Laws On Banks
Laws On Banks
Laws On Banks
INTRODUCTION
1. Concept
Banks entities engaged in the lending of funds obtained in the form of deposits
This applies only to cases where banksare acting in their fiduciary capacity, thatis, as
depository of the deposits of their depositors (Reyes vs. CA, G.R. No.118492, 15 Aug. 2001)
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4. Classification (universal, commercial, rural, cooperative, foreign)
Universal banks - Primarily governed by the General Banking Law (GBL), can
exercise the powers of an investment house and invest in non-allied enterprises
and have the highest capitalization requirement.
Commercial banks - Ordinary banks governed by the GBL which have a lower
capitalization requirement than universal banks and can neither exercise the
powers of an investment house nor invest in non-allied enterprises.
Cooperative banks - Those banks organized whose majority shares are owned
and controlled by cooperatives primarily to provide financial and credit services
to cooperatives. It shall include cooperative rural banks. They are governed
primarily by the Cooperative Code (RA 6938).
Islamic banks - Banks whose business dealings and activities are subject to the
basic principles and rulings of Islamic Sharia, such as the Al Amanah Islamic
Investment Bank of the Philippines which was created by RA 6848.
DEPOSIT FUNCTION
1. Capacity of depositor (minor, women, would-be corporation)
Minors:
a. At least seven years of age
b. Able to read and write
c. Not disqualified by any incapacity
d. It should only be savings or time deposits
Note: Parents may deposit for their minor children or wards (Sec.1, PD No.734)
If the guardian shall give notice in writing to any thrift bank not to make
payments of deposits, dividends, or interest to the minor of whom he is the
guardian, then such payment shall be made to the guardian. (Sec.22, Thrift
Banks Act of 1995)
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Married Women are allowed to open bank accounts without assistance of their
husbands (RA No. 7192)
Characteristics:
i) In the nature of irregular deposits ( Serranovs. Central Bank, 96 SCRA 96)
ii) Contract of loan/mutuum with the depositor as creditor
iii) Bank acquires ownership of the thing deposited and the right to use and
dispose
iv) Money deposited is commingled with the other money, constituting a
common fund.
v) Not preferred credits (Central Bank vs.Morfe, 20 SCRA 507).
As trustee-trustor
a) Trust account
As bailee-bailor
a) Deposit strictly for safekeeping and for specific purposes
Safety deposit boxes - the relation between a bank renting out safety
deposit boxes and its customer with respect to the contents of the box is
that of a bailor and bailee, the bailment for hire and mutual benefit has
been adopted in this jurisdiction. It cannot be considered as a contract of
lease because the full possessionand control of the safety deposit box is
notgiven to the renters (Sia vs. CA, 222 SCRA 24[1993]).
As agent-principal
a) Deposit of check for collection
b) Deposit for specific purpose
c) Deposit for safekeeping
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Savings Account, which is the most common type of deposit, is usually
evidenced by a passbook. Under the fine print, if you deposit today, you cannot
withdraw the amount until 60 days later. Bank pays an interest rate, but not as
high as time deposits.
Time Deposit is an account with fixed term. The interest rate is stipulated
depending on the number of days. During this period, the money deposited
cannot be withdrawn. It has a higher rate of interest than saving account.
b. And/or account
Either one of the co-depositors may deposit and withdraw from the
account without the knowledge, consent and signature of the other. And
upon the death of one, the survivor may withdraw the entire balance on
deposit.
The account may be deemed a survivorship agreement depending on
the intention of the parties; aleatory contract supported by a lawful
consideration which is valid unless when made as a mere cloak to hide an
inofficious donation, to transfer property in fraud of creditors, or to defeat
the legitime of a forced heir (Riveravs. Peoples Bank and Trust Co., 73
Phil.546 [1942]).
5. Anonymous accounts
Anonymous accounts are prohibited - (R.A. No9160 as amended by RA 9194;
BSP Circular No. 251,July 21, 2000)
exception:
Foreign currency deposits may be a numbered account. However, the law
requires that the necessary measures are undertaken by the bank to record and
establish the true identity of the depositor.
6. Deceased depositors
If a bank has knowledge of the death of a person, who maintained a bank
deposit account alone, or jointly with another, it shall not allow any withdrawal
from the said deposit account, unless the Commissioner has certified that the
taxes imposed thereon by this Title have been paid: Provided, however, That the
administrator of the estate or any one (1) of the heirs of the decedent may,
upon authorization by the Commissioner, withdraw an amount not exceeding
Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) without the said certification. (Par 2, Sec 97,
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997)
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7. Survivorship Agreements
Survivorship agreement is a contract that imposes a mere obligation with a
term, the term being death. Such agreements are permitted under Art 2012 of
the Civil Code, an aleatory contract. But although the survivorship agreement is
per se not contrary to law, its operation or effect may be violative of the law. For
instance, if it be shown in a given case that such agreement is a mere cloak to hide an
inofficious donation, to transfer property in fraud of creditors, or to defeat the legitime
of a forced heir, it may be assailed and annulled upon such grounds.
Joint account may be the subject of a survivorship agreement whereby the co-
depositor agree to permit either of them to withdraw the whole deposit during their
lifetime and transferring the balance to the survivor upon the death of one of them -
(Vitug vs. CA, 29 March 1990).
Coverage:
All deposits of whatever nature with banks or banking institutions in the
Philippines, including investments in bonds issued by the Government of the
Philippines, its political subdivisions and its instrumentalities
PROHIBITED ACTS
a. Examination and inquiry or looking into all deposits,of whatever nature, with the
banks in thePhilippines including investments in bonds issuedby the Government.
b. Any disclosure by any official or employee of anybank to any unauthorized
person of any informationconcerning the said deposits.
GENERAL RULE:
The deposits covered by law areconsidered as of an absolutely confidential
nature and may not be examined, inquired or looked into by anyperson,
governmental bureau, or office.
2. Exceptions:
FROM R.A. NO.1405
a. written permission of depositor
b. impeachment
c. bribery/dereliction of duty
The crime of bribery and the overt acts constitutive of plunder are crimes committed
by public officers, and in either case the noble idea that "a public office is a public
trust and any person who enters upon its discharge does so with the full knowledge
that his life, so far as relevant to his duty, is open to public scrutiny" applies with equal
force. Plunder being thus analogous to bribery, the exception to R.A. 1405
applicable in cases of bribery must also apply to cases of plunder. (Ejercito vs.
Sandiganbayan, 30 November 2006)
d. deposit is the subject matter of litigation
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FROM OTHER LAWS
e. anti-graft & corrupt practices (R.A.No. 3019)
f. net estate determination
Inquiry by the Commissioner of InternalRevenue into bank deposits of:
a. A decedent to determine his gross estate;
b. A taxpayer who has filed an application for compromise of his tax liability
by reason of financial incapacity to pay his tax liability. Hemust file a
written waiver of his privilege under RA1405 or other general or special
laws (Sec.6[f], NIRC)
g. dormant accounts
Disclosure to the Treasurer of the Philippines of dormant deposits for at least
10 years under the Unclaimed Balances Act (Act No. 3936).
h. AMLA (safe harbor provision)
Inquiry or examination by the Anti-Money Laundering Council(AMLC) of any
particular deposit or investment with any banking institution or non-bank
financial institution upon order of any competent court in cases of violation of
the Anti-Money Laundering Law, when it has been established that there is
probable cause that the deposits or investments are related to an unlawful
activity or a money laundering offense, except that no court order shall be
required in the following unlawful activities:
a) Kidnapping for ransom under Art. 267 RPC;
b) Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002(RA No. 9165);
c) Hijacking and other violations under RA 6235;
d) Destructive arson and murder under RPC.Including those perpetrated
by terrorists against non-combatant persons and similar targets. (Sec.
11, R.A. No. 9160 as amended by Sec. 8 of RA 9194)
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business with the obligation to return an equivalent amount to the
owner thereof, with or without interest.
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Preventive measures:
(1) Covered Transaction Report
Transaction in cash or other monetary instrument in excess
of P500, 000 within one banking day.
Covered institution shall report to the AMLC all covered
and suspicious transactions within 5 working days from the
occurrence thereof, unless the Supervising Authority
prescribes a longer period not exceeding10 working days
(2) Suspicious Transaction Report
Suspicious transaction' are transactions with covered
institutions, regardless of the amounts involved, where any
of the following circumstances exist:
a) There is no underlying legal or trade obligation,
purpose or economic justification;
b) The client is not properly identified;
c) The amount involved is not commensurate with the
business or financial capacity of the client;
d) Taking into account all known circumstances, it may
be perceived that the client's transaction is structured
in order to avoid being the subject of reporting
requirements under the Act;
e) Any circumstances relating to the transaction which is
observed to deviate from the profile of the client
and/or the client's past transactions with the covered
institution;
f) The transactions is in a way related to an unlawful
activity or offense under this Act that is about to be, is
being or has been committed; or
g) Any transactions that is similar or analogous to any of
the foregoing.
(3) Customer Identification
Covered institutions shall establish and record the true
identity of its clients based on official documents. They
shall maintain a system of verifying their clients and incase
of corporate client, require a system of verifying their legal
existence and organizational structure, as well as the
authority and identification of all person purporting to act
on their behalf
(4) 5-year period to store record
All records of all transaction of covered institution shall be
maintained and safely stored for 5 years from the dates of
transaction. With respect to closed accounts, the records
on customer identification, account files and business
correspondence, shall be preserved and safely stored for
at least 5 years from the dates when they were closed.
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e) The Bangko Sentral is authorized to
i) Inquire into or examine bank deposits and investments in the course
of a periodic or special examination to ensure compliance with The
Anti Money Laundering Act, in accordance with the rules of
examination of the Bangko Sentral (Sec. 11, Rep. Act No. 9160, as
amended); and
ii) Conduct annual testing which is limited to the determination of the
existence and true identity of the owners of numbered accounts
(Sec. 9, Rep. Act No 9160, as amended21).
f) The Philippine Deposit Insurance Commission and the Bangko Sentral may
inquire into bank deposits when there is a finding of unsafe or unsound
banking practices. (Sec. 8, Rep. Act No. 3591, as amended)
g) The Commission on Audit is authorized to examine and audit government
deposits pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses
of funds and properties, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the
Government or any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including
government-owned and controlled corporations with original charters. (See
Art. IX-D, 1987 Constitution and Pres. Dec. No.1445)
h) The Presidential Commission on Good Government, in the conduct of its
investigations to recover ill-gotten wealth accumulated by former President
Ferdinand E. Marcos, his immediate family, relatives, subordinates and close
associates, may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and/or the production of books, papers, contracts, records,
statement of accounts and other documents. (Sec. 3 [e], Exec. Order No.
1[1986])
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PDIC - Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation
FUNCTIONS OF PDIC:
a) Deposit Insurer
b) Co-regulator of Banks
c) Receiver and Liquidator of Closed Banks
LOAN FUNCTION
1. Basic rules on bank loans (Sec. 39, 40 & 55.2, GBL)
Section 39. Grant and Purpose of Loans and Other Credit Accommodations. - A bank
shall grant loans and other credit accommodations only in amounts and for the periods
of time essential for the effective completion of the operations to be financed. Such
grant of loans and other credit accommodations shall be consistent with safe and
sound banking practices. The purpose of all loans and other credit accommodations
shall be stated in the application and in the contract between the bank and the
borrower. If the bank finds that the proceeds of the loan or other credit
accommodation have been employed, without its approval, for purposes other than
those agreed upon with the bank, it shall have the right to terminate the loan or other
credit accommodation and demand immediate repayment of the obligation.
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Section 40. Requirement for Grant Of Loans or 0ther Credit Accommodations. - Before
granting a loan or other credit accommodation, a bank must ascertain that the debtor
is capable of fulfilling his commitments to the bank. Toward this end, a bank may
demand from its credit applicants a statement of their assets and liabilities and of their
income and expenditures and such information as may be prescribed by law or by rules
and regulations of the Monetary Board to enable the bank to properly evaluate the
credit application which includes the corresponding financial statements submitted for
taxation purposes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Should such statements prove to
be false or incorrect in any material detail, the bank may terminate any loan or other
credit accommodation granted on the basis of said statements and shall have the right
to demand immediate repayment or liquidation of the obligation. In formulating rules
and regulations under this Section, the Monetary Board shall recognize the peculiar
characteristics of micro financing, such as cash flow-based lending to the basic sectors
that are not covered by traditional collateral.
3. DOSRI Restrictions
Rationale
The general policy behind the DOSRI limit is to level the lending field between insiders
(namely, directors, officers, stockholders, and their related interests) and the outsiders.
The rules require that loans and other credit accommodations to DOSRI are to be in the
regular course of business and upon terms not less favorable to the bank than those
offered to those outside the DOSRI circle.
The aim is to prevent the bank from becoming a captive source of finance of the DOSRI.
The evil sought to be avoided is the abuse of confidence.
Requisites:
a) borrower director, officer, stockholder of the bank (1%) or their related interests
b) loan
c) from his bank or bank subsidiary (or affiliate) or bank controlling interest of
which is the same as his bank
d) Amount of loan in excess of 5% of capital surplus of the lending bank
Related Interests
a) Relatives (spouse and 1st degree relatives)
b) Partnership (of which the DOS is a general partner)
c) Co-owner of the collateral
d) certain corporations, association or firm where:
i) DOS or relative is also a director or officer
ii) any or group of DOS or relative holds at least 20% of the capital
stock
iii) wholly/majority owned by any related entity or group of related
entities
iv) owns at least 20% of the capital stock of a substantial
stockholder of the lending bank or which controls majority
interest of the bank
v) lending bank owns 20% of the corporation or has management
contract with the lending bank (CB Circular 423, 2004)
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DOSRI Requirements:
a) written approval of all the directors of the lending bank
b) report to BSP
c) arms length
Arms Length Rule - Dealings of a bank with any of its DOSRI shall be upon
terms not less favorable to the bank than those offered to others.
d) aggregate ceiling of DOSRI loans
15% of the banks loan portfolio or 100% of combined capital
accounts whichever is lower
e) individual ceiling
encumbered deposit and book value of paid up shares
an amount equivalent to his or her unencumbered deposits in the
lending bank plus the book value of paid-capital contribution
therein.
5. Collaterals 75% of the appraised value of the real property plus 60% of the value of
the improvement or 75% of the appraised value of the chattel (Sec 37 & 38, GBL)
Note: The limit on loans, credit accommodations and guarantees prescribed herein
shall not apply to loans, credit accommodations and guarantees extended by a
cooperative bank to its cooperative shareholders.
Truth in Lending Act may also be violated if the agreement provides for an escalation
clause on interest which is dependent solely on the will of the bank. (UCPB vs Sps Beluso,
G.R. No. 159912, August 17, 2007)
Subsequent compliance with the disclosure requirement cannot be deemed in
substantial compliance with the Truth in Lending Act. (UCPB vs Sps Beluso, G.R. No.
159912, August 17, 2007)
Penalty- either civil or criminal (1k-5k fine or imprisonment for 6-12 months, or both)
- Government is exempted from the punishment or penalty
BANK OWNERSHIP
RULES UNDER THE MANUAL OF REGULATIONS FOR BANKS
1. Foreign Individuals and non-bank corps 40% of the voting stock (Aggregate
ceiling 40%)
2. Filipino individual and domestic non-bank each up to 40%
No aggregate ceiling
3. Citizenship of the corporation which is a stockholder of a bank citizenship of
the controlling (more than 50%) stockholders
4. Commercial banks 60% (Filipino)
Rural banks 100% (Filipino)
Thrift bank - 40% (Filipino)
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2. Meetings can be done electronically
4. Disqualifications
a) Conviction of offenses involving dishonesty or breach of trust;
b) Sentenced more than 6 years;
c) Violation of banking laws;
d) Responsible D&O of closed banks;
e) D&O found administratively liable for violation of banking laws where removal
from office is imposed;
f) Those found unfit for the position of D&O
BANKS IN DISTRESS
A. UNSECURED LOANS to provide liquidity (not more than 7 days)
Sec 83, NCBA. Loans for Liquidity Purposes. - The Bangko Sentral may extend
loans and advances to banking institutions for a period of not more than seven
(7) days without any collateral for the purpose of providing liquidity to the
banking system in times of need.
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C. CONSERVATORSHIP (Sec 29, NCBA)
Condition: continuing inability or unwillingness to maintain liquidity
Period: 1 year
Powers:
1) Take charge of/manage the assets & liabilities
2) Reorganize management
3) Collect receivables
4) Necessary powers
EFFECTS OF RECEIVERSHIP:
1) Exemption from garnishment, levy, attachment & execution
2) Stoppage of business
3) Suspension of banks authority over its properties (Assets are deemed
under custodia legis)
4) Exemption from payment of interests on deposits
5) Retention of juridical personality
6) Exclusive jurisdiction of liquidation court
E. LIQUIDATION
- Cannot proceed simultaneously with rehabilitation
- Receiver to file ex parte petition with the proper RTC for assistance in the
liquidation of the bank
- All claims (including disputed claims) subject to the liquidation courts jurisdiction
Distinguished from liquidation under the Corporation Code (In Re: Petition for
Assistance in the Liquidation of Rural Bank of Bokod, 18 December 2006)
- Prior notice and hearing not required (summary)
- Bank has no option to undertake its own liquidation
- Can be dissolved even without prior BIR clearance
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SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE PROCEDURE FOR INVOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION AND
LIQUIDATION - In Re: Petition for Assistance in the Liquidation of Rural Bank of Bokod, 18 Dec. 2006
UNDER THE CORPORATION CODE NEW CENTRAL BANK ACT
The Monetary Board may summarily and
The SEC may dissolve a corporation, upon the without need for prior hearing, forbid the
filing of a verified complaint and after proper banking corporation from doing business in
notice and hearing, on grounds provided by the Philippines, for causes enumerated in
existing laws, rules, and regulations. Section 30 of the New Central Bank Act; and
appoint the PDIC as receiver of the bank.
The actions of the Monetary Board shall be
final and executory, and may not be
The SEC shall issue the final order of dissolution restrained or set aside by the court except on
only after the corporation has submitted its a Petition for Certiorari filed by the
tax clearance; or in case of involuntary stockholders of record of the bank
dissolution, the SEC may proceed with the representing a majority of the capital stock.
dissolution after 30 days from receipt by the PDIC, as the appointed receiver, shall file ex
BIR of the documentary requirements without parte with the proper RTC, and without
a tax clearance having been issued requirement of prior notice or any other
action, a petition for assistance in the
liquidation of the bank.
The corporation may undertake its own
liquidation, or at any time during the said
three years, it may convey all of its property to The bank is not given the option to undertake
trustees for the benefit of its stockholders, its own liquidation.
members, creditors, and other persons in
interest.
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