Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012

Borrowing.

10.— The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following for section 33:

“33.— (1) For the purpose of its objects as referred to in section 6 a credit union may borrow money, on security or otherwise, and may issue debentures accordingly.

(2) For the adequate protection of the savings of members of credit unions, the Bank may prescribe—

(a) the maximum amount of money a credit union may borrow at any one time which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate of shares balance and the deposits balance of the credit union, and

(b) the notice to be given to the Bank by a credit union in specified circumstances where the credit union proposes to borrow certain amounts of money (expressed as a monetary amount or as a percentage of some monetary amount or determinable monetary amount) in respect of those circumstances.

(3) Where the Bank considers it is necessary in the interests of the proper regulation of a credit union or credit unions generally, or the protection of members’ savings, it may do either or both of the following:

(a) permit a credit union to borrow moneys in excess of the amount prescribed in accordance with subsection (2);

(b) waive any notice requirement prescribed in accordance with subsection (2).

(4) A person dealing with a credit union shall not be obliged to be satisfied or to enquire into whether the limit imposed on the credit union by virtue of subsection (2) (or such limit as may be duly affected under subsection (3)) has been or is being observed; but if a person who lends money to a credit union or takes security in connection with such a loan has, at the time the loan is made or the security is taken, actual notice of the fact that that limit has been or is thereby exceeded, the credit union’s debt or, as the case may be, the security shall be unenforceable.

(5) Subject to subsection (4), a transaction with a credit union shall not be invalid or ineffectual by reason of the fact that the limit on borrowing prescribed by the Bank under subsection (2) (or such limit as may be duly affected under subsection (3)) has been or is by the transaction exceeded.

(6) In prescribing matters for the purposes of this section, the Bank shall have regard to the need to ensure that the requirements imposed by the regulations made by it are effective and proportionate having regard to the nature, scale and complexity of credit unions, or the category or categories of credit unions, to which the regulations will apply.”.