Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73not60

§2074 Production Credit Association Capitalization

Title 12 › Chapter 23— FARM CREDIT SYSTEM › Subchapter II— FARM CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS › Part A— Production Credit Associations › § 2074

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Under section 2154a, each production credit association must put in its bylaws, and follow Farm Credit Administration rules, how it will be funded and how its stock will be issued, owned, transferred, retired, and how earnings will be handled. At the end of each fiscal year, any earnings above operating expenses (including loan valuation reserves under generally accepted accounting principles) must first restore any capital shortfall and then go into surplus accounts. The Farm Credit Bank sets the minimum total for those surplus accounts. If the bylaws allow and the Farm Credit Administration approves, available net earnings can be shared with patrons as stock, participation certificates, or cash. Any excess earnings held in surplus can also be allocated to patrons based on their business with the association.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §2074

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(a)In accordance with section 2154a of this title, each production credit association shall provide, through its bylaws and subject to Farm Credit Administration regulations, for its capitalization and the manner in which its stock shall be issued, held, transferred, and retired and, except as provided in subsection (b), its earnings distributed.
(b)At the end of each fiscal year, each production credit association shall apply the amount of the earnings of the association for the fiscal year in excess of the operating expenses of the association (including provision for valuation reserves against loan assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles)—
(1)first, to the restoration of the impairment (if any) of capital; and
(2)second, to the establishment and maintenance of the surplus accounts, the minimum aggregate amount of which shall be prescribed by the Farm Credit Bank.
(c)When the bylaws of an association so provide and subject to the general directions of the Farm Credit Administration, available net earnings at the end of any fiscal year may be distributed on a patronage basis in stock, participation certificates, or in cash. Any part of the earnings of the fiscal year in excess of the operating expenses for such year held in the surplus account may be allocated to patrons on a patronage basis.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2074, Pub. L. 92–181, title II, § 2.3, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 593; Pub. L. 96–592, title II, § 203, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 99–205, title II, § 205(e)(6), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1704, related to loans, discounts, participation, and leasing, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 100–233, § 401.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–552 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “Each production credit association at the end of each fiscal year shall apply the amount of the earnings of the association for such year in excess of the operating expenses of the association (including provision for valuation reserves against loan assets in an amount equal to one-half of 1 percent of the loans outstanding at the end of the fiscal year to the extent that such earnings in such year in excess of other operating expenses permit, or in such greater amounts as are deemed necessary under generally accepted accounting principles, until such reserves equal or exceed 3½ percent of the loans outstanding at the end of the fiscal year, beyond which 3½ percent further additions to such reserves may be made, if deemed necessary under generally accepted accounting principles) first to the restoration of the impairment, if any, of capital, and second, to the establishment and maintenance of the surplus accounts, the minimum aggregate amount of which shall be prescribed by the Farm Credit Bank.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, § 401, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1622, provided that this section is effective 6 months after Jan. 6, 1988.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 2074

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60