12 U.S.C. § 1831a - Activities of insured State banks

• Cite as: 12 U.S.C. § 1831a

(a) Permissible activities

(1) In general

After the end of the 1-year period beginning on December 19, 1991, an insured State bank may not engage as principal in any type of activity that is not permissible for a national bank unless-

(A) the Corporation has determined that the activity would pose no significant risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund; and

(B) the State bank is, and continues to be, in compliance with applicable capital standards prescribed by the appropriate Federal banking agency.

(2) Processing period

(A) In general

The Corporation shall make a determination under paragraph (1)(A) not later than 60 days after receipt of a completed application that may be required under this subsection.

(B) Extension of time period

The Corporation may extend the 60-day period referred to in subparagraph (A) for not more than 30 additional days, and shall notify the applicant of any such extension.

(b) Insurance underwriting

(1) In general

Notwithstanding subsection (a), an insured State bank may not engage in insurance underwriting except to the extent that activity is permissible for national banks.

(2) Exception for certain federally reinsured crop insurance

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an insured State bank or any of its subsidiaries that provided insurance on or before September 30, 1991, which was reinsured in whole or in part by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation may continue to provide such insurance.

(c) Equity investments by insured State banks

(1) In general

An insured State bank may not, directly or indirectly, acquire or retain any equity investment of a type that is not permissible for a national bank.

(2) Exception for certain subsidiaries

Paragraph (1) shall not prohibit an insured State bank from acquiring or retaining an equity investment in a subsidiary of which the insured State bank is a majority owner.

(3) Exception for qualified housing projects

(A) Exception

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, an insured State bank may invest as a limited partner in a partnership, the sole purpose of which is direct or indirect investment in the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of a qualified housing project.

(B) Limitation

The aggregate of the investments of any insured State bank pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed 2 percent of the total assets of the bank.

(C) Qualified housing project defined

As used in this paragraph-

(i) Qualified housing project

The term "qualified housing project" means residential real estate that is intended to primarily benefit lower income people throughout the period of the investment.

(ii) Lower income

The term "lower income" means income that is less than or equal to the median income based on statistics from State or Federal sources.

(4) Transition rule

(A) In general

The Corporation shall require any insured State bank to divest any equity investment the retention of which is not permissible under this subsection as quickly as can be prudently done, and in any event before the end of the 5-year period beginning on December 19, 1991.

(B) Treatment of noncompliance during divestment

With respect to any equity investment held by any insured State bank on December 19, 1991, which was lawfully acquired before December 19, 1991, the bank shall be deemed not to be in violation of the prohibition in this subsection on retaining such investment so long as the bank complies with the applicable requirements established by the Corporation for divesting such investments.

(d) Subsidiaries of insured State banks

(1) In general

After the end of the 1-year period beginning on December 19, 1991, a subsidiary of an insured State bank may not engage as principal in any type of activity that is not permissible for a subsidiary of a national bank unless-

(A) the Corporation has determined that the activity poses no significant risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund; and