7.4009—Applicability of state law to national bank operations.

(a) Authority of national banks. A national bank may exercise all powers authorized to it under Federal law, including conducting any activity that is part of, or incidental to, the business of banking, subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations prescribed by the Comptroller of the Currency and any applicable Federal law.
(b) Applicability of state law. Except where made applicable by Federal law, state laws that obstruct, impair, or condition a national bank's ability to fully exercise its powers to conduct activities authorized under Federal law do not apply to national banks.
(c) Applicability of state law to particular national bank activities. (1) The provisions of this section govern with respect to any national bank power or aspect of a national bank's operations that is not covered by another OCC regulation specifically addressing the applicability of state law.
(2) State laws on the following subjects are not inconsistent with the powers of national banks and apply to national banks to the extent that they only incidentally affect the exercise of national bank powers:
(i) Contracts;
(ii) Torts;
(iii) Criminal law 8

Code of Federal Regulations


Footnote(s): 8 8 Id.
(iv) Rights to collect debts;
(v) Acquisition and transfer of property;
(vi) Taxation;
(vii) Zoning; and
(viii) Any other law the effect of which the OCC determines to be incidental to the exercise of national bank powers or otherwise consistent with the powers set out in paragraph (a) of this section.

Code of Federal Regulations

[69 FR 1917, Jan. 13, 2004]