32.7—Residential real estate loans, small business loans, and small farm loans.

(a) Residential real estate, small business, and small farm loans. (1) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under § 32.3, an eligible national bank may make residential real estate loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for residential real estate loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located. Any such loan or extension of credit must be secured by a perfected first-lien security interest in 1-4 family real estate in an amount that does not exceed 80 percent of the appraised value of the collateral at the time the loan or extension of credit is made.
(2) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under § 32.3, an eligible national bank may make small business loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for small business loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located.
(3) In addition to the amount that a national bank may lend to one borrower under § 32.3, an eligible national bank may make small farm loans or extensions of credit to one borrower in the lesser of the following two amounts: 10 percent of its capital and surplus; or the percent of its capital and surplus, in excess of 15 percent, that a State bank is permitted to lend under the State lending limit that is available for small farm loans or unsecured loans in the State where the main office of the national bank is located.
(4) The total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to one borrower made under §§ 32.3(a) and (b), together with loans and extensions of credit to the borrower made pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, shall not exceed 25 percent of the bank's capital and surplus.
(5) The total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to all of its borrowers made pursuant to the special lending limits provided in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section may not exceed 100 percent of the bank's capital and surplus.
(b) Application process. An eligible bank must submit an application to, and receive approval from, its supervisory office before using the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section. The supervisory office may approve a completed application if it finds that approval is consistent with safety and soundness. To be deemed complete, the application must include:
(1) Certification that the bank is an “eligible bank” as defined in § 32.2(i) ;
(2) Citations to relevant State laws or regulations;
(3) A copy of a written resolution by a majority of the bank's board of directors approving the use of the limits provided in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, and confirming the terms and conditions for use of this lending authority; and
(4) A description of how the board will exercise its continuing responsibility to oversee the use of this lending authority.
(c) Duration of approval. Except as provided in § 32.7(d), a bank that has received OCC approval may continue to make loans and extensions of credit under the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, provided the bank remains an “eligible bank.”
(d) Discretionary termination of authority. The OCC may rescind a bank's authority to use the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section based upon concerns about credit quality, undue concentrations in the bank's portfolio of residential real estate, small business, or small farm loans, or concerns about the bank's overall credit risk management systems and controls. The bank must cease making new loans or extensions of credit in reliance on the special limits upon receipt of written notice from the OCC that its authority has been rescinded.
(e) Existing loans. Any loans or extensions of credit made by a bank under the special lending limits in paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, that were in compliance with this section when made, will not be deemed a lending limit violation and will not be treated as nonconforming under § 32.6.

Code of Federal Regulations

[66 FR 31120, June 11, 2001, as amended at 69 FR 32436, June 10, 2004; 69 FR 51357, Aug. 19, 2004; 72 FR 31444, June 7, 2007]