Building Societies Act 1986

Raising funds and borrowingU.K.

[F17 The funding limit.U.K.

(1)A building society shall secure that the difference between—

(a)the value of X on any quarter day; and

(b)the value of Y on that day or the value of Y on the immediately preceding quarter day, whichever is the greater,

does not exceed 50 per cent of that value of X.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) above—

X = the aggregate of the following, namely—

(a)the principal value of, and interest accrued on, shares in the society;

(b)the principal of, and interest accrued on, sums deposited with the society or any subsidiary undertaking of the society; and

(c)the principal value of, and interest accrued under, bills of exchange, instruments or agreements creating or acknowledging indebtedness and accepted, made, issued or entered into by the society or any such undertaking; and

Y = the principal value of, and interest accrued on, shares in the society held by individuals otherwise than as bare trustees (or, in Scotland, simple trustees) for bodies corporate or for persons who include bodies corporate.

(3)The following shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (2) above, namely—

(a)any sums or amounts which are own funds; F2...

[F3(aa)subject to subsection (3A), the principal of, and interest accrued on, sums deposited with the society or any subsidiary undertaking of the society by a small business (see subsection (10));]

(b)to the extent that they are not included in the total liabilities of the society and any subsidiary undertakings of the society as shown in the society’s accounts—

(i)any sums deposited with the society or any such undertaking; and

(ii)any indebtedness created or acknowledged by bills of exchange, instruments or agreements accepted, made, issued or entered into by the society or any such undertaking.

[F4(3A)In respect of any day by reference to which the value of X falls to be calculated for the purposes of subsection (1) in relation to the society, the total amount to be disregarded under subsection (3)(aa) may not exceed 10% of the amount that would, in the absence of subsection (3)(aa), be the value of X on that day.]

(4)The reference in subsection (3) above to anything being shown in a society’s accounts shall be construed—

(a)in relation to a quarter day on which a financial year of the society ends, as a reference to its being shown in the accounts prepared by the society for that year;

(b)in relation to any other quarter day, as a reference to its being shown in the accounts which would have been prepared by the society for the year ending on that day if that year were a financial year of the society.

(5)If a building society fails to comply with the requirement imposed by subsection (1) above—

(a)the powers conferred on the [F5appropriate authority] by section 36 shall become exercisable in relation to the society; but

(b)the failure shall not affect the validity of any transaction or other act.

(6)Where an individual declares that he is acquiring any shares in a building society otherwise than as a bare trustee (or, in Scotland, a simple trustee) for a body corporate, or for persons who include a body corporate, he shall, unless the contrary is shown, be conclusively presumed for the purposes of this section to hold the shares otherwise than as such a trustee.

[F6(6ZA)Where a person declares that the person is a small business, the person shall, unless the contrary is shown, be conclusively presumed for the purposes of this section to be a small business.]

(7)The [F7Treasury may], by order—

(a)modify subsections (2) and (3) above in their application to liabilities of subsidiary undertakings;

(b)apply those subsections to corresponding liabilities of associated undertakings; or

(c)modify those subsections in their application to such liabilities.

(8)An order under subsection (7) above may make—

(a)different provision for different circumstances;

(b)provision for particular liabilities of undertakings to be disregarded; and

(c)such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the [F8Treasury] to be necessary or expedient.

(9)The power to make an order under subsection (7) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

[F9(10)In this section “small business” means any person (other than an individual acting as a sole trader) carrying on a business which had a turnover in the relevant financial year of less than £1,000,000.

(11)For the purposes of subsection (10)—

(a)the “relevant financial year”, in relation to any day by reference to which the value of X falls to be calculated for the purposes of subsection (1) in relation to a building society, means the last financial year ending before that day;

(b)“turnover”, in relation to a small business, means the amount derived from the provision of goods and services falling within the business's ordinary activities, after deduction of trade discounts, value added tax and any other taxes based on the amounts so derived;

(c)in respect of any relevant financial year, the reference to £1,000,000 includes the equivalent amount in any other currency, calculated as at the last day of that year.

(12)The Treasury may, by order made by statutory instrument, amend the figure for the time being specified in subsections (10) and (11)(c).

(13)A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (12) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 7 substituted (1.12.1997 in specified cases and for specified purposes and otherwise in accordance with art. 2(2)(3)(5) of S.I. 1997/2668) by 1997 c. 32, ss. 8, 47(3); S.I. 1997/2668, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II(g)

F7Words in s. 7(7) substituted (17.8.2001 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8, 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 136(b) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(a)

F8Word in s. 7(8)(c) substituted (17.8.2001 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8, 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 136(c) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 4); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6S. 7(7)(8): Functions of the Building Societies Commission transferred (1.12.2001) to the Treasury by S.I. 2001/2617, art. 2(b), 4(1), Sch. 1 Pt. III; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(a)

[F108 Raising funds and borrowing.U.K.

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a building society shall not do any of the following things, namely—

(a)accept a deposit from an individual;

(b)raise funds from an individual otherwise than by the issue of shares; and

(c)raise funds from a body corporate, or from a bare trustee (or, in Scotland, a simple trustee) for a body corporate or for persons who include a body corporate, otherwise than by the issue of deferred shares.

(2)Nothing in subsection (1)(a) above shall apply in relation to—

(a)the maintenance on behalf of an individual of a current account, or a deposit account which contains in its title the word “client” or the word “trust” or “trustee”;

(b)the issue to an individual of a transferable instrument;

(c)the acceptance from an individual of a qualifying time deposit or an overseas deposit; or

(d)in the case of a building society which has announced publicly that it intends, in accordance with section 97 and the other applicable provisions of this Act, to transfer the whole of its business to a company, anything done by the society during the period of two years beginning with the date of the announcement.

(3)The [F11appropriate authority] may, if it thinks fit, extend or further extend the period mentioned in subsection (2)(d) above if written application is made to it before the expiry of that period or that period as extended; and a direction under this subsection—

(a)shall be in writing;

(b)may be given subject to such limitations or conditions as the [F11appropriate authority] may think fit.

(4)A contravention of subsection (1) above shall not invalidate any transaction or other act.

(5)The power of a building society to raise funds by the issue of shares is a power—

(a)to issue shares of one or more denominations, whether in sterling or another currency; and

(b)to issue them either as shares paid up in full or as shares to be paid by periodical or other payments, and (in either case) with accumulating or other interest;

and funds so raised may be repaid when they are no longer required for the purposes of the society.

(6)In the case of deferred shares, the power of a building society to raise funds by the issue of shares includes the issue of shares at a premium.

(7)If a building society issues deferred shares at a premium, whether for cash or otherwise, a sum equal to the aggregate amount or value of the premiums on those shares shall be transferred to the society’s reserves.

(8)For the purposes of this section the acceptance of deposits (including the issue of debt securities) shall not constitute the raising of funds.

(9)In this section, in relation to a building society—

  • “overseas deposit” means a deposit which is accepted by a branch or agency of the society in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom and is repayable in such a country or territory;

  • “qualifying time deposit” has the meaning given by section [F12866(2) and (3) of the Income Tax Act 2007];

  • “raise funds” means, subject to subsection (8) above, raise funds by the issue of shares or other securities;

  • “transferable instrument” means an instrument which embodies a transferable right to receive an amount referable to a deposit with the society.

(10)A right is transferable for the purposes of the definition of “transferable instrument” in subsection (9) above if it is transferable by delivery of the instrument, or it is a right—

(a)which may, under the terms of the instrument, be held by any person, or by any person other than a person of a description specified in the instrument;

(b)express provision for the transfer of which is included in the instrument; and

(c)the transfer of which, under the terms of the instrument, does not require the consent of any person.

(11)Where an individual declares that he is acquiring any shares in a building society otherwise than as a bare trustee (or, in Scotland, a simple trustee) for a body corporate, or for persons who include a body corporate, he shall, unless the contrary is shown, be conclusively presumed for the purposes of this section to hold the shares otherwise than as such a trustee.

(12)The [F13Treasury may] by order vary subsections (2), (9) and (10) above by adding to or deleting from them any provision or by varying any provision contained in them; and an order under this subsection may make such supplementary, transitional and saving provision as appears to the [F13Treasury] to be necessary or expedient.

(13)The power to make an order under subsection (12) above is exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F10S. 8 substituted (1.12.1997 in specified cases and for specified purposes and otherwise in accordance with art. 2(2)(3)(5) of S.I. 1997/2668) by 1997 c. 32, ss. 9, 47(3) (with s. 46(1), Sch. 8 para. 9); S.I. 1997/2668, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II(h)

F12Words in s. 8(9) substituted (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), s. 1034(1), Sch. 1 para. 273 (with Sch. 2)

F13Words in s. 8(12) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8, 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 137(b)(i)(ii), (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9S. 8(12): Functions of Building Societies Commission transferred (1.12.2001) to the Treasury by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 1(2)(b), 4(1),Sch. 1 Pt. III; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(a)

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Textual Amendments