32-1-422. Restriction on investment in corporate stock -- rulemaking authority. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), a commercial or savings bank may not purchase or invest its capital or surplus or money of its depositors, or any part of its capital or surplus or money of its depositors, in the capital stock of any corporation unless the purchase or acquisition of capital stock is necessary to prevent loss to the bank on a debt previously contracted in good faith. Any capital stock purchased or acquired to prevent the loss must be sold by the bank within 6 months after purchase or acquisition if it can be sold for the amount of the claim of the bank against it. All capital stock purchased or acquired must be sold for the best price obtainable by the bank within 1 year after purchase or acquisition, or if the stock is unmarketable, it must be charged off as an investment loss, which is equivalent to the stock's sale. A person or corporation violating any provision of this section shall forfeit to the state twice the nominal amount of the stock.
     (2) A bank may acquire and hold for its own account:
     (a) up to 20% of its capital and surplus in the capital stock of a bank service corporation organized solely for the purpose of providing services to banks;
     (b) shares of stock of a federal reserve bank and a federal home loan bank, without limitation of amount;
     (c) shares of stock in a Montana capital company or a Montana small business investment capital company within limits prescribed by the Montana Capital Company Act; and
     (d) shares of stock or financial interests in an affiliate or a subsidiary, the business activities of which are limited to those allowed by law for a bank.
     (3) A bank may invest any amount up to the limit established by the department of its unimpaired capital and surplus in shares of stock of:
     (a) the federal national mortgage association;
     (b) the federal home loan mortgage corporation;
     (c) the federal agricultural mortgage corporation; and
     (d) other corporations created pursuant to acts of congress to meet the agricultural, housing, health, transit, educational, environmental, or similar needs of the nation when the department determines that the investment is in the public interest.
     (4) A bank may, upon written application and approval of the department, make an investment in an amount permitted by the department by rule so long as the investment serves primarily to promote the public welfare, including the welfare of low- and moderate-income families and communities in need of jobs, housing, and public services. A bank may also, with the department's approval, purchase interests in an entity, as defined in 35-1-113(9), that makes investments for similar public welfare purposes.
     (5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. The rules pertaining to the investments allowed in subsection (4) may be substantially equivalent to or more stringent than the eleventh power provided for in 12 U.S.C. 24 and the policy guidelines on community development issued by the office of the comptroller of the currency.

     History: En. Sec. 39, Ch. 89, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 6014.43, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 115, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 5-518; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 259, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 199, L. 1989; (4) En. Sec. 6, Ch. 199, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 395, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 100, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 410, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 36, L. 2001.