sense of "government"-versus-"private": they were created by Congress, they have special legal powers granted to them by Congress. Although they have private "shareholders" – nationally chartered banks are required by law to join one of the Federal Reserve Banks, and state chartered banks are permitted to if they desire and meet certain conditions – these private shareholders don't have the kind of power that shareholders have in a genuine private corporation. Although they get to vote for seats on the board, they don't get to set strategic direction or make major decisions, those are dictated to them from above. A body created by the government which you are legally required to join isn't really "private" just because it gives you some rather limited say in its running. It is actually a bit like "corporatism" in fascist Italy – in which the government created "corporations" (a bit like trade associations) for each industry, which the employers in that industry legally had to join, and in which they could vote for its governing board, but in practice the government called the shots – except just for banks.