General Banking Laws of 2000 (RA 8791)

Mary Joy Dalaota, Reporter 10 December 2013 The State recognizes the vital role of banks providing an environment conducive to the sustained development of the national economy and the fiduciary nature of banking that requires high standards of integrity and performance. In furtherance thereof, the State shall promote and maintain a stable and efficient banking and financial system that is globally competitive, dynamic and responsive to the demands of a developing economy. (Section 2) GBA defines a bank as an entity engaged in the lending of funds obtained in the forms of deposits. (Sec 3) Banks shall be classified into: (a) Universal banks; (b) Commercial banks; (c) Thrift banks, composed of: (i) Savings and mortgage banks, (ii) Stock savings and loan associations, and (iii) Private development banks, as defined in the Republic Act No. 7906 (hereafter the "Thrift Banks Act"); (d) Rural banks, as defined in Republic Act No. 73S3 (hereafter the "Rural Banks Act"); (e) Cooperative banks, as defined in Republic Act No 6938 (hereafter the "Cooperative Code"); (f) Islamic banks as defined in Republic Act No. 6848, otherwise known as the "Charter of Al Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines"; and (g) Other classifications of banks as determined by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. AUTHORITY OF THE BANGKO SENTRAL (SECTION 4) The operations and activities of banks shall be subject to supervision of the Bangko Sentral. Supervision includes:
1. Issuance of rules of conduct for the uniform application to all institutions. 2. Conduct examination to determine compliiance with laws and regulation. (SUCH

laws were determined by the Monetary Board.) 3. Overseeing to ascertain that the laws and regualations are complied with. 4. Regular investigation to determine whether an institution is conducting its business on a safe or sound basis. (MUST not more than once a year). 5. Inquiring into solvency and liquidity of the institution.

6. Enforce prompt corrective action.

The Banko Sentral shall also have supervision over the operations of and exercise regulatory powers over quasi-banks, trust entities and other financial institutions which under special laws are subject to bangko Sentral Supervision. BSP provides policy direction in the areas of money, banking and credit. THESE ceilings, ratios limitations or other forms of limitations may be prescribed by the Monetary Board. (AS WHAT YOU HAVE NOTICE, THE MONETARY BOARD WILL SET OR PRESCRIBED THE RULES, AND THE baNGKO SENTRAL WILL IMPLEMENT IT.) BSP has no longer possess the regulatory powers over finance companies without quasi-banking functions because it is now being assume by the SEC as provided in Central Bank Act. Further, it has also transferred its supervisory and regulatory powers over building to the Home Insurance and Guaranty Corporation. AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN BANKING AND QUASI-BANKING FUNCTIONS (SECTIOn 6) No person or entity shall engage in the banking operations or quasi banking functions without AUTHORITY from the Bangko Sentral: Provided, however, That an entity authorized by the Bangko Sentral to perform universal or commercial banking functions shall likewise have the authority to engage in quasi-banking functions. HOWEVER such authority is revocable on grounds provided by law.

ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF BANKS Section 8. Organization. - The Monetary Board may authorize the organization of a bank or quasi-bank subject to the following conditions: 8.1 That the entity is a stock corporation; 8.2 That its funds are obtained from the public, which shall mean twenty (20) or more persons ; and 8.3 That the minimum capital requirements prescribed by the Monetary Board for each category of banks are satisfied. Section 9. Issuance of Stocks. - The Monetary Board may prescribe rules and regulations on the types of stock a bank may issue, including the terms thereof and rights appurtenant thereto to determine compliance with laws and regulations governing

capital and equity structure of banks; Provided, That banks shall issue par value stocks only. Section 10. Treasury Stocks. - No bank shall purchase or acquire shares of its own capital stock or accept its own shares as a security for a loan, except when authorized by the Monetary Board: Provided, That in every case the stock so purchased or acquired shall, within six (6) months from the time of its purchase or acquisition, be sold or disposed of at a public or private sale. (24a) Section 11. Foreign Stockholdings. - Foreign individuals and non-bank corporations may own or control up to forty percent (40%) of the voting stock of a domestic bank. This rule shall apply to Filipinos and domestic non-bank corporations. The percentage of foreign-owned voting stocks in a bank shall be determined by the citizenship of the individual stockholders in that bank. The citizenship of the corporation which is a stockholder in a bank shall follow the citizenship of the controlling stockholders of the corporation, irrespective of the place of incorporation. Stockholdings of individuals related to each other within the fourth degree of consanguinity or two or more corporations owned or controlled by the same family group MUST fully disclose in all transactions by such corporations or related group of persons with the bank. (SEC 12 and 13).

ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Section 14. Certificate of Authority to Register. - The Securities and Exchange Commission shall not register the articles of incorporation of any bank, or any amendment thereto, unless accompanied by a certificate of authority issued by the Monetary Board, under it seal. Such certificate shall not be issued unless the Monetary Board is satisfied from the evidence submitted to it: 14.1 That all requirements of existing laws and regulations to engage in the business for which the applicant is proposed to be incorporated have been complied with; 14.2 That the public interest and economic conditions, both general and local, justify the authorization; and 14.3 That the amount of capital, the financing, organization, direction and administration, as well as the integrity and responsibility of the organizers and administrators reasonably assure the safety of deposits and the public interest. The Securities and Exchange Commission shall not register the by-laws of any bank, or any amendment thereto, unless accompanied by a certificate of authority from the Bangko Sentral.

Board of Directors Atleast five but not more 15, two (2) of whom shall be independent directors. An "independent director" shall mean a person other than an officer or employee of the bank, its subsidiaries or affiliates or related interests. The GBA expressly allows board meetings of the bank directors to be conducted through modern technologies such as, but not limited to, teleconferencing and videoconferencing. Under Fit and Proper Rule as applied to the board of directors and officers of banking institutions, the Monetary Board shall prescribe, pass upon and review the qualifications of the bank directors and officers, taking into account their integrity, experience, education, training and competence. The Monetary Board, after due notice, has the power to disqualify, suspend or remove any bank director or officer found unfit for his position.( Sec 16) Compensation and Other Benefits of Directors and Officers . To protect the finds of depositors and creditors the Monetary Board may regulate the payment by the bark to its directors and officers of compensation, allowance, fees, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing and fringe benefits only in exceptional cases and when the circumstances warrant, such as but not limited to the following: 1. When a bank is under comptrollership or conservatorship; or 2.When a bank is found by the Monetary Board to be conducting business in an unsafe or unsound manner; or 3. When a bank is found by the Monetary Board to be in an unsatisfactory financial condition General Banking Act Prohibitions 1. No bank shall purchase or acquire shares of its own capital stock or accept its own shares as a security for a loan, except when authorized by the Monetary Board: Provided, That in every case the stock so purchased or acquired shall, within six (6) months from the time of its purchase or acquisition, be sold or disposed of at a public or private sale. (SEC 10) 2. Except as otherwise provided in the Rural Banks Act, no appointive or elective public official whether full-time or part-time shall at the same time serve as officer of any private bank, save in cases where such service is incident to financial assistance provided by the government or a government owned or controlled corporation to the bank or unless otherwise provided under existing laws. (Sec 19)

3. No director or officer of any bank shall, directly or indirectly, for himself or as the representative or agent of others, borrow from such bank nor shall he become a guarantor, endorser or surety for loans from such bank to others, or in any manner be an obligor or incur any contractual liability to the bank except with the written approval of the majority of all the directors of the bank, excluding the director concerned (Sec 36) 4. A bank shall not directly engage in insurance business as the insurer.(Sec 54) 5. A Contract on Safety Deposit Boxes with a stipulation that it shall not be held liable as depository. (Sia vs CA, 222 SCRA 24)

Banking Days and Hour Unless otherwise authorized by the Bangko Sentral in the interest of the banking public, all banks including their branches and offices shall transact business on all working days for at least six (6) hours a day. In addition, banks or any of their branches or offices may open for business on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays for at least three (3) hours a day: Provided, That banks which opt to open on days other than working days shall report to the Bangko Sentral the additional days during which they or their branches or offices shall transact business. For purposes of this Section, working days shall mean Mondays to Fridays, except if such days are holidays. (Sec 21) Strikes and Lockouts The banking industry is hereby declared as indispensable to the national interest and, notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, any strike or lockout involving banks, if unsettled after seven (7) calendar days shall be reported by the Bangko Sentral to the secretary of Labor who may assume jurisdiction over the dispute or decide it or certify the sane to the National Labor Relations Commission for compulsory arbitration. However, the President of the Philippines may at any time intervene and assume jurisdiction over such labor dispute in order to settle or terminate the same.(Sec 22)

DEPOSITS, LOANS AND OTHER OPERATIONS Operations of Universal Banks Powers of Universal Bank A universal bank shall have the authority to exercise, in addition to the powers authorized for a commercial bank in Section 29, the powers of an investment house as provided in existing laws and the power to invest in non-allied enterprises as provided in this Act. (Sec 23) Equity Investments of a Universal Bank A universal bank may, subject to the conditions stated in the succeeding paragraph, invest in the equities of allied and non-allied enterprises as may be determined by the Monetary Board. Allied enterprises may either be financial or non-financial. Except as the Monetary Board may otherwise prescribe: 24.1. The total investment in equities of allied and non-allied enterprises shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the net worth of the bank; and 24.2. The equity investment in any one enterprise, whether allied or non-allied, shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the net worth of the bank. Equity Investments of a Universal Bank in Financial Allied Enterprises A universal bank can own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity in a thrift bank, a rural bank or a financial allied enterprise. A publicly-listed universal or commercial bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the voting stock of only one other universal or commercial bank. (Section 25) Equity Investments of a Universal Bank in Non-Financial Allied Enterprises A universal bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity in a nonfinancial allied enterprise. (Section 26) Equity Investments of a Universal Bank in Non-Allied Enterprises The equity investment of a universal bank, or of its wholly or majority-owned subsidiaries, in a single non-allied enterprise shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the total equity in that enterprise nor shall it exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the voting stock in that enterprise. (Section 27)

Equity Investments in Quasi-Banks To promote competitive conditions in financial markets, the Monetary Board may further limit to forty percent (40%) equity investments of universal banks in quasi-banks. This rule shall also apply in the case of commercial banks.(Section 28)

Operations of Commercial Banks Power of Commercial Banks A commercial bank shall have, in addition to the general powers incident to corporations, all such powers as may be necessary to carry on the business of commercial banking such as accepting drafts and issuing letters of credit; discounting and negotiating promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other evidences of debt; accepting or creating demand deposits; receiving other types of deposits and deposit substitutes; buying and selling foreign exchange and gold or silver bullion; acquiring marketable bonds and other debt securities; and extending credit, subject to such rules as the Monetary Board may promulgate. These rules may include the determination of bonds and other debt securities eligible for investment, the maturities and aggregate amount of such investment. (Sec 29) Equity Investments of a Commercial Bank A commercial bank may, subject to the conditions stated in the succeeding paragraphs, invest only in the equities of allied enterprises as may be determined by the Monetary Board. Allied enterprises may either be financial or non-financial. Except as the Monetary Board may otherwise prescribe: 30.1. The total investment in equities of allied enterprises shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the net worth of the bark; and 30.2. The equity investment in any one enterprise shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of tile net worth of the bank. The acquisition of such equity or equities is subject to the prior approval of the Monetary Board which shall promulgate appropriate guidelines to govern such investment. Equity Investments of a Commercial Bank in Financial Allied Enterprises A commercial bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity of a thrift bank or a rural bank. Where the equity investment of a commercial bank is in other financial allied enterprises, including another commercial bank, such investment shall remain a minority holding in that enterprise. (Section 31)

Equity Investments of a Commercial Bank in Non-Financial Allied Enterprises A commercial bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity in a nonfinancial allied enterprise. (Section 32)

Risk-Based Capital The Monetary Board shall prescribed the minimum ration which the net worth of a bank must bear to its toatal risk assets which may include contingent amount. (In case In case a bank does not comply with the prescribed minimum ratio, the Monetary Board may limit or prohibit the distribution of net profits by such bank and may require that part or all of the net profits be used to increase the capital accounts of the bank until the minimum requirement has been met The Monetary Board may, furthermore, restrict or prohibit the acquisition of major assets and the making of new investments by the bank, with the exception of purchases of readily marketable evidences of indebtedness of the Republic of the Philippines and of the Bangko Sentral and any other evidences of indebtedness or obligations the servicing and repayment of which are fully guaranteed by the Republic of the Philippines, until the minimum required capital ratio has been restored) Limit on Loans, Credit Accommodation Shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the net worth of the bank, it may be increased by an additional ten percent provided that the additional liabilities on any borrower are adequately secured by trust receipts, shipping documents, warehouse receipts, which must be fully covered by insurance. Loans and Other Credit Accomodation Against Real Estate Except as the Monetary Board may otherwise prescribe, loans and other credit accommodations against real estate shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the appraised value of the respective real estate security, plus sixty percent (60%) of the appraised value of the insured improvements, and such loans may be made to the owner of the real estate or to his assignees. (Sec 37) Loans And Other Credit Accommodations on Security of Chattels and Intangible Properties Except as the Monetary Board may otherwise prescribe, loans and other credit accommodations on security of chattels and intangible properties such as, but not limited to, patents, trademarks, trade names, and copyrights shall not exceed seventy-

five percent (75%) of the appraised value of the security, an such loans and other credit accommodation may be made to the title-holder of the chattels and intangible properties or his assignees. (Sec 38) Foreclosure of Real Estate Mortagage In the event of foreclosure, whether judicially or extra-judicially, of any mortgage on real estate which is security for any loan or other credit accommodation granted, the mortgagor or debtor whose real property has been sold for the full or partial payment of his obligation shall have the right within one year after the sale of the real estate, to redeem the property by paying the amount due under the mortgage deed, with interest thereon at rate specified in the mortgage, and all the costs and expenses incurred by the bank or institution from the sale and custody of said property less the income derived therefrom. However, the purchaser at the auction sale concerned whether in a judicial or extra-judicial foreclosure shall have the right to enter upon and take possession of such property immediately after the date of the confirmation of the auction sale and administer the same in accordance with law. Any petition in court to enjoin or restrain the conduct of foreclosure proceedings instituted pursuant to this provision shall be given due course only upon the filing by the petitioner of a bond in an amount fixed by the court conditioned that he will pay all the damages which the bank may suffer by the enjoining or the restraint of the foreclosure proceeding. Notwithstanding Act 3135, juridical persons whose property is being sold pursuant to an extrajudicial foreclosure, shall have the right to redeem the property in accordance with this provision until, but not after, the registration of the certificate of foreclosure sale with the applicable Register of Deeds which in no case shall be more than three (3) months after foreclosure, whichever is earlier. Owners of property that has been sold in a foreclosure sale prior to the effectivity of this Act shall retain their redemption rights until their expiration. (Sec 48) Acqusition of Real Estate by Way of Satisfaction of Claims A bank may acquire, hold or convey real property under the following circumstances: 52.1. Such as shall be mortgaged to it in good faith by way of security for debts; 52.2. Such as shall be conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in the course of its dealings, or 52.3. Such as it shall purchase at sales under judgments, decrees, mortgages, or trust deeds held by it and such as it shall purchase to secure debts due it. Any real property acquired or held under the circumstances enumerated in the above paragraph shall be disposed of by the bank within a period of five (5) years or as may

be prescribed by the Monetary Board: Provided, however, That the bank may, after said period, continue to hold the property for its own use, subject to the limitations that the real estate shall be necessary for its own use in the conduct of its business. Provisions for Lossess and Write-Offs All debts due to any bank on which interest is past due and unpaid for such period as may be determined by the Monetary Board, unless the same are welt-secured and in the process of collection shall be considered bad debts within the meaning of this Section. The Monetary Board may fix, by regulation or by order in a specific case, the amount of reserves for bad debts or doubtful accounts or other contingencies. Writing off of loans, other credit accommodations, advances and other assets shall be subject to regulations issued by the Monetary Board.

Other Banking Services a.Receive in custody funds, documents and valuable objects, b. Act as financial agent and buy and by order of and for the account of their customers, shares, evidences of indebtedness and all types of securities; c. Make collections and payments for the account of others and perform such other services for their customers as are not incompatible with banking business; d. Upon prior approval of the Monetary Board, act as managing agent, adviser, consultant or administrator of investment management/advisory/consultancy accounts; and e. Rent out safety deposit boxes. (Sec 53) Financial Statements Every bank, quasi-bank or trust entity shall submit to the appropriate supervising and examining department of the Bangko Sentral financial statements in such form and frequency as may be prescribed by the Bangko Sentral. Such statements, which shall be as of a specific date designated by the Bangko Sentral, shall show thee actual financial condition of the institution submitting the statement, and of its branches, offices, subsidiaries and affiliates, including the results of its operations, and shall contain such information as may be required in Bangko Sentral regulations.

Problems
MAD Investment Corporation is engaged in the business of buying accounts receivable. To fund the purchase, MAD Investment Corporation sells it bonds from time to time to the general public. Is MAD Investment Corporation a bank within the purview of the General Banking Law of 2000? No, MAD Investment Corporation is not a bank. The General Banking Act of 2000 defines a bank as an entity engaged in lending of funds obtained in the form of deposits. MAD Investment Corpoaration does not lend money, instead it borrows from the public. It does not accept deposits, instead it buys receivables.

The members of board of directors of RST Bank conducted their board meeting through a video conferencing. Was the board meeting properly conducted?

Yes, the meeting was properly conducted. The General Banking Laws of 2000 expressly allows board meetings of the bank directors to be conducted through modern technologies such as, but not limited to, teleconferencing and video conferencing. RST Bank, a commercial bank, was able to acquire real property that was mortgaged to it in good faith by way of a security a loan. For how long may the RST Bank hold such real property? Explain. RST Bank is required by law to dispose the real property within a period of five (5) years or as may be prescribed by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral. However, RST Bank may, after said period continue to hold the real property for its own use subject to the limitation that its total investment in the real estate and improvements thereof including bank equipment shall not exceed 50% of the banks combined capital accounts.