The General Banking Law of 2000

Section 29

A commercial bank shall have, in addition to the general powers incident to corporations, all such powers as may be necessary to carry on the business of commercial banking, such as accepting drafts and issuing letters of credit; discounting and negotiating promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other evidences of debt; accepting or creating demand deposits; receiving other types of deposits and deposit substitutes; buying and selling foreign exchange and gold or silver bullion; acquiring marketable bonds and other debt securities; and extending credit, subject to such rules as the Monetary Board may promulgate. These rules may include the determination of bonds and other debt securities eligible for investment, the maturities and aggregate amount of such investment. (21a)

Section 30

A commercial bank may, subject to the conditions stated in the succeeding paragraphs, invest only in the equities of allied enterprises as may be determined by the Monetary Board. Allied enterprises may either be financial or non-financial. Except as the Monetary Board may otherwise prescribe: 30.1. The total investment in equities of allied enterprises shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the net worth of the bank; and 30.2. The equity investment in any one enterprise shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the net worth of the bank. The acquisition of such equity or equities is subject to the prior approval of the Monetary Board which shall promulgate appropriate guidelines to govern such investments. (21A-a; 21-Ca)

Section 31

A commercial bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity of a thrift bank or a rural bank. Where the equity investment of a commercial bank is in other financial allied enterprises, including another commercial bank, such investment shall remain a minority holding in that enterprise. (21-Aa; 21-Ca)

Section 32

A commercial bank may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of the equity in a non-financial allied enterprise. (21-Aa)