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the rights, powers, authority, and exemptions; shall be subject to the same supervision and control; and shall have their expenses paid in the same manner as provided by law in respect to regional agricultural credit corporations organized under section 201 (e) of the Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932. (Aug. 19, 1937, sec. 33, 50 Stat. 717; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1148c.)

638-296. Rights and powers unaffected by paragraphs 638-294 and 638–295.—Nothing contained in sections 32 and 33 of this Act shall be construed as limiting the rights, powers, and authority heretofore granted to the regional agricultural credit corporations, the Farm Credit Administration, or the Governor thereof by any Acts of Congress or Executive orders. (Aug. 19, 1937, sec. 34, 50 Stat. 717; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1148d.)

LOCAL AGRICULTURAL-CREDIT CORPORATIONS, LIVESTOCK-LOAN COMPANIES, AND LIKE ORGANIZATIONS; LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS TO AID IN FORMATION OR TO INCREASE CAPITAL STOCK

638-297. Authorization of loans by Governor of Farm Credit Administration; regulations.-That the Secretary of Agriculture [now the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration]* is hereby authorized to make advances or loans to individuals, under such regulations as he may prescribe, for the purpose of assisting in forming local agricultural-credit corporations, livestock-loan companies, or like organizations, or of increasing the capital stock of such corporations, companies, or organizations qualified to do business with Federal intermediate credit banks, or to which such privileges may be extended. (Mar. 3, 1932, sec. 1, 47 Stat. 60; 12 U. S. Č., sec. 1401.)

638-298. Limitation on amount of loans to individual stockholders.No loans shall be made to individual stockholders on the capital stock of, or to create or increase the capital stock of such corporation, company, or organization in an amount in excess of 75 per centum of the par value of the capital stock of such corporation, company, or organization owned by or proposed to be subscribed to by such individual.

Approval of financial structure of corporation by Governor of Farm Credit Administration. (b) No loan shall be made upon the capital stock of any corporation until the Secretary of Agriculture [now Governor of the Farm Credit Administration]* shall find that the financial structure of such corporation is sound and unimpaired and by him. approved, nor shall any loan be made upon the capital stock of such corporation until the management of such company shall be made known to and approved by the Secretary [now Governor]*, and the Secretary [now Governor]* shall have the right at any time to declare the indebtedness to the Government that may be created hereunder due whenever in his judgment the financial structure of the corporation shall become so impaired or the management become so unsatisfactory as to jeopardize the interests of the Government. (Mar. 3, 1932, sec. 2, 47 Stat. 60; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1402.)

638-299. Minimum paid-in capital stock required to warrant loans.No loan or advance shall be made to any individual upon the capital stock of or to create or increase the capital stock of any corporation,

*See Ex. Or. 6084, p. 254, this volume.

unless the paid in capital stock of such corporation shall be at least $10,000. (Mar. 3, 1932, sec. 3, 47 Stat. 60; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1403.)

638-300. Appropriations; revolving fund. To carry out the provisions of this resolution, including all expenses incurred thereunder, there are authorized to be appropriated, out of the unexpended balances of appropriations made to carry out the provisions of Public Resolution Numbered 112, Seventy-first Congress (46 Stat. 1032), as amended by the Interior Department Appropriation Act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1932, and as amended by Public Resolution Numbered 120 (46 Stat. 1167), and out of the collections from loans made under Public Resolution Numbered 112, as so amended, a sum not exceeding $10,000,000, which sum shall be paid into a revolving fund. Not to exceed 2 per centum of such fund may be used for expenses of administration. All moneys received from time to time upon the repayment of any advance or loan made pursuant to this Act, together with the interest, shall be paid into the revolving fund and shall thereafter be available for the purposes and in the manner hereinbefore provided. (Mar. 3, 1932, sec. 4, 47 Stat. 60, 12 U. S. C., sec. 1404.)

FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

638-301. Citation of Act.-That this Act may be cited as the "Federal Credit Union Act". (June 26, 1934, sec. 1, 48 Stat. 1216; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1751.)

638-302. Definitions.-A Federal credit union is hereby defined as a cooperative association organized in accordance with the provisions of this Act for the purpose of promoting thrift among its members and creating a source of credit for provident or productive purposes. When used in this Act the term "Administration" means Farm Credit Administration, and the term "Governor" means the Governor thereof. (June 26, 1934, sec. 2, 48 Stat. 1216; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1752.)

638-303. Federal credit union organization. Any seven or more natural persons who desire to form a Federal credit union shall subscribe before some officer competent to administer oaths an organization certificate in duplicate which shall specifically state(1) The name of the association.

(2) The location of the proposed Federal credit union and the territory in which it will operate.

(3) The names and addresses of the subscribers to the certificate and the number of shares subscribed by each.

(4) The par value of the shares, which shall be $5 each.
(5) The proposed field of membership, specified in detail.

6) The term of the existence of the corporation, which may be perpetual.

(7) The fact that the certificate is made to enable such persons to avail themselves of the advantages of this Act.

Such organization certificate may also contain any provisions approved by the Governor for the management of the business of the association and for the conduct of its affairs and relative to the powers of its directors, officers, or stockholders. (June 26, 1934, sec. 3, 48 Stat. 1217; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1753.)

638-304. Approval of organization certificate.-Any such organization certificate shall be presented to the Governor for approval. Upon such approval the Federal credit union shall be a body corporate and as such, subject to the limitations herein contained, shall be vested with all of the powers and charged with all the liabilities conferred and imposed by this Act upon corporations organized hereunder. Before any organization certificate is approved an appropriate investigation shall be made for the purpose of determining (1) whether the organization certificate conforms to the provisions of this Act; (2) the general character and fitness of the subscribers thereto; and (3) the economic advisability of establishing the proposed Federal credit union. Upon approval of such organization certificate by the Governor it shall be the charter of the corporation and one of the originals thereof shall be delivered to the corporation after the payment of the fee required therefor. (June 26, 1934, sec. 4, 48 Stat. 1217; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1754.)

638-305. Fees. For the purpose of paying the costs incident to the ascertainment of whether an organization certificate should be approved the subscribers to any such certificate shall pay, at the time of filing their organization certificate, the amount prescribed by the Governor, which shall not exceed $20 in any case; and on the approval of any organization certificate they shall also pay a fee of $5. During December of each calendar year each Federal credit union shall pay to the Administration a fee of not to exceed $10, to be fixed by the Governor, for the cost of supervision: Provided, however, That no such annual fee shall be payable by such an organization for the fractional part of the first calendar year during which it is formed. All such fees shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States for the account of the Administration and may be expended by the Governor for such administrative and other expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions hereof as he may determine to be proper, the purpose of such fees being to defray, as far as practicable, the administrative and supervisory costs incident to the carrying out of this Act. (June 26, 1934, sec. 5, 48 Stat. 1217; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1755.)

638-306. Reports and examinations.-Federal credit unions shall be under the supervision of the Governor, and shall make such financial reports to him (at least annually) as he may require. Each Federal credit union shall be subject to examination by, and for this purpose shall make its books and records accessible to, any person designated by the Governor. The Governor shall fix a scale of examination fees to be paid by Federal credit unions, giving due consideration to the time and expense incident to such examinations, and to the ability of Federal credit unions to pay such fees, which fees shall be assessed against and paid by each Federal credit union promptly after the completion of such examination. Examination fees collected under the provisions of this section shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund created by section 5 hereof, and shall be available for the purposes specified in said section 5. (June 26, 1934, sec. 6, 48 Stat. 1218; Dec. 6, 1937, sec. 1, 51 Stat. 4; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1756.) 638-307. Powers.-A Federal credit union shall have succession in its corporate name during its existence and shall have power(1) To make contracts.

(2) To sue and be sued.

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(3) To adopt and use a common seal and alter the same at pleasure. (4) To purchase, hold, and dispose of property necessary and incidental to its operations.

(5) To make loans with maturities not exceeding two years to its members for provident or productive purposes upon such terms and conditions as this Act and the bylaws provide and as the credit committee may approve, at rates of interest not exceeding 1 per centum per month on unpaid balances (inclusive of all charges incident to making the loan): Provided, That no loans to a director, officer, or member of a committee shall exceed the amount of his holdings in the Federal credit union as represented by shares thereof. No director, officer, or committee member shall endorse for borrowers. A borrower may repay his loan, prior to maturity, in whole or in part on any business day.

(6) To receive from its members payments on shares.

(7) To invest its funds (a) in loans exclusively to members; (b) in obligations of the United States of America, or securities fully guaranteed as to principal and interest thereby; (c) in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Governor, in loans to other credit unions in the total amount not exceeding 25 per centum of its paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus; (d) and in shares or accounts of Federal savings and loan associations.

(8) To make deposits in national banks and in State banks, trust companies, and mutual savings banks operating in accordance with the laws of the State in which the Federal credit union does business.

(9) To borrow (from any source) in an aggregate amount not exceeding 50 per centum of its paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus: Provided, That any Federal credit union may discount with or sell to any Federal intermediate credit bank any eligible obligations up to the amount of its paid-in and unimpaired capital, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Governor.

(10) To fine members, in accordance with the bylaws, for failure to meet promptly their obligations to the Federal credit union.

(11) To impress and enforce a lien upon the shares and dividends of any member, to the extent of any loan made to him and any dues or fines payable by him.

(12) To exercise such incidental powers as shall be necessary or requisite to enable it to carry on effectively the business for which it is incorporated. (June 26, 1934, sec. 7, 48 Stat. 1218; Dec. 6, 1937, sec. 2, 51 Stat. 4, 12 U. S. C., sec. 1757.)

638-308. Bylaws.-In order to simplify the organization of Federal credit unions the Governor shall, upon the passage of this Act, cause to be prepared a form of organization certificate and a form of bylaws, consistent with this Act, which shall be used by Federal credit union incorporators, and shall be supplied to them on request. At the time of presenting the organization certificate the incorporators shall also submit proposed bylaws to the Governor for his approval. (June 26, 1934, sec. 8, 48 Stat. 1219; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1758.)

638-309. Membership.-Federal credit union membership shall consist of the incorporators and such other persons and incorporated and unincorporated organizations, to the extent permitted by rules and regulations prescribed by the Governor, as may be elected to membership and as shall, each, subscribe to at least one share of its stock and

pay the initial installment thereon and the entrance fee; except that Federal credit union membership shall be limited to groups having a common bond of occupation, or association, or to groups within a well-defined neighborhood, community, or rural district. (June 26, 1934, sec. 9, 48 Stat. 1219; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1759.)

638-310. Members' meetings.-The fiscal year of all Federal credit unions shall end December 31. The annual meeting of each Federal credit union shall be held at such time during the month of the following January and at such place as its bylaws shall prescribe. Special meetings may be held in the manner indicated in the bylaws. No member shall be entitled to vote by proxy, but a member other than a natural person may vote through an agent designated for the purpose. Irrespective of the number of shares held by him, no member shall have more than one vote. (June 26, 1934, sec. 10, 48 Stat. 1219; 12 U. S. C., sec. 1760.)

638-311. Management.

Generally. (a) The business affairs of a Federal credit union shall be managed by a board of not less than five directors, a credit committee of not less than three members, and a supervisory committee of three members (a majority of whom shall not be directors) all to be elected by the members (and from their number) at their annual meeting, and to hold office for such terms, respectively, as the bylaws may provide. A record of the names and addresses of the members of the board and committees and officers shall be filed with the Administration within ten days after their election. No member of the board or of either committee shall, as such be compensated.

Officers. (b) At their first meeting after the annual meeting of the members, the directors shall elect from their number a president, a vice president, a clerk, and a treasurer, who shall be the executive officers of the corporation and may be compensated for their services to such extent as the bylaws may provide. The offices of clerk and treasurer may be held by the same person. The duties of the officers shall be as determined by the bylaws, except that the treasurer shall be the general manager of the corporation. Before the treasurer shall enter upon his duties he shall give bond with good and sufficient surety, in an amount and character to be determined from time to time by the board of directors, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his trust.

Directors. (c) The board of directors shall meet at least once a month and shall have the general direction and control of the affairs of the corporation. Minutes of all such meetings shall be kept. Among other things they shall act upon applications for membership; fix the amount and character of the surety bond required of any officer having custody of funds; recommend the declaration of dividends; fill vacancies in the board and in the credit committee until successors elected at the next annual meeting have qualified; have charge of investments other than loans to members; determine from time to time the maximum number of shares that may be held by any individual; and, subject to the limitations of this Act, determine the interest rates on loans and the maximum amount that may be loaned with or without security to any member.

Credit committee. (d) The credit committee shall hold such meetings as the business of the Federal credit union may require and not less frequently than once a month (of which meetings due notice shall

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