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Title 12, Banks and BankingRelease 119-110

§206 Conservator; Powers and Duties

Title 12 › CHAPTER 2 — NATIONAL BANKS › SUBCHAPTER XIV — BANK CONSERVATION ACT › § 206

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

A conservator takes over and can act with the same authority as the bank’s owners, board, and officers. The conservator can run the bank in its own name unless the Comptroller limits that power. The conservator must follow rules and orders the Comptroller sets and generally has the same rights, duties, and limits as bank directors, officers, or employees, unless those rules or section 209 say otherwise. The Comptroller can make the conservator hold back money so depositors can withdraw and creditors can be paid, and people in similar positions must be treated the same. Pay for the conservator and hired professionals is limited to what federal employees get for similar work, unless the Comptroller allows higher pay up to private-sector rates to hire needed staff. All conservatorship costs must be paid by the bank and are the bank’s first-priority debt.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §206

Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General powers
A conservator shall have all the powers of the shareholders, directors, and officers of the bank and may operate the bank in its own name unless the Comptroller in the order of appointment limits the conservator’s authority.
(b)Subject to rules of Comptroller
The conservator shall be subject to such rules, regulations, and orders as the Comptroller from time to time deems appropriate; and, except as otherwise specifically provided in such rules, regulations, or orders or in section 209 of this title, shall have the same rights and privileges and be subject to the same duties, restrictions, penalties, conditions, and limitations as apply to directors, officers, or employees of a national bank.
(c)Payment of depositors and creditors
The Comptroller may require the conservator to set aside and make available for withdrawal by depositors and payment to other creditors such amounts as in the opinion of the Comptroller may safely be used for that purpose. All depositors and creditors who are similarly situated shall be treated in the same manner.
(d)Compensation of conservator and employees
The conservator and professional employees appointed to represent or assist the conservator shall not be paid amounts greater than are payable to employees of the Federal Government for similar services, except that the Comptroller of the Currency may authorize payment at higher rates (but not in excess of rates prevailing in the private sector), if the Comptroller determines that paying such higher rates is necessary in order to recruit and retain competent personnel.
(e)Expenses
All expenses of any such conservatorship shall be paid by the bank and shall be a lien upon the bank which shall be prior to any other lien.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1989—Pub. L. 101–73 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “While such bank is in the hands of the conservator appointed by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Comptroller may require the conservator to set aside and make available for withdrawal by depositors and payment to other creditors, on a ratable basis, such amounts as in the opinion of the Comptroller may safely be used for this purpose; and the Comptroller may, in his discretion, permit the conservator to receive deposits, but deposits received while the bank is in the hands of the conservator shall not be subject to any limitation as to payment or withdrawal, and such deposits shall be segregated and shall not be used to liquidate any indebtedness of such bank existing at the time that a conservator was appointed for it, or any subsequent indebtedness incurred for the purpose of liquidating any indebtedness of such bank existing at the time such conservator was appointed. Such deposits received while the bank is in the hands of the conservator shall be kept on hand in cash, invested in the direct obligations of the United States, or deposited with a Federal reserve bank. The Federal reserve banks are authorized to open and maintain separate deposit accounts for such purpose, or for the purpose of receiving deposits from State officials in charge of State banks under similar circumstances.”

Executive Documents

Exception as to

Transfer of Functions

Functions vested by any provision of law in Comptroller of the Currency, referred to in this section, not included in

Transfer of Functions

to Secretary of the Treasury, see note set out under section 1 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 206

Title 12, Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110