New York Banking Law


Article 3
Banks and Trust companies
Section 94. Change from bank to trust company; from trust company to bank. 96. General powers. 96-a. Servicing of mortgages by banks. 96-b. Payroll payment by banks or trust companies. 96-c. Power to act as trustee under self-employed retirement trust or individual retirement trust. 96-d. Banking development districts. 97. Power to purchase securities and stocks. 98. Power to take and hold real estate; restrictions. 98-a. Club accounts. 100. Fiduciary powers. 100-a. Fiduciary capacities; appointment by court authorized; bond; oath; accounting. 100-b. Investments as fiduciary; when interest is to be paid; preference. 100-c. Common trust funds. 100-d. Foreign common trust funds. 101. Additional powers of certain trust companies. 102. Powers of specially chartered trust companies. 102-a. Limited liability trust companies. 103. Restrictions on loans, purchases of securities and total liabilities to bank or trust company of any one person. 104. Entries in books; restrictions; amortization of securities. 105. Branch offices; prohibition against doing business at unauthorized places. 105-a. Electronic facilities. 106. Deposits by banks and trust companies with other banking corporations and private bankers; restrictions. 107. Reserves against deposits. 107-a. Security for public deposits. 108. Rates of interest; installment obligations; personal loan departments. 108-a. Acceptance of United States currency. 109. Closing of books; profits; how to be computed. 110. Surplus fund; of what composed, and for what purposes used. 111. Profits; credits to surplus fund and to undivided profits. 112. Dividends; payable from net profits; restrictions. 113. Change of location; change of designation of principal office. 114. Assessment of stockholders to make good impairment of capital stock; sale of stock. 121. Reports to directors. 122. Examinations of banks and trust companies by directors; employment of assistants. 123. Reports of directors` examinations. 124. Communications from banking department to be submitted to directors and noted in minutes. 125. Reports to superintendent; penalty for failure to make. 128. Preservation of books and records. 129. Requirement of notice on withdrawal of certain time deposits; notice to superintendent. 130. Restrictions on officers, directors and employees. 131. Prohibitions against encroachments upon certain powers of banks and trust companies. 132. Use of sign, or words, indicating bank or trust company by unauthorized persons prohibited. 133. Use of banking organization name. 134. Repayment of deposits standing in the names of minors, trustees or joint depositors; repayment where adverse claim is asserted; interpleader in certain actions; effect of claims or advices originating in, and statutes, rules or regulations purporting to be in force in occupied territories. 136. Change of national banking association into state bank by conversion or merger. 136-a. Purchase of assets of national banking association by bank or trust company. 136-b. Approval of superintendent. 136-c. Effect of merger or conversion of national banking association into state bank. 137. Change of state bank into national banking association by conversion, merger or consolidation. 138. Foreign branches; performance of contracts and repayment of deposits. 139. Saving clause. 140-a. Stock option plans. S 94. Change from bank to trust company; from trust company to bank. A bank complying with the minimum capital stock requirements specified in subdivision nine of section four thousand one of this chapter may become a trust company by filing a certificate pursuant to subdivision two of section eight thousand one of this chapter to provide that it shall have the powers specified in section one hundred of this article. A trust company may become a bank by filing a certificate pursuant to subdivision two of section eight thousand one of this chapter to provide that it shall not have the powers specified in section one hundred of this article. Prior to or simultaneously with the filing of such certificate, such trust company shall if its title contains the term "trust company" file a certificate pursuant to subdivision two of section eight thousand one of this chapter for the purpose of omitting such term from its title. S 96. General powers. Every bank and every trust company shall, subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this chapter, have the following powers: 1. To discount, purchase and negotiate promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, other evidences of debt, and obligations in writing to pay in installments or otherwise all or part of the price of personal property or that of the performance of services; purchase accounts receivable, whether or not they are obligations in writing; lend money on real or personal security; borrow money and secure such borrowings by pledging assets; buy and sell exchange, coin and bullion; and receive deposits of moneys, securities or other personal property upon such terms as the bank or trust company shall prescribe; and exercise all such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry on the business of banking. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "accounts receivable" shall not include the right to receive payment for property to be sold at a future date or services to be rendered at a future date. 2. To accept for payment at a future date, drafts drawn upon it by its customers and to issue letters of credit authorizing the holders thereof to draw upon it or its correspondents at sight or on time. 3. (a) To receive upon deposit for safe-keeping for hire upon terms and conditions to be prescribed by the bank or trust company, money, securities, papers of any kind and any other personal property; (b) To engage in the safe deposit business by renting vaults, safe deposit boxes and other receptacles upon premises occupied by the bank or trust company, upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the bank or trust company. 4. To issue by its board of directors capital notes or debentures, when so specifically authorized by the superintendent, and, when so specifically authorized by the superintendent, to receive in payment therefor, in whole or in part, mortgages, interests therein or other property and to retain, unrecorded or unregistered, assignments or conveyances of such mortgages, interests therein or other property, provided that the superintendent shall not approve the retention of any assignment of mortgage or interest therein or any conveyance of other property, which may be recorded or registered, without record or registration thereof, except where such mortgage, interest therein or other property is assigned or conveyed by a corporation organized under the banking law or by a corporation wholly owned by not less than twenty savings banks of this state. 5. To become a member of a federal reserve bank, and to have and exercise all powers, not in conflict with the laws of this state, which are conferred upon any such member by the federal reserve act. Such bank or trust company and its directors, officers and stockholders shall continue to be subject, however, to all liabilities and duties imposed upon them by any law of this state and to all the provisions of this chapter relating to banks and trust companies. 6. To assume and discharge such obligations to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as may be necessary or required for the purpose of maintaining deposit insurance in such corporation. 7. (a) To act as financial agent of the United States Government and as depositary of public money of the United States (including, without being limited to, revenues and funds of the United States, and any funds the deposit of which is subject to the control or regulation of the United States or any of its officers, agents, or employees, and Postal Savings funds); and to perform all such reasonable duties as depositary of such public money and as financial agent of the United States Government as may be required of it; and to pledge assets or furnish other security, satisfactory in form and amount to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, for the safekeeping and prompt payment of such public money deposited with it and for the faithful performance of its duties as financial agent of the United States Government. (b) To pledge assets or furnish other security, satisfactory in form and amount to judges of courts of bankruptcy, for the repayment of deposits of the money of estates under the national bankruptcy act. (c) To pledge assets or furnish other security, satisfactory in form and amount to the depositor, for the repayment of moneys held in the name of any state (which term shall include every territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), or of any foreign nation, or of any Indian nation or tribe, or of any political subdivision or instrumentality or authority of any of them, when required to be secured by applicable law, decree, regulation or resolution, and to pledge assets or furnish other security for the repayment of moneys held as fiduciary, or in the name of a fiduciary, of any trust created by any such state, foreign nation, Indian nation or tribe, political subdivision, instrumentality or authority as required by the terms of such trust; provided, however, that before any pledge or security is made or furnished to any depositor other than this state or a political subdivision, instrumentality or authority of this state, the bank or trust company shall obtain a certified or official copy of such law, decree, regulation, or resolution or trust requiring such pledge or other security, and an opinion of counsel that such pledge or security is required by such law, decree, regulation, or resolution or by the terms of such trust. 9. To execute and deliver such guaranties as may be incidental to carrying on the business of a bank or trust company. 10. To exercise, subject to such regulations as may be issued from time to time by the banking board, through any foreign branch office (other than one opened or occupied in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) opened and occupied with the approval of the superintendent and the banking board as provided in section one hundred five of this chapter, such further powers as may be usual in connection with the transaction of the business of banking in the place where such foreign branch office shall transact business, provided that no such foreign branch office shall engage in the general business of producing, distributing, buying or selling goods, wares, or merchandise, nor, except with respect to securities issued by any foreign nation or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, engage or participate, directly or indirectly, in the business of underwriting, selling or distributing securities. 11. To designate one or more agents (except its employees) to issue or sell its travelers checks or money orders at locations other than its principal office or branch offices authorized pursuant to section one hundred five of this chapter, subject to such rules and regulations as the superintendent may make from time to time. 12. To acquire and lease personal property, or to acquire personal property subject to an existing lease together with the lessor`s interest therein, subject to such limitations and conditions as the banking board may from time to time prescribe by general regulation. 13. To reserve or order transportation, travel accommodations or other travel services. 14. To arrange, purchase or sell loans secured by liens on interests in real estate, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as may be prescribed by the superintendent by regulation. * 16. In addition to such authority as is contained in section ninety-eight of this chapter and notwithstanding any limitations set forth therein, to purchase, lease, exchange or otherwise acquire real property, improved or unimproved, or any interest therein, to erect, construct, rebuild, enlarge, alter, improve, maintain, manage and operate buildings or other improvements of any description thereon, to sell, lease, sublet, mortgage, exchange or otherwise dispose of same and execute, perform and carry out contracts for construction, alteration, improvement, maintenance, management or repair thereof, to make loans in connection therewith, as owner, co-owner or otherwise, subject to such specific or general approvals and limitations as shall be required by regulations promulgated from time to time by the banking board pursuant to this subdivision; provided, however, that no activity specified herein shall be undertaken pursuant to the authority contained in this subdivision until the banking board shall have issued regulations specifying the limitations and requirements which shall be imposed in connection with the investments and activities referred to herein, including, without limitation, the consideration of such bank or trust company`s record in meeting the credit needs of local communities within the meaning of section twenty-eight-b of this chapter. * NB Expires June 30, 1988 S 96-a. Servicing of mortgages by banks. 1. Every bank shall, subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this article, have the power to service mortgages, and the superintendent shall have the power to prescribe, by specific or general regulation, the extent to which, and the conditions upon which, mortgages may be serviced. 2. No bank shall, by virtue of the provisions contained in this section, be deemed to have the powers defined and described in subdivision two of section one hundred of this article. 3. The grant of powers to banks by or pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to limit or restrict any other banking organizations, heretofore or hereafter organized, in the exercise of their lawful powers. S 96-b. Payroll payment by banks or trust companies. l. Every bank and trust company shall have the power to enter into contracts with any municipal corporation, school district, district corporation, town or county improvement district, public authority, or public corporation to receive in a single payment, for each pay period, the total payroll of such corporations, districts or authorities and deposit the same in accordance with the terms of such contract, which shall include provision for deposits for withholding, retirement and insurance, if any. 2. The amount due each employee shall be disbursed or credited in accordance with the directions of each employee to saving or checking accounts, or loan or mortgage accounts within such bank or trust company or to a single account in another bank or trust company or savings bank or savings and loan association or may be payable in cash or by check to such employee. S 96-c. Power to act as trustee under self-employed retirement trust or individual retirement trust. Every bank without fiduciary powers may, subject to any regulations and restrictions prescribed by the superintendent of banks, act as trustee under a retirement plan established pursuant to the provisions of the act of congress entitled "Self-employed Individuals Tax Retirement Act of 1962" as such provisions may be amended from time to time, and under an individual retirement account plan established pursuant to the amendments to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code contained in the act of congress entitled "Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974" as such provisions may be amended from time to time, provided that the provisions of such retirement or individual retirement account plan require the funds of such trust to be invested exclusively in deposits in banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations or federal savings and loan associations whose principal offices are located in this state. In the event that any such retirement or individual retirement account plan, which in the judgment of the bank, constituted a qualified plan under the provisions of the applicable act of congress hereinabove mentioned and the regulations promulgated thereunder at the time the trust was established and accepted by the bank is subsequently determined not to be such a qualified plan or subsequently ceases to be such a qualified plan, in whole or in part, the bank may, nevertheless, continue to act as trustee of any deposits theretofore made under such plan and to dispose of the same in accordance with the directions of the depositor and the beneficiaries thereof. No bank, in respect to deposits made under this section, shall be required to segregate such deposits from other deposits of such bank, provided, however, that the bank shall keep appropriate records showing in proper detail all transactions engaged in under the authority of this section. S 96-d. Banking development districts. 1. * There is hereby created a banking development district program, the purpose of which is to encourage the establishment of bank branches in geographic locations where there is a demonstrated need for banking services. The banking board shall, in consultation with the department of economic development, promulgate rules and regulations, after public hearing and comment, which set forth the criteria for the establishment of banking development districts. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the following: * NB Repealed January 1, 2005 * There is hereby created a banking development district program, the purpose of which is to encourage the establishment of commercial bank branches in geographic locations where there is a demonstrated need for banking services. The banking board shall, in consultation with the department of economic development, promulgate rules and regulations, after public hearing and comment, which set forth the criteria for the establishment of banking development districts. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the following: * NB Effective January 1, 2005 (a) the location, number, and proximity of sites where banking services are available within the district; (b) the identification of consumer needs for banking services within the district; (c) the economic viability and local credit needs of the community within the district; (d) the existing commercial development within the district; (e) the impact additional banking services would have on potential economic development in the district; and (f) such other criteria which the superintendent in his or her discretion shall identify as appropriate. 2. A local government, in conjunction with a bank, trust company or national bank, may submit an application to the superintendent for the designation of a banking development district. The superintendent shall issue a determination on such an application within sixty days of receiving such application. If an application is approved, the superintendent shall transmit notification of such approval to the local government, the bank, trust company or national bank, the state comptroller, the commissioner of taxation and finance, the commissioner of the department of economic development, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. 2-a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an application may be submitted by a local government in conjunction with a bank, trust company or national bank which has already opened a bank branch within such area, provided such branch was opened after December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-six. In considering the criteria authorized pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the superintendent shall also take into account the importance and benefits of preserving the banking services offered by the existing branch. * 3. The establishment of a branch in a banking development district by a bank, trust company or national bank shall be subject to all applicable state and federal laws regarding the establishment of branch offices, including the provisions of section one hundred five of this article, provided however that the branch application fee required pursuant to section twenty-nine of this chapter shall be waived for any such branch. A bank or trust company may submit an application to open a branch office simultaneously with the submission of the application for the designation of a banking development district. * NB Repealed January 1, 2005 * 3. The establishment of a branch in a banking development district by a bank, trust company or national bank shall be subject to all applicable state and federal laws regarding the establishment of branch offices, including the provisions of section one hundred five of this article. A bank or trust company may submit an application to open a branch office simultaneously with the submission of the application for the designation of a banking development district. * NB Effective January 1, 2005 4. For the purposes of this section, the term "local government" shall mean a county, town, city or village. * 5. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision two of section two hundred thirty-seven of this chapter; for the purposes of this section, paragraph c of subdivision two of section ten of the general municipal law, subdivision six of section one hundred five of the state finance law and section four hundred eighty-five-f of the real property tax law, any reference to a bank, trust company or national bank shall be deemed to include a savings bank, savings and loan association, federal savings and loan association or federal savings bank; provided, however, that such provisions of law do not grant a savings bank, savings and loan association, federal savings and loan association or federal savings bank eligibility to accept municipal or public funds or municipal or public moneys other than for the limited purposes of the establishment of a branch in a banking development district pursuant to this section. Any such municipal or public funds or moneys shall be deposited only at the branch established pursuant to this section, and any municipal funds or moneys may be deposited only by the sponsoring municipality in which the branch and banking development district are located; provided further that any such municipal or public funds or moneys shall be subject to the same requirements which apply to municipal or public funds or moneys deposited in a bank, trust company or national bank and shall also be subject to the provisions of section one hundred five of the state finance law or section ten of the general municipal law relating to such deposits. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the banking board shall promulgate rules and regulations to authorize the participation of savings banks, savings and loan associations, federal savings banks and federal savings and loan associations in the program established pursuant to this section. * NB Repealed January 1, 2005 S 97. Power to purchase securities and stocks. Subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this chapter, a bank or trust company may invest in and have and exercise all rights of ownership with respect to: 1. Bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations for payment of money, which are not in default as to either principal or interest when acquired. 2. Stocks of any city, county, town or village of this state which are not in default as to either principal or interest when acquired. 3. Stock of a federal reserve bank in the amount necessary to qualify for membership in such reserve bank. 4. Stock of each of the following to an amount not in excess of ten per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company: (a) Any safe deposit company which does business on premises owned or leased by the bank or trust company or the vaults of which are connected with or adjacent to an office of such bank or trust company; provided that the purchase and holding of such stock is first duly authorized by resolution of the board of directors of the bank or trust company and by written approval of the superintendent, stating the number and amount of the shares which may be so purchased and held, excepting that the bank or trust company may, without the written approval of the superintendent, acquire the stock owned by a former director of the safe deposit company at the time that he ceased to be a director. The bank or trust company may not pay, without the prior written approval of the superintendent, more for such stock than the cost thereof to the director. (b) Any investment company qualified to exercise the powers specified in subdivision two of section five hundred eight of this chapter; (c) The Bank for International Settlements. 4-a. When the banking board shall have adopted such regulations as shall permit such ownership or investment, and subject to such restrictions as the banking board may prescribe, stock or other equity investments in subsidiary corporations engaged in, or to be organized to engage in the following activities: (a) To acquire and lease personal property under the same terms and conditions as provided in subdivision twelve of section ninety-six of this article; (b) To purchase accounts receivable as provided in subdivision one of section ninety-six of this article; (c) To be a corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of section twenty-five (a) of an act of congress entitled the "Federal Reserve Act"; (d) To own or operate real or personal property acquired through foreclosure or in settlement or reduction of debts due it; (e) To own or operate real or personal property for use as bank premises; or (f) To transact any other business in which the bank or trust company may engage directly. 4-b. Common or preferred stock of any corporation created or existing under the laws of the United States or of any state, district or territory thereof, or of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, provided that: (a) such common or preferred stock is registered on a national securities exchange, as provided in an act of congress of the United States entitled the "Securities Exchange Act of 1934", approved June sixth, nineteen hundred thirty-four, as amended, or such other exchange or market system as the superintendent shall approve by regulation; (b) the aggregate amount of all investments in common and preferred stock as permitted by this subdivision shall at no time exceed two percent of the assets or twenty percent of the capital, surplus and undivided profits of the bank or trust company, whichever is less; (c) the aggregate amount of all investments in the common and preferred stock of any one issuer pursuant to this subdivision, together with the aggregate amount of all investments in the bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations of such issuer made pursuant to paragraph (i) of subdivision one of section one hundred three of this chapter, shall at no time exceed one percent of the assets or fifteen percent of the capital, surplus and undivided profits of the bank or trust company, whichever is less; and (d) no bank or trust company shall at any time hold pursuant to this subdivision more than two percent of the total issued and outstanding shares of stock of any one issuer. 5. So much of the capital stock of any other corporation as may be specifically authorized by the laws of this state or by resolution of the banking board upon a three-fifths vote of all its members. The superintendent is authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as shall permit banks and trust companies to make a loan which provides for receipt of shares of stock of, or a share of the profits, income or earnings of, a borrower in consideration for making the loan. A bank or trust company may acquire stock in settlement or reduction of a loan, or advance of credit or in exchange for an investment previously made in good faith and in the ordinary course of business, where such acquisition of stock is necessary in order to minimize or avoid loss in connection with any such loan, advance of credit or investment previously made in good faith. A trust company may acquire stock from any estate, trust or fund with respect to which such trust company is acting in a fiduciary capacity, if a claim is asserted or may be asserted against it with respect to the purchase or retention of such stock for such estate, trust or fund, (a) where such acquisition by the trust company has been authorized or directed by a court, or (b) where such trust company has been advised by its counsel in writing that it has incurred a contingent or potential liability with respect to the purchase or retention of such stock and such trust company desires to relieve itself from such liability. Stocks acquired pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph may be held for such period as the board of directors deems advisable. A bank or trust company may continue to hold any bonds or other securities or stock which it holds in accordance with the provisions of law at the time this act takes effect. No bank or trust company shall purchase, acquire, or hold any stock of any corporation except as provided in this section. S 98. Power to take and hold real estate; restrictions. 1. A bank or trust company may purchase, hold, lease and convey real property as follows: (a) A plot whereon there is or may be erected a building suitable for the convenient transaction of its business, from portions of which not required for its own use a revenue may be derived, and a plot whereon parking accommodations are, or are to be, provided, with or without charge, primarily for its customers or employees or both, and a building or a portion or portions thereof for use by the bank or trust company in its business, provided that the aggregate of all investments of any bank or trust company in such plots and buildings and in a leased building or a portion or portions thereof or in the stock, debentures or other obligations of any corporation holding such plots or buildings and of all loans to or upon the security of the stock of any such corporation shall not exceed forty per centum of the aggregate of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company, except with the approval of the superintendent. Any bank or trust company having, prior to April twenty-third, nineteen hundred thirty-four, made loans and investments in excess of the limitations prescribed by this paragraph may retain any such loans and investments notwithstanding such limitations. (b) Such as shall be conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in the course of its business. (c) Such as it shall purchase at sales under judgments, decrees or mortgages held by it. (d) Such as may be specifically authorized by resolution of the banking board upon a three-fifths vote of all its members, provided, however, that the banking board upon a three-fifths vote of all its members may delegate to the superintendent the authority to approve the purchase, lease, conveyance or other acquisition or sale of real property which is located outside the United States, its territories and possessions, and which is used principally as the residence of one or more directors, officers, or employees of the bank or trust company. (e) A whole or part interest in a "project", as defined in the New York state urban development corporation act, pursuant to sections six or eight of such act. An investment by a bank or trust company in a single project shall not exceed one per centum of the assets or fifteen per centum of the combined capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company, whichever is less, and the aggregate of all investments of a bank or trust company in such projects and investments in securities of any "subsidiary" of the New York state urban development corporation, as defined in the New York state urban development corporation act, shall not exceed five per centum of the assets or seventy-five per centum of the combined capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company, whichever is less. 2. All real estate purchased by any bank or trust company or taken by it in settlement of debts due it, shall be conveyed to it in its name or, subject to such regulations and restrictions as the banking board finds to be necessary and proper, may be taken in the name of a duly authorized nominee. All such conveyances shall be immediately recorded or registered in the office of the proper recording officer of the county in which such real estate is located. S 98-a. Club accounts. 1. No contract under which a bank or trust company agrees to repay deposits of fixed sums made at regular intervals at a given time with all interest or dividends credited thereon, or to repay said deposits when, together with interest or dividends credited thereon, they shall equal a specified sum, may provide for any forfeiture of the sums deposited in the event of the discontinuance of the regular payments. Interest or dividends on club accounts, if offered, must be credited at least quarterly and may not be forfeited once credited, in the event of the discontinuance of regular payments. 2. Any bank which provides for deposits in club accounts shall, in all advertising, announcements or brochures pertaining to such accounts, state whether or not interest or dividends are paid thereon and, if interest or dividends are paid, shall state the rate or form of interest or dividends so paid in accordance with any rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the superintendent. S 100. Fiduciary powers. Every trust company shall have, subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this chapter, the following powers: 1. To act as the fiscal or transfer agent of the United States, any state, municipality, body politic or corporation; and in such capacity to receive and disburse money, to transfer, register and countersign certificates of stock, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness or other securities, and to act as attorney in fact or agent of any person or corporation, foreign or domestic, for any lawful purpose. 2. To act as trustee under any mortgage or bonds issued by any municipality, body politic or corporation, foreign or domestic, and accept and execute any other municipal or corporate trust not prohibited by the laws of this state. 3. To be appointed and to act under the order or appointment of any court of competent jurisdiction: (a) As guardian, receiver, trustee, committee or conservator of the estate of any minor, mentally ill person, mentally retarded person, person of unsound mind, alcohol abuser or conservatee or in any other fiduciary capacity; (b) As receiver, trustee, or committee of the property or estate of any person in insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings. 4. To be appointed and to accept the appointment of executor or of trustee under the last will and testament or administrator with or without the will annexed of the estate of any deceased person. 5. To take, accept and execute any and all such trusts, duties and powers of whatever nature or description as may be conferred upon or entrusted or committed to it by any person or persons, or any body politic, corporation, domestic or foreign, or other authority by grant, assignment, transfer, devise, bequest or otherwise, or which may be entrusted or committed or transferred to it or vested in it by order of any court of competent jurisdiction, or any surrogate, and to receive, take, manage, hold and dispose of according to the terms of such trust, duty or power, any property or estate, real or personal, which may be the subject of any such trust, duty or power. Provided that no trust company shall have any right or power to make any contract, or to accept or execute any trust whatever, which it would not be lawful for any individual to make, accept or execute. S 100-a. Fiduciary capacities; appointment by court authorized; bond; oath; accounting. 1. Executor. When any trust company is appointed executor in any last will and testament, the court or officer authorized to grant letters testamentary in this state, shall, upon the proper application, grant letters testamentary thereon to such trust company or to its successors by merger. 2. Guardian, trustee or administrator. (a) Any trust company may be appointed guardian, trustee or administrator, on the application or consent of any person acting as such or as an executor or entitled to such appointment irrespective of whether such person would himself be disqualified from acting by reason of his being an alien or non-resident of this state, and in the place and stead of such person, or such trust company may be joined with any person so acting or entitled to such appointment; but such appointments shall be made upon such notice, as is required by law, to the persons interested in the estate or fund and on the consent of such of the principal legatees or other persons interested in the estate or fund as the court, surrogate or judge making the appointment shall deem proper. No appointment so made shall be deemed to increase the number of persons entitled to full compensation beyond the number so entitled under the terms of the will or deed creating the trust or appointing a guardian or authorized by law. Whenever a person is joined with such trust company in any appointment as guardian, trustee or administrator, his appointment may be under such limitation of powers and upon such terms and conditions as to deposit of assets by such person, with such trust company, or otherwise, and upon such reduced bond or security to be given by such person, as the court, surrogate or judge, making the appointment shall prescribe. (b) When application is made to any court or officer having authority to grant letters of administration with the will annexed upon the estate of any deceased person, and there is no person entitled to such letters who is qualified, competent, willing and able to accept such administration, such court or officer may at the request of any party interested in the estate, grant such letters of administration with the will annexed, to any trust company. (c) Any court or officer having authority to grant letters of guardianship of any infant may upon the same application as is required by law for the appointment of a guardian for such infant, appoint any trust company as the guardian of the estate of such infant. 3. Committee of incompetent or conservator of a conservatee. Any court having jurisdiction to appoint a trustee, guardian, receiver, committee of the estate of a mentally ill person, mentally retarded person or alcohol abuser or conservator of the estate of a conservatee, or to make any fiduciary appointment, may appoint any trust company to be such trustee, guardian, receiver, committee or conservator, or to act in any other fiduciary capacity. 4. Receiver, trustee or committee. Any court, having jurisdiction to appoint a committee or trustee or a receiver in insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or in any other proceeding, or action, under state or federal law, may appoint any trust company to be such receiver, trustee or committee. 5. Bonds. No bond or other security, except as hereinafter provided, shall be required from any trust company for or in respect to any trust, nor when appointed executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, receiver, committee or depositary or in any other fiduciary capacity nor when receiving commissions under the provisions of SCPA 2310 or 2311. The court, or officer making such appointment may, upon proper application, require any trust company, which shall have been so appointed to give such security as to the court or officer shall seem proper, or upon failure of such trust company to give security as required, may remove such trust company from and revoke such appointment. 6. Court orders, accounts. Such court or officer may make orders respecting such trusts and require any such trust company to render all accounts, which such court or officer might lawfully require if such executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, receiver, committee, depositary or such trust company acting in any other fiduciary capacity, were a natural person. 7. No official oath required. Upon the appointment of such trust company as such executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, receiver or committee, no official oath shall be required. S 100-b. Investments as fiduciary; when interest is to be paid; preference. 1. Investments. All investments of money received by any trust company as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee of a trust of any kind, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary, shall be at its sole risk, and for all losses of such money the capital stock, property and effects of the trust company shall be absolutely liable, unless the investments are such as are proper when made by an individual acting as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary, or such as are permitted in and by the instrument or words creating or defining the trust. But no corporate fiduciary shall purchase securities from itself. Any moneys of any such estate or fund awaiting investment or distribution may be held on deposit by such trust company in its own name, subject to the provisions of subdivision four of this section; provided that appropriate entries showing the share or interest of each such estate or fund in the moneys so held on deposit shall, at all times, appear upon the records of such trust company. 2. On and after September first, nineteen hundred thirty-six, no trust company shall invest in any part interest in a bond and mortgage or note and mortgage on behalf of any estate or fund held by such trust company as executor, administrator, guardian, personal or testamentary trustee, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary except that if the instrument creating such estate or fund has authorized such trust company as executor, administrator, guardian, personal or testamentary trustee, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary to invest in any part interest in a bond and mortgage or note and mortgage insured by the federal housing commissioner such trust company may so invest and if the instrument creating an employee benefit trust has authorized such trust company to invest in any part interest in a bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, such trust company may so invest. Any part interest in a bond and mortgage or note and mortgage heretofore apportioned to any estate or fund and held by such trust company as executor, administrator, guardian, personal or testamentary trustee, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary, and outstanding at any time in the hands of any estate, fund or person may be repurchased at its face value by such corporation individually. Such trust company, in any case where it shall have apportioned or transferred a part interest in any bond and mortgage or note and mortgage whether to any estate or fund held by it alone or in conjunction with another person or otherwise, shall be authorized and empowered, in behalf of all persons interested therein, to collect the principal and interest and to satisfy and discharge the mortgage on receiving payment thereof in the amount and in the manner specified in the bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, to pay the said principal and interest to the persons entitled thereto and generally to exercise all of the options reserved to the mortgagee, to enforce in its own name by appropriate action or proceeding, including foreclosure, any and all of the covenants in the said bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, to take such other measures for the protection of the mortgage loan and the preservation of the security and the management of, utilization and sale of any real estate which may be acquired on foreclosure as may be necessary and appropriate and to exercise all other rights of ownership in respect of the entire bond and mortgage or note and mortgage. In case any bond, note or mortgage shall be held by, or in the name of, such trust company and it shall hold any part interest therein, acting as a fiduciary, whether alone, or in conjunction with another person or otherwise, it may, prior to April first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine, waive or modify or agree to waive or modify, either with or without consideration and prior or subsequent to maturity, any terms and conditions thereof, including the rate of interest, and extend or re-extend or agree to extend or re-extend such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, for a period of not more than five years from the time of such extension, by agreement with the owner of the real property subject to the lien thereof, upon the consent of the holders of such part interests to the extent of sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of the whole amount of such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, notwithstanding that, at the time of such waiver, modification, extension or agreement, the value of such real property may be less than that required by law for an original investment of such an amount therein by such holder and, in case any such investment is guaranteed, such trust company may also extend or re-extend or agree to extend or re-extend the time of payment under the guaranty for a like period from its due date, and may release or agree to release such guaranty or from time to time waive or modify or agree to waive or modify any terms and conditions thereof, including the rate of interest; provided however, that no such waiver, modification, extension or agreement shall be made or agreed to unless, at least fifteen days prior thereto, such trust company shall have notified each holder of such a part interest in such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage of the terms and conditions of such contemplated waiver, modification, extension or agreement. Such notice shall be given by mailing the same by registered mail to the address or place of residence of each holder according to the records of such trust company. The notice hereinbefore provided for shall not be required to be given to any holder of such a part interest in such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage (1) who, at the time of the mailing of such notice to holders of part interests in such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage, was not shown on the records of such trust company to be such holder, or (2) who, at any time whether before or after any such waiver, modification, extension or agreement shall have been made or agreed to, shall have consented to such waiver, modification, extension or agreement. Any such consent shall also be binding upon and shall be deemed to be the consent also of each and every holder of the part interest in such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage or of any part of such part interest with respect to which such consent was given who, at the time such consent was given, was not shown on the records of such trust company to be such holder whether or not such holder shall have become such holder before or after such consent was given. Any holder to whom the notice hereinbefore provided for is required to be given as hereinbefore provided and who objects to such waiver, modification, extension or agreement shall have the right to apply, within fifteen days after such notice shall have been mailed to such holder as hereinbefore provided, to the supreme court of the county in which the real property securing such mortgage is located and, subject to the discretion of the supreme court in the premises, to obtain an order enjoining such waiver, modification, extension or agreement. In the event of the granting of such an order, any holder shall have the right to apply to such supreme court and, subject to the discretion of the supreme court in the premises, to obtain an order directing a partition of such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage by a judicial sale thereof. Such sale shall be upon such notice and advertisement and at such time and place and in such manner as the court or a justice thereof may direct, but at least fifteen days` notice thereof shall be given to each holder. The proceeds of the sale of such bond and mortgage or note and mortgage after deducting the expenses of such sale, shall be paid into the supreme court and shall be distributed among such holders according to their respective interests therein. Such trust companies shall have all the powers heretofore had under this section or any other provision of law with respect to investments in part interests in bonds and mortgages or notes and mortgages for the protection, preservation and liquidation of the trust property. It is the intent of this subdivision to prohibit after August thirty-first, nineteen hundred thirty-six, any future apportionments or investments of any part interests in bonds and mortgages and notes and mortgages to or investments in part interests of bonds and mortgages and notes and mortgages for any estate or fund of which such trust company is executor, administrator, guardian, personal or testamentary trustee, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary, except as permitted by this subdivision. Such trust company, however, shall not transfer to any estate or fund any part interests in bonds and mortgages or notes and mortgages heretofore purchased, or invested in, from itself or from any other estate or fund. Nothing contained in this act shall be construed to affect any investments in part interest in bonds and mortgages apportioned or transferred, prior to September first, nineteen hundred thirty-six, to any estate or fund of which such trust company is executor, administrator, guardian, personal or testamentary trustee, receiver, committee, conservator or depositary, nor to affect any action heretofore taken in accordance with law with respect to such bonds and mortgages or part interests in said bonds and mortgages; nor to affect the right of any such trust company to transfer or apportion any such investment from an estate or fund to a succeeding interest created by the same instrument under which the investment was made; nor shall it be construed to impair or otherwise affect the power of such trust company to apportion to any estate, fund or person interested in such mortgage its or his proportionate share of the consideration, consisting in whole or in part of evidences of indebtedness secured by mortgages on real property received by such trust company on the sale of real property acquired by foreclosure of such mortgage, or otherwise, and to exercise with respect to such mortgages on behalf of such estates, funds, or persons the same powers reserved with respect to the original mortgage. 3. Preference. If dissolved by the legislature or the court, or otherwise, or liquidated by the superintendent or otherwise, the debts from any trust company as guardian, trustee, executor, administrator, committee, conservator or depositary, shall be entitled to priority of payment from the assets of such trust company on an equality with any other priority given by this chapter. 4. Interest. On all sums of money not less than one thousand dollars, which shall be collected, received and held as principal by a trust company acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, receiver, committee or conservator under the appointment of any court or officer, or in any fiduciary capacity under such appointment, or as a depositary of moneys paid into court, interest shall be paid by such trust company from sixty days after the receipt thereof until the moneys so received shall be duly expended or distributed, at a rate equal to the maximum rate per annum then being paid by such trust company on savings deposits, except that in the case of a trust company acting as executor or administrator interest shall not be paid, and the grace period of sixty days herein provided for shall not be deemed to begin, until five months after the date of issuance of letters testamentary or of administration to it; provided however that such trust company shall not be required to allow any interest upon any such moneys payment of which is prohibited under any order, regulation or ruling issued under or pursuant to the "Trading with the Enemy Act" and any amendments thereto, or under or pursuant to any other law, so long as such prohibition shall remain in force and effect. If income be accumulated for a minor or surplus income in excess of expenditures be held for investment by the committee of an incompetent or the conservator of a conservatee, but not otherwise, any uninvested balance of such income shall be treated as principal upon which interest shall be paid as provided in this subdivision. If interest moneys payable hereunder or any part thereof shall not annually be expended or distributed pursuant to the terms or provisions of the trust under which such moneys are held, the amount thereof not so expended or distributed shall be accumulated by such trust company for the benefit of the parties interested in such trust fund, and shall be added to the principal to constitute a new principal upon which interest shall thereafter be computed. The word "trustee" as used in this subdivision shall mean a trustee appointed by will or by any court, and the words "savings deposits" as used in this subdivision shall mean time deposits with respect to which the depositor is not required by the deposit contract, but may at any time be required by such trust company, to give notice in writing of an intended withdrawal not less than fourteen days before such withdrawal is made, and which is not payable on a specified date or at the expiration of a specified time after the date of deposit. For the purposes of this subdivision only, moneys on which interest is payable as provided herein shall not be deemed to be demand deposits. S 100-c. Common trust funds. 1. For the purpose of investment and reinvestment of moneys received and held by any trust company as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, donee of power during minority to manage property vested in an infant, custodian under any Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, any Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or The New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, conservator or committee, such trust company may establish and maintain common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds. In any case where the instrument or the order, decree or judgment under which such moneys are held does not forbid, such trust company, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons acting with it in any fiduciary capacity, may invest and reinvest such moneys or any part thereof by adding the same to any such common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds. Such trust company shall have the same power to invest common trust funds in securities of any management type investment company or investment trust, registered pursuant to the federal investment company act of nineteen hundred forty, as is set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, sections 11-2.2 and 11-2.3 of the estates, powers and trusts law. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a trust company may deposit securities investments of a common trust fund, or arrange for the deposit of such investments through a subcustodian, (a) with a clearing corporation pursuant to EPTL 11-1.9, (b) with a federal reserve bank pursuant to EPTL 11-1.8, or (c) with a securities depository, clearing agency, or bank, whether or not subject to the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, or any state or subdivision thereof, for the account of the trust company and such investments shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to be in the custody of such trust company. 3. A common trust fund shall not be deemed a separate trust fund on which commissions or other compensation is allowable and no trust company maintaining such a fund shall make any charge against such fund for the management thereof. Provided, however, that in those instances where a trust company invests common trust funds in securities of any management type investment company or investment trust pursuant to the provisions of subdivision one of this section, such trust company may charge the common trust fund for the fees and expenses of such securities pursuant to and consistent with the provisions of sections 11-2.2 and 11-2.3 of the estates, powers and trusts law. 4. If money of an estate, trust or fund or any part thereof held by a trust company in conjunction with one or more other persons in any fiduciary capacity is invested in a common trust fund, the participating interest therein so acquired shall be withdrawn therefrom upon the written request of any such other person acting in such fiduciary capacity with such trust company. 5. If any investment held in a common trust fund shall cease to be eligible as a new investment of such common trust fund, the trust company maintaining the common trust fund, prior to any further additions to or withdrawals from such fund, either shall sell such investment or shall set the same apart in a liquidating account for the benefit ratably of each participant then interested in such common trust fund. 6. At least once every ten years, each trust company maintaining a common trust fund shall file an account of its proceedings in respect thereof either in the office of the clerk of the supreme court or in the office of the surrogate in any county in which such trust company maintains an office. Upon the filing of the petition for the settlement of such account, the court shall assign a time and place for a hearing on the settlement of such account and order notice thereof by: (a) one publication not less than twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, of a notice in a newspaper to be designated by the court, and (b) mailing on or before the day of publication a copy of the notice to all persons whose names and addresses appear, at the close of the period accounted for, upon the records maintained by the trust company pertaining to the common trust fund as well as to any estate, trust or fund, any part of which shall have been invested in the common trust fund and who at the close of the period accounted for were known by such trust company to be or to claim to be included in any of the following classes of persons: (i) those who at any time during the period accounted for were entitled to share in the income of any estate, trust or fund invested in the common trust fund at any time during the period accounted for; (ii) those who became entitled to share in the principal of any estate, trust or fund invested in the common trust fund which became distributable in whole or in part during the period accounted for; (iii) those who at the close of the period accounted for would have been entitled to share in the principal of any estate, trust or fund invested in the common trust fund if the event upon which such estate, trust or fund would become distributable in whole or in part had occurred at the close of the period accounted for, provided, however, that in the case of a trust which at the close of the period accounted for can be revoked in its entirety in favor of and by the grantor, donor, trustor or creator, it shall not be necessary for such trust company to include the names and addresses of any persons interested in the principal of such trust other than the grantor, donor, trustor, or creator; (iv) those living at the close of the period accounted for who had any interest in the income or principal, or both, of any estate, trust or fund invested in the common trust fund, and who prior to the close of the period accounted for shall have notified the trust company in writing to send a copy of the notice or citation of any proceeding for the settlement of any account or the trustee of such common trust fund to such person at an address furnished to the trust company by such person; (v) those who at any time during the period accounted for were acting with the trust company in a fiduciary capacity with respect to any such estate, trust or fund; (vi) the guardian of any infant, the committee of any incompetent and the conservator of any conservatee included among the persons hereinbefore described; (vii) the personal representative of any deceased person included among the persons hereinbefore described in class (i), (ii), (iii), or (v). Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall appoint a person to appear as guardian ad litem for each person who has or who may thereafter have any interest in the income of such common trust fund and a person to appear as guardian ad litem for each person who has or who may thereafter have any interest in the principal of such common trust fund. Each such interested person may appear in such accounting proceeding and on his failure to appear shall be deemed to be represented in such proceeding by the person designated respectively as such guardian ad litem. Except as otherwise herein provided, such proceeding shall be conducted in the same manner as any other proceeding for the voluntary judicial settlement of the account of a testamentary trustee. The decree in such proceeding shall be thereafter binding and conclusive in respect of any matter embraced in the account or in such decree upon all persons having or who may thereafter have any interest in such common trust fund or in any participating estate, trust or fund. 7. As used in this section, subject to subdivision eight of this section the term "trust company" shall mean any trust company, any bank duly authorized to exercise fiduciary powers and any national bank having a principal, branch or trust office in this state and duly authorized to exercise fiduciary powers; the term "estate" shall mean the assets held by an executor or an administrator, with or without the will annexed, of the goods, chattels and credits of a decedent, but not a temporary administrator; the term "trust" shall mean the assets of any trust however created held by the trustee thereof, including, but without limitation, any assets held by a fiduciary as donee of a power during minority to manage property vested in an infant; the term "fund" shall include the assets of an infant held by the guardian thereof, the assets of an incompetent person held by the committee thereof, and the assets of a conservatee held by the conservator thereof. The term "donee of a power during minority to manage property vested in an infant" shall for the purposes of this section include only a fiduciary who has power during a period measured by a minority to hold and invest moneys under the terms of an instrument under which the fiduciary had theretofore held such moneys as executor or as personal or testamentary trustee. 8. (a) A trust company, at least ninety per centum of the capital stock of which is directly or indirectly, or through a subsidiary or subsidiaries, owned, controlled or held with power to vote by a bank holding company may establish and maintain one or more common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds, or may utilize one or more common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds previously established by it, for funds held in any of the fiduciary capacities mentioned in subdivision one of this section, by itself and by other trust companies at least ninety per centum of the capital stock of each of which is directly or indirectly, or through a subsidiary or subsidiaries, owned, controlled or held with power to vote by such bank holding company. Each trust company, the capital stock of which is so owned, controlled or held, may invest and reinvest in one or more of such common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds moneys held in any of the fiduciary capacities mentioned in subdivision one of this section. The trust company establishing, maintaining, or so utilizing any such common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds shall comply with, and be subject to, all of the provisions of this section as though such trust company and the other trust companies participating in such fund were one and the same corporate entity. (b) For the purpose of this subdivision, (i) the term "bank holding company" shall be given the same meaning as is contained in the definition of such term in section one hundred forty-one of this chapter, except that such definition is modified by substituting the words "a banking institution" for the phrase "each of two or more banking institutions" wherever such phrase appears, and (ii) the term "trust company" shall be given the same meaning as is contained in the definition of such term in subdivision seven of this section, except that such term shall be deemed to include, in addition to the entities listed in such subdivision, any banking, trust or financial company, corporation or association, organized under the laws of the United States, whether or not having its principal office outside this state, or of any state of the United States, which is duly authorized to exercise fiduciary powers. 9. (a) As used in this subdivision, unless the context otherwise required: (i) "Short term investment common trust fund" means a common trust fund maintained and administered by a trust company exclusively for the collective investment and reinvestment of moneys contributed thereto which are invested and reinvested in any short term investment by a trust company, in its capacity as a fiduciary or co-fiduciary. (ii) "Short term investment" means bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness which are payable upon demand (including variable amount notes) or which have a maturity date of one year or less from the date of purchase, or which may be prescribed, from time to time, by rules or regulations promulgated by the banking board, and which are acquired or held by a trust company in a short term investment common trust fund. (iii) "Participant" means any estate, trust, donee of a power during minority, guardianship, committeeship, conservatorship, or custodian under any Uniform Transfers to Minors Act administered by a trust company, as fiduciary or co-fiduciary, having a participation. (iv) "Participation" means the interest of a participant in a short term investment common trust fund. (b) Any trust company may administer one or more short term investment common trust funds. (c) Any trust company shall, at least once each year, cause an audit of each short term investment common trust fund administered by the trust company to be made by auditors who are independent certified public accountants. A copy of such audit shall be available at the office of the trust company maintained for the transaction of trust business, during all regular business hours, for inspection by any person having an interest in any participant, and upon request a copy of any such audit shall be furnished without any cost to such person. The reasonable expenses of any such audit made by independent certified public accounts or of any examination by the superintendent may be charged to the income of the short term investment common trust fund. (d) A trust company administering a short term investment common trust fund shall not be required to render a court accounting with regard to such fund. 10. The banking board shall promulgate such regulations and rules as it considers appropriate to govern the administration of common trust funds and short term investment common trust funds. S 100-d. Foreign common trust funds. Any banking corporation or trust company incorporated under the laws of another state which is qualified to act as executor or testamentary trustee in this state pursuant to subdivision three of section one hundred thirty-one of the banking law may, when acting in either such capacity, invest any moneys received and held by it in such capacity, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons acting with it in such capacity, in any common trust fund or funds maintained by it in accordance with the laws of the state of its incorporation; provided that the will under which it is acting does not specifically prohibit such investment and that the will under which it is acting shall authorize the investment of such moneys in any of the following; (a) in such a common trust fund; (b) in such investments as such fiduciary or fiduciaries under such will may select in the discretion of such fiduciary or fiduciaries; (c) generally in investments other than those in which trustees are by law authorized to invest trust funds; and provided that any banking corporation or trust company incorporated under the laws of this state is permitted by the laws of the state of incorporation of such foreign banking corporation or trust company, when acting in similar fiduciary capacity in that state, to invest any moneys received and held by it in such capacity in any common trust fund or funds maintained by it in accordance with the laws of this state. S 101. Additional powers of certain trust companies. Every trust company which at the time this act takes effect lawfully possesses and exercises the power, for hire, to examine titles to real estate, to procure and furnish information in relation thereto, and to guarantee or insure the title to real estate to persons interested, in such real estate or in mortgages thereon, against loss, by reason of defective title or other encumbrances of or upon, such real estate, shall continue to possess such power, but no other trust company shall hereafter have or exercise such power. S 102. Powers of specially chartered trust companies. Every trust company incorporated by a special law shall possess the powers of trust companies incorporated under this chapter and shall be subject to such provisions of this chapter as are not inconsistent with the special laws relating to such specially chartered company. S 102-a. Limited liability trust companies. 1. Trust companies which (a) do not receive deposits from the general public and (b) have been exempted by the banking board from the requirements of section thirty-two of this chapter, may be formed and operated as limited liability trust companies. Such limited liability trust companies shall be formed in accordance with, shall operate in compliance with, and shall meet all of the requirements of the limited liability company law and this chapter, except that to the extent any provision of the limited liability company law shall be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall govern; provided, however, that limited liability trust companies shall not have perpetual existence. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a limited liability trust company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any event specified in section seven hundred one of the limited liability company law. Upon such a dissolution, the provisions of this chapter shall govern the winding up of the affairs of the limited liability trust company and the distribution of its assets. Further, upon such a dissolution, if the members of a limited liability trust company wish to continue the existence of the company and meet the requirements of section seven hundred one of the limited liability company law, they shall apply for and may receive the approval of the superintendent for new articles of organization and a new authorization certificate. 3. Trust companies which have been formed and are operating pursuant to this article and article fifteen of this chapter on the effective date of this section, and which meet the requirements of subdivision one of this section, may, with the approval of the banking board, convert into limited liability trust companies, provided that they meet all of the other requirements of this chapter as if they were newly formed companies. 4. The superintendent is hereby authorized and empowered to make such general rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper to effectuate the provisions of this chapter relating to the formation and operation of limited liability trust companies. S 103. Restrictions on loans, purchases of securities and total liabilities to bank or trust company of any one person. No bank or trust company shall: 1. Lend to any person (which term shall mean, for the purposes of this subdivision, any individual, partnership, unincorporated association, corporation or body politic) an amount which will exceed fifteen per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company. Any extension of credit to a person by means of the issue or confirmation of irrevocable sight letters of credit upon the responsibility of such person, or by means of the discount or purchase of, or investment in, bills of exchange, notes, bonds, debentures or other obligations made, drawn or accepted by such person, shall be considered a loan to such person for the purposes of this subdivision except that (1) in the case of an accepted bill of exchange, the loan shall be considered, subject to clause (2) below, to be made to the acceptor and not to the drawer; and (2) if any bill of exchange, note, bond, debenture or other obligation is endorsed without limitation or guaranteed by any person and discounted with, or sold to, such bank or trust company by such person, the loan shall be considered a loan to such person and not to the maker, drawer or acceptor of such bill of exchange, note, bond, debenture or other obligation. The foregoing limitation is subject to the following exceptions: (a) The limitations in this subdivision shall not apply to (1) any loan to the extent that the United States, this state or any city, county, town, village or school district of this state, any federal intermediate credit bank, Federal National Mortgage Association, any federal land bank, any bank for cooperatives organized under the laws of the United States, any national mortgage association, any federal home loan bank, the Small Business Administration or any other department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or this state designated by the banking board by general or specific regulation upon a three-fifths vote of all its members, has agreed to pay the principal and interest thereof, or has guaranteed payment (by guaranty or commitment to purchase or otherwise) of such principal and interest, or is committed to supply, by loan, subsidy or otherwise, funds sufficient to pay such principal and interest, or has otherwise pledged its faith and credit for the payment of such principal and interest; or (2) any loan secured by not less than a like amount of direct obligations (based on their principal amount or market value, whichever is lower, at the time the loan is made) of the United States or of this state or of any city, county, town, village or school district of this state or of any such department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or this state; or (3) when authorized by the superintendent, any loan to a savings bank of this state or a corporation all of the capital stock of which is owned by not less than twenty savings banks of this state. (b) The limitations in this subdivision shall not apply to any loan to the extent such loan is secured by cash collateral which is not subject to withdrawal. In addition, the limitations in this subdivision shall not apply (i) to loans arising from the discount of commercial or business paper evidencing an obligation to the person negotiating it with recourse; (ii) to loans to the student loan marketing association; (iii) to loans to any financial institution or to any receiver, conservator, superintendent of banks, or other agent in charge of the business and property of such financial institutions when such loans are approved by the superintendent; (iv) to the purchase of bankers` acceptances of the kind described in section 13 of an act of congress entitled the "Federal Reserve Act" and issued by other banking corporations; and (v) to loans made to facilitate prompt clearance or settlement arising from the purchase or sale of readily marketable securities which loans (A) are secured by readily marketable securities having a market value or a principal face amount (whichever is less) at the time the loan is made of not less than the principal amount of said loan, and (B) shall be required to be repaid upon settlement of such purchase or sale. (c) Loans (exclusive of any loan described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision) to any state other than the state of New York, or to any foreign nation, the New York State thruway authority, the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority, The Port of New York Authority, a railroad corporation, a municipal corporation of this state, a corporation subject to the jurisdiction of a public service commission of this state, or any international lending facility or public benefit corporation designated by the banking board by general or specific regulation upon a three-fifths vote of all its members, may equal but not exceed twenty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company. (d) Loans to any person, other than loans described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this subdivision, may equal but not exceed twenty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company, provided such loans either in whole or in part, but in any event that part thereof in excess of fifteen per centum of such capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits: (1) are upon, or with respect to, drafts or bills of exchange drawn in good faith against actually existing values, or upon bankers` acceptances or bills of exchange of the kinds and maturities made eligible by law for purchase in the open market by federal reserve banks; or (2) are secured by collateral having an ascertained market value, or otherwise having a value as collateral as found in good faith by an officer of such bank or trust company, at least equal to the excess of such loans over fifteen per centum of such capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits. (d-1) Loans secured by bills of lading, warehouse receipts, or similar documents transferring or securing title to readily marketable staples shall be subject to a limitation of thirty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company in addition to the general limitations if the market value of the staples securing each additional loan at all times equals or exceeds one hundred fifteen per centum of the outstanding amount of such loan. The staples shall be fully covered by insurance whenever it is customary to insure such staples. (d-2) Loans secured by shipping documents or instruments transferring or securing title covering livestock or giving a lien on livestock when the market value of the livestock securing the obligation is not at any time less than one hundred fifteen per centum of the face amount of the note covered, shall be subject to a maximum limitation equal to twenty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company. In addition, loans which arise from the discount by dealers in dairy cattle of paper given in payment for dairy cattle, which paper carries a full recourse endorsement or unconditional guarantee of the seller, and which are secured by the cattle being sold, shall be subject to a limitation of twenty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company. (e) In computing the total loans by any bank or trust company (i) to any individual, there shall be included all loans by the bank or trust company to any partnership or unincorporated association of which he is a member, and all loans made for his benefit or for the benefit of such partnership or association; (ii) to any partnership or unincorporated association, there shall be included all loans by the bank or trust company to its individual members and all loans made by the bank or trust company for the benefit of such partnership or unincorporated association or any member thereof; and (iii) to any corporation, there shall be included all loans made by the bank or trust company for the benefit of the corporation. A loan shall be deemed to be made for the benefit of a corporation only to the extent that the proceeds of such loan (1) are to be loaned to the corporation; (2) are to be used for the acquisition (otherwise than in connection with a public offering) from the corporation by a person in control of, or under common control with, the corporation, of any stock or other securities issued by the corporation, or (3) are to be transferred to the corporation without fair and adequate consideration, and the discharge of an equivalent amount of debt previously incurred in good faith and for value shall be considered fair and adequate consideration. A loan shall not be deemed to be made for the benefit of a corporation if such loan is made to a person other than the corporation and is secured as provided in subdivision four of this section or is secured by collateral having an ascertained market value, or otherwise having a value as collateral as found in good faith by an officer of such bank or trust company, at least equal to the amount of the loan; provided that stock or other securities issued by, or a lien on property of, such corporation shall not be considered collateral for the purposes of this provision. (f) The limitations in this subdivision shall not apply to the acceptance of bills of exchange or the issue or confirmation of letters of credit calling for acceptances by a bank or trust company, but no bank or trust company shall make acceptances, or issue letters of credit calling for acceptances, upon the responsibility of any person to an amount in excess of fifteen per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company, unless that part thereof in excess of fifteen per centum of such capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits is, and will remain, secured either by accompanying documents or by some other actual security growing out of the same transaction as the acceptance or by substituted security of similar character. (g) Loans arising from the discount of negotiable or non-negotiable installment consumer paper which carries a full recourse endorsement or unconditional guarantee by the transferor of such paper shall be subject to a limitation of twenty-five per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company. Within the meaning of this subdivision, the liability to such bank or trust company of any individual, partnership, unincorporated association or corporation as endorser or guarantor of negotiable or non-negotiable instalment consumer paper shall not be deemed a loan to such individual, partnership, unincorporated association or corporation to the extent of the value of the obligation thereon of the maker of such instalment consumer paper, as found in good faith in writing by an officer of such bank or trust company, designated to make such evaluation and certification by the board of directors of the bank or trust company, and upon the further certification by the said officer that the bank or trust company is relying primarily on the maker of the instalment consumer paper for the payment of an amount owing upon the instalment consumer paper upon the security of which the bank or trust company is making the loan or in which it is making the investment. The certifications are to be made at the time of making the loan or investment, and are to be based on information contained in the files of the bank or trust company, or on the personal knowledge of the designated officer. Instalment consumer paper, for the purposes of this section, shall mean retail instalment contracts and retail instalment obligations as defined in subdivisions six and six-a of section four hundred ninety-one of this chapter, and similar agreements entered into outside of this state. (h) The limitations in this subdivision shall not apply to any advance of federal funds by such bank or trust company to a commercial bank, provided such advance is made on the condition that it be repaid on the next business day following the day on which the advance is made. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "federal funds" shall mean funds on deposit at a federal reserve bank or funds on deposit at a commercial bank which are exchangeable for funds on deposit at a federal reserve bank; the term "commercial bank" shall mean any bank, trust company, private banker, national banking association, any banking corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States and engaged in a commercial banking business, or any banking corporation organized under the laws of any foreign country and engaged in the commercial banking business that maintains a branch or agency licensed by any state of the United States or the comptroller of the currency; and the term "business day" shall mean any day on which the bank or trust company making the advance, the commercial bank obtaining the advance and any federal reserve bank or banks through which such advance was effected are all open for general business. (i) The limitations in this subdivision shall not apply to the investment of such bank or trust company in the bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations of any person, provided: (i) such bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations mature not less than one year after their respective dates of issuance, and, at the time of such investment, are rated in one of the three highest rating grades by an independent rating service designated by the banking board; (ii) such investment does not exceed fifteen per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company; and (iii) such investment complies with such additional limitations and conditions as the banking board from time to time may prescribe by general regulation. (j) In the case of a trust company which (1) does not receive deposits from the general public and (2) has been exempted by the banking board from the requirements of section thirty-two of this chapter, the limitations of this subdivision shall not apply to the investment of such trust company in the bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations of, any foreign nation, or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, provided: (i) at the time of such investment, such bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations are rated in one of the three highest rating grades by an independent rating service designated by the banking board; (ii) for any such bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations, the foreign nation, or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, has guaranteed payment (by guaranty or commitment to purchase or otherwise) of such principal and interest, or is committed to supply, by loan, subsidy or otherwise, funds sufficient to pay such principal and interest, or has otherwise pledged its faith and credit for the payment of such principal and interest; (iii) such investments do not exceed the per centum applicable to such obligor of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company as the superintendent shall approve, and (iv) such investments comply with such limitations and conditions as the superintendent may from time to time prescribe. (k) In the case of a trust company which (1) does not receive deposits from the general public and (2) has been exempted by the banking board from the requirements of section thirty-two of this chapter, the limitations of this subdivision shall not apply to the purchase of securities under repurchase agreement provided that the repurchase agreement relates to not less than a like amount of direct obligations (based on their principal amount or market value, whichever is lower, at the time the purchase occurs) of any foreign nation, or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, provided: (i) at the time of such purchase, such direct obligations are rated in one of the three highest rating grades by an independent rating service designated by the banking board; (ii) for any such direct obligations, the foreign nation, or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, has guaranteed payment (by guaranty or commitment to purchase or otherwise) of the principal and interest thereof, or is committed to supply, by loan, subsidy or otherwise, funds sufficient to pay such principal and interest, or has otherwise pledged its faith and credit for the payment of such principal and interest; (iii) the purchase price of such securities does not exceed the per centum applicable to the obligor of such securities of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company as the superintendent shall approve; and (iv) such purchase complies with such limitations and conditions as the superintendent may from time to time prescribe. The banking board shall be empowered to promulgate rules and regulations as shall be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subdivision. 4. Make a loan upon the security of real estate within or without this state which does not comply with any such rules or regulations as the banking board may prescribe. No loan shall be made under the provisions of this subdivision except upon the written and signed certificate of an appraiser appointed pursuant to policies established by the board of directors, certifying to the value of the premises according to his judgment. The provisions of this subdivision shall not constitute the authority to make a loan to a natural person upon the security of a mortgage which is not a first lien. Where the collateral for any loan consists partly of real estate security and partly of other security, including a guarantee or endorsement by or an obligation or commitment of a person other than the borrower, only the amount by which the loan exceeds the value as collateral of such other security, as found in good faith by a duly authorized officer of such bank or trust company, at the time of the making of the loan or commitment therefor, shall be considered a loan upon the security of real estate, provided, that in no event shall a loan be considered a loan upon the security of real estate (i) where the principal amount of any real estate security taken therefor is less than fifteen per centum of the amount of such loan or (ii) where the loan is payable in monthly or quarterly installments over a period not to exceed one hundred twenty-one months and does not exceed twenty thousand dollars and is for the purpose of paying the cost of any repairs, alterations or improvements upon, or in connection with, or, as the superintendent may authorize, the equipping of existing structures or the building of new structures by the owners thereof or by the lessees under a lease expiring not less than six months after the maturity of the loan or (iii) where the loan is fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or a state, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, and for the payment of which loan the full faith and credit of the United States or of such state is pledged and if under the terms of the guaranty or insurance agreement the bank or trust company will be assured of repayment in accordance with the terms of the loan or (iv) where there is a binding and valid commitment or agreement by a financially responsible lender, purchaser or other financially responsible party either directly with the lending bank or trust company or which is for the benefit of, or has been assigned to, the lending bank or trust company and pursuant to which commitment, agreement or assignment, the lender, purchaser or other party is required to advance to the lending bank or trust company within thirty months from the date of such commitment or agreement the full amount of the loan to be made by the lending bank or trust company upon the security of real estate improved by a building or buildings, or to be improved by a building or buildings in the process of construction, the major portion of which building is used, or in the case of a building under construction is to be used, for residential, business, manufacturing or agricultural purposes, and where pursuant to the terms and provisions of such commitment or agreement such advance shall be made prior to or upon the maturity of the loan by the lending bank or trust company. Real estate security for purposes of this section shall not include (a) an assignment of rents under a lease, (b) a mortgage or other lien upon a leasehold, (c) a mortgage or other lien upon leasehold, royalty or other rights in oil, gas, minerals, standing timber, or other products of land, (d) a mortgage or other lien made or given upon real estate and taken as collateral security for loans to a borrower, provided, that at the time of the making of the loan or commitment therefor, repayment thereof is reasonably expected to be made out of the operations of such borrower or of the mortgagor, or (e) such mortgages or other liens on property as may be specifically exempted from the limitations and restrictions of this subdivision by the banking board by general or specific regulations adopted by a three-fifths vote of all its members. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to imply that security of a kind not mentioned herein is to be deemed real estate security. The limitations and restrictions contained in this subdivision shall not prevent the acceptance of any real estate security to secure the payment of a debt previously contracted in good faith. Every mortgage and every assignment of a mortgage taken or held by such bank or trust company shall immediately be recorded or registered in its name in the office of the clerk or the proper recording officer of the county in which the real estate described in the mortgage is located, except that where the underlying real estate is located outside the state of New York such mortgage or assignment may be recorded or registered in the name of a duly authorized nominee, and except that if such mortgage or assignment of mortgage or of an interest therein shall be taken from a corporation organized under the banking law or all of the capital stock of which is owned by not less than twenty savings banks of this state, the bank or trust company may hold such mortgage or assignment unrecorded unless the superintendent shall direct the bank or trust company to record the same. The recording or registering of assignments of mortgages shall not be required when not less than ten mortgages are assigned as security for a loan, the term of which does not exceed twelve months. Any bank or trust company may renew from time to time any loan upon the security of real estate lawfully made by it prior to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred thirty-seven. None of the prohibitions and restrictions contained in this subdivision shall apply to any corporation all of the capital stock of which is owned by not less than twenty savings banks of this state. 4-a. A bank or trust company may, in addition to the authority granted under any other provisions of this article, make a loan to a natural person upon the security of a mortgage which is not a first lien at the rate or rates agreed to by the bank or trust company and the borrower, subject to such regulations as the banking board may prescribe. Such regulations by the banking board may include such restrictions as the banking board finds necessary or proper, including without limitation, a restriction as to the percentage of total assets which may be invested in such loans or a restriction on the loan to appraisal value of property securing such loan. For purposes of this subdivision, the term mortgage shall include a lien on an existing ownership interest in certificates of stock or other evidence of an ownership interest in, and a proprietary lease from, a corporation or partnership formed for the purpose of the cooperative ownership of real estate. 5. Make any loan for the purpose of financing the purchase of or refinancing an existing ownership interest in certificates of stock or other evidence of an ownership interest in, and a proprietary lease from, a corporation or partnership formed for the purpose of the cooperative ownership of real estate, unsecured except to the extent of an assignment or transfer of the stock certificates or other evidence of ownership interest of the borrower and the proprietary lease within ninety days from the making of the loan, which shall exceed the maximum per cent of the loan permitted to be made on real estate improved by a single family residence occupied by the owner, provided that for purposes of this section the amount of the purchase price shall be deemed to equal the appraised value of such certificate of stock or other evidence of an ownership interest, or, in the case of a refinancing, the appraised value of such certificates of stock or other evidence of an ownership interest and which shall fail to provide for full repayment of principal and interest within the same number of years as a conventional mortgage loan previously described in this subdivision, provided that all real estate owned by such corporation or partnership shall be located within the state; and provided, further, that such loan shall be subject to such regulations as the banking board may from time to time promulgate. The maximum rate of interest which may be charged, taken or received upon any loan or forbearance made pursuant to this subdivision may exceed the rate of interest prescribed by the banking board in accordance with section fourteen-a by no more than one and one-half per centum per annum. 6. Make any loan or discount on the security of the shares of its own capital stock, or, except as provided in section five thousand twelve of this chapter, be the purchaser of any such shares, unless such security or purchase shall be necessary to minimize or avoid loss upon a debt previously contracted in good faith, and stock so purchased shall be sold at public or private sale, or otherwise disposed of, within six months from the time of its purchase unless the superintendent shall authorize such bank or trust company in writing to hold such shares for a longer period. Any bank or trust company violating any of the provisions of this subdivision shall forfeit to the people of the state twice the amount of the loan or purchase. 7. Knowingly lend, directly or indirectly, any money or property for the purpose of enabling any person to pay for or hold shares of its stock, unless the loan is made upon security having an ascertained market value of at least fifteen per centum more than the amount of the loan. Any bank or trust company violating the provisions of this subdivision shall forfeit to the people of the state twice the amount of the loan. 8. Except in conformity with such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the superintendent, lend any sum of money to any executive officer or director of such bank or trust company. The superintendent shall have power to determine by regulation who shall be considered, under the provisions of this subdivision, to be an executive officer and what shall be considered, under the provisions of this subdivision, to be a loan to an executive officer or director. In making such determination, the superintendent shall have power to include or exclude, subject to such conditions and limitations, if any, as he shall prescribe, any or all of the following: (1) any transaction as a result of which an executive officer or director of a bank or trust company becomes obligated to such bank or trust company upon any note, draft, bill of exchange or other indebtedness, as maker, drawer, endorser, guarantor, surety or otherwise; and (2) any transaction as a result of which a corporation, in which an executive officer or director or any combination of such persons, owns or controls a majority of the stock, or as a result of which a partnership in which an executive officer or director is a partner, becomes obligated or renews its obligation to such bank or trust company upon any note, draft, bill of exchange or other indebtedness, as maker, drawer, endorser, guarantor, surety or otherwise. Every bank or trust company violating this provision or any regulation issued pursuant thereto and every officer or director of such bank or trust company knowingly participating in such violation shall, for each offense, forfeit to the people of the state twice the amount of the loan. No executive officer or director of a bank or trust company shall borrow from the bank or trust company of which he is an executive officer or director except as permitted by this section. S 104. Entries in books; restrictions; amortization of securities. 1. No bank or trust company shall by any system of accounting or any device of bookkeeping, directly or indirectly enter any of its assets upon its books in the name of any individual, partnership, unincorporated association or of any other corporation, or under any title or designation that is not truly descriptive thereof, except as authorized by the provisions of this article. 2. The stocks, bonds and other interest-bearing securities purchased by a bank or trust company shall be entered on its books at the actual cost thereof, and shall not thereafter be carried upon the books at a valuation exceeding their cost as adjusted by amortization for the purpose of bringing them to par at maturity except that the same may be carried at cost if appropriate amortization reserve is set up for the purpose of bringing them to par at maturity. Where securities purchased at a premium are callable prior to maturity, the rate of amortization thereof shall be increased where necessary to such extent as shall reduce the amount at which such securities are carried upon the books to the call price at the date or dates upon which a call may be made; provided, however, that no adjustment for amortization or amortization reserve shall be required to be made on the books except when net profits are computed. The banking board may by general regulation adopted by a three-fifths vote of all its members vary the requirements of this subdivision to permit the amortization of premiums at the same rate as that required by federal tax statutes or regulations. 3. No bank or trust company shall, except with the written approval of the superintendent, enter on its books its real estate and the building or buildings thereon, or its fixtures, vaults, furniture and equipment, at a valuation exceeding the actual cost to such bank or trust company, or carry such real estate, building or buildings, fixtures, vaults, furniture or equipment at a valuation exceeding the actual cost less appropriate allowances for depreciation except that the same may be carried at cost if appropriate depreciation reserve is set up; provided, however, no adjustment for depreciation or depreciation reserve shall be required to be made on the books except when net profits are computed. 4. Real estate acquired by a bank or trust company, other than that acquired for use as a place of business, shall be entered on the books of the bank or trust company in conformity with the method of accounting for troubled debt restructurings approved by the financial accounting standards boards or such other method of accounting as may be authorized or required by rules and regulations of the banking board. The provisions of this subdivision shall not, except as the superintendent may otherwise require, apply to any parcel of real estate as to which the bank or trust company has exercised its option to transfer or convey such real estate to the veterans administration or the federal housing commissioner pursuant to insurance or guaranty. 5. Every bank and every trust company shall conform its methods of keeping its books and records to such orders in respect thereto as shall have been made and promulgated by the superintendent pursuant to article two of this chapter. Any bank or trust company that refuses or neglects to obey such order shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each day it so refuses or neglects. 6. Every bank and every trust company holding any funds or money paid into court shall keep records in which it shall make an exact account thereof, including appropriate references to the order or orders pursuant to which such funds are held. S 105. Branch offices; prohibition against doing business at unauthorized places. 1. (a) No bank or trust company or officer, director, agent or employee thereof, shall transact any part of its usual business of banking at any place other than its principal office, except that a bank or trust company may open and occupy one or more branch offices at any location in the state, provided: (i) that the requirements of section twenty-nine of this chapter are met and (ii) that, except for the city or village in which its principal office is located, in no event shall a branch be opened and occupied pursuant to this subdivision in a city or village with a population of fifty thousand or less in which is already located the principal office of another bank, trust company or national banking association, other than a bank holding company, if such bank holding company is a banking institution, or a banking subsidiary of a bank holding company (as such terms "bank holding company", "banking institution" and "banking subsidiary" are defined in article three-A of this chapter), except, in the case of a conversion pursuant to the provisions of this article, branch offices occupied immediately prior thereto or except for the purpose of acquiring by merger, sale or otherwise the business and property of a bank, trust company or national banking association, whether in liquidation or doing business in the usual course. (b) An office of an affiliated bank at which the customers of a bank or trust company may make deposits, renew time deposits, make withdrawals, close loans, service loans, and receive payments on loans and other obligations shall not be deemed a branch office of such bank or trust company. For the purposes of this section, the term "affiliated bank" means any bank, as such term is defined in section 3(a)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(a)(1)), that is a subsidiary of the same bank holding company, as that term is defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1841). 2. Hereafter before any branch or branches shall be opened and occupied pursuant to subdivision one of this section the superintendent shall have given his written approval as provided in article two of this chapter. 3. (a) Any bank or trust company may with the written approval of the superintendent, open and occupy a branch office or branch offices in one or more places located without the state of New York, either in the United States of America or in foreign countries. (b) If any bank or trust company has opened and occupied a branch office in a foreign country pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, it may, unless otherwise advised by the superintendent, open and occupy an additional branch office or branch offices in such country without having to apply for the approval of the superintendent, provided that it gives the superintendent notice of at least thirty days (or such shorter period as the superintendent in individual cases may approve) before opening and occupying any such additional branch office. 4. The term "village" as used in this section shall mean either an incorporated or an unincorporated village. 5. (a) A bank or trust company may, if the merger or acquisition agreement so provides, maintain as a branch office or branch offices the place or places of business of any bank, trust company, safe deposit company, national banking association, out-of-state state bank (as such term is defined in section two hundred twenty-two of this chapter), savings bank, or savings and loan association which it has received into itself by merger or by acquisition of assets thereof pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and, if the merger or acquisition agreement so provides, may maintain, as its principal office rather than as a branch office, the principal office of such merging or acquired banking institution (so long as such principal office is located in this state), in which event the former principal office of the receiving or acquiring bank or trust company may be maintained as a branch office. A state bank or trust company resulting from the conversion of a national banking association may, if the conversion agreement so provides, maintain as a branch office or branch offices the place or places of business of the national banking association. As used in this subdivision, the term "place or places of business" shall include any branch office of the merging, acquired or converting banking institution which has been approved pursuant to this chapter or federal law or the law of another state, as the case may be, even if such branch office is not in operation at the time said merger, acquisition or conversion becomes effective. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, any public accommodation office of a merging or acquired banking organization or association, including any such office which has been approved pursuant to section one hundred ninety-one of this chapter but which is not in operation at the time said merger or acquisition becomes effective, may be maintained by the receiving or acquiring bank or trust company as a public accommodation office only. S 105-a. Electronic facilities. A bank or trust company may conduct a banking business, at automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals, and similar facilities subject to regulations which may be promulgated by the banking board. Such facilities shall not be deemed to be branches and shall not be subject to any of the provisions of this chapter applicable to branches; provided however that notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of clause (ii) of subdivision one of section one hundred five of this chapter, such facilities shall be deemed to be branches, and such facilities shall be subject to the terms and conditions of section one hundred five, and for purposes of section twenty-eight-b of this chapter, such facilities shall be deemed to be branches. S 106. Deposits by banks and trust companies with other banking corporations and private bankers; restrictions. 1. No bank or trust company shall deposit any of its funds with any other foreign or domestic banking corporation or private banker in an amount exceeding one hundred per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company unless such other banking corporation or private banker has been approved by the superintendent as a depositary for the purpose of this section, in which case the amount so deposited may equal but shall not exceed such per centum of the capital stock, surplus fund and undivided profits of such bank or trust company as the superintendent shall approve. 2. The restrictions contained in this section shall not apply to deposits by any bank or trust company with a federal reserve bank. S 107. Reserves against deposits. 1. Every bank and trust company shall maintain total reserves against its demand and time deposits in such ratios as the banking board shall by regulation impose. If the principal office or any branch of such bank or trust company is located in a special requirement area, as designated in or pursuant to subdivision two of this section said bank or trust company shall maintain such additional reserves as may be prescribed by the banking board. 2. The cities of Albany and Buffalo and the boroughs of Brooklyn, Manhattan and The Bronx are hereby designated as special requirement areas. The banking board may at any time add to the number of cities or boroughs designated as special requirement areas, or may terminate the designation of any city or borough as such. 3. Any part of total reserves may be deposited, subject to call, with a federal reserve bank in the district in which such bank or trust company is located, or with reserve depositaries, and the reserves on hand not so deposited shall consist of any form of currency authorized by the laws of the United States. Any bank or trust company which is or shall become a member of the federal reserve system shall maintain such reserves with a federal reserve bank as are required by or pursuant to the federal reserve act and so long as it complies with the requirements of such federal reserve act with reference to reserves shall be exempt from the preceding provisions of this section. 4. If any bank or trust company shall fail to maintain its total reserves in the manner prescribed and authorized by this section, it shall be liable to, and shall pay any assessment or assessments levied by the superintendent pursuant to the provisions of article two of this chapter. S 107-a. Security for public deposits. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (a) "Public depositary". A bank, trust company or other depositary, whether state or federally chartered, authorized to accept and hold deposits of public funds under the laws of this state. (b) "Public funds". Funds of a political subdivision. (c) "Political subdivision". Any municipal corporation, school district, board of cooperative educational services, district corporation, special improvement district governed by a separate board of commissioners or a public library. (d) "Public deposits". Deposits of public funds in a public depositary which are available for all uses generally permitted by the public depositary to the depositing political subdivision for actually and finally collected funds under the public depositary`s account agreement or policies. 2. Whenever a political subdivision is required by any general or special law to obtain a pledge of assets or other security from a public depositary for its public deposits and such political subdivision has entered into a written agreement with such public depositary relating to such public deposits and has provided written notice in a form specified by such written agreement to the public depositary of such public deposits, the public depositary shall comply with the provisions of such law at the time it accepts any public deposits from the political subdivision; provided, however, that where the public depositary and political subdivision have agreed in writing as to the maximum amount of security which such depositary shall provide, and the terms, conditions and timing of the provisions of security pursuant thereto, and the depositary has at all times complied with such agreement, it shall be deemed to have complied with the provisions of such law for so long as it shall comply with such agreement. S 108. Rates of interest; installment obligations; personal loan departments. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no bank or trust company shall take, receive, reserve or charge on any loan or discount made, or upon any note, bill of exchange or other evidence of debt, negotiable or otherwise, interest, as computed pursuant to this subdivision, at a rate greater than the rate prescribed by the banking board pursuant to section fourteen-a of this chapter, or, if no rate has been so prescribed, six per centum per annum, or two dollars if the interest so computed is less than that amount. Such interest may be taken in advance, reckoning the days for which the note, bill or evidence of debt has to run. If interest is so taken in advance and the maturity of the debt is accelerated and judgment is obtained, or the debt is otherwise paid prior to its normal date of maturity, the bank or trust company shall refund to the obligor or his legal representative, as the case may be, the unearned interest previously deducted and the unused portion of any premiums charged for insuring the obligor under a group credit insurance policy, such refund to be calculated in accordance with the method described in paragraph (e) of subdivision four of this section. A reasonable charge by a bank or trust company for the collection of a bona fide bill of exchange, note or other evidence of debt payable at a place other than the place where purchased, discounted or sold, in addition to the interest, shall not be considered interest for the purpose of any law regulating the maximum rate of interest which may be charged, taken or received. Anything contained in this subdivision to the contrary notwithstanding, the charging of interest or discount on a loan or discount made outside this state at a rate allowed by the laws of the jurisdiction where such loan is made, or the acquisition by a bank or trust company of a part interest or the entire interest in any loan or discount heretofore or hereafter made by a bank or trust company or any other banking institution, shall not be a violation of this section. 2. Any bank or trust company may purchase or otherwise acquire from the payee, owner or holder thereof any obligation in writing to pay in installments all or part of the price of personal property or that of the performance of services, whether that obligation be a negotiable promissory note or other evidence of debt, or any accounts receivable, whether or not they are obligations in writing, or any lease of personal property, and may lease personal property acquired by it, doing so for such price or rentals or other consideration and upon such additional terms and conditions as may be mutually agreeable. 3. Upon advances of money, repayable on demand, to an amount not less than five thousand dollars, made upon documents of title within article seven of the uniform commercial code or negotiable instruments within article three or article eight of the uniform commercial code pledged as collateral security for such repayment, any bank or trust company may receive or contract to receive and collect as compensation for making such advances any sum which may be agreed upon by the parties to such transaction.

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Article 3, Continued . . .

4. (a) A bank or trust company may operate a personal loan department at all or at any one or more of its authorized places of business in accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. The records of such department shall be kept in such form as the superintendent may from time to time prescribe. The superintendent may, after giving notice of the contemplated action and reasonable opportunity to be heard, order that the operation of such department be discontinued if he shall find that the bank or trust company has failed to conform to any requirement of this subdivision. The superintendent may forthwith, and for a period not to exceed thirty days pending further investigation, order that the operation of any such department be temporarily discontinued if he shall have reasonable cause to believe that the requirements of this subdivision are not having compliance. Such order of discontinuance or temporary discontinuance may apply to one or more of the authorized places of business of a bank or trust company. The superintendent may terminate or modify such orders if he shall be satisfied that such department will be operated in accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. No order of discontinuance or temporary order of discontinuance shall impair or affect the obligation of any preexisting lawful loan or advance from a bank or trust company to any borrower. (b) A bank or trust company which operates a personal loan department may make loans and charge interest thereon, which may be calculated on the actual unpaid principal balances of the loan or in the case of a loan commitment from the date of each advance thereunder for the actual time outstanding, according to a generally accepted actuarial method at a fixed or variable rate in accordance with the provisions of the evidence of the indebtedness, or taken in advance, computed from the date of the loan, or in the case of a loan commitment from the date of each advance thereunder, to the date of the last installment payable thereunder, at the rate or rates agreed to by the bank or trust company and the borrower, with respect to any loan which is repayable at regular periodic intervals of not more than one month over a period from the date of the loan not exceeding (i) thirty-seven months, if the face amount of the loan is for not more than twelve hundred dollars, or (ii) any number of months agreed to by the bank or trust company and the borrower, (A) if the face amount of the loan is for more than twelve hundred dollars, (B) if the loan is for more than twelve hundred dollars, and is made for a commercial or business use or purpose or for investment in or purchase of an unincorporated business or commercial enterprise, (C) if the loan or loan commitment is made for educational purposes as specified in subdivision five-b of this section, or (D) if the loan or advance of credit is made for the purpose of financing alterations, repairs and improvements upon or in connection with, or as the superintendent may authorize the equipping of existing structures, and the building of new structures, upon urban, suburban, or rural real property (including the restoration, rehabilitation, rebuilding and replacement of such improvements which have been damaged or destroyed by earthquake, conflagration, tornado, hurricane, cyclone, flood or other catastrophe), by the owners thereof or by lessees of such real property under a lease expiring not less than six months after the maturity of the loan or advance of credit or by lessees under proprietary leases from corporations or partnerships formed for the purpose of the cooperative ownership of real estate. The total unpaid principal balances of any one or more loans made by such bank or trust company to the borrower pursuant to this subdivision shall be determined by agreement between such bank or trust company and the borrower. If the loan is made for a period of one year or more, provision may be made in the note, instrument or other evidence of debt, for the omission of payments during not more than any three specified months in any twelve-month period, but the maximum period of thirty-seven months, shall not be exceeded. On any loan with a variable rate of interest made pursuant to this paragraph, the rate shall be determined at regular intervals as set forth in the evidence of indebtedness and in accordance with such regulations as the banking board shall prescribe but said rate shall not vary more often than once in any three month period and shall be based on a published index that is (a) readily available, (b) independently verifiable, (c) beyond the control of the bank or trust company and (d) approved by the superintendent. The banking board shall adopt regulations, including but not limited to: (a) providing for disclosure to the borrower by the bank or trust company of the circumstances under which the rate may increase, any limitations on the increase, the effect of an increase and an example of the payment terms that would result from an increase; (b) providing for disclosure to the borrower by the bank or trust company of a history of the fluctuations of the index over a reasonable period of time; and (c) providing for notice to the borrower from the bank or trust company prior to any rate increase or change in the terms of payment. (c) The rate of interest authorized by this subdivision shall be inclusive of all charges incident to investigating and making any loan. No fee, commission, expense, or other charge whatsoever in addition thereto shall be taken, received, reserved, or contracted for, except (i) the fees payable to the appropriate public officer to perfect any lien or other security interest taken to secure the loan or the premium, not in excess of such filing fee, payable for any insurance in lieu of such filing; (ii) in case of default, and in accordance with the provisions of the instrument evidencing the obligation, either a fine in an amount not to exceed five cents per dollar on any installment which has become due and remained unpaid for a period in excess of ten days, but no such fine shall exceed five dollars and only one fine shall be collected on any such installment regardless of the period during which it remains in default, and provided further that should the aggregate of such fines collected in connection with any loan exceed two per centum of such loan, or in any event twenty-five dollars, the bank or trust company shall refund such excess to the borrower within sixty days after the loan is paid in full, or, subject to an allowance of unearned interest attributable to the amount in default, interest on each amount past due at a rate not in excess of the rate provided for in the instrument evidencing the obligation; (iii) the actual expenditures, including reasonable attorney`s fees for necessary court process; and (iv) in case the bank or trust company insures a borrower under a credit unemployment insurance policy, group life insurance policy, group health insurance policy, group accident insurance policy, or group health and accident insurance policy, or requires insurance on personal property securing any such loan, an amount not in excess of the premiums chargeable in accordance with rate schedules then in effect and on file with the superintendent of insurance for such insurance by the insurer. No bank or trust company shall require a borrower to place any sum on deposit, or to make deposits in lieu of regular periodic installment payments, or to do or refrain from doing any other act which would entail additional expense or sacrifice, as a condition precedent to granting a loan under the authority of this subdivision except as provided in subdivision five-b of this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph no refund of excess fines shall be required if it amounts to less than one dollar. (d) In each note, instrument or other evidence of debt given by a borrower to evidence a loan under this subdivision, where such loan is not subject to the provisions of the act of congress entitled "Truth in Lending Act" and the regulations thereunder, as such act and regulations may from time to time be amended, the rate of charge (stating any minimum as permitted by this subdivision four), shall be expressed either in accordance with the method prescribed by such act of congress or: (i) as a rate in dollars per annum discount per one hundred dollars face amount of loan, or (ii) as the rate or rates agreed to by the bank or trust company and the borrower. (e) A borrower may prepay the loan in full or, with the consent of the bank or trust company, may refinance the loan. If the interest is calculated on the actuarial basis, or if the evidence of the indebtedness provides that the rate of interest may vary from time to time, a borrower may prepay the loan in full without penalty. If the interest was taken in advance, in the event of such prepayment or refinancing, the bank or trust company shall refund: (1) the unearned portion of the interest to the borrower the amount of which portion shall be determine