TITLE 12 - US CODE - CHAPTER 23 - FARM CREDIT SYSTEM

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - FARM CREDIT BANKS

12 USC 2011 - Establishment, charters, titles, branches

(a) Establishment
The banks established pursuant to the merger of each District Federal Intermediate Credit Bank and Federal Land Bank (hereinafter referred to in this subchapter as Farm Credit Banks), as provided in section 410 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, shall be Federally chartered instrumentalities of the United States.

(b) Charters
The Farm Credit Administration shall, consistent with this chapter, issue charters for, and approve amendments to charters of, the Farm Credit Banks.

(c) Title
Each Farm Credit Bank may include in its title the name of the city in which it is located or other geographical designation.

(d) Branches
Each Farm Credit Bank may establish such branches or other offices as may be appropriate for the effective operation of its business.

12 USC 2012 - Board of directors

Each Farm Credit Bank shall elect a board of directors of such number, for such term, in such manner, and with such qualifications, as may be required in its bylaws, except that, at least one member shall be elected by the other directors, which member shall not be a director, officer, employee, or stockholder of a System institution.

12 USC 2013 - General corporate powers

Each Farm Credit Bank shall be a body corporate and, subject to regulation by the Farm Credit Administration, shall have power to

(1) adopt and use a corporate seal;

(2) have succession until dissolved under the provisions of this chapter or other Act of Congress;

(3) make contracts;

(4) sue and be sued;

(5) acquire, hold, dispose, and otherwise exercise all the usual incidents of ownership of real and personal property necessary or convenient to its business;

(6) make, participate in, and discount loans, make commitments for credit, accept advance payments, and provide services as authorized in this chapter, and charge fees for such;

(7) operate under the direction of its board of directors;

(8) provide by its board of directors for a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and provide for such other officers, employees, and agents as may be necessary, as provided in this chapter, define their duties, and require surety bonds or make other provision against losses occasioned by employees;

(9) prescribe, by its board of directors, its bylaws that shall be consistent with law, and that shall provide for

(A) the classes of its stock and the manner in which such stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired; and

(B) the manner in which it is to

(i) select officers, employees, and agents;

(ii) acquire, hold, and transfer property;

(iii) make loans and discounts;

(iv) conduct general business; and

(v) exercise and enjoy the privileges granted to it by law;

(10) borrow money and issue notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations individually, or in concert with one or more other banks of the System, of such character, terms, conditions, and rates of interest as may be determined as provided for in this chapter;

(11) purchase nonvoting stock in, or pay in surplus to, and accept deposits of securities or funds from associations in its district, and pay interest on such funds;

(12) participate with

(A) one or more other Farm Credit Banks in loans under this subchapter on such terms as may be agreed on among such banks;

(B) one or more other Farm Credit System institutions in loans made under this subchapter or other subchapters of this chapter on the basis prescribed in section 2206 of this title; and

(C) lenders that are not Farm Credit System institutions in loans that the bank is authorized to make under this subchapter;

(13) approve the salary scale of the officers and employees of the associations in its district and supervise the exercise by such associations of the functions vested in or delegated to them;

(14) deposit the securities and current funds of the bank with any member bank of the Federal Reserve System or any insured State nonmember bank (within the meaning of section 1813 of this title) and pay fees and receive interest on such as may be agreed, and when designated for that purpose by the Secretary of the Treasury, such bank

(A) shall be a depository of public money, except receipts from customs, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary;

(B) may be employed as a fiscal agent of the Government; and

(C) shall perform all such reasonable duties as a depository of public money or financial agent of the Government as may be required of such bank;

except that no Government funds deposited under the provisions of this paragraph shall be invested in loans or bonds or other obligations of the bank;

(15) buy and sell obligations of, or insured by, the United States or any agency thereof, or securities backed by the full faith and credit of any such agency, and make other investments as may be authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration;

(16) sell to lenders that are not Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, and buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans and other extensions of credit, and nonvoting stock as may be authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration;

(17) conduct studies and make and adopt standards for lending;

(18) delegate to associations such functions as the bank determines appropriate;

(19) amend and modify loan contracts, documents, and payment schedules, and release, subordinate, or substitute security for any of such items;

(20) for loans made by the bank, require associations to endorse notes and other obligations of borrowers from the bank;

(21) exercise through the board of directors or authorized officers, employees, or agents of the bank, all such incidental powers as may be necessary or expedient to carry on the business of the bank;

(22) accept contributions to the capital of the bank from associations and account for such in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except as may be authorized by the Farm Credit Administration;

(23) as may be authorized by the board of directors of the bank, agree with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses, whether to protect against capital impairment or for any other purpose; and

(24) operate as an originator and become certified as a certified facility under subchapter VIII of this chapter.

12 USC 2014 - Farm Credit Bank capitalization

In accordance with section 2154a of this title, the Farm Credit Banks shall provide, through bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for the capitalization of the bank and the manner in which bank stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and bank earnings distributed.

12 USC 2015 - Lending authority

(a) Real estate loans and related assistance

(1) Real estate loans
The Farm Credit Banks may make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans in rural areas, as defined by the Farm Credit Administration, or to producers or harvesters of aquatic products, and make continuing commitments to make such loans under specified circumstances, for a term of not less than 5 nor more than 40 years.

(2) Financial assistance
The Farm Credit Banks may provide and extend financial assistance to, and discount for, or purchase from, a Federal land bank association any note, draft, or other obligation with the endorsement or guarantee of the association, the proceeds of which have been advanced to persons eligible and for purposes of financing by the association, as authorized under section 2279b (a) of this title.

(b) Intermediate credit

(1) In general
The Farm Credit Banks are authorized to make loans and extend other similar financial assistance to and to discount for or purchase from

(A) any production credit association, or

(B) any national bank, State bank, trust company, agricultural credit corporation, incorporated livestock loan company, savings institution, credit union, or any association of agricultural producers engaged in the making of loans to farmers and ranchers, and any corporation engaged in the making of loans to producers or harvesters of aquatic products,

any note, draft, or other obligation with the institutions endorsement or guarantee, the proceeds of which note, draft, or other obligation have been advanced to persons and for purposes eligible for financing by production credit associations as authorized by this chapter.

(2) Participation with other entities
The Farm Credit Banks may participate with one or more production credit associations or other Farm Credit Banks in the making of loans to eligible borrowers and may participate with one or more other Farm Credit System institutions in loans made under this subchapter or other subchapters of this chapter on the basis prescribed in section 2206 of this title.

(3) Limitations on extension of financial services

(A) General rule
No paper shall be purchased from or discounted for, and no loans shall be made or other similar financial assistance extended by a Farm Credit Bank to any entity identified in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection if the amount of such paper added to the aggregate liabilities of such entity, whether direct or contingent (other than bona fide deposit liabilities), exceeds ten times the paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus of such entity or the amount of such liabilities permitted under the laws of the jurisdiction creating such institution, whichever is the lesser.

(B) Limitation on national bank
It shall be unlawful for any national bank which is indebted to any Farm Credit Bank, on paper discounted or purchased under paragraph (1), to incur any additional indebtedness, if by virtue of such additional indebtedness its aggregate liabilities direct or contingent, will exceed the limitation described in subparagraph (A).

(4) FCA regulations

(A) In general
All of the loans, financial assistance, discounts and purchases authorized by this subsection shall be subject to regulations of the Farm Credit Administration and shall be secured by collateral, if any, as may be required in such regulations.

(B) Requirement of regulations
The regulations shall assure that such loans, financial assistance, discounts, and purchases are available on a reasonable basis to any financing institution authorized to receive such services under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, and that

(i) is significantly involved in lending for agricultural or aquatic purposes;

(ii) demonstrates a continuing need for supplementary sources of funds to meet the credit requirements of its agricultural or aquatic borrowers;

(iii) has limited access to national or regional capital markets; and

(iv) does not use such services to expand its financing activities to persons and for purposes other than those authorized under subchapter II of this chapter.

(C) Fees
The regulations may authorize a Farm Credit Bank to charge reasonable fees for any commitment to extend service under this section to such a financing institution.

(D) Subsidiaries and affiliates
For purposes of this subsection, a financing institution together with the subsidiaries and affiliates of such may be considered as one, but such determination to consider such institution together with the subsidiaries and affiliates of such as one shall be made in the first instance by the bank and in the event of a denial by the bank of its services to a financial institution, then by the Farm Credit Administration on a case-by-case basis with due regard to the total relationship of the financing institution, its subsidiaries, and affiliates.

(5) Effective date
Nothing in this section shall require termination of discount relationships in existence on December 24, 1980.

12 USC 2016 - Interest rates and other charges

(a) In general
Loans and discounts made by a Farm Credit Bank shall bear such rate or rates of interest or discount, and be on such terms and conditions, as may be determined by the board of directors of the bank from time to time.

(b) Setting rates and charges
In setting rates and charges, it shall be the objective to provide the types of credit needed by eligible borrowers at the lowest reasonable costs on a sound business basis taking into consideration the cost of money to the bank, necessary reserve and expenses of the bank and associations, and providing services to members. The loan documents or discounting and financing agreements, may provide for the interest rate or rates to vary from time to time during the repayment period of the loan or agreement.

12 USC 2017 - Eligibility

The credit and financial services authorized in this subchapter may be made available to persons who are or become stockholders or members of the bank or associations in the district, and who are

(1) bona fide farmers, ranchers, or producers or harvesters of aquatic products;

(2) persons furnishing to farmers and ranchers farm-related services directly related to their on-farm operating needs; or

(3) owners of rural homes.

12 USC 2018 - Security; terms

(a) Real estate loans

(1) Maximum level of loans

(A) In general
Real estate mortgage loans originated by a Farm Credit Bank, or in which a Farm Credit Bank participates in with a lender that is not a System institution, shall not exceed 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security, except as provided for in subparagraphs (C) and (D).

(B) Regulation
The Farm Credit Administration may, by regulation, require that loans not exceed 75 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security.

(C) Guaranteed loans
If the loan is guaranteed by Federal, State, or other governmental agencies, the loan may not exceed 97 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security, as may be authorized under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(D) Private mortgage insurance
A loan on which private mortgage insurance is obtained may exceed 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security to the extent that the loan amount in excess of such 85 percent is covered by the insurance.

(2) Security
All loans originated or participated in by a bank under this section shall be secured by first liens on interests in real estate of such classes as may be prescribed by regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(3) Value of security
To adequately secure the loan, the value of security shall be determined by appraisal under standards prescribed by the bank in accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(4) Additional security
Additional security for any loan may be required by the bank to supplement real estate security. Credit factors, other than the ratio between the amount of the loan and the security value, shall be given due consideration.

(b) Intermediate credit
Loans, other than real estate loans, and discounts made under the provisions of this subchapter shall be repayable in not more than 7 years (15 years if made to producers or harvesters of aquatic products) from the time that such are made or discounted by the Farm Credit Bank, except that the Board of Directors, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, may approve policies permitting loans, advances, or discounts (other than those made to producers or harvesters of aquatic products) to be repayable in not more than 10 years from the time that such are made or discounted by such bank.

12 USC 2019 - Purposes for extensions of credit

(a) Agricultural or aquatic purposes

(1) In general
Loans made by a Farm Credit Bank to farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products may be for any agricultural or aquatic purpose and other credit needs of the applicant, including financing for basic processing and marketing directly related to the applicants operations and those of other eligible farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products, except that the operations of the applicant shall supply some portion of the total processing or marketing for which financing is extended.

(2) Limitation on loans for basic processing and marketing operations
The aggregate of the financing provided by any Farm Credit Bank for basic processing and marketing directly related to the operations of farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products, if the operations of the applicant supply less than 20 percent of the total processing or marketing for which financing is extended, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total of all outstanding loans of such bank.

(b) Rural housing financing

(1) In general
Loans and discounts may be made to rural residents for rural housing financing under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(2) Limitations
Rural housing financed under this subchapter shall be for single-family, moderate-priced dwellings and their appurtenances not inconsistent with the general quality and standards of housing existing in, or planned or recommended for, the rural area where it is located, except that a Farm Credit Bank may not at any one time have a total amount of loans outstanding for such rural housing to persons other than farmers or ranchers in amounts exceeding 15 percent of the total of all loans outstanding in such bank.

(3) Rural areas
For rural housing purposes under this section the term rural areas shall not be defined to include any city or village having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants.

(1) In general
Loans to persons furnishing farm-related services to farmers and ranchers directly related to their on-farm operating needs may be made for the necessary capital structures and equipment and initial working capital for such services.

(2) Facilities
The banks may own and lease, or lease with option to purchase, to persons eligible for credit under this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter, equipment or facilities needed in the operations of such persons.

12 USC 2020 - Related services

(a) In general
The Farm Credit Banks may provide technical assistance to borrowers, members, and applicants from the bank and associations in the district, including persons obligated on paper discounted by the bank, and may make available to them at their option such financial related services appropriate to their on-farm and aquatic operations as determined to be feasible by the board of directors of the bank, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(b) Authority to pass along cost of insurance premiums

(1) In general
Each Farm Credit Bank may assess each production credit association, other association making direct loans under the authority provided under section 2279b of this title, and other financing institution described in section 2015 (b)(1)(B) of this title in the district in which the bank is located to cover the costs of making premium payments under part E of subchapter V of this chapter.

(2) Computation
The assessment on any association or other financing institution described in paragraph (1) for any period shall be computed in an equitable manner, as determined by the Corporation.

12 USC 2021 - Loans through associations or agents

(a) In general
The Farm Credit Banks shall, except as otherwise herein provided, make loans of the type authorized under section 2015 (a) of this title through a Federal land bank association chartered to serve the territory in which the real estate of the borrower is located.

(b) No active association
If there is no active association chartered to serve territory where the real estate is located, the bank may make the loan directly or through such bank or trust company or savings or other financial institution as such bank may designate.

(c) Purchase of stock required
When the loan is not made through a Federal land bank association, the applicant shall purchase stock in the bank in accordance with the capitalization requirements provided for in the bylaws of the bank.

12 USC 2022 - Liens on stock

The Farm Credit Banks shall have a first lien on the stock or participation certificates it issues for the payment of any liability of the stockholders to the bank.

12 USC 2023 - Taxation

The Farm Credit Banks and the capital, reserves, and surplus thereof, and the income derived therefrom, shall be exempt from Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, except taxes on real estate held by a Farm Credit Bank to the same extent, according to its value, as other similar property held by other persons is taxed. The mortgages held by the Farm Credit Banks and the notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued by the banks shall be considered and held to be instrumentalities of the United States and, as such, they and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, other than Federal income tax liability of the holder thereof under the Public Debt Act of 1941 (31 U.S.C. 3124).

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - FARM CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS

Part A - Production Credit Associations

12 USC 2071 - Organization and charters

(a) Charter
Each production credit association shall continue as a Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States.

(b) Organization

(1) In general
Production credit associations may be organized by 10 or more farmers or ranchers or producers or harvesters of aquatic products desiring to borrow money under the provisions of this part.

(2) Articles of association
The proposed articles of association shall be forwarded to the Farm Credit Bank for the district accompanied by an agreement to subscribe on behalf of the association for stock in the bank in such amounts as may be required by the bank.

(3) Contents of articles
The articles shall specify in general terms the

(A) objects for which the association is formed;

(B) powers to be exercised by the association in carrying out the functions authorized by this part; and

(4) Signatures
The articles shall be signed by persons desiring to form such an association and shall be accompanied by a statement signed by each such person establishing eligibility to borrow from the association in which such person will become a stockholder.

(5) Copy to FCA
A copy of the articles of association shall be forwarded to the Farm Credit Administration with the recommendations of the bank concerning the need for such an association in order to adequately serve the credit needs of eligible persons in the proposed territory and whether that territory includes any area described in the charter of another production credit association.

(6) Denial of charter
The Farm Credit Administration for good cause shown may deny the charter.

(7) Approval of articles
On approval of the proposed articles by the Farm Credit Administration, and on the issuance of a charter, the association shall become as of such date a federally chartered body corporate and an instrumentality of the United States.

(8) Powers of FCA
The Farm Credit Administration shall have the power, under rules and regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration or by prescribing in the terms of the charter, to

(A) provide for the organization of the association;

(B) provide for the initial amount of stock of the association;

(D) approve amendments to the charter of the association.

12 USC 2072 - Board of directors

Each production credit association shall elect from the voting members of such association, a board of directors of such number, for such terms, with such qualifications, and in such manner as may be required by the bylaws of the association, except that at least one member shall be elected by the other directors, which member shall not be a director, officer, employee, stockholder, or agent of a System institution.

12 USC 2073 - General corporate powers

Each production credit association shall be a body corporate and, subject to supervision by the Farm Credit Bank for the district and regulation by the Farm Credit Administration, shall have the power to

(1) have succession until terminated in accordance with this chapter or any other Act of Congress;

(2) adopt and use a corporate seal;

(3) make contracts;

(4) sue and be sued;

(5) acquire, hold, dispose, and otherwise exercise all of the usual incidents of ownership of real and personal property necessary or convenient to the business of the association;

(6) operate under the direction of the board of directors of the association in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(7) subscribe to stock of the bank;

(8) purchase stock of the bank held by other production credit associations and stock of other production credit associations;

(9) contribute to the capital of the bank or other production credit associations;

(10) invest funds of the association as may be approved by the Farm Credit Bank under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration and deposit the current funds and securities of such with the Farm Credit Bank, a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, or any bank insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and may pay fees therefor and receive interest thereon as may be agreed;

(11) buy and sell obligations of or insured by the United States or of any agency thereof or of any banks of the Farm Credit System and buy from and sell to such banks, interests in loans and in other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock, as may be authorized by the Farm Credit Bank in accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration;

(12) borrow money from the Farm Credit Bank, and with the approval of such bank, borrow from and issue notes or other obligations to any commercial bank or other financial institution;

(13) make and participate in loans, accept advance payments, and provide services and other assistance as authorized in this part and charge fees therefor, and when authorized by the bank participate with one or more other Farm Credit System institutions in loans made under this subchapter or other subchapters of this chapter on the basis prescribed in section 2206 of this title;

(14) endorse and become liable on loans discounted or pledged to the Farm Credit Bank;

(15) as may be authorized by the Farm Credit Bank in accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, agree with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan or other losses, whether to protect against capital impairment or for any other purpose;

(16) prescribe, by its board of directors, its bylaws that shall be consistent with law, and that shall provide for

(A) the classes of its stock and the manner in which such stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired; and

(B) the manner in which it is to

(i) select officers and employees;

(ii) acquire, hold, and transfer property;

(iii) conduct general business; and

(iv) exercise and enjoy the privileges granted to it by law;

(17) provide by its board of directors for a manager or other chief executive officer, and provide for such other officers or employees as may be necessary, including joint employees as provided in this chapter, define their duties, and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by employees, but no director shall, within one year after the date when such director ceases to be a member of the board, serve as a salaried employee of the association on the board of which he served;

(18) elect by the board of directors of the association a loan committee with power to approve applications for membership in the association and loans or participations or, with the approval of the bank, delegate the approval of applications for membership and loans or participations within specified limits to other committees or to authorized officers and employees of the association;

(19) perform any functions delegated to the association by the bank;

(20) exercise by the board of directors or authorized officers or employees of the association, all such incidental powers as may be necessary or expedient to carry on the business of the association; and

(21) operate as an originator and become certified as a certified facility under subchapter VIII of this chapter.

12 USC 2074 - Production credit association capitalization

(a) In general
In accordance with section 2154a of this title, each production credit association shall provide, through its bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for its capitalization and the manner in which its stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, its earnings distributed.

(b) Application of earnings
At the end of each fiscal year, each production credit association shall apply the amount of the earnings of the association for the fiscal year in excess of the operating expenses of the association (including provision for valuation reserves against loan assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles)

(1) first, to the restoration of the impairment (if any) of capital; and

(2) second, to the establishment and maintenance of the surplus accounts, the minimum aggregate amount of which shall be prescribed by the Farm Credit Bank.

(c) Patronage
When the bylaws of an association so provide and subject to the general directions of the Farm Credit Administration, available net earnings at the end of any fiscal year may be distributed on a patronage basis in stock, participation certificates, or in cash. Any part of the earnings of the fiscal year in excess of the operating expenses for such year held in the surplus account may be allocated to patrons on a patronage basis.

12 USC 2075 - Short- and intermediate-term loans; participation; other financial assistance; terms; conditions; interest; security

(a) Short- and intermediate-term loans
Each production credit association, under standards prescribed by the board of directors of the Farm Credit Bank of the district, may make, guarantee, or participate with other lenders in short- and intermediate-term loans and other similar financial assistance to

(1) bona fide farmers and ranchers and the producers or harvesters of aquatic products, for agricultural or aquatic purposes and other requirements of such borrowers, including financing for basic processing and marketing directly related to the operations of the borrower and those of other eligible farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products, except that the operations of the borrower shall supply some portion of the total processing or marketing for which financing is extended, except that the aggregate of the financing provided by any association for basic processing and marketing directly related to the operations of farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products, if the operations of the applicant supply less than 20 percent of the total processing or marketing for which financing is extended, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total of all outstanding loans of all associations in the district at the end of its preceding fiscal year;

(2) rural residents for housing financing in rural areas, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration; and

(3) persons furnishing to farmers and ranchers farm-related services directly related to their on-farm operating needs.

(b) Rural housing

(1) In general
Rural housing financed under this part shall be for single-family, moderate-priced dwellings and the appurtenances of such not inconsistent with the general quality and standards of housing existing in, or planned or recommended for, the rural area where it is located.

(2) Limitation
The aggregate of such housing loans in an association to persons other than farmers or ranchers shall not exceed 15 percent of the outstanding loans at the end of its preceding fiscal year except on prior approval by the Farm Credit Bank of the district. The aggregate of such housing loans in any farm credit district shall not exceed 15 percent of the outstanding loans of all associations in the district at the end of the preceding fiscal year.

(3) Rural areas
For rural housing purposes under this section the term rural areas shall not be defined to include any city or village having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants.

(4) Equipment
Each association may own and lease, or lease with option to purchase, to stockholders of the association equipment needed in the operations of the stockholder.

(1) In general
Loans authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall bear such rate or rates of interest as are determined under standards prescribed by the board of the bank subject to the provisions of section 2205 of this title, and shall be made upon such terms, conditions, and upon such security, if any, as shall be authorized in such standards.

(2) Setting of rates
In setting rates and charges, it shall be the objective to provide the types of credit needed by eligible borrowers, at the lowest reasonable cost on a sound business basis, taking into account the cost of money to the association, necessary reserves and expenses of the association, and services provided to borrowers and members.

(3) Varying rates
The loan documents may provide for the interest rate or rates to vary from time to time during the repayment period of the loan in accordance with the rate or rates currently being charged by the association.

(4) Prior approval
Such standards may require prior approval of the bank on certain classes of loans, and may authorize a continuing commitment to a borrower of a line of credit.

(d) Special district rule

(1) Provision of credit and technical assistance outside service territory
Notwithstanding any territorial limitation in the charter of a production credit association located in a district in which there are only two such associations, the Farm Credit Administration Board, on request of such association, may permit such association to provide credit and technical assistance to any borrower who is denied credit by the other production credit association in the district if the Board determines that such other production credit association in the district is unduly restrictive in the application of credit standards.

(2) Timing of determination
If the Farm Credit Administration Board approves the extension of credit and technical assistance under paragraph (1), the association shall approve or deny the application for credit within 90 days after receipt of the application from the borrower.

12 USC 2076 - Other services

Each production credit association may provide technical assistance to borrowers, applicants, and members and may make available to them at their option such financial related services appropriate to their on-farm and aquatic operations as is determined feasible by the board of directors of each Farm Credit Bank, under regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2076a - Liens on stock

Except with regard to stock or participation certificates held by other Farm Credit System institutions, each production credit association shall have a first lien on stock and participation certificates the association issues, on allocated surplus, and on investments in equity reserve, for any indebtedness of the holder of the capital investments and, in the case of equity reserves, for charges for association losses in excess of reserves and surpluses.

12 USC 2077 - Taxation

Each production credit association and its obligations are instrumentalities of the United States and as such any and all notes, debentures, and other obligations issued by such associations shall be exempt, both as to principal and interest, from all taxation (except surtaxes, estate, inheritance, and gift taxes) now or hereafter imposed by the United States or any State, territorial, or local taxing authority, except that interest on such obligations shall be subject to Federal income taxation in the hands of the holder.

Part B - Federal Land Bank Associations

12 USC 2091 - Organizations; articles; charters; powers of the Farm Credit Administration

(a) Charter
Each Federal land bank association shall continue as a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States.

(b) Organization

(1) In general
A Federal land bank association may be organized by any group of 10 or more persons desiring to borrow money from a Farm Credit Bank under section 2015 (a) of this title, including persons to whom the Farm Credit Bank has made a loan directly or through an agent and has taken as security real estate located in the territory proposed to be served by the association.

(2) Articles of association

(A) Description of territory
The articles of association shall describe the territory within which the association proposes to carry on its operations.

(B) Submission to FCB
Proposed articles shall be forwarded to the Farm Credit Bank for the district, accompanied by an agreement to subscribe on behalf of the association for stock in accordance with the bylaws of the Farm Credit Bank.

(C) Stock purchase
Association stock may be paid for by surrendering for cancellation stock in the bank held by a borrower and the issuance of an equivalent amount of stock to such borrower in the association.

(D) Statement
The articles shall be accompanied by a statement signed by each of the members of the proposed association establishing

(i) the individuals eligibility and request for a Farm Credit Bank loan;

(ii) that the real estate with respect to which the individual desires the loan for is not being served by another Federal land bank association; and

(iii) that the individual is or will become a stockholder in the proposed association.

(E) Submission to FCA
A copy of the articles of association shall be forwarded to the Farm Credit Administration with the recommendations of the bank concerning the need for the proposed association in order to adequately serve the credit needs of eligible persons in the proposed territory and a statement as to whether or not the territory includes any territory described in the charter of another Federal land bank association.

(3) Denials of charters
The Farm Credit Administration for good cause shown may deny the charter applied for.

(4) Approval of articles
On the approval of the proposed articles by the Farm Credit Administration and the issuance of such charter, the association shall become as of such date a federally chartered body corporate and an instrumentality of the United States.

(c) FCA authority on organization
The Farm Credit Administration shall have power, in the terms of the charter, under rules and regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration

(1) to provide for the organization of the association;

(2) to provide for the initial amount of stock of the association;

(3) to provide for the territory within which the association may carry on its operations; and

(4) to approve amendments to the charter of such association.

12 USC 2092 - Board of directors

Each Federal land bank association shall elect from its voting shareholders a board of directors of such number, for such terms, in such manner, and with such qualifications as may be required by its bylaws except that, at least one member shall be elected by the other directors, which member shall not be a director, officer, employee, stockholder, or agent of a System institution.

12 USC 2093 - General corporate powers

Each Federal land bank association shall be a body corporate and, subject to supervision of the Farm Credit Bank for the district and the regulation of the Farm Credit Administration, shall have the power to

(1) adopt and use a corporate seal;

(2) have succession until dissolved under the provisions of this chapter or other Act of Congress;

(3) make contracts;

(4) sue and be sued;

(5) acquire, hold, dispose, and otherwise exercise all of the usual incidents of ownership of real estate and personal property necessary or convenient to the business of the association;

(6) operate under the direction of the board of directors of the association in accordance with this chapter;

(7) provide by its board of directors for a manager or other chief executive officer, and provide for such other officers or employees as may be necessary, including joint employees as provided in this chapter, define the duties of such, and require surety bonds or make other provision against losses occasioned by employees, except that no director shall, within one year after the date when such director ceases to be a member of the board, serve as a salaried employee of the association on the board of which such director served;

(8) prescribe, by its board of directors, its bylaws that shall be consistent with law, and that shall provide for

(A) the classes of its stock and the manner in which such stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired; and

(B) the manner in which it is to

(i) select officers and employees;

(ii) acquire, hold, and transfer property;

(iii) conduct general business; and

(iv) exercise and enjoy the privileges granted to it by law;

(9) accept applications for Farm Credit Bank loans and receive from such bank and disburse to the borrowers the proceeds of such loans;

(10) subscribe to stock of the Farm Credit Bank of the district;

(11) elect by its board of directors a loan committee with power to elect applicants for membership in the association and recommend loans to the Farm Credit Bank, or with the approval of the Farm Credit Bank, delegate the election of applicants for membership and the approval of loans within specified limits to other committees or to authorized employees of the association;

(12) on agreement with the bank, take such additional actions with respect to applications and loans and perform such functions as are vested by law in the Farm Credit Banks as may be agreed to by the association;

(13) endorse and become liable to the bank on loans it makes to association members;

(14) receive such compensation and deduct such sums from loan proceeds with respect to each loan as may be agreed between the association and the bank and make such other charges for services as may be approved by the bank;

(15) provide technical assistance to members, borrowers, applicants, and other eligible persons and make available to them, at their option, such financial related services appropriate to their operations as it determines, with Farm Credit Bank approval, are feasible, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration;

(16) borrow money from the bank and, with the approval of such bank, borrow from and issue association notes or other obligations to any commercial bank or other financial institution;

(17) buy and sell obligations of or insured by the United States or any agency thereof or of any banks of the Farm Credit System;

(18) invest association funds in such obligations as may be authorized in regulations of the Farm Credit Administration and approved by the bank and deposit securities and current funds of the association with any member bank of the Federal Reserve System, with the Farm Credit Bank, or with any bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and pay fees therefor and receive interest thereon as may be agreed;

(19) perform such other function delegated to the association by the Farm Credit Bank of the district;

(20) exercise by its board of directors or authorized officers or agents all such incidental powers as may be necessary or expedient in the conduct of its business;

(21) contribute to the capital of the bank; and

(22) operate as an originator and become certified as a certified facility under subchapter VIII of this chapter.

12 USC 2094 - Federal land bank association capitalization

In accordance with section 2154a of this title, the Federal land bank association shall provide, through its bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for its capitalization and the manner in which its stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and its earnings distributed.

12 USC 2095 - Repealed. Pub. L. 100399, title IV, 401(v), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 999

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title II, § 2.14, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, § 401, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1636, provided that whenever any Federal land bank association was liquidated, a sum equal to its reserve account as required in this chapter was to be paid and become the property of the bank in which such association was a shareholder. A prior section 2095, Pub. L. 92–181, title II, § 2.14, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 600; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(e)(15), title VI, 605, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1705, 1711, related to application of earnings, restoration of capital impairment, and surplus account, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 100–233, § 401.

12 USC 2096 - Agreements for sharing gains or losses

Each Farm Credit Bank may enter into agreements with Federal land bank associations in its district for sharing the gain or losses on loans or on security held therefor or acquired in liquidation thereof, and associations are authorized to enter into any such agreements and also, subject to bank approval, agreements with other associations in the district for sharing the risk of loss on loans endorsed by each such association. As may be authorized by the bank in accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, associations also may enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses, whether to protect against capital impairment or for any other purpose.

12 USC 2097 - Liens on stock

Each Federal land bank association shall have a first lien on the stock and participation certificates it issues, except on stock or participation certificates held by other Farm Credit System institutions, for the payment of any liability of the stockholder to the association or to the bank, or to both of them.

12 USC 2098 - Taxation

Each Federal land bank association and the capital, reserves, and surplus thereof, and the income derived therefrom, shall be exempt from Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, except taxes on real estate held by a Federal land bank association to the same extent, according to its value, as other similar property held by other persons is taxed. The mortgages held by the Federal land bank associations and the notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued by the associations shall be considered and held to be instrumentalities of the United States and, as such, they and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, other than Federal income tax liability of the holder thereof under the Public Debt Act of 1941 (31 U.S.C. 3124).

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - BANKS FOR COOPERATIVES

Part A - Banks for Cooperatives

12 USC 2121 - Establishment; titles; branches

The banks for cooperatives established pursuant to sections 2 and 30 of the Farm Credit Act of 1933, as amended, shall continue as federally chartered instrumentalities of the United States. The Farm Credit Administration shall approve amendments consistent with this chapter to charters and organizational certificates of banks for cooperatives. Unless an existing bank for cooperatives is merged with another bank, there shall be a bank for cooperatives in each farm credit district and a Central Bank for Cooperatives. A bank for cooperatives may include in its title the name of the city in which it is located or other geographical designation. The Central Bank for Cooperatives may be located in such place as its board of directors may determine with the approval of the Farm Credit Administration. When authorized by the Farm Credit Administration each bank for cooperatives may establish such branches or other offices as may be appropriate for the effective operation of its business.

12 USC 2122 - Corporate existence; general corporate powers

Each bank for cooperatives shall be a body corporate and, subject to regulation by the Farm Credit Administration, shall have power to

(1) Adopt and use a corporate seal.

(2) Have succession until dissolved under the provisions of this chapter or other Act of Congress.

(3) Make contracts.

(4) Sue and be sued.

(5) Acquire, hold, dispose, and otherwise exercise all of the usual incidents of ownership of real and personal property necessary or convenient to its business.

(6) Make loans and commitments for credit, provide services and other assistance as authorized in this chapter, and charge fees therefor.

(7) Operate under the direction of its board of directors.

(8) Elect by its board of directors a president, any vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and provide for such other officers, employees, and agents as may be necessary, including joint employees as provided in this chapter, define their duties and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by employees.

(9) Prescribe by its board of directors its bylaws not inconsistent with law providing for the classes of its stock and the manner in which its stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired; its officers, employees, or agents elected or provided for; its property acquired, held, and transferred; its loans made; its general business conducted; and the privileges granted it by law exercised and enjoyed.

(10) Borrow money and issue notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations individually or in concert with one or more other banks of the System, of such character, and such terms, conditions, and rates of interest as may be determined.

(11)

(A) Participate in loans under this subchapter with one or more other banks for cooperatives and with commercial banks and other financial institutions upon such terms as may be agreed among them, and participate with one or more other Farm Credit System institutions in loans made under this subchapter or other subchapters of this chapter on the basis prescribed in section 2206 of this title.

(B)

(i) Participate in any loan of a type otherwise authorized under this subchapter that is made to a similar entity by any institution in the business of extending credit, including purchases of participations in loans to finance international trade transactions involving the sale of agricultural commodities or the products thereof, except that

(I) a bank for cooperatives may not participate in a loan

(aa) if the participation would cause the total amount of all loan participations by the bank under this subparagraph involving a single credit risk to exceed 10 percent of the banks total capital; or

(bb) if the participation by the bank will itself equal or exceed 50 percent of the principal of the loan or, when taken together with participations in the loan by other Farm Credit System institutions, will cause the cumulative amount of the participations by all Farm Credit System institutions in the loan to equal or exceed 50 percent of the principal of the loan;

(II) a bank for cooperatives may not participate in a loan to a similar entity under this subparagraph if the similar entity has a loan or loan commitment outstanding with a Farm Credit Bank or an association chartered under this chapter, unless agreed to by the Bank or association; and

(III) the cumulative amount of participations that a bank for cooperatives may have outstanding under this subparagraph at any time may not exceed 15 percent of the banks total assets.

(ii) As used in this subparagraph, the term similar entity means an entity that, while not eligible for a loan under section 2129 of this title, is functionally similar to an entity eligible for a loan under section 2129 of this title in that it derives a majority of its income from, or has a majority of its assets invested in, the conduct of activities functionally similar to those conducted by the entity.

(iii) As used in this subparagraph, the term participate or participation refers to multilender transactions, including syndications, assignments, loan participations, subparticipations, or other forms of the purchase, sale, or transfer of interests in loans, other extensions of credit, or other technical and financial assistance.

(12) Deposit its securities and its current funds with any member bank of the Federal Reserve System or any insured State nonmember bank (within the meaning of section 1813 of this title) or, to the extent necessary to facilitate transactions which may be financed under section 2128 (b) of this title, any other financial organization, domestic or foreign, as may be authorized by its board of directors, and pay fees therefor and receive interest thereon as may be agreed. When designated for that purpose by the Secretary of the Treasury, it shall be a depository of public money, except receipts from customs, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary; may be employed as a fiscal agent of the Government, and shall perform all such reasonable duties as a depository of public money or financial agent of the Government as may be required of it. No Government funds deposited under the provisions of this subsection shall be invested in loans or bonds or other obligations of the bank.

(13)

(A) Buy and sell obligations of or insured by the United States or of any agency thereof, or securities backed by the full faith and credit of any such agency and make such other investments as may be authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration.

(B) As may be authorized by its board of directors, buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans and in other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock.

(C) As may be authorized by its board of directors, and solely for the purposes of obtaining credit information and other services needed to facilitate transactions which may be financed under section 2128 (b) of this title, invest in ownership interests in foreign business entities that are principally engaged in providing credit information to and performing such servicing functions for their members in connection with the members international activities.

(14) Conduct studies and adopt standards for lending.

(15) Amend and modify loan contracts, documents, and payment schedules, and release, subordinate, or substitute security for any of them.

(16) Exercise by its board of directors or authorized officers, employees, or agents all such incidental powers as may be necessary or expedient to carry on the business of the bank.

(17) As may be authorized by the board of directors, maintain credit balances and pay or receive fees or interest thereon, for the purpose of assisting in the transfer of funds to or from parties to transactions that may be financed under section 2128 (b) of this title: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall authorize the banks for cooperatives to engage in the business of accepting domestic deposits.

(18) As may be authorized by its board of directors, agree with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan or other losses, whether to protect against capital impairment or for any other purpose.

12 USC 2123 - Board of directors

(a)

(1) Each bank for cooperatives not merged into the United Bank for Cooperatives or the National Bank for Cooperatives shall elect a board of directors of such number, for such term, in such manner, and with such qualifications as may be required in its bylaws, except that at least one member shall be elected by the other directors, which member shall not be a director, officer, employee, or stockholder of a System institution.

(2)

(A) If approved by the stockholders through a bylaw amendment, the nomination and election of one member from a bank for cooperatives (other than the National Bank for Cooperatives) shall be carried out with each voting stockholder of a bank for cooperatives having one vote, plus a number of votes (or fractional part thereof) equal to

(i) the number of stockholders eligible to vote; multiplied by

(ii) the percentage (or fractional part thereof) of the total equity interest (including allocated, but not unallocated, surplus and reserves) in the bank of all stockholders held by the individual voting stockholder at the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the bank.

(B) The total number of votes under this paragraph shall be the number of voting stockholders of a bank for cooperatives multiplied by two.

(b) The board of directors of the Central Bank for Cooperatives shall consist of one member elected by the board of each bank for cooperatives, including the United Bank for Cooperatives if the Central Bank for Cooperatives is not merged into such bank, and one member appointed by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2124 - Stock of banks for cooperatives

(a) Amount
The Capital stock of each bank for cooperatives shall be in such amount as its board determines is required for the purpose of providing adequate capital to permit the bank to meet the credit needs of borrowers from the bank and such amounts may be increased or decreased from time to time in accordance with such needs.

(b) Value
The capital stock of each bank shall be divided into shares of par value of $100 each and may be of such classes as the board may determine. Such stock may be issued in fractional shares.

(i) cooperative associations eligible to borrow from the banks^[1]

(ii) other categories of persons and entities described in sections 2128 and 2129 of this title eligible to borrow from the bank, as determined by the banks board of directors; and

(iii) other banks for cooperatives, and shall not be otherwise transferred, pledged, or hypothecated except as consented to by the issuing bank under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(d) Entitlement to vote
Each holder of one or more shares of voting stock which is eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives shall be entitled only to one vote and only in the affairs of the bank in the district in which its principal office is located unless otherwise authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration, except that if such holder has not been a borrower from the bank in which it holds such stock within a period of two years next preceding the date fixed by the Farm Credit Administration prior to the commencement of voting, it shall not be entitled to vote.

(e) Nonvoting investment stock
Nonvoting investment stock may be issued in such series and in such amounts as may be determined by the board and may be exchanged for voting stock or sold or transferred to any person subject to the approval of the issuing bank.

(f) Participation certificates
Participation certificates may be issued to parties to whom voting stock may not be issued.

[1] So in original. There probably should be a semicolon after “banks”.

12 USC 2125 - Dividends

Dividends may be payable only on nonvoting investment stock, if declared by the board of directors of the bank, subject to the general direction of the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2126 - Retirement of stock

Nonvoting investment stock and participation certificates may be called for retirement at par. With the approval of the issuing bank, the holder may elect not to have the called stock or participation certificates retired in response to a call, reserving the right to have such stock or participation certificates included in the next call for retirement. Voting stock may also be retired at par, on call or on such revolving basis as the board may determine with due regard for its total capital needs: Provided, however, That all equities in the district banks issued or allocated with respect to 1971 and prior years shall be retired on a revolving basis according to the year of issue with the oldest outstanding equities being first retired. Equities issued for subsequent years shall not be called or retired until equities described in the preceding sentence of this proviso have been retired.

12 USC 2127 - Guaranty fund subscriptions in lieu of stock

If any cooperative association is not authorized under the laws of the State in which it is organized to take and hold stock in a bank for cooperatives, the bank shall, in lieu of any requirement for stock purchase, require the association to pay into or have on deposit in a guaranty fund, or the bank may retain out of the amount of the loan and credit to the guaranty fund account of the borrower, a sum equal to the amount of stock which the association would otherwise be required to own. Each reference to stock of the banks for cooperatives in this chapter shall include such guaranty fund equivalents. The holder of the guaranty fund equivalent and the bank shall each be entitled to the same rights and obligations with respect thereto as the rights and obligations associated with the class or classes of stock involved.

12 USC 2128 - Loans, commitments, and technical and financial assistance

(a) Authorities
The banks for cooperatives are authorized to make loans and commitments to eligible cooperative associations and to extend to them other technical and financial assistance at any time (whether or not they have a loan from the bank outstanding), including but not limited to discounting notes and other obligations, guarantees, currency exchange necessary to service individual transactions that may be financed under subsection (b) of this section, collateral custody, or participation with other banks for cooperatives and commercial banks or other financial institutions in loans to eligible cooperatives, under such terms and conditions as may be determined to be feasible by the board of directors of each bank for cooperatives under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration. Such regulations may include provisions for avoiding duplication between the Central Bank and district banks for cooperatives. Each bank may own and lease, or lease with option to purchase, to stockholders eligible to borrow from the bank equipment needed in the operations of the stockholder and may make or participate in loans or commitments and extend other technical and financial assistance to other domestic parties for the acquisition of equipment and facilities to be leased to such stockholders for use in their operations in the United States.

(b) Additional authorities

(1) A bank for cooperatives is authorized to make or participate in loans and commitments to, and to extend other technical and financial assistance to a domestic or foreign party with respect to its transactions with an association that is a voting stockholder of the bank for the import of agricultural commodities or products thereof, agricultural supplies, or aquatic products through purchases, sales or exchanges, if the bank for cooperatives determines, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, that the voting stockholder will benefit substantially as a result of such loan, commitment, or assistance.

(2)

(A) A bank for cooperatives may make or participate in loans and commitments to, and extend other technical and financial assistance to

(i) any domestic or foreign party for the export, including (where applicable) the cost of freight, of agricultural commodities or products thereof, agricultural supplies, or aquatic products from the United States under policies and procedures established by the bank to ensure that the commodities, products, or supplies are originally sourced, where reasonably available, from one or more eligible cooperative associations described in section 2129 (a) of this title on a priority basis, except that if the total amount of the balances outstanding on loans made by a bank under this clause that

(I) are made to finance the export of commodities, products, or supplies that are not originally sourced from a cooperative, and

(II) are not guaranteed or insured, in an amount equal to at least 95 percent of the amount loaned, by a department, agency, bureau, board, commission, or establishment of the United States or a corporation wholly-owned directly or indirectly by the United States,

exceeds an amount that is equal to 50 percent of the banks capital, then a sufficient interest in the loans shall be sold by the bank for cooperatives to commercial banks and other non-System lenders to reduce the total amount of such outstanding balances to an amount not greater than an amount equal to 50 percent of the banks capital; and

(ii) except as provided in subparagraph (B), any domestic or foreign party in which an eligible cooperative association described in section 2129 (a) of this title (including, for the purpose of facilitating its domestic business operations only, a cooperative or other entity described in section 2129 (b)(1)(A) of this title) has an ownership interest, for the purpose of facilitating the domestic or foreign business operations of the association, except that if the ownership interest by an eligible cooperative association, or associations, is less than 50 percent, the financing shall be limited to the percentage held in the party by the association or associations.

(B) A bank for cooperatives shall not use the authority provided in subparagraph (A)(ii) to provide financial assistance to a party for the purpose of financing the relocation of a plant or facility from the United States to another country.

(3) A bank for cooperatives is authorized to provide such services as may be customary and normal in maintaining relationships with domestic or foreign entities to facilitate the activities specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), consistent with this chapter.

(4) Definition of agricultural supply.—
In this subsection, the term agricultural supply includes

(A) a farm supply; and

(B)

(i) agriculture-related processing equipment;

(ii) agriculture-related machinery; and

(iii) other capital goods related to the storage or handling of agricultural commodities or products.

(c) Applicable policies
Loans, commitments, and assistance authorized by subsection (b) of this section shall be extended in accordance with policies adopted by the board of directors of the bank under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(d) Regulatory limitations
The regulations of the Farm Credit Administration implementing subsection (b) of this section and other provisions of this subchapter relating to the authority under subsection (b) of this section may not confer upon the banks for cooperatives powers and authorities greater than those specified in this subchapter. The Farm Credit Administration shall, during the formulation of such regulations, closely consult on a continuing basis with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to insure that such regulations conform to national banking policies, objectives, and limitations.

(e) Speculative futures transactions
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the banks for cooperatives shall not make or participate in loans or commitments for the purpose of financing speculative futures transactions by eligible borrowers in foreign currencies.

(f) Installation, expansion, or improvement of water and waste disposal facilities
The banks for cooperatives may, for the purpose of installing, maintaining, expanding, improving, or operating water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas, make and participate in loans and commitments and extending other technical and financial assistance to

(1) cooperatives formed specifically for the purpose of establishing or operating such facilities; and

(2) public and quasi-public agencies and bodies, and other public and private entities that, under authority of State or local law, establish or operate such facilities.

For purposes of this subsection, the term rural area means all territory of a State that is not within the outer boundary of any city or town having a population of more than 20,000 based on the latest decennial census of the United States.

12 USC 2129 - Eligibility

(a) Any association of farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or any federation of such associations, which is operated on a cooperative basis, and has the powers for processing, preparing for market, handling, or marketing farm or aquatic products; or for purchasing, testing, grading, processing, distributing, or furnishing farm or aquatic supplies or furnishing farm or aquatic business services or services to eligible cooperatives and conforms to either of the two following requirements:

(1) no member of the association is allowed more than one vote because of the amount of stock or membership capital he may own therein; or

(2) does not pay dividends on stock or membership capital in excess of such per centum per annum as may be approved under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration; and in any case

(3) does not deal in farm products or aquatic products, or products processed therefrom, farm or aquatic supplies, farm or aquatic business services, or services to eligible cooperatives with or for nonmembers in an amount greater in value than the total amount of such business transacted by it with or for members, excluding from the total of member and nonmember business transactions with the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or services or supplies furnished as a public utility; and

(4) a percentage of the voting control of the association not less than 80 per centum (60 per centum

(A) in the case of rural electric, telephone, public utility, and service cooperatives;

(B) in the case of local farm supply cooperatives that have historically served needs of the community that would not adequately be served by other suppliers and have experienced a reduction in the percentage of farmer membership due to changed circumstances beyond their control such as, but not limited to, urbanization of the community; and

(C) in the case of local farm supply cooperatives that provide or will provide needed services to a community and that are or will be in competition with a cooperative specified in paragraph (B)) or, with respect to any type of association or cooperative, such higher percentage as established by the bank board, is held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or eligible cooperative associations as defined herein;

shall be eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Any such association that has received a loan from a bank for cooperatives shall, without regard to the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (4), continue to be eligible for so long as more than 50 percent (or such higher percentage as is established by the bank board) of the voting control of the association is held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or eligible cooperative associations.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section:

(1) The following entities shall also be eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives:

(A) Cooperatives and other entities that have received a loan, loan commitment, or loan guarantee from the Rural Electrification Administration, or a loan or loan commitment from the Rural Telephone Bank, or that are eligible under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) for a loan, loan commitment, or loan guarantee from the Administration or the Bank (or a successor of the Administration or the Bank), and subsidiaries of such cooperatives or other entities.

(B) Any legal entity that

(i) holds more than 50 percent of the voting control of an association or other entity that is eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives under subsection (a) of this section or subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, and

(ii) borrows for the purpose of making funds available to that association or entity, and makes funds available to that association or entity under the same terms and conditions that the funds are borrowed from a bank for cooperatives.

(D) Any creditworthy private entity that satisfies the requirements for a service cooperative under paragraphs (1), (2), and (4), or under the last sentence, of subsection (a) of this section and subsidiaries of the entity, if the entity is organized to benefit agriculture in furtherance of the welfare of its farmer-members and is operated on a not-for-profit basis.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2130 of this title, the board of directors of a bank for cooperatives may determine that, with respect to a loan to any borrower eligible to borrow from a bank under paragraph (1)(A) that is fully guaranteed by the United States, no stock purchase requirement shall apply, other than the requirement that a borrower eligible to own voting stock shall purchase one share of such stock.

(3) Each association and other entity eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives under this subsection, for purposes of section 2128 (a) of this title, shall be treated as an eligible cooperative association and a stockholder eligible to borrow from the bank.

(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to adversely affect the eligibility, as it existed on January 6, 1988, of cooperatives and other entities for any other credit assistance under Federal law.

12 USC 2130 - Ownership of stock by borrowers

(a) Each borrower entitled to hold voting stock shall, at the time a loan is made by a bank for cooperatives, own at least one share of voting stock and shall be required by the bank to invest in additional voting stock or nonvoting investment stock at that time, or from time to time, as the lending bank may determine, but the requirement for investment in stock at the time the loan is closed shall not exceed an amount equal to 10 per centum of the face amount of the loan. Such additional ownership requirements may be based on the face amount of the loan, the outstanding loan balance or on a percentage of the interest payable by the borrower during any year or during any quarter thereof, or upon such other basis as the bank determines will provide adequate capital for the operation of the bank and equitable ownership thereof among borrowers. In the case of a direct loan by the Central Bank, the borrower shall be required to own or invest in the necessary stock in a district bank or banks and such district bank shall be required to own a corresponding amount of stock in the Central Bank, but voting stock shall be in the one district bank, designated by the Farm Credit Administration.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the purchase of stock need not be required with respect to that part of any loan made by a bank for cooperatives which it sells to or makes in participation with financial institutions other than any of the banks for cooperatives. In such cases the distribution of earnings of the bank for cooperatives shall be on the basis of the interest in the loan retained by such bank.

12 USC 2131 - Loans

(a) Interest rates and charges
Loans made by a bank for cooperatives shall bear interest at a rate or rates determined by the board of directors of the bank from time to time. In setting rates and charges, it shall be the objective to provide the types of credit needed by eligible borrowers at the lowest reasonable cost on a sound business basis, taking into account the net cost of money to the bank, necessary reserves and expenses of the bank, and services provided. The loan documents may provide for the interest rate or rates to vary from time to time during the repayment period of the loan, in accordance with the rate or rates currently being charged by the bank.

(b) Security
Loans shall be made upon such terms, conditions, and security, if any, as may be determined by the bank in accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration.

(c) Lien
Each bank for cooperatives shall have a first lien on all stock or other equities in the bank as collateral for the payment of any indebtedness of the owner thereof to the bank. In the case of a direct loan to an eligible cooperative by the Central Bank, the Central Bank shall have a first lien on the stock and equities of the borrower in the district bank and the district bank shall have a lien thereon junior only to the lien of the Central Bank.

(d) Cancellation; application on indebtedness
In any case where the debt of a borrower is in default, or in any case of liquidation or dissolution of a present or former borrower from a bank for cooperatives, the bank may, but shall not be required to, retire and cancel all or a part of the stock, allocated surplus or contingency reserves, or any other equity in the bank owned by or allocated to such borrower, at the fair market value thereof not exceeding par, and, to the extent required in such cases, corresponding shares and allocations and other equity interests held by a district bank in another district bank on account of such indebtedness, shall be retired or equitably adjusted. In no event shall the banks equities be retired or canceled if the retirement or cancellation would adversely affect the banks capital structure, as determined by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2132 - Earnings and reserves; application of savings

(a) Application of savings
At the end of each fiscal year, the net savings shall, under regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration, continue to be applied on a cooperative basis with provision for sound, adequate capitalization to meet the changing financing needs of eligible cooperative borrowers and prudent corporate fiscal management, to the end that current years patrons carry their fair share of the capitalization, ultimate expenses, and reserves related to the years operations and the remaining net savings shall be distributed as patronage refunds as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. Such regulations may provide for application of net savings to the restoration or maintenance of an allocated surplus account, reasonable additions to unallocated surplus, or to unallocated reserves after payment of operating expenses, and provide for allocations to patrons not qualified under title 26, or payment of such per centum of patronage refunds in cash, as the board may determine.

(b) Patronage refunds
The net savings of each district bank for cooperatives, after the earnings for the fiscal year have been applied in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall be paid in stock, participation certificates, or cash, or in any of them, as determined by its board, as patronage refunds to borrowers to whom such refunds are payable who are borrowers of the fiscal year for which such patronage refunds are distributed. Except as provided in subsection (c) below, all patronage refunds shall be paid in proportion that the amount of interest and service fees on the loans to each borrower during the year bears to the interest and service fees on the loans of all borrowers during the year or on such other proportionate patronage basis as may be approved by the board of directors.

(c) Savings of Central Bank for Cooperatives
The net savings of the Central Bank for Cooperatives after the earnings for the fiscal year have been applied in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall be paid in stock or cash, or both, as determined by the board, as patronage refunds to the district banks on the basis of interests held by the Central Bank in loans made by the district banks and upon any direct loans made by the Central Bank to cooperative associations, or on such other proportionate patronage basis as may be approved by the board of directors. In cases of direct loans, such refund shall be paid to the district bank or banks which issued their stock to the borrower incident to such loans, and the district bank or banks shall issue a like amount of patronage refunds to the borrower.

(d) Loss carryover
In the event of a net loss in any fiscal year after providing for all operating expenses (including reasonable valuation reserves and losses in excess of any applicable reserves), such loss may be carried forward or carried back, if appropriate, or otherwise shall be absorbed by charges to unallocated reserve or surplus accounts established after December 10, 1971; charges to allocated contingency reserve account; charges to allocated surplus accounts; charges to other contingency reserve and surplus accounts; the impairment of voting stock; or the impairment of all other stock.

(e) Charge of unrecognized costs or expenses to reserve, surplus, or patronage allocations
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section any costs or expenses attributable to a prior year or years but not recognized in determining the net savings for such year or years may be charged to reserves or surplus of the bank or to patronage allocations for such years, as may be determined by the board of directors.

(f) Payment of patronage refunds in cash
A bank for cooperatives may pay in cash such portion of its patronage refunds as will permit its taxable income to be determined without taking into account savings applied as allocated surplus, allocated contingency reserves, and patronage refunds under subsection (a) of this section.

12 USC 2133 - Distribution of assets on liquidation or dissolution

In the case of liquidation or dissolution of any bank for cooperatives, after payment or retirement, first, of all liabilities; second, of all capital stock issued before January 1, 1956, at par, and all nonvoting stock at par; and third, all voting stock at par; any surplus and reserves existing on January 1, 1956, shall be paid to the holders of stock issued before that date, and voting stock pro rata; and any remaining allocated surplus and reserves shall be distributed to those entities to which they are allocated on the books of the bank, and any other remaining surplus shall be paid to the holders of outstanding voting stock. If it should become necessary to use any surplus or reserves to pay any liabilities or to retire any capital stock, unallocated reserves or surplus, allocated reserves and surplus shall be exhausted in accordance with rules prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2134 - Taxation

Each bank for cooperatives and its obligations are instrumentalities of the United States and as such any and all notes, debentures, and other obligations issued by such bank shall be exempt, both as to principal and interest from all taxation (except surtaxes, estate, inheritance, and gift taxes) now or hereafter imposed by the United States or any State, territorial, or local taxing authority, except that interest on such obligations shall be subject to Federal income taxation in the hands of the holder.

Part B - United and National Banks for Cooperatives

12 USC 2141 - Charter, powers, and operation

(a) Charter
The National Bank for Cooperatives or the United Bank for Cooperatives, as the case may be (hereinafter in this part referred to as the consolidated bank), established under section 413 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, shall be a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States and an institution of the Farm Credit System.

(b) Powers
The consolidated bank and the board of directors of such bank shall have all of the powers, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the district banks for cooperatives and the Central Bank for Cooperatives and the boards of directors of such banks, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

12 USC 2142 - Board of directors provisions

(a) Initial board of directors
The initial board of directors of a consolidated bank shall include the members of the boards of directors of the farm credit districts who were elected by voting stockholders of the constituent district banks for cooperatives (as such banks existed on January 6, 1988) and who shall serve out the terms for which they were elected.

(b) Permanent board of directors

(1) Composition
The permanent board of directors of a consolidated bank shall consist of

(A) three members, elected by the voting stockholders of the consolidated bank, from each of the farm credit districts that had been served by constituent banks, as such districts existed on January 6, 1988, at least one of whom, from each such district, shall be a farmer;

(B) one member elected by the voting stockholders of each district bank for cooperatives that is not a constituent of the consolidated bank; and

(C) one member appointed by the members chosen under subparagraphs (A) and (B) who shall not be a stockholder or borrower of a System institution or an officer or director of any such stockholder or borrower.

(2) Nomination and election
For purposes of nominating and electing members of the board of directors under paragraph (1)(A):

(A) First member
The nomination and election of the first member from each district shall be carried out on the basis provided for in section 2124 (d) of this title.

(B) Second member

(i) In general The nomination and election of the second member from each district shall be carried out with each voting stockholder of the consolidated bank located in the district having one vote, plus a number of votes (or fractional part thereof) equal to the number of stockholders eligible to vote in that district multiplied by the percentage (or fractional part thereof) of the total equity interest (including allocated, but not unallocated, surplus and reserves) in the consolidated bank of all such stockholders located in that district held by the individual voting stockholder

(I) at the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the consolidated bank; or

(II) with respect to the first election held under this subsection, as of such date as the Farm Credit Administration shall prescribe.

(ii) Total number of votes The total number of votes for each district under this subparagraph shall be the number of voting stockholders of the consolidated bank located in the district multiplied by two.

(C) Third member
The nomination and election of the third member from each district shall be carried out in accordance with procedures prescribed in the bylaws of the consolidated bank.

(3) Terms

(A) In general
The members of the board of directors of the consolidated bank shall serve for a term of 3 years.

(B) Timing of elections
Procedures for electing members of the board of directors of the consolidated bank under this subsection shall ensure that the beginning of the terms of such members coincide with the expiration of the terms of members of the interim board of directors of the bank under subsection (a) of this section.

(4) FCA regulations
The nomination and election of the members of the board of directors of the consolidated bank under this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration.

(c) Modification of board of directors provisions
The provisions of subsection (b) of this section relating to the board of directors of the consolidated bank, other than the provisions relating to the initial composition, nomination, and election of the members of the board, may be modified on an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting stockholders of the bank, with each such stockholder to have, for such purposes, only one vote. Any proposals for modifying such provisions shall be submitted for a vote by such stockholders in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2143 - Credit delivery office

On a determination by the board of directors of the consolidated bank that the banks loan portfolio is concentrated in any one district or districts (according to the district boundaries in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the establishment of the bank under section 413 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987), the bank may consider the creation of regional service centers to accommodate such loan concentrations.

12 USC 2144 - Consolidation of functions

Subject to section 2143 of this title, to the greatest extent practicable, the functions of the consolidated bank shall be consolidated in the central office of the bank.

12 USC 2145 - Exchange of ownership interests

On the establishment of the consolidated bank, ownership interests of the stockholders and subscribers to the guaranty funds of the constituent district banks for cooperatives (including stock, participation certificates, and allocated equities) shall be exchanged for like ownership interests in the consolidated bank on a book value basis.

12 USC 2146 - Capitalization

In accordance with section 2154a of this title, each consolidated bank shall provide, through bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for the capitalization of the bank and the manner in which bank stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and bank earnings distributed.

12 USC 2147 - Patronage pools

Under such terms and conditions as may be determined by its board of directors, the consolidated bank may

(1) for a period of at least 3 years following January 6, 1988, establish separate patronage pools consisting of loans to eligible borrowers located in each constituent farm credit district (as such district existed on January 6, 1988); and

(2) allocate revenues, expenses, and net savings among such pools on an equitable basis.

12 USC 2148 - Transactions to accomplish merger

The receipt of assets or assumption of liabilities by the consolidated bank, the exchange of stock, equities, or other ownership interests, and any other transaction carried out in accomplishing the merger of the banks for cooperatives shall not be treated as a taxable event under the laws of the United States or of any State or political subdivision thereof. The preceding sentence shall also apply to the receipt of assets and liabilities by a cooperative to the extent that the net amount of the distribution is immediately reinvested in stock of a consolidated bank (and in such case the basis of such stock shall be appropriately reduced by the amount of gain not recognized by reason of this sentence).

12 USC 2149 - Lending limits

The Farm Credit Administration may not establish lending limits for the consolidated bank with respect to any loans or borrowers that are more restrictive than the combined lending limits that were previously established by the Farm Credit Administration for a district bank for cooperatives and the Central Bank for Cooperatives with respect to such loans or borrowers.

12 USC 2149a - Reports by merged banks for cooperatives

(a) In general
When two or more banks for cooperatives merge, the resulting bank shall, not later than December 31 of each year of the succeeding 5 years following the date of the merger, file an annual report with the Farm Credit Administration that

(1) analyzes the effect of the merger;

(2) includes a breakdown of loans outstanding according to the size of the cooperative stockholders of the bank; and

(3) describes the adequacy of credit and other assistance services provided to smaller cooperatives.

(b) Availability
A copy of the report required in subsection (a) of this section shall be made available to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO TWO OR MORE CLASSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF THE SYSTEM

Part A - Funding

12 USC 2151 - Revolving fund

The revolving fund established by this section (in effect immediately before January 6, 1988) shall be available to the Farm Credit Administration and the Assistance Board during the periods, and for the purposes, provided for in sections 2278a–13 and 2278a–7 of this title, respectively.

12 USC 2152 - Repealed. Pub. L. 100233, title II, 207(a)(1), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1607

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.1, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 104, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1687, contained requirements for purchase of stock and payment of assessments and contribution of capital to Capital Corporation. A prior section 2152, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.1, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 609, related to revolving funds and government deposits, prior to repeal, effective thirty days after Dec. 23, 1985, by Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 101(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1678. See section 2151 of this title.

12 USC 2153 - Power to borrow; issuance of notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations

Each of the banks of the System, in order to obtain funds for its authorized purposes, shall have power, subject to regulation by the Farm Credit Administration, and subject to the limitations of paragraph (e) of this section, to

(a) Borrow money from or loan to any other institution of the System, borrow from any commercial bank or other lending institution, issue its notes or other evidence of debt on its own individual responsibility and full faith and credit, and invest its excess funds in such sums, at such times, and on such terms and conditions as it may determine.

(b) Issue its own notes, bonds, debentures, or other similar obligations, fully collateralized as provided in section 2154 (c) of this title by the notes, mortgages, and security instruments it holds in the performance of its functions under this chapter in such sums, maturities, rates of interest, and terms and conditions of each issue as it may determine with approval of the Farm Credit Administration.

(c) Join with any or all banks organized and operating under the same subchapter of this chapter in borrowing or in issuance of consolidated notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations as may be agreed with approval of the Farm Credit Administration.

(d) Join with other banks of the System in issuance of System-wide notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations in the manner, form, amounts, and on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon with approval of the Farm Credit Administration. Such System-wide issue by the participating banks and such participations by each bank shall not exceed the limits to which each such bank is subject in the issuance of its individual or consolidated obligations and each such issue shall be subject to approval of the Farm Credit Administration: Provided, however, There shall be no issues of System-wide obligations without the concurrence of the boards of directors of each bank and the approval of the Farm Credit Administration for such issues shall be conditioned on and be evidence of the compliance with this provision.

(e) No bank or banks shall issue notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations individually or in concert with one or more banks of the System other than through the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation under any provision of this chapter except under subsection (a) of this section: Provided, That any bank or banks may issue investment bonds or like obligations other than through the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation if the interest rate is not in excess of the interest allowable on savings deposits of commercial banks of comparable amounts and maturities under Federal Reserve regulation on its member banks.

12 USC 2154 - Capital adequacy of banks and institutions

(a) Minimum levels of capital
The Farm Credit Administration shall cause System institutions to achieve and maintain adequate capital by establishing minimum levels of capital for such System institutions and by using such other methods as the Farm Credit Administration deems appropriate. The Farm Credit Administration may establish such minimum level of capital for a System institution as the Farm Credit Administration, in its discretion, deems to be necessary or appropriate in light of the particular circumstances of the System institution.

(b) Failure to maintain minimum levels; directives; plans for achieving minimum levels; proposals affecting compliance

(1) Failure of a System institution to maintain capital at or above its minimum level as established under subsection (a) of this section may be deemed by the Farm Credit Administration, in its discretion, to constitute an unsafe and unsound practice within the meaning of this chapter.

(2) In addition to, or in lieu of, any other action authorized by law, including paragraph (1), the Farm Credit Administration may issue a directive to a System institution that fails to maintain capital at or above its required level as established under subsection (a) of this section. Such directive may require the System institution to submit and adhere to a plan acceptable to the Farm Credit Administration describing the means and timing by which the System institution shall achieve its required capital level, but may not require merger or consolidation without a majority vote of the voting stockholders or the contributors to the guaranty fund of the institution.

(3) The Farm Credit Administration may consider such System institutions progress in adhering to any plan required under paragraph (2) whenever such System institution, or an affiliate thereof, seeks the requisite approval of the Farm Credit Administration for any proposal that would divert earnings, diminish capital, or otherwise impede such System institutions progress in achieving its minimum capital level. The Farm Credit Administration may deny such approval where it determines that such proposal would adversely affect the ability of the System institution to comply with such plan.

(c) Enhancement of capital adequacy of banks
Each bank shall have on hand at the time of issuance of any note, bond, debenture, or other similar obligation and at all times thereafter maintain, free from any lien or other pledge, notes and other obligations representing loans made under this chapter or real or personal property acquired in connection with loans made under this chapter, obligations of the United States or any agency thereof direct or fully guaranteed, other bank assets (including marketable securities) approved by the Farm Credit Administration, or cash, in an aggregate value equal to the total amount of notes, bonds, debentures, or other similar obligations outstanding for which the bank is primarily liable.

12 USC 2154a - Capitalization of System institutions

(a) Definitions
As used in this section:

(1) Permanent capital
The term permanent capital means

(A) current year retained earnings;

(B) allocated and unallocated earnings (which, in the case of earnings allocated in any form by a System bank to any association or other recipient and retained by the bank, shall be considered, in whole or in part, permanent capital of the bank or of any such association or other recipient as provided under an agreement between the bank and each such association or other recipient);

(D) stock issued by a System institution, except

(i) stock that may be retired by the holder of the stock on repayment of the holders loan, or otherwise at the option or request of the holder; or

(ii) stock that is protected under section 2162 of this title or is otherwise not at risk; and

(E) any other debt or equity instruments or other accounts that the Farm Credit Administration determines appropriate to be considered permanent capital.

(2) Stock
The term stock means voting and nonvoting stock (including preferred stock), equivalent contributions to a guaranty fund, participation certificates, allocated equities, and other forms and types of equities.

(b) Adoption of bylaws
Subject to approval by shareholders under subsection (c)(2) of this section, each bank and association shall adopt bylaws, developed by its board of directors, that provide for the capitalization of the institution in accordance with subsection (c)(1) of this section.

(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the bylaws adopted under subsection (b) of this section

(A) shall provide for such classes, par value, and amounts of the stock of the institution, the manner in which such stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired, and the payment of dividends and patronage refunds, as determined appropriate by the Board of Directors, subject to this section;

(B) may provide for the charging of loan origination fees as determined appropriate by the Board of Directors;

(C) shall enable the institution to meet the capital adequacy standards established under the regulations issued under section 2154 (a) of this title;

(D) shall provide for the issuance of voting stock, which may only be held by

(i) borrowers who are farmers, ranchers, or producers or harvesters of aquatic products, and cooperative associations eligible to borrow from System institutions under this chapter;

(ii) persons and entities eligible to borrow from the banks for cooperatives, as described in section 2124 (c)(ii) of this title;

(iii) in the case of a Central Bank for Cooperatives, other banks for cooperatives; and

(iv) in the case of banks other than banks for cooperatives, System associations;

(E) shall require that

(i) as a condition of borrowing from or through the institution, any borrower who is entitled to hold voting stock or participation certificates shall, at the time a loan is made, acquire voting stock or participation certificates in an amount not less than $1,000 or 2 percent of the amount of the loan, whichever is less; and

(ii) within 2 years after the loan of a borrower is repaid in full, any voting stock held by the borrower be converted to nonvoting stock;

(F) may provide that persons who are not borrowers from the institution may hold nonvoting stock of the institution;

(G) shall require that any holder of voting stock issued before the adoption of bylaws under this section exchange a portion of such stock for new voting stock;

(H) do not need to provide for maximum or minimum standards of borrower stock ownership based on a percentage of the loan of the borrower, except as otherwise provided in this section;

(I) shall permit the retirement of stock at the discretion of the institution if the institution meets the capital adequacy standards established under section 2154 (a) of this title; and

(J) shall permit stock to be transferable.

(2) Effective date
The bylaws adopted by the board of directors of a System institution under subsection (b) of this section shall take effect only on approval of a majority of the stockholders of such institution present and voting, or voting by written proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting.

(d) Reduction of capital

(1) General rule
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board of directors of a System institution may not reduce the permanent capital of the institution through the payment of patronage refunds or dividends, or the retirement of stock if, after or due to such action, the permanent capital of the institution would thereafter fail to meet the minimum capital adequacy standards established under section 2154 (a) of this title.

(2) Exceptions
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the payment of noncash patronage refunds by any institution exempt from Federal income tax if the entire refund paid qualifies as permanent capital. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any System institution subject to Federal income tax may pay patronage refunds partially in cash as long as the cash portion of the refund is the minimum amount required to qualify the refund as a deductible patronage distribution for Federal income tax purposes and the remaining portion of the refund paid qualifies as permanent capital.

(e) Compliance
The Farm Credit Administration may issue a directive that requires compliance with subsection (d) of this section, to the board of directors of any System institution that fails to comply therewith.

(f) Loans designated for sale or sold into secondary market

(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the bylaws adopted by a bank or association under subsection (b) of this section may provide

(A) in the case of a loan made on or after February 10, 1996, that is designated, at the time the loan is made, for sale into a secondary market, that no voting stock or participation certificate purchase requirement shall apply to the borrower for the loan; and

(B) in the case of a loan made before February 10, 1996, that is sold into a secondary market, that all outstanding voting stock or participation certificates held by the borrower with respect to the loan shall, subject to subsection (d)(1) of this section, be retired.

(2) Applicability
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in the case of a loan sold to a secondary market under subchapter VIII of this chapter, paragraph (1) shall apply regardless of whether the bank or association retains a subordinated participation interest in a loan or pool of loans or contributes to a cash reserve.

(3) Exception

(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B) and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a loan designated for sale under paragraph (1)(A) is not sold into a secondary market during the 180-day period that begins on the date of the designation, the voting stock or participation certificate purchase requirement that would otherwise apply to the loan in the absence of a bylaw provision described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be effective.

(B) Retirement
The bylaws adopted by a bank or association under subsection (b) of this section may provide that if a loan described in subparagraph (A) is sold into a secondary market after the end of the 180-day period described in the subparagraph, all outstanding voting stock or participation certificates held by the borrower with respect to the loan shall, subject to subsection (d)(1) of this section, be retired.

(g) Construction
This section shall not be construed to affect the provisions of this chapter that confer on System institutions a lien on borrower stock or other equities and the privilege to retire or cancel such stock or other equities for application against the indebtedness on a defaulted or restructured loan.

(h) Controlling authority
To the extent that any provision of this section is inconsistent with any other provision of this chapter (other than section 2162 of this title), the provision of this section shall control.

12 USC 2155 - Liability of banks; United States not liable

(a) Joint and several liability of banks

(1) Each bank of the System shall be fully liable on notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations issued by it individually, and shall be liable for the interest payments on long-term notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations issued by other banks operating under the same subchapter of this chapter.

(2)

(A) Each bank shall also be primarily liable for the portion of any issue of consolidated or System-wide obligations made on its behalf and be jointly and severally liable for the payment of any additional sums as called upon by the Farm Credit Administration in order to make payments of interest or principal which any bank primarily liable therefor shall be unable to make.

(B) Such calls first shall be made on all nondefaulting banks in proportion to each such banks proportionate share of the aggregate available collateral held by all such banks.

(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term available collateral means the amount (determined at the close of the last calendar quarter ending before such call) by which a banks collateral as described in section 2154 of this title exceeds the collateral required to support the banks outstanding notes, bonds, debentures, and other similar obligations.

(D) If the Farm Credit Administration makes any such call and the available collateral of all such banks does not fully satisfy the liability necessitating such calls, such calls shall be made on all nondefaulting banks in proportion to each such banks remaining assets.

(E) Any System bank that, pursuant to a call by the Farm Credit Administration, makes a payment of principal or interest to the holder of any consolidated or System-wide obligation issued on behalf of another System bank shall be subrogated to all rights of the holder against such other bank to the extent of such payment.

(F) On making such a call with respect to obligations issued on behalf of a System bank, the Farm Credit Administration shall appoint a receiver for the bank, which shall expeditiously liquidate or otherwise wind up the affairs of the bank.

(b) Resolutions as to liability; execution of obligations
Each bank participating in an issue shall by appropriate resolution undertake such responsibility as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and in the case of consolidated or System-wide obligations shall authorize the execution of such long-term notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations on its behalf. When a consolidated or System-wide issue is approved, the notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations shall be executed and the banks shall be liable thereon as provided herein.

(c) United States liability
The United States shall not be liable or assume any liability directly or indirectly thereon.

(d) Insurance Fund called on before invoking joint and several liability
Beginning 5 years after January 6, 1988, the Farm Credit Administration shall not call on any System institution to satisfy the liability of the institution on any joint, consolidated, or System-wide obligation participated in by the institution or with respect to which the institution is primarily, or jointly and severally, liable, before the Farm Credit Insurance Fund is exhausted, even if the Fund is only able to make a partial payment because of insufficient amounts in the Fund.

12 USC 2156 - Repealed. Pub. L. 100233, title II, 204(b), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1607

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.5, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 611; Pub. L. 96–592, title IV, § 401, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3446; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(f)(3), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1706, provided for establishment of a finance committee for banks organized and operated under subchapters I, II, and III of this chapter. See section 2160 of this title.

12 USC 2157 - Bonds as investments

The bonds, debentures, and other similar obligations issued under the authority of this chapter shall be lawful investments for all fiduciary and trust funds and may be accepted as security for all public deposits.

12 USC 2158 - Purchase and sale by Federal Reserve System

Any member of the Federal Reserve System may buy and sell bonds, debentures, or other similar obligations issued under the authority of this chapter and any Federal Reserve bank may buy and sell such obligations to the same extent and subject to the same limitations placed upon the purchase and sale by said banks of State, county, district, and municipal bonds under section 355 of this title.

12 USC 2159 - Purchase and sale of obligations; additional powers

(a) Each bank of the System may purchase its own obligations and the obligations of other banks of the System and may provide for the sale of obligations issued by it, consolidated obligations, or Systemwide obligations through a fiscal agent or agents, by negotiation, offer, bid, syndicate sale, and to deliver such obligations by book entry, wire transfer, or such other means as may be appropriate.

(b) Through December 31, 1992, each bank of the System, in addition to purchasing obligations as authorized by this chapter, may, with the prior approval of the Farm Credit Administration and subject to such conditions as it may establish,

(1) reduce the cost of its borrowings by doing one or more of the following:

(A) contracting with a third party, or an entity that is established as a limited purpose System institution under section 2211 of this title and that is not to be included in the combined financial statements of other System institutions, with respect to the payment of interest on the banks obligations and the obligations of other banks incurred before January 1, 1985, in consideration of the payment of market interest rates on such obligations, plus a premium, or

(B) for the period July 1, 1986, through December 31, 1992, capitalizing interest costs on obligations incurred before January 1, 1985, in excess of the estimated interest costs on an equivalent amount of Farm Credit System obligations at prevailing market rates on such obligations of similar maturities as of October 21, 1986, or

(2) amortize, over a period of not to exceed 20 years, the capitalization of the premium, capitalization of interest expense, or like costs of any action taken under clause (1).

12 USC 2160 - Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation

(a) Establishment
There is hereby established the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Corporation), which shall be an institution of the Farm Credit System.

(b) Duties
The Corporation

(1) shall issue, market, and handle the obligations of the banks of the Farm Credit System, and interbank or intersystem flow of funds as may from time to time be required;

(2) acting for the banks of the Farm Credit System, subject to approval of the Farm Credit Administration, shall determine the amount, maturities, rates of interest, terms, and conditions of participation by the several banks in each issue of joint, consolidated, or System-wide obligations; and

(3) shall exercise such other powers as were provided to the predecessor Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation in accordance with its charter issued under section 2211 of this title, in effect immediately before January 6, 1988.

(1) Designation
The board of directors may designate such officers and committees for such terms and such purposes as may be agreed on by the board.

(2) Issuance of obligations
When appropriate to the boards functions under this section, a committee of the board of directors of the Corporation, or representatives thereof, may act on behalf of the board in connection with the issuance of joint, consolidated, and System-wide obligations.

(d) Board of directors

(1) Composition
The board of directors shall be composed of nine voting members and one nonvoting member, as follows:

(A) Four voting members shall be current or former directors of the System banks elected by the shareholders of the Corporation.

(B) Three voting members shall be chief executive officers or presidents of System banks elected by the shareholders of the Corporation.

(C) Two voting members shall be appointed by the members elected under subparagraphs (A) and (B) after the elected members have received recommendations for such appointments from, and consulted with, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The appointed members shall be selected from United States citizens

(i) who are not borrowers from, shareholders in, or employees or agents of any System institution, who are not affiliated with the Farm Credit Administration, and who are not actively engaged with a bank or investment organization that is a member of the Corporations selling group for System-wide securities; and

(ii) who are experienced or knowledgeable in corporate and public finance, agricultural economics, and financial reporting and disclosure.

(D) The president of the Corporation shall serve as a nonvoting member of the board.

In selecting candidates under subparagraphs (A) and (B), due consideration shall be given to choosing individuals knowledgeable in agricultural economics, public and corporate finance, and financial reporting and disclosure.

(2) Non-voting representatives

(A) Assistance Board
During the period in which the Assistance Board is in existence, the board of directors of the Assistance Board shall designate one of its directors to serve as a non-voting representative to the board of directors of the Corporation.

(B) Meetings
The person designated by the Assistance Board under subparagraph (A) may attend and participate in all deliberations of the board of directors of the Corporation.

(C) Termination of Assistance Board
After termination of the Assistance Board, neither the Assistance Board nor its successor, the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, shall have any representation on the board of directors of the Corporation.

(e) Transitional authority
Until a majority of the voting members of the board of directors of the Corporation is elected, which shall occur as soon as is practicable after January 6, 1988

(1) the finance committee established under section 21561 of this title in effect before January 6, 1988, and the fiscal agency established under section 21601 of this title in effect before January 6, 1988, shall continue to operate as if this section had not been enacted; and

(2) the board of directors of the predecessor Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation shall be the board of directors of the Financial Assistance Corporation.

(f) Succession

(1) Assets and liabilities
The Corporation shall, by operation of law and without any further action by the Farm Credit Administration, the predecessor Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation (hereinafter referred to in this subsection as the predecessor corporation) chartered under this chapter, or any court, succeed to the assets of and assume all debts, obligations, contracts, and other liabilities of the predecessor corporation, matured or unmatured, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether or not reflected or reserved against on balance sheets, books of account, or records of the predecessor corporation.

(2) Contracts
The existing contractual obligations, security instruments, and title instruments of the predecessor corporation shall, by operation of law and without any further action by the Farm Credit Administration, the predecessor corporation, or any court, become and be converted into obligations, entitlements, and instruments of the Corporation.

(3) Stock
The stock of the predecessor corporation issued before January 6, 1988, shall, by operation of law and without any further action by the Farm Credit Administration, the predecessor corporation, or any court, become and be converted into stock of the Corporation established by this section.

(4) Taxation
The succession to assets, assumption of liabilities, conversion of obligations, instruments, and stock, and effectuation of any other transaction by the Corporation to carry out this subsection shall not be treated as a taxable event under the laws of any State or political subdivision thereof.

[1] See References in Text note below.

12 USC 2161 - Repealed. Pub. L. 100399, title I, 101(a), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 989

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.9A, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 105, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1687, authorized a central reserve for Farm Credit System.

12 USC 2162 - Protection of borrower stock

(a) Retirement of stock
Notwithstanding any other section of this chapter, each institution of the Farm Credit System, when retiring eligible borrower stock in accordance with this chapter, shall retire such stock at par value.

(b) Certain powers not affected
This section does not affect the authority of any institution of the Farm Credit System

(1) to retire or cancel borrower stock at par value for application against a loan in default;

(2) to cancel borrower stock at par value under section 2202b of this title; or

(3) to apply, against any outstanding indebtedness to a System association arising out of or in connection with a liquidation referred to in subsection (d)(2) of this section, the par value of borrower stock frozen in such liquidation.

(c) Inability to retire stock at par value
If an institution is unable to retire eligible borrower stock at par value due to the liquidation of the institution, the receiver of the institution shall retire such stock at par value as would have been retired in the ordinary course of business of the institution, and

(1) during the 5-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, the Assistance Board shall direct the Financial Assistance Corporation to provide the receiver with sufficient funds to enable the receiver to carry out this subsection; and

(2) after such 5-year period, the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation shall provide the receiver with sufficient funds from the Farm Credit Insurance Fund to enable the receiver to carry out this subsection.

(d) Definitions
For purposes of this section:

(1) Borrower stock
The term borrower stock means voting and nonvoting stock, equivalent contributions to a guaranty fund, participation certificates, allocated equities, and other similar equities that are subject to retirement under a revolving cycle issued by any System institution and held by any person other than any System institution.

(2) Eligible borrower stock
The term eligible borrower stock means borrower stock that

(A) is outstanding on January 6, 1988;

(B) is issued or allocated after January 6, 1988, but prior to the earlier of

(i) in the case of each bank and association, the date of approval, by the stockholders of such bank or association, of the capitalization requirements of the institution in accordance with section 2154a of this title; or

(ii) the date that is 9 months after January 6, 1988;

(D) was retired at less than par value by an institution that was placed in liquidation after January 1, 1983, but before January 6, 1988.

(3) Institution
The term institution means a bank or association chartered under this chapter.

(4) Par value
The term par value means

(A) in the case of stock, par value;

(B) in the case of participation certificates and other equities and interests not described in subparagraph (C), face or equivalent value; or

(C) in the case of participation certificates and allocated equities subject to retirement under a revolving cycle but that a System institution elects to retire out of order for application against a loan in default or otherwise as provided in this chapter, par or face value discounted, at a rate determined by the institution, to reflect the present value of the equity or interest as of the date of such retirement.

Part B - Dissolution

2181, 2182. Repealed. Pub. L. 100233, title IV, 418(a)(2), (3), formerly 415(a)(2), (3), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1653; renumbered 418(a)(2), (3), Pub. L. 100399, title IV, 409(a), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1003

Section 2181, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.10, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 612; Pub. L. 96–592, title IV, § 402, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3446, related to merger of similar banks. Section 2182, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.11, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 612; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(f)(4), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1706, related to board of directors for merged bank.

12 USC 2183 - Dissolution; voluntary or involuntary liquidation; mergers; receiverships or conservators

(a) Voluntary liquidation; consent of Farm Credit Administration; rules and regulations; minimization of adverse effect; voluntary merger; mandatory merger on failure to comply or meet obligations
No institution of the System shall go into voluntary liquidation without the consent of the Farm Credit Administration and with such consent may liquidate only in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration. In the case of a voluntary liquidation of an association, such regulations, among other things, shall direct the supervising bank to institute such measures as it deems appropriate to minimize the adverse effect of the liquidation on those borrowers whose loans are purchased by or otherwise transferred to another System institution. The Farm Credit Administration Board may require an association to merge with another association whenever it determines, with the concurrence of the board of the supervising bank, that an association has failed to meet its outstanding obligations or failed to conduct its operations in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Appointment of conservator or receiver; grounds; action for removal; stay of actions or proceedings
The Farm Credit Administration Board may appoint a conservator or receiver for any System institution on the determination by the Farm Credit Administration Board that one or more of the following exists, or is occurring, with respect to the institution:

(1) insolvency, in that the assets of the institution are less than its obligations to its creditors and others, including its members;

(2) substantial dissipation of assets or earnings due to any violation of law, rules, or regulations, or to any unsafe or unsound practice;

(3) an unsafe or unsound condition to transact business;

(4) willful violation of a cease and desist order that has become final;

(5) concealment of books, papers, records, or assets of the institution or refusal to submit books, papers, records, or other material relating to the affairs of the institution for inspection to any examiner or to any lawful agent of the Farm Credit Administration;

(6) the institution is unable to timely pay principal or interest on any insured obligation (as defined in section 2277a (3) of this title) issued by the institution. The Farm Credit Administration Board shall have exclusive power and jurisdiction to appoint a conservator or receiver, and such receiver or conservator, after the 5-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, shall be the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation. If the Farm Credit Administration Board determines that a ground for the appointment of a conservator or receiver as herein provided exists, the Farm Credit Administration Board may appoint ex parte and without notice a conservator or receiver for the institution. In the event of such appointment, the institution, within thirty days thereafter, may bring an action in the United States district court for the judicial district in which the home office of such institution is located, or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for an order requiring the Farm Credit Administration Board to remove such conservator or receiver, and the court shall on the merits, dismiss such action or direct the Farm Credit Administration Board to remove such conservator or receiver. On the commencement of such an action, the court having jurisdiction of any other action or enforcement proceeding authorized under this chapter to which the institution is a party shall stay such action or proceeding during the pendency of the action for removal of the conservator or receiver.

(c) Involuntary liquidation; rules and regulations; minimization of adverse effect
In the case of an involuntary liquidation of an association, regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, among other things, shall direct the supervising bank to institute such measures as it deems appropriate to minimize the adverse effect of the liquidation on those borrowers whose loans are purchased by or otherwise transferred to another System institution.

12 USC 2184 - Communications with stockholders

(a) Provision of stockholder lists

(1) In general
Within 7 days after receipt of a written request by a stockholder, a bank for cooperatives, Federal land bank association, or production credit association shall provide a current list of its stockholders to such requesting stockholder.

(2) Conditions
As a condition of providing a stockholder list under paragraph (1), the bank or association may require that the stockholder agree and certify in writing that the stockholder will

(A) use the list exclusively for communicating with stockholders for permissible purposes; and

(B) not make the list available to any person, other than the stockholders attorney or accountant, without first obtaining the written consent of the institution.

(b) Alternative communications

(1) Request to issue
As an alternative to receiving a list of stockholders, a stockholder may request the institution to mail or otherwise furnish to each stockholder a communication for a permissible purpose on behalf of the requesting stockholder.

(2) When permissible
Alternative communications may be used, at the discretion of the requesting stockholder, if the requester agrees to defray the reasonable costs of the communication. If the requester decides to exercise this option, the institution shall provide the requester with a written estimate of the costs of handling and mailing the communication as soon as is practicable after receipt of the stockholders request to furnish the communication.

Part C - Rights of Borrowers; Loan Restructuring

12 USC 2199 - Disclosure

(a) In general
In accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, qualified lenders shall provide to borrowers, for all loans that are not subject to the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), meaningful and timely disclosure not later than the time of the loan closing, of

(1) the current rate of interest on the loan;

(2) in the case of an adjustable or variable rate loan, the amount and frequency by which the interest rate can be increased during the term of the loan or, if there are no such limitations, a statement to that effect, and the factors (including the cost of funds, operating expenses, and provision for loan losses) that will be taken into account by the qualified lender in determining adjustments to the interest rate;

(3) the effect, as shown by a representative example or examples, of any loan origination charges or purchases of stock or participation certificates on the effective rate of interest;

(4) any change in the interest rate applicable to the borrowers loan, and notice to the borrower of a change in the interest rate applicable to the loan of the borrower may be made within a reasonable time after the effective date of an increase or decrease in the interest rate;

(5) except with respect to stock guaranteed under section 2162 of this title, a statement indicating that stock that is purchased is at risk; and

(6) a statement indicating the various types of loan options available to borrowers, with an explanation of the terms and borrowers rights that apply to each type of loan.

(b) Differential interest rates
A qualified lender offering more than one rate of interest to borrowers shall, at the request of a borrower of a loan

(1) provide a review of the loan to determine if the proper interest rate has been established;

(2) explain to the borrower in writing the basis for the interest rate charged; and

(3) explain to the borrower in writing how the credit status of the borrower may be improved to receive a lower interest rate on the loan.

12 USC 2200 - Access to documents and information

In accordance with regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, qualified lenders shall provide their borrowers, at the time of execution of loans, copies of all documents signed by the borrower and at any time thereafter, on a borrowers request, copies of all documents signed or delivered by the borrower and at any time, on request, a copy of the institutions articles of incorporation or charter and bylaws and copies of each appraisal of the borrowers assets made or used by the qualified lender.

12 USC 2201 - Notice of action on application

(a) Loan applications
Each qualified lender to which a person has applied for a loan shall provide the person with prompt written notice of

(1) the action on the application;

(2) if the loan applied for is reduced or denied, the reasons for such action; and

(3) the applicants right to review under section 2202 of this title.

(b) Distressed loans
Each qualified lender that has a distressed loan outstanding that is subject to restructuring requirements under this chapter shall provide, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration, the borrower with prompt written notice of

(1) any action taken with respect to restructuring the loan under section 2202a of this title;

(2) if restructuring is denied, the reasons for such action; and

(3) the borrowers right to review under section 2202 of this title.

12 USC 2202 - Reconsideration of actions

(a) Credit review committees

(1) In general
The board of directors of each qualified lender shall establish one or more credit review committees, which shall include farmer board representation.

(2) Membership
In no case shall a loan officer involved in the initial decision on a loan serve on the credit review committee when the committee reviews such loan.

(b) Review of decisions

(1) Denials or reductions
Any applicant for a loan from a qualified lender that has received a written notice issued under section 2201 of this title of a decision to deny or reduce the loan applied for may submit a written request, not later than 30 days after receiving a notice denying or reducing the amount of the loan application, to obtain a review of the decision before the credit review committee.

(2) Denials of restructuring
A borrower of a loan from a qualified lender that has received notice, under section 2201 of this title, of a decision to deny loan restructuring with respect to a loan made to the borrower, if the borrower so requests in writing within 7 days after receiving such notice, may obtain a review of such decision in person before the credit review committee.

(c) Personal appearance
An applicant for a loan or for restructuring, who is entitled to and has requested a review under this section, may appear in person before the credit review committee, and may be accompanied by counsel or by any other representative of such persons choice, to seek a reversal of the decision on the application under review.

(d) Independent appraisal

(1) In general
An appeal filed with a credit review committee under this section may include, as a part of the request for a review of the decision filed under subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section, a request for an independent appraisal, by an accredited appraiser, of any interests in property securing the loan (other than the stock or participation certificates of the qualified lender held by the borrower).

(2) Arrangement and cost
Within 30 days after a request for an appraisal under paragraph (1), the credit review committee shall present the borrower with a list of three appraisers approved by the appropriate qualified lender from which the borrower shall select an appraiser to conduct the appraisal the cost of which shall be borne by the borrower, and shall consider the results of such appraisal in any final determination with respect to the loan.

(3) Copy to borrower
A copy of any appraisal made under this subsection shall be provided to the borrower.

(4) Additional collateral
An independent appraisal shall be permitted if additional collateral for a loan is demanded by the qualified lender when determining whether to restructure the loan.

(e) Notification of applicant
Promptly after a review by the credit review committee, the committee shall notify the applicant or borrower, as the case may be, in writing of the decision of the committee and the reasons for the decision.

12 USC 2202a - Restructuring distressed loans

(a) Definitions
As used in this part:

(1) Application for restructuring
The term application for restructuring means a written request

(A) from a borrower for the restructuring of a distressed loan in accordance with a preliminary restructuring plan proposed by the borrower as a part of the application;

(B) submitted on the appropriate forms prescribed by the qualified lender; and

(C) accompanied by sufficient financial information and repayment projections, where appropriate, as required by the qualified lender to support a sound credit decision.

(2) Cost of foreclosure
The term cost of foreclosure includes

(A) the difference between the outstanding balance due on a loan made by a qualified lender and the liquidation value of the loan, taking into consideration the borrowers repayment capacity and the liquidation value of the collateral used to secure the loan;

(B) the estimated cost of maintaining a loan as a nonperforming asset;

(C) the estimated cost of administrative and legal actions necessary to foreclose a loan and dispose of property acquired as the result of the foreclosure, including attorneys fees and court costs;

(D) the estimated cost of changes in the value of collateral used to secure a loan during the period beginning on the date of the initiation of an action to foreclose or liquidate the loan and ending on the date of the disposition of the collateral; and

(E) all other costs incurred as the result of the foreclosure or liquidation of a loan.

(3) Distressed loan
The term distressed loan means a loan that the borrower does not have the financial capacity to pay according to its terms and that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:

(A) The borrower is demonstrating adverse financial and repayment trends.

(B) The loan is delinquent or past due under the terms of the loan contract.

(C) One or both of the factors listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B), together with inadequate collateralization, present a high probability of loss to the lender.

(4) Foreclosure proceeding
The term foreclosure proceeding means

(A) a foreclosure or similar legal proceeding to enforce a lien on property, whether real or personal, that secures a nonaccrual or distressed loan; or

(B) the seizing of and realizing on nonreal property collateral, other than collateral subject to a statutory lien arising under subchapter I or II of this chapter, to effect collection of a nonaccrual or distressed loan.

(5) Loan

(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term loan means a loan made to a farmer, rancher, or producer or harvester of aquatic products, for any agricultural or aquatic purpose and other credit needs of the borrower, including financing for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrowers operations and those of other eligible farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products.

(B) Exclusion for loans designated for sale into secondary market

(i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), the term loan does not include a loan made on or after February 10, 1996, that is designated, at the time the loan is made, for sale into a secondary market.

(ii) Unsold loans

(I) In general Except as provided in subclause (II), if a loan designated for sale under clause (i) is not sold into a secondary market during the 180-day period that begins on the date of the designation, the provisions of this section and sections 2202, 2202b, 2202c, 2202d, and 2219a of this title that would otherwise apply to the loan in the absence of the exclusion described in clause (i) shall become effective with respect to the loan.

(II) Later sale If a loan described in subclause (I) is sold into a secondary market after the end of the 180-day period described in subclause (I), subclause (I) shall not apply with respect to the loan beginning on the date of the sale.

(6) Qualified lender
The term qualified lender means

(A) a System institution that makes loans (as defined in paragraph (5)) except a bank for cooperatives; and

(B) each bank, institution, corporation, company, union, and association described in section 2015 (b)(1)(B) of this title but only with respect to loans discounted or pledged under section 2015 (b)(1) of this title.

(7) Restructure and restructuring
The terms restructure and restructuring include rescheduling, reamortization, renewal, deferral of principal or interest, monetary concessions, and the taking of any other action to modify the terms of, or forbear on, a loan in any way that will make it probable that the operations of the borrower will become financially viable.

(b) Notice

(1) In general
On a determination by a qualified lender that a loan made by the lender is or has become a distressed loan, the lender shall provide written notice to the borrower that the loan may be suitable for restructuring, and include with such notice

(A) a copy of the policy of the lender established under subsection (g) of this section that governs the treatment of distressed loans; and

(B) all materials necessary to enable the borrower to submit an application for restructuring on the loan.

(2) Notice before foreclosure
Not later than 45 days before any qualified lender begins foreclosure proceedings with respect to a loan outstanding to any borrower, the lender shall notify the borrower that the loan may be suitable for restructuring and that the lender will review any such suitable loan for restructuring, and shall include with such notice a copy of the policy and the materials described in paragraph (1).

(3) Limitation on foreclosure
No qualified lender may foreclose or continue any foreclosure proceeding with respect to any distressed loan before the lender has completed any pending consideration of the loan for restructuring under this section.

(c) Meetings
On determination by a qualified lender that a loan made by the lender is or has become a distressed loan, the lender shall provide a reasonable opportunity for the borrower thereof to personally meet with a representative of the lender

(1) to review the status of the loan, the financial condition of the borrower, and the suitability of the loan for restructuring; and

(2) with respect to a loan that is in nonaccrual status, to develop a plan for restructuring the loan if the loan is suitable for restructuring.

(d) Consideration of applications

(1) In general
When a qualified lender receives an application for restructuring from a borrower, the qualified lender shall determine whether or not to restructure the loan, taking into consideration

(A) whether the cost to the lender of restructuring the loan is equal to or less than the cost of foreclosure;

(B) whether the borrower is applying all income over and above necessary and reasonable living and operating expenses to the payment of primary obligations;

(C) whether the borrower has the financial capacity and the management skills to protect the collateral from diversion, dissipation, or deterioration;

(D) whether the borrower is capable of working out existing financial difficulties, reestablishing a viable operation, and repaying the loan on a rescheduled basis; and

(E) in the case of a distressed loan that is not delinquent, whether restructuring consistent with sound lending practices may be taken to reasonably ensure that the loan will not become a loan that it is necessary to place in nonaccrual status.

(2) Applications not required for restructuring plans
This section shall not prevent a qualified lender from proposing a restructuring plan for an individual borrower in the absence of an application for restructuring from the borrower.

(e) Restructuring

(1) In general
If a qualified lender determines that the potential cost to such qualified lender of restructuring the loan in accordance with a proposed restructuring plan is less than or equal to the potential cost of foreclosure, the qualified lender shall restructure the loan in accordance with the plan.

(2) Computation of cost of restructuring
In determining whether the potential cost to the qualified lender of restructuring a distressed loan is less than or equal to the potential cost of foreclosure, a qualified lender shall consider all relevant factors, including

(A) the present value of interest income and principal forgone by the lender in carrying out the restructuring plan;

(B) reasonable and necessary administrative expenses involved in working with the borrower to finalize and implement the restructuring plan;

(C) whether the borrower has presented a preliminary restructuring plan and cash-flow analysis taking into account income from all sources to be applied to the debt and all assets to be pledged, showing a reasonable probability that orderly debt retirement will occur as a result of the proposed restructuring; and

(D) whether the borrower has furnished or is willing to furnish complete and current financial statements in a form acceptable to the institution.

(f) Least cost alternative
If two or more restructuring alternatives are available to a qualified lender under this section with respect to a distressed loan, the lender shall restructure the loan in conformity with the alternative that results in the least cost to the lender.

(g) Restructuring policy

(1) Establishment
Each bank board of directors shall develop a policy within 60 days after January 6, 1988, that is consistent with this section, to govern the restructuring of distressed loans. Such policy shall constitute the restructuring policy of each qualified lender within the district.

(2) Contents of policy
The policy established under paragraph (1) shall include an explanation of

(A) the procedure for submitting an application for restructuring; and

(B) the right of borrowers with distressed loans to seek review by a credit review committee in accordance with section 2202 of this title of a denial of an application for restructuring.

(3) Submission of policy to FCA
Each bank board shall submit the policy of the district governing the treatment of distressed loans under this section to the Farm Credit Administration. Notwithstanding the duty imposed by the preceding sentence, the other duties imposed by this section shall take effect on January 6, 1988.

(h) Reports
During the 5-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, each qualified lender shall submit semiannual reports to the Farm Credit Administration containing

(1) the results of the review of distressed loans of the lender; and

(2) the financial effect of loan restructurings and liquidations on the lender.

(i) Compliance
The Farm Credit Administration may issue a directive requiring compliance with any provision of this section to any qualified lender that fails to comply with such provision.

(j) Permitted foreclosures
This section shall not be construed to prevent any qualified lender from enforcing any contractual provision that allows the lender to foreclose a loan, or from taking such other lawful action as the lender deems appropriate, if the lender has reasonable grounds to believe that the loan collateral will be destroyed, dissipated, consumed, concealed, or permanently removed from the State in which the collateral is located.

(k) Application of section
The time limitation prescribed in subsection (b)(2) of this section, and the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, shall not apply to a loan that became a distressed loan before January 6, 1988, if the borrower and lender of the loan are in the process of negotiating loan restructuring with respect to the loan.

(l) Assistance in restructuring
Each Farm Credit Bank, on request of any production credit association, may assist the association in restructuring loans under this section.

12 USC 2202b - Effect of restructuring on borrower stock

(a) Farm Credit Bank
If a Farm Credit Bank forgives and writes off, under section 2202a of this title, any of the principal outstanding on a loan made to any borrower, the Federal land bank association of which the borrower is a member and stockholder shall cancel the same dollar amount of borrower stock held by the borrower in respect of the loan, up to the total amount of such stock, and, to the extent provided for in the bylaws of the bank relating to its capitalization, the bank shall retire an equal amount of stock owned by the Federal land bank association.

(b) Production credit association
If a production credit association forgives and writes off, under section 2202a of this title, any of the principal outstanding on a loan made to any borrower, the association shall cancel the same dollar amount of borrower stock held by the borrower in respect of the loan, up to the total amount of such stock.

(c) Retention of stock
Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the borrower shall be entitled to retain at least one share of stock to maintain the borrowers membership and voting interest in the association.

12 USC 2202c - Review of restructuring denials

(a) Requirements for restructuring by System institutions

(1) Existing nonaccrual loans
Within 9 months after a qualified lender is certified under section 2278a–4 of this title, such lender shall review each loan that has not been previously restructured and that is in nonaccrual status on the date the lender is certified, and determine whether to restructure the loan.

(2) New nonaccrual loans
Within 6 months after a loan made by a certified lender is placed in nonaccrual status, the lender shall determine whether to restructure the loan.

(b) Special asset groups

(1) Establishment
Within 30 days after a qualified lender in a district is certified to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, the Farm Credit Bank board shall establish a special asset group that shall review each determination by the lender not to restructure a loan.

(2) Restructuring plan
If a special asset group determines under paragraph (1) that a loan under review should be restructured, the group shall prescribe a restructuring plan for the loan that the qualified lender shall implement.

(1) Establishment
A National Special Asset Council shall be established by the Assistance Board to

(A) monitor compliance with the restructuring requirements of this section by qualified lenders certified to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, and by special asset groups established under subsection (b) of this section; and

(B) review a sample of determinations made by each special asset group that a loan will not be restructured.

(2) Review of determination
The National Special Asset Council shall review a sufficient number of determinations made by each special asset group to foreclose on any loan to assure the Council that such group is complying with this section. With regard to each determination reviewed, the Council shall make an independent judgment on the merits of the decision to foreclose rather than restructure the loan.

(3) Noncompliance
If the National Special Asset Council determines that any special asset group is not in substantial compliance with this section, the Council shall notify the group of the determination, and may take such other action as the Council considers necessary to ensure that such group complies with this section.

(d) Report
With respect to determinations by a special asset group that a loan will not be restructured, the special asset group shall submit to the National Special Asset Council a report evaluating the loan and the basis for the determination that the loan should not be restructured.

(e) Restructuring factors
In determining whether a loan is to be restructured, the National Special Asset Council, each special asset group, and each qualified lender certified under section 2278a–4 of this title shall take into consideration the factors specified in section 2202a (d)(1) of this title.

12 USC 2202d - Protection of borrowers who meet all loan obligations

(a) Foreclosure prohibited
A qualified lender may not foreclose on any loan because of the failure of the borrower thereof to post additional collateral, if the borrower has made all accrued payments of principal, interest, and penalties with respect to the loan.

(b) Prohibition against required principal reduction
A qualified lender may not require any borrower to reduce the outstanding principal balance of any loan made to the borrower by any amount that exceeds the regularly scheduled principal installment payment (when due and payable), unless

(1) the borrower sells or otherwise disposes of part or all of the collateral; or

(2) the parties agree otherwise in a written agreement entered into by the parties.

(c) Nonenforcement
After a borrower has made all accrued payments of principal, interest, and penalties with respect to a loan made by a qualified lender, the lender shall not enforce acceleration of the borrowers repayment schedule due to the borrower having not timely made one or more principal or interest payments.

(d) Placing loans in nonaccrual status

(1) Notification
If a qualified lender places any loan in nonaccrual status, the lender shall document such change of status and promptly notify the borrower thereof in writing of such action and the reasons therefor.

(2) Review of denial
If the borrower was not delinquent in any principal or interest payment under the loan at the time of such action and the borrowers request to have the loan placed back into accrual status is denied, the borrower may obtain a review of such denial before the appropriate credit review committee under section 2202 of this title.

(3) Application
This subsection shall only apply if a loan being placed in nonaccrual status results in an adverse action being taken against the borrower.

12 USC 2202e - Waiver of mediation rights by borrowers

No System institution may make a loan secured by a mortgage or lien on agricultural property to a borrower on the condition that the borrower waive any right under the mediation program of any State.

Part D - Activities of Institutions of the System

12 USC 2203 - Nomination of association directors; representative selection of nominees

Each production credit association and each Federal land bank association shall elect a nominating committee by vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting to serve for the following year. Each nominating committee shall review lists of farmers from the association territory, determine their willingness to serve, and submit for election a slate of eligible candidates which shall include at least two nominees for each elective office to be filled. In doing so, the committee shall endeavor to assure representation to all sections of the association territory and as nearly as possible to all types of agriculture practiced within the area. Employees of the association shall not be eligible to be nominated, elected, or serve as a member of the board. Nominations shall also be accepted from the floor. Members of the board are not eligible to serve on the nominating committee. Regulations of the Farm Credit Administration governing the election of bank directors shall similarly assure a choice of two nominees for each elective office to be filled and that the bank board represent as nearly as possible all types of agriculture in the district.

12 USC 2204 - Repealed. Pub. L. 102552, title V, 508, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4132

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.16, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 613, prohibited tax-exempt guarantees.

12 USC 2205 - Interest rates

Interest rates on loans from institutions of the Farm Credit System shall not be subject to any interest rate limitation imposed by any State constitution or statute or other laws. Such limitation is preempted for purposes of this chapter. Interest rates on loans made by agricultural credit corporations organized in conjunction with cooperative associations for the purpose of financing the ordinary crop operations of the members of such associations or other producers and eligible to discount with the Federal intermediate credit banks and Farm Credit Banks shall be exempt from any interest rate limitation imposed by any State constitution or statute or other laws which are hereby preempted for purposes of this chapter.

12 USC 2206 - Participation loans

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the terms of any loan participated in by two or more Farm Credit System institutions operating under different subchapters of this chapter, including provisions for capitalization of the portion of the loan participated in by each institution, shall be as may be agreed upon among such institutions and authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration, except that for purposes of determining borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security, and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower, the provisions of law applicable to the loan shall be the provisions in the subchapter under which the institution that originates the loan operates.

12 USC 2206a - Authority of Farm Credit Banks and direct lender associations to participate in loans to similar entities for risk management purposes

(a) Definitions
As used in this section:

(1) Participate and participation
The terms participate and participation shall have the meaning provided in section 2122 (11)(B)(iii) of this title.

(2) Similar entity
The term similar entity means a person that

(A) is not eligible for a loan from the Farm Credit Bank or association; and

(B) has operations that are functionally similar to a person that is eligible for a loan from the Farm Credit Bank or association in that the person derives a majority of the income of the person from, or has a majority of the assets of the person invested in, the conduct of activities that are functionally similar to the activities that are conducted by an eligible person.

(b) Loan participation authority
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any Farm Credit Bank or direct lender association chartered under this chapter may participate in any loan of a type otherwise authorized under subchapter I or II of this chapter made to a similar entity by any person in the business of extending credit, except that a Farm Credit Bank or direct lender association may not participate in a loan under this section if

(1) the participation would cause the total amount of all participations by the Farm Credit Bank or association under this section involving a single credit risk to exceed 10 percent (or the applicable higher lending limit authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration if the stockholders of the respective Farm Credit Bank or association so approve) of the total capital of the Farm Credit Bank or association;

(2) the participation by the Farm Credit Bank or association would equal or exceed 50 percent of the principal of the loan or, when taken together with participations in the loan by other Farm Credit System institutions, would cause the cumulative amount of the participations by all Farm Credit System institutions in the loan to equal or exceed 50 percent of the principal of the loan;

(3) the participation would cause the cumulative amount of participations that the Farm Credit Bank or association has outstanding under this section to exceed 15 percent of the total assets of the Farm Credit Bank or association; or

(4) the loan is of the type authorized under section 2019 (b) or 2075 (a)(2) of this title.

12 USC 2207 - Young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers

(a) Under policies of the district Farm Credit Bank board, each Federal land bank association and production credit association shall prepare a program for furnishing sound and constructive credit and related services to young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers. Such programs shall assure that such credit and services are available in coordination with other units of the Farm Credit System serving the territory and with other governmental and private sources of credit. Each program shall be subject to review and approval by the supervising bank.

(b) The Farm Credit Bank for each district shall annually obtain from associations under its supervision reports of activities under programs developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and progress toward program objectives. On the basis of such reports, the bank shall provide to the Farm Credit Administration an annual report summarizing the operations and achievements in its district under such programs.

12 USC 2208 - Prohibition against use of signed ballots

In any election or merger vote, or other proceeding subject to a vote of the stockholders (or subscribers to the guaranty fund of a bank for cooperatives), conducted by a lending institution of the Farm Credit System, the institution

(1) may not use signed ballots; and

(2) shall implement measures to safeguard the voting process for the protection of the right of stockholders (or subscribers) to a secret ballot.

12 USC 2209 - Compensation of bank directors

(a) In general
The Farm Credit Administration shall monitor the compensation of members of the board of directors of a System bank received as compensation for serving as a director of the bank to ensure that the amount of the compensation does not exceed a level of $20,000 per year, as adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unless the Farm Credit Administration determines that such level adversely affects the safety and soundness of the bank.

(b) Waiver
The Farm Credit Administration may waive the limitation prescribed in subsection (a) of this section under exceptional circumstances, as determined in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Farm Credit Administration.

Part E - Service Organizations

12 USC 2211 - Establishment

Any bank of the Farm Credit System, or two or more of such banks acting together, may organize a corporation or corporations for the purpose of performing functions and services for or on behalf of the organizing bank or banks that the bank or banks may perform pursuant to this chapter: Provided, That a corporation so organized shall have no authority either to extend credit or provide insurance services for borrowers from Farm Credit System institutions, nor shall it have any greater authority with respect to functions and services than the organizing bank or banks possess under this chapter. The organizing bank or banks shall apply for a Federal charter for the corporation by forwarding to the Farm Credit Administration a statement of the need for the corporation and proposed articles specifying in general terms the objectives for which the corporation is formed, the powers to be exercised by it in carrying out the functions and services, and the territory it is to serve. The Farm Credit Administration for good cause may deny the charter applied for. Upon the approval of articles by the Farm Credit Administration and the issuance of a charter, the corporation shall become as of such date a federally chartered body corporate and an instrumentality of the United States.

12 USC 2212 - Powers of Farm Credit Administration

The Farm Credit Administration shall have power, under rules and regulations prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration, to provide for the organization of any corporation chartered under this part and the territory within which its operations may be carried on, and to approve amendments consistent with this chapter to charters or articles of service corporations.

12 USC 2213 - Regulation and examination

The corporations organized under this part shall be institutions of the Farm Credit System and shall be subject to the same regulation and examination by the Farm Credit Administration as are the organizing bank or banks under this chapter.

12 USC 2214 - State laws

State and other laws shall apply to corporations organized pursuant to this part to the same extent such laws would apply to the organizing banks engaged in the same activity in the same jurisdiction: Provided, however, That to the extent that sections 2023, 2098, and 2134 of this title may exempt banks or associations of the Farm Credit System from taxation, such exemptions, other than with respect to franchise taxes, shall not extend to corporations organized pursuant to this part.

12 USC 2214a - Bank defined

In this part, the term bank includes each association operating under subchapter II of this chapter.

Part D1 - Farm Credit System Capital Corporation

2216 to 2216k. Repealed. Pub. L. 100233, title II, 207(a)(3), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1607

Section 2216, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28A, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1680, provided for chartering of Farm Credit System Capital Corporation by Farm Credit Administration and revoked charter of Farm Credit System Capital Corporation which had been issued under part D of this subchapter. See sections 2278a et seq. and 2278b et seq. of this title. Section 2216a, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28B, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1680, set out purposes of Capital Corporation. See sections 2278a–1 and 2278b–1 of this title. Section 2216b, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28C, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1680, provided for Board of Directors of Capital Corporation. See sections 2278a–2 and 2278b–2 of this title. Section 2216c, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28D, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1682, provided for compensation of members of Board of Directors of Capital Corporation. See sections 2278a–2 and 2278b–2 of this title. Section 2216d, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28E, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1682, authorized Board of Directors of Capital Corporation to adopt rules. See sections 2278a–2 and 2278b–2 of this title. Section 2216e, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28F, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1682, provided for selection of chief executive officer of Capital Corporation. See sections 2278a–2 and 2278b–2 of this title. Section 2216f, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28G, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1682, enumerated corporate powers of Capital Corporation. See sections 2278a–3 and 2278b–4 of this title. Section 2216g, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28H, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1685, provided for succession of Capital Corporation. See section 2278a–9 of this title. Section 2216h, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28I, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1685, set out provisions limiting powers of Capital Corporation. See section 2278a–8 of this title. Section 2216i, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28J, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1686, set out authority of Secretary of the Treasury. See section 2278b–6 of this title. Section 2216j, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28K, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1687, provided for initial capitalization of Capital Corporation. Section 2216k, Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, § 4.28L, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title I, § 103, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1687, provided for tax status of consolidated obligations. See sections 2278a–11 and 2278b–10 of this title.

Part F - Sale of Insurance

12 USC 2218 - Lines of insurance

(a) Regulatory authorization

(1) The regulations of the Farm Credit Administration governing financially related services that the banks and associations of the Farm Credit System may provide under subchapters I and II of this chapter may authorize the sale to any member of or borrower from any such bank or association, on an optional basis, of credit or term life and credit disability insurance appropriate to protect the loan commitment in the event of death or disability of the debtors and other insurance necessary to protect the members farm or aquatic unit, but limited to, hail and multiple-peril crop insurance, title insurance, and insurance to protect the facilities and equipment of aquatic borrowers. A member or borrower shall have the option, without coercion from the bank or association of such member or borrower, to accept or reject such insurance.

(2) In making insurance available through private insurers, the banks shall approve the programs of more than two insurers for each type of insurance offered in the district, if more than two insurers for each type of insurance have proposed programs to a bank that will, in all likelihood, have long-term viability and meet the requirements of subsection (b)(2)(D) of this section. The banks may provide comparative information relating to costs and quality of approved programs and the financial conditions of approved companies. Associations shall offer at least two insurers for each program from among those approved by the Farm Credit Banks, if at least two insurers have been approved in accordance with this paragraph.

(b) Contents of regulations
Such regulations shall provide that

(1) in any case in which insurance is required as a condition for a loan or other financial assistance from a bank or association, notice be given that it is not necessary to purchase the insurance from the bank or association and that the borrower has the option of obtaining the insurance elsewhere;

(2) such insurance services may be offered only if

(A) the bank or association has the capacity to render insurance service under this chapter in an effective and efficient manner;

(B) there exists the probability that any insurance program under this chapter will generate sufficient revenue to cover all costs;

(D) the insurance program has been approved by the bank or association from among specific programs made available to it by insurers

(i) meeting reasonable financial and quality of service standards; and

(ii) licensed under State law to do business in the State; and

(E) in making insurance available through approved insurers, the board of directors of the association or bank selects and offers at least two approved insurers for each type of insurance made available to the members and borrowers, if at least two insurers have been approved in accordance with subsection (a)(2) of this section; and

(3) no bank or association shall directly or indirectly discriminate in any manner against any agent, broker, or insurer that is not affiliated with such bank or association, or against any party who purchases insurance through any such nonaffiliated insurance agent, broker, or insurer.

(c) Continuation of existing coverage
Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, any bank or association that on December 24, 1980, is offering insurance coverages not authorized by this section may continue to sell such coverages for a period of not more than one year from such date and may continue to service such coverages until their expiration.

Part G - Miscellaneous

12 USC 2219 - Limitation on separate sale

If real property is acquired by any institution of the Farm Credit System through foreclosure, no institution of the Farm Credit System shall sell the surface rights to that real property to any person unless the institution also sells all mineral rights to that real property to that person.

12 USC 2219a - Right of first refusal

(a) General rule
Agricultural real estate that is acquired by an institution of the System as a result of a loan foreclosure or a voluntary conveyance by a borrower (hereinafter in this section referred to as the previous owner) who, as determined by the institution, does not have the financial resources to avoid foreclosure (hereinafter in this section referred to as acquired real estate) shall be subject to the right of first refusal of the previous owner to repurchase or lease the property, as provided in this section.

(b) Application of right of first refusal to sale of property

(1) Election to sell and notification
Within 15 days after an institution of the System first elects to sell acquired real estate, or any portion of such real estate, the institution shall notify the previous owner by certified mail of the owners right

(A) to purchase the property at the appraised fair market value of the property, as established by an accredited appraiser; or

(B) to offer to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value.

(2) Eligibility to purchase
To be eligible to purchase the property under paragraph (1), the previous owner must, within 30 days after receiving the notice required by such paragraph, submit an offer to purchase the property.

(3) Mandatory sale
An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at the appraised value shall, within 15 days after the receipt of such offer, accept such offer and sell the property to the previous owner.

(4) Permissive sale
An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value may accept such offer and sell the property to the previous owner. Notice shall be provided to the previous owner of the acceptance or rejection of such offer within 15 days after the receipt of such offer.

(5) Rejection of offer of previous owner

(A) Duties of institution
An institution of the System that rejects an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value may not sell the property to any other person

(i) at a price equal to, or less than, that offered by the previous owner; or

(ii) on different terms and conditions than those that were extended to the previous owner,

without first affording the previous owner an opportunity to purchase the property at such price or under such terms and conditions.

(B) Notice
Notice of the opportunity in subparagraph (A) shall be provided to the previous owner by certified mail, and the previous owner shall have 15 days in which to submit an offer to purchase the property at such price or under such terms and conditions.

(1) Election to lease and notification
Within 15 days after an institution of the System first elects to lease acquired real estate, or any portion of such real estate, the institution shall notify the previous owner by certified mail of the owners right

(A) to lease the property at a rate equivalent to the appraised rental value of the property, as established by an accredited appraiser; or

(B) to offer to lease the property at a rate that is less than the appraised rental value of the property.

(2) Eligibility to lease
To be eligible to lease the property under paragraph (1), the previous owner must, within 15 days after receiving the notice required by such paragraph, submit an offer to lease the property.

(3) Mandatory lease
An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate equivalent to the appraised rental value of the property shall, within 15 days after the receipt of such offer, accept such offer and lease the property to the previous owner unless the institution determines that the previous owner

(A) does not have the resources available to conduct a successful farming or ranching operation; or

(B) cannot meet all of the payments, terms, and conditions of such lease.

(4) Permissive lease
An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate that is less than the appraised rental value of the property may accept such offer and lease the property to the previous owner.

(5) Notice to previous owner
An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate less than the appraised rental value of the property shall notify the previous owner of its acceptance or rejection of the offer within 15 days after the receipt of such offer.

(6) Rejection of offer of previous owner

(A) Duties of institution
An institution of the System rejecting an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate less than the appraised rental value of the property may not lease the property to any other person

(i) at a rate equal to or less than that offered by the previous owner; or

(ii) on different terms and conditions than those that were extended to the previous owner,

without first affording the previous owner an opportunity to lease the property at such rate or under such terms and conditions.

(B) Notice
Notice of the opportunity described in subparagraph (A) shall be given to the previous owner by certified mail, and the previous owner shall have 15 days after the receipt of such notice in which to agree to lease the property at such rate or under such terms and conditions.

(d) Public offerings

(1) Notification of previous owner
If an institution of the System elects to sell or lease acquired property or a portion thereof through a public auction, competitive bidding process, or other similar public offering, the institution shall notify the previous owner, by certified mail, of the availability of the property. Such notice shall contain the minimum amount, if any, required to qualify a bid as acceptable to the institution and any terms and conditions to which such sale or lease will be subject.

(2) Priority
If two or more qualified bids in the same amount are received by the institution under paragraph (1), such bids are the highest received, and one of the qualified bids is offered by the previous owner, the institution shall accept the offer by the previous owner.

(3) Nondiscrimination
No institution of the System may discriminate against a previous owner in any public auction, competitive bidding process, or other similar public offering of property acquired by the institution from such person.

(e) Term or condition
For the purposes of this section, financing by a System institution shall not be considered to be a term or condition of a sale of acquired real estate.

(f) Financing
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a System institution shall not be required to provide financing to the previous owner in connection with the sale of acquired real estate.

(g) Mailing of notice
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each certified mail notice requirement in this section shall be fully satisfied by mailing one certified mail notice to the last known address of the previous owner.

(h) State laws
The rights provided in this section shall not diminish any such right of first refusal under the law of the State in which the property is located.

(i) Applicability
This section shall not apply to a bank for cooperatives.

12 USC 2219b - Application of uninsured accounts

(a) In general
Money of a borrower held by a Farm Credit System institution in an uninsured voluntary or involuntary account as authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration (as in effect immediately before January 6, 1988), including all such other accounts known as advanced payment accounts or future prepayment accounts shall, in the event the institution is placed in liquidation, be immediately applied as payment against the indebtedness of any outstanding loans of such borrower.

(b) Regulations
The Farm Credit Administration shall promulgate regulations

(1) that define the term uninsured voluntary or involuntary account; and

(2) to otherwise effectively carry out this section.

12 USC 2219c - Affirmative action

The Assistance Board established under section 2278a of this title and all institutions of the Farm Credit System with more than 20 employees shall establish and maintain an affirmative action program plan that applies the affirmative action standards otherwise applied to contractors of the Federal Government.

12 USC 2219d - Encouragement of conservation practices

At the time a System institution or an agricultural mortgage loan originator (as defined in section 2279aa (7) of this title) approves a loan made to a borrower that, in the opinion of the institution or originator, would be ineligible for a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) by reason of subtitle B or C of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.), the institution or originator, as the case may be, shall encourage the borrower to contact the Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service to obtain information about soil conservation methods and practices.

12 USC 2219e - Liability for making criminal referrals

(a) In general
Any institution of the Farm Credit System, or any director, officer, employee, or agent of a Farm Credit System institution, that discloses to a Government authority information proffered in good faith that may be relevant to a possible violation of any law or regulation shall not be liable to any person under any law of the United States or any State

(1) for the disclosure; or

(2) for any failure to notify the person involved in the possible violation.

(b) No prohibition on disclosure
Any institution of the Farm Credit System, or any director, officer, employee, or agent of a Farm Credit System institution, may disclose information to a Government authority that may be relevant to a possible violation of any law or regulation.

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION

Part A - District Organization

12 USC 2221 - Transferred

2222 to 2227. Repealed. Pub. L. 100399, title IV, 409(d), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1003

Sections 2222 to 2227 were directed to be repealed by Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, § 418(c), formerly 415(c), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1653, renumbered 418(c), Pub. L. 100–399, title IV, § 409(a), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1003, which was repealed by section 409(c) of Pub. L. 100–399, title IV, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1003. Section 409(c) of Pub. L. 100–399 provided in part that section 418(c) of Pub. L. 100–233 is repealed and that this chapter shall be applied and administered, and the amendments by sections 430 and 802(u) of Pub. L. 100–233 (amending sections 2226 and 2223, respectively, of this title) shall take effect, as if such section 418 (c) had not been enacted. Section 2222, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.1, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 614; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(g)(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1707, related to district boards of directors, membership, eligibility, and terms. Section 2223, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.2, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 614; Pub. L. 96–592, title V, § 502, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3449; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(g)(3), (4), title VI, 607, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1707, 1712; Pub. L. 100–233, title VIII, § 802(u), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1712, related to nomination and election of district directors. Section 2224, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.3, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 615, related to functions of district directors. Section 2225, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.4, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 615, related to district board officers. Section 2226, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.5, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 616; Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, § 430, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1658, related to compensation of district boards. Section 2227, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.6, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 616; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, 102, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3784; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(g)(5), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1707, related to powers of district farm credit board.

Part B - Farm Credit Administration Organization

12 USC 2241 - Farm Credit Administration

The Farm Credit Administration shall be an independent agency in the executive branch of the Government. It shall be composed of the Farm Credit Administration Board and such other personnel as are employed in carrying out the functions, powers, and duties vested in the Farm Credit Administration by this chapter.

12 USC 2242 - Farm Credit Administration Board

(a) Appointment
The management of the Farm Credit Administration shall be vested in a Farm Credit Administration Board (referred to in this part as the Board). The Board shall consist of three members, who shall be citizens of the United States and broadly representative of the public interest. Members of the Board shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than two members of the Board shall be members of the same political party. Of the persons thus appointed, one shall be designated by the President to serve as Chairman of the Board for the duration of the members term. The members of the Board shall be ineligible during the time they are in office and for two years thereafter to hold any office, position, or employment in any institution of the Farm Credit System.

(b) Terms of office
The term of office of each member of the Board shall be six years, except that the terms of the two members, other than the Chairman, first appointed under subsection (a) of this section shall expire, one on the expiration of two years after the date of appointment, and one on the expiration of four years after the date of appointment. Members of the Board shall not be appointed to succeed themselves, except that the members first appointed under subsection (a) of this section for a term of less than six years may be reappointed for a full six-year term and members appointed to fill unexpired terms of three years or less may be reappointed for a full six-year term. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term on like appointment. Any member of the Board shall continue to serve as such after the expiration of the members term until a successor has been appointed and qualified.

(c) Organization
Each member of the Board, within fifteen days after notice of appointment, shall subscribe to the oath of office. The Board may transact business if a vacancy exists, provided a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of two members of the Board. The Board shall hold at least one meeting each month and such additional meetings at such times and places as it may fix and determine. Such meetings shall be held on the call of the Chairman or any two Board members. The Board shall adopt such rules as it deems appropriate for the transaction of business by the Board, and shall keep permanent and accurate records and minutes of the actions and proceedings of the Board.

(d) Compensation
The members of the Board shall devote their full time and attention to the business of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5. Each of the other members of the Board shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5. Each member of the Board shall be reimbursed for necessary travel, subsistence, and other expenses in the discharge of the members official duties without regard to other laws with respect to allowance for travel and subsistence of officers and employees of the United States. This subsection shall be subject to the provisions of section 2245 of this title.

(e) Qualifications of Farm Credit Administration Board members
The President shall appoint members of the Board who

(1) are experienced or knowledgeable in agricultural economics and financial reporting and disclosure;

(2) are experienced or knowledgeable in the regulation of financial entities; or

(3) have a strong financial, legal, or regulatory background.

12 USC 2243 - Powers of Board

The Board shall manage and administer, and establish policies for, the Farm Credit Administration. It

(1) shall approve the rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter not inconsistent with its provisions;

(2) shall provide for the examination of the condition of, and general regulation of the performance of the powers, functions, and duties vested in, each institution of the Farm Credit System;

(3) shall provide for the performance of all the powers and duties vested in the Farm Credit Administration; and

(4) may require such reports as it deems necessary from the institutions of the Farm Credit System.

12 USC 2244 - Chairman; responsibilities; governing standards

(a) Chairman of Farm Credit Administration Board; power and authority

(1) The Chairman of the Board shall be the chief executive officer of the Farm Credit Administration.

(2) In carrying out the responsibilities of the chief executive officer, the Chairman shall be responsible for directing the implementation of policies and regulations adopted by the Board and, after consultation with the Board, the execution of the administrative functions and duties of the Farm Credit Administration.

(3) In carrying out policies as directed by the Board, the Chairman shall act as spokesperson for the Board and represent the Board and the Farm Credit Administration in their official relations within the Federal Government.

(4) Under policies adopted by the Board, the Chairman shall consult on a regular basis with

(A) the Secretary of the Treasury concerning the exercise, by the System, of the powers conferred under section 2153 of this title;

(B) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System concerning the effect of System lending activities on national monetary policy; and

(C) the Secretary of Agriculture concerning the effect of System policies on farmers, ranchers, and the agricultural economy.

(b) Governing standards
In carrying out responsibilities under this chapter, the Chairman of the Board shall be governed by general policies adopted by the Board and by such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as the Board may by law be authorized to make and, as to third persons, all acts of the Chairman of the Board shall be conclusively presumed to be in compliance with such general policies and regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations.

(c) Enforcement of rules, regulations, and orders of Board; civil proceedings; representation by attorneys
The Chairman of the Board shall enforce the rules, regulations, and orders of the Board. Except as provided in section 518 of title 28, relating to litigation before the Supreme Court, attorneys designated by the Chairman shall represent the Farm Credit Administration in any civil proceeding or civil action brought in connection with the administration of conservatorships and receiverships. Attorneys designated by the Chairman may represent the Farm Credit Administration in any other civil proceedings or civil action when so authorized by the Attorney General under provisions of title 28.

12 USC 2245 - Organization of Farm Credit Administration

(a) Policies of Board
The Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration Board, in carrying out the powers and duties vested in the Chairman by this chapter, and Acts supplementary thereto, shall be governed by policies of the Board and by such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as the Board may by law be authorized to make.

(b) Appointments
The Chairman of the Board shall appoint such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Farm Credit Administration. The appointment by the Chairman of the heads of major administrative divisions under the Board shall be subject to the approval of the Board.

(1) Appointments by Board members
Personnel employed regularly and full-time in the immediate offices of Board members shall be appointed by each such Board member.

(2) Officers and employees

(A) Appointment, compensation, and benefits
The Chairman shall fix the compensation and number of, and appoint and direct, employees of the Administration. The Chairman may set and adjust the rates of basic pay for employees of the Administration without regard to the provisions of chapter 51, or subchapter III of chapter 53, of title 5. The Chairman may provide such additional compensation and benefits to employees of the Administration as is necessary to maintain comparability with the total amount of compensation and benefits provided by other Federal bank regulatory agencies. In setting and adjusting the total amount of compensation and benefits for employees of the Administration, the Chairman shall consult with, and seek to maintain comparability with, other Federal bank regulatory agencies.

(B) “Other Federal bank regulatory agencies” defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term other Federal bank regulatory agencies has the same meaning given to the term appropriate Federal banking agency in section 1813 (q) of this title.

(i) subject to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; and

(ii) considered officers or employees of the United States for the purposes of sections 201 through 203, and sections 205 through 209, of title 18.

(3) Delegation
The powers of the Chairman as chief executive officer necessary for day to day management may be exercised and performed by the Chairman through such other officers and employees of the Administration as the Chairman shall designate, except that the Chairman may not delegate powers specifically reserved to the Chairman by this chapter without Board approval.

(d) Funding
The operations of the Farm Credit Administration, and the salaries of members of the Board and employees of the Administration, shall be funded and paid for from the fund created under section 2250 of this title.

12 USC 2246 - Advisory committees

The Chairman of the Board, subject to the approval of the Board, may establish one or more advisory committees in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and may appoint to such committee or committees individuals who are members of the Federal Farm Credit Board when such Board is terminated by the Farm Credit Amendments Act of 1985.

12 USC 2247 - Repealed. Pub. L. 99205, title II, 201(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1690

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title V, § 5.13, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 620, related to authority of Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to fix powers and duties of divisions and instrumentalities of the Administration.

12 USC 2248 - Seal of the Farm Credit Administration

The Farm Credit Administration shall have a seal, as adopted by the Board, which shall be judicially noted.

12 USC 2249 - Administrative expenses

The Farm Credit Administration may, within the limits of funds available therefor, make necessary expenditures for personnel services and rent at the seat of Government and elsewhere; contract stenographic reporting services; purchase and exchange lawbooks, books of reference, periodicals, newspapers, expenses of attendance at meetings and conferences; purchase, operation, and maintenance at the seat of Government and elsewhere of motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles and other vehicles; printing and binding; and for such other facilities and services, including temporary employment by contract or otherwise, as it may from time to time find necessary for the proper administration of this chapter. The Farm Credit Administration may dispose of property so acquired and any amounts collected from the disposition of such property shall be deposited in the special fund provided for in section 2250 (b) of this title and shall be available to the Administration in the same manner and for the same purposes as the funds collected under section 2250 (a) of this title.

12 USC 2250 - Farm Credit Administration operating expenses fund

(a) Determinations required

(1) Generally
Prior to the first day of each fiscal year, the Farm Credit Administration shall determine

(A) the cost of administering this chapter for the subsequent fiscal year, including expenses for official functions;

(B) the amount of assessments that will be required to pay such administrative expenses, taking into consideration the funds contained in the Administrative Expense Account, and maintain a necessary reserve; and

(C) the amount of assessments that will be required to pay the costs of supervising and examining the Mortgage Corporation established under subchapter VIII of this chapter.

(2) Apportionments
On the basis of the determinations made under paragraph (1), the Farm Credit Administration shall

(A) apportion the amount of the assessment described in paragraph (1)(B) among the System institutions on a basis that is determined to be equitable by the Farm Credit Administration;

(B) assess and collect such apportioned amounts from time to time during the fiscal year as determined necessary by the Farm Credit Administration; and

(C) assess and collect from the Mortgage Corporation, from time to time during the fiscal year, the amount described in paragraph (1)(C).

(b) Deposits into fund

(1) Treasury fund
The amounts collected under subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in the Farm Credit Administration Administrative Expense Account. The Expense Account shall be maintained in the Treasury of the United States and shall be available, without regard, for purposes of sequestration, to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 [2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.], to pay the expenses of the Farm Credit Administration.

(2) Nongovernment funds
The funds contained in the Expense Account shall not be construed to be Federal Government funds or appropriated moneys.

(3) Investment

(A) Authority
On request of the Farm Credit Administration, the Secretary of the Treasury shall invest and reinvest such amounts contained in the Expense Account as, in the determination of the Farm Credit Administration, are in excess of the amounts necessary for current expenses of the Farm Credit Administration.

(B) Returns
All income earned from such investments and reinvestments shall be deposited in the Expense Account.

(C) Type
Such investments shall be made in public debt securities with maturities suitable to the needs of the Expense Account, as determined by the Farm Credit Administration, and bearing interest at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration current market yields on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities.

12 USC 2251 - Quarters and facilities for the Farm Credit Administration

As an alternate to the rental of quarters under section 2249 of this title, and without regard to any other provision of law, the banks of the System, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the bank boards, are hereby authorized

(1) To lease or acquire real property in the District of Columbia or elsewhere for quarters of the Farm Credit Administration.

(2) To construct, develop, furnish, and equip such building thereon and such facilities appurtenant thereto as in their judgment may be appropriate to provide, to the extent the Board may deem advisable, suitable, and adequate quarters and facilities for the Farm Credit Administration.

(3) To enlarge, remodel, or reconstruct the same.

(4) To make or enter into contracts for any of the foregoing.

(5) To sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in property leased or acquired under the foregoing if authorized by the Board.

The Board may require of the respective banks of the System, and they shall make to the Farm Credit Administration, such advances of funds for the purposes set out in this section as in the sole judgment of the Board may from time to time be advisable for the purposes of this section. Such advances shall be in addition to and kept in a separate fund from the assessments authorized in section 2250 of this title and shall be apportioned by the Board among the banks in proportion to the total assets of the respective banks, and determined in such manner and at such times as the Board may prescribe. The powers of the banks of the System and purposes for which obligations may be issued by such banks are hereby enlarged to include the purpose of obtaining funds to permit the making of advances required by this section. The plans and decisions for such building and facilities and for the enlargement, remodeling, or reconstruction thereof shall be such as is approved in the sole discretion of the Board. In actions undertaken by the banks pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this section, the Farm Credit Administration may act as agent for the banks.

12 USC 2252 - Powers and duties

(a) Enumerated powers
The Farm Credit Administration shall have the following powers, functions, and responsibilities in connection with the institutions of the Farm Credit System and the administration of this chapter:

(1) Modify the boundaries of farm credit districts, with due regard for the farm credit needs of the country, as approved by the Board, with the concurrence of the district banks involved.

(2)

(A) Where necessary or appropriate to carry out the policy and objectives of this chapter, issue and approve amendments to Federal charters of institutions of the System; approve change in names of banks operating under this chapter; approve the merger of districts when agreed to by the district bank boards involved and by a majority vote of the voting stockholders and contributors to the guaranty funds of each bank for each of such districts, voting in the same manner as is provided in section 2279a of this title; approve mergers and any related activities as provided for in subchapter VII of this chapter; and approve the consolidation or division of the territories of institutions when agreed to by a majority vote of the voting stockholders or contributors to the guaranty fund of each of the institutions involved; and approve consolidations of boards of directors when agreed to by a majority vote of the voting stockholders or contributors to the guaranty fund of each of the institutions involved. In issuing charters and certificates of territory for district-wide mergers of associations where stockholders of one or more associations did not approve the merger, the charter of the new or merged association shall not include the territory of the disagreeing association or associations; charters issued during calendar year 1985 for district-wide new or merged associations which included the territory of a disagreeing association shall be revoked and reissued to exclude such territory, unless subsequently agreed to by the board of directors of such association or associations. The Farm Credit Administration Board shall ensure that disapproving associations (A) shall not be charged any assessment under this chapter at a rate higher than that charged other like associations in the district, and (B) shall be provided with financial services and assistance on the same basis as other like associations in the district (including, but not limited to, access to credit and rates of interest on loans and discounts) by a district Farm Credit bank to the association and its member-borrowers. The Farm Credit Administration Board, after consultation with the respective boards of directors of the affected banks, may require two or more banks operating under the same or different titles to merge if the Board determines that one of such banks has failed to meet its outstanding obligations.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration shall not issue a charter to, or approve an amendment to the charter of, any institution of the Farm Credit System to operate under subchapter I or II of this chapter that would authorize the institution to exercise lending authority, whether directly or indirectly as an agent of a Farm Credit Bank, in a territory in which the charter of another such institution authorizes the other institution to exercise like authority, whether directly or indirectly as an agent of a Farm Credit Bank, except with the approval of

(i) in a case affecting only the charter of one or more associations

(I) a majority of the shareholders (present and voting or voting by proxy) of each of the associations that would have like lending authority (whether directly or indirectly as an agent of a Farm Credit Bank) in any of that territory if the charter action were taken; and

(II) a majority of the board of directors of the Farm Credit Bank with which the affected associations are affiliated; or

(ii) in a case affecting the charter of one or more banks

(I) a majority of the shareholders (present and voting or voting by proxy) of the affiliated associations of each of the banks that would have like lending authority in any of that territory if the charter action were taken;

(II) a majority of the shareholders (present and voting or voting by proxy) of each of the banks that would have like lending authority in any of that territory if the charter action were taken; and

(III) a majority vote of the boards of directors of each of the banks that would have like lending authority in any of that territory if the charter action were taken.

(C) Subparagraph (B) shall apply only in those geographic areas where, due to the failure of a Federal intermediate credit bank to merge in accordance with section 410(a) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2011 note ), the Federal intermediate credit bank or its successor is chartered to provide short- and intermediate-term credit, and a neighboring Farm Credit Bank that is not the successor to the Federal intermediate credit bank is chartered to provide long-term credit, in the same geographic territory.

(3) Make annual reports directly to Congress on the condition of the System and its institutions, based on the examinations carried out under section 2254 of this title, and on the manner and extent to which the purposes and objectives of this chapter are being carried out and, from time to time, recommend directly legislative changes. The annual reports shall include a summary and analysis of the reports submitted to the Farm Credit Administration by the Farm Credit Banks under section 2207 (b) of this title relating to programs for serving young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers.

(4) Approve the issuance of obligations of the System under subsections (c) and (d) of section 2153 of this title for the purpose of funding the authorized operations of the institutions of the System, and prescribe collateral therefor.

(5) Grant approvals provided for under this chapter either on a case-by-case basis or through regulations that confer approval on actions of Farm Credit System institutions.

(6) Establish standards for the System institutions with respect to loan security requirements and regulate the borrowing, repayment, and transfer of funds and equities between institutions of the System.

(7) Conduct loan and collateral security review.

(8) Regulate the preparation by System institutions and the dissemination to stockholders and investors of information on the financial condition and operations of such institutions, except that the requirements of the Farm Credit Administration governing the dissemination to stockholders of quarterly reports of System institutions may not be more burdensome or costly than the requirements applicable to national banks, and the Farm Credit Administration may not require any System institution to disclose in any report to stockholders information concerning the condition or classification of a loan

(A) to a director of the institution

(i) who has resigned before the time for filing the applicable report with the Farm Credit Administration; or

(ii) whose term of office will expire no later than the date of the meeting of stockholders to which the report relates; or

(B) to a member of the immediate family of a director of the institution unless

(i) the family member resides in the same household as the director; or

(ii) the director has a material financial or legal interest in the loan or business operation of the family member.

(9) Prescribe rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for carrying out this chapter.

(10) Exercise the powers conferred on it under part C of this subchapter for the purpose of ensuring the safety and soundness of System institutions.

(11) Exercise such incidental powers as may be necessary or appropriate to fulfill its duties and carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(12) Require surety bonds or other provisions for protection of the assets of the institutions of the System against losses occasioned by employees.

(13)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Farm Credit Administration may approve an amendment to the charter of any institution of the Farm Credit System operating under subchapter I or II of this chapter, which would authorize the institution to exercise lending authority in any territory

(i) in the geographic area served by an association that was reassigned pursuant to section 433 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2071 note ) (where the geographic area was a part of the associations territory as of the date of the reassignment); and

(ii) in which the charter of an institution that is not seeking the charter amendment authorizes the institution to exercise the type of lending authority that is the subject of the charter request.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration may approve a charter amendment under subparagraph (A) only on the approval of

(i) the respective boards of directors of the associations that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise like lending authority in any of the territory that is the subject of the charter request;

(ii) a majority of the stockholders of each association described in clause (i) voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting; and

(iii) the respective boards of directors of the Farm Credit Banks that, if the charter request is approved, would exercise, either directly or through associations, like lending authority in any of the territory described in subparagraph (A)(i).

(14)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Farm Credit Administration may approve a request to charter an association of the Farm Credit System to operate under subchapter II of this chapter where the proposed charter

(i) will include any of the geographic area included in the territory served by an association that was reassigned pursuant to section 433 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2071 note ) (where the geographic area was a part of the associations territory as of the date of the reassignment); and

(ii) will authorize the association to exercise lending authority in any territory in the geographic area in which the charter of an association that is not requesting the charter authorizes the association to exercise the type of lending authority that is the subject of the charter request.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration may approve a charter request under subparagraph (A) only on the approval of

(ii) a majority vote of the stockholders (if any) of each association described in clause (i) voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting; and

(b) Exclusions
The Farm Credit Administration shall not have authority, either direct or indirect, to approve bylaws, or any amendments or modifications or changes to bylaws, of System institutions.

(1) At least thirty days prior to publishing any proposed regulation in the Federal Register, the Farm Credit Administration shall transmit a copy of the regulation to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. The Farm Credit Administration shall also transmit to such committees a copy of any final regulation prior to its publication in the Federal Register. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no final regulation of the Farm Credit Administration shall become effective prior to the expiration of thirty calendar days after it is published in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of the Congress are in session.

(2) In the case of an emergency, a final regulation of the Farm Credit Administration may become effective without regard to the last sentence of paragraph (1) of this subsection if the Farm Credit Administration notifies in writing the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate setting forth the reasons why it is necessary to make the regulation effective prior to the expiration of the thirty-day period.

(d) Legislative veto of regulations; procedures applicable

(1) If there are any unresolved differences between the Farm Credit Administration and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as to whether any regulation implementing section 2128 (b) of this title or the other provisions of subchapter III relating to the authority under section 2128 (b) of this title conforms to national banking policies, objectives and limitations, simultaneously with promulgation of any such regulation under this chapter, and simultaneously with promulgation of any regulation implementing section 2015 (b) of this title, the Farm Credit Administration shall transmit a copy thereof to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the regulation shall not become effective if, within ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date of promulgation, both Houses of Congress adopt a concurrent resolution, the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: That Congress disapproves the regulations promulgated by the Farm Credit Administration dealing with the matter of , which regulation was transmitted to Congress on , the blank spaces therein being appropriately filled.

(2) If at the end of sixty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date of promulgation of a regulation, no committee of either House of Congress has reported or been discharged from further consideration of a concurrent resolution disapproving the regulation, and neither House has adopted such a resolution, the regulation may go into effect immediately. If, within such sixty calendar days, such a committee has reported or been discharged from further consideration of such a resolution, or either House has adopted such a resolution, the regulation may go into effect not sooner than ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress after its promulgation unless disapproved as provided in paragraph (1).

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection

(i) continuity of session is broken only by an adjournment of Congress sine die; and

(ii) the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of sixty and ninety calendar days of continuous session of Congress.

(4) Congressional inaction on or rejection of a resolution of disapproval shall not be deemed an expression of approval of such regulation.

12 USC 2253 - Prior delegations

Any delegations by the Farm Credit Administration and redelegations thereof made in accordance with section 5.19 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 as in effect prior to the effective date of the Farm Credit Amendments Act of 1985 may continue in full force and effect, at the discretion of the Farm Credit Administration, for the period ending twelve months after December 23, 1985.

12 USC 2254 - Examinations

(a) Scope and frequency of examinations; power, authority, and liability of examiners
Except for Federal land bank associations, each institution of the System shall be examined by Farm Credit Administration examiners at such times as the Board may determine, but in no event less than once during each 18-month period. Each Federal land bank association shall be examined by Farm Credit Administration examiners at such times as the Farm Credit Administration Board may determine, except that each such association shall be examined at least once every three years. Such examinations may include, if appropriate, but are not limited to, an analysis of credit and collateral quality and capitalization of the institution, and appraisals of the effectiveness of the institutions management and application of policies governing the carrying out of this chapter and regulations of the Farm Credit Administration and servicing all eligible borrowers. Examination of banks shall include an analysis of the compensation paid to the chief executive officer and the salary scales of the employees of the bank. At the direction of the Board, Farm Credit Administration examiners also shall make examinations of the condition of any organization, other than federally regulated financial institutions, to, for, or with which any institution of the System contemplates making a loan or discounting paper. For the purposes of this chapter, examiners of the Farm Credit Administration shall be subject to the same requirements, responsibilities, and penalties as are applicable to examiners under the National Bank Act [12 U.S.C. 21 et seq.], the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. 221 et seq.], and Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.], and other provisions of law and shall have the same powers and privileges as are vested in such examiners by law.

(b) Annual report of condition

(1) Each institution of the System shall make and publish an annual report of condition as prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration. Each such report shall contain financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except with respect to any actions taken by any banks of the System under section 2159 (b) of this title, and contain such additional information as the Farm Credit Administration by regulation may require. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence and any other provision of this chapter, for the period July 1, 1986, through December 31, 1988, the institutions of the Farm Credit System may, on the prior approval of the Farm Credit Administration and subject to such conditions as it may establish, capitalize annually their provision for losses that is in excess of one-half of 1 percent of loans outstanding and amortize such capitalized amounts over a period not to exceed 20 years. Such financial statements of System institutions shall be audited by an independent public accountant.

(2) In accordance with the regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, for the period ending December 31, 1992, System institutions are authorized to use the authorities contained in the third sentence of paragraph (1) except as otherwise provided in section 2278a–6 of this title.

(3) Any preferred stock issued under section 2278b–7 of this title shall be subordinated to, and impaired before, other stock or equities of the institution.

(c) Report of examination of noncomplying institution; publication; notice of intention
The Farm Credit Administration may publish the report of examination of any System institution that does not, before the end of the 120th day after the date of notification of the recommendations and suggestions of the Farm Credit Administration, based on such examination, comply with such recommendations and suggestions to the satisfaction of the Farm Credit Administration. The Farm Credit Administration shall give notice of intention to publish in the event of such noncompliance at least 90 days before such publication. Such notice of intention may be given any time after such notification of recommendations and suggestions.

(d) Duties of Farm Credit Administration
On receipt of a request made under section 2277a–8 (b)(1)(B) of this title with respect to a System institution, the Farm Credit Administration shall

(1) furnish for the confidential use of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation reports of examination of the institution and other reports or information on the institution; and

(2)

(A) examine, or obtain other information on, the institution and furnish for the confidential use of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation the report of the examination and such other information; or

(B) if the Farm Credit Administration Board determines that compliance with the request would substantially impair the ability of the Farm Credit Administration to carry out the other duties and responsibilities of the Farm Credit Administration under this chapter, notify the Board of Directors of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation that the Farm Credit Administration will be unable to comply with the request.

12 USC 2255 - Conditions of other banks and lending institutions

The Comptroller of the Currency is authorized and directed, upon request of the Farm Credit Administration to furnish for confidential use of an institution of the System such reports, records, and other information as he may have available relating to the financial condition of national banks through, for, or with which such institution of the System has made or contemplates making discounts or loans and to make such further examination, as may be agreed, of organizations through, for, or with which such institution of the Farm Credit System has made or contemplates making discounts or loans.

12 USC 2256 - Consent to the availability of reports and to examinations

Any organization other than State banks, trust companies, and savings associations shall, as a condition precedent to securing discount privileges with a bank of the Farm Credit System, file with such bank its written consent to examination by farm credit examiners as may be directed by the Farm Credit Administration; and State banks, trust companies, and savings associations may be required in like manner to file a written consent that reports of their examination by constituted State authorities may be furnished by such authorities upon the request of the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2257 - Reports on conditions of institutions receiving loans or deposits

The executive departments, boards, commissions, and independent establishments of the Government of the United States, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Reserve banks are severally authorized under such conditions as they may prescribe, upon request of the Farm Credit Administration, to make available to it or to any institution of the System in confidence all reports, records, or other information relating to the condition of any organization to which such institution of the System has made or contemplates making loan or for which it has or contemplates discounting paper, or which it is using or contemplates using as a custodian of securities or other credit instruments, or a depository. The Federal Reserve banks in their capacity as depositories, agents, and custodians for bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued by the banks of the System or book entries thereof are also authorized and directed, upon request of the Farm Credit Administration, to make available for audit by farm credit examiners all appropriate books, accounts, financial records, files, and other papers.

12 USC 2257a - Uniform financial reporting instructions

(a) In general
Each System institution shall comply with uniform financial reporting instructions required by the Farm Credit Administration, to standardize and facilitate the reporting of System data.

(b) Computerized system
If the financial reports are maintained by a computer system, each System institution may develop an internal computer system or it may contract out to a vendor under open competitive bidding any or all aspects of the computerized system.

(c) Submission of proposal
Within 6 months of January 6, 1988, each System institution shall submit to the Farm Credit Administration a report on the plan of that institution to bring the operations of the institution into compliance with the uniform financial reporting instructions required by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2258 - Jurisdiction

Each institution of the System shall for the purposes of jurisdiction be deemed to be a citizen of the State, commonwealth, or District of Columbia in which its principal office is located.

12 USC 2259 - State legislation

Whenever it is determined by the Farm Credit Administration, or by judicial decision, that a State law is applicable to the obligations and securities authorized to be held by the institutions of the System under this chapter, which law would provide insufficient protection or inadequate safeguards against loss in the event of default, the Farm Credit Administration may declare such obligations or securities to be ineligible as collateral for the issuance of new notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations under this chapter.

12 USC 2260 - Transferred

Part C - Enforcement Powers of Farm Credit Administration

12 USC 2261 - Cease and desist proceedings

(a) If, in the opinion of the Farm Credit Administration, any institution in the Farm Credit System, or any director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such an institution is engaging or has engaged, or the Farm Credit Administration has reasonable cause to believe that the institution or any director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution is about to engage, in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the business of such institution, or is violating or has violated, or the Farm Credit Administration has reasonable cause to believe that the institution or any director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution is about to violate, a law, rule, or regulation, or any condition imposed in writing by the Farm Credit Administration in connection with the granting of any application or other request by the institution or any written agreement entered into with the Farm Credit Administration, the Farm Credit Administration may issue and serve upon the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person a notice of charges in respect thereof. The notice shall contain a statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation or violations or the unsafe or unsound practice or practices, and shall fix a time and place at which a hearing will be held to determine whether an order to cease and desist therefrom should issue against the institution or the director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than thirty days nor later than sixty days after service of such notice unless an earlier or a later date is set by the Farm Credit Administration at the request of any party so served. Unless the party or parties so served shall appear at the hearing personally or by a duly authorized representative, they shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of the cease and desist order. In the event of such consent, or if upon the record made at any such hearing, the Farm Credit Administration shall find that any violation or unsafe or unsound practice specified in the notice of charges has been established, the Farm Credit Administration may issue and serve upon the institution or the director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution an order to cease and desist from any such violation or practice. Such order may, by provisions that may be mandatory or otherwise, require the institution or its directors, officers, employees, agents, and other persons participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution to cease and desist from the same, and, further, to take affirmative action to correct the conditions resulting from any such violation or practice.

(b) A cease and desist order shall become effective at the expiration of thirty days after the service of such order upon the institution or other person concerned (except in the case of a cease and desist order issued upon consent, which shall become effective at the time specified therein), and shall remain effective and enforceable as provided therein except to such extent as it is stayed, modified, terminated, or set aside by action of the Farm Credit Administration or a reviewing court.

12 USC 2262 - Temporary cease and desist orders

(a) Whenever the Farm Credit Administration shall determine that the violation or threatened violation or the unsafe or unsound practice or practices, specified in the notice of charges served upon the institution or any director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution under section 2261 of this title, or the continuation thereof, is likely to cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of assets or earnings of the institution, or is likely to seriously weaken the condition of the institution or otherwise seriously prejudice the interests of the investors in Farm Credit System obligations or shareholders in the institution prior to the completion of the proceedings conducted under section 2261 of this title, the Farm Credit Administration may issue a temporary order requiring the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person to cease and desist from any such violation or practice and to take affirmative action to prevent such insolvency, dissipation, condition, or prejudice pending completion of such proceedings. Such order shall become effective upon service upon the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution and, unless set aside, limited, or suspended by a court in proceedings authorized by subsection (b) of this section, shall remain effective and enforceable pending the completion of the administrative proceedings pursuant to such notice and until such time as the Farm Credit Administration shall dismiss the charges specified in such notice, or if a cease and desist order is issued against the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person, until effective date of such order.

(b) Within ten days after the institution concerned or any director, officer, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution has been served with a temporary cease and desist order, the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person may apply to the United States district court for the judicial district in which the home office of the institution is located, or the United States district court for the District of Columbia, for an injunction setting aside, limiting, or suspending the enforcement, operation, or effectiveness of such order pending the completion of the administrative proceedings pursuant to the notice of charges served upon the institution or such director, officer, employee, agent, or other person under section 2261 of this title, and such court shall have jurisdiction to issue such injunction.

12 USC 2263 - Enforcement of temporary cease and desist orders

In the case of violation or threatened violation of, or failure to obey, a temporary cease and desist order issued under section 2262 of this title, the Farm Credit Administration may apply to the United States district court, or the United States court of any territory, within the jurisdiction of which the home office of the institution is located, for an injunction to enforce such order, and, if the court shall determine that there has been such violation or threatened violation or failure to obey, it shall be the duty of the court to issue such injunction.

12 USC 2264 - Suspension or removal of director or officer

(a) Written notice of intention to remove; violation of law, rule, regulation, or final cease and desist order; unsafe or unsound practice; breach of fiduciary duty
Whenever, in the opinion of the Farm Credit Administration, any director or officer of any institution in the Farm Credit System has committed any violation of law, rule, or regulation or of a cease and desist order that has become final, or has engaged or participated in any unsafe or unsound practice in connection with the institution, or has committed or engaged in any act, omission, or practice which constitutes a breach of a fiduciary duty as such director or officer, and the Farm Credit Administration determines that the institution has suffered or will probably suffer substantial financial loss or other damage or that the interests of its shareholders or investors in Farm Credit System obligations could be seriously prejudiced by reason of such violation or practice or breach of fiduciary duty, or that the director or officer has received financial gain by reason of such violation or practice or breach of fiduciary duty, and that such violation or practice or breach of fiduciary duty is one involving personal dishonesty on the part of such director or officer, or one that demonstrates a willful or continuing disregard for the safety or soundness of the System institution, the Farm Credit Administration may serve upon such director or officer a written notice of its intention to remove him from office.

(b) Written notice of intention to remove or suspend director, officer or other person; personal dishonesty; willful or continuing disregard; unfitness to continue in office or to participate in affairs of institution
Whenever, in the opinion of the Farm Credit Administration, any director or officer of an institution in the Farm Credit System, by conduct or practice with respect to another institution in the Farm Credit System or other business institution that resulted in substantial financial loss or other damage, has evidenced either his personal dishonesty or a willful or continuing disregard for its safety and soundness and, in addition, has evidenced his unfitness to continue as a director or officer, and whenever, in the opinion of the Farm Credit Administration, any other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of an institution in the Farm Credit System, by the conduct or practice with respect to such institution or other institution in the Farm Credit System or other business institution that resulted in substantial financial loss or other damage, has evidenced either personal dishonesty or a willful or continuing disregard for its safety and soundness and, in addition, has evidenced his unfitness to participate in the conduct of the affairs of such institution, the Farm Credit Administration may serve upon such director, officer, or other person a written notice of its intention to remove that director, officer, or other person from office or to prohibit his further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution.

(c) Suspension from office; prohibition from further participation in conduct of affairs of institution; service of notice
In respect to any director or officer of an institution in the Farm Credit System or any other person referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the Farm Credit Administration may, if it deems it necessary for the protection of the institution or the interests of its shareholders and the investors in the Farm Credit System obligations, by written notice to such effect served upon such director, officer, or other person, suspend such director, officer, or other person from office or prohibit such director, officer, or other person from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution. Such suspension or prohibition shall become effective upon service of such notice and, unless stayed by a court in proceedings authorized by subsection (e) of this section, shall remain in effect pending the completion of the administrative proceedings pursuant to the notice served under subsection (a) or (b) of this section and until such time as the Farm Credit Administration shall dismiss the charges specified in such notice, or, if an order of removal or prohibition is issued against the director or officer or other person, until the effective date of any such order. Copies of any such notice shall also be served upon the institution of which the person is a director or officer or in the conduct of whose affairs the person has participated.

(d) Statement of grounds for removal or prohibition; notice and hearing; order of suspension, removal or prohibition; service of order
A notice of intention to remove a director, officer, or other person from office or to prohibit such directors, officers, or other persons participation in the conduct of the affairs of an institution in the Farm Credit System, shall contain a statement of the facts constituting grounds therefor, and shall fix a time and place at which a hearing will be held thereon. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than thirty days nor later than sixty days after the date of service of such notice, unless an earlier or a later date is set by the Farm Credit Administration at the request of

(1) such director or officer or other person, and for good cause shown, or

(2) the Attorney General of the United States. Unless such director, officer, or other person shall appear at the hearing in person or by a duly authorized representative, such director, officer, or other person shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of an order of such removal or prohibition. In the event of such consent, or if upon the record made at any such hearing the Farm Credit Administration shall find that any of the grounds specified in such notice have been established, the Farm Credit Administration may issue such orders of suspension or removal from office, or prohibition from participation in the conduct of the affairs of the institution, as it may deem appropriate. A copy of an order issued under this subsection shall be served upon the institution concerned. Any such order shall become effective at the expiration of thirty days after service upon such institution and the director, officer, or other person concerned (except in the case of an order issued upon consent, which shall become effective at the time specified therein). Such order shall remain effective and enforceable except to such extent as it is stayed, modified, terminated, or set aside by action of the agency or a reviewing court.

(e) Stay of suspension or prohibition
Within ten days after any director, officer, or other person has been suspended from office or prohibited from participation in the conduct of the affairs of a System institution under subsection (c) of this section, such director, officer, or other person may apply to the United States district court for the judicial district in which the home office of the institution is located, or the United States district court for the District of Columbia, for a stay of either such suspension or prohibition, or both, pending the completion of the administrative proceedings pursuant to the notice served upon such director, officer, or other person under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and such court shall have jurisdiction to stay either such suspension or prohibition, or both.

12 USC 2265 - Suspension or removal of director or officer charged with felony

(a) Whenever any director or officer of an institution in the Farm Credit System, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such institution, is charged in any information, indictment, or complaint authorized by a United States attorney, with the commission of or participation in a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under State or Federal law, the Farm Credit Administration may, if continued service or participation by the individual may pose a threat to the interests of the institutions shareholders or investors in Farm Credit System obligations or threaten to impair public confidence in the institution or the Farm Credit System, by written notice served upon such director, officer, or other person, suspend such director, officer, or other person from office or prohibit such director, officer, or other person from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution. A copy of such notice shall also be served upon the institution. Such suspension or prohibition shall remain in effect until such information, indictment, or complaint is finally disposed of or until terminated by the Farm Credit Administration. In the event that a judgment of conviction with respect to such crime is entered against such director, officer, or other person, and at such time as such judgment is not subject to further appellate review, the Farm Credit Administration may, if continued service or participation by the individual may pose a threat to the interests of the institutions shareholders or the investors in Farm Credit System obligations or may threaten to impair public confidence in the institution or the Farm Credit System, issue and serve upon such director, officer, or other person an order removing such director, officer, or other person from office or prohibiting such director, officer, or other person from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution except with the consent of the Farm Credit Administration. A copy of such order shall also be served upon such institution, whereupon such director or officer shall cease to be a director or officer of such institution. A finding of not guilty or other disposition of the charge shall not preclude the Farm Credit Administration from thereafter instituting proceedings to remove such director, officer, or other person from office or to prohibit further participation in Farm Credit System affairs under section 2264 of this title. Any notice of suspension or order of removal issued under this paragraph shall remain effective and outstanding until the completion of any hearing or appeal authorized under subsection (b) of this section unless terminated by the Farm Credit Administration.

(b) Within thirty days from service of any notice of suspension or order of removal issued under subsection (a) of this section, the director, officer, or other person concerned may request in writing an opportunity to appear before the Farm Credit Administration to show that the continued service to or participation in the conduct of the affairs of the institution by such individual does not, or is not likely to, pose a threat to the interest of the institutions shareholders or the investors in Farm Credit System obligations or threaten to impair public confidence in the institution or the Farm Credit System. Upon receipt of any such request, the Farm Credit Administration shall fix a time (not more than thirty days after receipt of such request, unless extended at the request of the concerned director, officer, or other person) and place at which the director, officer, or other person may appear, personally or through counsel, before the Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration or designated employees of the Farm Credit Administration to submit written materials (or, at the discretion of the Farm Credit Administration, oral testimony) and oral argument. Within sixty days of such hearing, the Farm Credit Administration shall notify the director, officer, or other person whether the suspension or prohibition from participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution will be continued, terminated, or otherwise modified, or whether the order removing such director, officer, or other person from office or prohibiting such individual from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution will be rescinded or otherwise modified. Such notification shall contain a statement of the basis for the Farm Credit Administrations decision, if adverse to the director, officer, or other person. The Farm Credit Administration may prescribe such rules as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subsection.

12 USC 2266 - Hearings and judicial review

(a) Venue; closed hearings; decisions and findings of fact; orders; modification or other action by Farm Credit Administration; judicial review
Any hearing provided for in this part (other than the hearing provided for in section 2265 of this title) shall be held in the Federal judicial district or in the territory in which the home office of the institution is located unless the party afforded the hearing consents to another place, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5. Such hearing shall be private, unless the Farm Credit Administration, in its discretion, after fully considering the views of the party afforded the hearing, determines that a public hearing is necessary to protect the public interest. After such hearing, and within ninety days after the Farm Credit Administration has notified the parties that the case has been submitted to it for final decision, it shall render its decision (which shall include findings of fact upon which its decision is predicated) and shall issue and serve upon each party to the proceeding an order or orders consistent with the provisions of this part. Judicial review of any such order shall be exclusively as provided in this section. Unless a petition for review is timely filed in a court of appeals of the United States, as hereinafter provided in subsection (b) of this section, and thereafter until the record in the proceeding has been filed as so provided, the Farm Credit Administration may at any time, upon such notice and in such manner as it shall deem proper, modify, terminate, or set aside any such order. Upon such filing of the record, the Farm Credit Administration may modify, terminate, or set aside any such order with permission of the court.

(b) Judicial review; commencement of proceedings; filing of petition and record; exclusive jurisdiction; finality of judgment and decree
Any party to the proceeding, or any person required by an order issued under this part to cease and desist from any of the violations or practices stated therein, may obtain a review of any order served under subsection (a) of this section (other than an order issued with the consent of the System institution or the director or officer or other person concerned, or an order issued under section 2265 of this title) by the filing in the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in which the home office of the institution is located, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, within thirty days after the date of service of such order, a written petition praying that the order of the Farm Credit Administration be modified, terminated, or set aside. A copy of such petition shall be forthwith transmitted by the clerk of the court to the Farm Credit Administration, and thereupon the Farm Credit Administration shall file in the court the record in the proceeding, as provided in section 2112 of title 28. Upon the filing of such petition, such court shall have jurisdiction, which upon the filing of the record shall except as provided in the last sentence of subsection (a) of this section be exclusive, to affirm, modify, terminate, or set aside, in whole or in part, the order of the Farm Credit Administration. Review of such proceedings shall be had as provided in chapter 7 of title 5. The judgment and decree of the court shall be final, except that the same shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court upon certiorari, as provided in section 1254 of title 28.

(c) Proceedings operating as stays of orders
The commencement of proceedings for judicial review under subsection (b) of this section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay of any order issued by the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2267 - Jurisdiction and enforcement

The Farm Credit Administration may in its discretion apply to the United States district court, or the United States court of any territory, within the jurisdiction of which the home office of the institution is located, for the enforcement of any effective and outstanding notice or order issued under this part, and such courts shall have jurisdiction and power to order and require compliance herewith; but except as otherwise provided in this part no court shall have jurisdiction to affect by injunction or otherwise the issuance or enforcement of any notice or order under this part, or to review, modify, suspend, terminate, or set aside any such notice or order. For purposes of this section, any directive issued under section 2154 (b)(2), 2154a (e), or 2202a (i) of this title shall be treated as an effective and outstanding order issued under section 2261 of this title that has become final.

12 USC 2268 - Penalty

(a) Forfeiture and payment; compromise, modification, or remitting by Farm Credit Administration; assessment and collection by written notice
Any institution in the System that violates or any officer, director, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of such an institution who violates the terms of any order that has become final and was issued under section 2261 or 2262 of this title, shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day for each day during which such violation continues. Any such institution or person who violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $500 per day for each day during which such violation continues. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, the Farm Credit Administration may, in its discretion, compromise, modify, or remit any civil money penalty that is subject to imposition or has been imposed under such authority. The penalty may be assessed and collected by the Farm Credit Administration by written notice.

(b) Factors determining amount
Before determining whether to assess a civil money penalty and determining the amount of such penalty, the Farm Credit Administration shall notify the institution or person to be assessed of the violation or violations alleged to have occurred or to be occurring, and shall solicit the views of the institution or person regarding the imposition of such penalty. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Farm Credit Administration shall take into account the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of financial resources and good faith of the System institution or person charged, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations, and such other matters as justice may require.

(c) Notice and hearing; final orders
The System institution or person assessed shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing by the Farm Credit Administration, upon request made within ten days after issuance of the notice of assessment. In such hearing all issues shall be determined on the record pursuant to section 554 of title 5. The Farm Credit Administration determination shall be made by final order which may be reviewed only as provided in subsection (d) of this section. If no hearing is requested as herein provided, the assessment shall constitute a final and unappealable order.

(d) Judicial review
Any System institution or person against whom an order imposing a civil money penalty has been entered after a Farm Credit Administration hearing under this section may obtain review by the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the home office of the System institution is located, or the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, by filing a notice of appeal in such court within twenty days after the service of such order, and simultaneously sending a copy of such notice by registered or certified mail to the Farm Credit Administration. The Farm Credit Administration shall promptly certify and file in such Court the record upon which the penalty was imposed, as provided in section 2112 of title 28. Final orders of the Farm Credit Administration issued under subsection (c) of this section shall be reviewable under chapter 7 of title 5.

(e) Action by Attorney General to recover amount assessed
If any System institution or person fails to pay an assessment after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the court of appeals has entered final judgment in favor of the Farm Credit Administration, the Farm Credit Administration shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who shall recover the amount assessed by action in the appropriate United States district court. In such action, the validity and appropriateness of the final order imposing the penalty shall not be subject to review.

(f) Rules and regulations
The Farm Credit Administration shall promulgate regulations establishing procedures necessary to implement section 2267 of this title and this section.

(g) Payment into Treasury
All penalties collected under authority of this section shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States.

(h) Directives as final orders
For purposes of this section, any directive issued under section 2154 (b)(2), 2154a (e), or 2202a (i) of this title shall be treated as an order that has become final and was issued under section 2261 of this title.

12 USC 2269 - Further penalties

Any director or officer, or former director or officer of a System institution, or any other person, against whom there is outstanding and effective any notice or order (which is an order which has become final) served upon such director, officer, or other person under section 2264 or 2265 of this title, and who

(1) participates in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the institution involved, or directly or indirectly solicits or procures, or transfers or attempts to transfer, or votes or attempts to vote, any proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of any voting rights in such institution, or

(2) without the prior written approval of the Farm Credit Administration, votes for a director, serves or acts as a director, officer, or employee of any System institution, shall upon conviction be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

12 USC 2270 - Replacement of suspended or removed directors

If at any time, because of the suspension or removal of one or more directors pursuant to section 2264 or 2265 of this title, there shall be on the board of directors of a System institution less than a quorum of directors not so suspended, the Chairman shall appoint persons to serve temporarily as directors in their place and stead so as to establish a quorum until such time as those who have been removed are reinstated or their respective successors are duly elected and take office.

12 USC 2271 - Definitions

As used in this part

(1) the terms cease and desist order that has become final and order which has become final mean a cease and desist order, or an order, issued by the Farm Credit Administration with the consent of the System institution or the director or officer or other person concerned, or with respect to which no petition for review of the action of the Farm Credit Administration has been filed and perfected in a court of appeals as specified in section 2266 (b) of this title, or with respect to which the action of the court in which such petition is so filed is not subject to further review by the Supreme Court of the United States in proceedings provided for in section 2266 (b) of this title, or an order issued under section 2265 of this title;

(2) the term violation includes without limitation any action (alone or with another or others) for or toward causing, bringing about, participating in, counseling, or aiding or abetting a violation;

(3) the terms institution in the System, System institution, and institution mean all institutions enumerated in section 2002 of this title, any service organization chartered under part E of subchapter IV of this chapter, and the Financial Assistance Corporation; and

(4) the term unsafe or unsound practice shall

(A) have the meaning given to it by the Farm Credit Administration by regulation, rule, or order;

(B) during the period beginning on January 6, 1988, and ending December 31, 1992, mean any noncompliance by a System institution, as determined by the Farm Credit Administration in consultation with the Assistance Board, with any term or condition imposed on the institution by the Assistance Board under section 2278a–6 of this title; and

(C) after December 31, 1992, mean any significant noncompliance by a System institution (as determined by the Farm Credit Administration, in consultation with the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation) with any term or condition imposed on the institution by the Farm Credit System Assistance Board under section 2278a–6 of this title or by the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation under section 2277a–10 of this title.

12 USC 2272 - Notice of service

Any service required or authorized to be made by the Farm Credit Administration under this section may be made by registered mail, or in such other manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice as the Farm Credit Administration may by regulation or otherwise provide. Any such service by mail is complete upon mailing. Copies of any notice or order served by the Farm Credit Administration on any association or any director or officer thereof or other person participating in the conduct of its affairs, under the provisions of this part, shall also be sent to the supervisory bank.

12 USC 2273 - Ancillary provisions; subpena power; etc.

In the course of or in connection with any proceeding under this part or any examination or investigation under this chapter, the Farm Credit Administration or any designated representative thereof, including any person designated to conduct any hearing under this part, shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations, to take or cause to be taken depositions, and to issue, revoke, quash, or modify subpenas and subpenas duces tecum; and the Farm Credit Administration is empowered to make rules and regulations with respect to any such proceedings, examinations, or investigations. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents provided for in this section may be required from any place in any State or in any territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States at any designated place where such proceeding is being conducted. The Farm Credit Administration or any party to proceedings under this part may apply to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or the United States district court for the judicial district or the United States court in any territory in which such proceeding is being conducted, or where the witness resides or carries on business, for enforcement of any subpena or subpena duces tecum issued pursuant to this part, and such courts shall have jurisdiction and power to order and require compliance therewith. Witnesses subpenaed under this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States. Any court having jurisdiction of any proceeding instituted under this part by a System institution or a director or officer thereof, may allow to any such party such reasonable expenses and attorneys fees as it deems just and proper; and such expenses and fees shall be paid by the System institution or from its assets. Any person who willfully shall fail or refuse to attend or testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, contracts, agreements, or other records, if in such persons power so to do, in obedience to the subpena of the Farm Credit Administration, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or both.

12 USC 2274 - Power to remove directors and officers

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a farm credit district board, bank board, or bank officer or employee shall not remove any director or officer of any production credit association or Federal land bank association.

Part D - Miscellaneous

12 USC 2275 - Government Accountability Office audit; report to Congress

(a) The Comptroller General shall conduct an evaluation of the programs and activities authorized under the 1980 amendments to this chapter, and shall make an interim report to the Congress no later than December 31, 1982, and a final report to the Congress no later than December 31, 1984. The Comptroller General shall include in such evaluation the effect that this chapter, as amended, will have on agricultural credit services provided by the Farm Credit System, Federal agencies, and other entities. The Comptroller General may make such interim reports to the Congress on the programs and activities under these amendments as the Comptroller General deems necessary or as requested by Members of Congress.

(b) For the purpose of conducting program evaluations required in subsection (a) of this section, the Comptroller General or his duly authorized representatives shall have access to and the right to examine all books, documents, papers, records, or other recorded information within the possession or control of the Federal land banks and Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks and production credit associations and banks for cooperatives.

12 USC 2275a - Transition rules relating to amendment of certain FCA approval authorities

(a) In general
Any approvals granted by the Farm Credit Administration before January 6, 1988, shall remain in effect on and after such date.

(b) Authority to issue regulations

(1) In general
Any approval authority of the Farm Credit Administration that, under the amendments made by section 802 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, became an authority to issue regulations may be exercised only until the earlier of the date the Farm Credit Administration issues final regulations under such authority, or 1 year after January 6, 1988.

(2) Enforcement actions
At the close of the 1-year period referred to in paragraph (1), the Farm Credit Administration shall not take any enforcement action against any System institution with respect to any provision so amended, until the Farm Credit Administration issues final regulations under such provision.

(c) Effect of section
This section shall not affect the authority of the Farm Credit Administration to exercise any other approval authority either on a case-by-case basis or through regulation, as provided in section 2252 (a)(5) of this title.

12 USC 2276 - Access to and examination by Comptroller General of books, documents, etc., of farm credit system banks and institutions

On and after December 19, 1985, the Comptroller General or his duly authorized representatives shall have access to and the right to examine all books, documents, papers, records, or other recorded information within the possession or control of the Federal land banks and Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks and production credit associations and banks for cooperatives.

Part E - Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

12 USC 2277a - Definitions

As used in this part:

(1) Board of Directors
The term Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(2) Corporation
The term Corporation means the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation established in section 2277a–1 of this title.

(3) Insured obligation
The term insured obligation means any note, bond, debenture, or other obligation issued under subsection (c) or (d) of section 2153 of this title

(A) on or before January 5, 1989, on behalf of any System bank; and

(B) after such date, which, when issued, is issued on behalf of any insured System bank.

(4) Insured System bank
The term insured System bank means any System bank whose participation in notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued under subsection (c) or (d) of section 2153 of this title is insured under this part.

(5) State
The term State means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, any Territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or the Virgin Islands.

12 USC 2277a1 - Establishment of Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

There is hereby established the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation which shall insure, in accordance with this part, the timely payment of principal and interest on notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued under subsection (c) or (d) of section 2153 of this title on behalf of one or more System banks all of which are entitled to the benefits of insurance under this part.

12 USC 2277a2 - Board of Directors

(a) Establishment
The Corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors that shall consist of the members of the Farm Credit Administration Board.

(b) Chairman
The Board of Directors shall be chaired by any Board member other than the Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration Board.

12 USC 2277a3 - Commencement of insurance

Effective beginning on January 1, 1989, or 12 months after January 6, 1988, whichever is later, each System bank shall be an insured System bank and shall be subject to this part. Each System bank that is authorized to commence or resume operations under a subchapter of this chapter shall be an insured System bank from the time of such authorization. A bank resulting from the merger or consolidation of insured System banks shall be an insured System bank.

12 USC 2277a4 - Premiums

(a) Amount in Fund not exceeding secure base amount

(1) In general
If at the end of any calendar year the aggregate of amounts in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund does not exceed the secure base amount, subject to paragraph (3), the premium due from any insured System bank for the calendar year shall be equal to the sum of

(A) the average outstanding insured obligations issued by the bank for the calendar year, after deducting from the obligations the percentages of the guaranteed portions of loans and investments described in paragraph (2), multiplied by 0.0020; and

(B) the product obtained by multiplying

(i) the sum of

(I) the average principal outstanding for the calendar year on loans made by the bank that are in nonaccrual status; and

(II) the average amount outstanding for the calendar year of other-than-temporarily impaired investments made by the bank; by

(ii) 0.0010.

(2) Deductions from average outstanding insured obligations
The average outstanding insured obligations issued by the bank for the calendar year referred to in paragraph (1)(A) shall be reduced by deducting from the obligations the sum of (as determined by the Corporation)

(A) 90 percent of each of

(i) the average principal outstanding for the calendar year on the guaranteed portions of Federal government-guaranteed loans made by the bank that are in accrual status; and

(ii) the average amount outstanding for the calendar year of the guaranteed portions of Federal government-guaranteed investments made by the bank that are not permanently impaired; and

(B) 80 percent of each of

(i) the average principal outstanding for the calendar year on the guaranteed portions of State government-guaranteed loans made by the bank that are in accrual status; and

(ii) the average amount outstanding for the calendar year of the guaranteed portions of State government-guaranteed investments made by the bank that are not permanently impaired.

(3) Reduced premiums
The Corporation, in the sole discretion of the Corporation, may reduce by a percentage uniformly applied to all insured System banks the premium due from each insured System bank during any calendar year, as determined under paragraph (1).

(4) Definition of government-guaranteed loans or investments
In this section, the term government-guaranteed, when applied to a loan or an investment, means a loan, credit, or investment, or portion of a loan, credit, or investment, that is guaranteed

(A) by the full faith and credit of the United States Government or any State government;

(B) by an agency or other entity of the United States Government whose obligations are explicitly guaranteed by the United States Government; or

(C) by an agency or other entity of a State government whose obligations are explicitly guaranteed by such State government.

(b) Amount in Fund exceeding secure base amount
At any time the aggregate of amounts in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund exceeds the secure base amount, the Corporation shall reduce the premium due from each insured System bank, as determined under subsection (a)(1) of this section, by a percentage determined by the Corporation so that the aggregate of the premiums payable by all System banks is sufficient to ensure that the aggregate of amounts in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund after such premiums are paid is not less than the secure base amount at such time.

(1) In general
For purposes of this part, the term secure base amount means, with respect to any point in time, 2 percent of the aggregate outstanding insured obligations of all insured System banks at such time (as adjusted under paragraph (2)), or such other percentage of the aggregate amount as the Corporation in its sole discretion determines is actuarially sound to maintain in the Insurance Fund taking into account the risk of insuring outstanding insured obligations.

(2) Adjustment
The aggregate outstanding insured obligations of all insured System banks under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted downward to exclude an amount equal to the sum of (as determined by the corporation)

(A) 90 percent of each of

(i) the guaranteed portions of principal outstanding on Federal government-guaranteed loans in accrual status made by the banks; and

(ii) the guaranteed portions of the amount of Federal government-guaranteed investments made by the banks that are not permanently impaired; and

(B) 80 percent of each of

(i) the guaranteed portions of principal outstanding on State government-guaranteed loans in accrual status made by the banks; and

(ii) the guaranteed portions of the amount of State government-guaranteed investments made by the banks that are not permanently impaired.

(d) Determination of loan and investment amounts
For the purpose of subsections (a) and (c), the principal outstanding on all loans made by an insured System bank, and the amount outstanding on all investments made by an insured System bank, shall be determined based on

(1) all loans or investments made by any production credit association, or any other association making direct loans under authority provided under section 2279b of this title, that is able to make such loans or investments because such association is receiving, or has received, funds provided through the insured System bank;

(2) all loans or investments made by any bank, company, institution, corporation, union, or association described in section 2015 (b)(1)(B) of this title, that is able to make such loans or investments because such entity is receiving, or has received, funds provided through the insured System bank; and

(3) all loans or investments made by such insured System bank (other than loans made to any party described in paragraph (1) or (2)).

(e) Allocation to System institutions of excess reserves

(1) Establishment of Allocated Insurance Reserves Accounts
There is hereby established in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund an Allocated Insurance Reserves Account

(A) for each insured System bank; and

(B) subject to paragraph (6)(C), for all holders, in the aggregate, of Financial Assistance Corporation stock.

(2) Treatment
Amounts in any Allocated Insurance Reserves Account shall be considered to be part of the Farm Credit Insurance Fund.

(3) Annual allocations
If, at the end of any calendar year, the aggregate of the amounts in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund exceeds the secure base amount, the Corporation shall allocate to the Allocated Insurance Reserves Accounts the excess amount less the amount that the Corporation, in its sole discretion, determines to be the sum of the estimated operating expenses and estimated insurance obligations of the Corporation for the immediately succeeding calendar year.

(4) Allocation formula
From the total amount required to be allocated at the end of a calendar year under paragraph (3)

(A) 10 percent of the total amount shall be credited to the Allocated Insurance Reserves Account established under paragraph (1)(B), subject to paragraph (6)(C); and

(B) there shall be credited to the allocated insurance reserves account^[1] of each insured system^[2] bank an amount that bears the same ratio to the total amount (less any amount credited under subparagraph (A)) as

(i) the average principal outstanding for the calendar year on insured obligations issued by the bank (after deducting from the principal the percentages of the guaranteed portions of loans and investments described in subsection (a)(2)); bears to

(ii) the average principal outstanding for the calendar year on insured obligations issued by all insured System banks (after deducting from the principal the percentages of the guaranteed portions of loans and investments described in subsection (a)(2)).

(5) Use of funds in Allocated Insurance Reserves Accounts
To the extent that the sum of the operating expenses of the Corporation and the insurance obligations of the Corporation for a calendar year exceeds the sum of operating expenses and insurance obligations determined under paragraph (3) for the calendar year, the Corporation shall cover the expenses and obligations by

(A) reducing each Allocated Insurance Reserves Account by the same proportion; and

(B) expending the amounts obtained under subparagraph (A) before expending other amounts in the Fund.

(6) Other disposition of Account funds

(A) In general
As soon as practicable during each calendar year, the Corporation may

(i) subject to subparagraph (D), pay to each insured System bank, in a manner determined by the Corporation, an amount equal to the balance in the Allocated Insurance Reserves Account of the System bank; and

(ii) subject to subparagraphs (C) and (E), pay to each System bank and association holding Financial Assistance Corporation stock a proportionate share, determined by dividing the number of shares of Financial Assistance Corporation stock held by the institution by the total number of shares of Financial Assistance Corporation stock outstanding at the time of the termination of the Financial Assistance Corporation, of the balance in the Allocated Insurance Reserves Account established under paragraph (1)(B).

(B) Authority to eliminate or reduce payments
The Corporation may eliminate or reduce payments during a calendar year under subparagraph (A) if the Corporation determines, in its sole discretion, that the payments, or other circumstances that might require use of the Farm Credit Insurance Fund, could cause the amount in the Farm Credit Insurance Fund during the calendar year to be less than the secure base amount.

(i) Sufficient funding Notwithstanding paragraph (4)(A), on provision by the Corporation for the accumulation in the Account established under paragraph (1)(B) of funds in an amount equal to $56,000,000, the Corporation shall not allocate any further funds to the Account except to replenish the Account if funds are diminished below $56,000,000 by the Corporation under paragraph (5).

(ii) Termination of account On disbursement of an amount equal to $56,000,000, the Corporation shall

(I) close the account established under paragraph (1)(B); and

(II) transfer any remaining funds in the Account to the remaining Allocated Insurance Reserves Accounts in accordance with paragraph (4)(B) for the calendar year in which the transfer occurs.

(D) Distribution of payments received
Not later than 60 days after receipt of a payment made under subparagraph (A)(i), each insured System bank, in consultation with affiliated associations of the insured System bank, and taking into account the direct or indirect payment of insurance premiums by the associations, shall develop and implement an equitable plan to distribute payments received under subparagraph (A)(i) among the bank and associations of the bank.

(E) Exception for previously reimbursed associations
For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), in any Farm Credit district in which the funding bank has reimbursed 1 or more affiliated associations of the bank for the previously unreimbursed portion of the Financial Assistance Corporation stock held by the associations, the funding bank shall be deemed to be the holder of the shares of Financial Assistance Corporation stock for which the funding bank has provided the reimbursement.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “Allocated Insurance Reserves Account”.
[2] So in original. Probably should be “System”.

12 USC 2277a5 - Certification of premiums

(a) Filing certified statement
On a date to be determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, each insured System bank that became insured before the beginning of the period for which premiums are being assessed (referred to in this section as the period) shall file with the Corporation a certified statement showing

(1) the average outstanding insured obligations for the period issued by the bank;

(2)

(A) the average principal outstanding for the period on the guaranteed portion of Federal government-guaranteed loans that are in accrual status; and

(B) the average amount outstanding for the period of Federal government-guaranteed investments that are not permanently impaired (as defined in section 2277a–4 (a)(4) of this title);

(3)

(A) the average principal outstanding for the period on State government-guaranteed loans that are in accrual status; and

(B) the average amount outstanding for the period of State government-guaranteed investments that are not permanently impaired (as defined in section 2277a–4 (a)(4) of this title);

(4)

(A) the average principal outstanding for the period on loans that are in nonaccrual status; and

(B) the average amount outstanding for the period of other-than-temporarily impaired investments; and

(5) the amount of the premium due the Corporation from the bank for the period.

(b) Contents and form of statement
The certified statement required to be filed with the Corporation under subsection (a) of this section shall be in such form and set forth such supporting information as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, and shall be certified by the president of the bank or any other officer designated by its board of directors that to the best of the persons knowledge and belief the statement is true, correct, complete, and has been prepared in accordance with this part and all regulations issued thereunder.

(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), each insured System bank shall pay to the Corporation the premium payments required under subsection (a), not more frequently than once in each calendar quarter, in such manner and at such 1 or more times as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

(2) Premium amount
The amount of the premium shall be established not later than 60 days after filing the certified statement specifying the amount of the premium.

(d) Regulations
The Board of Directors shall prescribe all rules and regulations necessary for the enforcement of this section. The Board of Directors may limit the retroactive effect, if any, of any of its rules or regulations.

12 USC 2277a6 - Overpayment and underpayment of premiums; remedies

(a) Overpayments
The Corporation may refund to any insured System bank any premium payment made by the bank exceeding the amount due the Corporation.

(b) Underpayments

(1) Recovery
The Corporation, in a suit brought at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction, may recover from any insured System bank the amount of any unpaid premium lawfully payable by the bank to the Corporation, whether or not the bank has filed any certified statement under section 2277a–5 of this title, and whether or not suit has been brought to compel the bank to file any such statement.

(2) Limitation
Any action or proceeding for the recovery of any premium due the Corporation under paragraph (1), or for the recovery of any amount paid to the Corporation exceeding the amount due the Corporation, shall be brought within 5 years after the right accrued for which the claim is made. If an insured System bank has filed with the Corporation a false or fraudulent certified statement with the intent to evade, in whole or in part, the payment of a premium, the claim shall not be deemed to have accrued until the Corporation discovers that the certified statement is false or fraudulent.

(1) Forfeiture of rights
If any insured System bank fails to file any certified statement required to be filed by such bank under section 2277a–5 of this title or fails to pay any premium required to be paid by such bank under any provision of this part, and if the bank does not correct such failure within 30 days after the Corporation gives written notice to an officer of the bank, citing this subsection and stating that the bank has failed to so file or pay as required by law, all the rights, privileges, and franchises of the bank granted to it under this chapter shall be thereby forfeited.

(2) Enforcement
The Corporation may bring an action to enforce this subsection against any such bank in any court of competent jurisdiction for the judicial district in which the bank is located.

(3) Liability of directors
Every director who participated in or assented to a failure (described in paragraph (1)) shall be held personally liable for all consequential damages.

(d) Effect on other remedies
The remedies provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not be construed as limiting any other remedies against any insured System bank, but shall be in addition thereto.

12 USC 2277a7 - General corporate powers

On January 6, 1988, the Corporation shall become a body corporate and as such shall have the following powers:

(1) Seal
The Corporation may adopt and use a corporate seal.

(2) Succession
The Corporation may have succession until dissolved by an Act of Congress. The Corporation shall succeed to the rights of the Farm Credit System Assistance Board under agreements between the Farm Credit System Assistance Board and System institutions certifying the institutions as eligible to issue preferred stock pursuant to subchapter VI of this chapter on the termination of the Assistance Board on the date provided in section 2278a–12 of this title.

(3) Contracts
The Corporation may make contracts.

(4) Legal actions

(A) In general
The Corporation may sue and be sued, complain and defend, in any court of law or equity, State or Federal.

(B) Jurisdiction
All suits of a civil nature at common law or in equity to which the Corporation shall be a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States, and the United States district courts shall have original jurisdiction thereof, without regard to the amount in controversy, and the Corporation, in any capacity, without bond or security, may remove any such action, suit, or proceeding from a State court to the United States district court for the district or division embracing the place where the same is pending by following any procedure for removal then in effect.

(C) Attachment and execution
No attachment or execution may be issued against the Corporation or its property before final judgment in any suit, action, or proceeding in any State, county, municipal, or United States court.

(D) Agent for service of process
The Board of Directors shall designate an agent on whom service of process may be made in any State or jurisdiction in which any insured System bank is located.

(5) Officers and employees

(A) In general
The Corporation may appoint by its Board of Directors such officers and employees as are not otherwise provided for in this part, define their duties, fix their compensation, and require bonds of them and fix the penalty thereof, and dismiss at pleasure such officers or employees.

(B) Employees of the United States
Nothing in this chapter or any other Act shall be construed to prevent the appointment and compensation, as an officer or employee of the Corporation, of any officer or employee of the United States in any board, commission, independent establishment, or executive department thereof.

(6) Bylaws
The Corporation may prescribe, by its Board of Directors, bylaws not inconsistent with law, regulating the manner in which its general business may be conducted, and the privileges granted to it by law may be exercised and enjoyed.

(7) Incidental powers
The Corporation may exercise by its Board of Directors, or duly authorized officers or agents, all powers specifically granted by the provisions of this part, and such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry out the powers so granted.

(8) Information
The Corporation may, when necessary, make examinations of, and require information and reports from, System institutions, as provided in this part.

(9) Conservator or receiver
The Corporation may act as a conservator or receiver.

(10) Rules and regulations
The Corporation may prescribe by its Board of Directors such rules and regulations as it considers necessary to carry out this part and section 2020 (b) of this title (except to the extent that authority to issue such rules and regulations has been expressly and exclusively granted to any other regulatory agency).

12 USC 2277a8 - Conduct of corporate affairs; examination of System institutions

(a) Conduct of corporate affairs

(1) Fair administration
The Board of Directors shall administer the affairs of the Corporation fairly and impartially and without discrimination.

(2) Obligations and expenses
The Board of Directors shall determine and prescribe the manner in which the obligations of the Corporation may be incurred and the expenses of the Corporation may be allowed and paid.

(3) Use of mails
The Corporation may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as the executive departments of the Federal Government.

(4) Use of information
The Corporation, with the consent of any board, commission, independent establishment, or executive department of the Federal Government, including any field service thereof, may avail itself of the use of information, services, and facilities thereof in carrying out this part.

(5) Use of Farm Credit Administration personnel
To the extent practicable, the Corporation shall use the personnel and resources of the Farm Credit Administration to minimize duplication of effort and to reduce costs.

(b) Examination of System institutions

(1) Examination authority

(A) In general
If the Board of Directors considers it necessary to examine an insured System bank, a production credit association, an association making direct loans under the authority provided under section 2279b of this title, or any System institution in receivership, the Board may, using Farm Credit Administration examiners, conduct the examination using reports and other information on the System institution prepared or held by the Farm Credit Administration. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, on cancellation of the charter of a System institution, the Corporation shall have authority to examine the system^[1] institution in receivership. An examination shall be performed at such intervals as the Corporation shall determine.

(B) Request for additional examination or other information
If the Board determines that such reports or information are not adequate to enable the Corporation to carry out the duties of the Corporation under this subsection, the Board shall request the Farm Credit Administration to examine or to obtain other information from or about the System institution and provide to the Corporation the resulting examination report or such other information.

(2) Appointment of examiners
If the Farm Credit Administration informs the Corporation that the Farm Credit Administration is unable to comply with a request made under paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a System institution, the Board may appoint examiners to examine the institution.

(3) Powers and report
Each examiner appointed under paragraph (2) shall make such examination of the affairs of the System institution as the Board may direct, and shall make a full and detailed report of the examination to the Corporation.

(4) Appointment of claim agents
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall appoint claim agents who may investigate and examine all claims for insured obligations.

(c) Oath, affirmations, and testimony
In connection with examinations under this section, the Corporation or its designated representatives may administer oaths and affirmations, and may examine, take, and preserve testimony under oath, as to any matter with respect to the affairs of any such institution.

(d) Cooperation with FCA examiners
The examiners appointed by the Board of Directors shall cooperate to the maximum extent possible with examiners of the Farm Credit Administration to minimize duplication of effort and minimize costs.

[1] So in original. Probably should be capitalized.

12 USC 2277a9 - Insurance Fund

(a) Establishment
There is hereby established a Farm Credit Insurance Fund (hereinafter referred to in this section as the Insurance Fund) for insuring the timely payment of principal and interest on insured obligations. The assets in the Fund shall be held by the Corporation for the uses and purposes of the Corporation.

(b) Amounts in Fund

(1) Revolving fund
All amounts in the revolving fund established by section 2151 of this title shall be transferred into the Farm Credit Insurance Fund on January 1, 1989, or 12 months after January 6, 1988, whichever is later, except that the obligations to, and rights of, any person in such revolving fund arising out of any event or transaction before January 6, 1988, shall remain unimpaired.

(2) Deposit of premiums
The Corporation shall deposit in the Insurance Fund all premium payments received by the Corporation under this part.

(1) Mandatory use
Beginning January 1, 1993, the Corporation shall expend amounts in the Insurance Fund to the extent necessary to insure the timely payment of interest and principal on insured obligations.

(2) Other mandatory uses
Beginning January 1, 1993, the Corporation shall use amounts in the Insurance Fund to

(A) satisfy System institution defaults through the purchase of preferred stock or other payments as provided for in section 2278b–6 (d)(3) of this title; and

(B) ensure the retirement of eligible borrower stock at par value under section 2162 of this title.

(3) Permissive uses
The Corporation may expend amounts in the Insurance Fund to carry out section 2277a–10 of this title and to cover the operating costs of the Corporation.

(4) Corporate payment or refunds
The Corporation shall make all payments and refunds required to be made by the Corporation under this part from amounts in the Insurance Fund.

12 USC 2277a10 - Powers of Corporation with respect to troubled insured System banks

(a) Authority to provide assistance

(1) Stand-alone assistance
The Corporation, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, may make loans to, purchase the assets or securities of, assume the liabilities of, or make contributions to, any insured System bank if such action is taken

(A) to prevent the placing of the bank in receivership;

(B) to restore the bank to normal operation; or

(C) to reduce the risk to the Corporation posed by the bank when severe financial conditions threaten the stability of a significant number of insured System banks or of insured System banks possessing significant financial resources.

(2) Facilitation of mergers or consolidation

(A) In general
To facilitate a merger or consolidation of a qualifying insured System bank, the sale of assets of such insured System bank to another insured System bank, the assumption of such insured System banks liabilities by such other insured System bank, or the acquisition of the stock of such insured System bank by such other insured System bank, the Corporation, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, may

(i) purchase any such assets or assume any such liabilities;

(ii) make loans or contributions to, or purchase debt securities of, such other insured System bank;

(iii) guarantee such other insured System bank against loss by reason of such other insured System banks merging or consolidating with, or assuming the liabilities and purchasing the assets of, such insured System bank; or

(iv) take any combination of the actions referred to in the preceding clauses.

(B) Qualifying insured System bank
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term qualifying insured System bank means any insured System bank that

(i) is in receivership;

(ii) is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, in danger of being placed in receivership; or

(iii) is, in the sole discretion of the Corporation, an insured System bank that, when severe financial conditions exist that threaten the stability of a significant number of insured System banks or of insured System banks possessing significant financial resources, requires assistance under subparagraph (A) to lessen the risk to the Corporation posed by such insured System bank under such threat of instability.

(3) Limitation

(A) Least-cost resolution
Assistance may not be provided to an insured System bank under this subsection unless the means of providing the assistance is the least costly means of providing the assistance by the Farm Credit Insurance Fund of all possible alternatives available to the Corporation, including liquidation of the bank (including paying the insured obligations issued on behalf of the bank). Before making a least-cost determination under this subparagraph, the Corporation shall accord such other insured System banks as the Corporation determines to be appropriate the opportunity to submit information relating to the determination.

(B) Determining least costly approach
In determining the least costly alternative under subparagraph (A), the Corporation shall

(i) evaluate alternatives on a present-value basis, using a reasonable discount rate;

(ii) document the evaluation and the assumptions on which the evaluation is based; and

(iii) retain the documentation for not less than 5 years.

(i) General rule For purposes of this subsection, the determination of the costs of providing any assistance under any provision of this section with respect to any insured System bank shall be made as of the date on which the Corporation makes the determination to provide the assistance to the institution under this section.

(ii) Rule for liquidations For purposes of this subsection, the determination of the costs of liquidation of any insured System bank shall be made as of the earliest of

(I) the date on which a conservator is appointed for the insured System bank;

(II) the date on which a receiver is appointed for the insured System bank; or

(III) the date on which the Corporation makes any determination to provide any assistance under this section with respect to the insured System bank.

(D) Rule for stand-alone assistance
Before providing any assistance under paragraph (1), the Corporation shall evaluate the adequacy of managerial resources of the insured System bank. The continued service of any director or senior ranking officer who serves in a policymaking role for the assisted insured System bank, as determined by the Corporation, shall be subject to approval by the Corporation as a condition of assistance.

(E) Discretionary determinations
Any determination that the Corporation makes under this paragraph shall be in the sole discretion of the Corporation.

(F) Purchase of stock
The Corporation may not use its authority under this subsection to purchase any stock of an insured System bank. The preceding sentence shall not be construed to limit the ability of the Corporation to enter into and enforce covenants and agreements that it determines to be necessary to protect the financial interests of the Corporation.

(4) Subordination
Any assistance provided under this subsection may be in subordination to the rights of owners of obligations and other creditors.

(5) Reports
The Corporation, in its annual report to Congress, shall report the total amount saved, or it estimates to be saved, by the Corporation exercising the authority provided to the Corporation in this subsection.

(b) Authority to pledge or sell assets
The Corporation, in its discretion, may make loans on the security of, or may purchase, and liquidate or sell, any part of the assets of, any insured System bank that is placed in receivership because of the inability of the bank to pay principal or interest on any of its notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations in a timely manner.

(1) In general
On the payment to an owner of an insured obligation issued on behalf of an insured System bank in receivership, the Corporation shall be subrogated to all rights of the owner against the bank to the extent of the payment.

(2) Receipt of dividends
Subrogation under paragraph (1) shall include the right on the part of the Corporation to receive the same dividends from the proceeds of the assets of the bank as would have been payable to the owner on a claim for the insured obligation.

(d) Right to assets
Any agreement that shall diminish or defeat the right, title, or interest of the Corporation in any asset acquired by such Corporation under this section, either as security for a loan or by purchase, shall not be valid against the Corporation unless the agreement

(1) is in writing;

(2) is executed by the bank and the person or persons claiming an adverse interest thereunder, including the obligor, contemporaneously with the acquisition of the asset by the bank;

(3) has been approved by the board of directors of the bank or its loan committee, which approval shall be reflected in the minutes of the board or committee; and

(4) has been, continuously, from the time of its execution, an official record of the bank.

(e) Insured System bank
As used in this section, the terms insured System bank and bank include each production credit association and other association making direct loans under the authority provided under section 2279b of this title.

(f) Effective date
The Corporation shall not exercise any authority under this section during the 5-year period prior to January 1, 1993.

12 USC 2277a10a - Oversight actions by Corporation

(a) “Institution” defined
In this section, the term institution means

(1) an insured System bank; and

(2) a production credit association or other association making loans under section 2279b of this title with a direct loan payable to the funding bank of the association that comprises 20 percent or more of the funding banks total loan volume net of nonaccrual loans.

(b) Consultation regarding participation of undercapitalized banks in issuance of insured obligations
The Farm Credit Administration shall consult with the Corporation prior to approving an insured obligation that is to be issued by or on behalf of, or participated in by, any insured System bank that fails to meet the minimum level for any capital requirement established by the Farm Credit Administration for the bank.

(1) Corporation to receive copy of transaction applications
On receiving an application for a merger or restructuring of an institution, the Farm Credit Administration shall forward a copy of the application to the Corporation.

(2) Consultation required
If the proposed merger or restructuring involves an institution that fails to meet the minimum level for any capital requirement established by the Farm Credit Administration applicable to the institution, the Farm Credit Administration shall allow 30 days within which the Corporation may submit the views and recommendations of the Corporation, including any conditions for approval. In determining whether to approve or disapprove any proposed merger or restructuring, the Farm Credit Administration shall give due consideration to the views and recommendations of the Corporation.

12 USC 2277a10b - Authority to regulate golden parachute and indemnification payments

(a) Definitions
In this section:

(1) Golden parachute payment
The term golden parachute payment

(A) means a payment (or any agreement to make a payment) in the nature of compensation for the benefit of any institution-related party under an obligation of any Farm Credit System institution that

(i) is contingent on the termination of the partys relationship with the institution; and

(ii) is received on or after the date on which

(I) the institution is insolvent;

(II) a conservator or receiver is appointed for the institution;

(III) the institution has been assigned by the Farm Credit Administration a composite CAMEL rating of 4 or 5 under the Farm Credit Administration Rating System, or an equivalent rating; or

(IV) the Corporation otherwise determines that the institution is in a troubled condition (as defined in regulations issued by the Corporation); and

(B) includes a payment that would be a golden parachute payment but for the fact that the payment was made before the date referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) if the payment was made in contemplation of the occurrence of an event described in any subclause of subparagraph (A); but

(i) a payment made under a retirement plan that is qualified (or is intended to be qualified) under section 401 of title 26 or other nondiscriminatory benefit plan;

(ii) a payment made under a bona fide supplemental executive retirement plan, deferred compensation plan, or other arrangement that the Corporation determines, by regulation or order, to be permissible; or

(iii) a payment made by reason of the death or disability of an institution-related party.

(2) Indemnification payment
The term indemnification payment means a payment (or any agreement to make a payment) by any Farm Credit System institution for the benefit of any person who is or was an institution-related party, to pay or reimburse the person for any liability or legal expense with regard to any administrative proceeding or civil action instituted by the Farm Credit Administration that results in a final order under which the person

(A) is assessed a civil money penalty; or

(B) is removed or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the institution.

(3) Institution-related party
The term institution-related party means

(A) a director, officer, employee, or agent for a Farm Credit System institution or any conservator or receiver of such an institution;

(B) a stockholder (other than another Farm Credit System institution), consultant, joint venture partner, or any other person determined by the Farm Credit Administration to be a participant in the conduct of the affairs of a Farm Credit System institution; and

(C) an independent contractor (including any attorney, appraiser, or accountant) that knowingly or recklessly participates in any violation of any law or regulation, any breach of fiduciary duty, or any unsafe or unsound practice that caused or is likely to cause more than a minimal financial loss to, or a significant adverse effect on, the Farm Credit System institution.

(4) Liability or legal expense
The term liability or legal expense means

(A) a legal or other professional expense incurred in connection with any claim, proceeding, or action;

(B) the amount of, and any cost incurred in connection with, any settlement of any claim, proceeding, or action; and

(C) the amount of, and any cost incurred in connection with, any judgment or penalty imposed with respect to any claim, proceeding, or action.

(5) Payment
The term payment means

(A) a direct or indirect transfer of any funds or any asset; and

(B) any segregation of any funds or assets for the purpose of making, or under an agreement to make, any payment after the date on which the funds or assets are segregated, without regard to whether the obligation to make the payment is contingent on

(i) the determination, after that date, of the liability for the payment of the amount; or

(ii) the liquidation, after that date, of the amount of the payment.

(b) Prohibition
The Corporation may prohibit or limit, by regulation or order, any golden parachute payment or indemnification payment by a Farm Credit System institution (including any conservator or receiver of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) in troubled condition (as defined in regulations issued by the Corporation).

(c) Factors to be taken into account
The Corporation shall prescribe, by regulation, the factors to be considered by the Corporation in taking any action under subsection (b) of this section. The factors may include

(1) whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that an institution-related party has committed any fraudulent act or omission, breach of trust or fiduciary duty, or insider abuse with regard to the Farm Credit System institution involved that has had a material effect on the financial condition of the institution;

(2) whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that the institution-related party is substantially responsible for the insolvency of the Farm Credit System institution, the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the institution, or the institutions troubled condition (as defined in regulations prescribed by the Corporation);

(3) whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that the institution-related party has materially violated any applicable law or regulation that has had a material effect on the financial condition of the institution;

(4) whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that the institution-related party has violated or conspired to violate

(A) section 215, 657, 1006, 1014, or 1344 of title 18; or

(B) section 1341 or 1343 of title 18, affecting a Farm Credit System institution;

(5) whether the institution-related party was in a position of managerial or fiduciary responsibility; and

(6) the length of time that the party was related to the Farm Credit System institution and the degree to which

(A) the payment reasonably reflects compensation earned over the period of employment; and

(B) the compensation represents a reasonable payment for services rendered.

(d) Certain payments prohibited
No Farm Credit System institution may prepay the salary or any liability or legal expense of any institution-related party if the payment is made

(1) in contemplation of the insolvency of the institution or after the commission of an act of insolvency; and

(2) with a view to, or with the result of

(A) preventing the proper application of the assets of the institution to creditors; or

(B) preferring 1 creditor over another creditor.

(e) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section

(1) prohibits any Farm Credit System institution from purchasing any commercial insurance policy or fidelity bond, so long as the insurance policy or bond does not cover any legal or liability expense of an institution described in subsection (a)(2) of this section; or

(2) limits the powers, functions, or responsibilities of the Farm Credit Administration.

12 USC 2277a11 - Investment of funds

Money of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be invested in obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.

12 USC 2277a12 - Exemption from taxation

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation, including its franchise, and its capital, reserves, surplus, and income, shall be exempt from all taxation imposed by the United States, or by any State, county, municipality, or local taxing authority, except that any real property of the Corporation shall be subject to State, county, municipal, and local taxation to the same extent according to its value as other real property is taxed.

12 USC 2277a13 - Omitted

12 USC 2277a14 - Prohibitions

(a) Corporate name

(1) Use of corporate name
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to use the words Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation or any combination of such words that would have the effect of leading the public to believe that there is any connection between such person or entity and the Corporation, by virtue of the name under which such person or entity does business.

(2) False representation

(A) By outside person or entities
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to falsely represent by any device, that the notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations of the person or entity are insured or in any way guaranteed by the Corporation.

(B) System banks
It shall be unlawful for any insured System bank or person that markets insured obligations to falsely represent the extent to which or the manner in which such obligations are insured by the Corporation.

(3) Penalty
Any person or entity that willfully violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.

(b) Payments or distributions while in default

(1) In general
It shall be unlawful for any insured System bank to pay any dividends on bank stock or participation certificates or interest on the capital notes or debentures of such bank (if such interest is required to be paid only out of net profits) or distribute any of the capital assets of such bank while the bank remains in default in the payment of any premium due to the Corporation.

(2) Liability of directors
Each director or officer of any insured System bank who willfully participates in the declaration or payment of any dividend or interest or in any distribution in violation of this subsection shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(3) Applicability
This subsection shall not apply to any default that is due to a dispute between the insured System bank and the Corporation over the amount of such premium if such bank deposits security satisfactory to the Corporation for payment on final determination of the issue.

(1) In general
Any insured System bank that willfully fails or refuses to file any certified statement or pay any premium required under this part shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $100 for each day that such violations continue, which penalty the Corporation may recover for its use.

(2) Applicability
This subsection shall not apply to conduct with respect to any default that is due to a dispute between the insured System bank and the Corporation over the amount of such premium if such bank deposits security satisfactory to the Corporation for payment on final determination of the issue.

(d) Employment of persons convicted of criminal offenses

(1) In general
Except with the prior written consent of the Farm Credit Administration, it shall be unlawful for any person convicted of any criminal offense involving dishonesty or a breach of trust to serve as a director, officer, or employee of any System institution.

(2) Penalty
For each willful violation of paragraph (1), the institution involved shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $100 for each day during which the violation continues, which the Corporation may recover for its use.

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VI - ASSISTANCE TO FARM CREDIT SYSTEM

Part A - Assistance Board

12 USC 2278a - Establishment of Board

(a) Charters
On the date which is 15 days after January 6, 1988, the Farm Credit Administration shall revoke the charter of the Farm Credit System Capital Corporation (hereinafter referred to in this subchapter as the Capital Corporation) and shall charter the Farm Credit System Assistance Board (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the Assistance Board) that, subject to this part, shall be a Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States.

(b) Use of Capital Corporation staff
During the 90-day period beginning on the date of the revocation of the charter of the Capital Corporation, the Assistance Board may temporarily employ, by contract or otherwise under reasonable and necessary terms and conditions, such staff of the Capital Corporation as is necessary to facilitate and effectuate an orderly transition to, and commencement of, the Assistance Board, and the termination of the affairs of the Capital Corporation.

12 USC 2278a1 - Purposes

The purposes of the Assistance Board shall be to carry out a program to provide assistance to, and protect the stock of borrowers of, the institutions of the Farm Credit System, and to assist in restoring System institutions to economic viability and permitting such institutions to continue to provide credit to farmers, ranchers, and the cooperatives of such, at reasonable and competitive rates.

12 USC 2278a2 - Board of Directors

(a) Membership
The Board of Directors of the Assistance Board (hereinafter referred to in this part as the Board of Directors) shall consist of three members

(1) one of which shall be the Secretary of the Treasury;

(2) one of which shall be the Secretary of Agriculture; and

(3) one of which shall be an agricultural producer experienced in financial matters, and appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) Chairman
The Board of Directors shall elect annually a Chairman from among the members of the Board.

(1) Terms of office and succession
The term of each member of the Board of Directors shall expire when the Assistance Board is terminated.

(2) Vacancies
Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled in the same manner as the vacant position was previously filled.

(d) Compensation of Board members
Members of the Board of Directors

(1) appointed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall receive reasonable allowances for necessary expenses of travel, lodging, and subsistence incurred in attending meetings and other activities of the Assistance Board, as set forth in the bylaws issued by the Board of Directors, except that such level shall not exceed the maximum fixed by subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 for officers and employees of the United States; and

(2) appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this section shall receive compensation for the time devoted to meetings and other activities at a daily rate not to exceed the daily rate of compensation prescribed for Level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5 and reasonable allowances for necessary expenses of travel, lodging, and subsistence incurred in attending meetings and other activities of the Assistance Board, as set forth in the bylaws issued by the Board of Directors, except that such level shall not exceed the maximum fixed by subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 for officers and employees of the United States.

(e) Rules and records
The Board of Directors of the Assistance Board shall adopt such rules as it may deem appropriate for the transaction of the business of the Assistance Board, and shall keep permanent and accurate records and minutes of its acts and proceedings.

(f) Quorum required
A quorum shall consist of two members of the Board of Directors. All decisions of the Board shall require an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members voting.

(g) Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer of the Assistance Board shall be selected by the Board of Directors of the Assistance Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

12 USC 2278a3 - Corporate powers

(a) In general
The Assistance Board shall be a body corporate that shall have the power to

(1) operate under the direction of its Board of Directors;

(2) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noted;

(3) provide for one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers, employees, and agents, as may be necessary, define their duties, and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by acts of such persons;

(4) hire, promote, compensate, and discharge officers and employees of the Assistance Board, without regard to title 5, except that no such officer or employee shall receive an annual rate of basic pay in excess of the rate prescribed for Level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5;

(5) prescribe by its Board of Directors its bylaws, that shall be consistent with law, and that shall provide for the manner in which

(A) its officers, employees, and agents are selected;

(B) its property is acquired, held, and transferred;

(D) the privileges granted by law are exercised and enjoyed;

(6) with the consent of any executive department or independent agency, use the information, services, staff, and facilities of such in carrying out this subchapter;

(7) enter into contracts and make advance, progress, or other payments with respect to such contracts;

(8) sue and be sued in its corporate name, and complain and defend in courts of competent jurisdiction;

(9) acquire, hold, lease, mortgage, or dispose of, at public or private sale, real and personal property, and otherwise exercise all the usual incidents of ownership of property necessary and convenient to its operations;

(10) obtain insurance against loss;

(11) modify or consent to the modification of any contract or agreement to which it is a party or in which it has an interest under this subchapter;

(12) deposit its securities and its current funds with any member bank of the Federal Reserve System or any insured State nonmember bank (within the meaning of section 1813 of this title) and pay fees therefor and receive interest thereon as may be agreed; and

(13) exercise other powers as set forth in this subchapter, and such other incidental powers as are necessary to carry out its powers, duties, and functions in accordance with this subchapter.

(b) Power to remove; jurisdiction
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any civil action, suit, or proceeding to which the Assistance Board is a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States, and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over such. The Assistance Board may, without bond or security, remove any such action, suit, or proceeding from a State court to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

12 USC 2278a4 - Certification of eligibility to issue preferred stock

(a) Book value less than par value of stock and equities
If the book value of the stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities of a System institution, based on generally accepted accounting principles, is less than the par value of the stock or the face value of the certificates or equities

(1) the Farm Credit Administration shall notify the Assistance Board of such impairment;

(2) the Assistance Board shall monitor the financial condition, business plans, and operations of the institution; and

(3) the institution may request the Assistance Board to grant certification to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title.

(b) Book value less than 75 percent of par value of stock and equities
If the book value of the stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities of a System institution, based on generally accepted accounting principles, is less than 75 percent of the par value of the stock or the face value of the certificates or equities, the institution shall request the Assistance Board to grant certification to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title.

(1) In general
The Assistance Board shall determine whether to certify a System institution as eligible to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, if

(A) the institution requests such certification;

(B) the book value of the stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities of the institution, based on generally accepted accounting principles, has declined to 75 percent of the par value of the stock or the face value of the certificates or equities; and

(C) the institution agrees to meet the terms and conditions specified by the Assistance Board pursuant to section 2278a–6 of this title.

(2) Effective date of certification
If the determination of the Assistance Board is to certify the institution under paragraph (1), such certification shall be effective at the time of such determination.

(d) Implementation
As soon as practicable after January 6, 1988, the Assistance Board shall take such actions as are necessary to carry out this section.

(e) “Other similar equities” defined
Except where otherwise provided in this chapter, the term other similar equities includes allocated equities.

12 USC 2278a5 - Assistance

(a) In general
The Assistance Board shall assist an institution that has been certified under section 2278a–4 of this title by

(1) authorizing the institution to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, in amounts necessary to maintain the book value of stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities of the institution, at the level provided for in subsection (c) of this section;

(2) in the case of high-cost debt for which the institution is primarily liable, authorizing the institution to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, in an amount equal to the premium that would be required by the holder of the debt for the institution to retire the debt at the then current market value;

(3) on a request by the institution, authorizing the issuance of preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title to facilitate the merger of the requesting institution with one or more other System institutions; or

(4) providing assistance by such other methods as the Assistance Board determines appropriate.

(b) “High-cost debt” defined
For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section, the term high-cost debt means securities or similar obligations issued before January 1, 1986, that mature on or after December 31, 1987, and bear a rate of interest in excess of the then current market rate for similar securities or obligations.

(c) Minimum equity value
The Assistance Board shall authorize a certified institution to issue amounts of preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title sufficient to

(1) maintain the value of stock, participation certificates and other similar equities at no less than 75 percent of the par value of the stock or the face value of the certificates or equities, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; and

(2) strengthen the institution to a point where it is economically viable, and capable of delivering credit at reasonable and competitive rates.

(d) Limitation
Except as provided in section 410(c) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, no assistance shall be provided in connection with a merger until the stockholders and the institutions involved have approved the merger and the Farm Credit Administration has given final approval to the merger plan.

12 USC 2278a6 - Special powers

(a) In general
In the case of a System institution that requests certification under section 2278a–4 of this title, the Assistance Board may

(1) require the institution to obtain approval from the Assistance Board before implementing business, operating, and investment plans and policies;

(2) if one or more of the conditions described in section 2183 (b) of this title are met, as determined by the Farm Credit Administration, direct the Farm Credit Administration Board to appoint a conservator for the institution, in accordance with such section, and to instruct the conservator to evaluate the operations of the institution and report to the Farm Credit Administration Board and the Assistance Board on the possibility of restoring the institution to sound financial condition;

(3) request that the Farm Credit Administration Board or the Farm Credit Administration, as appropriate

(A) approve or require a merger or consolidation of the institution to the extent authorized under this chapter;

(B) initiate action to appoint a receiver under section 2183 (b) of this title; or

(4) require the institution to obtain approval from the Assistance Board before setting the terms and conditions of any debt issuances of the institution;

(5) require the institution to obtain approval from the Assistance Board before setting the policy on credit standards to be used, and the policy on rates of interest to be charged on loans, by the institution, including requiring that

(A) the institution set interest rates at levels necessary to ensure that the cost of money to the institution reflects the marginal cost to the institution of borrowing an additional amount of money at the time a new loan is made; and

(B) loans primarily secured by real estate mortgages not exceed 85 percent of the appraised agricultural value of the real estate security, or 75 percent of the then current market value of the real estate security, whichever is greater;

(6) require the institution to obtain approval from the Assistance Board for the design of management information and accounting systems at the institution, and of the continued use by the institution of regulatory accounting practices in accordance with sections 2159 (b) and 2254 (b) of this title;

(7) require that the plans and policies of the institution resulting from the merger of System banks reduce the overhead costs of such institution, to the maximum extent practicable, with respect to the delivery of services to, and performance of duties for, System associations in the district;

(8) require the institution to obtain approval from the Assistance Board of

(A) the hiring policies of the institution;

(B) the compensation and retirement benefits of the chief executive officer, other managers, and directors of the institution;

(D) policy decisions regarding continued employment and promotion of the officials referred to in subparagraph (B);

(9) suspend for any period of time, or terminate, any certification granted to an institution under section 2278a–4 of this title if the Farm Credit Administration notifies the Assistance Board that the institution has substantially deviated from the institutions business plan or has failed to comply with a term or condition governing the use of any financial assistance provided to the institution under this subchapter; and

(10) take such other action as the Assistance Board determines may be necessary to establish prudent operating practices at the institution and to return the institution to a sound financial condition.

(b) Suspension of assistance

(1) Notification
The Assistance Board shall promptly notify the Farm Credit Administration of any action taken by the Assistance Board under subsection (a)(9) of this section.

(2) Enforcement
The Farm Credit Administration may use any of its enforcement powers, with respect to any institution to which the Assistance Board has provided assistance or has certified the institution to issue preferred stock under section 2278b–7 of this title, to obtain the compliance of the institution with the terms or conditions governing the use of financial assistance provided under this subchapter.

(c) Undated letters of resignation
The Assistance Board shall not, for any reason, request or require any member of the board of directors of any System institution to submit to the Assistance Board an undated letter of resignation. Immediately after January 6, 1988, the Assistance Board shall destroy all such letters over which it has control.

(d) Reports
During the 5-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, the Assistance Board, in coordination with the Financial Assistance Corporation, shall report annually to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on the extent to which System institutions translate the savings in the cost of the operations of such institutions due to the Federal assistance provided to the System under this subchapter into lower interest rates charged to System borrowers or enhanced financial solvency of such institutions.

12 USC 2278a7 - Administration

(a) Expenses
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay the necessary and reasonable administrative expenses of the Assistance Board from funds in the Assistance Fund established in section 2278b–5 of this title.

(b) Interim funding
Before the availability of funding from the Assistance Fund, the Assistance Board may use the revolving fund established under section 2151 of this title. Such amounts used shall be repaid to the revolving fund out of the Assistance Fund within the same fiscal year that such funds were received by the Assistance Board.

(c) Assistance operations
The Farm Credit Administration shall provide such personnel and facilities to the Assistance Board as the Farm Credit Administration considers are necessary to avoid unnecessary duplication and waste.

(d) Access to FCA documents
The Assistance Board shall have access to all reports of examination and supervisory documents of the Farm Credit Administration, and relevant supporting material, for the purpose of carrying out the special powers of the Assistance Board under section 2278a–6 of this title, under such terms and conditions, acceptable to the Farm Credit Administration Board, as are necessary and appropriate to protect the confidentiality of the documents and materials.

12 USC 2278a8 - Limitation of powers

(a) Purposes
The powers of the Assistance Board under this subchapter shall be exercised only for the purposes specified in this subchapter and shall not be exercised in a manner that would result in the Assistance Board supplanting the Farm Credit System lending institutions as the primary providers of credit and other financial services to farmers, ranchers, and the cooperatives of such.

(b) Prohibition
The powers of the Assistance Board under this subchapter shall not include the management, administration, or disposition of any loans or other assets owned by other System institutions, or the providing of technical assistance or other related services to other System institutions in connection with the administration of loans owned by such other institutions.

12 USC 2278a9 - Succession

(a) Assets and liabilities
On the issuance by the Farm Credit Administration of the charter for the Assistance Board under this part, the Assistance Board shall succeed to the assets of and assume all debts, obligations, contracts, and other liabilities of the Capital Corporation, matured or unmatured, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether or not reflected or reserved against on balance sheets, books of account, or records of the Capital Corporation.

(b) Contracts
The existing contractual obligations, security instruments, and title instruments of the Capital Corporation shall, by operation of law and without any further action by the Farm Credit Administration, the Capital Corporation, or any court, become and be converted into obligations, entitlements, and instruments of the Assistance Board chartered under this part.

(c) Adjustment of assessments
Not later than 15 days after the issuance of the charter of the Assistance Board, the Board shall retire all debt and equity obligations issued to any System institution under section 2216f (a)(14) or 2216g1 of this title (as in effect immediately before January 6, 1988) at the book value of such obligations (determined as of January 6, 1988) and shall pay such amounts to the holders of such debt and equity obligations.

(d) Surplus funds
To the extent that, on the extinguishing of liabilities assumed by the Assistance Board under this section, and on full performance or other final disposition of contract obligations of the Assistance Board, there remain surplus funds attributable to such obligations or contracts, the Assistance Board shall distribute such surplus funds among the System institutions that contributed funds to the Capital Corporation on the basis of the relative amount of funds so contributed by each institution.

(e) Preservation agreements

(1) Transfer of obligations
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or the terms and conditions of the Thirty-Seven Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, the Federal Land Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, and the Banks for Cooperatives Loss Sharing Agreement

(A) at the time the receiving bank receives funds from the Financial Assistance Corporation in an equal and equivalent amount in accordance with this subsection, any amounts received by, or that remain accrued to, any System bank in accordance with the activation of any such agreement for the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 1986, shall be

(i) repaid to the contributing bank by the bank that received such payments; or

(ii) cancelled;

(B) on the date the Financial Assistance Corporation is chartered, the accounts payable of each contributing bank under such agreements for the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 1986, shall, by operation of law and without any further action by such contributing bank, any other bank, or any court, become and be converted into accounts payable of the Financial Assistance Corporation to each receiving bank under such agreement for such calendar quarter in the same amounts as previously carried on the books of each such receiving bank; and

(C) on the date the Financial Assistance Corporation is chartered, the accounts receivable of each receiving bank under such agreements for the calendar quarter ending September 30, 1986, shall, by operation of law and without any further action by such receiving bank or any other bank, or any court, become and be converted into accounts receivable to such receiving bank from the Financial Assistance Corporation, in the same amount as previously carried on the books of such receiving bank and such receivables shall, for all financial reporting purposes, be accounted for as an asset on the books of such receiving bank in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices.

(2) Payments to receiving banks

(A) Not later than 30 days after the first issuance of obligations by the Financial Assistance Corporation in accordance with section 2278b–6 of this title, the Corporation shall pay to each receiving bank such sums as are necessary to permit each receiving bank to repay, in accordance with paragraph (1), the amounts each such receiving bank received under any such agreement.

(B) The accruals shall be paid by the Corporation to each receiving bank for the actual net loan charge-offs recorded on the books of each such bank before January 1, 1993, not previously paid by the contributing banks.

(3) Debt obligations

(A) Issuance
For the purpose of obtaining funds to carry out this subsection, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall issue debt obligations under section 2278b–6 of this title. Such obligations shall be subject to the terms and conditions of such section, except as provided for in this paragraph.

(B) Payment of interest
During each year of the 15-year period of such obligation issued pursuant to subparagraph (A), the banks operating under this chapter shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation, at such times as the Corporation shall determine, an amount equal to the entire amount of interest due on such obligation. Each bank shall pay a proportion of such interest equal to

(i) the average accruing loan volume of the bank during the year preceding the year of such payment; divided by

(ii) the average accruing loan volume of all of the banks of the System for the same period.

(i) In general After the end of the 15-year period beginning on the date of the issuance of any obligation issued to carry out this subsection, the banks operating under this chapter shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation, on demand, an amount equal to the outstanding principal of the obligation. Each bank shall pay a proportion of the principal equal to

(I) the average accruing loan volume of the bank for the preceding 15 years; divided by

(II) the average accruing loan volume of all banks of the System for the same period.

(ii) Banks leaving system Any bank leaving the Farm Credit System pursuant to section 2279d of this title shall be required, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, to pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation the estimated present value of the payment required under this subparagraph had the bank remained in the System.

(iii) Banks undergoing liquidation With respect to any bank undergoing liquidation under this chapter, a liability to the Financial Assistance Corporation in the amount of the payment required under this subparagraph (calculated as if the bank had left the System on the date it was placed in liquidation) shall be recognized as a claim in favor of the Financial Assistance Corporation against the estate of the bank.

(iv) Obligations of other banks The obligations of other banks shall not be reduced in anticipation of any recoveries under this subparagraph from banks leaving the System or in liquidation, but the Financial Assistance Corporation shall apply the recoveries, when received, and all earnings on the recoveries, to reduce the other banks payment obligations, or, to the extent the recoveries are received after the other banks have met their entire payment obligation, shall refund the recoveries, when received, to the other banks in proportion to the other banks payments.

(D) Annual payments

(i) In general In order to provide for the orderly funding and discharge over time of the obligation of each System bank to the Financial Assistance Corporation under subparagraph (C), each System bank shall enter into or continue in effect an agreement with the Financial Assistance Corporation under which the bank will make annual annuity-type payments to the Financial Assistance Corporation, beginning no later than December 31, 1992 (except for any bank that did not meet its interim capital requirement on December 31, 1990, in which case the bank shall begin making the payments no later than December 31, 1993) in amounts designed to accumulate, in total, including earnings on the amounts, to 90 percent of the banks ultimate obligation. The Financial Assistance Corporation shall partially discharge the bank from its obligation under subparagraph (C) to the extent of each such payment and the earnings on the payment as earned.

(ii) Capital requirements The agreement shall not require payments to be made to the extent that making a particular payment or part of a payment would cause the bank to fail to satisfy applicable regulatory permanent capital requirements, but shall provide for recalculation of subsequent payments accordingly.

(iii) Investment; availability The funds received by the Financial Assistance Corporation pursuant to the agreements shall be invested in eligible investments as defined in section 2278b–5 (a)(1) of this title. The funds and the earnings on the funds shall be available only for the payment of the principal of the bonds issued by the Financial Assistance Corporation under this subsection.

(E) Financial reporting
Until each obligation issued in accordance with this subsection reaches maturity, for all financial reporting purposes, such obligation shall be considered to be the sole obligation of the Financial Assistance Corporation and shall not be considered a liability of any System bank, nor shall the obligation to make future annuity payments to the Financial Assistance Corporation under subparagraph (D) be considered a liability of any System bank.

(4) Funds not considered financial assistance
The funds made available to each bank, whether through the issuance of stock or otherwise, by the Financial Assistance Corporation to meet obligations under any agreement referred to in paragraph (1) or to meet any obligations of the contributing banks under any such agreement, as required by this subsection, shall not be considered financial assistance under this chapter.

(5) Suspension of preservation agreements
During the 5-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, and thereafter whenever funds from the Farm Credit System Insurance Fund are available for use in assisting System institutions to meet their obligations on their debt instruments, activation of the Thirty-Seven Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, the Federal Land Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks Capital Preservation Agreement, and the Banks for Cooperatives Loss Sharing Agreement shall be suspended, in exchange for the benefits flowing to the signatories to such agreements under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.

[1] See References in Text note below.

12 USC 2278a10 - Effect of regulations; audits

(a) Issuance
The Assistance Board may issue such regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines, or statements as the Board considers necessary or appropriate to carry out this subchapter, all of which shall be promulgated and enforced without regard to subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5.

(b) Regulation by Farm Credit Administration
The Assistance Board shall not be subject to regulation by the Farm Credit Administration.

(c) Audits
The Assistance Board shall not require an audit or examination of a System institution that would be duplicative of an audit or examination that is conducted under other provisions of law.

12 USC 2278a11 - Exemption from taxation

The Assistance Board, the capital, reserves, and surplus thereof, and the income derived therefrom, shall be exempt from Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, except taxes on real estate held by the Assistance Board to the same extent, according to its value, as other similar property held by other persons is taxed.

12 USC 2278a12 - Termination

The Assistance Board and the authority provided to the Assistance Board by this part shall terminate on December 31, 1992.

12 USC 2278a13 - Transitional provisions

(a) Exercise of powers
The powers of the Assistance Board under this subchapter shall be exercised by the Farm Credit Administration Board until the issuance of the charter of the Assistance Board, or such later date not to exceed 30 days thereafter, as may be requested by the Assistance Board.

(b) Limitation on assistance
Any assistance provided to System institutions by the Farm Credit Administration in accordance with this section shall be provided from, and shall not exceed, the amounts contained in the revolving fund established under section 2151 of this title.

(c) Issuance of stock
Each institution that receives assistance from the Farm Credit Administration during the interim period specified in subsection (a) of this section, in consideration thereof, shall issue preferred stock to the Financial Assistance Corporation in an amount equal to the amount of such assistance. Payments by the Financial Assistance Corporation under subsection (d) of this section shall be considered to be payments to each such institution for such stock.

(d) Repayment
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay to the Farm Credit Administration, for return to the revolving fund established under section 2151 of this title, the full amount of all financial assistance provided by the Farm Credit Administration in accordance with this section, from the proceeds from the sale of the first issue of obligations by the Financial Assistance Corporation in accordance with section 2278b–6 of this title.

Part B - Financial Assistance Corporation

12 USC 2278b - Establishment of Corporation

Not later than 5 days after January 6, 1988, the Farm Credit Administration shall charter the Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the Financial Assistance Corporation) which shall be

(1) an institution of the Farm Credit System; and

(2) a Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States.

12 USC 2278b1 - Purpose

The purpose of the Financial Assistance Corporation shall be to carry out a program to provide capital to institutions of the Farm Credit System that are experiencing financial difficulty and to assist, pursuant to section 2278a–9 (e) of this title and subsections (c) through (g) of section 2278b–6 of this title, in the repayment by System institutions to those persons who provided funds in connection with the program.

12 USC 2278b2 - Board of Directors

(a) Board of Directors

(1) Composition
The Board of Directors of the Financial Assistance Corporation (hereinafter referred to in this part as the Board of Directors) shall consist of the Board of Directors of the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation.

(2) Chairman
The Board of Directors shall elect annually a Chairman from among the members of the Board.

(3) Compensation
The members of the Board of Directors shall receive compensation for the time devoted to meetings and other activities of the Board and reasonable allowances for necessary expenses of travel, lodging, and subsistence incurred in attending meetings and other activities of the Board of Directors in amounts not exceeding levels set by the Farm Credit Administration Board.

(b) Rules and records
The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules as it may deem appropriate for the transaction of its business and shall keep permanent and accurate records and minutes of its acts and proceedings.

(c) Quorum required
No business may be conducted at a meeting of the Board of Directors unless a quorum of the members of the Board is present, and a vote to approve an action requires a majority vote of the members voting.

(d) Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer of the Financial Assistance Corporation shall be selected by the Board of Directors and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

12 USC 2278b3 - Stock

The Financial Assistance Corporation shall issue stock with a par value of $5 to System institutions, as provided for in this part, and such stock shall not be transferable, except in the event of a restructuring or liquidation to a successor System institution.

12 USC 2278b4 - Corporate powers

(a) In general
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall have the power to

(1) operate under the direction of its Board of Directors;

(2) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noted;

(3) provide for such officers, employees, and agents, including joint employees with the Funding Corporation, as may be necessary, define their duties, and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by acts of such persons;

(4) adopt a salary scale for officers and employees of the Financial Assistance Corporation, in accordance with the directives of the Board of Directors;

(5) prescribe by its Board of Directors bylaws, that are not inconsistent with law, and that shall provide for the manner in which

(A) its officers, employees, and agents are selected;

(B) its property is acquired, held, and transferred;

(D) the privileges granted by law are exercised and enjoyed;

(6) enter into contracts and make advance, progress, or other payments with respect to such contracts;

(7) sue and be sued in its corporate name and complain and defend in courts of competent jurisdiction;

(8) acquire, hold, lease, mortgage, or dispose of, at public or private sale, real and personal property, and otherwise exercise all the usual incidents of ownership of property necessary and convenient to its business;

(9) obtain insurance against loss;

(10) modify or consent to the modification of any contract or agreement to which it is a party or in which it has an interest under this part;

(11) borrow from any commercial bank on its own individual responsibility and on such terms and conditions as it may determine with the approval of the Farm Credit Administration;

(13) exercise such other incidental powers as are necessary to carry out its powers, duties, and functions in accordance with its charter and this part.

(b) Power to remove, and jurisdiction
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any civil action, suit, or proceeding to which the Financial Assistance Corporation is a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States, and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over such. The Financial Assistance Corporation may, without bond or security, remove any such action, suit, or proceeding from a State court to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

12 USC 2278b5 - Accounts

(a) Farm Credit Assistance Fund

(1) Establishment
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall establish an account called the Farm Credit Assistance Fund (referred to in this chapter as the Assistance Fund) which shall be available to the Financial Assistance Corporation as a revolving fund to carry out this part. The moneys of such Assistance Fund shall be invested in direct obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the United States or an agency thereof.

(2) Funding
The Assistance Fund shall be funded through the issuance of debt obligations and payments, as provided in section 2278b–6 of this title, and payments, as provided in section 2278b–8 of this title.

(b) Financial Assistance Corporation Trust Fund
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall establish an account called the Financial Assistance Corporation Trust Fund (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the Trust Fund) that shall consist of securities of the United States Treasury purchased by the Financial Assistance Corporation with the funds received from the purchase of stock by System institutions from the Financial Assistance Corporation under section 2278b–9 of this title.

12 USC 2278b6 - Debt obligations

(a) Issuance
During the period beginning 61 days after January 6, 1988, and ending September 30, 1992, the Financial Assistance Corporation, subject to the approval of the Assistance Board, may issue uncollateralized bonds, notes, debentures, and similar obligations, guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by the Secretary of the Treasury as set forth in subsection (d) of this section, with semiannual interest coupon payments and a maturity period of 15 years

(1) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,800,000,000; and

(2) beginning January 1, 1989, in an additional amount, not to exceed $1,200,000,000, if

(A) debt obligations have been issued by the Corporation to the full extent authorized under paragraph (1);

(B) the Assistance Board determines that such additional funds are needed to carry out this subchapter; and

(C) at least 90 days before the issuance of any debt obligations under this paragraph, the Assistance Board submits a report to Congress that sets forth the determination of the Assistance Board that such additional debt obligations should be issued, and that contains a detailed evaluation supporting the determination.

(b) Conditions
The debt obligations shall be in such forms and denominations, bear such rates of interest, be subject to such conditions, be issued in such manner, and be sold at such prices as may be prescribed by the Financial Assistance Corporation.

(1) Payment of interest during first 5-year period
During each year of the first 5-year period of the 10-year period beginning on the date of issuance of each obligation under subsection (a) of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay, without recourse to System institutions, other than that described in paragraph (5), all of the interest due on such obligation.

(2) Payment of interest during second 5-year period

(A) In general
During each year of the second 5-year period of the 10-year period beginning on the date of issuance of each obligation under subsection (a) of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay all of the interest due on such obligation.

(B) Payment by System banks to Financial Assistance Corporation
During each year of the second 5-year period, System banks shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation 50 percent of the interest due on the obligations, except that System banks shall pay an additional 10 percent of the interest expense for each 1 percent that the unallocated retained earnings of the System (as determined under generally accepted accounting principles) exceed 5 percent of net assets (total assets less allowance for loan losses) based on a year-end financial statement for the preceding year.

(C) Allocation
During each year of the second 5-year period, each System bank shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation a proportion, as calculated by the Financial Assistance Corporation, of the interest due from System banks under this paragraph equal to

(i) the amount of the average accruing retail loan volume of the bank and its affiliated associations for the preceding year; divided by

(ii) the total average accruing retail loan volume of all such banks and their affiliated associations for the preceding year.

(3) Payments by Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury, in accordance with section 2278b–8 of this title, shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation, in a timely manner, the balance of each interest payment not made by the System banks.

(4) Payment of interest after first 10-year period
During each year of the third 5-year period of the 15-year period beginning on the date of the issuance of each obligation under subsection (a) of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay all of the interest due on such obligation. During each year of such 5-year period, System banks shall pay the entire amount of interest due on the obligation allocated in the same manner as under paragraph (2)(C). Such payments shall be made to the Financial Assistance Corporation at such times as the Financial Assistance Corporation shall determine.

(5) Repayment of Treasury-paid interest

(A) In general
On the maturity date of the last-maturing debt obligation issued under subsection (a) of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall repay to the Secretary of the Treasury the total amount of any annual interest charges on the debt obligations that Farm Credit System institutions (other than the Financial Assistance Corporation) have not previously paid, and the Financial Assistance Corporation shall not be required to pay any additional interest charges on the payments.

(B) Assessment
In order to provide for the orderly funding by the banks of the System of the repayment by the Financial Assistance Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall assess each System bank, on or about December 31 of each year beginning in 1992, and each System bank shall promptly pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation, an annual annuity type payment in an amount designed to accumulate, in total, including earnings thereon, the amount of the banks ultimate obligation (as determined by the Corporation on a fair and equitable basis), and no greater than .0006 nor less than .0004 times the banks and its affiliated associations average accruing retail loan volume for the preceding year, subject to

(i) upward or downward adjustment, as appropriate, by the Financial Assistance Corporation during each of the last 5 years prior to the date the Financial Assistance Corporation is obligated to make the repayment, in order to ensure that the Financial Assistance Corporation will have the amount of funds needed to make the repayment on the due date; and

(ii) reduction or termination in any year when the funds paid to the Financial Assistance Corporation, including any anticipated future earnings on the funds, are sufficient to make the repayment on the due date.

(C) Investment of funds
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall invest funds derived from the investment in eligible investments as defined in section 2278b–5 (a)(1) of this title. The funds and the earnings on the funds shall be available only for the repayment to the Secretary of the Treasury provided for in subparagraph (A).

(D) Pass through
A bank may (and, to the extent necessary to satisfy its obligations, shall) pass on (either directly, or indirectly through loan pricing or otherwise) all or part of the assessments to its affiliated direct lender associations based on proportionate average accruing retail loan volumes for the preceding year, but the bank shall remain primarily liable for the amounts.

(E) Liability

(i) Banks terminating System status or in liquidation Any bank terminating System status pursuant to section 2279d of this title shall be required, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, to pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation the estimated present value of all future such assessments against the bank had the bank remained in the System. A liability to the Financial Assistance Corporation in this amount (calculated as if the bank had left the System on the date the bank was placed in liquidation) shall be recognized as a claim in favor of the Financial Assistance Corporation against the estate of any bank undergoing liquidation.

(ii) No anticipatory reductions in other obligations The obligations of other banks shall not be reduced in anticipation of any recoveries under this subparagraph from banks leaving the System or in liquidation.

(iii) Refund of recoveries The Financial Assistance Corporation shall apply the recoveries, when received, and all earnings on the recoveries, to reduce the other banks payment obligations, or, to the extent the recoveries are received after the other banks have met their entire payment obligation, shall refund the recoveries, when received, to the other banks in proportion to the other banks payments.

(F) Associations terminating System status or in liquidation
Any association terminating System status pursuant to section 2279d of this title shall be required, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, to pay to its supervising bank a share, based on the associations retail loan volume relative to the retail loan volume of the bank and its affiliated associations had the association remained in the System, of the estimated present value of all future such assessments against the bank. A liability to the bank in this amount (calculated as if the association had left the System on the date it was placed in liquidation) shall be recognized as a claim in favor of the bank against the estate of any association undergoing liquidation.

(G) Capital requirements

(i) In general Until the date that is 5 years prior to the date on which the Financial Assistance Corporation is required to repay the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subparagraph (A), all assessments paid by banks to the Financial Assistance Corporation pursuant to subparagraph (B), and any part of the obligation to pay future assessments to the Financial Assistance Corporation under subparagraph (B) that is recognized as an expense on the books of any System bank or association, shall nonetheless be included in the capital of the bank or association for purposes of determining its compliance with regulatory capital requirements.

(ii) During the final 5 years prior to repayment During the

(I) period beginning 5 years, and ending 4 years, prior to the date on which the Financial Assistance Corporation is required to repay the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subparagraph (A), 60 percent;

(II) period beginning 4 years, and ending 3 years, prior to the date on which the Financial Assistance Corporation is required to repay the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subparagraph (A), 30 percent; and

(III) period beginning 3 years prior to the date on which the Financial Assistance Corporation is required to repay the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subparagraph (A), 0 percent,

of all assessments paid by banks to the Financial Assistance Corporation pursuant to subparagraph (B), and of any part of the obligation to pay future assessments to the Financial Assistance Corporation under subparagraph (B) that is recognized as an expense on the books of any System bank or association, shall nonetheless be included in the capital of the bank or association for purposes of determining its compliance with regulatory capital requirements.

(d) Refinancing and payment of principal; defaults

(1) In general

(A) Time of repayment
On maturity of an obligation issued under subsection (a) of this section, the obligation shall be repaid by the Financial Assistance Corporation.

(B) Payments by institutions

(i) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (C), in order to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to repay the obligation referred to in subparagraph (A), each institution that issued preferred stock under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title with respect to the obligation (or the successor to the institution) shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation, before the maturity date of the obligation, an amount equal to the par value of the stock outstanding for the institution.

(ii) Annual appropriation Except as provided in clause (iii), each year beginning in 1992, as soon as practicable following the end of the prior year, each such institution (except institutions in receivership and institutions that have previously redeemed their preferred stock) shall appropriate from its earnings in the prior year to an appropriated unallocated surplus account with respect to preferred stock, the sum of

(I) the greater of

(aa) such amount as the institution may be required to appropriate under any assistance agreement the institution has with the Farm Credit System Assistance Board or the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation; or

(bb) the amount that, if appropriated to the account in equal amounts in each year thereafter until the maturity of the obligation referred to in subparagraph (A), would cause the amount in the account to equal the par value of the preferred stock issued by the institution with respect to the obligation; plus

(II) any amount that had been appropriated to the account in a previous year but had thereafter been offset by losses.

(iii) Limitation An annual appropriation shall not be made to the extent that the appropriation would exceed the institutions net income (as determined pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles) in that year or to the extent that the appropriation would cause the institutions preferred stock to be impaired.

(iv) Use The amount in the appropriated unallocated surplus account shall be unavailable to pay dividends or other allocations or distributions to shareholders or holders of participation certificates. The account shall be senior to all other unallocated surplus accounts but junior to all preferred and common stock for purposes of the application of operating losses.

(v) Preferred stock The appropriations of surplus by an institution shall not affect the treatment of its preferred stock (and of the appropriated unallocated surplus) as equity for purposes of regulatory permanent capital requirements.

(i) In general In order to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to repay the obligations issued to provide assistance under subsections (c) and (e) of section 410 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2011 note ) and section 2162 (c) of this title, or issued to provide funds to cover the expenses of the Assistance Board or the Financial Assistance Corporation under sections 2278a–7 (a) and 2278b–4, respectively, of this title, each System bank shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation a proportion, as calculated by the Financial Assistance Corporation, of the obligation equal to

(I) the average accruing retail loan volume of the bank and its affiliated associations for the preceding 15 years; divided by

(II) the average accruing retail loan volume of all such banks and their affiliated associations for the same period.

(ii) Expense item The annual increase in the present value of the estimated obligation of each bank to the Financial Assistance Corporation under this subparagraph shall be recorded each year as an expense item, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, on the books of the bank.

(iii) Pass through A bank may (and, to the extent necessary to satisfy its obligations, shall) pass on (either directly, or indirectly through loan pricing or otherwise) all or part of the amount necessary to satisfy the payment requirement to its affiliated direct lender associations based on proportionate average accruing retail loan volumes for the preceding 15 years, except that the bank shall remain primarily liable for the amount.

(iv) Banks leaving System Any bank leaving the Farm Credit System pursuant to section 2279d of this title shall be required, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, to pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation the estimated present value of the payment required under this subparagraph had the bank remained in the System. A liability to the Financial Assistance Corporation in this amount (calculated as if the bank had left the System on the date it was placed in liquidation) shall be recognized as a claim in favor of the Financial Assistance Corporation against the estate of any bank undergoing liquidation. The obligations of other banks shall not be reduced in anticipation of any such recoveries from banks leaving the System or in liquidation, but the Financial Assistance Corporation shall apply the recoveries, when received, and all earnings on the recoveries, to reduce the other banks payment obligations, or, to the extent the recoveries are received after the other banks have met their entire payment obligation, shall refund the recoveries, when received, to the other banks in proportion to the other banks payments.

(v) Associations terminating System status or in liquidation Any association leaving the Farm Credit System pursuant to section 2279d of this title shall be required, under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, to pay to its supervising bank a share, based on the associations retail loan volume relative to the retail loan volume of the bank and its affiliated associations had the association remained in the System, of the present value of the future payment obligation of its supervising bank. A liability to the bank in this amount (calculated as if the association had left the System on the date it was placed in liquidation) shall be recognized as a claim in favor of the bank against the estate of any association undergoing liquidation.

(D) Funds for payments
Payments under subparagraphs (B) and (C) shall be made by each such institution from the funds of the institution or from funds raised by the institution through the issuance of debt obligations, which may be issued without a collateral requirement and without any guarantee by the Secretary of the Treasury.

(2) Refinanced obligations
The refinanced obligations issued under paragraph (1) shall be solely the obligations of the institutions refinancing such, and sections 2154 and 2155 of this title shall not apply to such obligations.

(3) Defaults

(A) Certain principal and interest obligations

(i) Payment by Corporation If a System bank defaults on the payment of interest due under subsection (c) of this section during the first 15 years after an obligation is issued under subsection (a) of this section, on the payment of principal or interest due under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2278a–9 (e)(3) of this title, on the payment of principal due under paragraph (1)(C), or on the payment of an assessment due under subsection (c)(5)(B) of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall pay the amount due by the System bank out of the Trust Fund, and shall recover the amount due from the defaulting System bank, and such amount shall be paid to the Trust Fund.

(ii) Payment by Insurance Fund If the Financial Assistance Corporation has not recovered the full amount due from a defaulting bank by the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of default, any uncollected amount shall be paid to the Trust Fund from the Insurance Fund established under section 2277a–9 of this title, to the full extent of funds available in the Insurance Fund as of the date the Financial Assistance Corporation notified the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation of amounts due under this section.

(iii) Payment by remaining institutions To the extent that the payment from the Insurance Fund is insufficient to reimburse the Trust Fund, the remaining balance shall be allocated to other System banks in accordance with the allocation mechanism applicable under this chapter to the particular defaulted obligation.

(B) Principal of bonds issued to fund purchase of preferred stock

(i) Evaluation Not later than 90 days before the maturity of any obligation issued under subsection (a) of this section, the Farm Credit Administration shall complete an evaluation of the general financial condition of each System institution that issued preferred stock under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title with respect to such obligation to determine whether such System institution will be able to redeem such stock at par value on the maturity of the obligation, and remain a viable institution capable of providing credit to eligible borrowers at equitable and competitive interest rates.

(ii) Availability of evaluation A copy of the evaluation required under clause (i) shall be furnished to the Secretary of the Treasury and the appropriate committees of Congress.

(iii) Redemption by institution; purchase by Secretary of the Treasury If the Farm Credit Administration determines, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, on the basis of the evaluation required under clause (i), that the redemption of such stock at par value would impair the other stock or equities of such institution or render such institution incapable of meeting its capital adequacy standards, the institution shall be prohibited from redeeming the preferred stock it issued under section 2278b–7 of this title with respect to the maturing obligation. If the Farm Credit Administration determines, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, on the basis of the evaluation required under clause (i), that such institution will be able to redeem, in a timely manner and at par value, the preferred stock it issued under section 2278b–7 of this title with respect to the maturing obligation, and remain a viable and competitive institution, such institution shall have the option of redeeming or not redeeming such stock. If such institution is prohibited from redeeming or elects not to redeem such stock, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall withdraw funds from the Trust Fund in an amount equal to the par value of the preferred stock issued by such institution under section 2278b–7 of this title so as to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to pay the principal of the maturing obligation. Simultaneously with such withdrawal of funds from the Trust Fund, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall transfer to the Insurance Fund an equal amount, at par value, of preferred stock of such institution. To the extent that the Trust Fund is insufficient to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to pay the full principal of the maturing obligation, the Insurance Fund shall be used by the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation to purchase, at par value, the preferred stock issued by such institution under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to pay the principal of the maturing obligation. To the extent that the Insurance Fund is insufficient to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to pay the full principal of the maturing obligation, the Secretary of the Treasury shall purchase, at par value, the remaining quantity of the preferred stock issued by such institution to enable the Financial Assistance Corporation to make such full payment. For that purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury may use, as a public debt transaction, the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under chapter 31 of title 31. The purposes for which such securities may be issued under such chapter are extended to include such purchases of stock. Any preferred stock transferred to, or purchased by, the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation under this clause shall be retired by the issuing institution at such times and under such terms and conditions as are agreed to between the Insurance Corporation and such institution.

(C) Recourse by other System banks
A defaulting bank shall be liable to the remaining System banks for any amounts paid by the remaining banks under this paragraph.

(4) Payment by United States

(A) Inability to pay
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the Financial Assistance Corporation is unable to pay the principal or interest of any obligation issued under subsection (a) of this section or section 2278a–9 (e)(3)(A) of this title, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the Financial Assistance Corporation the amount due which shall be used by the Financial Assistance Corporation to pay the obligation.

(B) Recovery

(i) Certain principal and interest obligations In each instance in which the Secretary of the Treasury is required to make a payment under subparagraph (A) to the Financial Assistance Corporation as a result of a default made by a System bank on interest due from such System bank under subsection (c) of this section, on the payment of principal or interest due under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2278a–9 (e)(3) of this title, on the payment of principal due under paragraph (1)(C), or on the payment of an assessment due under subsection (c)(5)(B) of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall recover the amount of the payments the Secretary made, with respect to each defaulting bank, from such defaulting bank. If the Secretary has not recovered the full amount due from the defaulting bank by the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of payment by the Secretary, the uncollected amount shall be paid to the Secretary from the Insurance Fund established under section 2277a–9 of this title.

(ii) Principal of bonds issued to fund purchase of preferred stock In each instance in which the Secretary of the Treasury is required under paragraph (3)(B)(iii) to purchase preferred stock issued by a System institution under section 2278b–7 (a) of this title, the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation shall use funds deposited in the Insurance Fund to repurchase, at par value, from the Secretary of the Treasury such stock required to be purchased under paragraph (3)(B)(iii) as funds become available for such repurchase.

(iii) Priority Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter except for section 2277a–9 (c)(2)(B) of this title, during any year in which payments are due to the Secretary of the Treasury from the Insurance Fund under clause (i), or preferred stock held by the Secretary is due to be repurchased by the Insurance Fund under clause (ii), the funds in such Fund, and all funds deposited in such Fund during such year, shall be used first for the purposes specified in clauses (i) and (ii).

(e) Administration

(1) “Retail loan volume” defined
As used in this section, the term retail loan volume means all loans (as defined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) by a System bank or association, excluding loans by such a bank or association to another System institution.

(2) Calculation of average annual loan volumes
For purposes of this section and section 2278a–9 of this title, average annual loan volumes shall be calculated using month-end balances.

(3) Exclusion of banks undergoing liquidation
For purposes of this section and section 2278a–9 of this title, the term bank shall not include a bank that had entered liquidation prior to October 28, 1992.

12 USC 2278b7 - Preferred stock

(a) Issuance

(1) In general
Each System institution that is certified under section 2278a–4 of this title may issue a special class of preferred stock only in an amount, and subject to such terms and conditions, as authorized by the Assistance Board.

(2) Dividends

(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), dividends shall not be payable on stock issued under this section.

(B) Exception
Stock issued under this section shall be issued under such terms and conditions as to enable the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to any of such stock the Secretary purchases under section 2278b–6 (d)(3)(B)(iii) of this title, and the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, with respect to any of such stock that the Insurance Corporation purchases or otherwise acquires under section 2278b–6 (d)(3)(B)(iii) of this title or section 2278b–6 (d)(4)(B)(ii) of this title, to establish for such stock a stated dividend rate equal to the current market yield on outstanding, marketable obligations of the United States with maturities of 30 years, plus a premium to reflect the cost of capital for institutions in financial distress.

(3) Voting rights
A holder of stock issued under this subsection shall have no voting rights with respect to the stock.

(b) Purchase
The Financial Assistance Corporation shall purchase shares of stock issued by certified System institutions under subsection (a) of this section to the extent that the issuance of such stock is approved by the Assistance Board.

12 USC 2278b8 - Payments

(a) In general
Beginning in fiscal year 1989, the Secretary of the Treasury shall reimburse the Financial Assistance Corporation for any amounts such Corporation pays in interest charges under section 2278b–6 (c) of this title during fiscal year 1988, and thereafter the Secretary shall pay the Financial Assistance Corporation any amounts due from the Secretary to such Corporation under section 2278b–6 (c) of this title.

(b) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury such sums on an annual basis as may be necessary to carry out this part.

12 USC 2278b9 - One-time stock purchase

(a) Amount of stock purchase

(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), for the purpose of obtaining funds for the Trust Fund, each System institution shall purchase from the Financial Assistance Corporation stock issued in accordance with section 2278b–3 of this title in an amount equal to the amount by which the unallocated retained earnings of the institution (after taking into account any funds received by the institution under section 2278a–9 (c) of this title) exceeds

(A) in the case of a System bank, 5 percent of assets; or

(B) in the case of a production credit association or a Federal land bank association, 13 percent of assets.

(2) Reallocation
The district board of a district, subject to the unanimous consent of the bank and associations in the district that would be affected by the reallocation, may reallocate the amount of stock required to be purchased by banks and associations in the district under paragraph (1) to equitably reflect the ability of the banks and associations to pay, except that

(A) the total amount of stock purchased by banks and associations in the district under this paragraph shall equal the total amount of stock required to be purchased by the banks and associations under paragraph (1); and

(B) the board may not impair the stock of an association in carrying out this paragraph; and

(C) a district boards authority to reallocate stock purchases under this paragraph shall be limited to reallocation among like associations of the amount of stock required to be purchased by such associations; reallocation of the amount of stock required to be purchased by production credit associations among such associations and the district Federal intermediate credit bank; and reallocation of the amount of stock required to be purchased by Federal land bank associations among such associations and the district Federal land bank. Other reallocations than those enumerated above shall not be permitted.

(3) Periodic purchases

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall establish a program under which System institutions shall purchase, as debt obligations are issued under section 2278b–6 (a) of this title, stock of the Corporation in amounts described in this paragraph.

(B) The program shall provide, with respect to each issuance of debt obligations under section 2278b–6 (a) of this title, that each System institution originally required to purchase stock under paragraph (1), or the successor thereto, shall purchase Corporation stock in an amount determined by multiplying the amount of stock such institution was originally required to purchase under that paragraph by a percentage equal to the percentage which the amount of the issuance bears to $4,000,000,000.

(C) The Financial Assistance Corporation shall promptly rescind purchases of stock of the Corporation made under paragraph (1) or (2) by System institutions and refund to such institutions, or their successors, the purchase price for the stock, except that, with respect to each issuance of debt obligations that occurs before October 1, 1988, the Corporation shall deduct from any refund due any System institution, and retain, the amount payable by such institution.

(b) Computations
For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the unallocated retained earnings and assets of a System institution shall be computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on the basis of the financial statement of the institution on December 31, 1986.

(1) Within 15 days after the retirement of the obligations of the Capital Corporation under section 2278a–9 of this title

(A) the Financial Assistance Corporation shall notify each System institution of the amount of stock such institution is required to purchase under subsection (a) of this section; or

(B) in the case of a district in which the district board has reallocated the stock purchase requirement in accordance with subsection (a)(2) of this section, the district board shall notify each System institution in the district of the amount of stock such institution is required to purchase under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) Not later than 15 days before each issuance of debt obligations under section 2278b–6 (a) of this title occurring after September 30, 1988, the Financial Assistance Corporation shall notify each System institution required to purchase Corporation stock under subsection (a)(3) of this section of the amount of the stock it is required to purchase.

(d) Institution requirements after notice
Within 15 days after a System institution is notified of the amounts due under subsection (c) of this section, the institution shall purchase from the Financial Assistance Corporation the amount of stock required to be purchased by the institution under this section. No further stock purchases, obligations, or assessments shall be required beyond that provided in section 2278b–6 of this title and this section.

(e) Jurisdiction over actions
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States district court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action brought under or arising out of this section. No suit or proceeding shall be maintained for the recovery of any amount of stock alleged to have been erroneously or illegally purchased, and no suit or proceeding shall be maintained to enjoin or otherwise prevent or impede the giving of notice or the purchase of stock required under this section, unless the amount of stock required to be purchased under this section has been purchased and paid for in full.

12 USC 2278b10 - Exemption from taxation

(a) Assets
The Financial Assistance Corporation, and the capital, reserves, and surplus thereof, and the income derived therefrom, shall be exempt from Federal, State, municipal, and local taxation, except taxes on real estate held by the Financial Assistance Corporation to the same extent, according to its value, as other similar property held by other persons is taxed.

(b) Obligations
The notes, bonds, debentures, and other obligations issued by the Financial Assistance Corporation shall be accorded the same tax treatment as System-wide obligations.

12 USC 2278b11 - Termination

(a) Financial Assistance Corporation
The Financial Assistance Corporation and the authority provided to such Corporation by this part shall terminate on the complete discharge by the Financial Assistance Corporation of its responsibilities under section 2278a–9 (e) of this title and subsections (c) through (g) of section 2278b–6 of this title with regard to repayments by System institutions, but in no event later than 2 years following the maturity and full payment of all debt obligations issued under section 2278b–6 (a) of this title.

(b) Accounts
Simultaneously with the termination of the Financial Assistance Corporation as provided in subsection (a) of this section, any funds in the accounts established under section 2278b–5 of this title shall be transferred to the Insurance Fund established under section 2277a–9 of this title.

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VII - RESTRUCTURING OF SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS

Part A - Merger of Banks Within a District

12 USC 2279a - Power to merge

The banks within a district may merge into a single entity (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as a merged bank) if the plan of merger is approved by

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(2) the respective boards of directors of the banks involved;

(3) a majority of the stockholders of each bank voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting with each association entitled to cast a number of votes equal to the number of its voting stockholders; and

(4) in the case of a bank for cooperatives, a majority of the total equity interests in such merging bank for cooperatives (including allocated, but not unallocated, surplus and reserves) held by those stockholders or subscribers to the guaranty fund of the bank voting.

12 USC 2279a1 - Board of directors

Each merged bank shall elect a board of directors of such number, for such term, in such manner, and with such qualifications, as may be required in its bylaws, except that at least one member shall be elected by the other directors, which member shall not be a director, officer, employee, or stockholder of a System institution.

12 USC 2279a2 - Powers of merged banks

(a) In general
Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a merged bank shall have all of the powers granted to, and shall be subject to all of the obligations imposed on, any of the constituent entities of the merged bank.

(b) Regulations
The Farm Credit Administration shall issue regulations that establish the manner in which the powers and obligations of the banks that form the merged bank are consolidated, and to the extent necessary, reconciled in the merged bank.

12 USC 2279a3 - Capitalization

In accordance with section 2154a of this title, each merged bank shall provide, through bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for the capitalization of the bank and the manner in which bank stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and bank earnings distributed.

12 USC 2279a4 - Repealed. Pub. L. 100399, title IV, 408(d), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1001

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title VII, § 7.4, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, § 416, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1646, related to earnings, reserves, and distributions with regard to merged banks. See section 2279a–3 of this title.

12 USC 2279a5 - Transferred

Part B - Mergers, Transfers of Assets, and Powers of Associations Within a District

subpart 1 - transfers by federal land banks to federal land bank associations

12 USC 2279b - Transfer of lending authority

(a) Voluntary transfers
A Federal land bank or a merged bank having a Federal land bank as one of its constituents, may transfer to a Federal land bank association, and the association may assume, the authority of the transferring bank in the territorial area served by the association, to make and participate in long-term real estate mortgage loans under this chapter if the transfer is approved by

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(2) the Board of Directors of both institutions; and

(3) a majority of the stockholders of the bank and of the association, in accordance with the voting provisions of sections 2279a and 2279c–1 of this title, respectively.

(b) Direct loans and financial assistance
After a transfer described in subsection (a) or (d) of this section

(1) the Federal land bank association shall possess all of the direct long-term real estate mortgage loan authority, formerly possessed by the transferring bank, in the territory served by the association; and

(2) the bank may provide and extend financial assistance to, and discount for, or purchase from, the transferee Federal land bank association any note, draft, or other obligation with the endorsement or guarantee of the association, the proceeds of which have been advanced to persons eligible and for purposes of financing by the association under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Regulations
The Farm Credit Administration shall issue regulations that establish the manner in which the powers and obligations of the banks that make transfers are consolidated and, to the extent necessary, reconciled in the association referred to in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Mandatory transfer
On the merger of one or more production credit associations with one or more Federal land bank associations, the bank supervising the Federal land bank association shall transfer all of the direct lending authority of the bank in the territory served by such Federal land bank association to such merged association.

12 USC 2279c - Equalization of loan-making powers of certain district associations

(a) Equalization of loan-making powers

(1) In general

(A) Federal land bank associations
Subject to paragraph (2), any association that owns a Federal land bank association authorized as of January 1, 2007, to make long-term loans under subchapter I in its chartered territory within the geographic area described in subsection (b) may make short- and intermediate-term loans and otherwise operate as a production credit association under subchapter II within that same chartered territory.

(B) Production credit associations
Subject to paragraph (2), any association that under its charter has subchapter I lending authority and that owns a production credit association authorized as of January 1, 2007, to make short- and intermediate-term loans under subchapter II in the geographic area described in subsection (b) may make long-term loans and otherwise operate, directly or through a subsidiary association, as a Federal land bank association or Federal land credit association under subchapter I in the geographic area.

(C) Farm credit bank
Notwithstanding section 2252 (a) of this title, the Farm Credit Bank with which any association had a written financing agreement as of January 1, 2007, may make loans and extend other comparable financial assistance with respect to, and may purchase, any loans made under the new authority provided under subparagraph (A) or (B) by an association exercising such authority.

(2) Required approvals
An association may exercise the additional authority provided for in paragraph (1) only after the exercise of the authority is approved by

(A) the board of directors of the association; and

(B) a majority of the voting stockholders of the association (or, if the association is a subsidiary of another association, the voting stockholders of the parent association) voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized meeting of stockholders in accordance with the process described in section 2279e of this title.

(b) Applicability
This section applies only to associations the chartered territory of which was within the geographic area served by the Federal intermediate credit bank immediately prior to its merger with a Farm Credit Bank under section 410(e)(1) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 2011 note ; Public Law 100233).

subpart 2 - merger of like and unlike associations

12 USC 2279c1 - Merger of associations

(a) In general
Two or more associations within the same district, whether or not organized under the same subchapter of this chapter, may merge into a single entity (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as a merged association) if the plan of merger is approved by

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(2) the boards of directors of the associations;

(3) a majority of the shareholders of each association voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting; and

(4) the Farm Credit Bank.

(b) Powers, obligations, and consolidation

(1) Powers and obligations
Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, a merged association shall

(A) possess all powers granted under this chapter to the associations forming the merged association; and

(B) be subject to all of the obligations imposed under this chapter on the associations forming the merged association.

(2) Consolidation
The Farm Credit Administration shall issue regulations that establish the manner in which the powers and obligations of the associations that form the merged association are consolidated and, to the extent necessary, reconciled in the merged association.

(1) Plan of merger
Subject to section 2154a of this title, the number of shares of capital stock issued by a merged association to the stockholders of any association forming such merged association, and the rights and privileges of such shares (including voting power, preferences on liquidation, and the right to dividends), shall be determined by the plan of merger adopted by the merged associations.

(2) Capitalization
In accordance with section 2154a of this title, each merged association shall provide, through bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for the capitalization of the association and the manner in which association stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired, and association earnings shall be distributed.

subpart 3 - reconsideration

12 USC 2279c2 - Reconsideration

(a) Period
A stockholder vote in favor of

(1) the merger of districts under this chapter;

(2) the merger of banks within a district under section 2279a of this title;

(3) the transfer of the lending authority of a Federal land bank or a merged bank having a Federal land bank as one of its constituents, under section 2279b of this title;

(4) the merger of two or more associations under section 2279c–1 or 2279f–1 of this title;

(5) the termination of the status of an institution as a System institution under section 2279d of this title; or

(6) the merger of similar banks under section 2279f of this title;

shall not take effect except in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Reconsideration

(1) Notice
Not later than 30 days after a stockholder vote in favor of any of the actions described in subsection (a) of this section, the officer or employee that records such vote shall ensure that all stockholders of the voting entity receive notice of the final results of the vote.

(2) Effective date
A voluntary merger, transfer, or termination that is approved by a vote of the stockholders of two or more banks or associations shall not take effect until the expiration of 30 days after the date on which the stockholders of such banks or associations are notified of the final result of the vote in accordance with paragraph (1).

(3) Petition filed
If a petition for reconsideration of a merger, transfer, or termination vote, signed by at least 15 percent of the stockholders of one or more of the affected banks or associations, is presented to the Farm Credit Administration within 30 days after the date of the notification required under paragraph (1)

(A) a voluntary merger, transfer, or termination shall not take effect until the expiration of 60 days after the date on which the stockholders were notified of the final result of the vote; and

(B) a special meeting of the stockholders of the affected banks or associations shall be held during the period referred to in subparagraph (A) to reconsider the vote.

(4) Vote on reconsideration
If a majority of stockholders of any one of the affected banks or associations voting, in person or by written proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting, vote against the proposed merger, transfer, or termination, such action shall not take place.

(5) Failure to file petition
If a petition for reconsideration of such vote is either not filed prior to the 60th day after the vote or, if timely filed, is not signed by at least 15 percent of the stockholders, the merger, transfer, or termination shall become effective in accordance with the plan of merger, transfer, or termination.

(1) Issuance of regulations
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Farm Credit Administration shall issue regulations under which the stockholders of any association that voluntarily merged with one or more associations after December 23, 1985, and before January 6, 1988, may petition for the opportunity to organize as a separate association.

(2) Requirements
The regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration shall require that

(A) the petition be filed within 1 year after the date of the implementation of such regulations;

(B) the petition be signed by at least 15 percent of the stockholders of any one of the associations that merged during the period;

(D) if the petition is approved

(i) the loans of the members of the new association will be transferred from the current association to such new association;

(ii) the stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities of the current association held by members of the new association will be retired at book value and the proceeds of such will be transferred to the new association, and an equivalent amount of stock, participation certificates, and other similar equities will be issued to the members by the new association; and

(iii) the other assets of the current association will be distributed equitably among the current association and any resulting new association.

(3) Notification

(A) In general
Not later than 30 days after the filing of the petition for organization, the current association shall notify its stockholders that a petition to establish the separate association has been filed.

(B) Contents
The notification required under this paragraph shall contain

(i) the date of a special stockholders meeting to consider the petition for organization; and

(ii) an enumerated statement of the anticipated benefits and the potential disadvantages to such stockholders if the new association is established.

(i) In general All notifications under this paragraph shall be submitted to the Farm Credit Administration Board for approval prior to being distributed to the stockholders.

(ii) Amending notification The Farm Credit Administration Board shall require that, prior to the distribution of the notification to the stockholders, the notification be amended as determined necessary by the Board to provide accurate information to the stockholders that will enable such stockholders to make an informed decision as to the advisability of establishing a new association.

(D) Special stockholders’ meeting

(i) Timing of meeting The special stockholders meeting to consider the petition shall be held within 60 days after the filing of the petition.

(ii) Approval If, at the special stockholders meeting, a majority of the stockholders of the current association who would be served by the new association approve, by voting in person or by proxy, the establishment of the separate association, the Farm Credit Administration shall, within 30 days of such vote, issue a charter to the new association and amend the charter of the current association to reflect the territory to be served by the new association.

subpart 4 - termination and dissolution of institutions

12 USC 2279d - Termination of System institution status

(a) Conditions
A System institution may terminate the status of the institution as a System institution if

(1) the institution provides written notice to the Farm Credit Administration Board not later than 90 days prior to the proposed termination date;

(2) the termination is approved by the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(3) the appropriate Federal or State authority grants approval to charter the institution as a bank, savings and loan association, or other financial institution;

(4) the institution pays to the Farm Credit Assistance Fund, as created under section 2278b–5 of this title, if the termination is prior to January 1, 1992, or pays to the Farm Credit Insurance Fund, if the termination is after such date, the amount by which the total capital of the institution exceeds, 6 percent of the assets;

(5) the institution pays or makes adequate provision for payment of all outstanding debt obligations of the institution;

(6) the termination is approved by a majority of the stockholders of the institution voting, in person or by written proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting, held prior to giving notice to the Farm Credit Administration Board; and

(7) the institution meets such other conditions as the Farm Credit Administration Board by regulation considers appropriate.

(b) Effect
On termination of its status as a System institution

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board shall revoke the charter of the institution; and

(2) the institution shall no longer be an instrumentality of the United States under this chapter.

Part C - Approval of Disclosure Information and Issuance of Charters by the Farm Credit Administration Board

12 USC 2279e - Approval of disclosure information and issuance of charters

(a) Disclosure of information

(1) Approval of plan
With respect to any plan of merger, transfer of lending authority, dissolution, or termination, prior to submission to the voters (voting stockholders and, where required, contributors to guaranty funds) of the institutions involved, such plan shall be submitted to the Farm Credit Administration Board, together with all information that is to be distributed to the voters with respect to the contemplated action, including an enumerated statement of the anticipated benefits and potential disadvantages of such action.

(2) Notice of approval
On notification that the Farm Credit Administration Board has approved such plan for submission to the stockholders, or after 60 days of no action on the plan by the Board, the submitting institutions may submit the plan, together with the disclosure information, to the voters for the prescribed vote.

(b) Notice of reasons for disapproval
If the Farm Credit Administration Board disapproves the plan for submission to the stockholders, notification to the submitting institutions shall specify the reasons for the determination by the Board. If such plan is determined to be inadequate, it shall not be submitted to the voters for a vote.

(c) Federal charter
Each plan of merger or transfer of lending authority may include a proposed new or revised Federal charter for the merged or transferee entity. The Farm Credit Administration Board shall issue such charter on the approval of the plan, as prescribed in this subchapter, unless the Board determines that the charter submitted is not consistent with this chapter.

Part D - Mergers of Like Entities

12 USC 2279f - Merger of similar banks

(a) In general
Banks organized or operating under this chapter may merge with banks in other districts operating under the same subchapter if the plan of merger is approved by

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(2) the respective Boards of Directors of the banks involved;

(3) a majority vote of the stockholders of each bank voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting, with each association having a number of votes equal to the number of such associations voting stockholders; and

(b) Powers and capitalization
Sections 2279a–2 and 2279a–3 of this title shall apply to banks merged under this section.

(1) In general
After a merger under subsection (a) of this section, a board of directors shall be created for the resulting bank.

(2) Composition
The board shall be composed of

(A) two directors elected by each of the bank boards, with at least one such director from each bank being elected by the eligible stockholders of, or subscribers to, the guaranty fund of the merging banks; and

(B) one outside director elected by the directors elected under subparagraph (A).

(3) Outside director

(A) Qualifications
The outside director elected under paragraph (2)(B) shall be experienced in financial services and credit, and within the 2-year period prior to such election, shall not have been a borrower from, shareholder in, or director, officer, employee, or agent of any institution of the Farm Credit System.

(B) Failure to elect
If the other members of the board fail to elect an outside director, the Farm Credit Administration Board shall appoint a qualified person to serve on the board of directors until such member is so elected.

(4) Bylaws
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the bylaws of the merged bank may, with the approval of the Farm Credit Administration, provide for a different number of directors to be selected in a different manner, except that the bylaws shall provide for at least one outside director.

12 USC 2279f1 - Merger of similar associations

(a) In general
Associations may voluntarily merge with other like associations if the plan of merger is approved by

(1) the Farm Credit Administration Board;

(2) the respective Boards of Directors of the associations involved;

(3) a majority vote of the stockholders of each association voting, in person or by proxy, at a duly authorized stockholders meeting; and

(4) the Farm Credit Banks involved.

(b) Procedures
The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 2279c–1 of this title shall apply to associations merged under this section.

Part E - Taxation of Merger Transactions

12 USC 2279g - Transactions to accomplish mergers exempt from certain State taxes

No State or political subdivision thereof may treat the merger or consolidation of two or more institutions of the Farm Credit System under this subchapter or title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 as resulting in a change of ownership of any property owned by any of such merging or consolidating institutions, for purposes of any law of such State or political subdivision providing for reassessment of property on the occurrence of a change of ownership or imposing a tax on the ownership or transfer of property.

TITLE 12 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VIII - AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE SECONDARY MARKET

Part A - Establishment and Activities of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

12 USC 2279aa1 - Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

(a) Establishment

(1) In general
There is hereby established a corporation to be known as the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, which shall be a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States.

(2) Institution within Farm Credit System
The Corporation shall be an institution of the Farm Credit System.

(3) Liability

(A) Corporation
The Corporation shall not be liable for any debt or obligation of any other institution of the Farm Credit System.

(B) System institutions
The Farm Credit System and System institutions (other than the Corporation) shall not be liable for any debt or obligation of the Corporation.

(b) Duties
The Corporation shall

(1) in consultation with originators, develop uniform underwriting, security appraisal, and repayment standards for qualified loans;

(2) determine the eligibility of agricultural mortgage marketing facilities to contract with the Corporation for the provision of guarantees for specific mortgage pools;

(3) provide guarantees for the timely repayment of principal and interest on securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans; and

(4) purchase qualified loans and issue securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, the qualified loans, guaranteed for the timely repayment of principal and interest.

12 USC 2279aa2 - Board of directors

(a) Interim board

(1) Number and appointment
Until the permanent board of directors established in subsection (b) of this section first meets with a quorum of its members present, the Corporation shall be under the management of an interim board of directors composed of 9 members appointed by the President within 90 days after January 6, 1988, as follows:

(A) 3 members appointed from among persons who are representatives of banks, other financial institutions or entities, and insurance companies.

(B) 3 members appointed from among persons who are representatives of the Farm Credit System institutions.

(C) 2 members appointed from among persons who are farmers or ranchers who are not serving, and have not served, as directors or officers of any financial institution or entity, of which not more than 1 may be a stockholder of any Farm Credit System institution.

(D) 1 member appointed from among persons who represent the interests of the general public and are not serving, and have not served, as directors or officers of any financial institution or entity.

(2) Political affiliation
Not more than 5 members of the interim board shall be of the same political party.

(3) Vacancy
A vacancy in the interim board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(4) Continuation of membership
If

(A) any member of the interim board who was appointed to such board from among persons who are representatives of banks, other financial institutions or entities, insurance companies, or Farm Credit System institutions ceases to be such a representative; or

(B) any member who was appointed from among persons who are not or have not been directors or officers of any financial institution or entity becomes a director or an officer of any financial institution or entity;

such member may continue as a member for not longer than the 45-day period beginning on the date such member ceases to be such a representative or becomes such a director or officer, as the case may be.

(5) Terms
The members of the interim board shall be appointed for the life of such board.

(6) Quorum
5 members of the interim board shall constitute a quorum.

(7) Chairperson
The President shall designate 1 of the members of the interim board as the chairperson of the interim board.

(8) Meetings
The interim board shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members.

(9) Voting common stock

(A) Initial offering
Upon the appointment of sufficient members of the interim board to convene a meeting with a quorum present, the interim board shall arrange for an initial offering of common stock and shall take whatever other actions are necessary to proceed with the operations of the Corporation.

(B) Purchasers
Subject to subparagraph (C), the voting common stock shall be offered to banks, other financial entities, insurance companies, and System institutions under such terms and conditions as the interim board may adopt.

(C) Distribution
The voting stock shall be fairly and broadly offered to ensure that no institution or institutions acquire a disproportionate amount of the total amount of voting common stock outstanding of a class and that capital contributions and issuances of voting common stock for the contributions are fairly distributed between entities eligible to hold class A and class B stock, as provided under section 2279aa–4 of this title.

(10) Termination
The interim board shall terminate when the permanent board of directors established in subsection (b) of this section first meets with a quorum present.

(b) Permanent board

(1) Establishment
Immediately after the date that banks, other financial institutions or entities, insurance companies, and System institutions have subscribed and fully paid for at least $20,000,000 of common stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall arrange for the election and appointment of a permanent board of directors. After the termination of the interim board, the Corporation shall be under the management of the permanent board.

(2) Composition
The permanent board shall consist of 15 members, of which

(A) 5 members shall be elected by holders of common stock that are insurance companies, banks, or other financial institutions or entities;

(B) 5 members shall be elected by holders of common stock that are Farm Credit System institutions; and

(i) which members shall not be, or have been, officers or directors of any financial institutions or entities;

(ii) which members shall be representatives of the general public;

(iii) of which members not more than 3 shall be members of the same political party; and

(iv) of which members at least 2 shall be experienced in farming or ranching.

(3) Presidential appointees
The President shall appoint the members of the permanent board referred to in paragraph (2)(C) not later than the later of

(A) the date referred to in paragraph (1); or

(B) the expiration of the 270-day period beginning on January 6, 1988.

(4) Vacancy

(A) Elected members
Subject to paragraph (6), a vacancy among the members elected to the permanent board in the manner described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) shall be filled by the permanent board from among persons eligible for election to the position for which the vacancy exists.

(B) Appointed members
A vacancy among the members appointed to the permanent board under paragraph (2)(C) shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(5) Continuation of membership
If

(A) any member of the permanent board who was appointed or elected to the permanent board from among persons who are representatives of banks, other financial institutions or entities, insurance companies, or Farm Credit System institutions ceases to be such a representative; or

(B) any member who was appointed from persons who are not or have not been directors or officers of any financial institution or entity becomes a director or an officer of any financial institution or entity;

such member may continue as a member for not longer than the 45-day period beginning on the date such member ceases to be such a representative, officer, or employee or becomes such a director or officer, as the case may be.

(6) Terms

(A) Appointed members
The members appointed by the President shall serve at the pleasure of the President.

(B) Elected members
The members elected under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(2) of this section shall each be elected annually for a term ending on the date of the next annual meeting of the common stockholders of the Corporation and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. Any seat on the permanent board that becomes vacant after the annual election of the directors shall be filled by the members of the permanent board from the same category of directors, but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

(C) Vacancy appointment
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of the member was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.

(D) Service after expiration of term
A member may serve after the expiration of the term of the member until the successor of the member has taken office.

(7) Quorum
8 members of the permanent board shall constitute a quorum.

(8) No additional pay for Federal officers or employees
Members of the permanent board who are fulltime officers or employees of the United States shall receive no additional pay by reason of service on the permanent board.

(9) Chairperson
The President shall designate 1 of the members of the permanent board who are appointed by the President as the chairperson of the permanent board.

(10) Meetings
The permanent board shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members.

(c) Officers and staff
The Board may appoint, employ, fix the pay of, and provide other allowances and benefits for such officers and employees of the Corporation as the Board determines to be appropriate.

12 USC 2279aa3 - Powers and duties of Corporation and Board

(a) Guarantees
After the Board has been duly constituted, subject to the other provisions of this subchapter and other commitments and requirements established pursuant to law, the Corporation may provide guarantees on terms and conditions determined by the Corporation of securities issued on the security of, or in participation in, pooled interests in qualified loans.

(b) Duties of Board

(1) In general
The Board shall

(A) determine the general policies that shall govern the operations of the Corporation;

(B) select, appoint, and determine the compensation of qualified persons to fill such offices as may be provided for in the bylaws of the Corporation; and

(C) assign to such persons such executive functions, powers, and duties as may be prescribed by the bylaws of the Corporation or by the Board.

(2) Executive officers and functions
The persons elected or appointed under paragraph (1)(B) shall be the executive officers of the Corporation and shall discharge the executive functions, powers, and duties of the Corporation.

(1) To operate under the direction of its Board.

(2) To issue stock in the manner provided in section 2279aa–4 of this title.

(3) To adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noted.

(4) To provide for a president, 1 or more vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, and such other officers, employees, and agents, as may be necessary, define their duties and compensation levels, all without regard to title 5, and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by acts of such persons.

(5) To provide guarantees in the manner provided under section 2279aa–6 of this title.

(6) To have succession until dissolved by a law enacted by the Congress.

(7) To prescribe bylaws, through the Board, not inconsistent with law, that shall provide for

(A) the classes of the stock of the Corporation; and

(B) the manner in which

(i) the stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired;

(ii) the officers, employees, and agents of the Corporation are selected;

(iii) the property of the Corporation is acquired, held, and transferred;

(iv) the commitments and other financial assistance of the Corporation are made;

(v) the general business of the Corporation is conducted; and

(vi) the privileges granted by law to the Corporation are exercised and enjoyed;

(8) To prescribe such standards as may be necessary to carry out this subchapter.

(9) To enter into contracts and make payments with respect to the contracts.

(10) To sue and be sued in its corporate capacity and to complain and defend in any action brought by or against the Corporation in any State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction.

(11) To make and perform contracts, agreements, and commitments with persons and entities both inside and outside of the Farm Credit System.

(12) To acquire, hold, lease, mortgage or dispose of, at public or private sale, real and personal property, purchase or sell any securities or obligations, and otherwise exercise all the usual incidents of ownership of property necessary and convenient to the business of the Corporation.

(13) To purchase, hold, sell, or assign a qualified loan, to issue a guaranteed security, representing an interest in, or an obligation backed by, the qualified loan, and to perform all the functions and responsibilities of an agricultural mortgage marketing facility operating as a certified facility under this subchapter.

(14) To establish, acquire, and maintain affiliates (as such term is defined in section 2279aa–11 (e) of this title) under applicable State laws to carry out any activities that otherwise would be performed directly by the Corporation under this subchapter.

(15) To exercise such other incidental powers as are necessary to carry out the powers, duties, and functions of the Corporation in accordance with this subchapter.

(d) Federal Reserve banks as depositaries and fiscal agents
The Federal Reserve banks shall act as depositories for, and as fiscal agents or custodians of, the Corporation.

(e) Access to book-entry system
The Corporation shall have access to the book-entry system of the Federal Reserve System.

12 USC 2279aa4 - Stock issuance

(a) Voting common stock

(1) Issue
The Corporation shall issue voting common stock having such par value as may be fixed by the Board from time to time. Each share of voting common stock shall be entitled to one vote with rights of cumulative voting at all elections of directors. Voting shall be by classes as described in section 2279aa–2 (a)(9) of this title. The stock shall be divided into two classes with the same par value per share. Class A stock may be held only by entities that are not Farm Credit System institutions and that are entitled to vote for directors specified in section 2279aa–2 (b)(2)(A) of this title, including national banking associations (which shall be allowed to purchase and hold such stock). Class B stock may be held only by Farm Credit System institutions that are entitled to vote for directors specified in section 2279aa–2 (b)(2)(B) of this title.

(2) Limitation on issue
After the date the permanent board first meets with a quorum of its members present, voting common stock of the Corporation may be issued only to originators and certified facilities.

(3) Authority of Board to establish terms and procedures
The Board shall adopt such terms, conditions, and procedures with regard to the issue of stock under this section as may be necessary, including the establishment of a maximum amount limitation on the number of shares of voting common stock that may be outstanding at any time.

(4) Transferability
Subject to such limitations as the Board may impose, any share of any class of voting common stock issued under this section shall be transferable among the institutions or entities to which shares of such class of common stock may be offered under paragraph (1), except that, as to the Corporation, such shares shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation.

(5) Maximum number of shares
No stockholder, other than a holder of class B stock, may own, directly or indirectly, more than 33 percent of the outstanding shares of such class of the voting common stock of the Corporation.

(b) Required capital contributions

(1) In general
The Corporation may require each originator and each certified facility to make, or commit to make, such nonrefundable capital contributions to the Corporation as are reasonable and necessary to meet the administrative expenses of the Corporation.

(2) Stock issued as consideration for contribution
The Corporation, from time to time, shall issue to each originator or certified facility voting common stock evidencing any capital contributions made pursuant to this subsection.

(1) In general
Such dividends as may be declared by the Board, in the discretion of the Board, shall be paid by the Corporation to the holders of the voting common stock of the Corporation pro rata based on the total number of shares of both classes of stock outstanding.

(2) Reserves requirement
No dividend may be declared or paid by the Board under this section unless the Board determines that adequate provision has been made for the reserve required under section 2279aa–10 (c)(1) of this title.

(3) Dividends prohibited while obligations are outstanding
No dividend may be declared or paid by the Board under this section while any obligation issued by the Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 2279aa–13 of this title remains outstanding.

(d) Nonvoting common stock
The Corporation is authorized to issue nonvoting common stock having such par value as may be fixed by the Board from time to time. Such nonvoting common stock shall be freely transferable, except that, as to the Corporation, such stock shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation. Such dividends as may be declared by the Board, in the discretion of the Board, may be paid by the Corporation to the holders of the nonvoting common stock of the Corporation, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (c) of this section.

(e) Preferred stock

(1) Authority of Board
The Corporation is authorized to issue nonvoting preferred stock having such par value as may be fixed by the Board from time to time. Such preferred stock issued shall be freely transferable, except that, as to the Corporation, such stock shall be transferred only on the books of the Corporation.

(2) Rights of preferred stock
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (c) of this section, the holders of the preferred stock shall be entitled to such rate of cumulative dividends, and such holders shall be subject to such redemption or other conversion provisions, as may be provided for at the time of issuance. No dividends shall be payable on any share of common stock at any time when any dividend is due on any share of preferred stock and has not been paid.

(3) Preference on termination of business
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the business of the Corporation, the holders of the preferred shares of stock shall be paid in full at the par value thereof, plus all accrued dividends, before the holders of the common shares receive any payment.

12 USC 2279aa5 - Certification of agricultural mortgage marketing facilities

(a) Eligibility standards

(1) Establishment required
Within 120 days after the date on which the permanent board first meets with a quorum present, the Corporation shall issue standards for the certification of agricultural mortgage marketing facilities (other than the Corporation), including eligibility standards in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Minimum requirements
To be eligible to be certified under the standards referred to in paragraph (1), an agricultural mortgage marketing facility (other than the Corporation) shall

(A) be an institution of the Farm Credit System or a corporation, association, or trust organized under the laws of the United States or of any State;

(B) meet or exceed capital standards established by the Board;

(C) have as one of the purposes of the facility, the sale or resale of securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans that have been provided guarantees by the Corporation;

(D) demonstrate managerial ability with respect to agricultural mortgage loan underwriting, servicing, and marketing that is acceptable to the Corporation;

(E) adopt appropriate agricultural mortgage loan underwriting, appraisal, and servicing standards and procedures that meet or exceed the standards established by the Board;

(F) for purposes of enabling the Corporation to examine the facility, agree to allow officers or employees of the Corporation to have access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property, of any type whatsoever, belonging to or used by the Corporation that are necessary to facilitate an examination of the operations of the facility in connection with securities, and the pools of qualified loans that back securities, for which the Corporation has provided guarantees; and

(G) adopt appropriate minimum standards and procedures relating to loan administration and disclosure to borrowers concerning the terms and rights applicable to loans for which guarantee is provided, in conformity with uniform standards established by the Corporation.

(3) Nondiscrimination requirement
The standards established under this subsection shall not discriminate between or against Farm Credit System and non-Farm Credit System applicants.

(b) Certification by Corporation
Within 60 days after receiving an application for certification under this section, the Corporation shall certify the facility if the facility meets the standards established by the Corporation under subsection (a)(1) of this section.

(c) Maximum time period for certification
Any certification by the Corporation of an agricultural mortgage marketing facility shall be effective for a period determined by the Corporation of not to exceed 5 years.

(d) Revocation

(1) In general
After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the Corporation may revoke the certification of an agricultural mortgage marketing facility if the Corporation determines that the facility no longer meets the standards referred to in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) Effect of revocation
Revocation of a certification shall not affect any pool guarantee that has been issued by the Corporation.

(e) Affiliation of FCS institutions with facility

(1) Establishment of affiliate authorized
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any Farm Credit System institution, acting for such institution alone or in conjunction with one or more other such institutions, may establish and operate, as an affiliate, an agricultural mortgage marketing facility if, within a reasonable time after such establishment, such facility obtains and thereafter retains certification under subsection (b) of this section as a certified facility.

(2) Exclusive agency agreement authorized
Any number of Farm Credit System institutions (other than the Corporation) may enter into an agreement with any certified facility (including an affiliate established under paragraph (1)) to sell the qualified loans of such institutions exclusively to or through the facility.

12 USC 2279aa6 - Guarantee of qualified loans

(a) Guarantee authorized for certified facilities

(1) In general
Subject to the requirements of this section and on such other terms and conditions as the Corporation shall consider appropriate, the Corporation

(A) shall guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on the securities issued by a certified facility that represents interests solely in, or obligations fully backed by, any pool consisting solely of qualified loans which meet the applicable standards established under section 2279aa–8 of this title and which are held by such facility; and

(B) may issue a security, guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest, that represents an interest solely in, or an obligation fully backed by, a pool consisting of qualified loans that

(i) meet the applicable standards established under section 2279aa–8 of this title; and

(ii) have been purchased and held by the Corporation.

(2) Inability of facility to pay
If the facility is unable to make any payment of principal or interest on any security for which a guarantee has been provided by the Corporation under paragraph (1), the Corporation shall make such payment as and when due in cash, and on such payment shall be subrogated fully to the rights satisfied by such payment.

(3) Power of Corporation
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation is empowered, in connection with any guarantee under this subsection, whether before or after any default, to provide by contract with the facility for the extinguishment, on default by the facility, of any redemption, equitable, legal, or other right, title, or interest of the facility in any mortgage or mortgages constituting the pool against which the guaranteed securities are issued. With respect to any issue of guaranteed securities, in the event of default and pursuant otherwise to the terms of the contract, the mortgages that constitute such pool shall become the absolute property of the Corporation subject only to the unsatisfied rights of the holders of the securities based on and backed by such pool.

(b) Other responsibilities of and limitations on certified facilities
As a condition for providing any guarantees under this section for securities issued by a certified facility that represent interests in, or obligations backed by, any pool of qualified loans, the Corporation shall require such facility to agree to comply with the following requirements:

(1) Loan default resolution
The facility shall act in accordance with the standards of a prudent institutional lender to resolve loan defaults.

(2) Subrogation of United States and Corporation to interests of facility
The proceeds of any collateral, judgments, settlements, or guarantees received by the facility with respect to any loan in such pool, shall be applied, after payment of costs of collection

(A) first, to reduce the amount of any principal outstanding on any obligation of the Corporation that was purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 2279aa–13 of this title to the extent the proceeds of such obligation were used to make guarantees in connection with such securities; and

(B) second, to reimburse the Corporation for any such guarantee payments.

(3) Loan servicing
The originator of any loan in such pool shall be permitted to retain the right to service the loan.

(4) Minority participation in public offerings
The facility shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that minority owned or controlled investment banking firms, underwriters, and bond counsels throughout the United States have an opportunity to participate to a significant degree in any public offering of securities.

(5) No discrimination against States with borrowers rights
The facility may not refuse to purchase qualified loans originating in States that have established borrowers rights laws either by statute or under the constitution of such States, except that the facility may require discounts or charge fees reasonably related to costs and expenses arising from such statutes or constitutional provisions.

(c) Additional authority of Board
To ensure the liquidity of securities for which guarantees have been provided under this section, the Board shall adopt appropriate standards regarding

(1) the characteristics of any pool of qualified loans serving as collateral for such securities; and

(2) transfer requirements.

(d) Aggregate principal amounts of qualified loans

(1) Initial year
During the first year after January 6, 1988, the Corporation may not provide guarantees for securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, qualified loans (other than loans which back securities issued by Farm Credit System institutions for which the Corporation provides a guarantee) in an aggregate principal amount in excess of 2 percent of the total agricultural real estate debt outstanding at the close of the prior calendar year (as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), less all Farmers Home Administration agricultural real estate debt.

(2) Second year
During the year following the year referred to in paragraph (1), the Corporation may not provide guarantees for securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, qualified loans (other than loans which back securities issued by Farm Credit System institutions for which the Corporation provides a guarantee) in an additional principal amount in excess of 4 percent of the total agricultural real estate debt outstanding at the close of the prior calendar year, less all Farmers Home Administration agricultural real estate debt.

(3) Third year
During the year following the year referred to in paragraph (2), the Corporation may not provide guarantees for securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, qualified loans (other than loans which back securities issued by Farm Credit System institutions for which the Corporation provides a guarantee) in an additional principal amount in excess of 8 percent of the total agricultural real estate debt outstanding at the close of the prior calendar year, less all Farmers Home Administration agricultural real estate debt.

(4) Subsequent years
In years subsequent to the year referred to in paragraph (3), the Corporation may provide guarantees without regard to the principal amount of the qualified loans guaranteed.

(e) Purchase of guaranteed securities

(1) Purchase authority
The Corporation (and affiliates) may purchase, hold, and sell any securities guaranteed under this section by the Corporation that represent interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans. Securities issued under this section shall have maturities and bear rates of interest as determined by the Corporation.

(2) Issuance of debt obligations
The Corporation (and affiliates) may issue debt obligations solely for the purpose of obtaining amounts for the purchase of any securities under paragraph (1), for the purchase of qualified loans (as defined in section 2279aa (9) of this title), and for maintaining reasonable amounts for business operations (including adequate liquidity) relating to activities under this subsection.

(3) Terms and limitations

(A) Terms
The obligations issued under this subsection shall have maturities and bear rates of interest as determined by the Corporation, and may be redeemable at the option of the Corporation before maturity in the manner stipulated in the obligations.

(B) Requirement
Each obligation shall clearly indicate that the obligation is not an obligation of, and is not guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the Farm Credit Administration, the United States, or any other agency or instrumentality of the United States (other than the Corporation).

(C) Authority
The Corporation may not issue obligations pursuant to paragraph (2) under this subsection while any obligation issued by the Corporation under section 2279aa–13 (a) of this title remains outstanding.

12 USC 2279aa7 - Repealed. Pub. L. 104105, title I, 108(b), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 164

Section, Pub. L. 92–181, title VIII, § 8.7, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title VII, § 702, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1698, related to reserves and subordinated participation interests of certified facilities, including provisions relating to cash contributions, retention of subordinated participation interests, additional requirements relating to reserves under section 2279aa–6 (b)(2) of this title, and authority of Board of Directors of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation to establish other policies and procedures.

12 USC 2279aa8 - Standards for qualified loans

(a) Standards

(1) In general
The Corporation shall establish underwriting, security appraisal, and repayment standards for qualified loans taking into account the nature, risk profile, and other differences between different categories of qualified loans.

(2) Supervision, examination, and report of condition
The standards shall be subject to the authorities of the Farm Credit Administration under section 2279aa–11 of this title.

(3) Mortgage loans
In establishing standards for qualified loans, the Corporation shall confine corporate operations, so far as practicable, to mortgage loans that are deemed by the Board to be of such quality so as to meet, substantially and generally, the purchase standards imposed by private institutional mortgage investors.

(b) Minimum criteria
To further the purpose of this subchapter to provide a new source of long-term fixed rate financing to assist farmers and ranchers to purchase agricultural real estate, the standards established by the Board pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with respect to loans secured by agricultural real estate shall, at a minimum

(1) provide that no agricultural mortgage loan with a loan-to-value ratio in excess of 80 percent may be treated as a qualified loan;

(2) require each borrower to demonstrate sufficient cash-flow to adequately service the agricultural mortgage loan;

(3) contain sufficient documentation standards;

(4) contain adequate standards to protect the integrity of the appraisal process with respect to any agricultural mortgage loans;

(5) contain adequate standards to ensure that the farmer or rancher is or will be actively engaged in agricultural production, and require the borrower to certify to the originator that the borrower intends to continue agricultural production on the farm or ranch involved;

(6) minimize speculation in agricultural real estate for nonagricultural purposes; and

(7) in establishing the value of agricultural real estate, consider the purpose for which the real estate is taxed.

(1) In general
A loan secured by agricultural real estate may not be treated as a qualified loan if the principal amount of such loan exceeds $2,500,000, adjusted for inflation, except as provided in paragraph (2).

(2) Acreage exception
Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to any agricultural mortgage loan described in such paragraph if such loan is secured by agricultural real estate that, in the aggregate, comprises not more than 1,000 acres.

(d) Nondiscrimination requirement
The standards established under subsection (a) of this section shall not discriminate against small originators or small agricultural mortgage loans that are at least $50,000. The Board shall promote and encourage the inclusion of qualified loans for small farms and family farmers in the agricultural mortgage secondary market.

12 USC 2279aa9 - Exemption from restructuring and borrowers rights provisions for pooled loans

(a) Restructuring
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, sections 2202, 2202a, 2202b, 2202c, 2202d, and 2219a of this title shall not apply to any loan included in a pool of qualified loans backing securities or obligations for which the Corporation provides guarantee. The loan servicing standards established by the Corporation shall be patterned after similar standards adopted by other federally sponsored secondary market facilities.

(b) Borrowers rights
At the time of application for a loan (as defined in section 2202a (a)(5) of this title), originators that are Farm Credit System institutions shall give written notice to each applicant of the terms and conditions of the loan, setting forth separately terms and conditions for pooled loans and loans that are not pooled. This notice shall include a statement, if applicable, that the loan may be pooled and that, if pooled, sections 2202, 2202a, 2202b, 2202c, 2202d, and 2219a of this title shall not apply. This notice also shall inform the applicant that he or she has the right not to have the loan pooled. Within 3 days from the time of commitment, an applicant has the right to refuse to allow the loan to be pooled, thereby retaining rights under sections 2202, 2202a, 2202b, 2202c, 2202d, and 2219a of this title, if applicable.

12 USC 2279aa10 - Funding for guarantee; reserves of Corporation

(a) Guarantee
The Corporation shall provide guarantees for securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans through commitments issued by the Corporation providing for guarantees.

(b) Guarantee fees

(1) Initial fee
At the time a guarantee is issued by the Corporation, the Corporation shall assess the certified facility a fee of not more than 1/2 of 1 percent of the initial principal amount of each pool of qualified loans.

(2) Annual fees
Beginning in the second year after the date the guarantee is issued under paragraph (1), the Corporation may, at the end of each year, assess the certified facility an annual fee of not more than 1/2 of 1 percent of the principal amount of the loans then constituting the pool.

(3) Determination of amount
The Corporation shall establish such fees on the amount of risk incurred by the Corporation in providing the guarantees with respect to which such fee is assessed, as determined by the Corporation. Fees assessed under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be established on an actuarially sound basis.

(4) Review by GAO
The Comptroller General of the United States may review, and submit to the Congress a report regarding, the actuarial soundness and reasonableness of the fees established by the Corporation under this subsection.

(1) In general
So much of the fees assessed under this section as the Board determines to be necessary shall be set aside by the Corporation in a segregated account as a reserve against losses arising out of the guarantee activities of the Corporation.

(2) Exhaustion of reserve required
The Corporation may not issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 2279aa–13 of this title in order to meet the obligations of the Corporation with respect to any guarantees provided under this subchapter until the reserve established under paragraph (1) has been exhausted.

(d) Fees to cover administrative costs authorized
The Corporation may impose charges or fees in reasonable amounts in connection with the administration of its activities under this subchapter to recover its costs for performing such administration.

12 USC 2279aa11 - Supervision, examination, and report of condition

(a) Regulation

(1) Authority
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Farm Credit Administration shall have the authority to provide, acting through the Office of Secondary Market Oversight

(A) for the examination of the Corporation and its affiliates; and

(B) for the general supervision of the safe and sound performance of the powers, functions, and duties vested in the Corporation and its affiliates by this subchapter, including through the use of the authorities granted to the Farm Credit Administration under

(i) part C of subchapter V of this chapter; and

(ii) beginning 6 months after December 13, 1991, section 2252 (a)(9) of this title.

(2) Considerations
In exercising its authority pursuant to this section, the Farm Credit Administration shall consider

(A) the purposes for which the Corporation was created;

(B) the practices appropriate to the conduct of secondary markets in agricultural loans; and

(3) Office of Secondary Market Oversight

(A) Not later than 180 days after December 13, 1991, the Farm Credit Administration Board shall establish within the Farm Credit Administration the Office of Secondary Market Oversight.

(B) The Farm Credit Administration Board shall carry out the authority set forth in this section through the Office of Secondary Market Oversight.

(C) The Office of Secondary Market Oversight shall be managed by a full-time Director who shall be selected by and report to the Farm Credit Administration Board.

(b) Examinations and audits

(1) In general
The financial transactions of the Corporation shall be examined by examiners of the Farm Credit Administration in accordance with the principles and procedures applicable to commercial corporate transactions under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Administration.

(2) Frequency
The examinations shall occur at such times as the Farm Credit Administration Board may determine, but in no event less than once each year.

(3) Access
The examiners shall

(A) have access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Corporation and necessary to facilitate the audit; and

(B) be afforded full access for verifying transactions with certified facilities and other entities with whom the Corporation conducts transactions.

(c) Annual report of condition
The Corporation shall make and publish an annual report of condition as prescribed by the Farm Credit Administration. Each report shall contain financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and contain such additional information as the Farm Credit Administration may by regulation prescribe. The financial statements of the Corporation shall be audited by an independent public accountant.

(d) FCA assessments to cover costs
The Farm Credit Administration shall assess the Corporation for the cost to the Administration of any regulatory activities conducted under this section, including the cost of any examination.

(e) “Affiliate” defined
As used in this subchapter, the term affiliate shall mean an entity effectively controlled or owned by the Corporation, except that such term shall not include an originator (as defined in section 2279aa (7) of this title).

(f) Employees and personnel
The Farm Credit Administration Board shall ensure that

(1) the Office of Secondary Market Oversight has access to a sufficient number of qualified and trained employees to adequately supervise the secondary market activities of the Corporation; and

(2) the supervision of the powers, functions, and duties of the Corporation is performed, to the extent practicable, by personnel who are not responsible for the supervision of the banks and associations of the Farm Credit System.

12 USC 2279aa12 - Securities in credit enhanced pools

(a) Federal laws

(1) Applicability of certain Federal securities laws
For purposes of section 77c (a)(2) of title 15, no security representing an interest in, or obligations backed by, a pool of qualified loans for which guarantees have been provided by the Corporation shall be deemed to be a security issued or guaranteed by a person controlled or supervised by, or acting as an instrumentality of, the Government of the United States. No such security shall be deemed to be a government security for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.] or for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. 80a–1 et seq.].

(2) No full faith and credit of the United States
Each security for which credit enhancement has been provided by the Corporation shall clearly indicate that the security is not an obligation of, and is not guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the Farm Credit Administration, the United States, or any other agency or instrumentality of the United States (other than the Corporation).

(b) State securities laws

(1) General exemption
Any security or obligation that has been provided a guarantee by the Corporation shall be exempt from any law of any State with respect to or requiring registration or qualification of securities or real estate to the same extent as any obligation issued by, or guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States.

(2) State override
The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not be applicable to any State that, during the 8-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, enacts a law that

(A) specifically refers to this subsection; and

(B) expressly provides that paragraph (1) shall not apply to the State.

(1) In general
Securities representing an interest in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans with respect to which the Corporation has provided a guarantee shall be authorized investments of any person, trust, corporation, partnership, association, business trust, or business entity created pursuant to or existing under the laws of the United States or any State to the same extent that the person, trust, corporation, partnership, association, business trust, or business entity is authorized under any applicable law to purchase, hold, or invest in obligations issued by or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States. Such securities or obligations may be accepted as security for all fiduciary, trust, and public funds, the investment or deposits of which shall be under the authority and control of the United States or any State or any officers of either.

(2) State limitations on purchase, holding, or investment
If State law limits the purchase, holding, or investment in obligations issued by the United States by the person, trust, corporation, partnership, association, business trust, or business entity, securities or obligations of a certified facility issued on which the Corporation has provided a guarantee shall be considered to be obligations issued by the United States for purposes of the limitation.

(3) Nonapplicability of provisions

(A) Subsequent State law
Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply with respect to a particular person, trust, corporation, partnership, association, business trust, or business entity, or class thereof, in any State that, prior to the expiration of the 8-year period beginning on January 6, 1988, enacts a law that specifically refers to this section and either prohibits or provides for a more limited authority to purchase, hold, or invest in the securities by any person, trust, corporation, partnership, association, business trust, or business entity, or class thereof, than is provided in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(B) Effect of subsequent State law
The enactment by any State of a law of the type described in subparagraph (A) shall not affect the validity of any contractual commitment to purchase, hold, or invest that was made prior to the effective date of the law and shall not require the sale or other disposition of any securities acquired prior to the effective date of the law.

(d) State usury laws superseded
A provision of the Constitution or law of any State shall not apply to an agricultural loan made by an originator or a certified facility in accordance with this subchapter for sale to the Corporation or to a certified facility for inclusion in a pool for which the Corporation has provided, or has committed to provide, a guarantee, if the loan, not later than 180 days after the date the loan was made, is sold to the Corporation or included in a pool for which the Corporation has provided a guarantee, if the provision

(1) limits the rate or amount of interest, discount points, finance charges, or other charges that may be charged, taken, received, or reserved by an agricultural lender or a certified facility; or

(2) limits or prohibits a prepayment penalty (either fixed or declining), yield maintenance, or make-whole payment that may be charged, taken, or received by an agricultural lender or a certified facility in connection with the full or partial payment of the principal amount due on a loan by a borrower in advance of the scheduled date for the payment under the terms of the loan, otherwise known as a prepayment of the loan principal.

12 USC 2279aa13 - Authority to issue obligations to cover guarantee losses of Corporation

(a) Sale of obligations to Treasury

(1) In general
Subject to the limitations contained in section 2279aa–10 (c) of this title and the requirement of paragraph (2), the Corporation may issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury the proceeds of which may be used by the Corporation solely for the purpose of fulfilling the obligations of the Corporation under any guarantee provided by the Corporation under this subchapter.

(2) Certification
The Secretary of the Treasury may purchase obligations of the Corporation under paragraph (1) only if the Corporation certifies to the Secretary that

(A) the requirements of section 2279aa–10 (c) of this title have been fulfilled; and

(B) the proceeds of the sale of such obligations are needed to fulfill the obligations of the Corporation under any guarantee provided by the Corporation under this subchapter.

(b) Expeditious transaction required
Not later than 10 business days after receipt by the Secretary of the Treasury of any certification by the Corporation under subsection (a)(2) of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall purchase obligations issued by the Corporation in an amount determined by the Corporation to be sufficient to meet the guarantee liabilities of the Corporation.

(c) Limitation on amount of outstanding obligations
The aggregate amount of obligations issued by the Corporation under subsection (a)(1) of this section which may be held by the Secretary of the Treasury at any time (as determined by the Secretary) shall not exceed $1,500,000,000.

(d) Terms of obligation

(1) Interest
Each obligation purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary, taking into consideration the average rate on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States as of the last day of the last calendar month ending before the date of the purchase of such obligation.

(2) Redemption
The Secretary of the Treasury shall require that such obligations be repurchased by the Corporation within a reasonable time.

(e) Coordination with title 31

(1) Authority to use proceeds from sale of Treasury securities
For the purpose of purchasing obligations of the Corporation, the Secretary of the Treasury may use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale by the Secretary of any securities issued under chapter 31 of title 31, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under such chapter are extended to include such purchases.

(2) Treatment of transactions
All purchases and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of obligations issued by the Corporation under this section shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States.

(f) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury $1,500,000,000, without fiscal year limitation, to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

12 USC 2279aa14 - Federal jurisdiction

Notwithstanding section 1349 of title 28 or any other provision of law:

(1) The Corporation shall be considered an agency under sections 1345 and 1442 of such title.

(2) All civil actions to which the Corporation is a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States and, to the extent applicable, shall be deemed to be governed by Federal common law. The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction of all such actions, without regard to amount of value.

(3) Any civil or other action, case, or controversy in a court of a State or any court, other than a district court of the United States, to which the Corporation is a party may at any time before trial be removed by the Corporation, without the giving of any bond or security

(A) to the District Court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where the same is pending; or

(B) if there is no such district court, to the District Court of the United States for the district in which the principal office of the Corporation is located;

by following any procedure for removal for causes in effect at the time of such removal.

(4) No attachment or execution shall be issued against the Corporation or any of the property of the Corporation before final judgment in any Federal, State, or other court.

Part B - Regulation of Financial Safety and Soundness of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

12 USC 2279bb - Definitions

For purposes of this part:

(1) Compensation
The term compensation means any payment of money or the provision of any other thing of current or potential value in connection with employment.

(2) Core capital
The term core capital means, with respect to the Corporation, the sum of the following (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles):

(A) The par value of outstanding common stock.

(B) The par value of outstanding preferred stock.

(D) Retained earnings.

(3) Director
The term Director means the Director of the Office of Secondary Market Oversight of the Farm Credit Administration, selected under section 2279aa–11 (a)(3) of this title.

(4) Office
The term Office means the Office of Secondary Market Oversight of the Farm Credit Administration, established in section 2279aa–11 (a) of this title.

(5) Regulatory capital
The term regulatory capital means, with respect to the Corporation, the core capital of the Corporation plus an allowance for losses and guarantee claims, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(6) State
The term State means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

12 USC 2279bb1 - Risk-based capital levels

(a) Risk-based capital test
Not sooner than the expiration of the 3-year period beginning on February 10, 1996, the Director of the Office of Secondary Market Oversight shall, by regulation, establish a risk-based capital test under this section for the Corporation. When applied to the Corporation, the risk-based capital test shall determine the amount of regulatory capital for the Corporation that is sufficient for the Corporation to maintain positive capital during a 10-year period in which both of the following circumstances occur:

(1) Credit risk

(A) In general
With respect to securities representing an interest in, or obligations backed by, a pool of qualified loans owned or guaranteed by the Corporation and other obligations of the Corporation, losses on the underlying qualified loans occur throughout the United States at a rate of default and severity (based on any measurements of default reasonably related to prevailing industry practice in determining capital adequacy) reasonably related to the rate and severity that occurred in contiguous areas of the United States containing an aggregate of not less than 5 percent of the total population of the United States that, for a period of not less than 2 years (as established by the Director), experienced the highest rates of default and severity of agricultural mortgage losses, in comparison with such rates of default and severity of agricultural mortgage losses in other such areas for any period of such duration, as determined by the Director.

(B) Rural utility loans
With respect to securities representing an interest in, or obligation backed by, a pool of qualified loans described in section 2279aa (9)(C) of this title owned or guaranteed by the Corporation, losses occur at a rate of default and severity reasonably related to risks in electric and telephone facility loans (as applicable), as determined by the Director.

(2) Interest rate risk
Interest rates on Treasury obligations of varying terms increase or decrease over the first 12 months of such 10-year period by not more than the lesser of

(A) 50 percent (with respect to the average interest rates on such obligations during the 12-month period preceding the 10-year period), or

(B) 600 basis points, and remain at such level for the remainder of the period. This paragraph may not be construed to require the Director to determine interest rate risk under this paragraph based on the interest rates for various long-term and short-term obligations all increasing or all decreasing concurrently.

(b) Considerations

(1) Establishment of test
In establishing the risk-based capital test under subsection (a) of this section

(A) the Director shall take into account appropriate distinctions based on various types of agricultural mortgage products, varying terms of Treasury obligations, and any other factors the Director considers appropriate;

(B) the Director shall conform loan data used in determining credit risk to the minimum geographic and commodity diversification standards applicable to pools of qualified loans eligible for guarantee;

(C) the Director may take into account retained subordinated participating interests under section 2279aa–6 (b)(2) of this title (as in effect before February 10, 1996);

(D) the Director may take into account other methods or tests to determine credit risk developed by the Corporation before December 13, 1991; and

(E) the Director shall consider any other information submitted by the Corporation in writing during the 180-day period beginning on December 13, 1991.

(2) Revising test
Upon the expiration of the 8-year period beginning on December 13, 1991, the Director shall examine the risk-based capital test under subsection (a) of this section and may revise the test. In making examinations and revisions under this paragraph, the Director shall take into account that, before December 13, 1991, the Corporation has not issued guarantees for pools of qualified loans. To the extent that the revision of the risk-based capital test causes a change in the classification of the Corporation within the enforcement levels established under section 2279bb–4 of this title, the Director shall waive the applicability of any additional enforcement actions available because of such change for a reasonable period of time, to permit the Corporation to increase the amount of regulatory capital of the Corporation accordingly.

(c) Risk-based capital level
For purposes of this part, the risk-based capital level for the Corporation shall be equal to the sum of the following amounts:

(1) Credit and interest rate risk
The amount of regulatory capital determined by applying the risk-based capital test under subsection (a) of this section to the Corporation, adjusted to account for foreign exchange risk.

(2) Management and operations risk
To provide for management and operations risk, 30 percent of the amount of regulatory capital determined by applying the risk-based capital test under subsection (a) of this section to the Corporation.

(d) Specified contents

(1) In general
The regulations establishing the risk-based capital test under this section shall

(A) be issued by the Director for public comment in the form of a notice of proposed rulemaking, to be first published after the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (a) of this section; and

(B) contain specific requirements, definitions, methods, variables, and parameters used under the risk-based capital test and in implementing the test (such as loan loss severity, float income, loan-to-value ratios, taxes, yield curve slopes, default experience, prepayment rates, and performance of pools of qualified loans).

(2) Specificity
The regulations referred to in paragraph (1) shall be sufficiently specific to permit an individual other than the Director to apply the test in the same manner as the Director.

(e) Availability of model
The Director shall make copies of the statistical model or models used to implement the risk-based capital test under this section available for public acquisition and may charge a reasonable fee for such copies.

12 USC 2279bb2 - Minimum capital level

(a) In general
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, for purposes of this part, the minimum capital level for the Corporation shall be an amount of core capital equal to the sum of

(1) 2.75 percent of the aggregate on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

(2) 0.75 percent of the aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation, which, for the purposes of this part, shall include

(A) the unpaid principal balance of outstanding securities that are guaranteed by the Corporation and backed by pools of qualified loans;

(B) instruments that are issued or guaranteed by the Corporation and are substantially equivalent to instruments described in subparagraph (A); and

(b) Transition period

(1) In general
For purposes of this part, the minimum capital level for the Corporation

(A) prior to January 1, 1997, shall be the amount of core capital equal to the sum of

(i) 0.45 percent of aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation;

(ii) 0.45 percent of designated on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation, as determined under paragraph (2); and

(iii) 2.50 percent of on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation other than assets designated under paragraph (2);

(B) during the 1-year period ending December 31, 1997, shall be the amount of core capital equal to the sum of

(i) 0.55 percent of aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation;

(ii) 1.20 percent of designated on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation, as determined under paragraph (2); and

(iii) 2.55 percent of on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation other than assets designated under paragraph (2);

(i) if the Corporations core capital is not less than $25,000,000 on January 1, 1998, the sum of

(I) 0.65 percent of aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation;

(II) 1.95 percent of designated on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation, as determined under paragraph (2); and

(III) 2.65 percent of on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation other than assets designated under paragraph (2); or

(ii) if the Corporations core capital is less than $25,000,000 on January 1, 1998, the amount determined under subsection (a) of this section; and

(D) on and after January 1, 1999, shall be the amount determined under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) Designated on-balance sheet assets
For purposes of this subsection, the designated on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation shall be

(A) the aggregate on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation acquired under section 2279aa–6 (e) of this title; and

(B) the aggregate amount of qualified loans purchased and held by the Corporation under section 2279aa–3 (c)(13) of this title.

12 USC 2279bb3 - Critical capital level

For purposes of this part, the critical capital level for the Corporation shall be an amount of core capital equal to 50 percent of the total minimum capital amount determined under section 2279bb–2 of this title.

12 USC 2279bb4 - Enforcement levels

(a) In general
The Director shall classify the Corporation, for purposes of this part, according to the following enforcement levels:

(1) Level I
The Corporation shall be classified as within level I if the Corporation

(A) maintains an amount of regulatory capital that is equal to or exceeds the risk-based capital level established under section 2279bb–1 of this title; and

(B) equals or exceeds the minimum capital level established under section 2279bb–2 of this title.

(2) Level II
The Corporation shall be classified as within level II if

(A) the Corporation

(i) maintains an amount of regulatory capital that is less than the risk-based capital level; and

(ii) equals or exceeds the minimum capital level; or

(B) the Corporation is otherwise classified as within level II under subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Level III
The Corporation shall be classified as within level III if

(A) the Corporation

(i) does not equal or exceed the minimum capital level; and

(ii) equals or exceeds the critical capital level established under section 2279bb–3 of this title; or

(B) the Corporation is otherwise classified as within level III under subsection (b) of this section.

(4) Level IV
The Corporation shall be classified as within level IV if the Corporation

(A) does not equal or exceed the critical capital level; or

(B) is otherwise classified as within level IV under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Discretionary classification
If at any time the Director determines in writing (and provides written notification to the Corporation and the Farm Credit Administration) that the Corporation is taking any action not approved by the Director that could result in a rapid depletion of core capital or that the value of the property subject to mortgages securitized by the Corporation or property underlying securities guaranteed by the Corporation, has decreased significantly, the Director may classify the Corporation

(1) as within level II, if the Corporation is otherwise within level I;

(2) as within level III, if the Corporation is otherwise within level II; or

(3) as within level IV, if the Corporation is otherwise within level III.

(c) Quarterly determination
The Director shall determine the classification of the Corporation for purposes of this part on not less than a quarterly basis (and as appropriate under subsection (b) of this section). The first such determination shall be made for the quarter ending March 31, 1992.

(d) Notice
Upon determining under subsection (b) or (c) of this section that the Corporation is within level II or III, the Director shall provide written notice to the Congress and to the Corporation

(1) that the Corporation is within such level;

(2) that the Corporation is subject to the provisions of section 2279bb–5 or 2279bb–6 of this title, as applicable; and

(3) stating the reasons for the classification of the Corporation within such level.

(e) Implementation
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section, during the period beginning on December 13, 1991, and ending on the effective date of the risk based capital regulation issued by the Director under section 2279bb–1 of this title, the Corporation shall be classified as within level I if the Corporation equals or exceeds the minimum capital level established under section 2279bb–2 of this title.

12 USC 2279bb5 - Mandatory actions applicable to level II

(a) Capital restoration plan
If the Corporation is classified as within level II, the Corporation shall, within the time period determined by the Director, submit to the Director a capital restoration plan and, after approval, carry out the plan.

(b) Restriction on dividends
If the Corporation is classified as within level II, the Corporation may not make any payment of dividends that would result in the Corporation being reclassified as within level III or IV.

(c) Reclassification from level II to level III
The Director shall immediately reclassify the Corporation as within level III (and the Corporation shall be subject to the provisions of section 2279bb–6 of this title), if

(1) the Corporation is within level II; and

(2)

(A) the Corporation does not submit a capital restoration plan that is approved by the Director; or

(B) the Director determines that the Corporation has failed to make, in good faith, reasonable efforts necessary to comply with such a capital restoration plan and fulfill the schedule for the plan approved by the Director.

(d) Effective date
This section shall take effect upon the expiration of the 30-month period beginning on December 13, 1991.

12 USC 2279bb6 - Supervisory actions applicable to level III

(a) Mandatory supervisory actions

(1) Capital restoration plan
If the Corporation is classified as within level III, the Corporation shall, within the time period determined by the Director, submit to the Director a capital restoration plan and, after approval, carry out the plan.

(2) Restrictions on dividends

(A) Prior approval
If the Corporation is classified as within level III, the Corporation

(i) may not make any payment of dividends that would result in the Corporation being reclassified as within level IV; and

(ii) may make any other payment of dividends only if the Director approves the payment before the payment.

(B) Standard for approval
If the Corporation is classified as within level III, the Director may approve a payment of dividends by the Corporation only if the Director determines that the payment

(i) will enhance the ability of the Corporation to meet the risk-based capital level and the minimum capital level promptly,

(ii) will contribute to the long-term safety and soundness of the Corporation, or

(iii) is otherwise in the public interest.

(3) Reclassification from level III to level IV
The Director shall immediately reclassify the Corporation as within level IV if

(A) the Corporation is classified as within level III; and

(B)

(i) the Corporation does not submit a capital restoration plan that is approved by the Director; or

(ii) the Director determines that the Corporation has failed to make, in good faith, reasonable efforts necessary to comply with such a capital restoration plan and fulfill the schedule for the plan approved by the Director.

(b) Discretionary supervisory actions
In addition to any other actions taken by the Director (including actions under subsection (a) of this section), the Director may, at any time, take any of the following actions if the Corporation is classified as within level III:

(1) Limitation on increase in obligations
Limit any increase in, or order the reduction of, any obligations of the Corporation, including off-balance sheet obligations.

(2) Limitation on growth
Limit or prohibit the growth of the assets of the Corporation or require contraction of the assets of the Corporation.

(3) Prohibition on dividends
Prohibit the Corporation from making any payment of dividends.

(4) Acquisition of new capital
Require the Corporation to acquire new capital in any form and in any amount sufficient to provide for the reclassification of the Corporation as within level II.

(5) Restriction of activities
Require the Corporation to terminate, reduce, or modify any activity that the Director determines creates excessive risk to the Corporation.

(6) Conservatorship
Appoint a conservator for the Corporation consistent with this chapter.

12 USC 2279bb7 - Recapitalization of Corporation

(a) Mandatory recapitalization
The Corporation shall increase the core capital of the Corporation to an amount equal to or greater than $25,000,000, not later than the earlier of

(1) the date that is 2 years after February 10, 1996; or

(2) the date that is 180 days after the end of the first calendar quarter that the aggregate on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation, plus the outstanding principal of the off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation, equal or exceed $2,000,000,000.

(b) Raising core capital
In carrying out this section, the Corporation may issue stock under section 2279aa–4 of this title and otherwise employ any recognized and legitimate means of raising core capital in the power of the Corporation under section 2279aa–3 of this title.

(c) Limitation on growth of total assets
During the 2-year period beginning on February 10, 1996, the aggregate on-balance sheet assets of the Corporation plus the outstanding principal of the off-balance sheet obligations of the Corporation may not exceed $3,000,000,000 if the core capital of the Corporation is less than $25,000,000.

(d) Enforcement
If the Corporation fails to carry out subsection (a) of this section by the date required under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, the Corporation may not purchase a new qualified loan or issue or guarantee a new loan-backed security until the core capital of the Corporation is increased to an amount equal to or greater than $25,000,000.

Part C - Receivership, Conservatorship, and Liquidation of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

12 USC 2279cc - Conservatorship; liquidation; receivership

(a) Voluntary liquidation
The Corporation may voluntarily liquidate only with the consent of, and in accordance with a plan of liquidation approved by, the Farm Credit Administration Board.

(b) Involuntary liquidation

(1) In general
The Farm Credit Administration Board may appoint a conservator or receiver for the Corporation under the circumstances specified in section 2183 (b) of this title.

(2) Application
In applying section 2183 (b) of this title to the Corporation under paragraph (1)

(A) the Corporation shall also be considered insolvent if the Corporation is unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business;

(B) a conservator may also be appointed for the Corporation if the authority of the Corporation to purchase qualified loans or issue or guarantee loan-backed securities is suspended; and

(i)

(I) the authority of the Corporation to purchase qualified loans or issue or guarantee loan-backed securities is suspended; or

(II) the Corporation is classified under section 2279bb–4 of this title as within level III or IV and the alternative actions available under part B are not satisfactory; and

(ii) the Farm Credit Administration determines that the appointment of a conservator would not be appropriate.

(3) No effect on supervisory actions
The grounds for appointment of a conservator for the Corporation under this subsection shall be in addition to those in section 2279bb–6 of this title.

(1) Qualifications
Notwithstanding section 2183 (b) of this title, if a conservator or receiver is appointed for the Corporation, the conservator or receiver shall be

(A) the Farm Credit Administration or any other governmental entity or employee, including the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation; or

(B) any person that

(i) has no claim against, or financial interest in, the Corporation or other basis for a conflict of interest as the conservator or receiver; and

(ii) has the financial and management expertise necessary to direct the operations and affairs of the Corporation and, if necessary, to liquidate the Corporation.

(2) Compensation

(A) In general
A conservator or receiver for the Corporation and professional personnel (other than a Federal employee) employed to represent or assist the conservator or receiver may be compensated for activities conducted as, or for, a conservator or receiver.

(B) Limit on compensation
Compensation may not be provided in amounts greater than the compensation paid to employees of the Federal Government for similar services, except that the Farm Credit Administration may provide for compensation at higher rates that are not in excess of rates prevailing in the private sector if the Farm Credit Administration determines that compensation at higher rates is necessary in order to recruit and retain competent personnel.

(C) Contractual arrangements
The conservator or receiver may contract with any governmental entity, including the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, to make personnel, services, and facilities of the entity available to the conservator or receiver on such terms and compensation arrangements as shall be mutually agreed, and each entity may provide the same to the conservator or receiver.

(3) Expenses
A valid claim for expenses of the conservatorship or receivership (including compensation under paragraph (2)) and a valid claim with respect to a loan made under subsection (f) of this section shall

(A) be paid by the conservator or receiver from funds of the Corporation before any other valid claim against the Corporation; and

(B) may be secured by a lien, on such property of the Corporation as the conservator or receiver may determine, that shall have priority over any other lien.

(4) Liability
If the conservator or receiver for the Corporation is not a Federal entity, or an officer or employee of the Federal Government, the conservator or receiver shall not be personally liable for damages in tort or otherwise for an act or omission performed pursuant to and in the course of the conservatorship or receivership, unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence or any form of intentional tortious conduct or criminal conduct.

(5) Indemnification
The Farm Credit Administration may allow indemnification of the conservator or receiver from the assets of the conservatorship or receivership on such terms as the Farm Credit Administration considers appropriate.

(d) Judicial review of appointment

(1) In general
Notwithstanding subsection (i)(1) of this section, not later than 30 days after a conservator or receiver is appointed under subsection (b) of this section, the Corporation may bring an action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for an order requiring the Farm Credit Administration Board to remove the conservator or receiver. The court shall, on the merits, dismiss the action or direct the Farm Credit Administration Board to remove the conservator or receiver.

(2) Stay of other actions
On the commencement of an action under paragraph (1), any court having jurisdiction of any other action or enforcement proceeding authorized under this chapter to which the Corporation is a party shall stay the action or proceeding during the pendency of the action for removal of the conservator or receiver.

(e) General powers of conservator or receiver
The conservator or receiver for the Corporation shall have such powers to conduct the conservatorship or receivership as shall be provided pursuant to regulations adopted by the Farm Credit Administration Board. Such powers shall be comparable to the powers available to a conservator or receiver appointed pursuant to section 2183 (b) of this title.

(f) Borrowings for working capital

(1) In general
If the conservator or receiver of the Corporation determines that it is likely that there will be insufficient funds to pay the ongoing administrative expenses of the conservatorship or receivership or that there will be insufficient liquidity to fund maturing obligations of the conservatorship or receivership, the conservator or receiver may borrow funds in such amounts, from such sources, and at such rates of interest as the conservator or receiver considers necessary or appropriate to meet the administrative expenses or liquidity needs of the conservatorship or receivership.

(2) Working capital from Farm Credit banks
A Farm Credit bank may loan funds to the conservator or receiver for a loan authorized under paragraph (1) or, in the event of receivership, a Farm Credit bank may purchase assets of the Corporation.

(g) Agreements against interests of conservator or receiver
No agreement that tends to diminish or defeat the right, title, or interest of the conservator or receiver for the Corporation in any asset acquired by the conservator or receiver as conservator or receiver for the Corporation shall be valid against the conservator or receiver unless the agreement

(1) is in writing;

(2) is executed by the Corporation and any person claiming an adverse interest under the agreement, including the obligor, contemporaneously with the acquisition of the asset by the Corporation;

(3) is approved by the Board or an appropriate committee of the Board, which approval shall be reflected in the minutes of the Board or committee; and

(4) has been, continuously, from the time of the agreements execution, an official record of the Corporation.

(h) Report to Congress
On a determination by the receiver for the Corporation that there are insufficient assets of the receivership to pay all valid claims against the receivership, the receiver shall submit to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the financial condition of the receivership.

(i) Termination of authorities

(1) Corporation
The charter of the Corporation shall be canceled, and the authority provided to the Corporation by this subchapter shall terminate, on such date as the Farm Credit Administration Board determines is appropriate following the placement of the Corporation in receivership, but not later than the conclusion of the receivership and discharge of the receiver.

(2) Oversight
The Office of Secondary Market Oversight established under section 2279aa–11 of this title shall be abolished, and section 2279aa–11 (a) of this title and part B shall have no force or effect, on such date as the Farm Credit Administration Board determines is appropriate following the placement of the Corporation in receivership, but not later than the conclusion of the receivership and discharge of the receiver.

12 USC 2279aa - Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) Agricultural real estate
The term agricultural real estate means

(A) a parcel or parcels of land, or a building or structure affixed to the parcel or parcels, that

(i) is used for the production of one or more agricultural commodities or products; and

(ii) consists of a minimum acreage or is used in producing minimum annual receipts, as determined by the Corporation; or

(B) a principal residence that is a single family, moderate-priced residential dwelling located in a rural area, excluding

(i) any community having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants; and

(ii) any dwelling, excluding the land to which the dwelling is affixed, with a value exceeding $100,000 (as adjusted for inflation).

(2) Board
The term Board means

(A) the interim board of directors established in section 2279aa–2 (a) of this title; and

(B) the permanent board of directors established in section 2279aa–2 (b) of this title;

as the case may be.

(3) Certified facility
The term certified facility means

(A) an agricultural mortgage marketing facility that is certified under section 2279aa–5 of this title; or

(B) the Corporation and any affiliate thereof.

(4) Corporation
The term Corporation means the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation established in section 2279aa–1 of this title.

(5) Guarantee
The term guarantee means the guarantee of timely payment of the principal and interest on securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans, in accordance with this subchapter.

(6) Interim board
The term interim board means the interim board of directors established in section 2279aa–2 (a) of this title.

(7) Originator
The term originator means any Farm Credit System institution, bank, insurance company, business and industrial development company, savings and loan association, association of agricultural producers, agricultural cooperative, commercial finance company, trust company, credit union, or other entity that originates and services agricultural mortgage loans.

(8) Permanent board
The term permanent board means the permanent board of directors established in section 2279aa–2 (b) of this title.

(9) Qualified loan
The term qualified loan means an obligation

(A)

(i) that is secured by a fee-simple or leasehold mortgage with status as a first lien, on agricultural real estate located in the United States that is not subject to any legal or equitable claims deriving from a preceding fee-simple or leasehold mortgage;

(ii) of

(I) a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or

(II) a private corporation or partnership whose members, stockholders, or partners holding a majority interest in the corporation or partnership are individuals described in subclause (I); and

(iii) of a person, corporation, or partnership that has training or farming experience that, under criteria established by the Corporation, is sufficient to ensure a reasonable likelihood that the loan will be repaid according to its terms;

(B) that is the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), except that

(i) subsections (b) through (d) of section 2279aa–6 of this title, and sections 2279aa–8 and 2279aa–9 of this title, shall not apply to the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary or to an obligation, pool, or security representing an interest in or obligation backed by a pool of obligations relating to the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary; and

(ii) the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary shall be considered to meet all standards for qualified loans for all purposes under this chapter; or

(C) that is a loan, or an interest in a loan, for an electric or telephone facility by a cooperative lender to a borrower that has received, or is eligible to receive, a loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.).

(10) State
The term State has the meaning given such term in section 2277a of this title.

12 USC 2001 - Congressional declaration of policy and objectives

(a) It is declared to be the policy of the Congress, recognizing that a prosperous, productive agriculture is essential to a free nation and recognizing the growing need for credit in rural areas, that the farmer-owned cooperative Farm Credit System be designed to accomplish the objective of improving the income and well-being of American farmers and ranchers by furnishing sound, adequate, and constructive credit and closely related services to them, their cooperatives, and to selected farm-related businesses necessary for efficient farm operations.

(b) It is the objective of this chapter to continue to encourage farmer- and rancher-borrowers participation in the management, control, and ownership of a permanent system of credit for agriculture which will be responsive to the credit needs of all types of agricultural producers having a basis for credit, and to modernize and improve the authorizations and means for furnishing such credit and credit for housing in rural areas made available through the institutions constituting the Farm Credit System as herein provided.

(c) It is declared to be the policy of Congress that the credit needs of farmers, ranchers, and their cooperatives are best served if the institutions of the Farm Credit System provide equitable and competitive interest rates to eligible borrowers, taking into consideration the creditworthiness and access to alternative sources of credit for borrowers, the cost of funds, including any costs of defeasance under section 2159 (b) of this title, the operating costs of the institution, including the costs of any loan loss amortization under section 2254 (b) of this title, the cost of servicing loans, the need to retain earnings to protect borrowers stock, and the volume of net new borrowing. Further, it is declared to be the policy of Congress that Farm Credit System institutions take action in accordance with the Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1986 in such manner that borrowers from the institutions derive the greatest benefit practicable from that Act: Provided, That in no case is any borrower to be charged a rate of interest that is below competitive market rates for similar loans made by private lenders to borrowers of equivalent creditworthiness and access to alternative credit.

12 USC 2002 - Farm Credit System

(a) Composition
The Farm Credit System shall include the the^[1] Farm Credit Banks, the Federal land bank associations, the production credit associations, the banks for cooperatives, and such other institutions as may be made a part of the System, all of which shall be chartered by and subject to regulation by the Farm Credit Administration.

(b) Farm credit districts
There shall be not more than twelve farm credit districts in the United States, which may be designated by number, one of which districts shall include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and one of which districts may, if authorized by the Farm Credit Administration, include the Virgin Islands of the United States: Provided, That the extension of credit and other services authorized by this chapter in the Virgin Islands of the United States shall be undertaken only if determined to be feasible under regulations of the Farm Credit Administration. The boundaries of the twelve farm credit districts existing on December 10, 1971, may be readjusted from time to time by the Farm Credit Administration, with the concurrence of the boards of the banks in each district involved. Two or more districts may be merged as provided in section 2252 (a)(2) of this title.

[1] So in original.