Section 5: Rules for the Conduct of Banking Activity #
Article 26 General banking principles
1. Banks shall conduct their administration and operations in a sound and prudent manner and in accordance with the requirements of the law, any conditions and restrictions attached to their banking licenses or permits issued by the CBI, and the regulations, guidelines and orders issued by the CBI.
2. Banks shall: maintain adequate capital and liquidity; make adequate provision for depreciation of assets, for discharge of liabilities, and for losses; maintain adequate accounting and other records of business; observe sufficient and effective risk controls; and ensure that their assets are diversified as to risk of loss.
3. The CBI shall, by regulation, prescribe detailed standards of conduct for banks which the CBI shall apply in its prudential supervision in accordance with international standards and best practices.
4. The CBI shall issue regulations specifying how the operational requirements specified for banks by the provisions of this section, and in regulations issued by the CBI thereunder, apply to banks and their subsidiaries on a worldwide consolidated basis.
5. Banks shall not establish group structures that hinder the exercise of effective supervision.
The CBI may issue regulations specifying rules regarding affiliates of a bank, in particular, concerning the requirements for transactions between banks and any affiliates that are not subject to consolidation in the preparation of financial statements.
6. The CBI shall issue regulations specifying how the operational requirements specified for banks by the provisions of this section, and in regulations issued by the CBI thereunder, shall apply to domestic branch offices of foreign banks.
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7. Whenever an administrator of a bank discovers that the capital of the bank is less than the capital required by law or by regulation of the CBI, the administrator must promptly notify the CBI thereof.
8. The CBI may provide guidance, including by means of establishing rules for good business conduct, or specify by regulation rules to ensure the banks’ good relations with their depositors and customers.
Article 27 Banking activities
1. A bank may engage in the following activities subject to the terms and conditions of its banking license or permit:
a. receiving money deposits (in the form of demand deposits, time deposits or other types of deposit) or other repayable funds, bearing interest or not;
b. extending credits (whether secured or not by collateral or liens), including without limitation: consumer and mortgage credit; factoring, with or without recourse;
financing of commercial transactions, including forfeiting (purchasing negotiable instruments at discount without recourse); and financial leasing services; subject to regulation of the CBI, a bank may charge interest on interest, and the total amount of interest it may receive shall not be limited by the principal amount of a credit;
c. buying and selling for its own account or for the account of customers (including underwriting and brokerage services) of any of the following: money market instruments (including checks, bills of exchange, promissory notes and certificates of deposit); foreign currencies and precious metals; exchange and interest rate instruments; stocks and other transferable securities; and forward contracts, swap agreements, futures, options, and other derivatives relating to currencies, stocks, bonds, precious metals or interest rates;
d. entering into contingent commitments, including guarantees and letters of credit, for its own account and for the account of customers;
e. providing clearing, settlement and transfer services for money, securities, payment orders and payment instruments (including checks, credit, debit and other payment cards, travelers’ checks; and bank drafts, wire transfers, and pre-authorized debits and credits);
f. money brokering;
g. safekeeping and administration of valuables, including securities;
h. providing trust services;
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i. providing services as portfolio manager of securities or as financial adviser, agent or consultant;
j. providing financial information and credit reference services; and k. anything that shall be incidental to the foregoing and such other activities, not prohibited by Article 28, as the CBI may by regulation authorize as banking activities.
2. The CBI may, in its discretion, and subject to such conditions as it may stipulate, require banks to conduct certain banking activities through separately capitalized subsidiaries that are wholly or majority-owned by the relevant bank.
Article 28 Prohibited activities No bank shall engage in or participate as an agent, partner or co-owner in wholesale or retail trade, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture or fisheries, mining, building, re-insurance, insurance underwriting or other business activities except for activities that are authorized by Article 27. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and with the prior written approval of the CBI, a bank may temporarily carry on or participate in the carrying on of such activities to the extent necessary to obtain satisfaction of claims, provided that the CBI may require the bank to cease such activities by a date specified in the license or permit.
Article 29 Prudential requirements
1. Each bank shall develop and maintain internal policies in the form of maximum and minimum ratios, exposure limits, risk-management standards, investment policies and other prudential ratios to be maintained by the bank concerning its assets, off-balance sheet items and various categories of capital and reserves. Such internal policies shall be consistent with regulations on prudential requirements issued by the CBI pursuant to paragraph (3) of this article.
2. In particular, banks shall establish and apply internal policies on prudential ratios governing:
a. their liquid resources in relation to the value or change in value of their assets (including guarantees and collateral received), or in relation to their liabilities, provided that banks shall be permitted to meet the requirements concerning liquid resources by maintaining with the CBI money deposits of an equivalent value;
b. the maximum aggregate amount of all or certain categories of their credits and investments;
c. the classification and evaluation of assets, and provisions to be made on the basis of such classification and evaluation, and the time when earnings on non-performing loans may no longer be accounted for as income except as received in cash; and
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d. prohibitions, restrictions or conditions concerning: (i) the types or forms of credits and investments made, and liabilities assumed (contingent or otherwise);
(ii) matching as to maturity and interest in respect of assets and liabilities (contingent or otherwise); and (iii) unhedged positions, exceeding a specified ratio, in foreign currencies or precious metals; exchange and interest rate instruments; stocks and other transferable securities; and forward contracts, swap agreements, futures, options, and other derivatives relating to currencies, stocks, bonds, precious metals or interest rates.
3. The CBI shall by regulation prescribe prudential requirements as well as the common procedures and methods of calculation to be followed by banks in their application. The CBI may specify requirements, prescribed in response to exceptional circumstances, concerning the rate of interest, maturity and other conditions applicable to any type or form of financing extended or received (including deposits) or applicable to contingent liabilities.
Article 29A Net domestic assets required for branches of foreign banks Each branch of a foreign bank, if so directed by the CBI, shall maintain in Iraq an excess of assets over its liabilities to third parties other than any other office, or any affiliate, or any subsidiary of the foreign bank in such amount, if any, as the CBI may direct.
Article 30 Large exposures
1. No bank shall grant credit to a person if as a result thereof:
a. the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all of the bank’s credits to that person would exceed the equivalent of fifteen percent, or such lower percentage as specified by regulations issued by the CBI, of the bank’s unimpaired capital and reserves (large credit exposure), without obtaining prior approval of the CBI;
b. the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all of the bank’s credits to that person would exceed the equivalent of 25 percent, or such lower percentage as specified by regulations issued by the CBI, of the bank’s unimpaired capital and reserves; or c. the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all large credit exposures of the bank pursuant to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) would exceed the equivalent of 400 percent, or such lower percentage as specified by regulations issued by the CBI, of the bank’s unimpaired capital and reserves.
2. The limitations specified in paragraph (1) shall not apply to any principal amount of credit that is fully secured by readily marketable collateral in accordance with the standards prescribed for that purpose by regulation of the CBI, provided, however, that no bank shall grant such secured credit if, as a result thereof, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all its secured credits to the person receiving such credit would exceed the equivalent of
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20 percent of the bank’s unimpaired capital and reserves, or such lower percentage as specified by regulations issued by the CBI.
3. The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to:
a. transactions with, or guaranteed by, the government;
b. transactions secured by obligations of, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the Government of Iraq or any agency or instrumentality of the Government of Iraq specified by the CBI by regulation;
c. transactions denominated in Iraqi dinars that are fully secured by deposits in a segregated account at the bank denominated in Iraqi dinars; and, d. amounts paid against uncollected funds in the ordinary process of collection.
4. For the purposes of applying this article or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, a person shall be deemed to include any other person with whom such person is connected, directly or indirectly, in such a way that the financial soundness of any of them may affect the financial soundness of the other or others, or the same factors may affect the financial soundness of some or all of them, or if as a result of the structure of their relationship the other person is in fact ultimately responsible for the credit outstanding.
5. For purposes of this article and any regulations issued pursuant thereto, the term “bank” means, with respect to a domestic bank, the bank together with its subsidiaries and, with respect to a foreign bank with a permit to operate a branch in Iraq, its Iraqi branch or branches Article 31 Transactions with related persons and senior bank officials
1. No bank may extend credit to a related person or senior bank official:
a. if, in the case of a domestic bank, the credit and its financial terms and conditions have not been approved by the board of directors;
b. if the credit is granted to an administrator or senior bank official of the bank and the credit would cause the aggregate amount of credit disbursed by the bank to that person and outstanding, including any credit granted by one or more of the bank’s subsidiaries, to exceed the equivalent of 50 percent of the annual remuneration of that person, or if the credit would cause the aggregate amount of credits disbursed to all related persons and senior bank officials and outstanding to exceed ten percent of the unimpaired capital and reserves of the bank, or such lower percentage as specified by regulation issued by the CBI, provided, however, that the foregoing percentage limits shall not apply to any credit that is secured by a mortgage on property for a local primary residence whose appraised value, in the opinion of the CBI, at the time that
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that credit is granted exceeds the principal amount of the credit by not less than one- third of that principal amount;
c. if the credit is granted on terms and conditions that are less favorable to the bank than the terms and conditions that are offered by the bank to the public in the ordinary course of business at the time when the credit is granted; or d. if the credit is not fully secured in the amount and manner specified by regulation issued by the CBI.
2. No bank may purchase assets from or sell assets to a related person that is a natural person, or any officer or employee of the bank or a related person.
3. No bank may purchase assets from a related person that is a juridical person:
a. if, in the case of domestic bank, the asset purchase and its financial terms and conditions have not been approved by the board of directors; or b. if the asset purchase is on terms and conditions that are less favorable to the bank than the terms and conditions that are offered by the bank to the public in the ordinary course of business at the time when the asset purchase occurs.
4. In the case of a domestic bank, every credit provided by a bank to, or asset purchased from, a related person or senior bank official shall be promptly reported to the audit committee of the bank. If credit has been provided by a bank to, or an asset purchased from, a related person or senior bank official in violation of the provisions of paragraph (1), the credit must be immediately repaid, and the members of the board of directors or the designated branch manager, as the case may be, shall be personally liable, jointly and severally, for payment of principal of, and interest and other charges on, credit granted in violation of paragraph (1) with their knowledge and without their objection.
5. The CBI may instruct a bank to deduct any lending to a related person or senior bank official from capital for purposes of calculating the ratio pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article
16.
6. The limitations contained in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to the portions of credits denominated in Iraqi dinars fully secured in the manner specified by the CBI by regulation, by deposits in a segregated account at the bank denominated in Iraqi dinars, or the portions of credits fully secured by, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the Government of Iraq or any agency or instrumentality of the Government of Iraq specified by the CBI by regulation.
7. Definitions. For the purposes of this article and any regulations issued pursuant thereto:
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a. “Bank” means, (i) with respect to a domestic bank, the bank together with its subsidiaries and (ii) with respect to a foreign bank with a permit to operate a branch in Iraq, its Iraqi branch or branches.
b. “Related person” means a related person as that term is defined in Article 1 of this Law and, in addition, any spouses and children of persons related in the first or second degree to an administrator of the bank.
c. “Senior bank official” means a senior bank official as that term is defined in Article 1 of this Law and, in addition, any person related to a senior bank official in the first or second degree, and any spouses and children of such persons.
Article 32 Foreign currency exposure The CBI may issue regulations to set the maximum foreign currency exposure which banks may incur in foreign currency generally or in any specified currency or currencies.
Article 33 Investment restrictions
1. It shall be prohibited for any bank without the CBI’s prior approval to invest in the stocks, shares, or equity-linked bonds of any undertaking in an amount that exceeds 20 percent of the bank’s unimpaired capital and reserves. To the extent that any stocks, shares, or equity-linked bonds transferred to the bank in the course of its banking operations would cause the bank’s holdings to exceed such limit, the bank shall dispose of such stocks, shares, or equity-linked bonds as soon as practicable and not later than at a date at which such disposition may occur without incurring a loss, and, in any case, within two years of their acquisition at the latest.
Upon request by the bank, this period may be extended for a period of up to one year by decision of the CBI.
2. Except in connection with the granting of mortgage loans in the conduct of its banking operations, it shall be prohibited for any bank to possess real estate other than real estate essential to the conduct of its operations and for the housing of its employees and workers.
This provision shall not bar the bank from leasing any excess portion of real estate held for the conduct of its operations, provided it obtains the CBI’s prior approval. A bank shall dispose of any real estate transferred to it in the course of its banking operations other than mortgage lending as soon as practicable and not later than at a date at which such disposition may occur without incurring a loss and, in any case, within two years of acquiring it at the latest. Upon request by the bank, this period may be extended for two periods of up to two years each by decision of the CBI.
3. It shall be prohibited for any bank to acquire a participation in another bank or financial institution without first obtaining the CBI’s prior written approval and without meeting the requirements stipulated by the CBI.
4. It shall be prohibited for any bank to possess shares in other banks or financial institutions without the CBI’s prior approval unless such shares were transferred to the bank in the
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course of its banking operations. In this case, the bank shall sell the shares as soon as practicable and not later than at a date at which such disposition may occur without incurring a loss and in any case, within two years of acquiring them at the latest, unless the CBI grants approval to retain the shares.
5. It shall be prohibited for any bank without first obtaining the CBI’s prior written approval to acquire stock or shares in a company established outside Iraq, except when such stock or shares are transferred to it in the course of its banking operations.
Article 34 Bank holidays
All banks must open their doors for business with the public on all days and during all office hours approved by the CBI, excluding Fridays and bank holidays. The CBI shall, by regulation, announce the holidays to be observed by banks. No bank may open its doors to the public during these bank holidays, be they official or unofficial holidays. In the event that circumstances require the suspension of banking operations, the CBI may order banks to close their doors temporarily, cease their operations, and resume them only by order of the CBI.
Article 35 Suspicious transactions
1. If a bank or any of its administrators, officers or employees learns that the execution of any banking transaction or the receipt or payment of any sum of money pertains or may pertain to any crime or illegal act, the bank shall immediately notify the appropriate official or judicial authority to this effect. The bank shall inform the CBI on a monthly basis about suspicious transaction reports submitted, if any, and concerning any need for additional action regarding this matter.
2. A bank’s disclosure of any information in good faith under this article shall not be considered a breach of banking confidentiality. In addition, neither the CBI nor the bank shall bear any liability as a result thereof.
Article 36 Restriction on bank shares No bank may grant any credit, including loans and advances, or provide a guarantee or security to a customer that uses the customers’ shares in the bank as collateral to secure the loan. A bank may not purchase its own shares without prior approval of the CBI.
Article 37 Dormant accounts
1. Amounts on deposit in an account at a bank, and any other property held by a bank are subject to special rules if the accounts are considered dormant accounts or the property held by a bank is considered abandoned. The requirements of this article apply only to dormant accounts maintained at an office in Iraq or abandoned property located in Iraq.
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2. If a customer has not evidenced any interest in the amounts on deposit or other property by recorded transaction or written correspondence with the bank for seven years beginning no earlier than the date that this Law entered into effect, on the first business day of the following calendar year, the bank shall dispatch by registered post a notice to the customer at the customer’s last known address containing particulars of the dormant account or other abandoned property, and publish in at least two newspapers of general circulation and the Official Publication the name of the customer. Not less than 30 days after such notice and publication, if the customer cannot be located, the bank shall make a detailed report to the CBI, which report the CBI shall maintain in its records for at least 20 years from the date the property is turned over to it, and shall turn over the amount on deposit or other property to the CBI, to be held in a special account at the CBI. In the case of property other than funds on deposit, the CBI shall sell the property in a public auction or other appropriate method designed to generate the maximum value for the property.
3. The CBI shall hold the funds in a special account to be invested in Iraqi government securities, or other securities if Iraqi government securities are not available, provided that, for a period of twenty years from the date the property was turned over to the CBI, any owner who, to the satisfaction of the CBI furnishes proof of ownership, shall be entitled to repayment of the amounts by the CBI. After the expiration of such period, any remaining unclaimed amounts shall be transferred to the Ministry of Finance for deposit in the State Treasury.
Article 38 Records
1. Banks shall keep on file in Iraq for at least seven years the pertinent documents for each one of their transactions, namely:
a. customer identification records;
b. application and all contract documents pertaining to the transaction (including credit, guarantee and collateral agreements) and a signed written record of the decision of the bank approving the transaction;
c. financial records concerning counterparties (including borrowers and guarantors), and any other documentary evidence on which the bank relied in approving the transaction;
d. the account agreements with its customers; and e. such other documents as the CBI may specify by regulation.
2. Records shall be kept in written form. A bank may retain books, records, statements, documents, correspondence, cables, notices, and other documents relating to its financial activities in reduced form (microfilm, electronic data storage or other current technological devices) instead of the original for the period established in the law, to the extent that adequate data recovery systems and procedures are in place. Such reduced copies shall have
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the probative effect of the original. The CBI may issue regulations setting out detailed systems requirements.
Article 39 Payment system
1. Banks may establish cooperative systems and clearing houses for the transfer of funds and for the settlement of accounts and payment instruments among themselves and among other financial institutions. The CBI may establish rules and procedures to govern the conduct of these activities.
2. Banks may establish credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus to collect and to disseminate to other banks such information concerning the financial affairs of existing and prospective customers as the banks may need in order to make prudent banking decisions.
Such information shall be furnished only to banks having an actual or prospective banking relationship with the person concerning whom the information is provided. Such information shall be furnished subject to such restrictions, including rules and procedures that may be adopted by the CBI under paragraph (e) of Article 51, as shall be necessary to protect the confidentiality of banking information and to prevent the unauthorized dissemination of such information.