12 USC 3107 - Representative offices

Collapse to view only § 3107. Representative offices

§ 3101. Definitions
§ 3102. Establishment of Federal branches and agencies by foreign bank
§ 3103. Interstate banking by foreign banks
§ 3104. Insurance of deposits
§ 3105. Authority of Federal Reserve System
§ 3106. Nonbanking activities of foreign banks
§ 3106a. Compliance with State and Federal laws
§ 3107. Representative offices
§ 3108. Regulation and enforcement
§ 3109. Cooperation with foreign supervisors
§ 3110. Penalties
§ 3111. Criminal penalty

§ 3101. Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter—

(1) “agency” means any office or any place of business of a foreign bank located in any State of the United States at which credit balances are maintained incidental to or arising out of the exercise of banking powers, checks are paid, or money is lent but at which deposits may not be accepted from citizens or residents of the United States;

(2) “Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

(3) “branch” means any office or any place of business of a foreign bank located in any State of the United States at which deposits are received;

(4) “Comptroller” means the Comptroller of the Currency;

(5) “Federal agency” means an agency of a foreign bank established and operating under section 3102 of this title;

(6) “Federal branch” means a branch of a foreign bank established and operating under section 3102 of this title;

(7) “foreign bank” means any company organized under the laws of a foreign country, a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, which engages in the business of banking, or any subsidiary or affiliate, organized under such laws, of any such company. For the purposes of this chapter the term “foreign bank” includes, without limitation, foreign commercial banks, foreign merchant banks and other foreign institutions that engage in banking activities usual in connection with the business of banking in the countries where such foreign institutions are organized or operating;

(8) “foreign country” means any country other than the United States, and includes any colony, dependency, or possession of any such country;

(9) “commercial lending company” means any institution, other than a bank or an organization operating under section 25 of the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. 601 et seq.], organized under the laws of any State of the United States, or the District of Columbia which maintains credit balances incidental to or arising out of the exercise of banking powers and engages in the business of making commercial loans;

(10) “State” means any State of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(11) “State agency” means an agency of a foreign bank established and operating under the laws of any State;

(12) “State branch” means a branch of a foreign bank established and operating under the laws of any State;

(13) the terms “affiliate,” 1

1 So in original. The comma probably should follow the quotation marks.

“bank”, “bank holding company”, “company”, “control”, and “subsidiary” have the same meanings assigned to those terms in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.], and the terms “controlled” and “controlling” shall be construed consistently with the term “control” as defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1841];

(14) “consolidated” means consolidated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States consistently applied;

(15) the term “representative office” means any office of a foreign bank which is located in any State and is not a Federal branch, Federal agency, State branch, or State agency;

(16) the term “office” means any branch, agency, or representative office; and

(17) the term “State bank supervisor” has the meaning given to such term in section 1813 of this title.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 1(b), Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 607; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 202(e), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2290; Pub. L. 106–102, title I, § 142(a), Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1384.)

§ 3102. Establishment of Federal branches and agencies by foreign bank

(a) Establishment and operation of Federal branches and agencies

(1) Initial Federal branch or agency

(2) Board conditions required to be included

(b) Rules and regulations; rights and privileges; duties and liabilities; exceptions; coordination of examinations

(d) Receipt of deposits and exercising of fiduciary powers at Federal agency prohibited

(e) Maintenance of Federal branch and Federal agency in same State prohibited

(f) Conversion of foreign bank branch, agency or commercial lending company into Federal branch or agency; approval of Comptroller

(g) Deposit requirements; asset requirements

(1) Upon the opening of a Federal branch or agency in any State and thereafter, a foreign bank, in addition to any deposit requirements imposed under section 3104 of this title, shall keep on deposit, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Comptroller may prescribe, with a member bank designated by such foreign bank, dollar deposits or investment securities of the type that may be held by national banks for their own accounts pursuant to paragraph “Seventh” of section 24 of this title, in an amount as hereinafter set forth. Such depository bank shall be located in the State where such branch or agency is located and shall be approved by the Comptroller if it is a national bank and by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System if it is a State Bank.

(2) The aggregate amount of deposited investment securities (calculated on the basis of principal amount or market value, whichever is lower) and dollar deposits for each branch or agency established and operating under this section shall be not less than the greater of (1) that amount of capital (but not surplus) which would be required of a national bank being organized at this location, or (2) 5 per centum of the total liabilities of such branch or agency, including acceptances, but excluding (A) accrued expenses, and (B) amounts due and other liabilities to offices, branches, agencies, and subsidiaries of such foreign bank. The Comptroller may require that the assets deposited pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained in such amounts as he may from time to time deem necessary or desirable, for the maintenance of a sound financial condition, the protection of depositors, and the public interest, but such additional amount shall in no event be greater than would be required to conform to generally accepted banking practices as manifested by banks in the area in which the branch or agency is located.

(3) The deposit shall be maintained with any such member bank pursuant to a deposit agreement in such form and containing such limitations and conditions as the Comptroller may prescribe. So long as it continues business in the ordinary course such foreign bank shall, however, be permitted to collect income on the securities and funds so deposited and from time to time examine and exchange such securities.

(4) Subject to such conditions and requirements as may be prescribed by the Comptroller, each foreign bank shall hold in each State in which it has a Federal branch or agency, assets of such types and in such amount as the Comptroller may prescribe by general or specific regulation or ruling as necessary or desirable for the maintenance of a sound financial condition, the protection of depositors, creditors and the public interest. In determining compliance with any such prescribed asset requirements, the Comptroller shall give credit to (A) assets required to be maintained pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, (B) reserves required to be maintained pursuant to section 3105(a) of this title, and (C) assets pledged, and surety bonds payable, to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to secure the payment of domestic deposits. The Comptroller may prescribe different asset requirements for branches or agencies in different States, in order to ensure competitive equality of Federal branches and agencies with State branches and agencies and domestic banks in those States.

(h) Additional branches or agencies

(1) Approval of agency required

(2) Notice to and comment by Board

(i) Termination of authority to operate Federal branch or agency

(j) Receivership over assets of foreign bank in United States

(1) Whenever the Comptroller revokes a foreign bank’s authority to operate a Federal branch or agency or whenever any creditor of any such foreign bank shall have obtained a judgment against it arising out of a transaction with a Federal branch or agency in any court of record of the United States or any State of the United States and made application, accompanied by a certificate from the clerk of the court stating that such judgment has been rendered and has remained unpaid for the space of thirty days, or whenever the Comptroller shall become satisfied that such foreign bank is insolvent, he may, after due consideration of its affairs, in any such case, appoint a receiver who shall take possession of all the property and assets of such foreign bank in the United States and exercise the same rights, privileges, powers, and authority with respect thereto as are now exercised by receivers of national banks appointed by the Comptroller.

(2) In any receivership proceeding ordered pursuant to this subsection (j), whenever there has been paid to each and every depositor and creditor of such foreign bank whose claim or claims shall have been proved or allowed, the full amount of such claims arising out of transactions had by them with any branch or agency of such foreign bank located in any State of the United States, except (A) claims that would not represent an enforceable legal obligation against such branch or agency if such branch or agency were a separate legal entity, and (B) amounts due and other liabilities to other offices or branches or agencies of, and wholly owned (except for a nominal number of directors’ shares) subsidiaries of, such foreign bank, and all expenses of the receivership, the Comptroller or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, where that Corporation has been appointed receiver of the foreign bank, shall turn over the remainder, if any, of the assets and proceeds of such foreign bank to the head office of such foreign bank, or to the duly appointed domiciliary liquidator or receiver of such foreign bank.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 4, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 610; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, §§ 202(b), (c), 203(b), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2290, 2291; Pub. L. 106–569, title XII, § 1234, Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 3037.)

§ 3103. Interstate banking by foreign banks

(a) Interstate branching and agency operations

(1) Federal branch or agency

(2) State branch or agency

(3) Criteria for determinationIn approving an application under paragraph (1) or (2), the Board and (in the case of an application under paragraph (1)) the Comptroller of the Currency—

(A) shall apply the standards applicable to the establishment of a foreign bank office in the United States under section 3105(d) of this title;

(B) may not approve an application unless the Board and (in the case of an application under paragraph (1)) the Comptroller of the Currency—

(i) determine that the foreign bank’s financial resources, including the capital level of the bank, are equivalent to those required for a domestic bank to be approved for branching under section 36 of this title and section 1831u of this title; and

(ii) consult with the Secretary of the Treasury regarding capital equivalency; and

(C) shall apply the same requirements and conditions to which an application for an interstate merger transaction is subject under paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of section 1831u(b) of this title.

(4) Operation

(5) Exclusive authority for additional branches

(6) Requirement for a separate subsidiary

(7) Additional authority for interstate branches and agencies of foreign banks, upgrades of certain foreign bank agencies and branchesNotwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a foreign bank may—

(A) with the approval of the Board and the Comptroller of the Currency, establish and operate a Federal branch or Federal agency or, with the approval of the Board and the appropriate State bank supervisor, a State branch or State agency in any State outside the foreign bank’s home State if—

(i) the establishment and operation of such branch or agency is permitted by the State in which the branch or agency is to be established; and

(ii) in the case of a Federal or State branch, the branch receives only such deposits as would be permitted for a corporation organized under section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. 611 et seq.]; or

(B) with the approval of the Board and the relevant licensing authority (the Comptroller in the case of a Federal branch or the appropriate State supervisor in the case of a State branch), upgrade an agency, or a branch of the type referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii), located in a State outside the foreign bank’s home State, into a Federal or State branch if—

(i) the establishment and operation of such branch is permitted by such State; and

(ii) such agency or branch—(I) was in operation in such State on the day before September 29, 1994; or(II) has been in operation in such State for a period of time that meets the State’s minimum age requirement permitted under section 1831u(a)(5) of this title.

(8) Continuing requirement for meeting community credit needs after initial interstate entry by acquisition

(A) In general

(B) Exception for branch that receives only deposits permissible for an Edge Act corporation

(9) Home State of domestic bank definedFor purposes of this subsection, the term “home State” means—

(A) with respect to a national bank, the State in which the main office of the bank is located; and

(B) with respect to a State bank, the State by which the bank is chartered.

(b) Continuance of lawful interstate banking operations previously commenced

(1) in the case of a foreign bank that has any branch, agency, subsidiary commercial lending company, or subsidiary bank in more than 1 State, the home State of the foreign bank is the 1 State of such States which is selected to be the home State by the foreign bank or, in default of any such selection, by the Board; and

(2) in the case of a foreign bank that does not have a branch, agency, subsidiary commercial lending company, or subsidiary bank in more than 1 State, the home State of the foreign bank is the State in which the foreign bank has a branch, agency, subsidiary commercial lending company, or subsidiary bank.

(d) Clarification of branching rules in case of foreign bank with domestic bank subsidiaryIn the case of a foreign bank that has a domestic bank subsidiary within the United States—

(1) the fact that such bank controls a domestic bank shall not affect the authority of the foreign bank to establish Federal and State branches or agencies to the extent permitted under subsection (a); and

(2) the fact that the domestic bank is controlled by a foreign bank which has Federal or State branches or agencies in States other than the home State of such domestic bank shall not affect the authority of the domestic bank to establish branches outside the home State of the domestic bank to the extent permitted under section 36(g) of this title or section 1828(d)(4) or 1831u of this title, as the case may be.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 5, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 613; Pub. L. 103–328, title I, §§ 104, 107(f), Sept. 29, 1994, 108 Stat. 2354, 2361; Pub. L. 106–102, title VII, § 732, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1478.)

§ 3104. Insurance of deposits

(a) Objective

(b) Deposits of less than amount equal to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount

(1) After September 17, 1978, no foreign bank may establish a branch, and after one year following such date no foreign bank may operate a branch, in any State in which the deposits of a bank organized and existing under the laws of that State would be required to be insured, unless the branch is an insured branch as defined in section 3(s) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1813(s)], or unless the branch will not thereafter accept deposits of less than an amount equal to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount, or unless the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation determines by order or regulation that the branch is not engaged in domestic retail deposit activities requiring deposit insurance protection, taking account of the size and nature of depositors and deposit accounts.

(2) Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, a branch of a foreign bank in operation on September 17, 1978, which has applied for Federal deposit insurance pursuant to section 5 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1815] by September 17, 1979, and has not had such application denied, may continue to accept domestic retail deposits until January 31, 1980.

(d) Retail deposit-taking by foreign banks

(1) In general

After December 19, 1991, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any provision of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.], in order to accept or maintain domestic retail deposit accounts having balances of less than an amount equal to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount, and requiring deposit insurance protection, a foreign bank shall—

(A) establish 1 or more banking subsidiaries in the United States for that purpose; and

(B) obtain Federal deposit insurance for any such subsidiary in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

(2) Exception

(3) Insured banks in U.S. territories

(e) Standard maximum deposit insurance amount defined

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 6, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 614; Pub. L. 96–64, Sept. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 214(a), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2303; Pub. L. 102–550, title XVI, § 1604(a)(10), (11), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4082, 4083; Pub. L. 102–558, title III, §§ 302(a), 305, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4224, 4226; Pub. L. 103–328, title I, § 107(a), (d), Sept. 29, 1994, 108 Stat. 2358, 2360; Pub. L. 109–173, § 2(c)(4), Feb. 15, 2006, 119 Stat. 3602.)

§ 3105. Authority of Federal Reserve System

(a) Bank reserves

(1)

(A) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, sections 371a,

(B) After consultation and in cooperation with the State bank supervisory authorities, the Board may make applicable to any State branch or State agency any requirement made applicable to, or which the Board has authority to impose upon, any Federal branch or agency under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(2) A branch or agency shall be subject to this subsection only if (A) its parent foreign bank has total worldwide consolidated bank assets in excess of $1,000,000,000; (B) its parent foreign bank is controlled by a foreign company which owns or controls foreign banks that in the aggregate have total worldwide consolidated bank assets in excess of $1,000,000,000; or (C) its parent foreign bank is controlled by a group of foreign companies that own or control foreign banks that in the aggregate have total worldwide consolidated bank assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

(b) Omitted

(1) Examination of branches, agencies, and affiliates

(A) In general

(B) Coordination of examinations

(i) In general

(ii) Simultaneous examinations

(iii) Avoidance of duplication

(D) Cost of examinations

(2) Reporting requirements

(d) Establishment of foreign bank offices in United States

(1) Prior approval required

(2) Required standards for approval

Except as provided in paragraph (6), the Board may not approve an application under paragraph (1) unless it determines that—

(A) the foreign bank engages directly in the business of banking outside of the United States and is subject to comprehensive supervision or regulation on a consolidated basis by the appropriate authorities in its home country; and

(B) the foreign bank has furnished to the Board the information it needs to adequately assess the application.

(3) Standards for approval

In acting on any application under paragraph (1), the Board may take into account—

(A) whether the appropriate authorities in the home country of the foreign bank have consented to the proposed establishment of a branch, agency or commercial lending company in the United States by the foreign bank;

(B) the financial and managerial resources of the foreign bank, including the bank’s experience and capacity to engage in international banking;

(C) whether the foreign bank has provided the Board with adequate assurances that the bank will make available to the Board such information on the operations or activities of the foreign bank and any affiliate of the bank that the Board deems necessary to determine and enforce compliance with this chapter, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.], and other applicable Federal law;

(D) whether the foreign bank and the United States affiliates of the bank are in compliance with applicable United States law; and

(E) for a foreign bank that presents a risk to the stability of United States financial system, whether the home country of the foreign bank has adopted, or is making demonstrable progress toward adopting, an appropriate system of financial regulation for the financial system of such home country to mitigate such risk.

(4) Factor

(5) Establishment of conditions

(6) Exception

(A) In general

If the Board is unable to find, under paragraph (2), that a foreign bank is subject to comprehensive supervision or regulation on a consolidated basis by the appropriate authorities in its home country, the Board may nevertheless approve an application by such foreign bank under paragraph (1) if—

(i) the appropriate authorities in the home country of the foreign bank are actively working to establish arrangements for the consolidated supervision of such bank; and

(ii) all other factors are consistent with approval.

(B) Other considerations

(D) Modification of conditions

(7) Time period for Board action

(A) Final action

(B) Failure to submit information

(e) Termination of foreign bank offices in United States

(1) Standards for termination

The Board, after notice and opportunity for hearing and notice to any appropriate State bank supervisor, may order a foreign bank that operates a State branch or agency or commercial lending company subsidiary in the United States to terminate the activities of such branch, agency, or subsidiary if the Board finds that—

(A)

(i) the foreign bank is not subject to comprehensive supervision or regulation on a consolidated basis by the appropriate authorities in its home country; and

(ii) the appropriate authorities in the home country of the foreign bank are not making demonstrable progress in establishing arrangements for the comprehensive supervision or regulation of such foreign bank on a consolidated basis;

(B)

(i) there is reasonable cause to believe that such foreign bank, or any affiliate of such foreign bank, has committed a violation of law or engaged in an unsafe or unsound banking practice in the United States; and

(ii) as a result of such violation or practice, the continued operation of the foreign bank’s branch, agency or commercial lending company subsidiary in the United States would not be consistent with the public interest or with the purposes of this chapter, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.], or the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.]; or

(C) for a foreign bank that presents a risk to the stability of the United States financial system, the home country of the foreign bank has not adopted, or made demonstrable progress toward adopting, an appropriate system of financial regulation to mitigate such risk.

However, in making findings under this paragraph, the Board shall not make size the sole determinant factor, and may take into account the needs of the community as well as the length of operation of the foreign bank and its relative size in its home country. Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the ability of the Board to order a State branch, agency, or commercial lending company subsidiary to terminate its activities in the United States pursuant to any standard set forth in this chapter.

(2) Discretion to deny hearing

(3) Effective date of termination order

(4) Compliance with State and Federal law

(5) Recommendation to agency for termination of a Federal branch or agency

(6) Enforcement of orders

(A) In general

In the case of contumacy of any office or subsidiary of the foreign bank against which—

(i) the Board has issued an order under paragraph (1); or

(ii) the Comptroller of the Currency has issued an order under section 3102(i) of this title,

or a refusal by such office or subsidiary to comply with such order, the Board or the Comptroller of the Currency may invoke the aid of the district court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the office or subsidiary is located.

(B) Court order

(7) Criteria relating to foreign supervision

(f) Judicial review

(1) Jurisdiction of United States courts of appeals

Any foreign bank—

(A) whose application under subsection (d) or section 3107(a) of this title has been disapproved by the Board;

(B) against which the Board has issued an order under subsection (e) or section 3107(b) of this title; or

may obtain a review of such order in the United States court of appeals for any circuit in which such foreign bank operates a branch, agency, or commercial lending company that has been required by such order to terminate its activities, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, by filing a petition for review in the court before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the order was issued.

(2) Scope of judicial review

(g) Consultation with State bank supervisor

(h) Limitations on powers of State branches and agencies

(1) In general

After the end of the 1-year period beginning on December 19, 1991, a State branch or State agency may not engage in any type of activity that is not permissible for a Federal branch unless—

(A) the Board has determined that such activity is consistent with sound banking practice; and

(B) in the case of an insured branch, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has determined that the activity would pose no significant risk to the deposit insurance fund.

(2) Single borrower lending limit

(3) Other authority not affected

(i) Proceedings related to conviction for money laundering offenses

(1) Notice of intention to issue order

If the Board finds or receives written notice from the Attorney General that—

(A) any foreign bank which operates a State agency, a State branch which is not an insured branch, or a State commercial lending company subsidiary;

(B) any State agency;

(D) any State commercial lending subsidiary,

has been found guilty of any money laundering offense, the Board shall issue a notice to the agency, branch, or subsidiary of the Board’s intention to commence a termination proceeding under subsection (e).

(2) Definitions

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) Insured branch

(B) Money laundering offense defined

(j) Study on equivalence of foreign bank capital

Not later than 180 days after December 19, 1991, the Board and the Secretary of the Treasury shall jointly submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of Representatives a report—

(1) analyzing the capital standards contained in the framework for measurement of capital adequacy established by the Supervisory Committee of the Bank for International Settlements, foreign regulatory capital standards that apply to foreign banks conducting banking operations in the United States, and the relationship of the Basle and foreign standards to risk-based capital and leverage requirements for United States banks; and

(2) establishing guidelines for the adjustments to be used by the Board in converting data on the capital of such foreign banks to the equivalent risk-based capital and leverage requirements for United States banks for purposes of determining whether a foreign bank’s capital level is equivalent to that imposed on United States banks for purposes of determinations under this section and sections 3 and 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1842, 1843].

An update shall be prepared annually explaining any changes in the analysis under paragraph (1) and resulting changes in the guidelines pursuant to paragraph (2).

(k) Management of shell branches

(1) Transactions prohibited

(2) Regulations

Any regulations promulgated to carry out this section—

(A) shall be promulgated in accordance with section 3108 of this title; and

(B) shall be uniform, to the extent practicable.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 7, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 620; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, §§ 202(a), 203(a), 214(b), Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2286, 2291, 2304; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1507, title XVI, § 1604(a)(1), (2), (12), (13), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4056, 4081–4083; Pub. L. 103–328, title I, § 107(e)(1), Sept. 29, 1994, 108 Stat. 2360; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2214, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–411; Pub. L. 111–203, title I, § 173(a), (b), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1440.)

§ 3106. Nonbanking activities of foreign banks

(a) Applicability of Bank Holding Company Acts

(b) Ownership or control of shares of nonbanking companies for certain period

(1) After December 31, 1985, a foreign bank or other company to which subsection (a) applies on September 17, 1978, or on the date of the establishment of a branch in a State an application for which was filed on or before July 26, 1978, may continue to engage in nonbanking activities in the United States in which directly or through an affiliate it was lawfully engaged on July 26, 1978 (or on a date subsequent to July 26, 1978, in the case of activities carried on as the result of the direct or indirect acquisition, pursuant to a binding written contract entered into on or before July 26, 1978, of another company engaged in such activities at the time of acquisition), and may engage directly or through an affiliate in nonbanking activities in the United States which are covered by an application to engage in such activities which was filed on or before July 26, 1978; except that the Board by order, after opportunity for hearing, may terminate the authority conferred by this subsection on any such foreign bank or company to engage directly or through an affiliate in any activity otherwise permitted by this subsection if it determines having due regard to the purposes of this chapter and the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.], that such action is necessary to prevent undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest, or unsound banking practices in the United States. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a foreign bank or company referred to in this subsection may retain ownership or control of any voting shares (or, where necessary to prevent dilution of its voting interest, acquire additional voting shares) of any domestically-controlled affiliate covered in 1978 which since July 26, 1978, has engaged in the business of underwriting, distributing, or otherwise buying or selling stocks, bonds, and other securities in the United States, notwithstanding that such affiliate acquired after July 26, 1978, an interest in, or any or all of the assets of, a going concern, or commences to engage in any new activity or activities. Except in the case of affiliates described in the preceding sentence, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize any foreign bank or company referred to in this subsection, or any affiliate thereof, to engage in activities authorized by this subsection through the acquisition, pursuant to a contract entered into after July 26, 1978, of any interest in or the assets of a going concern engaged in such activities. Any foreign bank or company that is authorized to engage in any activity pursuant to this subsection but, as a result of action of the Board, is required to terminate such activity may retain the ownership of control of shares in any company carrying on such activity for a period of two years from the date on which its authority was so terminated by the Board. As used in this subsection, the term “affiliate” shall mean any company more than 5 per centum of whose voting shares is directly or indirectly owned or controlled or held with power to vote by the specified foreign bank or company, and the term “domestically-controlled affiliate covered in 1978” shall mean an affiliate organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof if (i) no foreign bank or group of foreign banks acting in concert owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 45 per centum or more of its voting shares, and (ii) no more than 20 per centum of the number of directors as established from time to time to constitute the whole board of directors and 20 per centum of the executive officers of such affiliate are persons affiliated with any such foreign bank. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, the term “persons affiliated with any such foreign bank” shall mean (A) any person who is or was an employee, officer, agent, or director of such foreign bank or who otherwise has or had such a relationship with such foreign bank that would lead such person to represent the interests of such foreign bank, and (B) in the case of any director of such domestically controlled affiliate covered in 1978, any person in favor of whose election as a director votes were cast by less than two-thirds of all shares voting in connection with such election other than shares owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any such foreign bank.

(2) The authority conferred by this subsection on a foreign bank or other company shall terminate 2 years after the date on which such foreign bank or other company becomes a “bank holding company” as defined in section 2(a) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(a)); except that the Board may, upon application of such foreign bank or other company, extend the 2-year period for not more than one year at a time, if, in its judgment, such an extension would not be detrimental to the public interest, but no such extensions shall exceed 3 years in the aggregate.

(3)Termination of grandfathered rights.—

(A)In general.—If any foreign bank or foreign company files a declaration under section 4(l)(1)(C) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1843(l)(1)(C)], any authority conferred by this subsection on any foreign bank or company to engage in any activity that the Board has determined to be permissible for financial holding companies under section 4(k) of such Act [

(B)Restrictions and requirements authorized.—If a foreign bank or company that engages, directly or through an affiliate pursuant to paragraph (1), in an activity that the Board has determined to be permissible for financial holding companies under section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [12 U.S.C. 1843(k)] has not filed a declaration with the Board of its status as a financial holding company under such section by the end of the 2-year period beginning on November 12, 1999, the Board, giving due regard to the principle of national treatment and equality of competitive opportunity, may impose such restrictions and requirements on the conduct of such activities by such foreign bank or company as are comparable to those imposed on a financial holding company organized under the laws of the United States, including a requirement to conduct such activities in compliance with any prudential safeguards established under section 1828a of this title.

(d) Construction of terms

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 8(a)–(d), Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 622, 623; Pub. L. 97–320, title VII, §§ 704, 705, Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1539; Pub. L. 100–86, title II, § 204, Aug. 10, 1987, 101 Stat. 584; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 207, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2295; Pub. L. 106–102, title I, § 141, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1383.)

§ 3106a. Compliance with State and Federal laws

(1) Every branch or agency of a foreign bank and every commercial lending company controlled by one or more foreign banks or by one or more foreign companies that control a foreign bank shall conduct its operations in the United States in full compliance with provisions of any law of the United States or any State thereof which—

(A) impose requirements that protect the rights of consumers in financial transactions, to the extent that the branch, agency, or commercial lending company engages in activities that are subject to such laws;

(B) prohibit discrimination against any individual or other person on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age, or national origin of (i) such individual or other person or (ii) any officer, director, employee, or creditor of, or any owner of any interest in, such individual or other person; and

(C) apply to national banks or State-chartered banks doing business in the State in which such branch or agency or commercial lending company, as the case may be, is doing business.

(2) No application for a branch or agency shall be approved by the Comptroller or by a State bank supervisory authority, as the case may be, unless the entity making the application has agreed to conduct all of its operations in the United States in full compliance with provisions of any law of the United States or any State thereof which—

(B) prohibit discrimination against individuals or other persons on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age, or national origin of (i) such individual or other person or (ii) any officer, director, employee, or creditor of, or any owner of any interest in, such individual or other person; and

(C) apply to national banks or State-chartered banks doing business in the State in which the entity to be established is to do business.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 9(b), as added Pub. L. 95–630, title III, § 311, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3678; amended Pub. L. 103–328, title I, § 107(c), Sept. 29, 1994, 108 Stat. 2360.)

§ 3107. Representative offices

(a) Prior approval to establish representative offices

(1) In general

(2) Standards for approval

(b) Termination of representative offices

(d) Compliance with State law

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 10, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 624; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 204, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2292; Pub. L. 102–550, title XVI, § 1604(a)(4), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4082; Pub. L. 106–102, title I, § 142(b), Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1384.)

§ 3108. Regulation and enforcement

(a) Rules, regulations and orders

(b) Enforcement

(1) In general

(2) Authority to administer oaths; subpoena power

In the course of, or in connection with, an application, examination, investigation, or other proceeding under this chapter, the Board, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as the case may be, any member of the Board or of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and any designated representative of the Board, Comptroller, or Corporation (including any person designated to conduct any hearing under this chapter) may—

(A) administer oaths and affirmations and take or cause to be taken depositions; and

(B) issue, revoke, quash, or modify any subpoena, including any subpoena requiring the attendance and testimony of a witness or any subpoenas duces tecum.

(3) Administrative aspects of subpoenas

(A) Attendance and production at designated site

(B) Service of subpoena

(4) Contumacy or refusal

(A) In general

In the case of contumacy of any person issued a subpoena under this subsection or a refusal by such person to comply with such subpoena, the Board, Comptroller of the Currency, or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any other party to proceedings in connection with which subpoena was issued may invoke the aid of—

(i) the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or

(ii) any district court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the proceeding is being conducted or the witness resides or carries on business.

(B) Court order

(5) Expenses and fees

(6) Criminal penalty

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 13, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 624; Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 209, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2297.)

§ 3109. Cooperation with foreign supervisors

(a) Disclosure of supervisory information to foreign supervisors

(b) Requirement of confidentiality

(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (3), a Federal banking agency may not be compelled to disclose information received from a foreign regulatory or supervisory authority if—

(A) the Federal banking agency determines that the foreign regulatory or supervisory authority has, in good faith, determined and represented in writing to such Federal banking agency that public disclosure of the information would violate the laws applicable to that foreign regulatory or supervisory authority; and

(B) the relevant Federal banking agency obtained such information pursuant to—

(i) such procedures as the Federal banking agency may establish for use in connection with the administration and enforcement of Federal banking laws; or

(ii) a memorandum of understanding or other similar arrangement between the Federal banking agency and the foreign regulatory or supervisory authority.

(2) Treatment under title 5

(3) Savings provisionNo provision of this section shall be construed as—

(A) authorizing any Federal banking agency to withhold any information from any duly authorized committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate; or

(B) preventing any Federal banking agency from complying with an order of a court of the United States in an action commenced by the United States or such agency.

(4) Federal banking agency defined

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 15, as added Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 206, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2294; amended Pub. L. 109–351, title VII, § 709, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1990.)

§ 3110. Penalties

(a) Civil money penalty

(1) In general

(2) Assessment procedures

(3) Hearing procedure

(4) Disbursement

(5) “Violate” defined

(6) Regulations

(b) Notice under this section after separation from service

(1) First tierAny foreign bank, or any office or subsidiary of a foreign bank, that—

(A) maintains procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any inadvertent error and, unintentionally and as a result of such error—

(i) fails to make, submit, or publish such reports or information as may be required under this chapter or under regulations prescribed by the Board or the Comptroller of the Currency under this chapter, within the period of time specified by the agency; or

(ii) submits or publishes any false or misleading report or information; or

(B) inadvertently transmits or publishes any report that is minimally late,

shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $2,000 for each day during which such failure continues or such false or misleading information is not corrected. The foreign bank, or the office or subsidiary of a foreign bank, shall have the burden of proving that an error was inadvertent and that a report was inadvertently transmitted or published late.

(2) Second tierAny foreign bank, or any office or subsidiary of a foreign bank, that—

(A) fails to make, submit, or publish such reports or information as may be required under this chapter or under regulations prescribed by the Board or the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to this chapter, within the time period specified by such agency; or

(B) submits or publishes any false or misleading report or information,

in a manner not described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $20,000 for each day during which such failure continues or such false or misleading information is not corrected.

(3) Third tier

(4) Assessment of penalties

(5) Hearing procedure

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 16, as added Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 208, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2295.)

§ 3111. Criminal penalty

Whoever, with the intent to deceive, to gain financially, or to cause financial gain or loss to any person, knowingly violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation or order issued by the appropriate Federal banking agency under this chapter shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years or fined not more than $1,000,000 for each day during which a violation continues, or both.

(Pub. L. 95–369, § 17, as added Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 213, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2303.)