
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 12, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 12CFR7]

[Page 127-131]
 
                       TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING
 
   CHAPTER I--COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 7--BANK ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart B--Corporate Practices

Sec. 7.2000  Corporate governance procedures.

    (a) General. A national bank proposing to engage in a corporate 
governance procedure shall comply with applicable Federal banking 
statutes and regulations, and safe and sound banking practices.
    (b) Other sources of guidance. To the extent not inconsistent with 
applicable Federal banking statutes or regulations, or bank safety and 
soundness, a national bank may elect to follow the corporate governance 
procedures of the law of the state in which the main office of the bank 
is located, the law of the state in which the holding company of the 
bank is incorporated, the Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code 
Ann. tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter), or the 
Model Business Corporation Act (1984, as amended 1994, and as amended 
thereafter). A national bank shall designate in its bylaws the body of 
law selected for its corporate governance procedures.
    (c) No-objection procedures. The OCC also considers requests for its 
staff's position on the ability of a national bank to engage in a 
particular corporate governance procedure in accordance with the no-
objection procedures set forth in Banking Circular 205 or any 
subsequently published agency procedures.\2\ Requests should demonstrate 
how the proposed practice is not inconsistent with applicable Federal 
statutes or regulations, and is consistent with safe and sound banking 
practices.
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    \2\ Available upon request from the OCC Communications Division, 250 
E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219, (202) 874-4700.
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Sec. 7.2001  Notice of shareholders' meetings.

    A national bank must mail shareholders notice of the time, place, 
and purpose of all shareholders' meetings at least 10 days prior to the 
meeting by first class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency 
circumstance exists. Where a national bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary, 
the sole shareholder is permitted to waive notice of the shareholder's 
meeting. The articles of association, bylaws, or law applicable to a 
national bank may require a longer period of notice.

Sec. 7.2002  Director or attorney as proxy.

    Any person or group of persons, except the bank's officers, clerks, 
tellers, or bookkeepers, may be designated to act as proxy. The bank's 
directors or attorneys may act as proxy if they are not also employed as 
an officer, clerk, teller or bookkeeper of the bank.

Sec. 7.2003  Annual meeting for election of directors.

    When the day fixed for the regular annual meeting of the 
shareholders falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the bank is 
located, the shareholders' meeting shall be held, and the directors 
elected, on the next following banking day.

Sec. 7.2004  Honorary directors or advisory boards.

    A national bank may appoint honorary or advisory members of a board 
of directors to act in advisory capacities without voting power or power 
of final decision in matters concerning the business of the bank. Any 
listing of honorary or advisory directors must distinguish between them 
and the bank's board of directors or indicate their advisory status.

Sec. 7.2005  Ownership of stock necessary to qualify as director.

    (a) General. A national bank director must own a qualifying equity 
interest in a national bank or a company that has control of a national 
bank. The director must own the qualifying equity interest in his or her 
own right and meet a certain minimum threshold ownership.
    (b) Qualifying equity interest--(1) Minimum required equity 
interest. For purposes of this section, a qualifying equity interest 
includes common or preferred stock of the bank or of a company that 
controls the bank that has

[[Page 128]]

not less than an aggregate par value of $1,000, an aggregate 
shareholders' equity of $1,000, or an aggregate fair market value of 
$1,000.
    (i) The value of the common or preferred stock held by a national 
bank director is valued as of the date purchased or the date on which 
the individual became a director, whichever value is greater.
    (ii) In the case of a company that owns more than one national bank, 
a director may use his or her equity interest in the controlling company 
to satisfy, in whole or in part, the equity interest requirement for any 
or all of the controlled national banks.
    (iii) Upon request, the OCC may consider whether other interests in 
a company controlling a national bank constitute an interest equivalent 
to $1,000 par value of national bank stock.
    (2) Joint ownership and tenancy in common. Shares held jointly or as 
a tenant in common are qualifying shares held by a director in his or 
her own right only to the extent of the aggregate value of the shares 
which the director would be entitled to receive on dissolution of the 
joint tenancy or tenancy in common.
    (3) Shares in a living trust. Shares deposited by a person in a 
living trust (inter vivos trust) as to which the person is a trustee and 
retains an absolute power of revocation are shares owned by the person 
in his or her own right.
    (4) Other arrangements--(i) Shares held through retirement plans and 
similar arrangements. A director may hold his or her qualifying interest 
through a profit-sharing plan, individual retirement account, retirement 
plan, or similar arrangement, if the director retains beneficial 
ownership and legal control over the shares.
    (ii) Shares held subject to buyback agreements. A director may 
acquire and hold his or her qualifying interest pursuant to a stock 
repurchase or buyback agreement with a transferring shareholder under 
which the director purchases the qualifying shares subject to an 
agreement that the transferring shareholder will repurchase the shares 
when, for any reason, the director ceases to serve in that capacity. The 
agreement may give the transferring shareholder a right of first refusal 
to repurchase the qualifying shares if the director seeks to transfer 
ownership of the shares to a third person.
    (iii) Assignment of right to dividends or distributions. A director 
may assign the right to receive all dividends or distributions on his or 
her qualifying shares to another, including a transferring shareholder, 
if the director retains beneficial ownership and legal control over the 
shares.
    (iv) Execution of proxy. A director may execute a revocable or 
irrevocable proxy authorizing another, including a transferring 
shareholder, to vote his or her qualifying shares, provided the director 
retains beneficial ownership and legal control over the shares.
    (c) Non-qualifying ownership. The following are not shares held by a 
director in his or her own right:
    (1) Shares pledged by the holder to secure a loan. However, all or 
part of the funds used to purchase the required qualifying equity 
interest may be borrowed from any party, including the bank or its 
affiliates;
    (2) Shares purchased subject to an absolute option vested in the 
seller to repurchase the shares within a specified period; and
    (3) Shares deposited in a voting trust where the depositor 
surrenders:
    (i) Legal ownership (depositor ceases to be registered owner of the 
stock);
    (ii) Power to vote the stock or to direct how it shall be voted; or
    (iii) Power to transfer legal title to the stock.

[61 FR 4862, Feb. 9, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 60099, Nov. 4, 1999]

Sec. 7.2006  Cumulative voting in election of directors.

    When electing directors, a shareholder shall have as many votes as 
the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of the 
shareholder's shares. The shareholder may cast all these votes for one 
candidate, or distribute the votes among as many candidates as the 
shareholder chooses. If, after the first ballot, subsequent ballots are 
necessary to elect directors, a shareholder may not vote shares that he 
or she has already fully cumulated and voted in favor of a successful 
candidate.

[[Page 129]]

Sec. 7.2007  Filling vacancies and increasing board of directors other 
          than by shareholder action.

    (a) Increasing board of directors. If authorized by the bank's 
articles of association, between shareholder meetings a majority of the 
board of directors may increase the number of the bank's directors 
within the limits specified in 12 U.S.C. 71a. The board of directors may 
increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the 
number of directors last elected by shareholders was 15 or fewer, and by 
up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by 
shareholders was 16 or more.
    (b) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs on the board of directors, 
including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of 
directors, the vacancy may be filled by the shareholders, a majority of 
the board of directors remaining in office, or, if the directors 
remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum, by an affirmative 
vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office.

Sec. 7.2008  Oath of directors.

    (a) Administration of the oath. A notary public, including one who 
is a director but not an officer of the national bank, may administer 
the oath of directors. Any person, other than an officer of the bank, 
having an official seal and authorized by the state to administer oaths, 
may also administer the oath.
    (b) Execution of the oath. Each director attending the organization 
meeting shall execute either a joint or individual oath. A director not 
attending the organization meeting (the first meeting after the election 
of the directors) shall execute the individual oath. A director shall 
take another oath upon re-election, notwithstanding uninterupted 
service. Appropriate sample oaths are located in the ``Comptroller's 
Corporate Manual''.
    (c) Filing and recordkeeping. A national bank must file the original 
executed oaths of directors with the OCC and retain a copy in the bank's 
records in accordance with the Comptroller's Corporate Manual filing and 
recordkeeping instructions for executed oaths of directors.

[61 FR 4862, Feb. 9, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 60099, Nov. 4, 1999]

Sec. 7.2009  Quorum of the board of directors; proxies not permissible.

    A national bank shall provide in its articles of association or 
bylaws that for the transaction of business, a quorum of the board of 
directors is at least a majority of the entire board then in office. A 
national bank director may not vote by proxy.

Sec. 7.2010  Directors' responsibilities.

    The business and affairs of the bank shall be managed by or under 
the direction of the board of directors. The board of directors should 
refer to OCC published guidance for additional information regarding 
responsibilities of directors.

Sec. 7.2011  Compensation plans.

    Consistent with safe and sound banking practices and the 
compensation provisions of 12 CFR part 30, a national bank may adopt 
compensation plans, including, among others, the following:
    (a) Bonus and profit-sharing plans. A national bank may adopt a 
bonus or profit-sharing plan designed to ensure adequate remuneration of 
bank officers and employees.
    (b) Pension plans. A national bank may provide employee pension 
plans and make reasonable contributions to the cost of the pension plan.
    (c) Employee stock option and stock purchase plans. A national bank 
may provide employee stock option and stock purchase plans.

Sec. 7.2012  President as director; chief executive officer.

    Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 76, the president of a national bank must be a 
member of the board of directors, but a director other than the 
president may be elected chairman of the board. A person other than the 
president may serve as chief executive officer, and this person is not 
required to be a director of the bank.

[[Page 130]]

Sec. 7.2013  Fidelity bonds covering officers and employees.

    (a) Adequate coverage. All officers and employees of a national bank 
must have adequate fidelity coverage. The failure of directors to 
require bonds with adequate sureties and in sufficient amount may make 
the directors liable for any losses that the bank sustains because of 
the absence of such bonds. Directors should not serve as sureties on 
such bonds.
    (b) Factors. The board of directors should determine the amount of 
such coverage, premised upon a consideration of factors, including:
    (1) Internal auditing safeguards employed;
    (2) Number of employees;
    (3) Amount of deposit liabilities; and
    (4) Amount of cash and securities normally held by the bank.

Sec. 7.2014  Indemnification of institution-affiliated parties.

    (a) Administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by Federal 
banking agencies. A national bank may only make or agree to make 
indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party with respect 
to an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by any Federal 
banking agency, that are reasonable and consistent with the requirements 
of 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder. The 
term ``institution-affiliated party'' has the same meaning as set forth 
at 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
    (b) Administrative proceeding or civil actions not initiated by a 
Federal banking agency--(1) General. In cases involving an 
administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a Federal 
banking agency, a national bank may indemnify an institution-affiliated 
party for damages and expenses, including the advancement of expenses 
and legal fees, in accordance with the law of the state in which the 
main office of the bank is located, the law of the state in which the 
bank's holding company is incorporated, or the relevant provisions of 
the Model Business Corporation Act (1984, as amended 1994, and as 
amended thereafter), or Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code Ann. 
tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter), provided such 
payments are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. A 
national bank shall designate in its bylaws the body of law selected for 
making indemnification payments under this paragraph.
    (2) Insurance premiums. A national bank may provide for the payment 
of reasonable premiums for insurance covering the expenses, legal fees, 
and liability of institution-affiliated parties to the extent that the 
expenses, fees, or liability could be indemnified under paragraph (b)(1) 
of this section.

Sec. 7.2015  Cashier.

    A national bank's bylaws, board of directors, or a duly designated 
officer may assign some or all of the duties previously performed by the 
bank's cashier to its president, chief executive officer, or any other 
officer.

Sec. 7.2016  Restricting transfer of stock and record dates.

    (a) Conditions for stock transfer. Under 12 U.S.C. 52, a national 
bank may impose conditions upon the transfer of its stock reasonably 
calculated to simplify the work of the bank with respect to stock 
transfers, voting at shareholders' meetings, and related matters and to 
protect it against fraudulent transfers.
    (b) Record dates. A national bank may close its stock records for a 
reasonable period to ascertain shareholders for voting purposes. The 
board of directors may fix a record date for determining the 
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of 
shareholders. The record date should be in reasonable proximity to the 
date that notice is given to the shareholders of the meeting.

Sec. 7.2017  Facsimile signatures on bank stock certificates.

    The president and cashier, or other officers authorized by the 
bank's bylaws, shall sign each national bank stock certificate. The 
signatures may be manual or facsimile, including electronic means of 
signature. Each certificate must be sealed with the seal of the 
association.

[[Page 131]]

Sec. 7.2018  Lost stock certificates.

    If a national bank does not provide for replacing lost, stolen, or 
destroyed stock certificates in its articles of association or bylaws, 
the bank may adopt procedures in accordance with Sec. 7.2000.

Sec. 7.2019  Loans secured by a bank's own shares.

    (a) Permitted agreements, relating to bank shares. A national bank 
may require a borrower holding shares of the bank to execute agreements:
    (1) Not to pledge, give away, transfer, or otherwise assign such 
shares;
    (2) To pledge such shares at the request of the bank when necessary 
to prevent loss; and
    (3) To leave such shares in the bank's custody.
    (b) Use of capital notes and debentures. A national bank may not 
make loans secured by a pledge of the bank's own capital notes and 
debentures. Such notes and debentures must be subordinated to the claims 
of depositors and other creditors of the issuing bank, and are, 
therefore, capital instruments within the purview of 12 U.S.C. 83.

Sec. 7.2020  Acquisition and holding of shares as treasury stock.

    (a) Acquisition of outstanding shares. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 59, 
including the requirements for prior approval by the bank's shareholders 
and the OCC imposed by that statute, a national bank may acquire its 
outstanding shares and hold them as treasury stock, if the acquisition 
and retention of the shares is, and continues to be, for a legitimate 
corporate purpose.
    (b) Legitimate corporate purpose. Examples of legitimate corporate 
purposes include the acquisition and holding of treasury stock to:
    (1) Have shares available for use in connection with employee stock 
option, bonus, purchase, or similar plans;
    (2) Sell to a director for the purpose of acquiring qualifying 
shares;
    (3) Purchase a director's qualifying shares upon the cessation of 
the director's service in that capacity if there is no ready market for 
the shares;
    (4) Reduce the number of shareholders in order to qualify as a 
Subchapter S corporation; and
    (5) Reduce costs associated with shareholder communications and 
meetings.
    (c) Prohibition. It is not a legitimate corporate purpose to acquire 
or hold treasury stock on speculation about changes in its value.

[64 FR 60099, Nov. 4, 1999]

Sec. 7.2021  Preemptive rights.

    A national bank in its articles of association must grant or deny 
preemptive rights to the bank's shareholders. Any amendment to a 
national bank's articles of association which modifies such preemptive 
rights must be approved by a vote of the holders of two-thirds of the 
bank's outstanding voting shares.

Sec. 7.2022  Voting trusts.

    The shareholders of a national bank may establish a voting trust 
under the applicable law of a state selected by the participants and 
designated in the trust agreement, provided the implementation of the 
trust is consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

Sec. 7.2023  Reverse stock splits.

    (a) Authority to engage in reverse stock splits. A national bank may 
engage in a reverse stock split if the transaction serves a legitimate 
corporate purpose and provides adequate dissenting shareholders' rights.
    (b) Legitimate corporate purpose. Examples of legitimate corporate 
purposes include a reverse stock split to:
    (1) Reduce the number of shareholders in order to qualify as a 
Subchapter S corporation; and
    (2) Reduce costs associated with shareholder communications and 
meetings.

[64 FR 60099, Nov. 4, 1999]
