MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Banks and Banking

By: Representative Guice

House Bill 861

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 81-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROVISION WHICH PROVIDES THAT INSURANCE ACTIVITIES OF BANKS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY STATE INSURANCE LAWS EXCEPT WITH REGARD TO THE SALE OF ANNUITIES IF NATIONAL BANKS IN MISSISSIPPI ENGAGE IN SUCH ACTIVITY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 75-67-135 AND 75-67-241, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM THE EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED IN THE SMALL LOAN REGULATORY LAW AND THE SMALL LOAN PRIVILEGE TAX LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 81-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

81-5-1. (1) All banking corporations are prohibited, either through their officers or as a banking agency, from participating, directly or indirectly, in the operation of any underwriting syndicate which handles securities for resale. However, this inhibition shall not apply to bonds issued by federal, state, county or other governmental agencies.

(2) The executive officers of banking corporations now existing or hereafter organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, are prohibited from owning stock in private banking houses or other agencies engaged in the business of underwriting securities for resale.

(3) The Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance is authorized, empowered and directed to promulgate rules and regulations, relative to withdrawals of deposits from savings banks, trust companies and other banking institutions, and the commissioner may, in cases of emergency, declare bank holidays and do any and all things necessary to insure, protect and conserve the resources of such banks.

(4) All state banking corporations are prohibited from making loans to state, county, municipal and district governmental agencies, unless such loans are made in strict compliance with legal enactments and regulations which govern, and such banking corporations are further prohibited from transferring funds from one state, county, municipal or district account to another unless authorized by warrant issued by proper authority, and such banking corporations are prohibited from discounting state, county, municipal, district or other public certificates and warrants, but such certificates and warrants may be used as collateral to guarantee the payment of notes or other obligations.

(5) The board of directors of any banking corporation created under the laws of this state may, at its option, require any or all employees of such to file with the board of directors a sworn financial statement semiannually or more often if it so desires.

(6) Any bank may, at its option, pay all checks drawn on it with currency or valid exchange drawn on a bank in a reserve city not more than five hundred (500) miles distant from such bank; but each depositor is entitled to have his checks paid each day in currency to the total extent of ten percent (10%) of his deposit if it exceeds One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and at least One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) each day if his balance is over One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), and may demand his entire balance in currency at any time if One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or less.

(7) No loan in excess of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) shall be made by any state banking corporation except on approval of a loan committee selected by a majority of the board of directors. Such committee shall require of all such prospective borrowers a financial statement in connection with all unsecured loans in excess of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00).

(8) All state banking corporations may purchase for the account of their customers bonds, stocks and other securities, and such banking corporations may charge for their service in connection with the handling of such transactions only actual expenses plus the usual broker's fees allowed for similar service by national banks.

(9) Any state bank may purchase, lease or otherwise acquire automatic data processing computers and related machinery and equipment, and such bank may utilize and operate such computers, machinery and equipment in performing for itself, its customers or any other bank such services as may be desired including, but not limited to, check and deposit sorting and posting, computation and posting of interest and other credits and charges, preparation and mailing of checks, statements, notices and similar items, or any other clerical, bookkeeping, accounting, statistical or similar functions performed by and for a bank. Corporations may be organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi for the purpose of owning and operating, by purchase, lease or otherwise, such computers, related machinery and equipment as aforesaid, and such corporations may perform for any bank those services as above mentioned; and stock of such corporations shall be legal investments for state banks to the same extent that stock of bank service corporations is eligible for acquisition by national banks under the provisions of the Bank Service Corporation Act, Public Law 87-856, 76 Stat. 1132.

(10) In addition to other powers, a state-chartered bank shall have and possess such of the rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties and obligations of a national bank having its principal place of business in this state as may be prescribed by the State Board of Banking Review by general regulation under the circumstances and conditions set out therein. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this subsection (10) and the provisions of any other act or acts, directly or indirectly, governing or regulating the activities of state chartered banks, the provisions of this subsection (10) shall control * * *.

SECTION 2. Section 75-67-135, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-67-135. This article shall not apply to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association doing business under any of the laws of this state relating to banks, savings banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, * * * pawnbrokers or credit unions; nor shall this article apply to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association concerning loans made to the employees or farm tenants of such person, firm, partnership or corporation or association; nor to loans or advances made to be used in or in the furtherance of farming or agricultural operations; nor to loans insured or guaranteed by the United States or any of its agencies; nor to persons, firms, partnerships, associations or corporations making loans only secured by real estate; nor to dealers and sellers or purchasers of conditional sales or retained title contracts on real or personal property; nor an occasional lender not regularly engaged in the business of lending money, but such lender shall be governed by the usury statutes of this state.

SECTION 3. Section 75-67-241, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-67-241. This article shall not apply to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association doing business under any of the laws of this state relating to banks, savings banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, * * * credit unions or pawnbrokers; nor shall this article apply to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association concerning loans made to the employees or farm tenants of such person, firm, partnership or corporation or association; nor to loans or advances made to be used in or in the furtherance of farming or agricultural operations; nor to loans insured or guaranteed by the United States or any of its agencies; nor to persons, firms, partnerships, associations or corporations making loans only secured by real estate; nor to dealers and sellers or purchasers of conditional sales or retained title contracts on real or personal property; nor a member of an affiliated group as defined by Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, on July 1, 1995, with respect to loans made by one member of the affiliated group to another and who is not otherwise engaged in the business of loaning money secured by tangible personal property; nor an occasional lender not regularly engaged in the business of lending money, but such lender shall be governed by the usury statutes of this state.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.