Sec. 32.010.  ADDITIONAL POWERS.  (a)  Notwithstanding another law, a Texas state bank may perform an act, own property, or offer a product or service that is at the time permissible within the United States for a depository institution organized under federal law or the law of this state or another state, if the banking commissioner approves the exercise of the power as provided by this section, subject to the same limitations and restrictions applicable to the other depository institution by pertinent law, except to the extent the limitations and restrictions are modified by rules adopted under Subsection (e).  This section may not be used by a Texas state bank to alter or negate the application of the laws of this state with respect to:
(1)  establishment and maintenance of a branch in this state or another state or country;
(2)  permissible interest rates and loan fees chargeable in this state;
(3)  fiduciary duties owed to a client or customer by the bank in its capacity as fiduciary in this state;
(4)  consumer protection laws applicable to transactions in this state;  or
(5)  licensing and regulatory requirements administered by a functional regulatory agency in this state, as defined by Section 31.303, including licensing and regulatory requirements pertaining to:
(A)  insurance activities;
(B)  securities activities;  and
(C)  real estate development, marketing, and sales activities.
(b)  A state bank that intends to exercise a power, directly or through a subsidiary, granted by Subsection (a) that is not otherwise authorized for state banks under the statutes of this state shall submit a letter to the banking commissioner describing in detail the power that the bank proposes to exercise and the specific authority of another depository institution to exercise the power.  The bank shall attach copies, if available, of relevant law, regulations, and interpretive letters.  The bank may begin to exercise the proposed power after the 30th day after the date the banking commissioner receives the bank's letter unless the banking commissioner specifies an earlier or later date or prohibits the activity.  The banking commissioner may prohibit the bank from exercising the power only if the banking commissioner finds that:
(1)  specific authority does not exist for another depository institution to exercise the proposed power;
(2)  if the state bank is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the state bank is prohibited from exercising the power pursuant to Section 24, Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1831a), and related regulations;  or
(3)  the exercise of the power by the bank would adversely affect the safety and soundness of the bank.
(c)  The banking commissioner may extend the 30-day period under Subsection (b) if the banking commissioner determines that the bank's letter raises issues requiring additional information or additional time for analysis.  If the 30-day period is extended, the bank may exercise the proposed power only on prior written approval by the banking commissioner, except that the banking commissioner must approve or prohibit the proposed power or convene a hearing under Section 31.201 not later than the 60th day after the date the banking commissioner receives the bank's letter.  If a hearing is convened, the banking commissioner must approve or prohibit the proposed power not later than the 30th day after the date the hearing is completed.
(d)  A state bank that is denied the requested power by the banking commissioner under this section may appeal as provided by Sections 31.202 and 31.204 or may resubmit a letter under this section with additional information or authority relevant to the banking commissioner's determination.  A denial is immediately final for purposes of appeal.
(e)  To effectuate this section, the finance commission may adopt rules implementing the method or manner in which a state bank exercises specific powers granted under this section, including rules regarding the exercise of a power that would be prohibited to state banks under state law but for this section.  The finance commission may not adopt rules under this subsection unless it considers the factors listed in Section 31.003(b) and finds that:
(1)  the conditions for prohibition by the banking commissioner under Subsection (b) do not exist;  and
(2)  if the rights and privileges would be prohibited to state banks under other state law, the rules contain adequate safeguards and controls, consistent with safety and soundness, to address the concern of the legislature evidenced by the state law the rules would affect.
(f)  The exercise of a power by a state bank in compliance with and in the manner authorized by this section is not a violation of any statute of this state.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 344, Sec. 2.006, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 528, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 20 (S.B. 614), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2019.