§ 1831e. Activities of savings associations

(a) In general

On and after January 1, 1990, a savings association chartered under State law may not engage as principal in any type of activity, or in any activity in an amount, that is not permissible for a Federal savings association unless—

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

(2) the savings association is and continues to be in compliance with the fully phased-in capital standards prescribed under section 1464 (t) of this title.

(b) Differences of magnitude between State and Federal powers

Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1) of this section, if an activity (other than an activity described in section 1464 (c)(2)(B) of this title) is permissible for a Federal savings association, a savings association chartered under State law may engage as principal in that activity in an amount greater than the amount permissible for a Federal savings association if—

(1) the Corporation has not determined that engaging in that amount of the activity poses any significant risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund; and

(2) the savings association chartered under State law is and continues to be in compliance with the fully phased-in capital standards prescribed under section 1464 (t) of this title.

(1) In general

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a savings association chartered under State law may not directly acquire or retain any equity investment of a type or in an amount that is not permissible for a Federal savings association.

(2) Exception for service corporations

Paragraph (1) does not prohibit a savings association from acquiring or retaining shares of one or more service corporations if—

(A) the Corporation has determined that no significant risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund is posed by—

(i) the amount that the association proposes to acquire or retain; or

(ii) the activities in which the service corporation engages; and

(B) the savings association is and continues to be in compliance with the fully phased-in capital standards prescribed under section 1464 (t) of this title.

(3) Transition rule

(A) In general

The Corporation shall require any savings association to divest any equity investment the retention of which is not permissible under paragraph (1) or (2) as quickly as can be prudently done, and in any event not later than July 1, 1994.

(B) Treatment of noncompliance during divestment

With respect to any equity investment held by any savings association on May 1, 1989, the savings association shall be deemed not to be in violation of the prohibition in paragraph (1) or (2) on retaining such investment so long as the savings association complies with any applicable requirement established by the Corporation pursuant to subparagraph (A) for divesting such investments.

(d) Corporate debt securities not of investment grade

(1) In general

No savings association may, directly or through a subsidiary, acquire or retain any corporate debt security not of investment grade.

(2) Exception for securities held by qualified affiliate

Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to any corporate debt security not of investment grade which is acquired and retained by any qualified affiliate of a savings association.

(3) Transition rule

(A) In general

The Corporation shall require any savings association or any subsidiary of any savings association to divest any corporate debt security not of investment grade the retention of which is not permissible under paragraph (1) as quickly as can be prudently done, and in any event not later than July 1, 1994.

(B) Treatment of noncompliance during divestment

With respect to any corporate debt security not of investment grade held by any savings association or subsidiary on August 9, 1989, the savings association or subsidiary shall be deemed not to be in violation of the prohibition in paragraph (1) on retaining such investment so long as the association or subsidiary complies with any applicable requirement established by the Corporation pursuant to subparagraph (A) for divesting such securities.

(4) Definitions

For purposes of this section—

(A) Investment grade

Any corporate debt security is not of “investment grade” unless that security, when acquired by the savings association or subsidiary, was rated in one of the 4 highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

(B) Qualified affiliate

The term “qualified affiliate” means—

(i) in the case of a stock savings association, an affiliate other than a subsidiary or an insured depository institution; and

(ii) in the case of a mutual savings association, a subsidiary other than an insured depository institution, so long as all of the savings association’s investments in and extensions of credit to the subsidiary are deducted from the savings association’s capital.

The term “corporate debt security not of investment grade” does not include any obligation issued or guaranteed by a corporation that may be held by a Federal savings association without limitation as to percentage of assets under subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) of section 1464 (c)(1) of this title.

(e) Transfer of corporate debt security not of investment grade in exchange for a qualified note

(1) Acquisition of note

Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 1464 ^[1] of this title and any other provision of Federal or State law governing extensions of credit by savings associations, any insured savings association, and any subsidiary of any insured savings association, that, on August 9, 1989, holds any corporate debt security not of investment grade may acquire a qualified note in exchange for the transfer of such security to—

(A) any holding company which controls 80 percent or more of the shares of such insured savings association; or

(B) any company other than an insured savings association, or any subsidiary of any insured savings association, 80 percent or more of the shares of which are controlled by such holding company,

if the conditions of paragraph (2) are met.

(2) Conditions for exchange of security for qualified note

The conditions of this paragraph are met if—

(A) the insured savings association was in compliance with applicable capital requirements on December 31, 1988, and the insured savings association after such date—

(i) remains in compliance with applicable capital requirements; or

(ii) adopts and complies with a capital plan acceptable to the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision;

(B) the company to which the corporate debt security not of investment grade is transferred is not a bank holding company, an insured savings association, or a direct or indirect subsidiary of such holding company or insured savings association;

(C) before the end of the 90-day period beginning on August 9, 1989, the insured savings association notifies the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision of such association’s intention to transfer the corporate debt security not of investment grade to the savings and loan holding company or the subsidiary of such holding company;

(D) the transfer of the corporate debt security not of investment grade is completed—

(i) before the end of the 1-year period beginning on August 9, 1989, in the case of an insured savings association that, as of August 9, 1989, is controlled by a savings and loan holding company; or

(ii) before the end of the 2-year period beginning on August 9, 1989, in the case of a savings association that is not, as of August 9, 1989, a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company;

(E) the insured savings association receives in exchange for the corporate debt security not of investment grade the fair market value of such security;

(F) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision has—

(i) approved the transaction; and

(ii) determined that the transfer represents a complete and effective divestiture of the corporate debt security not of investment grade and is in compliance with the provisions of this subsection; and

(G) any gain on the sale of the corporate debt security not of investment grade is recognized, and included for applicable regulatory capital requirements, by the insured savings association only at such time and to the extent that the insured savings association receives payment of principal on the note in cash in excess of the fair market value of the transferred corporate debt security not of investment grade as carried on the accounts of the insured savings association immediately prior to the transfer.

(3) “Qualified note” defined

The term “qualified note” means any note that—

(A) is at all times fully secured by the corporate debt security not of investment grade transferred in exchange for the note, or by other collateral of at least equivalent value that is acceptable to the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision;

(B) contains provisions acceptable to the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision that would—

(i) prevent any action to encumber or impair the value of the collateral referred to in subparagraph (A); and

(ii) allow the sale of the corporate debt security not of investment grade if the proceeds of the sale are reinvested in assets of equivalent value;

(C) is on market terms, including interest rate, which must in all cases be above the insured savings association’s borrowing rate for similar term funds;

(D) is fully repayable over a period of time not to exceed 5 years from the date of transfer;

(E) is repaid with annual principal payments at least as large as would be necessary to repay the note within 5 years if it were on a level payment amortization schedule and the interest rate for the first year of repayment were fixed throughout the amortization period;

(F) is fully guaranteed by each holding company of the insured savings association that acquires such note; and

(G) is repaid in full in cash in accordance with its terms and this subsection.

(4) Failure to repay on schedule

The exemption provided by this subsection from subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 1468 of this title and any other applicable provision of Federal or State law shall terminate immediately if the insured savings association or any affiliate of such association fails to comply with the terms of the qualified note or this subsection.

(f) Determinations

The Corporation shall make determinations under this section by regulation or order.

(g) “Activity” defined

For purposes of subsections (a) and (b) of this section—

(1) In general

The term “activity” includes acquiring or retaining any investment.

(2) Divestiture of certain assets

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not be construed to require a savings association to divest itself of any assets acquired before August 9, 1989.

(h) Other authority not affected

This section may not be construed as limiting—

(1) any other authority of the Corporation; or

(2) any authority of the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision or of a State to impose more stringent restrictions.

[1] So in original. Probably should be section “1468”.

U.S. Code

§ 1831e. Activities of savings associations