Loans and InvestmentsInvestments
Section § 1510
This law limits a bank's investment in securities issued by any one entity to no more than 15% of its combined shareholders’ equity, capital reserves, and notes, except for certain approved investments. These exceptions include U.S. government obligations, certain federal and state bonds, and stocks from specified federal financial institutions like the Federal Reserve.
Section § 1511
This section explains when a bank in California is allowed to invest in shares of an investment company. The law stipulates that such investments must be in companies registered with the SEC and follow specific criteria. The investment company's portfolio should only include particular types of debt obligations, short-term federal fund loans to insured institutions, and cash equivalents. These debt obligations are the ones that banks can invest in without limits according to another related section (Section 1510). Some specific regulations also apply to these transactions to ensure compliance.
Section § 1512
This law allows banks to buy or hold stock in another corporation as part of a reorganization plan approved by the commissioner. This plan involves acquiring and then immediately redistributing all the stock of one or more California-registered banks to the shareholders of the acquiring bank.
Section § 1513
This law says that if a commercial bank in California made an investment that was allowed at the time, the bank doesn't have to sell those investments just because the Banking Code, or any changes to it, were later adopted.
Section § 1514
This law states that a commercial bank in California can create, manage, control, or provide advice to an investment company, as well as sell or distribute its securities, as long as the investment company is approved to sell its securities in the state. The bank's staff involved in selling these securities must meet training and experience standards set by the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing. The term "investment company" is defined according to the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section § 1515
This law allows a bank or trust company to acquire stock if it's necessary to settle or reduce a loan, or if it's an exchange for an earlier, good-faith investment. The usual restrictions on how much stock can be held, as outlined in Section 1510, don't apply here. Once the bank or trust company can sell the acquired stock to cover losses from the loan or the original investment, it must either sell the stock or turn it into a kind of investment that Section 1510 governs.