Texas state branches and agencies are generally treated like Texas state banks, with specific limits on accepting deposits from U.S. citizens or residents and several authorized banking activities for licensed foreign banks.
Sec. 204.105. POWERS OF BRANCH AND AGENCY. (a) A Texas state branch or agency is subject to this subtitle and other laws of this state applicable to banks as if the Texas state branch or agency were a Texas state bank unless: (1) this chapter or a rule adopted under this subtitle provides otherwise; or (2) the context of a provision or other information indicates that a provision applies only to a bank organized under the laws of a state or the United States. (b) Among other exceptions to Subsection (a) that may be required or authorized by the commissioner provided by this subchapter or by rules adopted under this subtitle: (1) a Texas state branch may not accept deposits of less than an amount equal to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount from citizens or residents of the United States, other than credit balances that are incidental to or arise out of its exercise of other lawful banking powers, unless the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation determines that specific deposit taking activities in lesser amounts do not constitute domestic retail deposit activities requiring deposit insurance protection within the meaning of Section 6, International Banking Act (12 U.S.C. Section 3104); (2) a Texas state agency may not accept deposits from citizens or residents of the United States, other than credit balances that are incidental to or arise out of its exercise of other lawful banking powers, but may accept deposits from persons who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States; and (3) a limitation or restriction based on the capital and surplus of a Texas state bank is considered to refer, as applied to a Texas state branch or agency, to the dollar equivalent of the capital and surplus of the foreign bank, and if the foreign bank has more than one Texas state branch or agency in this state, the business transacted by all the branches and agencies must be aggregated in determining compliance with the limitation. (c) Subject to Subsections (a) and (b), a foreign bank licensed to transact business in this state through a Texas state branch or agency may: (1) borrow and lend money with or without property as security; (2) purchase, sell, and make loans regardless of whether the loans are secured by bonds or mortgages on real property; (3) engage in a foreign exchange transaction; (4) issue, advise, confirm, and otherwise deal with a letter of credit and pay, accept, or negotiate a draft drawn under a letter of credit; (5) accept a bill of exchange or draft; (6) buy or acquire and sell or dispose of a bill of exchange, draft, note, acceptance, or other obligation for the payment of money; (7) maintain a credit balance of money received at the Texas state branch or agency incidental to or arising out of the exercise of its authorized activities in this state if the money is not intended to be a deposit and does not remain in the Texas state branch or agency after the completion of all transactions to which it relates; (8) accept deposits to the extent permitted by Subsection (b); (9) receive money for transmission and transmit the money from its authorized place of business in this state to any other place; (10) act as an indenture trustee or as a registrar, paying agent, or transfer agent, on behalf of the issuer, for equity or investment securities; and (11) perform other activities that: (A) are authorized by rules adopted to accomplish the purposes of this subtitle; or (B) the commissioner determines are analogous or incidental to specific activities authorized by this section for a Texas state branch or agency. (d) A foreign bank licensed to transact business in this state through a Texas state branch or agency may share the premises of the Texas state branch or agency with another authorized office of the foreign bank or a direct or indirect subsidiary of the foreign bank if the books and records of the Texas state branch or agency are kept separately from the books and records of the other office. (e) For purposes of this section: (1) "Resident of the United States" means: (A) an individual residing in the United States; (B) a corporation, partnership, association, or other entity organized in the United States; or (C) a branch or office located in the United States of an entity that is not organized in the United States. (2) "Standard maximum deposit insurance amount" means the amount of the maximum amount of deposit insurance as determined under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1821). Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 344, Sec. 1.001, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 110 (H.B. 2007), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (S.B. 1400), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2017.