Handouts BNK601
Handouts BNK601
Handouts BNK601
Table of Contents
LESSON 1..................................................................................................................1
....................................................................................................8
..................................................................................................19
..................................................................................................57
................................................................................................153
................................................................................................153
..............................................................................................164
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS........................................................177
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS........................................................181
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT..........................................................187
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS........................................................195
PARTIES TO PROMISSORY NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES................200
Objectives
This course has been designed with the view to focus special emphasis on the
following aspects:
• Developing interpretational skills and clear understanding of the students
regarding prevalent banking and ancillary laws in Pakistan.
• Developing professional skills so as to apply these laws in real life situations.
• Enabling them to manage legal requirements pertaining to banks and
banking transactions.
Course management:
The entire course would comprise of the following modules, detail of the topics
covered under these modules is also given hereunder:
Module 2
Financial system and banking: it would cover the following topics/contents:
• Financial institutions
• Financial markets & Financial instruments
Evolution of Banking: it would cover in detail the following topics/contents:
• Historical background
• Nationalization of banks
• The (banks nationalization Act, 1974)
Module 3
Some important statutes regarding banking-- This would cover the following
statutes:
Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962: it would comprise the following
topics/contents:
• Introduction of the ordinance
• Important statutory definitions
• Forms of business in which banking companies may engage
• Regulations regarding Paid- up capital, Subscribed capital and Authorized
capital
Module 4
Banker - Customer relationships: it would cover in detail the following
topics/contents:
• Banker and customer relationship
• Debtor and creditor relationship
• Agency relationship
• Bailor- Bailee relationship
• Mortgagor-Mortgagee Relationship
• Pledger-pledgee relationship
Module 5
Types of Customer’s Account: it would cover in detail the following
topics/contents:
• Opening of account
Module 7
Principles and Forms of Lending: it would cover in detail the following
topics/contents:
• Principles of lending
• Forms of lending
• Over drafts, loans
Module 8
Non-funded facilities: it would cover the following topics/contents:
• Letter of credit
• Definition of letter of credit
• Revocable and irrevocable credits
• Types of letter of credit
• Opening of letter of credit
• Negotiation of letter of credit
• Reimbursement of letter of credit
• Rules regarding Non-funded facilities
• Uniform customs and practices for documentary credit (UCP 600)
• Uniform Rules for Contract Guarantee URCG-325
• Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantee URDG-458
• Module 9
Module 10
Designing of legal documents: it would cover in detail the following
topics/contents:
• Hire- purchase agreement
• Termination of the agreement
• Mortgage deed
• Redemption deed
• Redemption of mortgage
• Letter of hypothecation
Module 11
Financial institutions ( Recovery of Finances) Ordinance, 2001:
It would cover in detail the following topics/contents:
• Introduction
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• Definitions
• Establishment of banking court
• Power of banking court
• Procedure of banking court
• Leave to defend
• Interim decree
• Power to set aside decree
• Disposal of suit
• Sale of mortgage property
• Attachment before judgment
• Banking documents
• Execution of decree, appeal
Module 12
It would cover the following topics:
• Application of limitation Act, 1908
• Ancillary statutes
• Limitation Act, 1908
• Stamp Act, 1899
• Arbitration Act, 1949
• Contract Act, 1872
Besides text books and reference books, sufficient reading material shall be
available in the form of handouts. It is believed that students shall be duly
benefited from the multiple resources at their disposal.
We know that every body around talks about law according to one’s own
perception. Before studying the statutory provisions of law, interpretation and
significance of law, it is important to know what law is all about. Law in general
sense is defined as under:
“The law consists of rules that regulate the conduct of individuals, businesses, and
other organizations within society”
Significance of law
Law is to maintain rights, uphold justice and redress wrongs. Law ensures public
order, balance, harmony, peace among the persons within the state and inter-
states. We can easily conceive that in the absence of law and legal system there
would have been disorder, unrest and chaos all around us.
Jurisprudence
For understanding law, we must have preliminary understanding of jurisprudence.
The legal experts term civil law as science of jurisprudence. Some concepts of
jurisprudence are given below:
“Jurisprudence means the knowledge of law, or knowledge of just and unjust”
It deals with laws that are enforceable by the courts.
Kinds of Jurisprudence
The jurisprudence has been classified as under:
• Analytical Jurisprudence
• Historical Jurisprudence
• Ethical Jurisprudence
Analytical jurisprudence
It covers the following areas:
It analyses the prevalent law that is the principles of law as exist now. It also
studies theory of legislation, precedent and customs and study of different legal
concepts such as property, possession, trust, contract, negligence etc
Ethical jurisprudence
It deals with the law that should be in an ideal state. It lays down the different
purposes which should be fulfilled in an ideal state. It studies the modifications in
the existing law in order to achieve these purposes and objects. The main object of
ethical jurisprudence is the attainment of justice.
According to Blackstone:--
“Law signifies a rule of action, and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of
action”.
According to Holland:--
“Law refers to a general rule of action, taking cognizance only of external acts
enforced by a determinate authority, which authority is human, and among human
authorities is that which is permanent in a political society”.
According to Hobbs
“The commands of him and them that have coercive power”
According to Salmond
“Law is the body of principles recognized and applied by the State in the
administration of justice”
According to De Montmorency
“Coercion is a weapon of law which law has forged, but it is not the basis of law.”
According to Pound
“Law is the body of principles recognized or enforced by public and regular
tribunals in the administration of justice”
According to Wilson
“Law is that portion of the established thought and habit which has gained distinct
and formal recognition in the shape of uniform rules backed by the authority and
power of Government.”
According to Green
“Law is the system of rights and obligations which the state enforces.”
Classification of Law
The law is classified into the following branches:
Imperative Law
- Physical or Scientific Law
- Natural or Moral Law
Imperative Law
The three ingredients of imperative law are explained in detail
Imperative law is a general rule
It is a rule of general application as distinguished from particular application. A
rule which applies only to one individual or one set of circumstances at a given
time but never afterwards will not be a rule of imperative law. The rules of
conduct laid down by a father for the guidance of his son; or by a master for his
servant, though laid down by a superior and enforced by physical force, are not
imperative law, because they are not of general application.
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On the other hand, ‘general’ does not mean absolutely general, or applicable to
all. Thus traffic rules, though applicable to drivers of vehicles only, are imperative
law, for they apply generally to all drivers. The rules requiring ministers or the
President to take an oath on entering upon office, though applicable to a few or
even one individual form part of imperative law for the oath is to be taken by
President after President, Minister after Minister, etc. thus “General” here signifies
the fact that wherever a particular set of circumstances comes into existence, the
rule should be invariably applicable, with exception –though the one affected may
be an individual (the Minister) or to class of persons ( the drivers of vehicles).
Illustrations
Divine law is imperative law on the following basis:
(i) It is laid down by a superior authority (God);
(ii) It is followed compulsorily;
(iii) Its breach constitutes a sin and is punished with divine wrath.
Civil law (the law of the land) is also a form of imperative law on the following
basis;
--The superior power is the sovereign
--the compulsion is fear of punishment by the state.
--it is enforced by the physical force of the state. Civil law decides whether an act
is innocent or criminal.
International Law
International law has been differently defined by different jurists.
Salmond takes it as “those rules which govern sovereign states in their relations
and conduct towards each other”. Other definitions are:
“ the body of rules which by custom or treaty civilized states regard as binding
upon themselves in their relations with one another, and whose violation gives the
injured party a legal right to redress”; ( Wheaton),
“The aggregate of rules to which nations have agreed to conform in their conduct
towards one another”; (Lord Russel).
Sources of law
According to Salmond, following are the main sources:
- Formal sources
- Material sources
Formal Sources
Formal sources are comprised of statutes and decision of the courts.
Sources of
Law
Material
Formal
Sources
Sources
Legal Historical
Sources Sources
Process of legislation—Explained
Parliament/federal legislature has been given powers to make laws by the
constitution of Pakistan (1973) 4th schedule in two lists that is:
A bill can be presented in either house whether national assembly or senate and
after being passed by simple majority shall be transmitted to other house. When
the bill is passed by both houses of the parliament, it is then presented to the
president for assent.
If the bill presented to President is not given assent or sent back to the parliament
for any amendments, it will be considered in the joint sitting of the both houses of
the parliament and if passed shall be again presented to the President for his
assent. Now the bill will become the act of parliament and president does not have
powers to withhold assent.
The bill when passed by the parliament is called an Act.
Money Bills
Money bill shall originate in the national assembly and after being passed shall be
presented to the president for assent. Money bill shall not be presented to the
senate. The rest of the procedure is the same as explained above.
Ordinance
Under the constitution of Pakistan, the President can promulgate an ordinance, if
any house of parliament is not in session. The ordinance shall stand repealed after
one hundred twenty days, if it is not presented or passed by the parliament.
The process of legislation has also been explained through a figure on next page.
Process of
Legislation
Preside
nt Sent for
Asse reconsideration to
nt Parliament (Joint
Reject
sitting of National
Act/Law Assembly and Senate)
Indirect Fin
Financial
Intermediaries
Funds
Those who have saved and lending funds, the Lender Savers are at the left side &
those who must borrow funds to finance their spending, the Borrower-Spenders are
at the right. The arrows show that Funds flow from lender savers to Borrower –
spenders via two routes i.e.; through financial markets (Direct Finance) and
through Financial intermediaries i.e. Banks etc. (Indirect Finance)
Lender-Savers:
In direct finance borrowers borrow funds directly from lenders in financial markets
by selling them securities or bonds which are claim on borrowers’ future income or
assets.
Households.
Types of Financial Markets
Business Firms.
Financial markets are divided as under:
1. Foreign exchange market.
Financial
2.
3.
Stock market.
Government.
Bond market. Market
Financial markets are one arena in which savers’ surpluses are transferred to
Foreigners .
borrowers. Savers can buy stocks and Bonds and Business borrowers can obtain
funds by issuing stocks and Bonds
Risk Sharing
One advantage of using the financial system to match individual savers and
borrowers is that it allows the sharing of risks. Risk is the chance that the value of
financial assets will change relative to what you expect. Most individual savers are
not gamblers and would like to seek a steady return on their assets rather than
erratic swings between high and low earnings. Indeed, individuals prefer stable
returns on the collection of assets they hold. A collection of assets is called a
portfolio. For example, you might hold some government treasury securities, some
shares of stock, and some shares in a mutual fund. Although one asset or set of
assets may perform well and another may not perform as well, but overall returns
tend to average out. This splitting of wealth into many assets is known as
diversification. As long as the individual returns do not vary in the same way, the
risk of severe fluctuations in a portfolio's value will be reduced. The financial
system provides risk sharing by allowing savers to hold many assets.
.
Liquidity
The second service, the financial system offers to savers and borrowers is liquidity,
which is the ease with which an asset can be exchanged for money to purchase
other assets or exchanged for goods and services. Savers view the liquidity of fi-
nancial assets as a benefit. When they need their assets for their own consumption
or investment, they can exchange them easily. In general, the more liquid an
asset, the easier it is to exchange the asset for something else. You can easily
exchange the currency notes for purchasing a book or anything else because it is
highly liquid. You can also cash a check within a short period of time to buy
clothes. However, selling a car would take more time because personal property is
not very liquid. By holding financial claims (such as stock or bonds) on a factory,
individual investors have more liquid savings than they would if they owned the
machines in the factory. The reason is that the investor can more easily sell the
claim than a specific machine in order to buy other assets or goods. Liquid assets
allow an individual or firm to respond quickly to new opportunities or unexpected
events. Financial assets created by the financial system, such as stocks, bonds, or
checking accounts, are more liquid than cars, machinery, or real estate.
Financial markets and intermediaries provide trading systems for making financial
assets more liquid. In addition to creating financial assets, the financial system
provides mechanism for increasing the liquidity of financial assets. Investors can
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Banking Laws and Practices-BNK 601 VU
readily sell their holdings in government securities and stocks and bonds of large
corporations, making those assets very liquid. During the past two decades, the
financial system has made many other assets liquid besides stocks and bonds.
One measure of the efficiency of the financial system is the extent to which it can
transform illiquid assets into the liquid claims that savers want.
Information
A third service of the financial system is the collection and communication of
information, or facts about borrowers and expectations about returns on financial
assets. The first informational role the financial system plays is to gather
information. That includes finding put about prospective borrowers and what they
will do with borrowed funds. Obtaining such information would be costly and
time-consuming for savers, who of course want all the facts before lending their
money. Working through the financial system, a prospective investor is likely to
learn more about the borrower than he would if he tried to make the investment
on his own.
Another problem that exists in most transactions is asymmetric information. This
means that borrowers possess information about their opportunities or activities
that they don't disclose to lenders or creditors and can take advantage of this
information. Sometimes, financial arrangements have to be structured so that
borrowers do not take advantage of asymmetric information at the expense of
lenders.
The financial system specializes in information gathering and monitoring, and
arrangements exist for solving problems of asymmetric information."
The second informational role the financial system plays is communication of
information.
Savers and borrowers receive the benefits of information from the financial system
by looking at asset returns. As long as financial market participants are informed,
the information works its way into asset returns and prices. Information is
communicated to borrowers as well as to savers. The incorporation of available
information in asset returns is the distinguishing feature of well-functioning
financial markets.
There are also international norms, practices and protocols which are required to
be observed by all participants, trading across the borders such as Uniform
customs and practices for documentary credits (UCP 600)
Financial Instruments
We have discussed financial system and financial institutions, now shall move on
to financial instruments. Financial instruments are the vehicles by which financial
markets channel funds from savers to borrowers and provide returns to savers. We
shall discuss major instruments or securities, traded in the financial system. For
convenience, we analyze money market and capital market instruments
separately. Both money market and capital market assets are actively traded in
financial markets.
Bankers' Acceptances
These instruments are designed to facilitate international trade, bankers' ac-
ceptances are instruments that establish credit between parties who do not know
each other. A banker's acceptance is a check like promise that the bank will pay
the amount of funds indicated to the recipient. It is issued by a firm (usually an
importer) and is payable on a date indicated. The bank that marks the draft
"accepted" guarantees the payment to the recipient (usually an exporter or its
representing bank). The issuing firm is required to deposit funds in the bank
sufficient to cover the draft; if it does not do so, the bank is still obligated to make
good on the draft. The bank's good name is likely to enable an importer to buy
goods from an overseas exporter that lacks knowledge about whether the importer
will be able to pay. In recent years, acceptances have generally been resold in
Secondary markets and held by other banks, households, and businesses.
Repurchase Agreements,
Repurchase agreements, also known as repos or RPs, are used for cash
management by large corporations. They are very short-term ' loans, typically
with maturities of less than two weeks. In many cases, a firm gives money as loan
to a bank overnight. For example, if a large company has idle cash, it purchases T-
bills from a bank that agrees to buy them back the next morning at a higher
Eurodollars
Eurodollars are U.S. dollars deposited in foreign branches of U.S. banks or in
foreign banks outside the United States (not necessarily in Europe). Rather than
being converted into the currency of the foreign country, the deposits remain
denominated in dollars. U.S. banks can then borrow these funds. Eurodollar funds
raised abroad have become an important source of funds for U.S. banks.
Stocks
Stocks are issued as equity claims by corporations and represent the largest single
category of capital market assets.
Corporate Bonds
Corporate bonds are intermediate-term and long-term obligations issued by large,
high-quality corporations to finance plant and equipment spending. Typically,
corporate bonds pay interest twice a year and repay the principal amount
borrowed at maturity. There are many variations, however. Convertible bonds, for
example, allow the holder to convert the debt into equity (for a specified number
of shares). By using such variations, firms can sometimes lower their borrowing
costs by giving bond buyers an extra return if the firm does exceptionally well.
Corporate bonds are not as liquid as government securities because they are less
widely traded. Corporate bonds have greater default risk than government bonds,
but they generally fluctuate less in price than corporate equities.
Although the corporate bond market is smaller than the stock market in the United
States, it is more important for raising funds because corporations issue new
shares infrequently. Most funds raised through financial markets take-the form of
corporate bonds. Investors in corporate bonds are a diverse group, including
households, life insurance companies, and pension funds.
Mortgages
Mortgages are loans (usually long-term) to households or businesses to purchase
buildings or land, with the underlying asset (house, plant, or piece of land) serving
as collateral. Residential mortgages are issued by commercial banks. Mortgage
loans for industrial and agricultural borrowers are made by life insurance
companies and commercial banks.
WAPDA Bond
It is an instrument of capital market in Pakistan. It serves as source of funds to this
institution
Bonds in general are issued as equity claims on corporations and represent largest
single category of capital market assets.
Banks may close account of such customers after issuing reasonable notice.
From the above discussion, we can conclude that in banking statutory
provisions and banking practices move side by side. It is important to understand
that banking practices are complimentary to law these are in no case contradictory
to law. Law shall always prevail over practices.
The banking system, as it exists today, is the product of a number of centuries and
is not the development of any particular period. In all the countries of the world.
Banking has been in existence in one form or the other. So far as the present
system is concerned, the word, bank is said to be of Germanic origin, cognate with
the French word banque and the Italian word, banca, both meaning bench. In fact,
this word may have derived its meaning from the practice of Jewish money-
changers of Lombardy, a District in North Italy, who, in the middle ages, used to do
business sitting on Benches in the market place. In case such an interpretation is
provided, then it also finds support from a number of other derivations of the word
such as the French word, Bancjue Route and the Italian word, Banka Rotta, both of
which mean Broken Bench. This practice can be understood if we analyze the
situation when a money-changer failed and his bench was broken as a result of his
failure.
Macleod, however, does not agree with this view and says, "The Italian money-
changers as such were never called Benchieri in the middle ages". It may be more
correct to say that the word bank is derived from the German word back which
means a Joint Stock Fund, which was Italianized into Banco, when the Germans
were me masters of a major part of Italy. Professor Ram Chandran Rao has said:
"whatever be the origin of the word bank, it would trace the history of banking in
Europe from the middle ages
When we come to the Roman age, the State Banks were not functioning but there
were private banks duly regulated by the Government. Aristotle stated that:
In Britain, people used to deposit their cash and bullion at the Royal Mint having
faith in the King and the royal family as an institution.
Edward III exchanged various foreign coins and provided foreign exchange to the
travelers and also supplied British money.
This faith was betrayed by Charles I in 1640 A.D. by capturing a very big amount
of £1, 30,000 bullion left for safe custody with the Royal Mint. The merchants then
started entrusting their valuables and cash to their cashiers, who also
misappropriated them, and the merchants took resort to goldsmiths for keeping
custody of valuables in their strong rooms. These goldsmiths used to give receipts
which were known as Goldsmith's Note, which was made payable to the bearer
and on demand which transformed the said receipt into the position of a bank-note
which gained circulation and currency in due course of time. These notes with the
passage of time became payable to the bearer on demand and enjoyed circulation.
Thus, we can say that the goldsmiths became the precursor of the modern, bank-
note and the fore-runners of the modem banking institutions.
Thus the development of banking in England was greatly helped by the activities
of the London goldsmiths during the age of Queen Elizabeth L For sometime, the
deposits were made without interest. Later on, the goldsmiths tarred lending these
amounts to others like that of Dutch Bankers and when it was found profitable by
them, they started giving interest on this money to their customers instead of
charging any fee for safeguarding their money. The goldsmiths started giving
loans for long duration and some money was kept by them for daily payments. The
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trouble arose when Charles 11 under the Cabal Ministry borrowed heavily from
them and repudiated all debts there by the goldsmiths as well as English Banking
received a rude setback.
Walter Bagehot has stated that the government perpetrated one of those
monstrous frauds which are likewise gross blunders. Charles II set up the
Exchequer. He would pay to none and as has been stated by Geoffrey Crowther
the goldsmiths were ruined. As a result of this, there was the growth of private
banks which finally led to the establishment of the Bank of England in 1694. It is
again interesting to refer to Geoffrey Crowther to trace the history of modem
English banking, who has stated as under:
"The present-day banker has three ancestors of a particular note. One we have
already met; the merchant, whose high and widespread reputation or credit
enables him to issue documents that will be taken all over the known world as
titles to money. To this day the title of "merchant banker” is reserved by usage to
the older cosmopolitan and more exclusive private banking firms, nearly every one
of which can trace its ancestor to a trader in commodities, more tangible (though
hardly more profitable) than money. The banker's two other ancestors are the
money-lenders and the goldsmiths. Lending and borrowing arc almost as old as
money itself and the village money-lender is found even in quite primitive
communities. He is not usually regarded as a very lovely object; usurer is one of
the oldest terms of abuse. But the services he performs are undoubtedly useful
and necessary, even though the reward he extracts in return may usually be
rapacious..... The goldsmith ancestor of the modern bank is purely an English
affair.
The goldsmiths were loosing their faith and earned a bad reputation for sometime
and people doubted their bona fides. However, they started a new system of
having current account with them and the borrowers could withdraw money at any
time. This was the stage which gave birth later on to the present banking system.
Till then, there was no public bank: The Bank of England was started in 1694 A.D.
with its monopoly of issue of notes. There were joint stock companies doing
banking business- and they were flourishing in London. These companies
introduced deposit banking and cheque currency and many other services which a
bank can offer.
So far as the Bank of Amsterdam is concerned, it was one of the greatest banks of
the 17th century and its position was not less than the position which was held by
the Bank of England. In fact, it had importance in the international world as a
whole and one can get a good reference about the working of these banks from
Alfred Marshal} who in his book, "Money, Credit and Commerce, 1923", has slated
that these famous banks besides, acting as the fiscal agents for the government,
were also responsible for the counterpart of such of the work of the modem stock
exchanges. In fact, these banks acted as go-between the lenders and borrowers of
funds and also as the holders of cash and old securities. In this connection, it
would be interesting to refer to Adam Smith who in his famous book, "Wealth of
Nationsf/, published in 1776, has described the main function of the Bank of
Amsterdam as under:
"This bank received both foreign coin, and light and worn coin of the country at its
intrinsic value in the gold standard money of the country, deducting only so much
as necessary for defraying the expense of coinage, and the other necessary
expense of management. For the value which remained, after this deduction was
made, it gave a credit in its books. This credit was called bank money which, as it
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represented money exactly according to the standard of the mint, was always of
the same real value, and intrinsically worth more than current money...., it could
be paid away by a simple transfer, without the trouble of counting or the risk of
transporting it from one place to another.
We have already seen that the Bank of England was started in 1694 as a result of
the actions of Charles II who had borrowed very heavily from the goldsmiths and
like his father had repudiated his debts. The Bank of England was also started on
account of the financial difficulties of William III who was at war with France.
Patterson suggested a way out of difficulties and offered to rise of £1,200,000
which he was prepared to loan to the government if certain concessions including
the right to issue notes were given to the proposed institution. For this purpose the
Tonnage Act was passed. In the year 1708 another important Act was passed
which prohibited any other bank with more than six partners from issuing
promissory notes and bank-notes. This Act gave the monopoly of note issue to the
Bank of England, so far as the Joint Stock Banks were concerned, but left private
banks having not more than six partners free to issue notes. These banks
however, thought that the business of note issue was not profitable and they gave
it up. Printed cheques were issued for the first time between 1749-59. The Bank of
England did not have any branch outside and the private banks started playing an
important role. After the middle of the 18th century there were about 300 banks.
Then came the crisis of 1825 and it tolled the death knell for the small country
banks and of the note as the foundation of the banking system. In 1826 an Act was
passed which allowed the banks to be started with unlimited liability, consisting of
more than six partners, with the right to issue note provided they had no office
within the radius of sixty-five miles from London. Thus the new joint stock banks
were started. Even at this time the monopoly of note issue given to the Bank of
England by the Act of 1708, was interpreted to mean monopoly of Joint Stock
Banking in London because during those days note issue was regarded as the
most important as well as the most paying function of banks.
The modem banking institution had to wait for another century and four decades
until the passage of the Banking Act of 1833 which provided for the establishment
of the Joint Stock Banks.
In 1833, when the Charter of the Bank was revised, as a result of the studies made
by one Joplin, a new clause was added and it gave legislative sanction for the
establishment of Joint Stocks Banks in London and in 1834, The London and
Westminster Bank was started in England, which is the first of the big five ones. In
1844 Peel Act was passed which provided for the extinction of the right of note
issue and laid the foundation of the note by Bank of England. With the passing of
the Peel's Act, 1844, new banks with the right of note issue could not be started
and those which already existed could not increase their circulation and thus
greater emphasis was thereby laid on deposit banking and cheque currency.
There was amalgamation of banks after 1890 and the number of Joint Stock Banks
in England and Wales came down from 104 in 1890 to 12 in 1956 although the
number of bank offices increased from 2203 to 10700 by the end of 1961. The
Currency and Bank Note Act, 1920 also regulated the issue of bank-note. The
Securities Management Trust Ltd. was organized in 1929. In 1930 Bankers
Industrial Development Corporation was formed. In 1947, the Labor Government
nationalized the Bank of England and the power to appoint its Governor, Deputy
Governors and Directors was vested in the Crown. This Act of the Labor
Government had significant impact throughout the world.
The significance in law of the terms 'bank’, banker' and 'banking business"
depends upon the particular operation which is in question an upon the particular
statute/if any, under which the question arises. To take an obvious instance, only a
banker may reap the benefit of the protective sections contained in different
statutes.
In short the effect of the Banking Act, 1979 is, generally speaking, that a person or
institution may accept deposits in the course of carrying on deposit taking
business for the purposes of the Act unless he or it is a party recognized or
licensed by the Bank of England or he or it is exempted or its business falls within
the exceptions of section 1(3) or, again, the deposit is I the type included in sub-
section (5). Vide section 1(4), 'deposit' is defined as sum of money paid on terms:
(a) Under which it will be repaid, with or without interest or premium, and either
on demand or at a time or in circumstances agreed by or on behalf of the person
making the payment and the person receiving it; and
(b) Which are not referable to the provision of property or service or the giving of
security?
The penalty for contravention is liability to a fine or imprisonment both; but the
civil liability of the acceptor of the deposit is not affected.
Thus so far as the English banking system is concerned, the entire matter is now
covered by the Banking Act, 1979 which governs all the important aspects of the
banking life in England
As per Sheldon's "Practice and Law of Banking", 10th Edn., p. 163, so far as the
classification of banks is concerned, firstly, there is the Bank of England,
incorporated by Royal Charter and not affected by the Companies Act. Secondly,
there are the National Saving Banks, the National Giro and the Trustee Saving
Banks. Thirdly, there are the great Joint Stock Banks, registered under the
Companies Act with limited liability. Fourthly, there is at least one Joint Stock Bank
with unlimited liability, namely, C. Hoare & Co., Coutts & Co. which is now a wholly
owned subsidiary of National Westminster Bank Ltd. though it is still a clearing
bank in its own right. There used to be many banking partnerships with unlimited
liability but, with N.M. Rothschild & Sons becoming a limited company in 1970, it
seems that there remains no banking partnership in England and Wales of any
size. , Fifthly, there are the Scottish, .Irish, Overseas and Foreign Banks whose
principal places of business are outside the precincts of England and Wales. Some
of the earlier overseas banks were incorporated by Royal Charter, e.g., the
Chartered Bank, British Bank of the Middle East, and so on. Sixthly, there are so
called Merchant Banks, which are now without exception incorporated under the
Companies Act, the shares of many of them being quoted on the London Stock
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Exchange. These banks are engaged in deposit banking but their more important
role is in the provision of finance, both by way of loan and acceptance credit and in
acting as financial advisers to a large range of commercial companies/especially
where 'take-over bids', mergers and amalgamations are concerned. Most of them
are also prepared to act as investment advisers.
At the time of independence, there were two banks incorporated in the undivided
India in first half of 1940s’ whose owners were Muslims. After independence they
decided to establish their head office in Pakistan, thus laying the foundation of
banking in this country.
The National Bank of Pakistan was set up in November 1949 in crises conditions
following the first trade deadlock with India. The original intention was to establish
it sometime in 1950. The plans for its establishment had to be advanced in view of
the critical situation, which developed especially in the jute trade as a result of
India’s refusal to accept the exchange rate of the Pakistani Rupee following the
Indian devaluation of 1949. The bank was set up through an Ordinance on 19
November 1949 and started its operations with five offices located at important
jute centres. It played a notable role in financing the jute trade in collaboration
with the Jute Board. In 1952, the National Bank of Pakistan took over the agency
work of the State Bank of Pakistan to transact government business and manage
currency chests at places where the state bank did not have an office of its own.
Very few foreign banks have been attracted to Pakistan during the financial
liberalization period. Indeed several have sold out to private Pakistani banks and
terminated operations in Pakistan.
Nationalization of Banks
We have gone through the evolutionary process of banking in Pakistan. We know
that by June 30th 1948 the number of branches in Pakistan was only eighty one.
However with the establishment of State Bank of Pakistan and efforts of the
government, the number of schedule bank increased to 14 with 3323 branches all
over Pakistan and also 74 branches in foreign countries by Dec 31st 1973. The
commercial banks grew at tremendous speed and mobilized savings from the
public and also contributed a lot in financing business and corporate sector.
However it was considered that although banking sector was growing but the fruits
of development were limited only to the urban population and corporate sector
whereas most of the sectors, people and under develop regions were not getting
due share. As such it was decided that banks should be nationalized. For the
implementation of this objective Nationalization Act 1974 was promulgated.
Objectives of Nationalization
The nationalization was carried out with a view to achieve the following objectives:
-- Disbursement of funds to the desired channels to achieve the priorities set out
by the government for social welfare projects.
-- Equitable distribution of credit to different classes, sectors and regions.
Statutory Definitions
1. "Bank" means
a. A company registered under the Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913), and
transacting, in or outside Pakistan, the business of banking as defined in clause
(b) of section 5 of the Banking
b. Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962), in respect of which no proceedings
under Part III or Part IV of the said Ordinance have been taken or are pending
immediately before the commencing day; and
1. The ownership, management and control of all banks shall stand transferred to,
and vest in, the Federal Government on the commencing day.
2. All shares in the capital of a bank held by persons other than the Federal
Government, a Provincial Government, a corporation owned or controlled by
the Federal Government or the State Bank shall stand transferred to, and vest
in, the Federal Government on the commencing day, free of all trusts, liabilities
and encumbrances.
(2A) if any bank issues any additional share capital after the commencing day,
then, without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), a Provincial
Government, a corporation owned or controlled by the Federal Government and
the State Bank may contribute to the share capital so issued.
3. The vesting of any shares in the Federal Government under sub-section (2)
shall not affect the right inter se of a shareholder and any other person who
may have an interest in such shares and such other person shall be entitled to
enforce his interest against the compensation awarded to the shareholder
under section 6.
4. The safety of all deposits in banks shall stand guaranteed by the Federal
Government.
5. The provisions of this Act and the vesting of the shares of the banks in the
Federal Government thereunder shall not in any way affect the status of the
banks as bodies corporate
6. The Federal Government or a corporation owned or controlled by the Federal
Government may, from time to time, sell all or any of its shares in the capital of
a bank, other than the State Bank, to such persons, and on such terms and
conditions, as it may determine.
Provided further that, where the amount so determined is not exact multiple of
one hundred rupees, the amount in excess of the nearest lower multiple of one
hundred rupees shall be paid in cash.
1) Subject to sub section (2) a bank shall have a Board consisting of-
a) A President, who shall be its Chief Executive; and
b) Not less than five and not more than seven other members.
2) The Federal Government may, if it deems necessary, appoint a Chairman of the
Board in respect of a bank.
3) The Chairman, the President and other members of the Board-
a) shall be appointed by the Federal Government in consultation with the State
Bank, for a term of three years, on such terms and conditions as may be
fixed by the General Meeting of the bank:
b) provided that the Chairman and the President shall be appointed from
amongst professional bankers whose names are included in a panel of
bankers qualified to be the Chairman or the President,
c) which panel shall be determined, maintained and varied, from time to time,
by the State Bank;
d) may be removed for misconduct or physical and mental incapacity before
the expiry of the three years term by the Federal Government in
consultation with the State Bank;
e) shall stand removed if he becomes ineligible on any of the grounds specified
in sub-section(12);
f) May be re-appointed by the Federal Government, in consultation with the
State Bank of Pakistan, for a further period of three years.
4) The general direction and superintendence of the affairs and business of a
bank, and overall policy making in respect of its operations, shall vest in its
Board.
5) The Board shall determine-
II. evaluation criteria for the performance of the employees of the bank other
than the President;
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III. personnel policies of the bank including appointment and removal of officers
and employees;
IV. guidelines for entering into any compromise with borrowers and other
customers of the bank; and
V. Any other policy matter.
8) The Chief Executive and other officers of the bank shall act in accordance with
the policies, criteria and guidelines determined by the Board.
9) The board shall appoint committees from amongst the executives of the bank,
and determine the powers, functions and duties of such committees.
10) Where the Federal Government has appointed a Chairman he shall preside
over the meetings of the Board, and in case a Chairman has not been appointed,
then the president shall preside over the meetings of Board. In the absence of
the Chairman or the President, as the case may be the directors may elect one of
its members to preside over the meetings.
11) The President, subject to the control and directions of the Board, shall
exercise powers of management of the affairs of the bank.
12) All selections, promotions and transfers of employees of banks except the
President and decisions as to their remuneration and benefits shall be made by
the President in accordance with evaluation criteria and personnel policies
determined by the Board.
13) The Board, the President and other officers shall exercise their powers and
discharge their duties in accordance with sound banking principles and prudent
banking practices and shall ensure compliance with regulations and directions
that may be issued by the State Bank from time to time.
14) No person shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman, the President,
or a member of the Board if-
a. he is or has at any time been, adjudged an insolvent or has suspended
payment or has compounded with his creditors; or
b. he is a minor or is found a lunatic or of unsound mind; or
c. he is not citizen of Pakistan; or
d. he was at any time in the service of Federal Government or a corporation
controlled by any such Government or in the service of a bank and was
dismissed; or
e. he is a person against whom any action has been taken or any proceedings are
pending under section 412 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984, (XLVII of 1984),
or section 83 of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962); or
f. he is, or has been convicted for tax evasion under any law for the time being in
force; or
g. he is a member of the Senate, National Assembly, any Provincial Assembly or
an elected Member of a local council constituted under any law relating to local
councils; or
h. He is holding an office in a political party.
Effects of Nationalization
Pros:
- Availability of funds to the government for meeting its social sector targets
- Equitable distribution of credit to the different sectors, industries and
regions.
- Centrally coordinated policy frame work
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Cons:
- Excessive government control leading to the decisions on non professional
considerations.
- Lack of fair market competition leading to absence of availability of
innovative and diversified products to the customers.
- Neglect of personalized services to the customers.
- Mismanagement leading to alarming size of nonperforming loans portfolio.
1. The provisions of sections 6,25A, 25AA, 29,31,32,33,40, 41,41A, 41B, 41C, 41D,
42, 83, 84, and
94 of this Ordinance shall, with such modifications as the State Bank may
determined from time to time in relation to activities which have implications
for the monetary or credit policies of the State Bank, apply to the Investment
Corporation of Pakistan, the National Investment Unit Trust, the Pakistan
Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation, the House Building Finance
Corporation, the National Development Finance Corporation, the Bankers
Equity Limited, the Pak-Libya Holding Company Limited, the Pakistan Kuwait
Investment Company Limited, the Saudi-Pak Industrial and Agricultural
Investment Company Limited, the Small Business Finance Corporation, the
Regional Development Finance Corporation, Investment Finance Companies,
Venture Capital Companies, Housing Finance Companies Corporations or
Institutions which carry on one or more of the businesses enumerated in
section 7 of this Ordinance, save and except for leasing companies and
modaraba companies, as the Federal Government may from time to time, by
notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
2. All notifications issued by the Federal Government which are inconsistent with
the provisions of sub-section (1) including such notifications in respect of the
National Development Leasing Corporations, Leasing Companies and Modaraba
Companies shall stand rescinded with immediate effect.
PART II
Business of Banking Companies
Following topics are covered under this Part
Part –IIA
Transaction of Banking Business Illegally By Companies, etc.
Following topics are covered under this part
o Power to call for certain information, etc.
o Special provisions.
o Power to make declaration.
o Consequences of a declaration under section 43B.
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o Deposit of cash and preservation of assets, etc.
o Statement of assets and liabilities to be submitted to State Bank.
o Consequential provisions for winding up, etc. 54
Part –III
Suspension of Business and winding up of Banking Companies
following topics are covered under this part
Part –IV
Special Provisions for Speedy Disposal of Winding up Proceedings
following topics are covered under this part
Part--IVA
Banking Mohtasib
following topics are covered under this part
o Appointment of Mohtasib.
o Terms and conditions of the Banking Mohtasib.
o . Reference to Banking Mohtasib by Court.
o Procedure for making complaints.
o Recommendations for implementation
o Power to call for information.
o Report of Banking Mohtasib.
Part –V
Miscellaneous
following topics are covered under Part V
o Penalties.
o Dishonest removal of pledged goods.
o Cognizance of offences, etc.
o Application of fines.
o Special provisions for private banking companies.
o Restriction on acceptance of deposits withdraws able by cheques. 95
o Change of name by a banking company.
o Alteration of memorandum of a banking company.
o Certain claims for compensation barred.
o Application of certain provisions to banking company incorporated by
special enactments of the Federal Legislature.
o Application of other laws barred.
o Removal of difficulties.
o Power of Federal Government to make rules.
o Power to exempt in certain cases.
o Exemption of Officers, etc., from liability
o Exemption from requirement of license.
o Exchange of information.
o Continuance of charge and priority.
o Protection of action taken in good faith. 98
Statutory definitions:
We shall discuss the statutory definitions as contained in section 5 of the
ordinance, definitions of banking and banking company have already been
briefly discussed and we shall focus on explanation of important aspects in coming
Lessons.
Statutory definitions
These definitions as contained in section 5 of the ordinance are given below:
(a) “approved securities” means the securities in which a trustee may invest
money under clause (a), clause (b), clause (bb), clause (c) or clause (d) of section
20 of the Trust Act, 1882 (II of 1882), and for the purpose of—
(i) sub-section (2) of section 13, includes such other securities as the Federal
Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare to be approved
securities for the purpose of that subsection; and
(ii) sub-section (1) of section 29, includes such types of Pakistan rupee obligations
of the Federal Government or a Provincial Government or of a Corporation wholly
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Federal Government or a
Provincial Government and guaranteed by the Federal Government as the Federal
Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare, to the extent
determined from time to time, to be approved securities for the purpose of that
sub-section;1 (b) “banking” means the accepting, for the purpose of lending or
investment, of deposits of money from the public, repayable on demand or
otherwise, and withdraw able by cheque, draft, order or otherwise; (c) “banking
company” means any company which transacts the business of banking in
Pakistan and includes their branches and subsidiaries functioning outside Pakistan
of banking companies incorporated in Pakistan2;
(dd)“creditor” includes persons from whom deposits have been received on the
basis of participation in profit and loss and a banking company or financial
institution from which financial accommodation or facility has been received on
the basis of participation in profit and loss, mark-up in price, hire-purchase, lease,
or otherwise;
A bank performs a number of functions for the customer. After the account in the
bank is opened and the relationship of a banker and customer is established, the
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bank not only undertakes to collect the cheques which are deposited in the
account but also makes the payment on behalf of the customer, whenever there is
a mandate from the customer. The cheques which are realized by the bank are
deposited in this account of the customer and on many occasions, the bank
performs certain other functions on behalf of the customer such as keeping the
valuables, etc., deposited by the customer with the bank as a trustee. On many
occasions, when the customer gives bills for collection to his bank and the said
bank passes the bills for collection to another bank and the amount of the bills is
reduced as a result of debiting the customer's account with collection charges as a
result of an agreement between two banks, the bank is always acting on behalf of
the customer. There are thus too many occasions relating to so many matters
which arise during the mutual dealings between the banker and the customer and
at each time, a question arises as to what is the relationship between a banker
and a customer
When a bank grants loan or other credit facilities to the customer, relationship is
reversed, that is now
(e) “company” means any company which may be wound up under the Companies
Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984) and includes a branch of a foreign banking
company doing banking business in Pakistan under a license issued by the State
Bank in this behalf;
(f) “Demand liabilities” means liabilities which must be met on demand, and “time
liabilities” means liabilities which are not demand liabilities;
(ff) “Family members” in relation to a person means his spouse, dependent lineal
ascendants and descendants and dependent brothers and sisters;
(g) “Gold” includes gold in the form of coin, whether legal tender or not, or in the
form of bullion or ingot, whether refined or not;
(gg)“ loans, advances, and credit” includes “finance” as defined in the Banking
Tribunals Ordinance, 1984;
The above definition is a referral definition. Definition of finance as contained in
Banking Tribunal Ordinance, 1984 is reproduced here under:
This is a referral definition; the same as contained in State Bank of Pakistan Act
1956 is given here under:
"Scheduled bank" means a bank for the time being included in the list of banks
maintained under sub-section (1) of Section 37;
(m) “secured loan or advance” means a loan or advance made on the security of
assets the market value of which is not at any time less than the amount of such
loan or advance, and “unsecured loan or advance” means a loan or advance not
so secured, or that part of it which is not so secured;
Memorandum of Association
Memorandum of association is a legal document for incorporation of a company
Memorandum of association is a fundamental legal document on the basis of
which the company conducts its external affairs. This document signifies the
powers of the company as well as the limitations of the company. It contains
information regarding the purpose, capital, and place of business, liability of the
members and acquisition of shares by the subscribers.
i. the name of the company with the word "limited" as the last word of the
name in the case of a public limited company, and the parenthesis and
words "(Private) Limited" as the last words of the name in the case of a
private limited company,
i.
the name of the company with the parenthesis and words "(Guarantee)
Limited" as the last words of its name;
ii. the Province or the part of Pakistan not forming part of a Province, as the
case may be, in which registered office of the company is to be situate;
iii. the objects of the company, and, except in the case of a trading
corporation, the territories to which they extend;
iv. that the liability of the members is limited; and
v. that each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the
company in the event of its being wound up while he is a member, or
within one year afterwards, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the
company contracted before he ceases to be a member, and of costs,
charges and expenses of winding up, and for adjustment of the rights of
the contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required,
not exceeding a specified amount; and
b. if the company has a share capital,--
i. The memorandum shall also state the amount of share capital with which
the company proposes to be registered and the division thereof into
shares of a fixed amount:
ii. no subscriber of the memorandum shall take less than one share: and
iii. Each subscriber shall write opposite to his name the number of shares he
takes.
i. No subscriber of the memorandum shall take less than one share; and
ii. Each subscriber shall write opposite to his name the number of shares he
takes
Articles of Associations
Article of association is another important legal document which is subordinate to
memorandum of association. It is concerned with the internal conduct and control
of the company.
Articles of association as provided in section 2 (1) (i)
--"articles" means the articles of association of a company as originally framed or
as altered in accordance with the provisions of any previous Companies Act, or of
this Ordinance, including, so far as they apply to the company, the regulations
contained in Table A in the First Schedule;
5. An order of the Authority under subsection (4) shall be final and shall not be
called in question before any Court or other authority.
A banking company may engage in any one or more of the following forms of
business, namely:
o Borrowing, raising, or taking up of money;
o the lending or advancing of money either upon or without security;
o the drawing, making, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting and
dealing in bills of exchange, hundies, promissory notes, coupons, drafts, bills
of lading, railway receipts, warrants, debentures, certificates,
[The different instruments such as bill of exchange can be drawn, discounted and
endorsed under the provisions of this Ordinance. All instruments including
promissory notes, bills, bills of lading, drafts and debentures play an important role
in various transactions carried out by the banks and provide liquidity to financial
system. Role of bill of exchange is particularly very important. We shall discuss the
concept of bill of exchange in greater details. Some aspects of bill of exchange are
discussed so that the purpose and scope of these provisions may be duly
understood.
The sum payable must be “certain” within the meaning of this section and section
4, although it includes future interest or return in any other form or is payable at
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an indicated rate of exchange, or is payable at the current rate of exchange and
although it is to be paid in stated installments and contains a provision that on
default of payment of one or more installments or interest or return in any other
form the whole or the unpaid balance shall become due.
A promise to pay or order to pay is not ‘conditional’ nor is the sum payable
uncertain within the meaning of this section or section 4 by reason of the sum
payable being subject to adjustment for profit or loss, as the case may be of the
business of the maker.
Where the person intended can reasonably be ascertained from the promissory
note or the bill of exchange; he is a ‘certain person’ within the meaning of this
section and section 4, although he is misnamed or designated by description only.
An order to pay out of a particular fund is not unconditional within the meaning of
this section; but an unqualified order to pay, coupled with—
Besides the forms discussed above following forms of business may also be carried
out by a banking company.
o Dealing in (participation term certificates, term finance certificates, musharika
certificates; modaraba certificates and such other instruments as may be
approved by the State Bank) and other instruments. The State Bank of Pakistan
issues securities on behalf of government of Pakistan. Concept and scope of
government securities is explained below:
Government Securities shall include such types of Pak. Rupee obligations of the
Federal Government or a Provincial Government or of a Corporation wholly owned
or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Federal Government or a Provincial
Government and guaranteed by the Federal Government as the Federal
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare, to the extent
determined from time to time, to be Government Securities.]
o The granting and issuing of letters of credit. Under the provisions of this
Ordinance, banking companies may engage in non funded facilities particularly
letter of credit besides funded facilities.
The concept of the letter of credit is discussed in the following paragraphs:
Explanation
The legal relation between a merchant in one country and a commission agent in
other is that of principal and agent, and not seller and buyer, though this is
consistent with the agent and principal, when the agent consigns the goods to the
principal, being in a relation like that of seller and buyer for some purposes. A
merchant, therefore, in this country who orders goods through a firm of
commission agents in Europe cannot hold the firm liable as if they were vendors
for failure to deliver the goods. And the result is the same if the goods are ordered
through a branch in this country of a firm of commission agents in another
country. For the same reason, where a commission agent buys goods for a
merchant at a price smaller than the limit specified in the indent, he cannot charge
any price higher than that actually paid by him, except in the case of a custom to
the contrary. An agent may have, and often has, in fact, a large discretion, but he
is bound in law to follow the principal's instructions provided they do not involve
anything lawful. To this extent an agent may be considered it’s a superior kind of
servant; and a servant who is entrusted with any dealing with third persons on his
master's behalf is to that extent an agent. But a servant may be wholly without
authority to do anything as an agent, and agency, in the case of partners, even an
extensive agency, may exist without any contract of hiring and service. ]
o Contracting for public and private loans and negotiating and issuing the same;
o Managing, selling and realizing any property which may come into the
possession of the company in satisfaction or part satisfaction of any of its
claims;
o Acquiring and holding and generally dealing with any property or any right, title
or interest in any such property which may form security or part of the security
for any loans or advances or which may be connected with any such secure
As such in such situations, the court of law shall appoint a person as administrator
to look after to execute the directions contained in the Will.
The person who accepts the confidence reposed under a trust is called the trustee.
The trust has been defined in section 3 of the Trust Act 1882 as under:
A trust may be created for any lawful purpose. The purpose of a trust is lawful
unless it is
a. Forbidden by law, or is of such a nature that, if permitted, it would defeat the
provisions of any law, or
b. Is fraudulent, or
c. Involves or implies injury to the person or property of another, or
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d. The Court regards it as immoral or opposed to public policy.
Every trust of which the purpose is unlawful is void. And where a trust is created
for two purposes, of which one is lawful and the other unlawful and the two
purposes cannot be separated, the whole trust is void.
Explanation In this section the expression "law" includes, where the trust
property is immoveable and situate in a foreign country, the law of such country.
Mortgage has been defined in section 58 of the Transfer of Property Act; the said
definition is given below:
Mortgagor:
The transferor is called mortgagor
Mortgagee:
The transferee is called mortgagee
Mortgage Money:
The principal money and interest of which payment is secured for the time being
are called the mortgage-money
Mortgage Deed:
The instrument (if any) by which the transfer is effected is called a mortgage
deed.
Scope of Mortgage:
Types of Mortgages:
In practice there are two types of Mortgages which are given below:
Registered Mortgage
Equitable Mortgage
Equitable Mortgage
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to- any association of banks
formed for the protection of their mutual interests and registered under section 42
of the Companies Ordinance 1984(XLVII of 1984):
(i) Who is a director of any other company not being a subsidiary company of
the banking company or a company registered under section 26 of the
Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913), except with the previous approval of the
State
Bank; or shall be managed by any person— who is engaged in any other business
or vocation; or who has a contract with the company for its management for a
period exceeding five years at any one time:
Provided that any contract with the company for its management may be renewed
or extended for a further period not exceeding five years at a time if and so often
as the directors so decide:
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall apply to a director, other than the
managing director, of a banking company by reason only of his being such
director.
(3)Any order made under sub-section (2) in respect of any person may also provide
that he shall not, without the pervious permission of the State Bank in writing, in
any way, directly or indirectly, be concerned with, or take part in the management
of, the banking company or any other banking company for such period not
exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.
(4)No order under sub-section (2) shall be made in respect of any person unless
he has been given an opportunity of making a representation to the State Bank
against the proposed order:
Provided that it shall not be necessary to give any such opportunity if, in the
opinion of the State Bank, any delay would be detrimental to the interests of the
banking company or its depositors.
(5)Any decision or order of the State Bank made under this section shall be final
for all purposes.
Explanation.— In this section the term “records” means ledgers, day books, cash
books, accounts books and all other books used in the business of a banking
company and the term “documents” means vouchers, cheques, bills, pay orders,
securities for advances and any other documents supporting entries in the books
of, or claims by or against, a banking company.
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Explanation.— In this section and in sections 22 and 29, ‘liabilities’ shall not
include the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and
loss account of the banking company or the amount of any loan taken from the
State Bank or the amount received as loan in Pakistan currency by the banking
company from the Federal Government, whether out of a foreign currency loan
contracted by the Government or otherwise, or the amount of foreign currency
loans obtained by the banking company directly from any foreign agency:
(3)Without prejudice to the provisions of section 83, the Sate Bank may, by order
in writing, require any banking company which has failed to comply with the
provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1), within the period determined under that
clause to deposit with the State Bank such amount on such terms and conditions
as the State Bank may determine; and every banking company which is so
required shall be bound to comply with the order
Any amount deposited and kept deposited with the State Bank under the proviso
to sub-section (3) by any banking company incorporated outside Pakistan shall, in
the event of the company ceasing for any reason to carry on banking business in
Pakistan, be an asset of the company on which the claims of all the creditors of the
company in Pakistan shall be a first charges.
The State Bank may, if it thinks fit, extend the period referred to in sub-section
(1)or sub-section(3) either generally or in any particular case.
If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital [and
unencumbered general reserves] of any banking company, a determination
thereof by the State Bank shall be final.
For the purposes of this section, (a) expression “value” means the real or
exchangeable value or, if the real or exchangeable value exceeds the nominal
value, the nominal value; and (b) the expression ‘capital and unencumbered
general reserves’ means paid-up capital and such other items as may be notified
by State Bank.
Meaning of Share
A share in a company is one of the units into which the total capital of the
company is divided. Thus share means a share in the capital of a company a share
is a proportion of capital which each shareholder is entitled to. A share is not a
sum of money, but an interest measured by a sum of money and made up of
various rights and liabilities of the shareholders. A share involves rights and
liabilities. In simple words, a share indicates the pecuniary interest of the
shareholders and their rights and liabilities. Therefore, in this sense a share may
be defined as an existing bundle of rights and liabilities.
A share is an abstract right to participate in profits and in the capital and assets of
a company. Shares are deemed to be situated at a place at which the rights of
members are kept, and where the shares can be dealt with.
Preference Shares
Deferred Shares
Deferred shares are also called Founders Shares or Management Shares. These
shares are usually issued to the promoters, vendor or their nominees, and are
generally for the purpose of indicating the promoter’s faith in the propositions.
These shares are generally used to remunerate the promoters or founders of the
company or the underwriters of the share capital. These are always few in
numbers. The holders of these shares usually receive no dividends until the
dividends on all other classes of shares are paid in full, or there has been paid in
each year a stated divided on the capital paid up on all the other issued shares.
There is usually no limit placed on the rate of divided that may be payable to
deferred shareholders, but it would be necessary to place some restriction on the
amount of dividend payable to the ordinary shareholders where deferred shares
have been issued. When surplus profits are large these shares become very
valuable. This type of shares may be deferred as to a claim of capital in a winding
up, in addition to or in lieu of its being deferred as to dividends.
Authorized Capital
It is also called nominal capital, or registered capital. Authorized capital is the
maximum amount of share capital which a company sets out in the memorandum
of association and which it has power to issue. It is the amount of capital with
which a company proposes to be registered, the authorized capital depends upon
the business requirements of each company, there is no legal restriction upon the
maximum limit of authorized capital. The amount of authorized capital stated in
the memorandum may be increased by the company.
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A company is not obliged to issue whole of its authorized capital at once. It may
issue the whole or any part of authorized capital and keep the balance for future
requirements. When the authorized capital is increased the extent of the increase
is not limited to the requirements of the company at the time, but also covers
probable requirements in the future.
Issued capital: is that part of the authorized capital which is actually offered
(issued) to prospective share holders for subscription. It represents the amount
which is available for subscription. Further issue is made as and when the need
arises. Thus the expression “issued capital” is used for the total number of shares
allotted by the company for the time being.
Unissued capital: the part of the authorized capital which is not issued, at any
given time, is called unissued capital.
Subscribed Capital:
The whole of the issued capital may not be taken up by the prospective
shareholders. Subscribed capital is that part of the issued capital which is actually
subscribed (taken up) by the public
Paid-up Capital
Paid-up capital is that part of the issued capital which has been paid-up by the
shareholders. Paid up capital is always equal to subscribed capital.
1) The State Bank may, by order, require any banking company to call a general
meeting of the shareholders of the company within such time, not less than two
months from the date of the order, as may be specified therein or within such
further time as the State Bank may allow in this behalf, to elect in accordance
with the voting rights permissible under this Ordinance fresh directors, and the
banking company shall be bound to comply with the order.
2) Every director elected under sub-section (1) shall hold office until the date up
to which his predecessor would have held office, if the election had not been
held.
3) Any election duly held under this section shall not be called in question in any
court.
Provided that a director who has to so vacate his office may continue in his office
for a period of not more than six months from the commencement of the Banking
Companies (Amendment) Act, 1972, or until a new director is elected or co-opted
in his place whichever is earlier.
o Vacation of Office.
o Restriction on commission, brokerage discount, etc., on sale of shares.
o Prohibition of charge on un-paid capital.
o Prohibition of floating charge on assets.
o Restrictions as to payment of dividend.
o Prohibition of common directors.
o Reserve Fund.
o Cash Reserve.
o Restriction on the nature of subsidiary companies. Restrictions on loans and
advances.
o Power of State Bank to control advances by banking companies.
Charge and floating charge are very important concepts which are
explained in the following paragraphs:
Charge:
According to transfer of property Act, charge has been defined as under:
“where immovable property of one person is by act of parties, or operation of law,
made securities for payment of money how another, and transaction does not
amount to a mortgage, the latter person is said to have a charge on the property;
and all the provisions here in before contained which apply to a simple mortgage
shall, so far as may be, apply to such charge. The concept of mortgage and simple
mortgage (registered mortgage) is explained below:
Registration of a Charge:
Though no interest in immovable property is transferred under a charge, the
document creating a charge would purport to declare a right to immovable
property; and its registration should be made under Section 17 (1-b) of the
Registration Act. For the enforcement of a charge, reasonable notice must be
serving on the counter party.
Floating Charge
A mortgage, debenture or other security documentation, is likely to create charges
over particular assets as security for borrowings or other indebtedness. There are
essentially two types of charge, floating and fixed. A floating charge is appropriate
to assets and material which is subject to change on a day to day basis, such as
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stock. Individual items move into and out of the charge as they are bought and
sold in the ordinary course of events. The floating charge crystallizes if there is a
default or similar event. At that stage the floating charge is converted to a fixed
charge over the assets which it covers at that time. A floating charge is not as
effective as a fixed charge but is more flexible.
For the banking companies, it is advisable that while accepting properties as
collaterals to make arrangements to search the prior charges on the said
properties. A search should be made in the office of the Collector and Sub-
Registrar or the District Registrar to ensure that there exists no prior charge on the
property, because any transfer of interest in an immovable property, is subject to
all previous mortgages and charges which had been registered. The search for
possession should pertain to at least previous 20 years. If the title deeds of the
property are in the name of more than one person, the search should be directed
against the name of each person through whom the title is made.
When the banker is satisfied as to his borrower’s title, he should decide about the
execution of mortgage. In case of a registered mortgage, the deed should be
properly drafted, preferably with the help of a lawyer. The finalized mortgage deed
should be signed by the borrower who now becomes the mortgagor, and should be
witnessed by two independent person; and the deed should be properly stamped
and registered. In case of an equitable mortgage, a proper Memorandum of
Deposit of title deeds should be drafted and signed by the borrower in the
presence of two witnesses. As a matter of precaution the banker should see that
the borrower has insured the property against fire. In addition, the banker should
obtain the last premium receipt and see whether it is paid up to date. Bankers
should register the assignment with the insurance company; and when the policy
is renewed, it may be in the banker’s name.
The banker should see that the title deeds deposited as security are the original
title deeds of the property. If the title deeds relate to the site on which the building
is to be erected, the banker should take the written agreement to mortgage the
property after its construction.
In section 19, it has been provided that dividend can be paid if adequate
provisions on account of depreciation and bad debts have been made by
the banking company to the satisfaction of the auditors. The concept of
dividend is very important and has been explained in the following
paragraph:
The term dividend has not been defined in the Companies Ordinance. It is used in
two different senses viz. while a company is a going concern earning profit and
distributing the same.
Whenever the State Bank is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient in the public
interest so to do, it may determine the policy in relation to advances to be followed
by banking companies generally or by any banking company in particular, and,
when the policy has been so determined, all banking companies or the banking
company concerned, as the case may be, shall be bound to follow the policy as so
determined.
(2)Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred by sub-section (1),
the State Bank may give directions to banking companies either generally or to
any banking company or group of banking companies in particular.—as to the
credit ceilings to be maintained, credit targets to be achieved for different
purposes, sectors and regions, the purposes for which advances may or may not
be made, the margins to be maintained in respect of advances, the rates of
interest, charges or mark-up to be applied on advances and the maximum or
minimum profit sharing ratios.
We shall continue with the powers vested in State Bank under various
provisions of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3), the State Bank may, for
the purposes of securing implementation of any special credit schemes or
monetary policy or observance of credit ceilings by a banking company, by
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order in writing require banking companies generally, or any banking company
in particular, to make special deposits with it for such amount and on such
terms and conditions as may be laid down by the State Bank in this behalf.
5. The amount deposited with the State Bank under sub-section (4) or any part
thereof may, at the discretion of the State Bank, be released by it to the
banking company which deposited it as and when the State Bank deems fit
either unconditionally or on such terms and subject to such conditions as the
State Bank may, by order in writing, determine from time to time.
6. Any penalty imposed under sub-section (3) shall be payable on demand made
by the State Bank and, in the event of refusal or failure by the director, officer
or other person concerned to pay on such demand, shall be recoverable as
arrear of land revenue.
Power of the State Bank to collect and furnish credit information: Sec
25-A
1. Every banking company shall furnish to the State Bank credit information in
such manner as the State Bank may specify, and the State Bank may, either of
its own motion or at the request of any banking company, make such
information available to any banking company on payment, of such fee as the
State Bank may fix from time to time:
Provided that, while making such information available to a banking company, the
State Bank shall not disclose the names of the banking companies which supplied
such information to the State Bank:
Provided further that, a banking company which proposes to enter into any
financial arrangement which is in excess of the limit laid down in this behalf by the
State Bank from time to time shall, before entering into such financial
arrangement, obtain credit information on the borrower from the State Bank.
2. Any credit information furnished by the State Bank to a banking company under
sub-section (1) shall be treated as confidential and shall not, except for the
purposes of this section or with the prior permission of the State Bank, be
published or otherwise disclosed. No court, tribunal or other authority, including
an officer of Government shall require the State Bank or any banking company
to disclose any information furnished to, or supplied by, the State Bank under
this section.
ii. In the case of a Hindu undivided family, any member thereof or any firm in
which such member is a partner;
iii. In the case of a firm, any partner thereof or any other firm in which such
partner is a partner; and
iv. In the case of an individual, any firm in which such individual is a partner; and
i. The amounts and the nature of loans or advances or other credit facilities,
including bills purchased or discounted, letters of credit and guarantees,
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indemnities and other engagements extended by a banking company to any
borrower or class of borrowers;
ii. The nature of security taken from any borrower for credit facilities granted to
him;
iii. The guarantees, indemnities or other engagements furnished to a banking
company by any of its customers; and
iv. Operations or accounts in respect of loans, advances and other credit facilities
referred to in this clause.
The State Bank shall prepare, and submit to the Federal Government, a special
report every year on cases of write off of loans, mark-up and other dues, or
financial relief through rescheduling and restructuring of loans and subsidized
loans provided by the banking companies, in which established banking practices
or authorized procedures have been departed from with a view to causing wrongful
loss to the bank or conferring wrongful loss to the bank or conferred wrongful gain
on any constituent. If the matters raised in the report relate to public interest, the
Federal Government may submit the report, or such part of it as relates to public
interest, to Parliament or to the Standing Committee of a House of Parliament
dealing with Finance
The State Bank may cancel a license granted to a banking company under this
section,—
i. If the company ceases to carry on banking business in Pakistan; or
ii. If the company at any time fails to comply with any of the conditions imposed
upon it under sub-section (1); or
iii. If at any time, any of the conditions referred to in sub-section (3) ceases to be
fulfilled:
Provided that before canceling a license under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this sub-
section on the ground that the banking company has failed to comply with or has
failed or ceased to fulfill any of the conditions referred to therein, the State Bank,
unless it is of opinion that the delay will be prejudicial to the interest of the
company’s depositors or the public, shall grant to the company on such terms.
Any banking company aggrieved by the decision of the State Bank canceling a
license under this section may, within thirty days from the date on which such
decision is communicated to it apply for review to the Central Board of the State
Bank.
The decision of the State Bank subject to the result of review under sub-section
(5), if any, shall be final.
Explanation:
For the purpose of this section, “unencumbered approved securities” of a banking
company “or financial institution” shall include its approved securities lodged with
another institution for an advance or any other credit arrangement to the extent to
which such securities have not been drawn against or availed of ‘and the liabilities
shall not include the paid up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the
profit and loss account of the Banking company or, as the case may be, the
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financial institution or any such liabilities as may be notified by the State Bank for
the purposes of this in computing the amount provided for in sub-section (1), any
deposit required under the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 13 to be made with
the State Bank by a banking company incorporated outside Pakistan and any
balances maintained in Pakistan by a banking company in current account with the
State Bank or its agent or both including in the case of a scheduled bank the
balance required to be so maintained under section 36 of SBP Act, 1956
Every banking company shall, before the close of the month succeeding the month
to which the return relates, furnish to the State Bank a monthly return in the
prescribed form and manner showing particulars of the company’s assets
maintained in accordance with this section
Half-yearly returns and power to call for other returns and information
Audit: Sec 35
The balance sheet and profit and loss account prepared in accordance with section
34 shall be audited by a person who is duly qualified, under the Chartered
Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of 1961), or any other law for the time being in
force, to be an auditor of companies and is borne on the panel of auditors
maintained by the State Bank for the purposes of audit of banking companies.
1. An auditor shall hold office for a period of three years and shall not be removed
from office before the expiry of that period except with the prior approval of
the State Bank.
2. The State Bank may, from time to time, lay down guidelines for the audit of
banking companies and the auditors shall be bound to follow those guidelines.
3. Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the auditor shall have the powers
of, exercise the functions vested in, and discharge the duties and be subject to
the liabilities and penalties imposed on, auditors of companies by section 145
of the Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913).
4. In addition to the matters which, under the aforesaid Act and the guidelines laid
down by the State Bank under sub-section (3), the auditor is required to state
in his report, he shall also state—
a) Whether or not the information and explanations required by him have been
found to be satisfactory;
b) Whether or not the transactions of the banking company which have come
to his notice have been with in the powers of the banking company;
c) Whether or not the returns received from branch offices of the banking
company have been found adequate for the purposes of his audit;
d) Whether the profit and loss account shows a true balance of profit and loss
for the period covered by such account; and any other matter which he
considers should be brought to the notice of the shareholders of the banking
company.
In this regard, the statutory provisions has contained in various sections of the
Ordinance are reproduced below:
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Provided that in the case of an application not so accompanied the High Court
may, if it thinks fit, grant stay for a period of not more than thirty days in
aggregate, and, if such stay is granted, shall call for a report from the State Bank
on the affairs of the banking company, on receipt of which it may either rescind an
order already passed or pass such further orders as it may consider just and
proper in the circumstances.
The High Court shall forward to the State Bank a copy of every stay order made
under this section.(4) Where an application is made under sub-section (1), the
High Court may appoint a special officer who shall forthwith take into his custody
or under his control all the assets, books, documents, effects and actionable claims
to which the banking company is or appears to be entitled and shall also exercise
such other powers as the interests of the depositors of the banking company.
Ombudsman Defined:
• According to International Bar Association, Ombudsman is defined as an
“office” provided by the constitution or by an action of the legislature or
parliament and headed by an independent, high level public official which is
responsible to the legislature or parliament, who receives complaints from the
aggrieved person, official, and employees or who acts on his own motion and has
the power to investigate, recommend corrective action and issue reports.
• A man who investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements, especially
between aggrieved parties such as consumers or students and an institution or
organization.
• A government official, especially in Scandinavian countries, who investigates
citizens' complaints against the government or its functionaries.
Evolution
In the modern world, an ombudsman was first established in 1809 in Sweden. The
word “ombudsman” is of Swedish origin and means “representative or agent” of
the people. In 1919, more than a century after Sweden appointed an ombudsman,
another Scandinavian country, Finland, adopted the Swedish model for the
redressal of public grievances against agencies of state. The next country to follow
was Denmark - this happened more recently in 1955. The first country outside
Europe to establish such an office was New Zealand. This was in 1962 and
generated tremendous global interest inspiring many countries, in search of good
governance, to launch such schemes. Today, over 100 countries have such a
platform in place. In 1995, the European Union established the first European
Ombudsman under the Maastricht Treaty.
With the spread of education throughout the globe, the cognizance and awareness
as well as the desire for human rights, better living conditions, publics
participatory role in the governance of state and establishment of NGO’s and
availability of information, this desire for the rule of law and redressing the
grievances of the affected parties has emerged as predominant feature in the
modern society. Initially the role of of Ombudsman was restricted to the complaints
pertaining to the government departments. But now there is a shift of complaints
towards private sector and as such Ombudsman in the modern days entertains
complaints against public sector as well as private sector. However the aggrieved
party has the right to move to a court of law, in case one is not satisfied by any
decision of Ombudsman.
Wafaqi Mohtasib:
The Constitution of 1973 included the Federal Ombudsman at item 13 of the
Federal Legislative List in the Fourth Schedule. The Institution of Ombudsman
was, however, actually brought into being through the Establishment of the Office
of Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Order, 1983 (President’s Order No. 1 of 1983,
which is a form of law). In order to ensure legal autonomy to the institution, it is
reflected in Schedule 7 of the 1973 Constitution implying thereby that any
amendment can be brought about by a two-third majority of the Parliament.
Objective
The main purpose of the Wafaqi Mohtasib is to diagnose, investigate, redress and
rectify any injustice done to a person through mal-administration on the part of a
Federal Agency or a Federal Government Official. The primary objective of the
office is to institutionalize a system for enforcing administrative accountability.
Banking Mohtasib:
Scope:
In relation to all banks operating in Pakistan, the Banking Mohtasib has been
empowered to entertain complaints of the following nature:
Failure to act in accordance with banking laws and regulations including policy
directives or guidelines issued by the State Bank of Pakistan from time to time.
1. Delays or fraud in relation to the payment or collection of cheques, drafts or
other banking instruments or transfer of funds.
2. Fraudulent or unauthorized withdrawals or debit entries in accounts.
3. Complaints from exporters or importers, relating to banking services and
obligations including letters of credit.
4. Complaints from holders of foreign currency accounts whether maintained by
residents or non-residents.
5. Complaints relating to remittances to or from abroad.
6. Complaints relating to payment of utility bills.
7. Delays or fraud in relation to the payment or collection of cheques, drafts or
other banking instruments or transfer of funds.
8. Fraudulent or unauthorized withdrawals or debit entries in accounts.
9. Complaints from exporters or importers, relating to banking services and
obligations including letters of credit.
Types of Complaints
All complaints rejected by banks can be entertained by the Banking Mohtasib
provided these are not barred by time or records pertaining thereto have not been
destroyed by the bank in accordance with its laid down record destruction policies.
Rejected complaints may also be sent to Banking Mohtasib along with all related
correspondence and the Complaint Form, without the need to give 45 days notice
to the concerned bank.
The Banking Mohtasib handles complaints relating to violation of banking laws and
regulations, excessive delays and inefficiency, poor service, discriminatory actions,
etc.
Appeal Process:
Complainant's right of appeal A complainant not satisfied with the decision of
the Banking Mohtasib has the right to appeal to the Governor, State Bank of
Pakistan within 30 days from the date of the order of the Banking Mohtasib. If the
complainant does not choose to go into appeal or does not accept the decision of
the State Bank of Pakistan in appeal, the complainant has the right to go to a court
of law.
Bank's right of appeal In case a bank is not satisfied with the Banking
Mohtasib's order in the matter of a complaint, it may file an appeal with the
Governor, State Bank of Pakistan within thirty days. However, if no appeal is filed,
or the State Bank of Pakistan does not uphold the appeal, the Banking Mohtasib's
order shall become final, operative and binding upon the bank.
o Complainants retain the right to take the matter to court if not satisfied
o Ombudsmen are also successful because they may provide remedies where
none may be available through the formal system.
The Banking Mohtasib may, in any case, he deems fit or proper, forward a report to
the State Bank recommending—
In no case whatsoever shall be Banking Mohtasib have the power to direct that
loans, advances or finances be given to a complainant. (4) Any bank, or official of
a bank or a complainant aggrieved by an order passed by the Banking Mohtasib
may file an appeal with the State Bank within thirty days which shall pass any
order thereon it deems fit.
Any order passed by the Banking Mohtasib which has not been appealed against,
or any order passed by the State Bank in appeal, as the case may be, shall
become final and operative and if not implemented shall render the bank
concerned to such action including the imposition of a fine or penalty as the State
Bank may deem fit, and in relation to a bank officer, to the appropriate disciplinary
or other proceedings.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent a complainant from filing a suit against a
bank in the event his complaint is rejected.
The Banking Mohtasib shall have the power for purposes of disposing a case, to
require a bank to disclose to him any information subject to the following
conditions:-
a. The Banking Mohtasib shall make every endeavor to ensure that banking
confidentiality is maintained as required by banking law and procedure and
shall take no action which is volatile thereof.
b. The Banking Mohtasib may call for any or all such documents which are
relevant or pertinent for purposes of deciding a complaint: --Provided that he
shall not be entitled to call for unrelated documents or documents which may
compromise the bank’s position in relation to other customers:
c. In the event of a bank refusing to furnish information, or copies of relevant
documents, the Banking Mohtasib shall not be authorized to compel the bank
to comply with his order but he may draw an adverse inference and comment
on the same in his findings.
Definitions:
"Ordinance" means the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962):
"Principal office of the State Bank" means the office of the State Bank to
which the returns required under the Ordinance or these rules are to be submitted;
“Principal office of the banking company” means the office of the banking
company which shall be responsible for the submission of returns under the
Ordinance or these rules:
“Quarter” means a period of three months ending on the last day of March, June,
September and December of any year ; and
“Place of business” of a banking company includes any sub-office, pay-office,
sub-pay-office or any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques
cashed or moneys lent.
Any change in the list referred to in clause (i) shall be intimated to the principal
office of the State Bank within one month of such change.
A banking company incorporated outside Pakistan, which at the commencement of
these rules has a place of business in Pakistan, and every such company which
after the commencement of these rules establishes a place of business in Pakistan,
shall, within one month of the commencement of these rules or of the
establishment of such place of business, as the case may be, furnish to the
principal office of the State Bank the full address of the principal place of business
declared in terms of clause (e) of sub-section (1) of Section 277 of the Companies
Act, 1913 and the name and address of one or more persons resident in Pakistan
authorized to accept on behalf of the company any notice or order required to be
served on the company under the Ordinance or these rules and shall intimate the
principal office of the State Bank any change in such name or address within one
month of such change:
Provided that information furnished by a banking company under rule 4 of the
Banking Companies (Control) Rules, 1949, shall be deemed to have been furnished
under this rule.
This extends to the whole of Pakistan. It shall come into force at once and except
Section 46, shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the twelfth day of
May, 1948.
The Central Board shall, with a view to secure stability of monetary system:
Regulate and supervise monetary and credit system:
o Provided that in regulating the monetary and credit system, the Central
Board shall keep in view the National policy objectives of the Federal
Government,
o Provided further that the Governor may, in any emergency which in his
opinion requires immediate action, take measures under this clause as may
be necessary in the circumstances and shall, in the next meeting of the
Central Board, report to it for approval of such action;
o determine, in consultation with the Federal Government, the limit of credit
to be extended to the Federal Government and Provincial Governments
tender advice to the Federal Government on monetary policy and its
interaction with fiscal and exchange rate policy;
o Analyze and report periodically to the Federal Government on the impact of
the policies being followed on the state of the economy; and
o Discharge such other functions as may be necessary for regulating the
monetary system or as may be assigned by the Federal Government.
Except when the Central Board is in session, the Executive Committee shall deal
with and decide any matter within the competence of the Central Board. Local
Boards, their constitution and functions
Nothing in clause (b) and (g) of sub-section (1) shall apply to the Government
official nominated as a Director by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government shall sell shares at par to a Director or Member
nominated by it under Section 9 and 12, seeking to obtain the minimum shares
qualification required under this Section, but no such share shall be disposed of by
such Director or Member otherwise than by resale to the Federal Government at
par, and the Federal Government shall have the right to order the transfer at par of
all or any of such shares to itself, whereupon all or any of such shares shall be
deemed to have been transferred to it.
Subject to sub section (2), the Federal Government may remove the Governor from
his office, if he becomes permanently incapable of performing his duties, or is
subject to any of the disqualification specified in sub-section (10 ) of section 10, or
has done any act which is breach of the trust reposed in him, or is guilty of
misconduct:
An elected Director or Member shall not be removed from his office except upon
a resolution passed by the Central Board in that behalf by in majority of not less
than six Directors.
Any Director or Member vacating office under this section shall not be eligible to
become a Director or Member, as the case may be, until the expiry of the term of
office for which he was nominated or elected.
In the event of a vacancy occurring amongst the nominated Directors or Members,
the Federal Government shall fill the vacancy by nominating another Director or
Member, as the case may be.
In the event of a vacancy occurring amongst the elected Directors or Members
before the expiry of their term of office, a new Director or Member, as the case
may be, shall be elected for the remainder of the term by and from amongst the
shareholders registered on the same register as that from which the vacating
Director or Member was elected.
(12) The sale and realization of all property, whether movable or immovable
which may in any way come into the possession of the Bank in satisfaction, or
part satisfaction of any of its claims;
LESSON 17
This Ordinance extends to the whole of Pakistan. Central Banks all over the world
are required to discharge an important obligation as regulator and policy maker as
well as advisor to the Government; as such it is not advisable that Central Bank
should engage themselves into day to day affairs of the Banking. As such it was
decided that a corporation may be established for discharging various functions
which are contained in this Ordinance, so that the State Bank of Pakistan may
focus its attention towards its prime objectives.
(3) The Bank shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a seal and
shall, by the name assigned to it by sub-section (1), sue and be sued.
(4) The head office of the Bank shall be situated in Karachi and it may establish
branches, offices and agencies in Pakistan and anywhere outside Pakistan with
the prior approval, in writing of the State Bank.
(b). The handling of receipt, supply and exchange of Bank notes and coins
which are legal tender;
(c). The issue, supply, sale, encashment and handling of prize bonds,
holding draws thereof and other savings instruments of the Federal
Government or of a Provincial Government;
(d). The performance of any other activity or business which the State
Bank may, by order in writing, specify; and
(e). The carrying on of any business and discharging of any functions and
powers as are incidental to, or in connection with, the affairs of the
Bank, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing and, the
power to enter into any contracts or other instruments or any financial or
other transactions, issue guarantees and indemnities, borrow and lend
moneys, accept deposits of money, make investments, purchase and
hold any property and assets, and to provide any services to the State
Bank and to others .and receive any fee, commission or other
compensation for such services.
(2) The State Bank shall not transfer or delegate any of the functions specified in
section 9A Of the Act, including formulation and monitoring of monetary and
credit policies, regulation and supervision; of the financial sector, foreign
exchange regime and exchange-rate policy, and payment and settlement
system.
Chairman: Sec 8
The Governor shall be the Chairman of the Bank.
The Chairman shall, whenever present, preside over meetings of the Board, but if
at any meeting the Governor is not present, a Deputy Governor of the State Bank,
designated for this purpose by the Governor, shall attend the meeting on behalf of
the Governor and preside over such meeting provided that if the Deputy Governor
being present, is not willing to act, or is also absent, the Directors present shall
choose one of their member to be the Chairman of such meeting.
The auditors shall submit a report to the Board and to the State Bank
regarding the annual statement of accounts, and in any such report they shall
state whether in their opinion the statement of accounts is a full and fair
statement of accounts containing all necessary particulars and is properly drawn
up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of affairs of the Bank and,
in case they have called for any explanation or information from the Managing
Director or the Board, whether it has been given and whether it is satisfactory.
The Board may, in addition to the audit under sub-sections (3) and (4), cause to be
carried out internal audit of the Bank's accounts and the internal auditors' reports
shall be submitted to the Board.
The Board may, in addition to the audit under sub-sections (3) and (4), cause to be
carried out internal audit of the Bank's accounts and the internal auditors' reports
shall be submitted to the Board.
On the making of the Transfer Order by the State Bank under subsection(1), the
Transferred Undertaking and the Transferred Employees shall stand transferred to
and vest in the bank as on the Transfer Date and shall be operated, managed and
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regulated by the Bank as the undertaking and employees of the Bank, provided
that the rules and regulations of the State Bank applicable to the operation of the
Transferred Undertaking and to the employment of the Transferred Employees as
of immediately before the Transfer Date shall continue to be applied by the Bank
unless altered by the Board with the approval of the State Bank
For the purposes of sub-section (1),-
(a) “assets" include properties whether tangible or intangible, rights, benefits and
Entitlements of every description and nature (other than immovable property) of
the State Bank and relating to, as of the Transfer Date, the operational functions
and activities of the State Bank and to the related offices and departments;
(b) “Employees” means the employees of the State Bank as are specified in the
Transfer Order;
( c) "liabilities" include debts, obligations, commitments, loans, encumbrances,
claims and charges of every description and nature, actual or contingent of the
State Bank and related to, as on the Transfer Date, the operational functions and
activities of the State Bank and to the related offices and departments;
(4)As and after the Transfer Date, the Bank shall undertake, pay, satisfy, discharge,
perform and fulfill all debts, liabilities, contracts, engagements, commitments and
obligations
whatsoever, of the State Bank existing immediately before the Transfer Date and
comprised in or exclusively relating to the Transferred Undertaking, and as on the
The Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (L VII of 1962), shall not apply to the
Bank.
i. “loan” means a loan (including [a benami loan or] any transaction which in
the opinion of the Registrar is in substance a loan), whether of money or in
kind, which is not secured or is in-sufficiently secured, and taken from a co-
operative society by any person, whether a member of such society or not,
or from a co-operative bank by any person but not an Agricultural Co-
operative Society, Dairy Farming Co-operative Society or Poultry Farming
Cooperative Society having in each case a working capital not exceeding
five hundred thousand rupees], and includes,—
ii. Finance as defined in the Banking Tribunals Ordinance, 1984.
iii. Any amount which is due from any such person to a co-operative society or
a co-operative bank, whether taken as a loan or not;
iv. any amount due from any such person to a co-operative society or a co-
operative bank under a decree passed by a Civil Court or an award given by
an arbitrator or a decision of the Registrar, whether in exercise of his
original or appellate jurisdiction; and
v. any loan due from any such person to a co-operative society or a co-
operative bank which is the subject matter of any pending suit, arbitration
proceedings, appeal or revision, whether under the Act or before any Court.
Penalty: Sec 10
Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Ordinance or the rules made
there under shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
seven years, or with fine, which, in the case of default in the repayment of a loan,
shall not be less than one-fourth of the amount of the loan outstanding against
him, or with both.
Procedure: Sec 11
(1) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Ordinance except on a
complaint in writing made by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar, or by a
person duly authorized by the Registrar or Assistant Registrar.
(2)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1898, the provisions of Chapter XX of the said Code shall apply to the
trial of cases under this Ordinance.]
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Definition:
“ Approved securities” means securities in which a trustee may invest money
under clause (a), clause (b), clause (bb), clause (c) or clause (d) of section 20 of
the Trusts Act, 1882, and such other securities as the Federal Government may, by
notification in the official Gazette, declare to be approved securities for purposes
of this Act;
“Bank” means the Federal Bank for Co-operatives established under section
5;
“Board” means the Board of Directors constituted under section 9;
“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board;
“Co-operative bank” means a banking society as defined in the Explanation to
the sub-section (2) of section 7 of the Co-operative Societies Act, 1925, other than
a provincial Co-operative Bank;
“Co-operative society” means a society registered in Pakistan under any law for
the time being in force relating to registration of co-operative societies and a
“primary co-operative society” means such a society of which no other society is a
member;
“Borrower” means a person who has obtained a loan from the Bank of a
Provincial Co-operative Bank and includes a surety or an indemnifier, but does not
include the Federal Government or a Provincial Government.
“Demand Liabilities” means liabilities which are to be met on demand and
“time liabilities” means liabilities which are not demand liabilities;
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“Director” means a Director for the time being of the Board;
"District Judge” in respect of areas where a District Judge does not have
unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction in original civil suits, a high Court exercising
original civil jurisdiction;
“Family members” in relation to a person means his spouse, dependent lineal
ascendants and descendants and dependent brothers and sisters;
“Loans, advances and credit” includes finance as defined in the Banking
Tribunals Ordinance, 1984, and all cognate expressions shall be construed
accordingly:
“Managing Director” means Managing Director of the Bank and includes any
person for the time being discharging the functions of the Managing Director”
“Multi-unit co-operative society” means a co-operative society to which the
multi-Unit Co-operative Societies Act, 1942 applies
“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
“Provincial Co-operative Bank” means a co-operative society the primary
object of which is to make loans to the co-operative societies which are its
members and which is notified, for the purposes of this Act, to the Bank by the
Provincial Government of the Province within which the co-operative society is
registered or, until a co-operative society is so notified, any one of the following
namely:
The Baluchistan Provincial Co-operative Bank Ltd
The Frontier Provincial Co-operative Bank Ltd
The Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank Ltd
The Sindh Provincial Co-operative Bank Ltd
“Regulation” means a regulation made under this Act;
“Scheduled Bank” has the same meaning as in State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956
“State Bank” means the State Bank of the Pakistan established under the State
Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956
The share capital may be increased from time to time by a resolution of the Board
with the approval of the Federal Government and the capital so increased shall be
fully subscribed by the Federal Government, the provincial Governments and the
State Bank of Pakistan.
Board: Sec 9
The Board shall consist of:
The Chairman;
All the directors for the time being of the Central board of Directors of the State
Bank;
The Managing Director;
Two directors to be nominated by the Federal Government, of whom one shall be
officer of ministry of GOP and other a non-official; and
The Board shall consist of:
e. Two directors from each Province to be nominated by the Federal Government
on the recommendation of each Provincial Government, of whom on shall be a
non-official.
The Governor for the time being of the State Bank shall be the Chairman of the
Board.
Unless the Federal Government otherwise directs in any case, a non-official
Director referred to in clause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section 1 shall hold office for a
period of three years and shall, subject toe the provision of this Act be eligible for
re-appointment.
It extends to the whole of Pakistan. This Ordinance contains provisions with regard
to microfinance institution. Some of the important aspects are discussed
hereunder.
Definitions: the definitions as contained in the Ordinance are given hereunder:
“Auditor” means any person who is appointed in accordance with the provisions
of this Ordinance for the audit of the accounts of a microfinance institution;
“Banking Company's ordinance” means the Banking Companies Ordinance,
1962.
“Company” means a company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance,
1984. Or any other law for the time being in force;
“Customer” means any person or group of persons availing the services of a
microfinance institution;
“Deposit” means the deposit of money, repayable on demand or otherwise,
accepted by a microfinance institution from the public for the purpose of providing
microfinance services;
“Depositor” means a person in whose name a deposit is held by a microfinance
institution;
“License” means the license issued by the State Bank and the expression
“licensed” should be construed accordingly;
“Member” means the member or shareholder who has contributed or subscribed
to the capital of a microfinance institution;
“Microfinance institution” means a company that accepts deposits from the
public for the purpose of providing microfinance services;
“Microfinance services” means the financial and other related services
specified in section 6, the value of which does not exceed such amount as the
State Bank may, from time to time, determine;
“Poor persons” means persons who have meager means of subsistence and
whose total income or receipt during a year is less than the minimum taxable limit
set out in the law relating to income-tax;
“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Ordinance;
“Specified area” means the district, province or other specified area within
which a microfinance institution is licensed to operate; and
“State bank” means the State Bank of Pakistan established under the State
Bank Act,
The provisions of this Ordinance shall be in addition to, and, save as hereinafter
provided, not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.
Name: Sec 5
Capitalization: Sec 10
No microfinance institution shall operate unless it has a paid up capital of not less
than,-
(a) One hundred million rupees or such higher amounts, as may be prescribed
from time to time, for microfinance institutions to whom a license to operate in a
specified district is issued.
Not less than fifty-one per cent of the paid up capital of a microfinance institution
shall be subscribed by the promoters or sponsor members and the shares
subscribed to by the promoters or sponsor members shall remain in the custody of
State Bank and shall neither be transferable nor encumbrance of any kind shall be
created thereon without prior permission, in writing, of the State Bank.
Licensing: Sec 13
Before taking deposits, a microfinance institution shall apply to the State Bank, on
such form accompanying such information and fee as may be prescribed, for
issuance of a license to take deposits.
The State Bank may issue license to operate in a specific district, province or other
area, subject to such conditions as the State Bank may think fit to impose.
No license shall be suspended or cancelled under subsection (4) unless and until
the microfinance institution is called upon by a notice in writing by the State Bank
to show cause within fifteen days as to why its license should not be suspended or
cancelled.
In the event of suspension or cancellation of a license the microfinance institution
concerned shall be notified forthwith and, from the date of such notification, shall
cease to transact any business other than that required to wind up its affairs with
the approval of the State Bank. The State Bank shall publish notice of such
suspension or cancellation in one leading Urdu language newspaper and one
English language newspaper in addition to its publication in the official Gazette.
The provisions of sub-section (4) shall not prejudice the rights or claims of any
person against the microfinance institution or of the microfinance institution
against any person.
A microfinance institution aggrieved by the decision of the State Bank for
suspension or cancellation of its license may, within thirty days from the date on
which such decision is communicated to it, apply for review to the Central Board of
the State Bank.
The decision of the State Bank, subject to the result of review by the Central Board
of the State Bank under sub-section (8), shall be final.
Accounts: Sec 15
A microfinance institution shall maintain proper books of accounts and, at the
expiration of each calendar year, prepare annual statement of accounts including
the profit and loss account and balance sheet as may be prescribed.
A microfinance institution shall, in respect of such accounts, comply with such
general directions as the State Bank may, from time to time, issue.
Audit: Sec 16
Returns: Sec 17
A microfinance institution shall furnish to the State Bank such returns, reports and
information as may be prescribed.
Without limitation to the foregoing, a microfinance institution shall,-
(a) Maintain a register of its members, Board of Directors and the chief executive
officer and provide information thereof to the State Bank at such time and in such
manner as may be prescribed;
(b) Maintain accounts and have the same audited at such time and in such
manner as may be prescribed; submit its annual report and audited accounts to
the State Bank and publish the same for general information at such time and in
such manner as may be prescribed; and
(d) Furnish to the State Bank such particulars with regard to accounts and other
records as the State Bank may from time to time require.
The State Bank, or any officer duly authorized by it in this behalf, may at all
reasonable times inspect the books of account and other records of a microfinance
institution, the securities, cash and other properties held by such institution, and
all documents relating thereto.
The State Bank may, on representation made to it or of its own motion, modify or
cancel any direction issued under subsection (1), and in so modifying or canceling
any direction may impose such condition, as it thinks fit, subject to which the
modification or cancellation shall have effect.
Penalties: Sec 23
Whoever carries on the business of a microfinance institution without having been
licensed to do so or who carries on such business after the license therefore has
been suspended or cancelled shall be punished with imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than five years.
Any person who willfully withholds or fails to deliver any document or information
or makes a statement in any return, balance sheet or other document or in any
information required or furnished under, or for the purpose of any provision of, this
Ordinance which to the knowledge of such person is false in any material respect,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year,
or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees, or with both.
Any person who contravenes any other provision of this Ordinance or does not
comply with any requirement of this Ordinance or any rule, regulation, order,
instruction, condition made, given or imposed hereunder shall be liable to such
fine as the State Bank may, from time to time determine.
(2) Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be guilty
of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
six months or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees,
or with both.
Indemnity: Sec 29
No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Federal Government, the
State Bank or any officer of the Federal Government or the State Bank for anything
which is in good faith done, or intended to be done, under this Ordinance or of any
rules, regulations or orders made hereunder.
Removal of difficulties
Subject to sub-section (2), if any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the
provisions of this Ordinance, the Federal Government may make such order, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, as may appear to it to be
necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty.
No order under sub-section (1) shall be made after expiry of two years from the
commencement of this Ordinance.
Definitions
(a). "Administration Committee" means the administration committee
established under section 12 ;
(b). "Board" means the Board of directors constituted under section 6 ;
(c). "bonds" means bonds, debentures, participation term certificates,
term finance certificates, redeemable capital certificates of similar
instruments providing for scheduled or contingent payment of debt
obligations ;
(d). "book value" means the rupee amount, inclusive of principal and
accrued profit, owed by any obligor in connection with any financial asset as
reflected on the books and records of the financial institution, as of the
transfer date ;
(e). "Chairman" means the chairman of the Board ;
(f). "Chief Executive" means the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation
(g). "collateral" means any asset, property, right, claim, entitlement,
share undertaking, guarantee, agreement, document or instrument, security
interest, charge, mortgage, lien, hypothecation, pledge or assignment in
respect of or as security for any financial asset ;
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(h). "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission of
Pakistan established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997 (XLII of 1997) ;
(i). "Corporation" means the Corporate and Industrial Restructuring
Corporation established under section 4 ;
(j). "director" means a director of the Board ;
(k). "financial asset" means any short, medium or long term interest
and non-interest bearing loan, finance, advance, lease-installment, term
finance certificate, participation term certificate, musharaka, modaraba,
profit and loss sharing agreement, redeemable capital, guarantee or
contractual right to receive payment of money in respect of sums advanced
or committed to an obligor by a financial institution including collateral
pertaining thereto ;
(l). "financial institution" means any bank or other financial institution
operating in Pakistan wherein the Federal Government holds overwhelming
equity in excess of eight-five per cent as specified in the Schedule ;
(m). "Government entity" means any Ministry, Division, Department or
office of the Federal Government or any corporation, company, trust,
statutory body or other entity of which more than fifty per cent of the equity
or beneficial interest is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the
Federal Government ;
(n). "non-performing asset" means any financial asset :
Which is held as an asset on the books of a financial institution.
With respect to which the obligor has been in arrears on any payment obligation
for a period more than three hundred and sixty-five days, including-
collateral with respect to any financial asset, and a whole or partial right or
interest of a financial institution in any financial asset, that otherwise constitutes a
non-performing asset including a financial asset with respect to which the financial
institution has an ongoing funding obligation; and
With respect to which the obligor's outstanding payment obligation to any financial
institution exceeds ten million rupees or more;
(o). "obligor" means any individual, proprietorship concern, company or
other body corporate, trust, partnership or other entity that has, with
respect to a non-performing asset, a contractual or legal obligation or duty
to make payment, effect performance, provide security, or collateral with
respect to any financial asset whether as principal, surety, guarantor or
otherwise and whether such obligation is primary, secondary, matured or
contingent ;
(p). "outstanding amount" means the book value of a non-performing
asset of the financial institution less:
(a) Any amount on the books of the financial institution appearing as a specific
reserve applicable to that non-performing asset;
(b) any amount on the books of the financial institution appearing in a general loan
loss and/or other reserve applicable to that non-performing asset ; and if, in the
opinion of the Board, the book value of the non-performing asset, as adjusted in
sub-clauses (a) and (b), is higher than the estimated market price of the non-
performing asset, the Board shall commission an independent evaluator to
determine such market price and in the event that the market price as determined
by the independent evaluator is lower than the book value as adjusted in sub-
clauses (a) and (b), such market price shall be deemed to be the outstanding
amount
(q). "regulations" means regulations made under this Ordinance ;
(r). "rules" means rules made under this Ordinance ;
(s). "Schedule" means the Schedule to this Ordinance ; and
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(t). "State Bank" means the State Bank of Pakistan.
(c). To pay the cost, charges and expenses for the day to day business of the
Corporation;
(e). To sell, deal in and dispose of all articles and goods of the Corporation;
(f). to engage, employ, fix and pay the remuneration and dismiss or discharge
all managers, agents, secretaries, clerks, servants, workmen and other persons
employed in or in connection with the Corporations business ;
(h). To make and give receipt, release and discharge all moneys payable to the
Corporation or for the claims and demands of the Corporation;
(i). To draw, accept, endorse and negotiate all such cheques, bills of exchange,
promissory notes and Government and other securities as shall be necessary in
or for carrying on the affairs of the Corporation whether the account may be
overdrawn or not ;
(l). To open, maintain and operate accounts or letters of credit for any amount
with any bank or banks and to give instructions for operation of such accounts;
(m). To appear before any court law, civil, criminal, revenue, excise, income-tax
including banking courts and tribunals established for recovery of bank dues and
loans, whether original or appellate, High Courts and Supreme Court of Pakistan
and other authorities for and on behalf of the Corporation and to institute, apply
for transfer of suits and other proceedings, conduct, prosecute and defend
(n). to enter into all such negotiations and contracts and rescind or vary all such
contracts and do all acts, deeds and things in the name and on behalf of the
(p). to purchase or take on lease or otherwise acquire for the Corporation, land,
buildings, rights and privileges for its purpose of offices or premises of the
Corporation at such prices and generally on such terms as he may think
necessary and expedient, to build, alter and furnish offices, houses or premises
and let or sub-let any such houses or premises in portion or otherwise
(q). to demand and enforce payment, delivery, transfer of any dues for recovery
and receive from all and every persons, body corporate or corporations, firm or
companies whatsoever, all money, securities for money, debts and claims of all
kinds and demand, enforce, deliver and receive and take possession of money,
securities, shares, and goods produced and property of all kinds whether
belonging to the Corporation as security or in trust or held by any person or
company in trust or by way of security for the Corporation
(r). to deal with, make arrangements, sign contracts with Government, semi
Government, autonomous bodies, corporations, local Government and other
institutions ; and
(s). To appoint attorneys, agents, managers and authorize them to exercise any
or all such powers and functions as are mentioned in clauses (a) to (r) above.
4. The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette remove the
Chief Executive if, --
(a). He refuses or fails to discharge or becomes in the opinion of the Federal
Government, incapable of discharging his responsibilities under this Ordinance;
or
(b). He has been declared insolvent; or
(c). He has been declared to be disqualified for employment in or has been
dismissed from the service of Pakistan, or has been convicted of an offence
involving moral turpitude ; or
(d). He has knowingly acquired or continued to hold without the permission in
writing of the Federal Government, directly or indirectly or through a partner
any share or interest in any obligator or financial institution.
Committees: Sec 9
The Board may, for the purpose of obtaining advice and assistance in carrying out
the purposes of this Ordinance, constitute one or more committees consisting of
members of the Board and any other suitable persons as it may deem fit. Any
committee so formed shall, in exercise of the powers delegated to it or conferred
on it. Conform to any restrictions that may be imposed on it by the Board.
(10) The Verification Committee shall submit its finding and report with
recommendations to the Governor State Bank within thirty days of the
commencement of the proceedings or such extended period as the
Governor State Bank may allow for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(11) The Governor State Bank shall consider the findings and report and
recommendations submitted to him by the Verification Committee under
sub-section (9) and may accept or modify the same or may, for reasons to
be recorded, make such other appropriate recommendations and findings in
respect thereof as he may deem fit.
(12) The Governor State Bank shall forward his recommendations and
findings made under sub-section (10) along with the finding, report,
recommendations and record of the Verification Committee to the
Corporation and the parties will be entitled to obtain copies thereof from the
Corporation.
Types:
There are amongst others the following important type of relationships between a
banker and his customer:
• Debtor and Creditor
• Creditor and Debtor
• Principal and Agent
• Bailer and Baillie
• Mortgagor and Mortgagee
• Pledger and Pledgee
Banker:
Words Banker/Bank/Banking are interchangeably used. Banker not specifically
defined. Meanings inferences and definitions are derived from in- depth study of
various statutes relating to banking and writings of renowned economists and
jurists. However, in different statutes including banking company's ordinance,
1962, concepts such as business of banking/functions of banks and business
transacted by banks are contained.
“that no person or body corporate or otherwise, can be a banker, who does not (i)
take deposit accounts, (ii) take current accounts, (iii) issue and pay cheques and
(iv) collects cheques crossed and uncrossed for his customers”
Sir John Paget further adds that one claiming to be a banker must profess himself
to be one, and the public must accept him as such, hi main business must be that
of banking, from which generally he should be able to earn his living. This
definition is fairly exhaustive, although it makes no mention of many other
important functions of the present day banker, which may be put under two heads
(a) agency services, comprising of the collection of bills, promissory notes,
coupons, dividends, payment of subscription and insurance premiums, and (b)
general utility services, e.g., issue of credit instruments, the transaction of foreign
exchange business, the safeguarding of valuables and documents against fire,
theft, etc. there seems to be no doubt that according to English Law; a person
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claiming to be treated as a banker, should perform the functions as given by Sir
John Paget.
American Version:
“by “banking” we mean the business of dealing in credits, and by a “bank” we
include every person, firm or company having a place of business where credits
are opened by deposits or collection of money or currency, subject to be paid or
remitted on cheque or order, or money is advanced or loaned on stocks, bonds,
bullion, bills of exchange or promissory notes or where these are received for
discount or sale”
Conclusion:
We can say that banker is what banker does. It takes us to the business of banking
or functions performed by banks
Customer Defined:
The entire law relating to banking rotates on the interplay of forces governing the
relationship between a banker and a customer. The question arises as to who may
be called a customer and it is most surprising that the word “ Customer” has not
been defined and at the same time one must know as to who is a customer. In
some of the judgments pronounced by different courts an attept has been made to
give definitions of a customer but it is not an exhaustive attempt and they havenot
been able to give such definition which may be termed as a satisfactory definition
of this word.
Contract-- Defined
Contract is an agreement enforceable at law.
Agreement
Every promise or every set of promises, forming the consideration for each other is
an agreement.
--To understand an agreement, we must know what a promise is. The promise has
been defined in section 2 (b) of the Act which is reproduced below:
Promise
When the person to whom the proposal is made signifies his assent thereto, the
proposal is said to be accepted. A proposal when accepted becomes a promise.
Consideration
When at the desire of the Promisor, the Promisee or any other person who has
done or abstained from doing, or does or abstains from doing, or promises to do or
to abstain from doing, something, such act or abstinence or promise is called a
consideration for the promise.
All agreements are not contracts, meaning thereby that all agreements are not
enforceable at law. Such agreements are called void agreements. The same has
been defined in section 2 (g) of the Act which is reproduced below:
Legal relationship
Intention to create legal relationship must exist, in commercial transactions it is
presumed that such intention always exists. Social agreements do not give rise to
any legal relationship, hence no rights or obligations arise/accrue from social
agreements, i.e. (Social agreements are not enforceable at law)
Free consent
This is an important essential of a valid contract. It requires that contract should
be entered into with free consent of parties.
Competent Parties
Another important essential of a valid contract is the legal capacity of the parties
to enter into a contract; this has been provided in section 11 of the Act which is
reproduced below:
“Every person is competent to contract who is of the age of majority according to
law to which he is subject, and who is of sound mind, and is not disqualified from
contracting by any law to which he is subject”.
Minor's agreement:
If the first branch of the rule laid down in the section be converted into a negative
proposition, it reads thus: No person is competent to contract who is of the age of
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majority according to the law to which he is subject: in other words, a minor is not
competent to contract. This proposition is capable of two constructions · either
that a minor is absolutely incompetent to contract, in which case his agreement is
void, or that he is incompetent to contract only in the sense that he is not liable on
the contract though the other party is, in which case there is a void able contract.
If the agreement is void, the minor can neither sue nor be sued upon it, and the
contract is not capable of ratification in any manner; if it is void able, he can sue
upon it, though he cannot be sued by the other party, and the contract be ratified
by the minor on his attaining majority. Where, an infant retains property obtained
under the contract from the other party, the equitable remedy of restitution has
been applied, even though the infant made no false representation as to his age.
According to above definition the following parameters would determine the legal
capacities of parties to a contract:
Parties to contract are required to be of the age of majority.
Of sound mind
Not barred from entering into contracts by the operation of law.
Lawful object
Classification of contracts:
Valid contract
Valid contract is an agreement enforceable by law. In such contract all
essentials of a contract as mentioned in section 10 are required to be
fulfilled. In case breach of contract by one party, the other party has a
right to file a suit for this breach.
Illustration:
A contract for the sale of a car between Mr. Yasir and Mr. Waqas has been
concluded and all necessary formalities have been completed. The said contract
meets all essentials of a valid contract. If either of the two that is Mr. Yasir or Mr.
Waqas fails to perform his part of contract, the counter party can sue the other
party for the breach of contract.
Voidable contract
A voidable contract is the one which is enforceable by law at the option of one or
more of the parties to the contract, but not at the option of the other or others. As
long as the contract is not avoided or cancelled by the party who is entitled to do
so, the contract shall remain a valid contract. Such contracts are voidable at the
option of aggrieved party.
Voidable contract has been defined in section 2 (i) of the Contract Act which is
reproduced below:
“An agreement which is enforceable by law at the option of one or more of the
parties thereto, but not at the option of the other or others, is a voidable contract”
--A contract becomes voidable in the following situations:
Where consent of a contracting party is not free
Where Promisor prevented from performance of the contract.
--An agreement on account of misrepresentation shall be voidable at the
option of the person who is misled by such misrepresentation.
--In case a voidable contract is acted upon by a party as valid, that party
cannot subsequently deny the validity thereof.
Void contract
A void contract is the one which is not enforceable by law. It has been provided in
section (j) of the Contract Act.
“A contract which ceases to be enforceable by law becomes void when it
ceases to be enforceable. “
Example:
Mr. Aslam resident of Lahore entered into an agreement with Mr. Kamal, a rice
dealer at Gujranwala for the purchase of 100 tons of rice. District Coordination
Officer ( DCO) Lahore had imposed restriction on entry of rice in the territorial
jurisdiction of District Lahore well before the date of the above agreement. The
said agreement is not enforceable at law, hence void.
Unenforceable Contract
Such contracts are unenforceable before a court of law due to some technical
defects such as non-deposit of court fee, submission of unsigned documents,
absence of writing, wherever writing required, absence of registration, wherever
required under law. On removal of these discrepancies, the contract becomes
enforceable.
Express contract
An express promise shall lead to an express contract. Such a contract may be
expressed by words spoken or written. Express contracts are contained in the
provisions of section 9 of the Act.
Implied contract:
Such contracts are inferred from the acts and conduct of the contracting parties.
Example:
Mr. Aslam was engaged by a business man as a helper at his shop. He has been
performing the job assigned to him, however no appointment letter was issued by
the shopkeeper. Although there is no express agreement as to the employment of
Mr. Aslam but the acts and the conducts of the respective parties shall lead to a
conclusion regarding the nature of contract between them. Since the conclusions
shall be inferred from the acts and conduct of the respective parties, such contract
would be called an implied contract.
--The provisions regarding express and implied contract as contained in section 9
are given below:
“In so far as the proposal or acceptance of any promise is made in words,
the promises is said to be express. In so far as such proposal or
acceptance is made otherwise than in words, the promise is said to be
implied. “
We already know that besides other following are important legal relationships
between banker and customer.
• Debtor and Creditor
• Creditor and Debtor
• Principal and Agent
• Bailor and Bailee
• Mortgagor and Mortgagee
• Pledger and Pledgee
A bank performs a number of functions for the customer. After the account in the
bank is opened and the relationship of a banker and customer is established, the
bank not only undertakes to collect the cheques which are deposited in the
account but also makes the payment on behalf of the customer, whenever there is
a mandate from the customer. The cheques which are realized by the bank are
deposited in this account of the customer and on many occasions, the bank
performs certain other functions on behalf of the customer such as keeping the
valuables, etc., deposited by the customer with the bank as a trustee. On many
occasions, when the customer gives bills for collection to his bank and the said
bank passes the bills for collection to another bank and the amount of the bills is
reduced as a result of debiting the customer's account with collection charges as a
result of an agreement between two banks, the bank is always acting on behalf of
the customer. There are thus too many occasions relating to so many matters
which arise during the mutual dealings between the banker and the customer and
at each time, a question arises as to what is the relationship between a banker
and a customer. It has now been well settled that the first
and foremost relationship between the customer and the bank is the relationship
of a Creditor and debtor.
H.P. Sheldon in his Practice and Law of Banking sets out this relationship as
follows:
"The banker when he receives money from a customer does not hold the money in
a fiduciary capacity. To say that money is Deposited'' with a banker is likely to
cause misapprehension. What really happens is that the money is not deposited
with, but lent to the banker, and all that the banker engages to do is to discharge
the debt by paying over an equal amount when called upon.
Halsbury's Lazus of England, (Simonds Edn.) Vol. 2, p. 166, states that receipt of
money by a banker from or on account of his customer constitutes him the debtor
of the customer.
American Jurisprudence discussing the relation between bank and general
depositor has the following to say:
Sec. 444. "It is a fundamental rule of banking law that in the case of a general
deposit of money in a bank, the moment the money is deposited it becomes the
property of a bank, and the bank and the depositor assume the legal relation of
debtor and creditor. The legal effect of the transaction is that of a loan to the bank
upon the promise and obligation, usually implied by law, to pay or repay the
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amount deposited usually upon demand; there is nothing of a trust or fiduciary
nature of a bailment in the transaction or relationship or in the nature of any right
to specific money deposited….”
Sec. 326. "The contract between a bank and a depositor is not materially different
from any other contract by which one person becomes bound to take charge of
and repay another's, funds, and there is no trust relation between a bank and a
general depositor. The relation between a bank and a depositor may be dual in
character, the bank being the depositor's debtor with respect to one thing and his
agent with respect to another, or his debtor at one time and his agent at another;
and while the relation between the bank and a depositor in respect to a general
deposit is generally regarded as that of a debtor and creditor, yet in another sense
the depositor is the owner of the deposit, in that he can demand repayment at any
time. It is competent for a bank of deposit to enter into a collateral agreement with
the depositor with reference to the disposition of the proceeds of deposits...."
Explanation
The legal relation between a merchant in one country and a commission agent in
other is that of principal and agent, and not seller and buyer, though this is
consistent with the agent and principal, when the agent consigns the goods to the
principal, being in a relation like that of seller and buyer for some purposes. A
merchant, therefore, in this country who orders goods through a firm of
commission agents in Europe cannot hold the firm liable as if they were vendors
for failure to deliver the goods. And the result is the same if the goods are ordered
through a branch in this country of a firm of commission agents in another
country. For the same reason, where a commission agent buys goods for a
merchant at a price smaller than the limit specified in the indent, he cannot charge
any price higher than that actually paid by him, except in the case of a custom to
the contrary.
An agent may have, and often has, in fact, a large discretion, but he is bound in
law to follow the principal's instructions provided they do not involve anything
lawful. To this extent an agent may be considered it's a superior kind of servant;
and a servant who is entrusted with any dealing with third persons on his master's
behalf is to that extent an agent. But a servant may be wholly without authority to
do anything as an agent, and agency, in the case of partners, even an extensive
agency, may exist without any contract of hiring and service.
Agency by Consent:
Consent may be express or implied.
Express Agency:
Such agency is created by words either spoken or written. In business
transactions, this relationship is usually established through writing an agreement
Implied Agency:
An authority is referred to as implied when it is inferred from the conduct of the
parties or circumstances of the case.
Types of Agent:
The agents may be classified as under:
Public Agents- these are representatives of a State
Private Agents—these agents represent individuals or companies
General Agents- these agents pertaining to a business, vocation or profession
Special Agents—such agents are appointed for a specific transaction.
Co-Agents-- Such Agents act along with Principal.
Duties of the Agent:
Duties of agent are contained in sec 211 to 218 of the Contract Act. Some of the
important duties are given below:
• To follow principal’s instructions
• To show required skill and diligence
• Agent to render proper accounts
• Agent to pass on any benefits derived by him
Illustrations
(a) A, an agent engaged in carrying on for B, a business, in which it is the custom
to invest from time to time, at interest, the moneys which may be in hand, omits
to make such investments. A must make good to B the interest usually obtained
by such investments. (b) B, a broker, in whose business it is not the custom to sell
on credit, sells goods of A, on credit to C, whose credit at the time was very high. C
before payment becomes insolvent. B must make good the loss to A.
(c) An agent, instructed to warehouse goods at a particular place, warehouse a
portion of them at another place, where they are destroyed, without negligence.
He is liable to the principal for the value of the goods destroyed. (d) An agent,
instructed to insure goods, neglects to do so. He is liable to the principal for their
value in the event of their being lost. (e) A broker, entrusted with goods for sale,
sells them by auction at an inadequate price, not having made an estimate of the
value in accordance with the custom of the particular trade. He must make good
the loss. (f) An auctioneer, contrary to the usual custom, takes a bill of exchange
in payment of the price of goods sold. He is liable to the principal for the amount of
the bill in the event of its being dishonored. (g) An agent, bound by his contract to
keep proper books of account, omits to scrutinize, examine or check the accounts
of his subordinates whom he implicity trusts. Taking advantage of this, the
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subordinates commit gross frauds on him and his employers. The frauds and
defalcations being due to the agent’s failure to perform his duty he is liable to
make good the loss thereby caused.
Illustrations
(a) A, a merchant in Islamabad, has an agent, B, in London to whom a sum of
money is paid on A's account, with orders to remit. B retains the money for a
considerable time. A, in consequence of not receiving the money, becomes
insolvent. B is liable for the money and interest from the day on which it ought to
have been paid, according to the usual rate, and for any further direct loss---as
e.g., by variation of rate of exchange--but not further. (b) A, an agent for the sale
of goods, having authority to sell on credit, sells to B on credit, without making the
proper and usual inquiries as to the solvency of B. B, at the time of such sale, is
insolvent. A must make compensation to his principal in respect of any loss
thereby sustained. (c) A, an insurance broker, employed by B to effect an
insurance on a ship, omits to see that the usual clauses are inserted in the policy.
The ship is afterwards lost. In consequence of the omission of the clauses nothing
can be recovered from the underwriters. A is bound to make good the loss to B.) A,
a merchant in England, directs B, his agent at Karachi who accepts the agency, to
send him 100 bales of cotton by a certain ship. B, having it in his power to send
the cotton, omits to do so. The ship arrives safely in England. Soon after her
arrival, the price of cotton rises. B is bound to make good to A, the profit which he
might have made by the 100 bales of cotton at the time the ship arrived, but not
any profit he might have made by the subsequent rise.
We have already discussed the under noted legal relationships between banker
and customer.
o Debtor and Creditor,
o Creditor and Debtor
o Principal and Agent
Now we shall cover the following relationships:
o Bailor and Bailee
o Mortgagor and Mortgagee
o Pledger and Pledgee
Bailment
The definition of bailment as contained in section 148 is given here under:
A “bailment” is the delivery of goods by one person to another for some purpose,
upon a contract that they shall, when the purpose is accomplished, be returned or
otherwise disposed of according to the directions of the person delivering them.
The person delivering the goods is called the “bailor”. The person to whom they
are delivered is called the “bailee”
Explanation.---If a person already in possession of the goods of another contracts
to hold them as a bailee, he thereby becomes the bailee, and the owner becomes
the bailor, of such goods although they may not have been delivered by way of
bailment.
Essentials of Bailment:
Contract--there is an underlying contract between the bailor and bailee, there
may be an explicit contract or it may be an implied contract.
For the benefit of the bailor-- Mr. Yasir, while going out of city handed over
some precious household articles to Mr. Usman for safe custody, without any
obligation to pay any fee/ charges. It is a bailment for the benefit of the bailor.
For the benefit of the bailee—Mr. Umer handed over his car to Mr. Ahsan, as he
was in need of conveyance for few days. Mr. Umer handed over this car without
any obligation on the part of Mr. Ahsan to pay any rent/ charges for the use of this
car. This bailment is exclusively for the benefit of the Mr. Ahsan, the bailee.
For the benefit of bailor and bailee—Mr. Ahmad availed locker facilities from
M/S XYZ bank ltd. Under the terms and conditions of the contract
Mr. Ahmad was required to pay Rs.1000/ annual fee on
account of availing this facility. This contract is for the benefit of
both parties, the bailor and the bailee.
Explanation:
Scope of bailment and its essentials are explained in detail in the following
paragraphs.
Nature of the transaction.---"Bailment" is a technical term of the Common Law.
It involves change of possession. One who has custody without possession, like a
servant, or a guest using his host's goods, is not a bailee. The constructive delivery
will create the relation of bailor and bailee as well as actual delivery. The bailee's
duty to deal with the goods according to the bailor's orders is incidental to the
contract of bailment, and arises on the delivery of the goods, although those
orders may have already been given and accepted in such a manner as to
constitute a prior special contract. As a matter of pleading this is no longer
material in this country, but it might still be material with regard to the period of
limitation. Ailment is necessarily dealt with by the Contract Act only so far as it is
a kind of contract. It is not to be assumed that without an enforceable contract
there cannot in any case be a bailment. The words. "Otherwise disposed of" in the
present section express the common law as now understood. "It seems clear that
a bailee is not the less a bailee because he is clothed with authority to sell the
thing which is bailed to him," e.g., a factor for sale. On the whole a bailment may
be described as a delivery on condition, to which the law usually attaches an
obligation to redeliver the goods, or otherwise deal with them as directed, when
the condition is satisfied; but there may be, in particular cases, a bailment without
an enforceable obligation
• According to section 154, bailee shall not make un-authorized use of the
goods delivered to him.
• According to section 160, bailee is required to return the goods delivered to
him for som purpose.
• According to section 163, bailee is required to return an increase or profit in
lieu of goods delivered.
Explanation:
The duties of the bailee are explained in greater detail in the following
paragraphs:
The bailee has no right to dispose of or sell the property unless specifically
authorised to do so. He has only a right to retain the goods bailed with him until he
receives due remuneration for the service rendered in respect of the goods. He is
responsible for the safe delivery of the goods bailed with him and in default is
responsible to the bailor for any loss of goods
Nature of Transaction:
In Mortgage, the rights and interests which are vested in Mortgagor are transferred
by him in favor of the other person, the Mortgagee.
Mortgage in fact is a transfer of an interest in specific immovable property as
security for the repayment of a debt and such an interest is itself immovable
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property. The nature of the right that is transferred would depend upon the form of
Mortgage.
Types of Mortgages:
Registered Mortgage
Equitable Mortgage
Equitable Mortgage:
This is created by deposit of title deed by the mortgagor.
Memorandum regarding deposit of title deed is also signed by respective parties.
Clear title of the mortgagor must be ascertained by the mortgagee.
Rights of Mortgagee
To sell the mortgaged property in case of default by mortgagor
Right to fore-closure
Right to file suit
Pledge
It has been defined in section 172 of the Contract Act which is given below:
"Pledge," "pawnor," and "pawnee" defined.
The bailment of goods as security for payment of a debt or performance of a
promise is called "pledge". The bailor is in this case called the "pawnor." The
bailee is called the "pawnee."
• The pledge has actual control of pledge stocks/goods.
• Pledge can sell pledged stocks by giving reasonable notice to the borrower.
• Before disposal pledge should publish the notice through news papers etc.
Comments
The bailee tendering a contract of pledge does not become owner, but, as having
possession and right to possess, he is said to have a special property. Any kind of
goods, documents, or valuable things of a personal nature may be pledged.
Delivery is necessary to complete a pledge; it may be actual or constructive. It is
sufficient if the thing pledged is delivered under the contract within a reasonable
time of the lender's advance being made. Pledge---Monthly statements of stocks
lying in godown showing goods as pledged with defendant-Bank---All such
documents signed by authorized person on behalf of plaintiff---Debit advice
vouchers produced by defendants showing conveyance charges paid to Godown
Keeper visiting godown, and debited to account of plaintiff---Goods, held, in
possession of defendant under pledge and not merely
Specimen Signatures:
If forged signatures on a Cheque entertained & Cheque passed by bank--bank shall
be legally responsible to make good the loss to Account Holder
Type of Accounts:
Individual’s Account
Joint Account
Minor’s Account
Minor’s Account
Minor does not have legal capacity to enter into a contract. As we know that legal
relationship between banker and his customer is a contractual relationship, as
such minor is not qualified under law to open an account. However, an account in
the name of minor can be opened when guardian of the minor shall operate this
account. According to law, minor is a person who has not attained the age of 18
years. Further more under section 3 of majority Act 1875, if a guardian is
appointed by the court in respect of a person before he attains the age of 18
years, the majority extends to the age of 21 years.
Partnership Account:
“Partnership” is the relation between persons who have agreed to share the
profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all Right to sue
vests in registered firm.
Partner is treated as an agent of firm (Section 18 of Partnership Act. 1932)
however; partner has no authority to open an account on behalf of the firm
(Section 19-2B)
Survivorship mandate
Joint and several mandates
Admission of new partner—responsibilities of incoming partner start from the date
of admission unless not otherwise agreed.
Bankruptcy of a partner-- ordinarily partnership stands dissolved.
Insolvency of firm—business of partnership vests in official receiver appointed by
court, operations in account are stopped, personal accounts of partners are also
declared inoperative.
Accounts of Companies
Documents Required:
Resolution passed by Board of Directors for opening the account
Copy of Memorandum of Association
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Copy of Articles of Association
Certificate of Incorporation
Certificate of commencement of business
Balance Sheet.
Operation of the account in line with the instructions contained in the board of
directors resolution, authorized directors to operate the account.
In case of winding up of a company, bank should stop operations in the account.
Agent Account
Agent acts on behalf of the principal.
Agent can open an account under the authority of principal—based on power of
attorney.
On revocation of power of attorney operation in the account will stand inoperative.
In case death of the agent operations should be stopped immediately however,
Principal can sign the cheques and the same are honored by the banks.
Account of Trusts:
Trusts are governed by Trust Act-1882
Any person who is competent to contract may create a trust.
Opening of Account
Account is opened in the name of the Trust.
All trustees to sign account opening form.
LESSON 25
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS
The object and purpose of the Act is to legalise the system under which claims
upon certain mercantile instruments are treated like ordinary goods passing from
hand to hand. The Act is not exhaustive of all matters relating to negotiable
instruments nor does it purport to deal with all kinds of negotiable instruments. It
merely regulates the issue and negotiations of bills notes and cheques and even
as regards them it does not deal with its transmissions of rights in them by
operation of law or by assignment by deed. In the absence of any express
provisions in this Act to the contrary, the general rules contained in the Contract
Act are applicable to such instruments as to obligations of parties to the
negotiable instruments are contractual in nature. For example the Act does not
declare what consideration is sufficient and valid for a bill or note and therefore
any consideration which will support a simple contract will support a bill or a note
also.
Explanation
The words “material alteration” is not defined in the Act, but in the definition
clause with reference to negotiable instrument these words are followed by
Some of the important concepts as discussed in the Act are given below:
Negotiable means the quality of transferability by delivery or by endorsement
and delivery.
Promissory Note
It has been defined in section 4 of the Act which is given here under:
“A promissory note is an instrument in writing (not being a bank note or a currency
note) containing unconditional undertaking, signed by the maker to pay on
demand or at a fixed or determinable future time a certain sum of money only to
or to the order of a certain person, or to the bearer of the instrument.
Specimen of a Promissory
Rs. 100,000/- Lahore
August 20, 2007
Yasir Mehmood
(The Maker)
Explanation
The definition of promissory note as given in the Act is much the same as that in
section 83 (1) of the Bills of Exchange Act. This and the following sections
attempts to define different kinds of negotiable instruments dealt with by the Act.
To understand the essentials of a negotiable instrument we have to bear in mind
the purpose of such instruments, which is, that they may represent money and do
all the work of money in business transactions. It is obvious, therefore, that the
first and essential requisite is certainty. Certainty as to the person to make the
payment, the person to receive it, the time and place of payment, the conditions
of liability, and also as to the amount to be paid. These sections endeavor to
define these certainties not “ in such exact and technical way as would only
embarrass the transaction of business but substantially, in a perfect and practical
way. “ A promissory note may be in the form of a letter or in any other form of
words which fulfill the requirements of this section, and from which the intention to
make a note appears.
Notice to surety:
Delivery of notice to surety is not a condition precedent for making him liable on a
negotiable instrument if the maker does not pay
Proof:
A party seeking to prove a promissory note need not go behind the promissory
note, he has only to prove due execution of the note. Where the plaintiff bank
produced two witnesses who categorically stated all documents including
promissory notes, hypothecation agreement, letter of revival and balance credit
slips having been signed by the defendant, no evidence was produced by
defendant to discharge the burden placed upon him in the face of the positive
evidence produced by the plaintiff, the genuineness of the promissory note stood
proven
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Under Article 73 of the Limitation Act, a suit based on a promissory note payable
on demand has to be filed with in 3 years from the date of the note. Under Article
64-A a suit under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, is required to be
filed within 3 years from the date when the debt becomes payable immediately
where a promissory note makes it obligatory on the holder to sue on expiry of
three days after notice to pay was given, limitation of the suit begins three days
after the notice to pay was given.
Mere fact that there was an oral understanding between the parties to return the
amount within three months, would not take away the unconditional effect of the
pronote.
Promissory Note:
Proof of promissory note, would be unquestionable when witnesses were subjected
to lengthy cross-examination but noting was extracted to demolish their credibility
and neutrality.
Promissory note is not required to be attested. Requirement as to attestation of
promissory note prescribed in Art. 17 (2) (a), Qanun-e-Shahadat, 1984, would not
override Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 which does not require attestation of
promissory note.
Promissory Note:
We have already gone through the definition of promissory note and also had a
view of a specimen of a promissory note; we shall continue to explore the other
aspects of promissory note.
Thirty days after date, I promise to pay Mr. Ahmad Kamal or order the sum of
rupees one hundred thousand only and the amounts which may be due to Ahmed
Kamal by due date.
--This is not the promissory note since the amount promised is not certain and
ascertainable on the date of making the promise/ undertaking.
The notes given below do not qualify to be called promissory note in the light of
definition contained in section 4
I owe Rs 100,000 to MR. Ahmad Kamal
--This is not a promissory note since it is just an acknowledgement not an
undertaking
I promise to pay Rs 100,000 to Mr. Ahmad Kamal thirty days after getting
admission in a University.
--This is not a promissory note since the time of payment is not certain/
ascertainable at the time of making the promise.
Explanation:
Sum to pay must be only money and certain:
It is also necessary that the medium of payment must be money only that is
specie or other legal currency, and not bonds, bills, notes or any article other than
money. But it is not necessary that the money to be paid must be that current in
the place of payment, or where the bill is drawn, it may be in the money form of
any country whatever. The amount promised to be paid must be certain and
incapable of being varied by indefinite editions or deductions. If the amount is not
capable of being ascertained of the face of the instrument, that instrument will not
be a promissory note.
Signature:
The Act contains no definition of the term “ signature” it includes the mark made
by a person who is unable to write his name such signature need not be al the foot
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or at any particular part of the document. Where the intention of the parties is
clear, the position of a signature on a bill is immaterial; if the maker writes his
name to a bill or note on any part of it so as to authenticate it and to give effect to
the contract by him thereon. It will be sufficient. A signature to a bill may be in
pencil; it may be lithographed, and even printed; in which case however, it must
be shown to have been adopted and used by the party as his signature, or again,
the affixing of the facsimile of a name ( e.g. by rubber stamp) is good as signature.
Plaintiff had established his case on the basis of evidence both documentary as
well as oral and the Trial Court decreed the suit against the defendant. Contents of
the document would bring the document within the definition of promissory note.
Heading given to such document was not legally relevant. Document forming basis
of the decree against the defendant was in fact a promissory note as defined in
section 4 of negotiable instruments Act, 1881, even though the same was
described as a pronote.
Writing:
The instrument may be written on paper, parchment, or any other convenient
substitute for paper. “Writing” would be held to include printing, engraving,
lithographing, and in fact every mode by which words and figures can be
expressed on any material. The writing may be in pencil or in ink, but the
imperfection of the former mode of writing and its liability to obliteration prevent
its being generally adopted.
The fact that a promissory note is written on a page in an account book of the
creditor does not make it illegal or any the less a promissory note. There is nothing
in the Negotiable Instrument Act to make even a promissory note not negotiable
by express terms or by necessary implication.
Unconditional undertaking:
In a promissory note there must be an unconditional undertaking to pay, and the
note must be payable at all events. When a promise to pay is said o be conditional
and when not, is explained in section 5. A letter requesting a loan, and stating that
the amount lent will be repaid is not such an unconditional undertaking, because
the repayment is dependent on the advance being made. But mentioning a place
of payment is not such a condition under the section as to make it not a
promissory note. Mere acknowledgement of indebtedness is not sufficient.
Bill of exchange
It is an important form of a negotiable instrument and has been defined in section
5 of the Act; the said definition is reproduced below:
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“A bill of exchange is an instrument in writing containing an unconditional order,
signed by maker, directing a certain person, to pay on demand or at fixed or
determinable future time a certain sum of money only to, or to the order of, a
certain person or to the bearer of the instrument”.
Ninety days after date, pay to Mr. Ahmad Kamal or order rupees one hundred
thousand only for value received
Signature Accepted by
Yasir Mehmood Drawee XYZ (Drawee)
(Drawer)
Revenue Stamp
Essentials of bill of exchange
These are outlined here under:
• In writing
• Order to pay
• Unconditional order
• Signed by the drawer
• Drawee certain person
• Time of payment
• Certain sum
• Legal tender money
• Payee certain person
• Other formalities
• Date
• Place
• Lawful consideration
• Revenue stamp
• It must in writing
• It must contain an order to pay and addressed to some person
• The order must be unconditional
• The order must be signed by the maker
The order must direct to pay or demand or at a fixed or determinable future time.
The sum ordered to be paid must be certain.
The payment should be ordered to be paid to a certain person, or to his order, or
to the bearer.
Drafts:
A banker’s draft is a bill drawn either on demand or otherwise by one bank on
another in favor of third party, or by one branch of a bank on another branch of
the same bank, or by the head office on a branch, or vice versa. It is a bill of
exchange and therefore a negotiable instrument. The issue of a draft is regarded
in banking practice as a matter of purchase and ordinarily the relationship
between the holder of a demand draft and the bank issuing it is that of debtor and
creditor.
Certain person:
Although a certain person is misnamed or designated by description only, yet the
person shall be “certain” if it is clear as to who is the person to whom direction is
given or payment is to be made.
Instrument must contain an order to pay money and money only: In order that an
instrument may amount to a promissory note, it is essential that the medium of
payment must be money only. It should not consist in any article of food or any
animal or in any bonds, simply or coupled with money in specie.
If after issuing a cheque the drawer keeps quiet and takes no steps to inform the
bank in time i.e. before the cheque is encased that the cheque should not be
according to section 10 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, means payment in
accordance with the apparent tenor of the instrument in good faith, the liability for
the drawn cheque shall absolutely and squarely fall on the drawer.
Parties:
There are three parties in the cheque which are as under:
Drawer
Drawee (in case of cheque, drawee is always a banker)
Payee
Essentials of a Cheque:
A cheque must fulfill the following requirements:
• It must be in writing
• It should contained unconditional order
• It must by signed by drawer
• Cheque is always payable on demand
• The cheque is always drawn on a specified banker
• As a matter of practice, cheque leaves are in printed form
• The amount payable should be specified in the form of legal tender money
and is paid accordingly.
• The amount must be certain amount
• The cheque is payable to specified person or order of or to bearer.
• Date of issue must be mentioned on the cheque.
Explanation:
A cheque is a peculiar sort of instrument in many ways resembling a bill of
exchange, but in some entirely different. In the ordinary course, it is never
accepted, it is not intended for circulation, it is given for immediate payment, it is
not entitled to days of grace. In addition, a cheque is presented for payment,
whereas a bill in the first instance is presented for acceptance, this is not so in the
case of a cheque, because the holder of a cheque, as between himself and the
drawer, has no right to require acceptance. A cheque is not intended for
circulation; it is given for immediate payment; it is not entitled to days of grace;
and though it is, strictly speaking an order upon a debtor by a creditor to pay to a
third person the whole or part of a debt, yet, in the ordinary understanding of
persons, it is not so considered.
Types of Cheques:
The cheques can be divided in the following forms:
Bearer Cheques:
In this type cash is payable to anyone presenting the cheque for payment at the
cash counter of bank?
Order Cheques
In case of a crossed cheque, payment can be obtained only through a banker. That
is, the payee or the holder, having an account in a bank, has to deposit the
crossed cheque for collection, and draw the moen ywhen the cheque is collected
and the proceeds are credited to his account. It is only with a view to avoiding any
such risk of fraud that businessmen introduced the divice of crossing. Thus,
crossing of a cheque may be defined as, “ a direction to the drawee banker to pay
the money on a crossed cheque through a banker, so that the party getting the
payment of a crossed cheque may be easily traceable.”
Types of Crossing
There are two types of crossing
1. General Crossing
2. Special Crossing.
General Crossing:
A cheque is said to contain a general crossing when two parallel lines are drawn
across the face of the cheque. According to Sec. 123. “ where a cheque bears
across its face an addition of the words “ and company” or any abbreviation
thereof, between two parallel transverse lines, or of two parallel transverse lines
simply, either with or without the words “ not negotiable”, that addition shall be
deemed a crossing, and the cheque shall be deemed to be crossed generally.” A
cheque is said to be crossed when two parallel transverse lines, with or without
any words, are drawn on the left hand top corner of the cheque. It is relevant to
state that such lines are essential for general crossing and may not be drawn in
case of special crossing.
Special Crossing:
Sec. 124 of the Act defines special crossing as “Where cheque bears across its
face an addition of the name of a banker, either with or without the word “not
negotiable” that addition shall be deemed a crossing, and cheque shall be eemed
to be crossed specially and to be crossed to that banker.” Further, Sec. 126, Para 2
states “Where a cheque is crossed specially the banker on whom it is drawn shall
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not pay it otherwise than to the banker to whom it is crossed, or his agent, for
collection.
In the case of special crossing the paying banker is to honour the cheque only
when it is presented through the bank mentioned in the crossing or an agent of
such bank, further, sec. 127 states, “Where a cheque is crossed specially to more
than one banker, except when crossed to an agent for the purpose of collection,
the banker on whom it is drawn shall refuse payment thereof. “ A special crossing
makes the cheque safer than a general crossing because now a thief will have to
search an account-holder of that particular bank only whose name appears in the
crossing which may only create more difficulty.
When cheque not duly presented and drawer damaged thereby: Sec 84
(1)Where a cheques is not presented for payment within a reasonable time of its
issue, and he drawer or person on whose account it is drawn had the right, at
the time when presentment ought to have been made, as between himself and
the banker, to have the cheque paid and suffers actual damage through the
delay, he is discharged the extent of such damage, that is to say, to the extent
to which such drawer or person is a creditor of the banker to a larger amount
than he would have been if such cheque had been paid.
(2)In determining what a reasonable time is, regard shall be had to the nature of
the instrument, the usage of trade and of bankers, and the facts of the
particular case.
(3)The holder of the cheque as to which such drawer or person is so discharged
shall be a creditor, in lieu of such drawer or person, of such banker to the
extent of such discharge and entitled to recover the amount from him.
Illustrations
(a). A draws a cheque for Rs. 1,000 and when the cheque ought to be
presented, has funds at the bank to meet it. The bank fails before the cheque is
presented. The drawer is discharged, but the holder can prove against the bank
for the amount of the cheque.
(b). A draws a cheque at Sialkot on a Bank in Karachi. The Bank fails before the
cheque could be presented in ordinary course. A is not discharged, for he has
not suffered actual damage through any delay in presenting the cheque.
In case the drawer of the cheque denies its execution, he may take a plea in the
alternative that if his signature on the cheque is found to be genuine it may be
taken that a signed cheque had been stolen from him and as such he is not liable
“When the maker or holder of a negotiable instrument signs the same, otherwise
than as such maker, for the purpose of negotiation, on the back or face thereof or
on a slip of paper annexed thereto, or so signs for the same purpose a stamped
paper intended to be completed as a negotiable instrument, he is said to indorse
the same, and is called endorser”.
Kinds of Endorsement:
The endorsements are divided as under:
Blank or general
Full or special endorsement
Restrictive endorsement
Partial endorsement
Restrictive Endorsement:
It has been defined in section 50(2) of the Act which is reproduced below:
Partial Endorsement:
It has been defined in section 56 of the Act which is reproduced below:
Explanation:
A partial endorsement, i.e., an endorsement which purports to transfer to the
indorse a part only of the amount payable, does not operate as a negotiation of
the instrument. Such an endorsement is not warranted by the custom of
merchants and would be attended with this inconvenience to the prior parties, that
it would subject them to a plurality of actions. In the same manner, an
endorsement, which purports to transfer the instrument to two or more indorses
severally and not jointly, is also expressly forbidden by this section. The object of
the section is to prevent an instrument being transferred for a portion only of the
sum at the time due under it, because a personal contract cannot be apportioned.
The endorsement must be the endorsement of the instrument.
Illustrations:
A is the holder of a bill for Rs. 1,000. A indorses it thus: “pay Rs 50 to transferred
to B and C as each of them is in indorse of only a part of the amount, the
endorsement is partial and invalid for the purpose of negotiation.
A is the holder of a bill for Rs. 1,000. A indorses it thus: “pay B or order Rs. 500.
This is a partial endorsement and invalid for the purpose of negotiation.
The last part of the section says that if a bill has been paid in part, the fact of the
part payment may be indorsed on the instrument, and it may then be negotiated
for the residue, e.g.., a bill may be indorsed thus: “Pay A or order Rs. 500 being
the unpaid residue of the bill”. Such an endorsement would be valid.
Illustrations
B signs the following endorsements on different negotiable instruments payable to
bearer-----
"Pay the contents to C only."
"Pay C for any use."
"Pay C or order for the account of B."
"The within just be credited to C."
These endorsements exclude the right of further negotiation by C.
"Pay C."
"Pay C value in account with the Oriental Bank."
"Pay the contents to C, being part of the consideration in a certain deed of
assignment executed by C to the endorser and others.
Illustration
A bill is drawn payable to A or order, A endorses it to B, the endorsement not
containing the words "or order" or any equivalent words. B may negotiate the
instrument. .
Days of Grace:
Three days of grace are provided in section 22 for determining pay ability of
instrument but said days of grace are not available when instrument is payable on
demand or at sight or on presentment
Days of Grace are applicable in case of Promissory note and bill of exchange but
not cheque, since it is always payable on demand.
We have already discussed the parties to promissory note, bill of exchange and
cheque,
Various legal aspects with respect to the parties to these instruments are
discussed in detail in the following paragraphs:
Every person capable of contracting can be a party to a negotiable instrument that
is can be a party by making/ drawing, accepting, endorsing a negotiable
instrument.
Agent /Agency:
It has been defined in section 27 of the Act which is reproduced below:
Every person capable of binding himself or of being bound by the making, drawing,
acceptance or negotiation of a negotiable instrument, may so bind him or be
bound by a duly authorized agent acting in his name.
A general authority to transact business and to receive and discharge debts does
not confer upon an agent the power of accepting or indorsing bills of exchange so
as to bind his principal.
An authority to draw bills of exchange does not of itself import an authority to
endorse.
Maker:
The person who makes the note and undertakes to pay the amount stated in the
promissory note.
Payee:
The person to whom the amount is payable under promissory note.
Holder:
The person who may be the payee or endorsee of the promissory note. Holder is
the person who is entitled to the possession of the instrument in his own name and
also entitled to receive the amount due under a promissory note.
Endorser
The person who by endorsement transfers the promissory note to another person.
Endorsee
The person to whom the promissory note is transferred by endorsement.
Parties to a Cheque:
These are discussed below:
Drawer
The person who draws/ writes a cheque is called the drawer
Drawee
The person who is directed through a cheque to pay the specified amount is called
the drawee, however in case of a cheque, drawee must always be a bank.
Payee
Explained while discussing promissory note.
Holder
Explained while discussing promissory note.
Endorser
Explained while discussing promissory note.
Endorsee
Explained while discussing promissory note.
Holder:
The scope of the holder is contained in section 8 of the negotiable instrument
1881 which is reproduced below:
The "holder" of a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque means the payee or
endorsee that is in possession of it or the bearer thereof but does not include a
beneficial owner claiming through a benamidar. Sec 8
In order to be called a ‘Holder’, the person must satisfy the following two
conditions:
He must be entitled to the possession of the instrument in his own name
He must be entitled to receive or recover the amount due thereon from the parties
liable thereto
Liability of Drawer:
It has been defined in section 30 which is given below:
The drawer of a bill or cheque is bound to compensate the holder in case
dishonored by the
drawee or acceptor provided due notice of dishonor has been given or received by
the drawer.
Before acceptance of a bill, drawer’s liability is primary and after acceptance his
liability becomes secondary to acceptor’s liability.
Liability of endorser:
It has been defined in section 35 which is given below:
In the absence of a contract to the contrary, the .endorser of a negotiable
instrument, by indorsing it, engages that on due presentment it shall be accepted
and paid according to its tenor and that if it be dishonored he will compensate the
holder or subsequent endorser who is compelled to pay it for any loss or damage
caused to him by such dishonor.
When the person charged resides at a place different from that at which the
instrument was payable, the holder is entitled to receive such sum at the current
rate of exchange between the two places;
An endorser who, being liable, has paid the amount due on the same is entitled to
the amount so paid with interest at six per centum per annum from the date of
payment until, tender or realization thereof, together with all expenses caused by
the dishonor
When the person charged and such endorser reside at different places the
endorser is entitled to receive such sum at the current rate of exchange between
the two places;
The party entitled to compensation may draw a bill upon the party liable to
compensate him, payable at sight or on demand, for the amount due to him,
together with all expenses properly incurred by him. Such bill must be
accompanied by the instrument dishonored and the protest thereof (if any). If such
bill is dishonored, the party dishonoring the same is liable to make compensation
thereof in the same manner as in the case of the original bill.
Illustration:
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Banking Laws and Practices-BNK 601 VU
Mr. Aslam is the payee of a bearer cheque amounting Rs 50,000 and this cheque
fulfills all essential requirements. Mr. Aslam delivers this cheque to Mr. Yasir. This
cheque has been negotiated/ transferred to Mr. Yasir by way of delivery.
A bill of exchange payable after sight must, if no time or place is specified therein
for presentment, be presented to the drawee thereof for acceptance, if he can,
after reasonable search, be found, by a person entitled to demand at within a
reasonable time after it is drawn and in business hours on a business day. In
default of such presentment, no party thereto is liable thereon to the person
making such default
Credit Defined
Credit has been defined as the permission to use another’s capital.
The power to obtain goods or services by giving a promise to pay a certain sum of
money at a specified date in the future. Credit is a present Right to future
Payment.
Banking environment
Banking environment is very competitive. There is neck to neck competition
among banks and with other financial institutions. Banks are required to manage
bottom line between deposit rates and lending rates that is risk- adjusted rate of
interest for borrowers and competitive interest rate for depositors.
Credit Risk:
Credit risk is associated with the quality of individual assets and the likelihood of
default. It is extremely difficult to assess individual asset quality because limited
published information is available. In fact, many banks that buy banks are
Market Risk:
Market risk is the current and potential risk to earnings and stockholders’ equity
resulting from adverse movements in market rebates or prices. The three areas of
market risk are: interest rate or reinvestment rate risk, equity or security price
risk, and foreign exchange risk.
o Interest rate risk is the potential variability in a bank’s net interest income and
market value of equity due to changes in the level of market interest rates.
o Equity and security price risk is the potential risk of loss associated with the
bank’s trading account portfolios.
o Foreign exchange risk is the risk to a financial institution’s condition resulting
from adverse movements in foreign exchange rates.
Operational risk:
Refers to the possibility that operating expenses might vary significantly from
what is expected, producing a decline in net income and firm value. The Basel
Committee defines operational risk as:
“The risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, and
systems, or from external events.”
Values Driven:
o Focus is on credit quality with strong risk management systems and
controls.
o Primary emphasis is on bank soundness and stability and a consistent
market presence.
o Underwriting is conservative and significant loan concentrations are not
allowed.
o Typical outcome is lower current profit from loans with fewer loan losses.
Current-Profit Driven:
o Focus is on short-term earnings
o Primary emphasis is bank’s annual profit plan.
o Management is often attracted to high-risk and high-return borrowers.
o Outcome is typically higher profit in good times, followed by lower profit in
bad times when loan losses increase.
Market-Share Driven:
o Focus is on having the highest market share of loans among competitors.
o Primary emphasis is on loan volume and growth with the intent of having
the largest market share.
o Underwriting is very aggressive and management accepts loan
concentrations and above-average credit risk.
o Outcome is that loan quality suffers over time, while profit is modest
because loan growth comes from below-market pricing and greater risk
taking.
The first question forces the credit analyst to generate a risk of factors that
indicate what could harm the borrower’s ability to repay. The second recognizes
that repayment is largely a function of decisions made by a borrower and weather
management is aware of the important risk and necessary skills and required
systems in place. The last question forces the analyst to specify how risk can be
control so the bank can structure an acceptable loan agreement.
The key risk factors have been classified as three Cs’, five Cs’ and seven
C’s. However these factors have explained by the experts are discussed
below:
Credit Analysis:
The formal credit analysis procedure includes a subjective evaluation of the
borrower’s request and a detailed review of all financial statements. Credit
department employees may perform the initial quantitative analysis for the loan
officer. The process consists of:
1. Collecting information for the credit file; such as credit history and
performance.
2. Evaluating management, the company, and the industry in which it operates;
that is, evaluation of internal and external factors.
3. Spreading financial statements; that is, financial statement analysis
4. Projecting the borrower’s cash flow and thus its ability to service the debt
5. Evaluating collateral or the secondary source of repayment
6. Writing a summary analysis and making a recommendation.
7. Track record of client
8. Published/unpublished reports regarding business/company
9. Industry analysis.
10. Trade Journals.
11. Level of competition.
12. Private on-line information system.
Loan Review:
The loan review effort is directed at reducing credit risk as well as handling
problem loans and liquidating assets of failed borrowers. Effective credit
management separates loan review from credit analysis, execution, and
administration. The review process can be divided into two functions: monitoring
the performance of existing loans and handling problem loans. Many banks have a
formal loan review committee, independent of loan officers, that reports directly to
the chief executive officer and directors’ loan committee. Loan review personnel
audit current loans to verify that the borrower’s financial condition is acceptable,
loan documentation is in place, and pricing meets return objectives. If the audit
uncovers problems, the committee initiates corrective action. Removing the
problem may simply involve getting signatures on omitted forms or filing required
documents with the state. If the borrower has violated any loan covenants, the
loan is in default. The bank can then force the borrower to correct the violation or
it can call the loan; that is, request immediate payment. Calling a loan is normally
a last resort and done only when the borrower does not voluntarily correct the
problem. It allows the bank to request full payment before repayment prospects
worsen.
The problem is much more serious when the borrower’s financial condition
deteriorates. These loans are classified as problem loans and require special
treatment. In many cases, the bank has to modify the terms of the loan agreement
to increase the probability of full repayment. Modifications include deferring
interest and principal payments, lengthening maturities, and liquidating
unnecessary assets. The bank may also request additional collateral or guarantees
and ask the borrower to contribute extra capital. The purpose is to buy time until
the borrower’s condition improves. Banks often assign a separate loan work-out
specialist to problem loans, rather than traditional loan officers, because they are
liquidation oriented and frequently involved in intense negotiations.
Financial Analysis
Types of Financial Analysis:
o Trend Analysis.
o Ratio Analysis.
o Cash Analysis.
Collaterals
Collaterals are discussed in detail in the following paragraphs:
Attributes of good collateral:
Collateral is considered to be good collateral if it possesses the following
attributes.
1. Adequate
2. Readily en cashable realizable
3. Sufficient.
Adequate in Value:
Value of security must be adequate to enable the bank to secure the outstanding
amount of principal and mark-up (interest). Proper margins to be retained while
accepting a security
Mortgage
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 defines mortgage as under:
“The transfer of an interest in specific immoveable Property for the purpose of
securing the payment of money advanced or to be advanced by way of loan, an
existing or future debt or performance of an engagement which may give rise to a
pecuniary liability”.
Equitable Mortgage:
This is created by deposit of title deed by the mortgagor.
Memorandum regarding deposit of title deed is also signed by respective parties.
Clear title of the deed must be ascertained by the bank/mortgagee
Pledge:
According to section 172 of the Contract Act, the pledge is defined as under:
“Pledge is the bailment of goods as security for payment of a debt or performance
of a promise”.
Bailment
According to Section 148 of a Contract Act 1872, bailment is defined as under:
“A bailment is the delivery of goods by one person to another for some purpose
upon a contract that they shall, when the purpose is accomplished be returned or
otherwise disposed of according to the directions of the person delivering them”.
Hypothecation:
“Hypothecation is a legal transaction, whereby goods may be made available as
security for a debt without transferring possession to the lender”.
Contract of Indemnity
A contract, by which one party promises to save the other from loss caused to him
by the conduct of the Promisor himself, or by the conduct of any other person, is
called a “contract of indemnity”.
Rights of Indemnifier
Settled principle of law : it is a settled principle of law that after compensating
the loss to indemnity holder, indemnifier is entitled to all the ways and means by
which person indemnified might have protected himself for the loss.
Guarantee:
It has been defined in section 126 of the Contract Act 1872 which is
reproduced below:
“A contract of guarantee is a contract to perform the promise or discharge the
liability of a third person in case of his default”. The person who gives the
guarantee is called the “surety”; the person in respect of whose default the
guarantee is given is called the “principal debtor”, and the person to whom the
guarantee is given is called the “creditor”. A guarantee may be either oral or
written.
Kinds of Guarantee
Continuing Guarantee:
Such guarantee covers a series of transactions. For example guarantee furnished
to a supplier for making supplies during the next one year.
Non-Fund Based:
These include letter of credit, bank guarantee, tender guarantee, and performance
guarantee.)
Import Finances. In the import finance, the following types of facilities are
included
Import letter of credit.
o Payment against Documents. PAD & also( Forced PAD)
o Finance against Trust Receipt (FTR)
o Finance against Imported Merchandise (FIM).
As we have already discussed all the steps in loan sanctioning such as credit loan
structuring, pricing, Packaging, Documentation, Disbursement, Monitoring &
follow-up process as usual are carried on but with special technical skill and
professional expertise.
LESSON 32
LETTER OF CREDIT
Letter of Credit
A Letter of Credit is a payment term generally used for international sales
transactions. It is basically a mechanism, which allows importers/buyers to offer
secure terms of payment to exporters/sellers in which a bank (or more than one
bank) gets involved. The technical term for Letter of credit is 'Documentary Credit'.
At the very outset one must understand is that Letters of credit deal in documents,
not goods. The idea in an international trade transaction is to shift the risk from
the actual buyer to a bank. Thus a LC (as it is commonly referred to) is a payment
undertaking given by a bank to the seller and is issued on behalf of the applicant
i.e. the buyer. The Buyer is the Applicant and the Seller is the Beneficiary. The
Bank that issues the LC is referred to as the Issuing Bank which is generally in the
country of the Buyer. The Bank that Advises the LC to the Seller is called the
Advising Bank which is generally in the country of the Seller.
The specified bank makes the payment upon the successful presentation of the
required documents by the seller within the specified time frame. Note that the
Bank scrutinizes the 'documents' and not the 'goods' for making payment. Thus
the process works both in favor of both the buyer and the seller. The Seller gets
assured that if documents are presented on time and in the way that they have
been requested on the LC the payment will be made and Buyer on the other hand
is assured that the bank will thoroughly examine these presented documents and
ensure that they meet the terms and conditions stipulated in the LC.
The specified bank makes the payment upon the successful presentation of the
required documents by the seller within the specified time frame. Note that the
Bank scrutinizes the 'documents' and not the 'goods' for making payment. This
process gives both the buyer and the seller comfort that the transfer of ownership
to the goods will occur properly and when payment is secure. The seller gets
assured that if documents are presented on time and in the way that they have
been requested on the LC the payment will be made. The buyer is assured that the
bank will thoroughly examine these presented documents and ensure that they
meet the terms and conditions stipulated in the LC.
Key Points
• The goods, along with all the necessary documents, are shipped directly
to the importer who agrees to pay the exporter’s invoice at a future date,
usually in 30 to 90 days.
• Exporter should be absolutely confident that the importer will accept
shipment and pay at agreed time and that the importing country is commercially
and politically secure.
• Open account terms may help win customers in competitive markets, if
used with one or more of the appropriate trade finance techniques that mitigate
the risk of nonpayment.
Export Factoring
Factoring in international trade is the discounting of a short-term receivable (up to
180 days). The exporter transfers title to its short-term foreign accounts receivable
to a factoring house for cash at a discount from the face value. It allows an
exporter to ship on open account as the factor assumes the financial ability of the
importer to pay and handles collections on the receivables. The factoring house
usually works with consumer goods.
Forfeiting
Forfeiting is a method of trade financing that allows the exporter to sell its
medium-term receivables (180 days to 7 years) to the forfeiter at a discount, in
exchange for cash. With this method, the forfeiter assumes all the risks, enabling
the exporter to extend open account terms and incorporate the discount into the
selling price. Forfeiters usually work with capital goods, commodities, and large
projects.
Documentary Collections
A documentary collection (D/C) is a transaction whereby the exporter entrusts the
collection of payment to the remitting bank (exporter’s bank), which sends docu-
ments to a collecting bank (importer’s bank), along with instructions for payment.
Funds are received from the importer and remitted to the exporter through the
banks involved in the collection in exchange for those documents. D/Cs involve the
use of a draft that requires the importer to pay the face amount either on sight
(document against payment—D/P) or on a specified date in the future (document
against acceptance—D/A). The draft lists instructions that specify the documents
required for the transfer of title to the goods. Although banks do act as facilitators
for their clients under collections, documentary collections offer no verification
process and limited recourse in the event of nonpayment. Drafts are generally less
expensive than letters of credit (LCs).
Key Points
• D/Cs are less complicated and less expensive than LCs.
• Under a D/C transaction, the importer is not obligated to pay for goods
prior to shipment.
• The exporter retains title to the goods until the importer either pays the
face amount on sight or accepts the draft to incur a legal obligation to pay at a
specified later date.
• Banks that play essential roles in transactions utilizing D/Cs are the
remitting bank (exporter’s bank) and the collecting bank (importer’s bank).
Cash-in-Advance
With the cash-in-advance payment method, the exporter can avoid credit risk or
the risk of nonpayment, since payment is received prior to the transfer of owner-
ship of the goods. Wire transfers and credit cards are the most commonly used
cash-in-advance options available to exporters. However, requiring payment in
advance is the least attractive option for the buyer, as this method tends to create
cash flow problems, and unless the seller sees no other option or the buyer has
other vendors to choose from, it often is not a competitive option. In addition,
foreign buyers are often concerned that the goods may not be sent if payment is
made in advance. Exporters that insist on this method of payment as their sole
Key Points
• Full or significant partial payment is required, usually via credit card or
bank/wire transfer, prior to the transfer of ownership of the goods.
• Cash-in-advance, especially a wire transfer, is the most secure and
favorable method of international trading for exporters and, consequently, the
least secure and attractive option for importers. However, both the credit risk
and the competitive landscape must be considered.
• Insisting on these terms ultimately could cause exporters to lose
customers to competitors who are willing offer more favorable payment terms to
foreign buyers in the global market.
• Creditworthy foreign buyers, who prefer greater security and better cash
utilization, may find cash-in-advance terms unacceptable and may simply walk
away from the deal.
The beauty of the LC is that if above two conditions are fulfilled, Issuing Bank will
effect payment to the Beneficiary, irrespective of Applicant reimburses the Issuing
Bank or not. Thus, a Letter of Credit is an undertaking issued by a bank in favor of
a Beneficiary (Seller), which substitutes the bank’s creditworthiness for that of the
Applicant (Buyer).
Why Letter?
It is named a Letter because initially the LCs were issued manually in a Letter
format address by Issuing Bank to Beneficiary confirming its conditional
undertaking to reimburse the Beneficiary, the amount of the LC provided above 2
basic conditions are fulfilled.
Article 2 of the ICC, Uniform Customs and Practices, brochure 500 (UCP-
500) defines a letter of credit as:
‘Any arrangement however named or described, whereby a bank issues a letter of
credit on behalf of a customer the “Applicant “or on its own behalf,
For the sake of comparison and understanding the need for UCP 600 we
give hereunder the definition as contained in Article 2 of the ICC, Uniform
Customs and Practices, brochure 500:
‘Any arrangement however named or described, whereby a bank issues a letter of
credit on behalf of a customer the “Applicant “or on its own behalf,
Is to make payment to or to the order of a third party (the beneficiary) or is to
accept and pay bills of exchange (draft) drawn by the beneficiary or Authorizes
another bank to effect such payment or to accept and pay such bills of exchange
(draft) or Authorizes another bank to negotiate against stipulated documents,
provided the terms and conditions of the credit are complied with.
Bill of Exchange-(Draft)-Defined
“A bill of exchange is an instrument in writing containing an unconditional order,
signed by the maker, directing a certain person, to pay on demand or at a fixed or
determinable future time a certain sum of money only to or to the order of a
certain person or to the bearer of the instrument.”
A bill of exchange drawn payable to bearer can not be made payable on demand.
Advising Bank
An advising bank, usually a foreign correspondent bank of the issuing bank will
advise the beneficiary. Generally, the beneficiary would want to use a local bank to
insure that the letter of credit is valid. In addition, the advising bank would be
responsible for sending the documents to the issuing bank. The advising bank has
no other obligation under the letter of credit. If the issuing bank does not pay the
beneficiary, the advising bank is not obligated to pay.
Confirming Bank
The correspondent bank may confirm the letter of credit for the beneficiary. At the
request of the issuing bank, the correspondent obligates itself to insure payment
under the letter of credit. The confirming bank would not confirm the credit until it
evaluated the country and bank where the letter of credit originates. The
confirming bank is usually the advising bank.
Negotiating bank:
It means the bank where negotiation of documents is carried out.
1. By negotiation
2. By acceptance and payment of usance bill of exchange
3. By sight payment
4. By deferred payment
Available by negotiation
Documents are presented to negotiating bank/ nominated bank after shipment of
goods, the said bank makes the payment to the beneficiary. If documents
submitted are according to the requirements of L/C and stipulation of L/C are
fulfilled, the negotiating bank shall receive the negotiating charges.
Available by acceptance
In such letter of credit, usance bill of exchange/ draft is drawn on the nominated/
issuing bank and the draft is accepted and payment is made on due date.
Revocability
Letters of credit may be either revocable or irrevocable. A revocable letter of
credit may be revoked or modified for any reason, at any time by the issuing bank
without notification. A revocable letter of credit cannot be confirmed. If a
correspondent bank is engaged in a transaction that involves a revocable letter of
credit, it serves as the advising bank.
Once the documents have been presented and meet the terms and conditions in
the letter of credit, and the draft is honored, the letter of credit cannot be revoked.
The revocable letter of credit is not a commonly used instrument. It is generally
used to provide guidelines for shipment. If a letter of credit is revocable it would
be referenced on its face.
The irrevocable letter of credit may not be revoked or amended without the
agreement of the issuing bank, the confirming bank, and the beneficiary. An
irrevocable letter of credit from the issuing bank insures the beneficiary that if the
required documents are presented and the terms and conditions are complied
with, payment will be made. If a letter of credit is irrevocable it is referenced on its
face.
We have already explained first three types, rest of the types are
explained in following paragraphs:
Revolving Letter of Credit
The revolving credit is used for regular shipments of the same commodity to the
same importer. It can revolve in relation to time or value. If the credit is time
revolving once utilized it is re-instated for further regular shipments until the credit
is fully drawn. If the credit revolves in relation to value once utilized and paid the
value can be reinstated for further drawings. The credit must state that it is a
revolving letter of credit and it may revolve either automatically or subject to
certain provisions. Revolving letters of credit are useful to avoid the need for
repetitious arrangements for opening or amending letters of credit.
The bank would scrutinized the application and after meeting all requisites
conditions and taking necessary measures to safe guard the risk exposure of the
bank, the bank would issue letter of credit.
Commercial Invoice
Bill of Lading
A document evidencing the receipt of goods for shipment and issued by a freight
carrier engaged in the business of forwarding or transporting goods. The
documents evidence control of goods. They also serve as a receipt for the
merchandise shipped and as evidence of the carrier's obligation to transport the
goods to their proper destination.
Warranty of Title
A warranty given by a seller to a buyer of goods that states that the title being
conveyed is good and that the transfer is rightful. This is a method of certifying
clear title to product transfer. It is generally issued to the purchaser and issuing
bank expressing an agreement to indemnify and hold both parties harmless.
Letter of Indemnity
Specifically indemnifies the purchaser against a certain stated circumstance.
Indemnification is generally used to guaranty that shipping documents will be
provided in good order when available.
LESSON 36
UNIFORM CUSTOMS AND PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY CREDITS
(UCP 600)
Article 2
It comprises definitions of certain expressions which are given below:
Advising bank: means the bank that advises the credit at the request of the
issuing bank.
Banking day: means a day on which a bank is regularly open at the place at
which an act subject to these rules is to be performed
Confirming bank: means the bank that adds its confirmation to a credit upon the
issuing bank‘s authorization or request.
Issuing bank: means the bank that issues a credit at the request of an applicant
or on its own behalf.
Nominated Bank: means the bank with which the credit is available or any bank
in the case of a credit available with any bank.
Article 3
A credit is irrevocable even if there is no indication to that effect.
A document may be signed by handwriting, facsimile signature, perforated
signature, stamp, symbol or any other mechanical or electronic method of
authentication.
Article 4
Credits v. Contracts
A credit by its nature is a separate transaction from the sale or other contract on
which it may be based. Banks are in no way concerned with or bound by such
contract, even if any reference whatsoever to it is included in the credit.
Consequently, the undertaking of a bank to honor, to negotiate or to fulfill any
other obligation under the credit is not subject to claims or defenses by the
applicant resulting from its relationships with the issuing bank or the beneficiary.
A beneficiary can in no case avail itself of the contractual relationships existing
between banks or between the applicant and the issuing bank.
An issuing bank should discourage any attempt by the applicant to include, as an
integral part of the credit, copies of the underlying contract, Performa invoice and
the like.
Article 5
Documents v. Goods, Services or Performance
Banks deal with documents and not with goods, services or performance to which
the documents may relate.
Article 7
Issuing Bank Undertaking
Provided that the stipulated documents are presented to the nominated bank or to
the issuing bank and that they constitute a complying presentation, the issuing
bank must honor if the credit is available by:
i. Sight payment, deferred payment or acceptance with the issuing bank;
ii. Sight payment with a nominated bank and that nominated bank does not pay;
Article 8
Confirming Bank Undertaking
Provided that the stipulated documents are presented to the confirming bank or to
any other nominated bank and that they constitute a complying presentation, the
confirming bank must:
i. Honor, if the credit is available by
a. Sight payment, deferred payment or acceptance with the confirming bank;
b. Sight payment with another nominated bank and that nominated bank does
not pay;
c. Deferred payment with another nominated bank and that nominated bank
does not incur its deferred payment undertaking or, having incurred its
deferred payment undertaking, does not pay at maturity;
d. Acceptance with another nominated bank and that nominated bank does
not accept a draft drawn on it or, having accepted a draft drawn on it, does
not pay at maturity;
e. Negotiation with another nominated bank and that nominated bank does
not negotiate.
ii. Negotiate, without recourse, if the credit is available by negotiation with the
confirming bank.
iii. A confirming bank is irrevocably bound to honor or negotiate as of the time it
adds its confirmation to the credit.
A confirming bank undertakes to reimburse another nominated bank that has
honored or negotiated a complying presentation and forwarded the documents to
the confirming bank. Reimbursement for the amount of a complying presentation
under a credit available by acceptance or deferred payment is due at maturity,
whether or not another nominated bank prepaid or purchased before maturity.
A confirming bank's undertaking to reimburse another nominated bank is
independent of the confirming bank‘s undertaking to the beneficiary.
Article 14
Standard for Examination of Documents
Nominated bank acting on its nomination, a confirming bank, if any, and the
issuing bank must examine a presentation to determine, on the basis of the
documents alone, whether or not the documents appear on their face to constitute
a complying presentation.
Nominated bank acting on its nomination, a confirming bank, if any, and the
issuing bank shall each have a maximum of five banking days following the day of
presentation to determine if a presentation is complying. This period is not
curtailed or otherwise affected by the occurrence on or after the date of
presentation of any expiry date or last day for presentation.
A presentation including one or more original transport documents subject to
articles 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 must be made by or on behalf of the
beneficiary not later than 21 calendar days after the date of shipment as described
in these rules, but in any event not later than the expiry date of the credit.
Data in a document, when read in context with the credit, the document itself and
international standard banking practice, need not be identical to, but must not
conflict with, data in that document, any other stipulated document or the credit.
In documents other than the commercial invoice, the description of the goods,
services or performance, if stated, may be in general terms not conflicting with
their description in the credit.
f. If a credit requires presentation of a document other than a transport document,
insurance document or commercial invoice, without stipulating by whom the
document is to be issued or its data content, banks will accept the document as
presented if its content appears to fulfill the function of the required document and
otherwise complies with sub-article 14 (d).
A document presented but not required by the credit will be disregarded and may
be returned to the presenter.
If a credit contains a condition without stipulating the document to indicate
compliance with the condition, banks will deem such condition as not stated and
will disregard it.
A document may be dated prior to the issuance date of the credit, but must not be
dated later than its date of presentation.
When the addresses of the beneficiary and the applicant appear in any stipulated
document, they need not be the same as those stated in the credit or in any other
stipulated document, but must be within the same country as the respective
addresses mentioned in the credit.
Article 15
Complying Presentation
When an issuing bank determines that a presentation is complying, it must honor.
When a confirming bank determines that a presentation is complying, it must
honor or negotiate and forward the documents to the issuing bank.
When a nominated bank determines that a presentation is complying and honors
or negotiates, it must forward the documents to the confirming bank or issuing
bank.
Article 18
Commercial Invoice
A commercial invoice:
i. Must appear to have been issued by the beneficiary (except as provided in
article 38);
ii. Must be made out in the name of the applicant (except as provided in sub-
article 38 (g));
iii. Must be made out in the same currency as the credit; and
iv. Need not be signed.
A nominated bank acting on its nomination, a confirming bank, if any, or the
issuing bank may accept a commercial invoice issued for an amount in excess of
the amount permitted by the credit, and its decision will be binding upon all
parties, provided the bank in question has not honored or negotiated for an
amount in excess of that permitted by the credit.
The description of the goods, services or performance in a commercial invoice
must correspond with that appearing in the credit.
Article 20
Bill of Lading
A bill of lading, however named, must appear to:
i. Indicate the name of the carrier and be signed by:
The carrier or a named agent for or on behalf of the carrier, or
The master or a named agent for or on behalf of the master
Any signature by the carrier, master or agent must be identified as that of the
carrier, master or agent.
Any signature by an agent must indicate whether the agent has signed for or on
behalf of the carrier or for or on behalf of the master.
A bill of lading, however named, must appear to:
ii. Indicate that the goods have been shipped on board a named vessel at the port
of loading stated in the credit by:
Pre-printed wording, or
ii. An on board notation indicating the date on which the goods have been
shipped on board.
The date of issuance of the bill of lading will be deemed to be the date of
shipment unless the bill of lading contains an on board notation indicating the date
of shipment, in which case the date stated in the on board notation will be deemed
to be the date of shipment.
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If the bill of lading contains the indication "intended vessel" or similar qualification
in relation to the name of the vessel, an on board notation indicating the date of
shipment and the name of the actual vessel is required.
Indicate shipment from the port of loading to the port of discharge stated in the
credit.
iii. Be the sole original bill of lading or, if issued in more than one original, be the
full set as indicated on the bill of lading.
V. contain terms and conditions of carriage or make reference to another source
containing the terms and conditions of carriage (short form or blank back bill of
lading). Contents of terms and conditions of carriage will not be examined.
vi. Contain no indication that it is subject to a charter party.
For the purpose of this article, transshipment means unloading from one vessel
and reloading to another vessel during the carriage from the port of loading to the
port of discharge stated in the credit.
i. A bill of lading may indicate that the goods will or may be transshipped
provided that the entire carriage is covered by one and the same bill of
lading.
ii. A bill of lading indicating that transshipment will or may take place is
acceptable, even if the credit prohibits transshipment, if the goods have been
shipped in a container, trailer or LASH barge as evidenced by the bill of
lading.
Clauses in a bill of lading stating that the carrier reserves the right to transship will
be disregarded.
Article 23
Air Transport Document
An air transport document, however named, must appear to:
i. Indicate the name of the carrier and be signed by:
The carrier, or
a. A named agent for or on behalf of the carrier
b. Any signature by the carrier or agent must be identified as that of the
carrier or agent.
c. Any signature by an agent must indicate that the agent has signed for or
on behalf of the carrier.
ii. Indicate that the goods have been accepted for carriage.
iii. Indicate the date of issuance. This date will be deemed to be the date of
shipment unless the air transport document contains a specific notation of the
actual date of shipment, in which case the date stated in the notation will be
deemed to be the date of shipment.
Any other information appearing on the air transport document relative to
the flight number and date will not be considered in determining the date of
shipment.
iv. Indicate the airport of departure and the airport of destination stated in the
credit.
Be the original for consignor or shipper, even if the credit stipulates a full
set of originals.
v. Contain terms and conditions of carriage or make reference to another source
containing the terms and conditions of carriage. Contents of terms and
conditions of carriage will not be examined.
Article 27
Clean Transport Document
A bank will only accept a clean transport document. A clean transport document is
one bearing no clause or notation expressly declaring a defective condition of the
goods or their packaging. The word "clean" need not appear on a transport
document, even if a credit has a requirement for that transport document to be
"clean on board".
Article 31
Partial Drawings or Shipments
Partial drawings or shipments are allowed.
A presentation consisting of more than one set of transport documents evidencing
shipment commencing on the same means of conveyance and for the same
journey, provided they indicate the same destination, will not be regarded as
covering a partial shipment, even if they indicate different dates of shipment or
different ports of loading, places of taking in charge or dispatch.
If the presentation consists of more than one set of transport documents, the
latest date of shipment as evidenced on any of the sets of transport documents
will be regarded as the date of shipment.
A presentation consisting of one or more sets of transport documents evidencing
shipment on more than one means of conveyance within the same mode of
transport will be regarded as covering a partial shipment, even if the means of
conveyance leave on the same day for the same destination.
A presentation consisting of more than one courier receipt, post receipt or
certificate of posting will not be regarded as a partial shipment if the courier
receipts, post receipts or certificates of posting appear to have been stamped or
signed by the same courier or postal service at the same place and date and for
the same destination.
Article 33
Hours of Presentation
A bank has no obligation to accept a presentation outside of its banking hours.
Article 36
Force Majeure
A bank assumes no liability or responsibility for the consequences arising out of
the interruption of its business by Acts of God, riots, civil commotions,
insurrections, wars, acts of terrorism, or by any strikes or lockouts or any other
causes beyond its control.
A bank will not, upon resumption of its business, honor or negotiates under a
credit that expired during such interruption of its business.
Article 38
Transferable Credits
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A bank is under no obligation to transfer a credit except to the extent and in the
manner expressly consented to by that bank.
If the first beneficiary is to present its own invoice and draft, if any, but fails to do
so on first demand, or if the invoices presented by the first beneficiary create
discrepancies that did not exist in the presentation made by the second
beneficiary and the first beneficiary fails to correct them on first demand, the
transferring bank has the right to present the documents as received from the
second beneficiary to the issuing bank, without further responsibility to the first
beneficiary.
The first beneficiary may, in its request for transfer, indicate that honor or
negotiation is to be effected to a second beneficiary at the place to which the
credit has been transferred, up to and including the expiry date of the credit. This
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is without prejudice to the right of the first beneficiary in accordance with sub-
article 38 (h).Presentation of documents by or on behalf of a second beneficiary
must be made to the transferring bank.
Article 39
Assignment of Proceeds
The fact that a credit is not stated to be transferable shall not affect the right of
the beneficiary to assign any proceeds to which it may be or may become entitled
under the credit, in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. This article
relates only to the assignment of proceeds and not to the assignment of the right
to perform under the credit.
Performance Guarantee:
It is an undertaking given by a bank etc., (Guarantor) whereby the guarantor
undertakes to make payment to the beneficiary within the limits of stated sum of
money on non performance of certain contractual obligations of the contract. It is
usually for a fixed percentage of 5 % to 10% of contract value.
Duty of Guarantor
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To pay to beneficiary the amount stated on demand
LESSON 37
DESIGNING LEGAL DOCUMENTS
Hire-Purchase Agreement
Hire-Purchase agreement is the basis of facility/ finance provided by the bank to
the hirer. In these cases, the party availing the facility or the borrower is the hirer
and the party providing the facility/ credit is the purchase. In this arrangement, the
bank in the capacity of purchaser purchases the articles from the supplier and the
borrower/ hirer agrees to hire the said articles from the bank and bank agrees to
let out said articles to the hirer. The hirer is required to pay monthly/ or periodic
rent under hire- purchase agreement. The specimen of hire-purchase agreement is
appended below:
The Bank at the request of and after having received an initial deposit of Rs...........
from the hirer(s) shall purchase the said articles from its supplier by making
payment of the price of Rs………and/or entering into an agreement with the
supplier in this regard .and .shall acquire all the ownership, proprietary rights, title
and interest in the 'said articles and every part thereof in its own favor.
The Bank shall procure the documents evidencing its title to ‘the said articles' and
shall get all the formalities completed in this regard.
That the hirer(s), against a delivery order of the Bank, shall obtain/procure the
physical delivery and possession of 'the said articles directly from the supplier
after holding thorough inspection/examination (hereof and having been fully
satisfied that (the said articles are in accordance with the specification approved
by (he hirers)
The Bank shall not be liable for any shortfall, defect or lacuna whatsoever which
may be subsequently discovered by me hirer in (the said articles and the hirer
shall solely be responsible for (the same and shall indemnify the Bank against any
losses or damage that the Bank may incur as a consequence of any shortfall,
defect or lacuna that may be found in the said articles.
The hirer(s) confirm that the said articles shall continue to be the sole and
exclusive property of me Bank and the hirer(s) shall have no right, interest and
claim therein by reason of the original contract arrangement having been entered
into by them with the supplier or due to any reason whatsoever and until 'the said
articles' are specifically conveyed by the Bank unto the hirer(s) and the same
during the subsistence of this agreement shall be held by the hirer merely as
bailee with no authority whatsoever to mortgage, pledge, sub let or otherwise use
the same for any purpose other than for which it was hired by and delivered to the
hirer(s).
That the hirers in order to assure the better performance of the hirer's obligations
hereunder shall execute and furnish such securities and guarantees in favor of the
Bank as may deem fit within the sole discretion of the Bank from time to time.
3. Notwithstanding the above the hirer shall have the option of purchasing ‘the
said article’ at any time during the subsistence of the agreement by paying
tile; hire installments for the remaining hire period in lump sum together
with other expenses as may have been incurred by the Bank.
SIGNATURES WITNESSES;
-- On behalf of the Bank -- For and on behalf of the
BANK
-- Of the hirer. -- For and on behalf of
HIRER
The ‘Mortgagor’ and Mortgagee shall where the context so requires or permits, be
deemed to include their respective heirs, legal representatives, assignees and
successors-in-interest or persons deriving title from or under them.
Whereas mortgagor is the lawful owner of the property described at schedule-11
and whereas mortgagor has availed finance as mentioned in Schedule-1 from the
mortgagee/ bank.
Now therefore, this deed witnesses as follows:
That the mortgagor declares and confirms that he is seized and possessed of and
otherwise well sufficiently entitled to the Mortgaged Property and same is free
from any charges or encumbrances.
In consideration of the bank having sanctioned finance amounting to Rs.
1,500,000 the mortgagor hereby mortgages the property described at schedule-11
to hold the same until the payment/ repayment of entire amount due under the
agreement up to maximum of Rs. 1,500,000/- with cost, charges, marks-up,
expenses and liquidated damages payable to the bank or incurred by the bank.
Schedule –I
Amount of finance Rs 1,500,000/-
Amount of Mark up Rs 150,000/-
Schedule –II
All the piece and parcel of plot of land Measuring 20 Marlas bearing # 241-Z Johar
Town, Lahore, together with building, Walls, structures, Fixtures, Attachments,
Walls and bounded as under:
On or towards north by: Street-named Kashmir Road
On or towards south by : House No 140
On or towards east by: House No 240
On or towards west by: House No 242
Deed of Mortgage
In witness whereof the Mortgagor has set and subscribed his hands on the day,
month and year, first herein above written.
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Signed and delivered Signature
By the Mortgagor in the Mortgagor
presence of following
Witnesses:
Witness 1_____________
Witness 2_____________
Letter of Hypothecation
Specimen of Letter of Hypothecation:
In consideration of The XYZ Bank Ltd. ---- . (hereinafter called the “Bank” which
expression shall include its Successors and Assigns) granting/agreeing to
grant/continue granting loans/advances/credit banking facilities (hereinafter called
the “Facilities”) amounting to Rs.--- to me/ us to such extent and for so long as the
Bank may think fit, I/We the undersigned
__-------_____________P.O.Box No --------
(hereinafter called the “Borrower” which expression shall include me/us and
my/our legal heirs, Successors and Assigns ) hereby hypothecate, in favour of the
Bank by way of first charge , as security, for full repayment of the facilities to the
Bank together with all charges, all things and stocks as described in general terms
in the schedule hereto, (hereinafter called the “Goods”), which expression shall
include all products and stocks and moveable property, of any kind and whether
raw or in process of manufacture and all things or articles manufactured there
from which now or thereafter from time to time during the process shall be brought
into store(s) or be in or about the Borrower’s godown(s) or premises at different
places including in course of transit or delivery .
The Borrower hereby undertakes and covenants the following with the Bank:
a. The Borrower shall not at any time so long as there shall be any amount due
by the Borrower to the Bank remove or cause or permit to the removed from
the premises and /or godowns where the goods are stored nor divert or
otherwise dispose of or encumber, charge or pledge or mortgage the Goods
or any part thereof to any other party nor do any act whereby the Bank’s
security shall in any way be prejudiced or affected.
The Borrower hereby undertakes and covenants the following with the Bank:
b. The Borrower shall deposit with the Bank all sale proceeds of the Goods and
insurance proceeds and recoveries thereof, which shall always constitute an
integral part of the security.
The Borrower hereby undertakes and covenants the following with the Bank:
c. In the event of committing any default of any of the provisions of this
Hypothecation Deed, the Borrower shall pledge the Goods to the Bank by way
of a floating charge and all goods and moveable property of any kind and
nature belonging to the Borrower which now or thereafter or from time to
time during the continuance of this security be brought in, stored in the
premises or go downs as mentioned in the schedule hereto and/or elsewhere
on in the course of transit as a security for the Borrower’s indebtedness to the
Bank.
The expression Borrower’s “indebtedness” to the Bank shall include the principal
amounts from time to time due on Borrower’s facilities together with all interest
and all other charges which the Bank may pay or incur in connection with the
Goods, or the sale or disposal thereof and all other moneys whether hereof or by
3. The Borrower shall make and provide to the Bank statement periodical reports
and returns in respect of the cost and market value of the goods and a detailed
description thereof and produce such evidence in support thereof as the Bank
may from time to time require. That the amount of Borrower’s total
indebtedness to the Bank for the time being together with mark up /interest
and other charges shall all time during the period of this hypothecation have a
margin not less than __________ % of the market value of the hypothecated
goods.
Such market value shall be decided from time to time by the bank which decision
shall be final and binding on the Borrower. The difference between the Borrower’s
indebtedness to the Bank and the market value of the goods shall be maintained
either by providing further security as may be approved by the Bank or by cash
payment. The Bank at its sole discretion may employ the services of any
independent Survey the value of hypothecated goods and the cost of such
evaluation shall be borne by the Borrower.
The Borrower shall insure and keep insured the hypothecated goods for their full
market value against fire, pilferage, theft, damage, loss and all other risks with an
Insurance Company approved by the Bank with the Banks as First Beneficiary, in
the name and the sole benefit of the Bank, and the Borrower will assign and
deliver to the Bank, all the insurance policies and deliver the premium receipts
paid for such insurance.
The Bank may at any time at its sole discretion, affect such insurance at the sole
expense of the Borrower, if the Borrower fails to insure the Goods as
aforementioned within 12 (twelve) hours after notice of demand served on the
Borrower. All sums received under insurance (s) as aforesaid, shall be applied
towards the liquidation of the Borrower’s indebtedness to the Bank.
The goods hypothecated to the Bank shall be kept at the sole risk and
responsibility of the Borrower wherever and in whatever godowns, premises, sheds
or places they maybe stored. The Borrower shall pay all rents, rates, taxes and
other outgoings, of the godowns and premises wherein the goods are stored and
shall keep the goods and marketable condition.
The Bank or their representatives or nominees shall be entitled at any time without
notice to enter any place where the goods are located or stored for inspection and
examination.
Event of Default
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Bank shall have the
absolute right at anytime without notice to take charge and possession of the
Goods upon occurrence of any of the following events: -
a. If the borrower fails to maintain the margin (s) as aforementioned.
b. If the borrower fails to pay the balance (s) due to the bank on demand.
c. If the borrower commits breach of any of the terms and conditions herein
contained.
d. If the borrower suffers distress or execution to be levied or enforced upon or
against all or any of the borrower’s property.
e. If the borrower fails to effect any payment of the indebtedness on its/their
due dates.
The Bank upon taking charge and possession of the goods in terms of clause 7
shall have exclusive right and discretion to sell the goods and to appropriate the
sale proceeds towards satisfaction of the Borrower’s indebtedness to the Bank.
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The Bank shall have the right to claim from the Borrower any shortfall if the sale
proceeds do not fully satisfy the Borrower’s indebtedness to the Bank.
The Bank records and statements made by the Bank showing the indebtedness of
the Borrower shall be and continue to be final and conclusive evidence as to the
correctness of such indebtedness.
The Borrower hereby declares that all the goods are free from any prior lien,
charge or encumbrance, whether legal or equitable and that the Borrower holds
lawful authority to hypothecate the Goods.
The Borrower agrees and undertakes to repay to the Bank the entire indebtedness
on receipt of first demand shall be a conclusive and final evidence that the
repayment of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the bank is due. The Borrower
hereby agrees and undertakes to carry out and his/their obligations hereof. This
hypothecation shall operate as a continuing security for all the indebtedness or
liabilities owing by the Borrower to the Bank notwithstanding any partial or
intermediate repayment(s) or adjustment(s) made at any time, without prejudice
to the other rights and remedies open to the Bank under the Law. Any violation of
the terms and conditions hereof shall render the credit facilities liable to be
cancelled.
Every demand or notice served or communicated by the Bank to the Borrower
shall be considered to have been duly served and communicated to the Borrowers
if sent to the recorded address of the Borrower either by hand delivery, ordinary or
registered mail, telex and/or any other usual and practiced means of transmission /
delivery. Every demand or notice sent in this manner by the Bank to the Borrower
or any of the persons constituting the Borrower shall be deemed to have been sent
to each and all of such persons.
Should this Deed be signed by more than one person, all signatories hereto shall
be jointly and severally liable to Bank for all the liabilities herewith.
Should the Borrower be a company or a firm, the liability of such company or firm
towards the Bank shall remain effective despite any change in the constitution,
memorandum and/or articles of association of the said company or firm.
Without prejudice to the Bank’s absolute right to submit to any other law or
jurisdiction, this document shall be governed construed and interpreted in
accordance with the law of the country.
Signatures of Witnesses Signature of
the borrower.
Witness—1
Witness---2
Annexure.
& R.7& R8
Regulations for Auto Loan. R-9 to R14
Regulations for Personal Loan Including Loans for Purchase of Consumer durables.
R24 to R28
Annexure-1- Margin Requirements under Regulation #6
Auto Loans mean the loans to purchase the vehicle for personal use.
Housing Finance means loan provided to individuals for the purchase of
residential house / apartment / land. The loans availed for the purpose of making
improvements in house / apartment / land shall also fall under this category.
Personal Loans mean the loans to individuals for the payment of goods, services
and expenses and include Running Finance / Revolving Credit to individuals.
DFI means Development Financial Institution and includes the Pakistan Industrial
Credit and Investment Corporation (PICIC), the Saudi Pak Industrial and
Agricultural Investment Company Limited, the Pak Kuwait Investment Company
Limited, the Pak Libya Holding Company Limited, and any other financial
institution notified under Section 3-A of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962.
Documents include vouchers, cheques, bills, pay-orders, and promissory notes,
securities for leases / advances and claims by or against the bank / DFI or other
papers supporting entries in the books of a bank / DFI.
Equity of the Bank / DFI means Tier-I Capital or Core Capital and includes paid-
up capital, general reserves, balance in share premium account, and reserve for
issue of bonus shares and retained earnings / accumulated losses as disclosed in
latest annual audited financial statements. In case of branches of foreign banks
operating in Pakistan, equity will mean capital maintained, free of losses and
provisions, under Section 13 of the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962.
Government Securities shall include such types of Pak. Rupee obligations of the
Federal Government or a Provincial Government or of a Corporation wholly owned
or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Federal Government or a Provincial
Government and guaranteed by the Federal Government as the Federal
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare, to the extent
determined from time to time, to be Government Securities.
Liquid Assets are the assets which are readily convertible into cash without
recourse to a court of law and mean encashment / realizable value of government
securities, bank deposits, certificates of deposit, shares of listed companies which
are actively traded on the stock exchange, NIT Units, certificates of mutual funds,
Certificates of Investment (COIs)
issued by DFIs / NBFCs rated at least ‘A’ by a credit rating agency on the approved
panel of State Bank of Pakistan, listed TFCs rated at least ‘A’ by a credit rating
agency on the approved panel of State Bank of Pakistan and certificates of asset
management companies for which there is a book maker quoting daily offer and
bid rates and there is active secondary market trading.
These assets with appropriate margins should be in possession of the banks / DFIs
with perfected lien.
Guarantees issued by domestic banks / DFIs when received as collateral by banks /
DFIs will be treated at par with liquid assets whereas, for guarantees issued by
foreign banks, the issuing banks’ rating, assigned either by Standard & Poors,
Moody’s should be ‘A’ and above or equivalent.
The inter-branch indemnity / guarantee issued by the bank’s overseas branch in
favor of its sister branch in Pakistan, would also be treated at par with liquid
assets, provided the bank is rated and above or equivalent either by Standard &
Poors, Moody’s .
1. Banks / DFIs shall establish separate Risk Management capacity for the purpose
of consumer financing, which will be suitably staffed by personnel having
sufficient expertise and experience in the field of consumer finance / business.
2. The banks / DFIs shall prepare comprehensive consumer credit policy duly
approved by their Board of Directors (in case of foreign banks, by Country Head
and Executive / Management Committee), which shall interalia cover loan
administration, including documentation, disbursement and appropriate
monitoring mechanism. The policy shall explicitly specify the functions,
responsibilities and various staff positions’ powers / authority relating to
approval / sanction of consumer financing facility.
3. For every type of consumer finance activity, the bank / DFI shall develop a
specific program. The program shall include the objective / quantitative
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parameters for the eligibility of the borrower and determining the maximum
permissible limit per borrower.
4. Banks / DFIs shall put in place an efficient computer based MIS for the purpose
of consumer finance, which should be able to effectively cater to the needs of
consumer financing portfolio and should be flexible enough to generate
necessary information reports used by the management for effective
monitoring of the bank’s / DFI’s exposure in the area.
5. The banks / DFIs shall develop comprehensive recovery procedures for the
delinquent consumer loans. The recovery procedures may vary from product to
product. However, distinct and objective triggers should be prescribed for
taking pre-planned enforcement / recovery measures.
6. The banks / DFIs desirous of undertaking consumer finance will become a
member of at least one Consumer Credit Information Bureau. Moreover, the
banks / DFIs may share information / data among themselves or subscribe to
other databases as they deem fit and appropriate.
7. The financial institutions starting consumer financing are encouraged to impart
sufficient training on an ongoing basis to their staff to raise their capability
regarding various aspects of consumer finance
8. The banks / DFIs shall prepare standardized set of borrowing and recourse
documents (duly cleared by their legal counsels) for each type of consumer
financing.
Operations:
1. Consumer financing, like other credit facilities, must be subject to the bank’s /
DFI’s risk management process setup for this particular business. The process
may include, identifying source of repayment and assessing customers’ ability
to repay, his / her past dealings with the bank / DFI, the net worth and
information obtained from a Consumer Credit Information Bureau
2. At the time of granting facility under various modes of consumer financing,
banks / DFIs shall obtain a written declaration from the borrower divulging
details of various facilities already obtained from other financial institutions.
The banks / DFIs should carefully study the details given in the statement and
allow fresh finance / limit only after ensuring that the total exposure in relation
to the repayment capacity of the customer does not exceed the reasonable
limits as laid down in the approved policies of the banks / DFIs.
3. The declaration will also help banks / DFIs to avoid exposure against a person
having multiple facilities from different financial institutions on the strength of
an individual source of repayment.
4. Before allowing any facility, the banks / DFIs shall preferably obtain credit
report from the Consumer Credit Information Bureau of which they are a
member. The report will be given due weight age while making credit decision.
5. Internal audit and control function of the bank / DFI, apart from other things,
should be designed and strengthened so that it can efficiently undertake an
objective review of the consumer finance portfolio from time to time to assess
various risks and possible weaknesses.
6. The internal audit should also assess the adequacy of the internal controls and
ensure that the required policies and standards are developed and practiced.
Internal audit should also comment on the steps taken by the management to
rectify the weaknesses pointed out by them in their previous reports for
reducing the level of risk.
7. The banks / DFIs shall ensure that their accounting and computer systems are
well equipped to avoid charging of mark-up on mark-up. For this purpose, it
should be ensured that the mark-up charged on the outstanding amount is kept
separate from the principal.
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8. The banks / DFIs shall ensure that any repayment made by the borrower is
accounted for before applying mark-up on the outstanding amount.
REGULATION R-2
LIMIT ON EXPOSURE AGAINST
TOTAL CONSUMER FINANCING
Banks / DFIs shall ensure that the aggregate exposure under all consumer
financing facilities at the end of first year and second year of the start of their
consumer financing does not exceed 2 times and 4 times of their equity
respectively. For subsequent years, following limits are placed on the total
consumer financing facilities:
REGULATION R-3
TOTAL FINANCING FACILITIES TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE INCOME
While extending financing facilities to their customers, the banks / DFIs should
ensure that the total installment of the loans extended by the financial institutions
is commensurate with monthly income and repayment capacity of the borrower.
This measure would be in addition to banks’ / DFIs’ usual evaluations of each
proposal concerning credit worthiness of the borrowers, to ensure that the banks’ /
DFIs’ portfolio under consumer finance fulfills the prudential norms and
instructions issued by the State Bank of Pakistan and does not impair the
soundness and safety of the bank / DFI itself.
REGULATION R-4
GENERAL RESERVE AGAINST CONSUMER FINANCE
The banks / DFIs shall maintain a general reserve at least equivalent to 1.5% of the
consumer portfolio which is fully secured and 5% of the consumer portfolio which
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is unsecured, to protect them from the risks associated with the economic cyclical
nature of this business.
The above reserve requirement will, however, be maintained for the performing
portion only of consumer portfolio.
We shall continue with the rest of the regulations for consumer financing in the
coming Lesson.
REGULATION R-8
CLASSIFICATION AND PROVISIONING
We have discussed some aspects/regulation of consumer financing in the previous
Lesson, we shall continue with the rest of regulations/ aspects in this Lesson.
REGULATION R-5
BAR ON TRANSFER OF FACILITIES FROM ONE CATEGORY TO ANOTHER TO
AVOID CLASSIFICATION
The banks / DFIs shall not transfer any loan or facility to be classified, from one
category of consumer finance to another, to avoid classification.
REGULATION R-6
MARGIN REQUIREMENTS
Banks / DFIs are free to determine the margin requirements on consumer facilities
provided by them to their clients taking into account the risk profile of the
borrower(s) in order to secure their interests. However, this relaxation shall not
apply in case of items, import of which is banned by the Government.
Banks / DFIs will continue to observe margin restrictions on shares / TFCs as per
existing instructions under Prudential Regulations for Corporate / Commercial
Banking (R-6). Further, the restrictions prescribed under paragraph 1.A of
Regulation R-6 of the Prudential Regulations for Corporate / Commercial Banking
will also be applicable in case of Consumer Financing.
State Bank of Pakistan shall continue to exercise its powers for fixation /
reinstatement of margin requirements on consumer facilities being provided by
banks/DFIs for various purposes, as and when required.
REGULATION O-2
Banks / DFIs shall provide to the credit card holders, the statement of account at
monthly intervals, unless there has been no transaction or no outstanding balance
on the account since last statement.
REGULATION O-3
Banks / DFIs shall be liable for all transactions not authorized by the credit card
holders after they have been properly served with a notice that the card has been
lost / stolen. However, the bank’s / DFI’s liability shall be limited to those amounts
wrongly charged to the credit card holder’s account. In order to mitigate the risks
in this respect, the banks / DFIs are encouraged to take insurance cover against
wrongly charged amounts, frauds, etc.
The bank/DFI shall, however, not charge the borrowers’ account with any amount
under the head of “insurance premium” (by whatsoever name called) without
obtaining consent of each existing & prospective customer in writing. In addition to
obtaining consent in writing, the banks/DFIs may also use the following modes for
obtaining prior consent of their customers provided proper record is maintained by
banks/DFIs:-
i. Customer’s consent on recorded lines via out bound/in bound call center
(after due verification)
ii. ATM screens – screen pop up before conducting transaction and after
inputting pin code
iii. Signed consent acquired with credit card application or as separate form
iv. IVR (Integrated Voice Recording)
REGULATION O-4
In case the cardholders make partial payment, the banks / DFIs should take into
account the partial payment before charging service fee / mark-up amount on the
outstanding / billed amount so that the possibility of charging excess amount of
mark-up could be avoided.
REGULATION O-5
Due date for payment must be specifically mentioned on the accounts statement.
If fine / penalty is agreed to be charged in case the payment is not made by the
due date, it should be clearly mentioned in the agreement.
Prudential Regulations for Consumer Financing– Credit Card- R-7 & R-8
REGULATION R-7
MAXIMUM CARD LIMIT
Maximum unsecured limit under credit card to a borrower (supplementary cards
shall be considered part of the principal borrower) shall generally not exceed Rs
500,000/.
Banks / DFIs may, however, assign a clean limit beyond Rs 500,000 but not in
excess of Rs 2 million to their prime customers who have extraordinary strong
repayment capacity, moderate debt burden and a clean track record.
But the aggregate outstanding in this respect should not exceed 10% of the total
outstanding credit card portfolio at any point in time. However, while availing
benefit of this provision, banks / DFIs would place on record well defined criteria
It is clarified that the lenders are allowed to follow more conservative policies.
Further, provisioning may be created and maintained by the bank / DFI on a
portfolio basis provided that the provision maintained by the bank / DFI shall not
be less than the level required under this Regulation.
REGULATION R-9
The vehicles to be utilized for commercial purposes shall not be covered
under the Prudential Regulations for Consumer Financing. Any such financing shall
ensure compliance with Prudential Regulations for Corporate / Commercial Banking
or Prudential Regulations for SMEs Financing. These regulations shall only apply for
financing vehicles for personal use including light commercial vehicles also used
for personal purposes.
REGULATION R-10
The maximum tenure of the auto loan finance shall not exceed seven years.
REGULATION R-11
While allowing auto loans, the banks / DFIs shall ensure that the minimum down
payment does not fall below 10% of the value of vehicle. Further, banks / DFIs shall
extend auto loans only for the ex-factory tax paid price fixed by the car
manufacturers. In other words, banks / DFIs cannot finance the premium charged
by the dealers and / or investors over and above the ex-factory tax paid price of
cars, fixed by the manufacturers.
REGULATION R-12
In addition to any other security arrangement on the discretion of the banks/ DFIs,
the vehicles financed by the banks / DFIs shall be properly secured by way of
hypothecation. Payments against the sale orders issued by the manufacturers are
allowed till the time of delivery of the vehicle subject to the condition that
payment will directly be made to the manufacturer / authorized dealer by the
bank/ DFI and upon delivery, the vehicle will immediately be hypothecated to the
bank/ DFI.
REGULATION R-13
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The banks / DFIs shall ensure that the vehicle remains properly insured at all
times during the tenure of the loan.
REGULATION O-6
The clause of repossession in case of default should be clearly stated in the
loan agreement mentioning specific default period after which the repossession
can be initiated. The repossession expenses charged to the borrower shall not be
more than actual incurred by the bank / DFI.
However, the maximum amount of repossession charges shall be listed in the
schedule of charges provided to customers. The banks / DFIs shall develop an
appropriate procedure for repossession of the vehicles and shall ensure that the
procedure is strictly in accordance with law.
REGULATION O-7
A detailed repayment schedule should be provided to the borrower at the outset.
Where alterations become imminent because of late payments or prepayments
and the installment amount or period changes significantly, the revised schedule
should be provided to the borrower at the earliest convenience of the bank / DFI
but not later than 15 days of the change.
Further, even in case of insignificant changes, upon the request of the customer,
the bank / DFI shall provide him revised repayment schedule free of cost.
REGULATION O-8
The banks / DFIs desirous of financing the purchase of used cars shall
prepare uniform guidelines for determining the value of the used vehicles.
However, in no case the bank / DFI shall finance the cars older than five years.
REGULATION O-9
The banks / DFIs should ensure that a good number of authorized auto dealers are
placed at their panel to eliminate the chances of collusion or other unethical
practices.
REGULATION R-15
Banks / DFIs shall determine the housing finance limit, both in urban and rural
areas, in accordance with their internal credit policy, credit worthiness and loan
repayment capacity of the borrowers. At the same time, while determining the
credit worthiness and repayment capacity of the prospective borrower, banks /
DFIs shall ensure that the total monthly amortization payments of consumer loans,
inclusive of housing loan, should not exceed 50% of the net disposable income of
the prospective borrower.
Banks / DFIs will not allow housing finance purely for the purchase of land / plots;
rather, such financing would be extended for the purchase of land / plot and
construction on it.
Accordingly, the sanctioned loan limit, assessed on the basis of repayment
capacity of the borrower, value of land / plot and cost of construction on it etc.,
should be disbursed in tranches, i.e. up to a maximum of 50% of the loan limit can
be disbursed for the purchase of land/ plot, and the remaining amount be
disbursed for construction there-upon.
Further, the lending bank / DFI will take a realistic construction schedule from the
borrower before allowing disbursement of the initial loan limit for the purchase of
land / plot.
Banks / DFIs may allow housing finance facility for construction of houses against
the security of land / plot already owned by their customers. However, the lending
bank / DFI will ensure that the loan amount is utilized strictly for the construction
purpose and loan is disbursed in tranches as per construction schedule.
Loans against the security of existing land / plot, or for the purchase of new piece
of land / plot, for commercial and industrial purposes may be allowed. But such
loans will be treated as Commercial Loans, which will be covered either under
Prudential Regulations for Corporate / Commercial Banking or Prudential
Regulations for SMEs Financing.
Banks / DFIs may allow Housing Loans in the rural areas provided all relevant
guidelines/regulations on the subject are complied with by them.
We shall continue with the rest of the regulations for consumer financing in the
coming Lesson.
We shall continue with the remaining regulations/ aspects for consumer financing
in this Lesson:
Contents to be covered in this Lesson:
REGULATIONS FOR HOUSING FINANCE
• REGULATION R-15
• REGULATION R-16
• REGULATION R-17
• REGULATION R-18
• REGULATION R-19
• REGULATION R-20
• REGULATION R-21
• REGULATION R-22
REGULATION R-16
The housing finance facility shall be provided at a maximum debt-equity ratio of
85:15
REGULATION R-17
Banks / DFIs are free to extend mortgage loans for housing, for a period not
exceeding twenty years. Banks / DFIs should be mindful of adequate asset -
liability matching.
REGULATION R-18
The house financed by the bank / DFI shall be mortgaged in bank’s / DFI’s favour
by way of equitable or registered mortgage.
REGULATION R-19
Banks / DFIs shall either engage professional expertise or arrange sufficient
training for their concerned officials to evaluate the property, assess the
genuineness and integrity of the title documents, etc.
It may, however, be noted that the requirement of full-scope and desk-top
evaluation, as required under R-8 and R-11 of Prudential Regulations for
Corporate / Commercial Banking and SMEs Financing respectively, will not be
applicable on housing finance.
REGULATION R-20
The bank’s / DFI’s management should put in place a mechanism to
monitor conditions in the real estate market (or other product market) at least
on quarterly basis to ensure that its policies are aligned to current market
conditions.
REGULATION R-21
Banks / DFIs are encouraged to develop floating rate products for extending
housing finance, thereby managing interest rate risk to avoid its adverse effects.
Banks / DFIs are also encouraged to develop in-house system to stress test their
housing portfolio against adverse movements in interest rates as also maturity
mismatches.
REGULATION R-22
The mortgage loans shall be classified and provided for in the following manner:
REGULATION R-24
In cases, where the loan has been extended to purchase some durable goods /
items, including personal computers and accessories thereof, the same will be
hypothecated with the bank / DFI besides other securities, which the bank / DFI
may require on its own.
REGULATION R-25
The maximum tenure of the loan shall not exceed 5 years. However, this period
may be extended to 7 years for loans / advances given for educational
purposes, provided that disbursement of such loans shall directly be made by the
bank / DFI to the educational institution and the borrower shall not be allowed
to utilize / withdraw cash directly from the bank / DFI under this head for any other
purpose.
The maximum tenure of the loan shall not exceed 5 years. However, this period
may be extended to 7 years for loans / advances given for educational purposes,
provided that disbursement of such loans shall directly be made by the bank / DFI
to the educational institution and the borrower shall not be allowed to utilize /
withdraw cash directly from the bank / DFI under this head for any other purpose.
REGULATION R-26
In case of Running Finance / Revolving Finance, it shall be ensured that at least
15% of the maximum utilization of the loan during the year is cleaned up by the
borrower for a minimum period of one week. In case the clean up is not made by
the borrower, the loan will be appropriately classified.
However, banks / DFIs who require their customers to repay a minimum amount
each month, will be considered compliant with this regulation subject to the
condition that the aggregate cumulative monthly installments exceed the 15%
clean up requirement and accordingly the loans where the specified minimum
repayments are being made by the borrowers regularly, will not require
classification under this regulation.
REGULATION R-27
The personal loans shall be classified and provided for in the following manner:
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PRUDENTIAL REGULATIONS
FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES FINANCING
Introduction:
Keeping in view the important role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the
economic development of Pakistan and to facilitate and encourage the flow of
bank credit to this sector, a separate set of Prudential Regulations specifically for
SME sector has been issued by State Bank of Pakistan. This separate set of
regulations, specifically tailored for SMEs, is aimed at encouraging banks / DFIs to
develop new financing techniques and innovative products which can meet the
financial requirements of SMEs and provide a viable and growing lending outlet for
banks / DFIs.
Banks / DFIs should recognize that success in SME lending requires much more
extensive involvement with the SMEs than the traditional lender-borrower
relationship envisages. The banks / DFIs are, thus, encouraged to work in close
association with SMEs. The banks / DFIs should assist and guide the SMEs to
develop appropriate systems and effectively manage their resources and risks.
The banks / DFIs are encouraged to prepare a lending program (including detailed
eligibility criteria) for each specific sub-sector of SME in which they want to take
exposure in a significant manner. For this purpose, the banks / DFIs may conduct /
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arrange surveys and research to determine the status and potential of specific
SME sub-sectors. It is expected that banks / DFIs would prepare comprehensive
guidelines / manuals and put in place suitable mechanism / structure, aided by
proper MIS, to carry out the activities related to SME financing in an effective way.
This should, however, not stop banks / DFIs from lending to SMEs before
undertaking the steps mentioned above as the banks / DFIs may start soft lending
operations or test marketing campaigns, as they feel appropriate, to gain
experience and necessary know how. The factors mentioned above gain more
importance and become critical for the success of a bank / DFI in SME lending, as
the exposure of the bank / DFI on SMEs becomes a significant portion of its loan
portfolio.
State Bank of Pakistan encourages banks / DFIs to lend to SMEs on the basis of
assets conversion cycle and future cash flows. A problem, which the banks / DFIs
may encounter in this respect, is the lack of adequate information. In order to
overcome this problem, banks / DFIs may also like to prepare general industry
cash flows and then adjust those cash flows for the specific borrowers keeping in
view their conditions and other factors involved.
As mentioned above, presently most of the SMEs in Pakistan lack sophistication to
have reliable and sufficient data and financial information. In order to capture this
data and information, banks / DFIs will need to assist and guide their SME
customers. The banks / DFIs may come up with the minimum information
requirements and standardized formats for this purpose as per their own
discretion. For better understanding and to facilitate their SME customers, banks/
DFIs are encouraged to translate their loan application formats and brochures in
Urdu and other regional languages.
Banks / DFIs should realize that delay in processing the cases might frustrate the
SMEs. Banks / DFIs are therefore encouraged to process the loan cases
expeditiously and convey the decision to the SME borrowers as early as possible
In order to encourage close coordination of the officials of the banks / DFIs and
SMEs, the banks / DFIs may require the concerned dealing officer to regularly visit
the borrower. For this purpose, at a minimum, the dealing officer may be required
to pay at least one quarterly visit and document the state of affairs of the SME. In
addition, an officer senior to the ones conducting these regular visits may also visit
the SME at least once in a year. The banks may, at their own discretion, correlate
the frequency of visits with their total exposure to the SME borrower.
State Bank of Pakistan will closely monitor the situation on an ongoing basis and
work proactively with banks / DFIs to make SME financing a success. During this
process, we will keep on reviewing regulatory framework to ensure that any
impediment is immediately removed while ensuring that banks / DFIs observe due
prudence and necessary oversight.
Definitions:
Bank means a banking company as defined in Banking Companies Ordinance,
1962.
Borrower means a SME on which a bank / DFI has taken any exposure during the
course of business.
Corporate Card means credit card issued to the employees of a SME where the
repayment is to be made by the said SME.
Contingent liability means:
(a). A possible obligation that arises from past events and whose existence will
be confirmed only by the occurrence or non- occurrence of one or more
uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the enterprise; or
(b). A present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognized
because:
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Banking Laws and Practices-BNK 601 VU
PRUDENTIAL REGULATIONS
FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES FINANCING
In this Lesson, we shall cover the following:
• Prudential Regulations for small and medium enterprises finance.
• Prudential Regulations for Corporate/ Commercial Banking
First of all we give hereunder an overview of prudential regulations for small &
medium enterprises financing.
REGULATIONS FOR SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES FINANCING:
REGULATION R-1
SOURCE AND CAPACITY OF REPAYMENT
AND CASH FLOW BACKED LENDING
REGULATION R-2
Personal guarantees
REGULATION R-3
Limit on clean facilities
REGULATION R-4
Securities
REGULATION R-5
Margin requirements
REGULATION R-6
Per party exposure limit
REGULATION R-7
Aggregate exposure of a bank / dfi on sme sector
The aggregate exposure of a bank / DFI on SME sector shall not exceed the
limits as specified below:
REGULATION R-8
Minimum conditions for taking exposure
REGULATION R-9
Proper utilization of loan
REGULATION R-10
Restriction on facilities to related parties
Regulation R-11
Note:
The benefit of FSV is allowed against NPLs of over Rs 5 million only and
from December 31, 2006 against NPLs of over Rs 10 million only.
Classified loans / advances that have been guaranteed by the
Government would not require provisioning, however, mark up / interest
on such accounts to be taken to Memorandum Account instead of Income
Account.
Definitions:
“Key Executive” means key executives of banks/DFIs and includes the following
functional responsibilities for the present:-
(a). Any executive, acting as second to CEO including Chief Operating Officer,
Deputy Managing Director or by whatever name called
(b). Chief Financial Officer / Head of Finance / Head of Accounts
(c). Head of Internal Audit
(d). Country Treasurer
“Key Executive”
(e). Head of Credit/ Risk Management
(f). Head of Operations
(g). Head of Compliance
(h). Head of Human Resource
(i). Head of Information Technology
(j). Head of Islamic Banking
Regulations
Regulation r-1
Limit on exposure to a single person
Regulation r-2
Limit on exposure against contingent liabilities
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Regulation r-3
Minimum conditions for taking exposure
Regulation r-4
Limit on exposure against
Unsecured financing facilities
Regulation r-5
Linkage between financial indicators of the borrower and total exposure from
financial institutions
Regulation r-6
Exposure against shares / tfcs
And acquisition of shares
Regulation r-7
Guarantees
Regulation r-8
Classification and provisioning for assets
Regulation r-9
Assuming obligations on behalf of nbfcs
Banks / DFIs shall not issue any guarantee or letter of comfort nor assume any
obligation whatsoever in respect of deposits, sale of investment certificates, issue
of commercial papers, or borrowings of any non-banking finance company.
Regulation r-10
Facilities to private limited company
Regulation r-11
Payment of dividend
Regulation r-12
Monitoring
Regulation r-13
Margin requirements
Regulation g-1
Corporate governance / board
Of directors and management
2. First three elements are applicable to all categories of individuals, whereas the
last three elements will be considered while assessing the FPT of Directors, CEO &
Key Executives of banks/DFIs.
2. In addition to above requirements, sponsors and strategic investors are
evaluated respectively in terms of “Guidelines & Criteria for setting up of a
Commercial Bank” & “Criteria for Establishment of Islamic Commercial Banks”
issued by SBP and Code of Corporate Governance issued by SECP.
3. The sponsors, the strategic investors, and appointment of the Directors and CEO
require prior clearance in writing from SBP. The CEO and Key Executives shall be
full time employees of the bank/DFI. The Directors and CEO will not assume the
charge of their respective offices until their appointments are approved in writing
by SBP.
3. All the requests for seeking approval of SBP for appointment of Directors & CEO
of the banks/DFIs should be routed through respective banks/DFIs along with
information on Annexures-VI-A & VI-B.
4. The appointment of Key Executives will not require prior clearance of SBP.
However, the banks/DFIs must themselves ensure while appointing Key Executives
that they qualify FPT in letter and spirit.
5. The sponsors are required to seek prior approval of SBP along with the
information at Annexure- VI-B and other information as required in the “Guidelines
& Criteria for Setting up a Commercial Bank” and” Criteria for Establishment of
Islamic Commercial Banks”.
The strategic investors contemplating to acquire strategic/controlling stake are
required to seek prior approval from SBP either directly or through the concerned
department/Ministry of Government executing strategic sale transaction of the
bank as required and provided in the transaction structure.
The bank should also ensure to give prior intimation to SBP before dealing with any
investors/bank/institutions/person for sale/purchase of sponsors/ strategic shares
and seek approval of SBP for conducting due diligence of bank/DFI in terms of BPD
Circular No. 8 of 2003.
6. The major shareholders are required to seek prior approval in writing from SBP
for acquiring 5% or more shares along-with information on Annexure- VI-B, with
proper justification for holding more than 5% shares of the paid up capital. All the
banks/DFIs are required to ensure that major shareholders have sought such an
approval from SBP and place it on record.
7. Fit & Proper Test prescribed in the guideline is continuous in nature. All
persons subject to FPT should immediately submit any change in the information
already submitted (at the time of clearance) either through Company Secretary or
Human Resources Department to Banking Policy and Regulations Department.
7. Violation of the instructions, circumvention, concealment,
misreporting and delay in submission of information to SBP may result in
withdrawal of SBP approval, besides penal action under the provisions of
BCO, 1962.
Regulation g-2
Dealing with directors, major share-holders
And employees of the banks / dfis
Regulation g-3
Contributions and donations for charitable, social, educational and public welfare
purposes
Regulation g-4
Credit rating
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The State Bank of Pakistan has issued guidelines for banks with a view to take
necessary remedial measures and installs required systems so as to safeguard
against undue risk exposures by developing necessary risk management
mechanism. The guidelines of SBP are given in the following paragraphs:
Risk:
For the purpose of these guidelines financial risk in banking organization is
possibility that the outcome of an action or event could bring up adverse impacts.
Such outcomes could either result in a direct loss of earnings / capital or may
result in imposition of constraints on bank’s ability to meet its business objectives.
Such constraints pose a risk as these could hinder a bank's ability to conduct its
ongoing business or to take benefit of opportunities to enhance its business.
Risk Management:
Risk Management is a discipline at the core of every financial institution and
encompasses all the activities that affect its risk profile. It involves identification,
measurement, monitoring and controlling risks to ensure that:
a. The individuals who take or manage risks clearly understand it.
b. The organization’s Risk exposure is within the limits established by Board of
Directors.
c. Risk taking Decisions are in line with the business strategy and objectives set
by BOD.
d. The expected payoffs compensate for the risks taken
e. Risk taking decisions are explicit and clear.
f. Sufficient capital as a buffer is available to take risk
a. Strategic level:
b. Macro Level:
c. Micro Level:
a. Strategic level: It encompasses risk management functions performed by senior
management and BOD. For instance definition of risks, ascertaining institutions
risk appetite, formulating strategy and policies for managing risks and establish
adequate systems and controls to ensure that overall risk remain within
acceptable level and the reward compensate for the risk taken.
b. Macro Level: It encompasses risk management within a business area or across
business lines. Generally the risk management activities performed by middle
management or units devoted to risk reviews fall into this category.
c. Micro Level: It involves ‘On-the-line’ risk management where risks are actually
created. This is the risk management activities performed by individuals who
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take risk on organization’s behalf such as front office and loan origination
functions. The risk management in those areas is confined to following
operational procedures and guidelines set by management.
b. Conduct of Accounts.
In case of existing obligor the operation in the account would give a fair idea
about the quality of credit facility. Institutions should monitor the obligor’s account
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activity, repayment history and instances of excesses over credit limits. For trade
financing, institutions should monitor cases of repeat extensions of due dates for
trust receipts and bills.
c. Loan Covenants.
The obligor’s ability to adhere to negative pledges and financial covenants stated
in the loan agreement should be assessed, and any breach detected should be
addressed promptly.
d. Collateral valuation.
Since the value of collateral could deteriorate resulting in unsecured lending,
banks need to reassess value of collaterals on periodic basis. The frequency of
such valuation is very subjective and depends upon nature of collaterals. For
instance loan granted against shares need revaluation on almost daily basis
whereas if there is mortgage of a residential property the revaluation may not be
necessary as frequently.
In case of credit facilities secured against inventory or goods at the obligor’s
premises, appropriate inspection should be conducted to verify the existence and
valuation of the collateral. And if such
Goods are perishable or such that their value diminish rapidly (e.g. electronic
parts/equipments), additional precautionary measures should be taken.
Risk review
The institutions must establish a mechanism of independent, ongoing assessment
of credit risk management process. All facilities except those managed on a
portfolio basis should be subjected to individual risk review at least once in a year.
The results of such review should be properly documented and reported directly
to board, or its sub committee or senior management without lending authority.
The purpose of such reviews is to assess the credit administration process, the
accuracy of credit rating and overall quality of loan portfolio independent of
relationship with the obligor.
Institutions should conduct credit review with updated information on the obligor’s
financial and business conditions, as well as conduct of account. Exceptions noted
in the credit monitoring process should also be evaluated for impact on the
obligor’s creditworthiness. Credit review should also be conducted on a
consolidated group basis to factor in the business connections among entities in a
borrowing group
As stated earlier, credit review should be performed on an annual basis; however
more frequent review should be conducted for new accounts where institutions
may not be familiar with the obligor, and for classified or adverse rated accounts
that have higher probability of default.
For consumer loans, institutions may dispense with the need to perform credit
review for certain products. However, they should monitor and report credit
exceptions and deterioration.
Liquidity Risk:
Liquidity risk is the potential for loss to an institution arising from either its inability
to meet its obligations or to fund increases in assets as they fall due without
incurring unacceptable cost or losses.
Liquidity risk is considered a major risk for banks. It arises when the cushion
provided by the liquid assets are not sufficient enough to meet its obligation. In
such a situation banks often meet their liquidity requirements from market.
However conditions of funding through market depend upon liquidity in the market
and borrowing institution’s liquidity.
Accordingly an institution short of liquidity may have to undertake transaction at
heavy cost resulting in a loss of earning or in worst case scenario the liquidity risk
could result in bankruptcy of the institution if it is unable to undertake transaction
even at current market prices.
Banks with large off-balance sheet exposures or the banks, which rely heavily on
large corporate deposit, have relatively high level of liquidity risk. Further the
banks experiencing a rapid growth in assets should have major concern for
liquidity.
Liquidity risk may not be seen in isolation, because financial risk are not mutually
exclusive and liquidity risk often triggered by consequence of these other financial
risks such as credit risk, market risk etc. For instance, a bank increasing its credit
risk through asset concentration etc may be increasing its liquidity risk as well.
Similarly a large loan default or changes in interest rate can adversely impact a
bank’s liquidity position. Further if management misjudges the impact on liquidity
of entering into a new business or product line, the bank’s strategic risk would
increase.
Contents
Definitions: Sec 2
Duty of a customer: Sec 3
Establishment of Banking Court under Sec 5
Powers of Banking Courts outlined in sec 7
Suit for recovery of written off finances: Sec 8
Procedure of Banking Courts: Sec 9
Leave to defend unique concept: Sec 10
Sale of mortgaged property: Sec 15
Attachment before judgment, injunction and appointment of Receivers: Sec 16
Provisions relating to certain offences: Sec 20 Application of fines and costs: Sec
21
Appeal: Sec 22
Restriction on transfer of assets & properties: Sec 23
Indemnity: Sec 28
Definitions:
b) "Banking Court" means:
(i) In respect of a case in which the claim does not exceed fifty million rupees
or for the trial of offences under this Ordinance, the Court established under
section 5; and
(ii) In respect of any other case, the High Court.
(c) "customer" means a person to whom finance has been extended by a
financial institution and includes a person on whose behalf a guarantee or letter of
credit has been issued by a financial institution as well as a surety or an
indemnifier;
(2) No suit under sub section (1) shall be filed unless its filing has been approved
by:
(a) The Board of Directors, in the case of a financial institution incorporated
within Pakistan,
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(b) Or the chief executive (by whatever name called or designated) of the
financial institution in Pakistan, in the case of a financial institution incorporated
outside Pakistan.
(2)Provided that where service has been validly affected only through publication
in the newspapers, the Banking Court may extend the time for filing an
application for leave to defend if satisfied that the defendant did not have
knowledge thereof.
(3)The application for leave to defend shall be in the form of a written
statement, and shall contain a summary of the substantial questions of law as
well as fact in respect of which, in the opinion of the defendant, evidence needs
to be recorded. .
(4)In the case of a suit for recovery instituted by a financial institution the
application for leave to defend shall also specifically state the following :
(a). The amount of finance availed by the defendant from the
financial institution; the amounts paid by the defendant to the
financial institution and the dates of payments;
(b). The amount of finance and other amounts relating to the
finance payable by the defendant to the financial institution up to
the date of institution of the suit;
(c). The amount if any which the defendant disputes as payable to
the financial institution and facts in support thereof:
The application for leave to defend shall be accompanied by all the relevant
documents.
(5)An application for leave to defend which does not comply with the
requirements of sub-sections (3), (4) where applicable and (5) shall be rejected,
unless the defendant discloses therein sufficient cause for his inability to
comply with any such requirement. Questions of law or fact raised by him.
(6)The plaintiff shall be given an opportunity of filing a reply to the application for
leave to defend, in the form of a replication.
(7)Subject to section 11, the Banking Court shall grant the defendant leave to
defend the suit if on consideration of the contents of the plaint, the application
for leave to defend and the reply thereto it is of the view that substantial
questions of law or fact have been raised in respect of which evidence needs to
be recorded.
(8)In granting leave under sub-section (8), the Banking Court may impose such
conditions as it may deem appropriate in the circumstances of the case,
including conditions as to deposit of cash or furnishing of security.
(9)Where the application for leave to defend is accepted, the Banking Court shall
treat the application as a written statement, and in its order granting leave
shall frame issues relating to the substantial questions of law or fact, and,
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subject to fulfillment of any conditions attached to grant of leave, fix a date for
recording of evidence thereon and disposal of the suit.
(10) Where the application for leave to defend is rejected or where a defendant
fails to fulfill the conditions attached to the grant of leave to defend, the
Banking Court shall forthwith proceed to pass judgment and decree in favor of
the plaintiff against the defendant.
(11) Where an application for leave to defend has been filed before the coming
into force of this Ordinance, the defendant shall be allowed a period of twenty-
one days from the date of coming into force of this Ordinance, or from the date
of first hearing thereafter, whichever is later, for filing an amended application
for leave to defend in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
Explanation:
(1)Dishonesty may be presumed where a customer has not deposited the sale
proceeds of the property with the financial institution in violation of the terms
of the agreement between the financial institution and the customer.
Appeal: Sec 22
(1)Subject to sub-section (2), any person aggrieved by any judgment, decree,
sentence, or final order passed by a Banking Court may, within thirty days of
such judgment, decree, sentence or final order prefer an appeal to the High
Court.
(2)The appellant shall give notice of the filing of the appeal in accordance with the
provisions of Order XLIII Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Act V of 1908) to
the respondent who may appear before the Banking Court to contest admission
of the appeal on the date fixed for hearing.
(3)The High Court shall at the stage of admission of the appeal, or at any time
thereafter either suo moto or on the application of the decree holder, decide by
means of a reasoned order whether the appeal is to be admitted in part or in
whole depending on the facts and circumstances of the case, and as to the
security to be furnished by the appellant:
(4)An appeal under sub-section (1) shall be heard by a bench of not less than two
Judges of the High Court and, in case the appeal is admitted, it shall be decided
within 90 days from the date of admission.
(5)An appeal may be preferred under this section from a decree passed ex-parte.
(6)No appeal, review or revision shall lie against an order accepting or rejecting an
application for leave to defend, or any interlocutory order of the Banking Court
which does not dispose of the entire case before the Banking Court other than
an order passed under sub-section (11) of section 15 or sub-section (7) of
section 19.
(7)Any order of stay of execution of a decree passed under sub-section (2) shall
automatically lapse on the expiry of six months from the date of the order
whereupon the amount deposited in Court shall be paid over to the decree-
holder or the decree-holder may enforce the security furnished by the
judgment-debtor.
Through this law, the banks and financial institutions can approach the banking
courts for recovery of the finances/ facilities from the defaulters.
There are certain statues/ law which have bearing on banking transactions and as
such have their importance to all stake holders. Keeping in view the importance of
these statutes we shall discuss the following statutes in this Lesson:
• Limitation Act, 1908
• Stamp Act, 1889
• Arbitration Act, 1940
• Contract, 1872
Limitation Act, 1908
Contents:
• Objects, concept
• Provision to be applied without equitable consideration: Sec 1
• Raising of Plea of Limitation: Sec 3
• Restriction of time (limitation Period)
• Condonation of delay—where sufficient cause existed to the satisfaction of
court.
• Legal disability: Sec 6
• Exclusion of time while computing time of limitation ( Sec 12 to 16)
• First schedule contains period of limitation in different suits.
Objects:
It governs the process of litigation and limits the time after which a suit or other
proceeding cannot be maintained (enforced) in a court of law.
It requires promptness in the prosecution of remedy because law assists those who
are vigilant and not those who sleep over their rights (Rights to seek remedy—
Prosecution to seek remedy within period prescribed by limitation Act.
Statute of limitation has been termed as statute of repose, peace and justice.
Doctrine of limitation is formed on public policy and expediency.
Removes constant uncertainty, doubt and suspense.
Condonation of delay by court. Where just and sufficient cause has been
shown to court, to condone the delay
Concept:
Statute of limitation is a procedural statute. Its application does not always mean
to usurp or help usurp a right. It rather operates on the principle that if a claimant
waived his right or was not serious and rather indolent so as to have acquiesced,
he will be hit by the doctrine of limitation
The concept of law is only that the authority created or appointed for helping a
claimant (banking court e-g) in such a situation will not help if the claimant
knowing the position of law does not ask for it within the prescribed period.
We shall discuss important provisions contained in this Act in the following
paragraphs:
Section 1:
Provision to be applied without equitable consideration
However, suspension of application of provisions of statute of limitation only in
cases where court by its own Act or oversight causes any injury or injustice to a
particular party.
Limitation Act (1908)
Section 3:
Raising Plea of Limitation:
A suit instituted, appeal preferred an application made after period of limitation
prescribed therefore—shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up
as defense.
Court to examine the question of limitation even if not raised—it is the duty of
court to decide question of limitation on merits; ignorance to do so is a legal error.
Section 5:
Restriction of time (limitation Period) is an outcome of public policy.
(exceptions in suitable cases).
Condonation of delay—to advance cause of substantial justice—plausible
explanation of delay
Sufficient Cause---is genuine or good cause, because that is beyond the control of
the party, unavoidable despite care and attention.
• Abnormal conditions of the country.
• Disturbed state of a country
• Judgment announced in absence of the party (Condemned unheard).
• Person entitled to notice etc.)
(5)Where such representative is at the date of the death affected by any such
disability, the rules contained in subsections (1) and (2) shall apply.
Suits on foreign contracts: Sec 11
Suits instituted in Pakistan on contracts entered into in a foreign country are
subject to the rules of limitation contained in this Act.
No foreign rule of limitation shall be a defence to a suit instituted in [Pakistan] on a
contract entered into in a foreign country, unless the rule has extinguished the
contract and the parties were domiciled in such country during the period
prescribed by such rule.
Part V.---Two
Years
32. Against one who, having a rightTwo years Officer of Raven When the
to use property for specific perversion first becomes
purposes, perverts it to other known to the person
purposes. injured thereby.
33. Under the LegalTwo years When the wrong
Representatives' Suit Act, 1855, complained of is done.
against an executor.
34. Under the same ActTwo years -Ditto-
against an administrator.
35. Under the same ActTwo years -Ditto-
against any other representative.
The second schedule--- [territories referred to in section 31.] Rep. By the repealing
and amending act, 1930 (viii of 1930),
STAMP ACT, 1899
Contents
• Definitions: Sec 2
• Instruments chargeable with duty: Sec 3
• Power to reduce, remit or compound duties: Sec 9
• Duties how to be paid: Sec 10
• Use of adhesive stamps: Sec 11
• Cancellation of adhesive stamps: Sec 12
• Stamp where value of subject-matter is indeterminate: Sec 26
• Duties by whom payable: Sec 29
• Instruments not duly stamped inadmissible in evidence, etc: Sec 35
• Collector’s power to refund penalty paid under section 38, sub-section (1):
Sec 39
• Prosecution for offence against Stamp-law: Sec 43
• Prosecution for offence against Stamp-law: Sec 48
• Penalty for executing, etc., instrument not duly stamped: Sec 62
• Jurisdiction of Magistrates
The significant provisions of Stamp Act, 1809 are given in the following
paragraphs
Definitions: Sec 2
“Collector”–
Interpretation:
Arbitration Act does not restrict the contractual rights of the parties. It only gives
effect to the choice of the parties as regards the forum to which their disputes
shall be taken.
Application of the Act:
This act lays down the rules to be followed by the parties, arbitrators and courts.
The Arbitration Act (1940)
Role of Arbitrator:
Arbitrator is to settle dispute between parties amicably by avoiding all type of
technicalities of procedural law but within the four corners of substantive law and
to provide a domestic forum for speedy disposal of dispute. Arbitration is
undertaken through persons to whom both the parties repose their trust.
Comments:
Existence of a dispute is essential for a reference to be resolved through
adjudication of such dispute culminating in an award.
Definitions
Arbitration Agreement: means written agreement to submit present or future
differences to arbitration, whether an arbitrator was named therein or not.
Court: would mean a civil court having jurisdiction to decide the subject matter.
Award: means arbitration award. The decision of arbitration or arbitrator is called
Award.
“legal representative” means a person who in law represents the estate of a
deceased person, and includes any person who intermeddles with the estate of the
deceased, and, where a party acts in a representative character, the person on
whom the estate devolves on the death of the party so acting;
Reference: means reference to arbitration any disputes. Arbitrators to make
decision within four months.
Contract act
Main Content:
• Scope and its significance
• Consideration
• Definition of contract
• Contracts—Essentials and Kinds
Contract—defined
“An agreement enforceable by law is a contract”
Agreement—defined Sec 2(e)
Every promise or every set of promises, forming the consideration for each other,
is an agreement.