PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Each production credit association must set rules in its bylaws, following Farm Credit Administration (FCA) rules, for how it is funded and how its stock is issued, owned, moved, retired, and how earnings are handled (except for the year-end rules below). At the end of each fiscal year, earnings above operating costs (including loan-loss reserves required by generally accepted accounting principles) must first restore any loss of capital and then go into surplus accounts. The Farm Credit Bank sets the minimum total for those surplus accounts. If the bylaws allow and the FCA permits, available net earnings may be given to patrons in stock, participation certificates, or cash, and surplus-held earnings can also be allocated to patrons.

Title 12, §2074

Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

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)Application of earnings

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)Patronage

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.

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.

§2074 Production Credit Association Capitalization