---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 3012"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "3012"
heading: "General corporate powers"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/3012"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — National Consumer Cooperative Bank"
  - "Subchapter I — Establishment and Operation"
---

# §3012. General corporate powers


The [Bank](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1) shall have the power to make and service loans, commitments for [credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7), guarantees, furnish financially related services, technical assistance and the results of research, issue its obligations within the limitations imposed by [section 3017 of this title](/usc/12/3017.md) in such amounts, at such times, and on such terms as the [Bank](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1) may determine, and to exercise the other powers and duties prescribed in this chapter, and shall have the power to—

- (1) operate under the direction of its [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3);
- (2) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noted;
- (3) elect by its [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3) a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and provide for such other officers, employees, and agents as may be necessary, and define their duties in accordance with regulations and standards adopted by the [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a), and require surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned by acts of employees;
- (4) prescribe by its [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3) its bylaws not inconsistent with law, which shall establish the terms of [office](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=4) and the procedure for election of elective [members](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1); provide in a manner not inconsistent with this chapter for the classes of its stock and the manner in which its stock shall be issued, transferred, and retired; and prescribe the manner in which its officers, employees, and agents are elected or selected, its property acquired, held and transferred, its loans, commitments, other financial assistance, guarantees and appraisals may be made, its general business conducted, and the privilege granted it by law exercised and enjoyed;
- (5) enter into contracts and make advance, progress, or other payments with respect to such contracts, without regard to the provisions of section [3324(a)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=a) and [(b)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=b) of title 31;
- (6) sue and be sued in its corporate name and complain and defend, in any court of competent jurisdiction, [State](/usc/12/1707.md?p=d) or Federal;
- (7) [acquire](/usc/12/1467a.md?p=a-1-J), hold, lease, [mortgage](/usc/12/1707.md?p=a), or dispose of, at public or private sale, real and personal property and sell or exchange any securities or obligations, and otherwise exercise all the usual incidents of ownership of property necessary or convenient to its business: Provided, That any such acquisition or ownership of real property shall not deprive a [State](/usc/12/1707.md?p=d) or political subdivision thereof of its civil or criminal jurisdiction in and over such property or impair the civil rights of the inhabitants of such property under Federal, [State](/usc/12/1707.md?p=d), or local laws;
- (8) obtain insurance against loss in connection with property and other assets;
- (9) modify or consent to the modification with respect to the rate of interest, time of payment of any installment of principal or interest, security, or any other term of any contract or agreement to which it is a party or has an interest pursuant to this chapter;
- (10) utilize and act through any Federal, [State](/usc/12/1707.md?p=d), or local [public agency](/usc/12/1821.md?p=w-2-B) or instrumentality, or private [agency](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) or organization, with the consent of the [agency](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) or organization concerned, and contract with such [agency](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12), instrumentality, or organization for furnishing or receiving technical services and benefits of research, services, [funds](/usc/12/4702.md?p=10) or facilities; and make advance, progress, or other payments with respect to such contracts without regard to section [3324(a)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=a) and [(b)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=b) of title 31;
- (11) within the limitations of [section 3017 of this title](/usc/12/3017.md), borrow money and issue notes, bonds and debentures or other obligations individually or in concert with other [financial institutions](/usc/12/1715k.md?p=h-1-C), [agencies](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) or instrumentalities, of such character and such terms and conditions and at rates of interest as may be determined;
- (12) issue certificates of indebtedness to its stockholders or [members](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1) and pay interest on [funds](/usc/12/4702.md?p=10) left with the [Bank](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1), and accept grants or interest free temporary use of [funds](/usc/12/4702.md?p=10) made available to it;
- (13) [participate](/usc/12/2206a.md?p=a-1) with one or more other [financial institutions](/usc/12/1715k.md?p=h-1-C), [agencies](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12), instrumentalities, or foundations in loans or guarantees under this chapter on terms as may be agreed upon;
- (14) accept guarantees from other [agencies](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) for which loans made by the [Bank](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1) may be eligible;
- (15) establish one or more branch [offices](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=4) and one or more advisory councils in connection with any such branch [offices](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=4), as may from time to time be authorized by the [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3);
- (16) buy and sell obligations of, or insured by, the United States or any [agency](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) or instrumentalities thereof, or securities backed by the full faith and [credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) of any such [agency](/usc/12/1422.md?p=12) or instrumentality and, after the final Government Equity Redemption Date, make such other investments as may be authorized by the [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3);
- (17) approve the salary scale of officers and employees of the [Bank](/usc/12/1426a.md?p=g-1), in accordance with regulations and standards adopted by the [Board](/usc/12/221a.md?p=a) of [Directors](/usc/12/2279bb.md?p=3), without regard to the provisions of [chapter 51](/usc/12/ch51.md) and subchapter III of [chapter 53](/usc/5/chptIII-sptD-ch53.md) of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the General Schedule pay rates shall be applicable until all class A stock held by the Secretary of the Treasury has been retired; and
- (18) have such other incidental powers as may be necessary or expedient to carry out its duties under this chapter.

In determining whether a public offering is taking place for the purpose of the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](/usc/15/77a.md) et seq.], there shall be excluded from consideration all class B and class C stock purchases which took place prior to August 13, 1981.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–351, title I, § 102, Aug. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 394(d)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 436.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Securities Act of 1933, referred to in text, is act May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, 48 Stat. 74, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 77a et seq.) of chapter 2A of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 77a of Title 15 and Tables.

### Codification

In pars. (5) and (10), “section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31” substituted for “section 3648 of the Revised Statutes [31 U.S.C. 529]” on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.

### Amendments

1981—Pub. L. 97–35 substituted provisions relating to a public offering for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, for provisions setting forth criteria for the term “exempt securities”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 394(d)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 436, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect on the day after the Final Government Equity Redemption Date [Dec. 31, 1981].” See section 396(a) of Pub. L. 97–35 set out below.

“Final Government Equity Redemption Date” Defined

Pub. L. 97–35, title III, § 396(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 439, provided that: “For purposes of this subtitle [see Short Title of 1981 Amendment note set out under section 3001 of this title], the term ‘Final Government Equity Redemption Date’ shall have the same meaning given such term in section 101(5) of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 3011(5)).”