2023 California Code › Financial Code - FIN › DIVISION 1.1 - BANKING › CHAPTER 20 - Foreign (Other Nation) Banks › ARTICLE 3 - Agencies and Branch Offices › Section 1811.

1811. (a) In this section:
(1) “Adjusted liabilities,” when used with respect to a foreign (other nation) bank, means the liabilities of such bank’s business in this state, excluding (A) accrued expenses, (B) any liability to an office (whether in or outside of this state) or majority-owned subsidiary of the bank, and (C) such other liabilities as the commissioner may by regulation or order exclude.
(2) “Applicable minimum,” when used with respect to eligible assets deposited or to be deposited with an approved depository by a foreign (other nation) bank, means such amount as the commissioner may from time to time by regulation or order determine to be necessary for the maintenance of sound financial condition, for the protection of the interests of creditors of the bank’s business in this state, or for the protection of the public interest. However, in the case of a foreign (other nation) bank which is licensed to maintain a branch office, the applicable minimum shall in no event be less than 1 percent of the adjusted liabilities of such bank.
(3) “Approved depository,” when used with respect to a foreign (other nation) bank, means a bank organized under the laws of this state or a national bank headquartered in this state which has been selected by such foreign (other nation) bank and approved by the commissioner for the purpose of acting as the approved depository of the foreign (other nation) bank and which has filed with the commissioner, in such form as the commissioner may by regulation or order prescribe, an agreement to comply with all applicable provisions of this section and of any regulation or order issued under this section.
(4) “Eligible assets” when used with respect to a foreign (other nation) bank, means any of the following:
(A) Cash.
(B) Any security of the type described in Section 1572.
(C) Any negotiable certificate of deposit which (i) has a maturity of not more than one year, (ii) is payable in the United States, and (iii) is issued by a bank organized under the laws of a state of the United States, by a national bank, or by a branch office of a foreign (other nation) bank which is located in the United States.
(D) Any commercial paper which is payable in the United States and which is rated P-1 or its equivalent by a nationally recognized rating service; provided, however, that any conflict in rating shall be resolved in favor of the lower rating.
(E) Any banker’s acceptance which is payable in the United States and which is eligible for discount with a Federal Reserve bank.
(F) Any other asset which the commissioner by regulation or order determines to be eligible.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, “eligible asset,” when used with respect to a foreign (other nation) bank, does not include any instrument the issuer of which (i) is, or is affiliated with, such foreign (other nation) bank, (ii) is domiciled in, or controlled by a bank or other person domiciled in, the same foreign nation as the foreign (other nation) bank, or (iii) is, or is controlled by, such foreign nation. For purposes of the foregoing provision, to be “affiliated” means to control, to be controlled by, or to be under common control with; and to “control” has the meaning set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 1250.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) The amount of adjusted liabilities of a foreign (other nation) bank’s business in this state shall be computed for such period, in such manner, and on such basis as the commissioner may by regulation or order prescribe.
(2) Any eligible asset shall be valued at the lesser of market or par.
(c) (1) Before any foreign (other nation) bank is licensed to transact business in this state, such bank shall deposit, and each foreign (other nation) bank which is licensed to transact business in this state shall maintain on deposit, with an approved depository eligible assets having a value in an amount not less than the applicable minimum.
(2) Whenever a foreign (other nation) bank which is licensed to transact business in this state ceases to be so licensed, such bank shall thereafter maintain on deposit with an approved depository eligible assets having a value in an amount not less than the applicable minimum for such period of time as the commissioner may determine to be necessary for the protection of creditors of the bank’s business in this state or for the protection of the public interest.
(d) (1) No foreign (other nation) bank which maintains eligible assets on deposit with an approved depository pursuant to this section shall withdraw any such eligible assets except with the prior approval of the commissioner.
(2) No approved depository which holds eligible assets on deposit from a foreign (other nation) bank pursuant to this section shall release any such eligible assets except with the prior approval of the commissioner or as otherwise provided in subdivision (h).
(e) Any foreign (other nation) bank which maintains eligible assets on deposit with an approved depository pursuant to this section shall, unless the commissioner shall have suspended or revoked its license to transact business in this state or taken possession of its property and business in this state, be entitled to receive any income paid on such eligible assets.
(f) (1) Whenever a foreign (other nation) bank deposits eligible assets with, or withdraws eligible assets from, an approved depository pursuant to this section, such bank shall do so in accordance with such procedures and requirements as the commissioner may by regulation or order prescribe.
(2) Whenever an approved depository receives, holds, or releases eligible assets pursuant to this section, such approved depository shall do so in accordance with such procedures and requirements as the commissioner may by regulation or order prescribe and shall file with the commissioner such reports as and when the commissioner may by regulation or order require.
(g) Whenever a foreign (other nation) bank maintains eligible assets on deposit with an approved depository pursuant to this section:
(1) The eligible assets shall be deemed to be pledged to the commissioner for the benefit of the creditors of the bank’s business in this state; and, notwithstanding any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code to the contrary, the commissioner, for the benefit of such creditors, shall be deemed to have a security interest in such eligible assets.
(2) The eligible assets shall be free from any lien, charge, right of setoff, credit, or preference in connection with any claim of the approved depository against the bank.
(h) (1) In case the commissioner takes possession of the property and business of a foreign (other nation) bank which maintains eligible assets on deposit with an approved depository pursuant to this section, such approved depository shall, upon order of the commissioner, release such eligible assets to the commissioner, as liquidator of the property and business of such bank.
(2) In case a foreign (other nation) bank which maintains eligible assets on deposit with an approved depository pursuant to this section fails to pay any judgment creditor of its business in this state and the commissioner has not taken possession of the property and business of such bank, such approved depository shall release such eligible assets to the commissioner, and the commissioner shall make such disposition of the eligible assets, as a court of competent jurisdiction of this state or of the United States may order for the benefit of such judgment creditor. For purposes of this paragraph, “judgment creditor of its business in this state” means a person to whom the bank is required to pay money under a judgment which (A) arose out of the bank’s business in this state, (B) has been entered by a court of this state or of the United States, (C) has become final, in that all possibility of direct attack on such judgment by way of appeal, motion for new trial, motion to vacate, or petition for extraordinary writ has been exhausted, and (D) has remained unpaid for a period of not less than 60 days after becoming final.
(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 243, Sec. 3. (SB 664) Effective January 1, 2012.)