32-1-432. Limitations on loans -- rulemaking. (1) (a) The total loans or extensions of credit to a person, partnership, or corporation by a bank, including loans to a partnership and to the members of the partnership, may not exceed 20% of the amount of the unimpaired capital and surplus of that bank.
     (b) The discount of bills of exchange drawn in good faith against actual existing values, the discount of bankers, acceptances of other banks, the discount of commercial or business paper actually owned by the person negotiating it and the obligations of the United States, general obligations of any state or of any political subdivision, or obligations issued under authority of the Federal Farm Loan Act may not be considered as money borrowed.
     (c) The limitations imposed on total loans and extensions of credit by this section do not apply to loans and investments secured by obligations of the United States having a current market value of 100% of the amount loaned or invested.
     (d) Loans or obligations are not subject under this section to any limitation based upon that unimpaired capital and surplus to the extent that they are secured or covered by guaranties, or by commitments or agreements to take over or to purchase them, made by a federal reserve bank or by the United States or a department, bureau, board, commission, or establishment of the United States, including a corporation wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the United States.
     (2) The combined liabilities of the members of a firm, partnership, or unincorporated association to the loaning bank must be included in the liabilities of the firm, partnership, or unincorporated association. The portion of the liabilities of the firm, partnership, or unincorporated association for which a member individually is legally responsible must be included in the liabilities of the member in determining the limitations imposed by this section. In determining the limitation for loans or extensions of credit to a limited partner of a limited partnership, the portions of the liabilities of the limited partnership for which the limited partner is free from liability must be excluded.
     (3) When, in the judgment of the department, the liabilities of a corporation or the combined liabilities of a corporation and one or more of its stockholders to a bank are excessive, it shall require the reduction to the limits and within the time it prescribes.
     (4) The limitations of this section do not apply to the extent that the loan or extension of credit is secured by pledged deposits in the lending bank.
     (5) The limitations of this section do not apply to a loan of funds or an extension of credit made by a bank to another bank if the term of the loan or extension of credit does not exceed 2 business days.
     (6) The limitations of this section do not apply to the extent that a loan is covered by a guaranty or by commitments or agreements to take over or purchase the loan made by an agency or board of the state of Montana authorized by law to provide the guaranties, commitments, or agreements.
     (7) (a) A state-chartered bank may be exempted from the limitations of this section by applying to the department for a written waiver stipulating that the bank will be subject to the limitations imposed on national banks under 12 U.S.C. 84 and the regulations of the office of the comptroller of the currency.
     (b) A written waiver provided to a state-chartered bank in accordance with subsection (7)(a) may not be changed by the bank or revoked by the department for 2 years from the date of issue or for a different period determined by the department by rule.
     (8) The department may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.
     (9) For purposes of this section, the terms "loan" and "extension of credit" include all direct or indirect advances of funds to a person on the basis of an obligation of the person to repay the funds. The terms also include a liability of a state-chartered bank to advance funds to or on behalf of a person pursuant to a contractual commitment. The department may adopt a rule differentiating between discretionary and nondiscretionary contractual commitments.

     History: En. Sec. 44, Ch. 89, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 6014.48, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 71, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 6, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 118, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 431, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 5-523; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 258, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 315, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 395, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 100, L. 1999.