2005 Texas Finance Code CHAPTER 123. GENERAL POWERS

FINANCE CODE

CHAPTER 123. GENERAL POWERS

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL POWERS


	§ 123.001. GENERAL POWERS.  A credit union may exercise 
any power necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes for 
which it is organized and any power granted a corporation 
authorized to do business in this state, including any power 
specified in this chapter.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.002. INCIDENTAL POWERS.  A credit union may 
exercise any right, privilege, or incidental power necessary or 
appropriate to exercise its specific powers and to accomplish the 
purposes for which it is organized.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.003. ENLARGEMENT OF POWERS.  (a) A credit union may 
engage in any activity in which it could engage, exercise any power 
it could exercise, or make any loan or investment it could make, if 
it were operating as a federal credit union.
	(b)  Notwithstanding any other law, and in addition to the 
powers and authorities conferred under Subsection (a), a credit 
union has the powers or authorities of a foreign credit union 
operating a branch in this state if the commissioner finds that 
exercise of those powers or authorities is convenient for and 
affords an advantage to the credit union's members and maintains 
the fairness of competition and parity between the credit union and 
any foreign credit union.  A credit union does not have the field of 
membership powers or authorities of a foreign credit union 
operating a branch in this state.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 87, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 533, § 33, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

SUBCHAPTER B. OPERATIONAL POWERS


	§ 123.101. CONTRACTS.  A credit union may make contracts.                   

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.102. POWER TO SUE AND DEFEND.  A credit union may 
sue or be sued in the name of the credit union.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.103. PURCHASE AND SALE OF PROPERTY.  Subject to 
commission rules, a credit union may purchase, hold, lease, or 
dispose of property necessary or incidental to the operation or 
purpose of the credit union.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.104. MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER ORGANIZATION;  OPERATION 
AS CENTRAL CREDIT UNION.  A credit union may:
		(1)  be a member of:                                                          
			(A)  another credit union organized under this 
subtitle  or other law;  and
			(B)  another organization approved by the board;  
or                       
		(2)  operate, with the commissioner's approval, as a 
central credit union.  

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.105. FEES.  (a) A credit union may collect a fee, 
determined by the board, for services and administrative costs, 
including a fee for a check or draft that is returned because it is 
drawn against a closed account or an account containing 
insufficient or uncollected money, because of a stop payment order, 
or for another similar reason.
	(b)  A fee under this section is an administrative expense.  
The fee is in addition to interest authorized by law and is not a 
part of interest collected or agreed to be paid on a loan.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.106. CHANGE OF LOCATION.  A credit union may change 
its principal place of business or a subsidiary place of business to 
another location by notifying the commissioner in writing of the 
new address and the effective date of the change.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended 
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 533, § 34, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


	§ 123.107. INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS.  A credit union may 
purchase or otherwise provide insurance for the benefit or 
convenience of its members in accordance with applicable law or 
rules adopted by the commission.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 157, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.


	§ 123.108. DONATIONS.  A credit union may donate to a 
nonprofit, civic, charitable, or community organization as 
authorized by the board.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.109. SEAL.  A credit union may adopt and use a 
common seal and may alter its seal at any time.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.110. RECORDS.  (a) A credit union may:                                
		(1)  copy any record kept by the credit union;  and                           
		(2)  dispose of the original record in accordance with 
commission rules.    
	(b)  A copy of a record is considered an original record for 
any purpose, including admissibility in evidence as an original 
record before any court or administrative agency for the purpose of 
the copy's admissibility in evidence.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.111. RIGHT TO ACT TO MITIGATE OR AVOID LOSS.  This 
subtitle does not prohibit a credit union from investing its money, 
operating a business, managing or dealing in property, or taking 
any other action at any time that is reasonably necessary to avoid 
or mitigate a loss on a loan or on an investment made or obligation 
created in good faith and in the usual course of the credit union's 
business, as authorized by this subtitle or a rule adopted by the 
commission.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 533, § 35, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.          

SUBCHAPTER C. FINANCIAL POWERS


	§ 123.201. POWER TO BORROW OR LEND.  (a) A credit union 
may:              
		(1)  lend its funds, or engage in any other type of 
financing transaction authorized by applicable law or rules adopted 
by the commission;  and
		(2)  borrow money from any source, subject to 
Subsection (b).               
	(b)  A credit union may not incur a debt without the 
commissioner's prior approval if the debt will cause the debt of the 
credit union, including a deposit of a nonmember financial 
institution, to exceed an amount equal to 500 percent of the credit 
union's unencumbered reserves and undivided earnings.
	(c)  The commissioner shall grant or deny a request for 
approval under Subsection (b) not later than the 10th day after the 
date on which the request is made.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 157, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.


	§ 123.202. RECEIPT, TRANSFER, AND PAYMENT OF MONEY.  A 
credit union may:  
		(1)  receive and disburse money;                                              
		(2)  receive a payment on a share or deposit;  and                            
		(3)  provide for the transfer or withdrawal of money 
from an account by the means and through the payment systems that 
the board determines best serve the convenience and needs of 
members and depositors.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.203. ACCEPTANCE OF MONEY FOR DEPOSIT FROM ANOTHER 
ENTITY.  A credit union may accept money for deposit by a savings 
and loan association, a savings association, the savings department 
of a bank, a commercial bank, a savings bank, a trust company, an 
insurance company, or any intermediary or other person managing or 
holding money on behalf of the credit union or any of the credit 
union's members or depositors.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.204. ACTION AS AGENT OR DEPOSITORY OF UNITED STATES 
OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.  A credit union may act as agent or 
depository of and accept for deposit the money of:
		(1)  the United States or an agent or instrumentality 
of the United States; 
		(2)  this or another state;  or                                               
		(3)  a political subdivision of this or another state, 
including:           
			(A)  a municipality;                                                         
			(B)  a county;                                                               
			(C)  a school district;  or                                                  
			(D)  another taxing authority.                                               

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.205. INVESTMENTS AND SECURITIES.  (a) In accordance 
with commission rules, a credit union may:
		(1)  develop and offer investment programs to its 
members and depositors;  or
		(2)  act as agent for its members and depositors in the 
purchase, sale, or other disposition of a security, an interest in a 
mutual fund, or an interest or participation in any other type of 
investment.
	(b)  A credit union may issue and sell securities in 
connection with an investment program developed and offered under 
Subsection (a)(1).

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.206. ACTION AS FISCAL OR TRANSFER AGENT;  TRANSFER 
OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS;  SIGNATURES.  A credit union may:
		(1)  act as fiscal agent or transfer agent;                                   
		(2)  transfer a registered and countersigned 
certificate of stock, bond, or other evidence of indebtedness;  or
		(3)  guarantee a signature.                                                   

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.207. FIDUCIARY POWERS.  A credit union may:                           
		(1)  act, under court order or appointment, as 
guardian, receiver, trustee, executor, or administrator without 
giving bond;
		(2)  receive an investment from a person acting as a 
guardian, receiver, trustee, executor, or administrator under the 
Texas Probate Code or Subtitle B, Title 9, Property Code; 
		(3)  act as depository for money paid to a court or 
constituting the estate of a deceased person, a minor, or an 
incompetent;
		(4)  accept, execute, and administer a trust as 
trustee;                    
		(5)  accept funds or money for deposit by a fiduciary, 
trustee, receiver, guardian, executor, or administrator;  or
		(6)  act as custodian or trustee of a pension or 
profit-sharing plan, including an individual retirement account or 
a pension fund of a self-employed individual or of the sponsor of a 
credit union.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.208. DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST.  (a) A credit union 
may:               
		(1)  declare and pay a dividend on a share;                                   
		(2)  contract for and pay interest on a deposit;  or                          
		(3)  refund interest to a borrower.                                           
	(b)  A dividend or interest may be paid at a rate and on the 
conditions that the board authorizes.
	(c)  The commissioner may restrict the payment of a dividend:                  
		(1)  if the commissioner issues a cease and desist 
order under Section 122.257;  or
		(2)  as necessary to protect the member's interests and 
preserve the solvency of the credit union as authorized by 
commission rule.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.209. TRANSFER SYSTEM.  A credit union may 
establish, operate, or participate in a system that allows the 
transfer of credit union money or the shares or deposits of its 
members by electronic or other means, including a clearinghouse 
association, a data processing or other electronic network, the 
Federal Reserve System, or any other government payment or 
liquidity program.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.210. SALE OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS OR SECURITIES;  
FEE.  A credit union may:
		(1)  collect, receive, and disburse money:                                    
			(A)  in connection with the sale of a traveler's 
check, money order, cashier's check or draft, treasurer's draft, 
similar instrument, or security of any type;  or
			(B)  for another purpose that may provide a 
benefit or convenience for its members;  and
		(2)  collect a fee for those services.                                        

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.                   


	§ 123.211. CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS.  The commission 
by rule may authorize a credit union to issue certificates of 
indebtedness that are subordinated to all other claims of credit 
union creditors.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 533, § 36, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.          


	§ 123.212. CHECK AND MONEY TRANSFER SERVICES.  A credit 
union may sell to a person within its field of membership negotiable 
checks, money orders, and other similar money transfer instruments 
or services and may also cash checks and money orders for a person 
within its field of membership for a fee.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 533, § 37, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.