CORRECTIVE REPRINT
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2282, 2583 PRINTER'S NO. 2590
No. 1889 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY L. E. SMITH, F. E. TAYLOR, SPENCER, RAPPAPORT,
DOMBROWSKI, McVERRY, CESSAR, BRANDT, CAPPABIANCA, SNYDER,
FLECK, LEVIN, O'DONNELL, BURD, MAIALE, RIEGER, OLIVER, BOYES,
ITKIN, SIEMINSKI, GRUPPO, ANDERSON, SPITZ, SERAFINI,
GRABOWSKI, GALLEN, COWELL, SWEET, McCLATCHY, VAN HORNE, POTT
AND COHEN, OCTOBER 6, 1981
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
NOVEMBER 23, 1981
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of November 30, 1965 (P.L.847, No.356),
2 entitled "An act relating to and regulating the business of
3 banking and the exercise by corporations of fiduciary powers;
4 affecting persons engaged in the business of banking and
5 corporations exercising fiduciary powers and affiliates of
6 such persons; affecting the shareholders of such persons and
7 the directors, trustees, officers, attorneys and employes of
8 such persons and of the affiliates of such persons; affecting
9 national banks located in the Commonwealth; affecting persons
10 dealing with persons engaged in the business of banking,
11 corporations exercising fiduciary powers and national banks;
12 conferring powers and imposing duties on the Banking Board,
13 on certain departments and officers of the Commonwealth and
14 on courts, prothonotaries, clerks and recorders of deeds;
15 providing penalties; and repealing certain acts and parts of
16 acts," LIMITING DEPOSITS OF COMMONWEALTH FUNDS; PROVIDING FOR <--
17 A FIXED HOLIDAY ON JANUARY 15; relating to and regulating
18 bank holding companies; further providing for changes of the
19 principal place of business of institutions and the addition
20 and deletion of branches and offices of institutions;
21 affecting the location of branches of institutions and
22 national banks; conferring additional powers on the
23 Department of Banking, and making repeals.
24 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
25 hereby enacts as follows:
1 Section 1. The act of November 30, 1965 (P.L.847, No.356), <--
2 known as the "Banking Code of 1965," is amended by adding a
3 section to read:
4 SECTION 1. SECTION 113, ACT OF NOVEMBER 30, 1965 (P.L.847, <--
5 NO.356), KNOWN AS THE "BANKING CODE OF 1965," ADDED JULY 30,
6 1975 (P.L.108, NO.56) AND CLAUSE (V) OF SUBSECTION (B) AMENDED
7 JULY 25, 1977 (P.L.101, NO.37), IS AMENDED TO READ:
8 SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS
9 (A) FIXED HOLIDAYS--AN INSTITUTION SHALL OBSERVE AS A LEGAL
10 HOLIDAY:
11 (I) NEW YEAR'S DAY (JANUARY 1);
12 (I.1) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (JANUARY 15);
13 (II) MEMORIAL DAY (THE LAST MONDAY IN MAY);
14 (III) INDEPENDENCE DAY (JULY 4);
15 (IV) LABOR DAY (THE FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER);
16 (V) THANKSGIVING DAY (THE FOURTH THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER);
17 (VI) CHRISTMAS DAY (DECEMBER 25);
18 (VII) EACH SUNDAY;
19 (VIII) EACH MONDAY FOLLOWING AN INDEPENDENCE DAY, A
20 CHRISTMAS DAY OR NEW YEAR'S DAY WHICH OCCURS ON A SUNDAY; AND
21 (IX) EACH DAY SPECIFICALLY APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF
22 THE UNITED STATES OR THE GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH AS A
23 LEGAL HOLIDAY OR AS A BANK HOLIDAY.
24 (B) OPTIONAL HOLIDAYS--AN INSTITUTION MAY AT ITS OPTION
25 OBSERVE AS A LEGAL HOLIDAY:
26 (I) LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY (FEBRUARY 12);
27 (II) WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY (THE THIRD MONDAY IN
28 FEBRUARY);
29 (III) GOOD FRIDAY;
30 (IV) FLAG DAY (JUNE 14);
19810H1889B2590 - 2 -
1 (V) COLUMBUS DAY (THE SECOND MONDAY IN OCTOBER);
2 (VI) ELECTION DAY (THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST
3 MONDAY IN NOVEMBER);
4 (VII) VETERANS' DAY (NOVEMBER 11);
5 (VIII) EACH SATURDAY EITHER AS A HALF-HOLIDAY AFTER 12
6 O'CLOCK NOON OR AS A FULL HOLIDAY;
7 (IX) EACH MONDAY FOLLOWING AN INDEPENDENCE DAY, A
8 CHRISTMAS DAY OR NEW YEAR'S DAY WHICH OCCURS ON A SATURDAY;
9 AND
10 (X) EACH DAY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT PERMITS ALL
11 INSTITUTIONS BY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, OR AN INDIVIDUAL
12 INSTITUTION BY WRITTEN PERMISSION, TO OBSERVE AS A LEGAL
13 HOLIDAY.
14 (C) GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS--IN DESIGNATING A PERMISSIVE
15 OPTIONAL HOLIDAY UNDER SUBSECTION (B), THE DEPARTMENT MAY LIMIT
16 THE DESIGNATION TO PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS BASED ON
17 POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, BANKING CLASSIFICATIONS SUCH AS FEDERAL
18 RESERVE DISTRICTS OR OTHERWISE. AN INSTITUTION MAY OBSERVE ANY
19 OPTIONAL HOLIDAY AT ONE OR MORE, BUT FEWER THAN ALL, OF ITS
20 OFFICES.
21 (D) EFFECT OF SECTION--THIS EFFECT OF A LEGAL HOLIDAY UNDER
22 THIS SECTION SHALL BE THAT PROVIDED BY LAW BUT THIS SECTION
23 SHALL SUPERSEDE OTHER LAW AS TO THE DETERMINATION OF DAYS THAT
24 ARE LEGAL HOLIDAYS FOR BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
25 (E) NATIONAL BANKS--THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO OFFICES OF
26 NATIONAL BANKS LOCATED IN PENNSYLVANIA EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT
27 FEDERAL LAW SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES OTHERWISE.
28 SECTION 2. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING SECTIONS TO READ:
29 SECTION 114. LIMITATION ON DEPOSIT OF COMMONWEALTH FUNDS <--
30 THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT DEPOSIT ANY COMMONWEALTH
19810H1889B2590 - 3 -
1 FUNDS IN A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SUBJECT TO THIS ACT THAT DOES
2 NOT CONFORM TO THE FINANCE CHARGE LIMITATIONS IN THE ACT OF
3 OCTOBER 28, 1966 (1ST SP.SESS. P.L.55, NO.7), KNOWN AS THE
4 "GOODS AND SERVICES INSTALLMENT SALES ACT."
5 Section 114 115. Bank Holding Companies <--
6 (a) Definitions--As used in this section:
7 (i) "Bank holding company"--a company, as defined by the
8 Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (70 Stat.133), which
9 is or becomes a bank holding company within the provisions of
10 the Federal act including, without limitation, its provisions
11 determining what constitutes control.
12 (ii) "Institution"--a national bank whose principal
13 place of business is located in Pennsylvania or a bank or
14 bank and trust company.
15 (iii) "Pennsylvania bank holding company"--a bank
16 holding company whose banking subsidiaries' operations are
17 principally conducted in this State as determined by the
18 state in which total deposits of all such banking
19 subsidiaries are largest.
20 (b) Control of institutions--
21 (i) No bank holding company other than a Pennsylvania
22 bank holding company may control an institution.
23 (ii) A Pennsylvania bank holding company may control one
24 or more institutions subject to the limitations that for a
25 period of four years after the effective date of this act it
26 may not control more than four institutions and for a period
27 of four years following such initial four-year period it may
28 not control more than eight institutions.
29 (C) LIMITATIONS ON DEPOSITS--EACH PENNSYLVANIA BANK HOLDING <--
30 COMPANY SHALL PROVIDE THAT AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF THE
19810H1889B2590 - 4 -
1 DEPOSITS AND FUNDS RECEIVED INTO EACH OF ITS INSTITUTIONS SHALL
2 BE MADE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE
3 INSTITUTIONS ARE LOCATED FOR LOCAL PURPOSES SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL
4 MORTGAGE LOANS, PERSONAL LOANS, HOUSING REHABILITATION LOANS,
5 SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AND CONSUMER CREDIT LOANS.
6 (c) (D) Enforcement--The department shall enforce the <--
7 provisions of this section and, to that end, is authorized to
8 issue such regulations and orders as may enable the department
9 to administer and carry out the purposes of this section. The
10 department may, from time to time, examine the books, records
11 and affairs of any Pennsylvania bank holding company, or require
12 reports, under oath, in order to keep informed as to whether the
13 provisions of this act and such regulations and orders made
14 thereunder have been or are being complied with. The cost of
15 such examination shall be assessed against and paid by such
16 Pennsylvania bank holding company.
17 (d) (E) Penalty provisions--Any company which violates any <--
18 provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
19 upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
20 than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day during which
21 such violation continues. Any person who willfully participates
22 in a violation of any of the provisions of this act shall be
23 guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, be
24 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than five thousand dollars
25 ($5,000) or imprisonment of not more than two years, or both.
26 Section 2 3. Subsections (a), (b) and (d) of section 903 of <--
27 the act are amended to read:
28 Section 903. Change of Location of Office
29 (a) Change of principal place of business--An institution
30 may, with the prior written approval of the department and, in
19810H1889B2590 - 5 -
1 the case of an incorporated institution by amendment of its
2 articles, change the location of its principal place of business
3 to a new location:
4 (i) in the same city, incorporated town, borough or
5 township, or
6 (ii) in the same county or in a county contiguous thereto
7 if
8 (A) the total of its surplus, unallocated reserves
9 and undivided profits in the case of a savings bank, or
10 its net worth in the case of a private bank or employes'
11 mutual banking association, at least equals a minimum
12 amount specified by the department, [or]
13 (B) in the case of any other institution, its capital
14 and surplus are at least equal to the minimum capital and
15 surplus which would be required by this act upon original
16 incorporation with a principal place of business in the
17 city, incorporated town, borough or township of the new
18 location and, if the institution has branches, it has the
19 additional capital and surplus required by this act for
20 the establishment of such branches[.], or
21 (C) the institution has not previously changed the
22 location of its principal place of business to a new
23 location in a county contiguous to the county where the
24 institution was originally chartered to do business. If
25 an institution has made a previous change, it may
26 relocate to the county where it was originally chartered
27 to do business or to any county contiguous thereto.
28 (b) Change of branch--An institution may, pursuant to a
29 resolution of its board of directors or trustees, or in the case
30 of a private bank its owners, and with the prior written
19810H1889B2590 - 6 -
1 approval of the department, change the location of a branch to a
2 new location[:
3 (i) in the same city, incorporated town, borough or
4 village, or
5 (ii) in the county in which its principal place of
6 business is located or in a county contiguous thereto,] in
7 the same manner and subject to the same requirements and
8 limitations as are prescribed by this act for the
9 establishment of branches.
10 * * *
11 (d) Discontinuance of office--Upon the change of location of
12 an office pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section,
13 the institution may not maintain [an office] a branch at the
14 former location unless such office shall be authorized as a
15 branch pursuant to this act. [If the location of the principal
16 place of business of the institution is changed to another
17 county, the institution may not maintain any office in a county
18 not contiguous to the county of the new location.]
19 Section 3 4. Section 904 of the act, amended July 23, 1970 <--
20 (P.L.597, No.199) and October 5, 1978 (P.L.1131, No.265), is
21 amended to read:
22 Section 904. Authorization of New Branches
23 (a) Upon a merger or consolidation, a conversion of a
24 national bank into an institution or a conversion of a private
25 bank into an institution authorized by this act, the resulting
26 institution may, with the prior written approval of the
27 department, maintain as branches, in addition to its principal
28 place of business, every office which was maintained prior to
29 the merger or consolidation by the parties thereto or prior to
30 the conversion by the national bank or private bank and which is
19810H1889B2590 - 7 -
1 located in the same county as the principal place of business of
2 the resulting institution [or] in a contiguous county or in a
3 bicontiguous county, except as provided in sections 907 and 908.
4 The term "bicontiguous county," as used in this section, means
5 one which, with respect to the county where the principal place
6 of business of an institution is located, is contiguous to a
7 county contiguous thereto but which is not contiguous to such
8 county in which the principal place of business is located. In
9 the case of a national bank which has changed the location of
10 its main office to a new location in a county contiguous to the
11 county where it was originally chartered to do business and
12 thereafter relocates its main office again, the determination of
13 what is a bicontiguous county shall be made on the basis of the
14 county of the first relocation of its main office unless the
15 county to which the most recent relocation has been made is the
16 county in which it was originally chartered to do business or a
17 county contiguous thereto.
18 (b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section and
19 in sections 907 and 908, an institution may establish [a branch]
20 branches after the effective date of this act only in the same
21 county in which its principal place of business is located [or]
22 in a contiguous county [contiguous thereto, and only] or in a
23 bicontiguous county OR IN A COUNTY OF THE FIRST CLASS, OR OF THE <--
24 SECOND CLASS OR OF THE SECOND CLASS A, upon compliance with the
25 following requirements:
26 (i) the proposed branch shall be authorized by
27 resolution of its board of directors or trustees, or in the
28 case of a private bank its owners,
29 (ii) the institution, in the case of a bank, a bank and
30 trust company or a trust company, shall have, in addition to
19810H1889B2590 - 8 -
1 the minimum capital and surplus required under sections 1102
2 and 1103, such additional amounts of capital and surplus as
3 may be required in the discretion of the department, or in
4 the case of a savings bank shall have at least the total of
5 surplus, unallocated reserves and undivided profits required
6 by the department or in the case of a private bank shall have
7 at least the net worth required by the department,
8 (iii) if the location of the proposed branch is outside
9 of the city, incorporated town, borough or township in which
10 the principal place of business of the institution is
11 located, the institution shall give written notice of the
12 filing of the application for approval of the branch to each
13 other institution whose principal place of business is
14 located in the county of the location of the proposed branch,
15 [and]
16 (iv) for a period of four years after the effective date
17 of this act, the location of the proposed branch in a
18 bicontiguous county shall not be in any city, incorporated
19 town, township or borough having a population of fifteen
20 thousand or less where the principal place of business of any
21 other institution or national bank is located. Four years
22 after the effective date of this act and prior to eight years
23 after the effective date of this act, the location of a
24 branch in a bicontiguous county shall not be in any city,
25 incorporated town, township or borough having a population of
26 ten thousand or less where the principal place of business of
27 any other institution or national bank is located, and
28 [(iv)] (v) the department shall give its written
29 approval of the branch after the filing by the institution of
30 an application for approval in a form prescribed by the
19810H1889B2590 - 9 -
1 department accompanied by any applicable fee and after
2 investigation by the department.
3 (c) Eight years immediately following the effective date of
4 this act, an institution may locate branches within any county
5 in the Commonwealth, subject to the same approval of the
6 department as is required under subsection (b)(v).
7 Section 4 5. Subsection (b) of section 905 of the act is <--
8 repealed.
9 Section 5 6. Subsection (c) of section 905 of the act is <--
10 amended to read:
11 Section 905. Approval of Branch by Department
12 * * *
13 (c) Action by department--Within sixty days after receipt of
14 the application or such longer period as may be required for any
15 hearing which the department may hold, the department shall[,
16 except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,] approve
17 the application if it finds that [there is a need for banking
18 services or facilities such as are contemplated by] the
19 establishment of the proposed branch would be consistent with
20 the purposes of this act set forth in subsection (a) of section
21 103 and that the requirements of this act have been complied
22 with but shall otherwise disapprove the application. If the
23 department approves the application, it shall issue to the
24 institution a letter of authority to establish the branch. If
25 the department disapproves the application, it shall give the
26 institution written notice of its disapproval and a statement in
27 detail of the reasons for its decision.
28 * * *
29 Section 6 7. The act of July 11, 1957 (P.L.773, No.372), <--
30 known as the "Bank Holding Company Act," is repealed.
19810H1889B2590 - 10 -
1 Section 7 8. This act shall take effect immediately. <--
J1L7JR/19810H1889B2590 - 11 -