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HomeFinancial CodeDiv. 1.1Ch. 14Art. 3§ 1491 Bank Loan Security Restrictions

§ 1491 Bank Loan Security Restrictions

Financial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1491 Bank Loan Security Restrictions

This law stops banks from giving certain loans unless they meet specific cash and size limits.

Key Takeaways

  • •A loan cannot be made if the borrower must buy the securities without first paying at least 25% of the purchase price in cash.
  • •The bank cannot be responsible for repaying the loan unless the loan term is one year or less.
  • •The loan amount cannot be more than 25% of the bank’s total equity, loan loss allowance, capital notes, and debentures.
  • •These rules apply to loans that are secured by corporate securities.

Example

A bank wants to lend $400,000 to a small business, but the loan would be larger than the limit set by the law.

Because the loan would be more than 25% of the bank’s total equity plus other capital items, the bank cannot make the loan under this rule.

How to Calculate

Maximum loan amount = 0.25 × (Shareholders’ equity + Allowance for loan losses + Capital notes + Debentures)

  1. Add the bank’s shareholders’ equity, allowance for loan losses, capital notes, and debentures together.
  2. Multiply that total by 0.25 (which is 25%).
  3. The result is the largest loan the bank may make under this rule.

A bank has $12 million in shareholders’ equity, $0.8 million in allowance for loan losses, $1.2 million in capital notes, and $3 million in debentures.

Result: The bank may lend up to $4,200,000 (0.25 × (12,000,000 + 800,000 + 1,200,000 + 3,000,000) = 0.25 × 17,000,000 = 4,250,000).

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1491 Bank Loan Security Restrictions

No loan shall be made by any commercial bank upon the securities of one or more corporations, the payment of which loan is undertaken, in whole or in part, severally, but not jointly, by two or more persons in any of the following circumstances: (a) If the borrowers or underwriters are obligated absolutely or contingently to purchase the securities, or any of them, collateral to the loan, unless the borrowers or underwriters have paid on account of the purchase of the securities an amount in cash, or its equivalent, equal to at least 25 percent of the several amounts for which they remain obligated in completing the purchase of the securities. (b) If the commercial bank making the loan is liable, directly or indirectly, or contingently, for the repayment of the loan or any part thereof. (c) If its term, including any renewal thereof by agreement, express or implied, exceeds the period of one year. (d) Or to an amount under any circumstances in excess of 25 percent of the sum of the commercial bank’s shareholders’ equity, allowance for loan losses, capital notes, and debentures. (Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 243, Sec. 3. (SB 664) Effective January 1, 2012.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

allowanceagreementshareholdercorporationsecuritiesrepayment

Related Statutes

  • § 1483 Bank Letter Of Credit Limits
  • § 1481 Bank Lending Limits
  • § 32421 Small Business Loan Securities
  • § 4851 Shareholder Approval Disclosure Rules
  • § 4879.07 Depository Corporation Shareholder Information

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Financial Code. Section 1491.
View Official Source