Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 32. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER 1. BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES

Part 4. Operation and Regulation

Investment Of Capital Of Savings Banks

32-1-421. Investment of capital of savings banks. (1) The term "savings bank" as used in this section means any bank organized to do the business specified in 32-1-106.

(2) (a) At least one-half of the paid-in capital of a savings bank and one-half of the whole amount deposited in the savings bank must be invested in bonds or other securities of the United States or any of the states of the United States or any county, city, town, or school district of this state on which interest is regularly payable or federal land bank bonds or loaned on unencumbered real estate worth at least double the amount to be secured.

(b) The remainder may be invested in bonds or securities listed in subsection (2)(a) or in approved personal securities. However, a loan may not be made on personal securities of less than two responsible persons or collateral security to be approved by the directors, and a loan upon personal security may not be made to any person or partnership to an amount exceeding $10,000.

(c) Investments in United States government obligations permitted under subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b) may be made either directly or in the form of securities of or other interests in an open-end or closed-end management type investment company or investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 through 80a-64, if:

(i) the portfolio of the investment company or investment trust is limited to United States government obligations and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by United States government obligations; and

(ii) the investment company or investment trust takes delivery of the collateral for any repurchase agreement, either directly or through an authorized custodian.

(3) A president, vice president, director, or other officer or employee of a savings bank may not directly or indirectly borrow any of the funds of the bank or of its deposits or in any manner use the funds or deposits in the person's private affairs or business. A director may not receive any pay, salary, or emolument until the interest that the directors have determined to allow depositors has been provided for in accordance with the regulations of the corporation.

(4) The real estate that the corporation may lawfully purchase, hold, and convey is the real estate that is:

(a) necessary for the proper transaction of its business, not exceeding in value $50,000;

(b) mortgaged to it in good faith for money loaned pursuant to this chapter or given as security for money loaned or advanced;

(c) purchased at the sale on judgment or decree obtained or rendered on money loaned or advanced.

(5) Savings banks organized under the provisions of this chapter may not purchase, hold, or convey real estate in any other case or for any other purpose than is specified in subsection (4) and may not buy or sell any personal property, except personal property that may be necessary for the proper transaction of its business or that may have been pledged, mortgaged, or assigned to it to secure money loaned or advanced.

History: En. Sec. 24, Ch. 89, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 6014.28, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 5-503; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 137, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1010, Ch. 56, L. 2009.