12 C.F.R. PART 32—LENDING LIMITS
Title 12 - Banks and Banking
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1 et seq., 84, and 93a.
Source: 60 FR 8532, Feb. 15, 1995, unless otherwise noted.
(a) Authority. This part is issued pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1 et seq., 12 U.S.C. 84, and 12 U.S.C. 93a. (b) Purpose. The purpose of this part is to protect the safety and soundness of national banks by preventing excessive loans to one person, or to related persons that are financially dependent, and to promote diversification of loans and equitable access to banking services. (c) Scope. (1) This part applies to all loans and extensions of credit made by national banks and their domestic operating subsidiaries. This part does not apply to loans made by a national bank and its domestic operating subsidiaries to the bank's “affiliates,” as that term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 371c(b)(1), to the bank's operating subsidiaries, or to Edge Act or Agreement Corporation subsidiaries. (2) The lending limits in this part are separate and independent from the investment limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 24 (Seventh), and a national bank may make loans or extensions of credit to one borrower up to the full amount permitted by this part and also hold eligible securities of the same obligor up to the full amount permitted under 12 U.S.C. 24 (Seventh) and 12 CFR part 1. (3) Extensions of credit to executive officers, directors and principal shareholders of national banks, and their related interests are subject to limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 375a and 375b in addition to the lending limits established by 12 U.S.C. 84 and this part. (4) In addition to the foregoing, loans and extensions of credit made by national banks and their domestic operating subsidiaries must be consistent with safe and sound banking practices. (a) Borrower means a person who is named as a borrower or debtor in a loan or extension of credit, or any other person, including a drawer, endorser, or guarantor, who is deemed to be a borrower under the “direct benefit” or the “common enterprise” tests set forth in §32.5. (b) Capital and surplus means— (1) A bank's Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital calculated under the OCC's risk-based capital standards set forth in Appendix A to 12 CFR part 3 as reported in the bank's Consolidated Report of Condition and Income filed under 12 U.S.C. 161; plus (2) The balance of a bank's allowance for loan and lease losses not included in the bank's Tier 2 capital, for purposes of the calculation of risk-based capital described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, as reported in the bank's Call Report filed under 12 U.S.C. 161. (c) Close of business means the time at which a bank closes its accounting records for the business day. (d) Consumer means the user of any products, commodities, goods, or services, whether leased or purchased, but does not include any person who purchases products or commodities for resale or fabrication into goods for sale. (e) Consumer paper means paper relating to automobiles, mobile homes, residences, office equipment, household items, tuition fees, insurance premium fees, and similar consumer items. Consumer paper also includes paper covering the lease (where the bank is not the owner or lessor) or purchase of equipment for use in manufacturing, farming, construction, or excavation. (f) Contractual commitment to advance funds. (1) The term includes a bank's obligation to— (i) Make payment (directly or indirectly) to a third person contingent upon default by a customer of the bank in performing an obligation and to make such payment in keeping with the agreed upon terms of the customer's contract with the third person, or to make payments upon some other stated condition; (ii) Guarantee or act as surety for the benefit of a person; (iii) Advance funds under a qualifying commitment to lend, as defined in paragraph (m) of this section, and (iv) Advance funds under a standby letter of credit as defined in paragraph (s) of this section, a put, or other similar arrangement. (2) The term does not include commercial letters of credit and similar instruments where the issuing bank expects the beneficiary to draw on the issuer, that do not guarantee payment, and that do not provide for payment in the event of a default by a third party. (g) Control is presumed to exist when a person directly or indirectly, or acting through or together with one or more persons— (1) Owns, controls, or has the power to vote 25 percent or more of any class of voting securities of another person; (2) Controls, in any manner, the election of a majority of the directors, trustees, or other persons exercising similar functions of another person; or (3) Has the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of another person. (h) Current market value means the bid or closing price listed for an item in a regularly published listing or an electronic reporting service. (i) Eligible bank means a national bank that: (1) Is well capitalized as defined in 12 CFR 6.4(b)(1); and (2) Has a composite rating of 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System in connection with the bank's most recent examination or subsequent review, with at least a rating of 2 for asset quality and for management. (j) Financial instrument means stocks, notes, bonds, and debentures traded on a national securities exchange, OTC margin stocks as defined in Regulation U, 12 CFR part 221, commercial paper, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, and shares in money market and mutual funds of the type that issue shares in which banks may perfect a security interest. Financial instruments may be denominated in foreign currencies that are freely convertible to U.S. dollars. The term “financial instrument” does not include mortgages. (k) Loans and extensions of credit means a bank's direct or indirect advance of funds to or on behalf of a borrower based on an obligation of the borrower to repay the funds or repayable from specific property pledged by or on behalf of the borrower. (1) Loans or extensions of credit for purposes of 12 U.S.C. 84 and this part include— (i) A contractual commitment to advance funds, as defined in paragraph (f) of this section; (ii) A maker or endorser's obligation arising from a bank's discount of commercial paper; (iii) A bank's purchase of securities subject to an agreement that the seller will repurchase the securities at the end of a stated period, but not including a bank's purchase of Type I securities, as defined in part 1 of this chapter, subject to a repurchase agreement, where the purchasing bank has assured control over or has established its rights to the Type I securities as collateral; (iv) A bank's purchase of third-party paper subject to an agreement that the seller will repurchase the paper upon default or at the end of a stated period. The amount of the bank's loan is the total unpaid balance of the paper owned by the bank less any applicable dealer reserves retained by the bank and held by the bank as collateral security. Where the seller's obligation to repurchase is limited, the bank's loan is measured by the total amount of the paper the seller may ultimately be obligated to repurchase. A bank's purchase of third party paper without direct or indirect recourse to the seller is not a loan or extension of credit to the seller; (v) An overdraft, whether or not prearranged, but not an intra-day overdraft for which payment is received before the close of business of the bank that makes the funds available; (vi) The sale of Federal funds with a maturity of more than one business day, but not Federal funds with a maturity of one day or less or Federal funds sold under a continuing contract; and (vii) Loans or extensions of credit that have been charged off on the books of the bank in whole or in part, unless the loan or extension of credit— (A) Is unenforceable by reason of discharge in bankruptcy; (B) Is no longer legally enforceable because of expiration of the statute of limitations or a judicial decision; or (C) Is no longer legally enforceable for other reasons, provided that the bank maintains sufficient records to demonstrate that the loan is unenforceable. (2) The following items do not constitute loans or extensions of credit for purposes of 12 U.S.C. 84 and this part— (i) Additional funds advanced for the benefit of a borrower by a bank for payment of taxes, insurance, utilities, security, and maintenance and operating expenses necessary to preserve the value of real property securing the loan, consistent with safe and sound banking practices, but only if the advance is for the protection of the bank's interest in the collateral, and provided that such amounts must be treated as an extension of credit if a new loan or extension of credit is made to the borrower; (ii) Accrued and discounted interest on an existing loan or extension of credit, including interest that has been capitalized from prior notes and interest that has been advanced under terms and conditions of a loan agreement; (iii) Financed sales of a bank's own assets, including Other Real Estate Owned, if the financing does not put the bank in a worse position than when the bank held title to the assets; (iv) A renewal or restructuring of a loan as a new “loan or extension of credit,” following the exercise by a bank of reasonable efforts, consistent with safe and sound banking practices, to bring the loan into conformance with the lending limit, unless new funds are advanced by the bank to the borrower (except as permitted by §32.3(b)(5)), or a new borrower replaces the original borrower, or unless the OCC determines that a renewal or restructuring was undertaken as a means to evade the bank's lending limit; (v) Amounts paid against uncollected funds in the normal process of collection; and (vi)(A) That portion of a loan or extension of credit sold as a participation by a bank on a nonrecourse basis, provided that the participation results in a pro rata sharing of credit risk proportionate to the respective interests of the originating and participating lenders. Where a participation agreement provides that repayment must be applied first to the portions sold, a pro rata sharing will be deemed to exist only if the agreement also provides that, in the event of a default or comparable event defined in the agreement, participants must share in all subsequent repayments and collections in proportion to their percentage participation at the time of the occurrence of the event. (B) When an originating bank funds the entire loan, it must receive funding from the participants before the close of business of its next business day. If the participating portions are not received within that period, then the portions funded will be treated as a loan by the originating bank to the borrower. If the portions so attributed to the borrower exceed the originating bank's lending limit, the loan may be treated as nonconforming subject to §32.6, rather than a violation, if: (1) The originating bank had a valid and unconditional participation agreement with a participating bank or banks that was sufficient to reduce the loan to within the originating bank's lending limit; (2) The participating bank reconfirmed its participation and the originating bank had no knowledge of any information that would permit the participant to withhold its participation; and (3) The participation was to be funded by close of business of the originating bank's next business day. (l) Person means an individual; sole proprietorship; partnership; joint venture; association; trust; estate; business trust; corporation; limited liability company; not-for-profit corporation; sovereign government or agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof; or any similar entity or organization. (m) Qualifying commitment to lend means a legally binding written commitment to lend that, when combined with all other outstanding loans and qualifying commitments to a borrower, was within the bank's lending limit when entered into, and has not been disqualified. (1) In determining whether a commitment is within the bank's lending limit when made, the bank may deduct from the amount of the commitment the amount of any legally binding loan participation commitments that are issued concurrent with the bank's commitment and that would be excluded from the definition of “loan or extension of credit” under paragraph (k)(2)(vi) of this section. (2) If the bank subsequently chooses to make an additional loan and that subsequent loan, together with all outstanding loans and qualifying commitments to a borrower, exceeds the bank's applicable lending limit at that time, the bank's qualifying commitments to the borrower that exceed the bank's lending limit at that time are deemed to be permanently disqualified, beginning with the most recent qualifying commitment and proceeding in reverse chronological order. When a commitment is disqualified, the entire commitment is disqualified and the disqualified commitment is no longer considered a “loan or extension of credit.” Advances of funds under a disqualified or non-qualifying commitment may only be made to the extent that the advance, together with all other outstanding loans to the borrower, do not exceed the bank's lending limit at the time of the advance, calculated pursuant to §32.4. (n) Readily marketable collateral means financial instruments and bullion that are salable under ordinary market conditions with reasonable promptness at a fair market value determined by quotations based upon actual transactions on an auction or similarly available daily bid and ask price market. (o) Readily marketable staple means an article of commerce, agriculture, or industry, such as wheat and other grains, cotton, wool, and basic metals such as tin, copper and lead, in the form of standardized interchangeable units, that is easy to sell in a market with sufficiently frequent price quotations. (1) An article comes within this definition if— (i) The exact price is easy to determine; and (ii) The staple itself is easy to sell at any time at a price that would not be considerably less than the amount at which it is valued as collateral. (2) Whether an article qualifies as a readily marketable staple is determined on the basis of the conditions existing at the time the loan or extension of credit that is secured by the staples is made. (p) Residential real estate loan means a loan or extension of credit that is secured by 1–4 family residential real estate. (q) Sale of Federal funds means any transaction between depository institutions involving the transfer of immediately available funds resulting from credits to deposit balances at Federal Reserve Banks, or from credits to new or existing deposit balances due from a correspondent depository institution. (r) Small business loan means a loan or extension of credit “secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties” or “a commercial or industrial loan” as defined in the instructions for preparation of the Consolidated Report of Condition and Income. (s) Small farm loans or extensions of credit means “loans to small farms,” as defined in the instructions for preparation of the Consolidated Report of Condition and Income. (t) Standby letter of credit means any letter of credit, or similar arrangement, that represents an obligation to the beneficiary on the part of the issuer: (1) To repay money borrowed by or advanced to or for the account of the account party; (2) To make payment on account of any indebtedness undertaken by the account party; or (3) To make payment on account of any default by the account party in the performance of an obligation. [60 FR 8532, Feb. 15, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 15746, Apr. 1, 1998; 66 FR 31120, June 11, 2001; 66 FR 55072, Nov. 1, 2001; 69 FR 51357, Aug. 19, 2004] (a) Combined general limit. A national bank's total outstanding loans and extensions of credit to one borrower may not exceed 15 percent of the bank's capital and surplus, plus an additional 10 percent of the bank's capital and surplus, if the amount that exceeds the bank's 15 percent general limit is fully secured by readily marketable collateral, as defined in §32.2(n). To qualify for the additional 10 percent limit, the bank must perfect a security interest in the collateral under applicable law and the collateral must have a current market value at all times of at least 100 percent of the amount of the loan or extension of credit that exceeds the bank's 15 percent general limit. (b) Loans subject to special lending limits. The following loans or extensions of credit are subject to the lending limits set forth below. When loans and extensions of credit qualify for more than one special lending limit, the special limits are cumulative. (1) Loans secured by bills of lading or warehouse receipts covering readily marketable staples. (i) A national bank's loans or extensions of credit to one borrower secured by bills of lading, warehouse receipts, or similar documents transferring or securing title to readily marketable staples, as defined in §32.2(o), may not exceed 35 percent of the bank's capital and surplus in addition to the amount allowed under the bank's combined general limit. The market value of the staples securing the loan must at all times equal at least 115 percent of the amount of the outstanding loan that exceeds the bank's combined general limit. (ii) Staples that qualify for this special limit must be nonperishable, may be refrigerated or frozen, and must be fully covered by insurance if such insurance is customary. Whether a staple is non-perishable must be determined on a case-by-case basis because of differences in handling and storing commodities. (iii) This special limit applies to a loan or extension of credit arising from a single transaction or secured by the same staples, provided that the duration of the loan or extension of credit is: (A) Not more than ten months if secured by nonperishable staples; or (B) Not more than six months if secured by refrigerated or frozen staples. (iv) The holder of the warehouse receipts, order bills of lading, documents qualifying as documents of title under the Uniform Commercial Code, or other similar documents, must have control and be able to obtain immediate possession of the staple so that the bank is able to sell the underlying staples and promptly transfer title and possession to a purchaser if default should occur on a loan secured by such documents. The existence of a brief notice period, or similar procedural requirements under applicable law, for the disposal of the collateral will not affect the eligibility of the instruments for this special limit. (A) Field warehouse receipts are an acceptable form of collateral when issued by a duly bonded and licensed grain elevator or warehouse having exclusive possession and control of the staples even though the grain elevator or warehouse is maintained on the premises of the owner of the staples. (B) Warehouse receipts issued by the borrower-owner that is a grain elevator or warehouse company, duly-bonded and licensed and regularly inspected by state or Federal authorities, may be considered eligible collateral under this provision only when the receipts are registered with an independent registrar whose consent is required before the staples may be withdrawn from the warehouse. (2) Discount of installment consumer paper. (i) A national bank's loans and extensions of credit to one borrower that arise from the discount of negotiable or nonnegotiable installment consumer paper, as defined at §32.2(e), that carries a full recourse endorsement or unconditional guarantee by the person selling the paper, may not exceed 10 percent of the bank's capital and surplus in addition to the amount allowed under the bank's combined general limit. An unconditional guarantee may be in the form of a repurchase agreement or separate guarantee agreement. A condition reasonably within the power of the bank to perform, such as the repossession of collateral, will not make conditional an otherwise unconditional guarantee. (ii) Where the seller of the paper offers only partial recourse to the bank, the lending limits of this section apply to the obligation of the seller to the bank, which is measured by the total amount of paper the seller may be obligated to repurchase or has guaranteed. (iii) Where the bank is relying primarily upon the maker of the paper for payment of the loans or extensions of credit and not upon any full or partial recourse endorsement or guarantee by the seller of the paper, the lending limits of this section apply only to the maker. The bank must substantiate its reliance on the maker with— (A) Records supporting the bank's independent credit analysis of the maker's ability to repay the loan or extension of credit, maintained by the bank or by a third party that is contractually obligated to make those records available for examination purposes; and (B) A written certification by an officer of the bank authorized by the bank's board of directors or any designee of that officer, that the bank is relying primarily upon the maker to repay the loan or extension of credit. (iv) Where paper is purchased in substantial quantities, the records, evaluation, and certification must be in a form appropriate for the class and quantity of paper involved. The bank may use sampling techniques, or other appropriate methods, to independently verify the reliability of the credit information supplied by the seller. (3) Loans secured by documents covering livestock. (i) A national bank's loans or extensions of credit to one borrower secured by shipping documents or instruments that transfer or secure title to or give a first lien on livestock may not exceed 10 percent of the bank's capital and surplus in addition to the amount allowed under the bank's combined general limit. The market value of the livestock securing the loan must at all times equal at least 115 percent of the amount of the outstanding loan that exceeds the bank's combined general limit. For purposes of this subsection, the term “livestock” includes dairy and beef cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, mules, poultry and fish, whether or not held for resale. (ii) The bank must maintain in its files an inspection and valuation for the livestock pledged that is reasonably current, taking into account the nature and frequency of turnover of the livestock to which the documents relate, but in any case not more than 12 months old. (iii) Under the laws of certain states, persons furnishing pasturage under a grazing contract may have a lien on the livestock for the amount due for pasturage. If a lien that is based on pasturage furnished by the lienor prior to the bank's loan or extension of credit is assigned to the bank by a recordable instrument and protected against being defeated by some other lien or claim, by payment to a person other than the bank, or otherwise, it will qualify under this exception provided the amount of the perfected lien is at least equal to the amount of the loan and the value of the livestock is at no time less than 115 percent of the portion of the loan or extension of credit that exceeds the bank's combined general limit. When the amount due under the grazing contract is dependent upon future performance, the resulting lien does not meet the requirements of the exception. (4) Loans secured by dairy cattle. A national bank's loans and extensions of credit to one borrower that arise from the discount by dealers in dairy cattle of paper given in payment for the cattle may not exceed 10 percent of the bank's capital and surplus in addition to the amount allowed under the bank's combined general limit. To qualify, the paper— (i) Must carry the full recourse endorsement or unconditional guarantee of the seller; and (ii) Must be secured by the cattle being sold, pursuant to liens that allow the bank to maintain a perfected security interest in the cattle under applicable law. (5) Additional advances to complete project financing pursuant to renewal of a qualifying commitment to lend. A national bank may renew a qualifying commitment to lend, as defined by §32.2(m), and complete funding under that commitment if all of the following criteria are met— (i) The completion of funding is consistent with safe and sound banking practices and is made to protect the position of the bank; (ii) The completion of funding will enable the borrower to complete the project for which the qualifying commitment to lend was made; and (iii) The amount of the additional funding does not exceed the unfunded portion of the bank's qualifying commitment to lend. (c) Loans not subject to the lending limits. The following loans or extensions of credit are not subject to the lending limits of 12 U.S.C. 84 or this part. (1) Loans arising from the discount of commercial or business paper. (i) Loans or extensions of credit arising from the discount of negotiable commercial or business paper that evidences an obligation to the person negotiating the paper. The paper— (A) Must be given in payment of the purchase price of commodities purchased for resale, fabrication of a product, or any other business purpose that may reasonably be expected to provide funds for payment of the paper; and (B) Must bear the full recourse endorsement of the owner of the paper, except that paper discounted in connection with export transactions, that is transferred without recourse, or with limited recourse, must be supported by an assignment of appropriate insurance covering the political, credit, and transfer risks applicable to the paper, such as insurance provided by the Export-Import Bank. (ii) A failure to pay principal or interest on commercial or business paper when due does not result in a loan or extension of credit to the maker or endorser of the paper; however, the amount of such paper thereafter must be counted in determining whether additional loans or extensions of credit to the same borrower may be made within the limits of 12 U.S.C. 84 and this part. (2) Bankers' acceptances. A bank's acceptance of drafts eligible for rediscount under 12 U.S.C. 372 and 373, or a bank's purchase of acceptances created by other banks that are eligible for rediscount under those sections; but not including— (i) A bank's acceptance of drafts ineligible for rediscount (which constitutes a loan by the bank to the customer for whom the acceptance was made, in the amount of the draft); (ii) A bank's purchase of ineligible acceptances created by other banks (which constitutes a loan from the purchasing bank to the accepting bank, in the amount of the purchase price); and (iii) A bank's purchase of its own acceptances (which constitutes a loan to the bank's customer for whom the acceptance was made, in the amount of the purchase price). (3)(i) Loans secured by U.S. obligations. Loans or extensions of credit, or portions thereof, to the extent fully secured by the current market value of: (A) Bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, or Treasury bills of the United States or by similar obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States; (B) Loans to the extent guaranteed as to repayment of principal by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, as set forth in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section. (ii) To qualify under this paragraph, the bank must perfect a security interest in the collateral under applicable law. (4) Loans to or guaranteed by a Federal agency. (i) Loans or extensions of credit to any department, agency, bureau, board, commission, or establishment of the United States or any corporation wholly owned directly or indirectly by the United States. (ii) Loans or extensions of credit, including portions thereof, to the extent secured by unconditional takeout commitments or guarantees of any of the foregoing governmental entities. The commitment or guarantee— (A) Must be payable in cash or its equivalent within 60 days after demand for payment is made; (B) Is considered unconditional if the protection afforded the bank is not substantially diminished or impaired if loss should result from factors beyond the bank's control. Protection against loss is not materially diminished or impaired by procedural requirements, such as an agreement to pay on the obligation only in the event of default, including default over a specific period of time, a requirement that notification of default be given within a specific period after its occurrence, or a requirement of good faith on the part of the bank. (5) Loans to or guaranteed by general obligations of a State or political subdivision. (i) A loan or extension of credit to a State or political subdivision that constitutes a general obligation of the State or political subdivision, as defined in part 1 of this chapter, and for which the lending bank has an opinion of counsel or the opinion of that State Attorney General, or other State legal official with authority to opine on the obligation in question, that the loan or extension of credit is a valid and enforceable general obligation of the borrower; and (ii) A loan or extension of credit, including portions thereof, to the extent guaranteed or secured by a general obligation of a State or political subdivision and for which the lending bank has an opinion of counsel or the opinion of that State Attorney General, or other State legal official with authority to opine on the guarantee or collateral in question, that the guarantee or collateral is a valid and enforceable general obligation of that public body. (6) Loans secured by segregated deposit accounts. Loans or extensions of credit, including portions thereof, to the extent secured by a segregated deposit account in the lending bank, provided a security interest in the deposit has been perfected under applicable law. (i) Where the deposit is eligible for withdrawal before the secured loan matures, the bank must establish internal procedures to prevent release of the security without the lending bank's prior consent. (ii) A deposit that is denominated and payable in a currency other than that of the loan or extension of credit that it secures may be eligible for this exception if the currency is freely convertible to U.S. dollars. (A) This exception applies to only that portion of the loan or extension of credit that is covered by the U.S. dollar value of the deposit. (B) The lending bank must establish procedures to periodically revalue foreign currency deposits to ensure that the loan or extension of credit remains fully secured at all times. (7) Loans to financial institutions with the approval of the Comptroller. Loans or extensions of credit to any financial institution or to any receiver, conservator, superintendent of banks, or other agent in charge of the business and property of a financial institution when an emergency situation exists and a national bank is asked to provide assistance to another financial institution, and the loan is approved by the Comptroller. For purposes of this paragraph, financial institution means a commercial bank, savings bank, trust company, savings association, or credit union. (8) Loans to the Student Loan Marketing Association. Loans or extensions of credit to the Student Loan Marketing Association. (9) Loans to industrial development authorities. A loan or extension of credit to an industrial development authority or similar public entity created to construct and lease a plant facility, including a health care facility, to an industrial occupant will be deemed a loan to the lessee, provided that— (i) The bank evaluates the creditworthiness of the industrial occupant before the loan is extended to the authority; (ii) The authority's liability on the loan is limited solely to whatever interest it has in the particular facility; (iii) The authority's interest is assigned to the bank as security for the loan or the industrial occupant issues a promissory note to the bank that provides a higher order of security than the assignment of a lease; and (iv) The industrial occupant's lease rentals are assigned and paid directly to the bank. (10) Loans to leasing companies. A loan or extension of credit to a leasing company for the purpose of purchasing equipment for lease will be deemed a loan to the lessee, provided that— (i) The bank evaluates the creditworthiness of the lessee before the loan is extended to the leasing corporation; (ii) The loan is without recourse to the leasing corporation; (iii) The bank is given a security interest in the equipment and in the event of default, may proceed directly against the equipment and the lessee for any deficiency resulting from the sale of the equipment; (iv) The leasing corporation assigns all of its rights under the lease to the bank; (v) The lessee's lease payments are assigned and paid to the bank; and (vi) The lease terms are subject to the same limitations that would apply to a national bank acting as a lessor. [60 FR 8532, Feb. 15, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 15746, Apr. 1, 1998; 66 FR 31120, June 11, 2001; 66 FR 35072, Nov. 1, 2001] (a) Calculation date. For purposes of determining compliance with 12 U.S.C. 84 and this part, a bank shall determine its lending limit as of the most recent of the following dates: (1) The last day of the preceding calendar quarter; or (2) The date on which there is a change in the bank's capital category for purposes of 12 U.S.C. 1831o and 12 CFR 6.3. (b) Effective date. (1) A bank's lending limit calculated in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section will be effective as of the earlier of the following dates: (i) The date on which the bank's Call Report is submitted; or (ii) The date on which the bank's Call Report is required to be submitted. (2) A bank's lending limit calculated in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section will be effective on the date that the limit is to be calculated. (c) More frequent calculations. If the OCC determines for safety and soundness reasons that a bank should calculate its lending limit more frequently than required by paragraph (a) of this section, the OCC may provide written notice to the bank directing the bank to calculate its lending limit at a more frequent interval, and the bank shall thereafter calculate its lending limit at that interval until further notice. [63 FR 15746, Apr. 1, 1998] (a) General rule. Loans or extensions of credit to one borrower will be attributed to another person and each person will be deemed a borrower— (1) When proceeds of a loan or extension of credit are to be used for the direct benefit of the other person, to the extent of the proceeds so used; or (2) When a common enterprise is deemed to exist between the persons. (b) Direct benefit. The proceeds of a loan or extension of credit to a borrower will be deemed to be used for the direct benefit of another person and will be attributed to the other person when the proceeds, or assets purchased with the proceeds, are transferred to another person, other than in a bona fide arm's length transaction where the proceeds are used to acquire property, goods, or services. (c) Common enterprise. A common enterprise will be deemed to exist and loans to separate borrowers will be aggregated: (1) When the expected source of repayment for each loan or extension of credit is the same for each borrower and neither borrower has another source of income from which the loan (together with the borrower's other obligations) may be fully repaid. An employer will not be treated as a source of repayment under this paragraph because of wages and salaries paid to an employee, unless the standards of paragraph (c)(2) of this section are met; (2) When loans or extensions of credit are made— (i) To borrowers who are related directly or indirectly through common control, including where one borrower is directly or indirectly controlled by another borrower; and (ii) Substantial financial interdependence exists between or among the borrowers. Substantial financial interdependence is deemed to exist when 50 percent or more of one borrower's gross receipts or gross expenditures (on an annual basis) are derived from transactions with the other borrower. Gross receipts and expenditures include gross revenues/expenses, intercompany loans, dividends, capital contributions, and similar receipts or payments; (3) When separate persons borrow from a bank to acquire a business enterprise of which those borrowers will own more than 50 percent of the voting securities or voting interests, in which case a common enterprise is deemed to exist between the borrowers for purposes of combining the acquisition loans; or (4) When the OCC determines, based upon an evaluation of the facts and circumstances of particular transactions, that a common enterprise exists. (d) Special rule for loans to a corporate group. (1) Loans or extensions of credit by a bank to a corporate group may not exceed 50 percent of the bank's capital and surplus. This limitation applies only to loans subject to the combined general limit. A corporate group includes a person and all of its subsidiaries. For purposes of this paragraph, a corporation or a limited liability company is a subsidiary of a person if the person owns or beneficially owns directly or indirectly more than 50 percent of the voting securities or voting interests of the corporation or company. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, loans or extensions of credit to a person and its subsidiary, or to different subsidiaries of a person, are not combined unless either the direct benefit or the common enterprise test is met. (e) Special rules for loans to partnerships, joint ventures, and associations—(1) Partnership loans. Loans or extensions of credit to a partnership, joint venture, or association are deemed to be loans or extensions of credit to each member of the partnership, joint venture, or association. This rule does not apply to limited partners in limited partnerships or to members of joint ventures or associations if the partners or members, by the terms of the partnership or membership agreement, are not held generally liable for the debts or actions of the partnership, joint venture, or association, and those provisions are valid under applicable law. (2) Loans to partners. (i) Loans or extensions of credit to members of a partnership, joint venture, or association are not attributed to the partnership, joint venture, or association unless either the direct benefit or the common enterprise tests are met. Both the direct benefit and common enterprise tests are met between a member of a partnership, joint venture or association and such partnership, joint venture or association, when loans or extensions of credit are made to the member to purchase an interest in the partnership, joint venture or association. (ii) Loans or extensions of credit to members of a partnership, joint venture, or association are not attributed to other members of the partnership, joint venture, or association unless either the direct benefit or common enterprise test is met. (f) Loans to foreign governments, their agencies, and instrumentalities—(1) Aggregation. Loans and extensions of credit to foreign governments, their agencies, and instrumentalities will be aggregated with one another only if the loans or extensions of credit fail to meet either the means test or the purpose test at the time the loan or extension of credit is made. (i) The means test is satisfied if the borrower has resources or revenue of its own sufficient to service its debt obligations. If the government's support (excluding guarantees by a central government of the borrower's debt) exceeds the borrower's annual revenues from other sources, it will be presumed that the means test has not been satisfied. (ii) The purpose test is satisfied if the purpose of the loan or extension of credit is consistent with the purposes of the borrower's general business. (2) Documentation. In order to show that the means and purpose tests have been satisfied, a bank must, at a minimum, retain in its files the following items: (i) A statement (accompanied by supporting documentation) describing the legal status and the degree of financial and operational autonomy of the borrowing entity; (ii) Financial statements for the borrowing entity for a minimum of three years prior to the date the loan or extension of credit was made or for each year that the borrowing entity has been in existence, if less than three; (iii) Financial statements for each year the loan or extension of credit is outstanding; (iv) The bank's assessment of the borrower's means of servicing the loan or extension of credit, including specific reasons in support of that assessment. The assessment shall include an analysis of the borrower's financial history, its present and projected economic and financial performance, and the significance of any financial support provided to the borrower by third parties, including the borrower's central government; and (v) A loan agreement or other written statement from the borrower which clearly describes the purpose of the loan or extension of credit. The written representation will ordinarily constitute sufficient evidence that the purpose test has been satisfied. However, when, at the time the funds are disbursed, the bank knows or has reason to know of other information suggesting that the borrower will use the proceeds in a manner inconsistent with the written representation, it may not, without further inquiry, accept the representation. (3) Restructured loans—(i) Non-combination rule. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section, when previously outstanding loans and other extensions of credit to a foreign government, its agencies, and instrumentalities (i.e., public-sector obligors) that qualified for a separate lending limit under paragraph (f)(1) of this section are consolidated under a central obligor in a qualifying restructuring, such loans will not be aggregated and attributed to the central obligor. This includes any substitution in named obligors, solely because of the restructuring. Such loans (other than loans originally attributed to the central obligor in their own right) will not be considered obligations of the central obligor and will continue to be attributed to the original public-sector obligor for purposes of the lending limit. (ii) Qualifying restructuring. Loans and other extensions of credit to a foreign government, its agencies, and instrumentalities will qualify for the non-combination process under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section only if they are restructured in a sovereign debt restructuring approved by the OCC, upon request by a bank for application of the non combination rule. The factors that the OCC will use in making this determination include, but are not limited to, the following: (A) Whether the restructuring involves a substantial portion of the total commercial bank loans outstanding to the foreign government, its agencies, and instrumentalities; (B) Whether the restructuring involves a substantial number of the foreign country's external commercial bank creditors; (C) Whether the restructuring and consolidation under a central obligor is being done primarily to facilitate external debt management; and (D) Whether the restructuring includes features of debt or debt-service reduction. (iii) 50 percent aggregate limit. With respect to any case in which the non-combination process under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section applies, a national bank's loans and other extensions of credit to a foreign government, its agencies and instrumentalities, (including restructured debt) shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 50 percent of the bank's capital and surplus. (a) A loan, within a bank's legal lending limit when made, will not be deemed a violation but will be treated as nonconforming if the loan is no longer in conformity with the bank's lending limit because— (1) The bank's capital has declined, borrowers have subsequently merged or formed a common enterprise, lenders have merged, the lending limit or capital rules have changed; or (2) Collateral securing the loan to satisfy the requirements of a lending limit exception has declined in value. (b) A bank must use reasonable efforts to bring a loan that is nonconforming as a result of paragraph (a)(1) of this section into conformity with the bank's lending limit unless to do so would be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices. (c) A bank must bring a loan that is nonconforming as a result of circumstances described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section into conformity with the bank's lending limit within 30 calendar days, except when judicial proceedings, regulatory actions or other extraordinary circumstances beyond the bank's control prevent the bank from taking action. (a) Residential real estate, small business, and small farm loans. (1) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under §32.3, an eligible national bank may make residential real estate loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for residential real estate loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located. Any such loan or extension of credit must be secured by a perfected first-lien security interest in 1–4 family real estate in an amount that does not exceed 80 percent of the appraised value of the collateral at the time the loan or extension of credit is made. In no event may a bank lend more than $10 million to one borrower under this authority. (2) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under §32.3, an eligible national bank may make small business loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for small business loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located. In no event may a bank lend more than $10 million to one borrower under this authority. (3) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under §32.3, an eligible national bank may make small farm loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for small farm loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located. In no event may a bank lend more than $10 million to one borrower under this authority. (4) The total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to one borrower made under §§32.3(a) and (b), together with loans and extensions of credit to the borrower made pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, shall not exceed 25 percent of the bank's capital and surplus. (5) The total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to all of its borrowers made pursuant to the special lending limits provided in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section may not exceed 100 percent of the bank's capital and surplus. (b) Application process. An eligible bank must submit an application to, and receive approval from, its supervisory office before using the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section. The supervisory office may approve a completed application if it finds that approval is consistent with safety and soundness. To be deemed complete, the application must include: (1) Certification that the bank is an “eligible bank” as defined in §32.2(i); (2) Citations to relevant State laws or regulations; (3) A copy of a written resolution by a majority of the bank's board of directors approving the use of the limits provided in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, and confirming the terms and conditions for use of this lending authority; and (4) A description of how the board will exercise its continuing responsibility to oversee the use of this lending authority. (c) Duration of approval. Except as provided in §32.7(d), a bank that has received OCC approval may continue to make loans and extensions of credit under the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section until September 10, 2007, provided the bank remains an “eligible bank.” (d) Discretionary termination of authority. The OCC may rescind a bank's authority to use the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section based upon concerns about credit quality, undue concentrations in the bank's portfolio of residential real estate, small business, or small farm loans, or concerns about the bank's overall credit risk management systems and controls. The bank must cease making new loans or extensions of credit in reliance on the special limits upon receipt of written notice from the OCC that its authority has been rescinded. (e) Duration of pilot program. The pilot program will terminate on September 11, 2007, unless it is terminated sooner by the OCC. (f) Existing loans. Any loans or extensions of credit made by a bank under the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, that were in compliance with this section when made, will not be deemed a lending limit violation and will not be treated as nonconforming under §32.6. [66 FR 31120, June 11, 2001, as amended at 69 FR 32436, June 10, 2004; 69 FR 51357, Aug. 19, 2004]
Title 12: Banks and Banking
PART 32—LENDING LIMITS
Section Contents
§ 32.1 Authority, purpose and scope.
§ 32.2 Definitions.
§ 32.3 Lending limits.
§ 32.4 Calculation of lending limits.
§ 32.5 Combination rules.
§ 32.6 Nonconforming loans.
§ 32.7 Pilot program for residential real estate and small business loans.
§ 32.1 Authority, purpose and scope.
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§ 32.2 Definitions.
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§ 32.3 Lending limits.
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§ 32.4 Calculation of lending limits.
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§ 32.5 Combination rules.
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§ 32.6 Nonconforming loans.
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§ 32.7 Pilot program for residential real estate and small business loans.
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