20 USC 1087-2 - Student Loan Marketing Association

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 04, 2024

§ 1087–2.

Student Loan Marketing Association

(a)

Purpose

(b)

Establishment

(1)

In general

(2)

Exemption from State and local taxes

(3)

Appropriations authorized for establishment

(c)

Board of Directors

(1)

Composition of Board; Chairman

(A)

The Association shall have a Board of Directors which shall consist of 21 persons, 7 of whom shall be appointed by the President and shall be representative of the general public. The remaining 14 directors shall be elected by the common stockholders of the Association entitled to vote pursuant to subsection (f). Commencing with the annual shareholders meeting to be held in 1993—

(i)

7 of the elected directors shall be affiliated with an eligible institution; and

(ii)

7 of the elected directors shall be affiliated with an eligible lender.

(B)

The President shall designate 1 of the directors to serve as Chairman.

(2)

Terms of appointed and elected members

(3)

Affiliated members

For the purpose of this subsection, the references to a director “affiliated with the eligible institution” or a director “affiliated with an eligible lender” means an individual who is, or within 5 years of election to the Board has been, an employee, officer, director, or similar official of—

(A)

an eligible institution or an eligible lender;

(B)

an association whose members consist primarily of eligible institutions or eligible lenders; or

(C)

a State agency, authority, instrumentality, commission, or similar institution, the primary purpose of which relates to educational matters or banking matters.

(4)

Meetings and functions of the Board

(d)

Authority of Association

(1)

In general

The Association is authorized, subject to the provisions of this section—

(A)

pursuant to commitments or otherwise to make advances on the security of, purchase, or repurchase, service, sell or resell, offer participations, or pooled interests or otherwise deal in, at prices and on terms and conditions determined by the Association, student loans which are insured by the Secretary under this part or by a guaranty agency;

(B)

to buy, sell, hold, underwrite, and otherwise deal in obligations, if such obligations are issued, for the purpose of making or purchasing insured loans, by a guaranty agency or by an eligible lender in a State described in section 1085(d)(1)(D) or (F) of this title;

(C)

to buy, sell, hold, insure, underwrite, and otherwise deal in obligations issued for the purpose of financing or refinancing the construction, reconstruction, renovation, improvement, or purchase at institutions of higher education of any of the following facilities (including the underlying property) and materials (including related equipment, instrumentation, and furnishings) at an eligible institution of higher education:

(i)

educational and training facilities;

(ii)

housing for students and faculties, dining halls, student unions, and facilities specifically designed to promote fitness and health for students, faculty, and staff or for physical education courses; and

(iii)

library facilities, including the acquisition of library materials at institutions of higher education;

except that not more than 30 percent of the value of transactions entered into under this subparagraph shall involve transactions of the types described in clause (ii);

(D)

to undertake a program of loan insurance pursuant to agreements with the Secretary under section 1078 of this title, and except with respect to loans under subsection (o) of this section or under section 1078–3 of this title, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Association for such purpose only if the Secretary determines that (i) eligible borrowers are seeking and unable to obtain loans under this part, and (ii) no guaranty agency is capable of or willing to provide a program of loan insurance for such borrowers; and

(E)

to undertake any other activity which the Board of Directors of the Association determines to be in furtherance of the programs of insured student loans authorized under this part or will otherwise support the credit needs of students, except that—

(i)

in carrying out all such activities the purpose shall always be to provide secondary market and other support for lending programs offered by other organizations and not to replace or compete with such other programs;

(ii)

nothing in this subparagraph (E) shall be deemed to authorize the Association to acquire, own, operate, or control any bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or credit union; and

(iii)

not later than 30 days prior to the initial implementation of a program undertaken pursuant to this subparagraph (E), the Association shall advise the Chairman and the Ranking Member on the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives in writing of its plans to offer such program and shall provide information relating to the general terms and conditions of such program.

The Association is further authorized to undertake any activity with regard to student loans which are not insured or guaranteed as provided for in this subsection as it may undertake with regard to insured or guaranteed student loans. Any warehousing advance made on the security of such loans shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection to the same extent as a warehousing advance made on the security of insured loans.

(2)

Warehousing advances

(3)

Perfection of security interests in student loans

(4)

Form of securities

(5)

Restrictions on facilities and housing activities

(e)

Advances to lenders that do not discriminate

(f)

Stock of the Association

(1)

Voting common stock

(2)

Number of shares; transferability

(3)

Dividends

(4)

Single class of voting common stock

(g)

Preferred stock

(1)

Authority of Board

(2)

Rights of preferred stock

(3)

Preference on termination of business

(h)

Debt obligations

(1)

Approval by Secretaries of Education and the Treasury

(2)

Guarantee of debt

(3)

Borrowing authority to meet guarantee obligations

(4)

Action on request for guarantees

(5)

Authority of Treasury to purchase debt

(6)

Sale of debt to Federal Financing Bank

(7)

Offset fee

(A)

The Association shall pay to the Secretary, on a monthly basis, an offset fee calculated on an annual basis in an amount equal to 0.30 percent of the principal amount of each loan made, insured or guaranteed under this part that the Association holds (except for loans made pursuant to section 1078–3 of this title, subsection (o), or subsection (q)) and that was acquired on or after August 10, 1993.

(B)

If the Secretary determines that the Association has substantially failed to comply with subsection (q), subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting “1.0 percent” for “0.3 percent”.

(C)

The Secretary shall deposit all fees collected pursuant to this paragraph into the insurance fund established in

(i)

General corporate powers

The Association shall have power—

(1)

to sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate name and through its own counsel;

(2)

to adopt, alter, and use the corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed;

(3)

to adopt, amend, and repeal by its Board of Directors, bylaws, rules, and regulations as may be necessary for the conduct of its business;

(4)

to conduct its business, carry on its operations, and have officers and exercise the power granted by this section in any State without regard to any qualification or similar statute in any State;

(5)

to lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use, or otherwise deal in and with any property, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein, wherever situated;

(6)

to accept gifts or donations of services, or of property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, in aid of any of the purposes of the Association;

(7)

to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, and otherwise dispose of its property and assets;

(8)

to appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, and agents as may be required, to determine their qualifications, to define their duties, to fix their salaries, require bonds for them, and fix the penalty thereof; and

(9)

to enter into contracts, to execute instruments, to incur liabilities, and to do all things as are necessary or incidental to the proper management of its affairs and the proper conduct of its business.

(j)

Accounting, auditing, and reporting

(k)

Report on audits by Treasury

(l)

Lawful investment instruments; effect of and exemptions from other laws

(m)

Preparation of obligations

(n)

Report on operations and activities

(o)

Loan consolidations

(1)

In general

(2)

Use of existing agencies as agent

(p)

Advances for direct loans by guaranty agencies

(1)

In general

(2)

Limitation

(q)

Lender-of-last-resort

(1)

Action at request of Secretary

(A)

Whenever the Secretary determines that eligible borrowers are seeking and are unable to obtain loans under this part, the Association or its designated agent shall, not later than 90 days after August 10, 1993, begin making loans to such eligible borrowers in accordance with this subsection at the request of the Secretary. The Secretary may request that the Association make loans to borrowers within a geographic area or for the benefit of students attending institutions of higher education that certify, in accordance with standards established by the Secretary, that their students are seeking and unable to obtain loans.

(B)

Loans made pursuant to this subsection shall be insurable by the Secretary under section 1079 of this title with a certificate of comprehensive insurance coverage provided for under section 1079(b)(1) of this title or by a guaranty agency under paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection.

(2)

Issuance and coverage of loans

(A)

Whenever the Secretary, after consultation with, and with the agreement of, representatives of the guaranty agency in a State, or an eligible lender in a State described in section 1085(d)(1)(D) of this title, determines that a substantial portion of eligible borrowers in such State or within an area of such State are seeking and are unable to obtain loans under this part, the Association or its designated agent shall begin making such loans to borrowers in such State or within an area of such State in accordance with this subsection at the request of the Secretary.

(B)

Loans made pursuant to this subsection shall be insurable by the agency identified in subparagraph (A) having an agreement pursuant to section 1078(b) of this title. For loans insured by such agency, the agency shall provide the Association with a certificate of comprehensive insurance coverage, if the Association and the agency have mutually agreed upon a means to determine that the agency has not already guaranteed a loan under this part to a student which would cause a subsequent loan made by the Association to be in violation of any provision under this part.

(3)

Termination of lending

(r)

Safety and soundness of Association

(1)

Reports by the Association

The Association shall promptly furnish to the Secretary of Education and Secretary of the Treasury copies of all—

(A)

periodic financial reports publicly distributed by the Association;

(B)

reports concerning the Association that are received by the Association and prepared by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations; and

(C)

(i)

financial statements of the Association within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter; and

(ii)

reports setting forth the calculation of the capital ratio of the Association within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter.

(2)

Audit by Secretary of the Treasury

(A)

The Secretary of the Treasury may—

(i)

appoint and fix the compensation of such auditors and examiners as may be necessary to conduct audits of the Association from time to time to determine the condition of the Association for the purpose of assessing the Association’s financial safety and soundness and to determine whether the requirements of this section and section 1087–3 of this title are being met; and

(ii)

obtain the services of such experts as the Secretary of the Treasury determines necessary and appropriate, as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, to assist in determining the condition of the Association for the purpose of assessing the Association’s financial safety and soundness, and to determine whether the requirements of this section and section 1087–3 of this title are being met.

(B)

Each auditor appointed under this paragraph shall conduct an audit of the Association to the extent requested by the Secretary of the Treasury and shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary of the Treasury concerning the results of such audit. A copy of such report shall be furnished to the Association and the Secretary of Education on the date on which it is delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury.

(C)

The Association shall provide full and prompt access to the Secretary of the Treasury to its books and records and other information requested by the Secretary of the Treasury.

(D)

Annual assessment.—

(i)

In general.—

For each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1996, the Secretary of the Treasury may establish and collect from the Association an assessment (or assessments) in amounts sufficient to provide for reasonable costs and expenses of carrying out the duties of the Secretary of the Treasury under this section and section 1087–3 of this title during such fiscal year. In no event may the total amount so assessed exceed, for any fiscal year, $800,000, adjusted for each fiscal year ending after September 30, 1997, by the ratio of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for the final month of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the assessment is made to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for September 1997.

(ii)

Deposit.—

Amounts collected from assessments under this subparagraph shall be deposited in an account within the Treasury of the United States as designated by the Secretary of the Treasury for that purpose. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to pay out of any funds available in such account the reasonable costs and expenses of carrying out the duties of the Secretary of the Treasury under this section and section 1087–3 of this title. None of the funds deposited into such account shall be available for any purpose other than making payments for such costs and expenses.

(E)

Obligation to obtain, maintain, and report information.—

(i)

In general.—

The Association shall obtain such information and make and keep such records as the Secretary of the Treasury may from time to time prescribe concerning—

(I)

the financial risk to the Association resulting from the activities of any associated person, to the extent such activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the financial condition of the Association, including the Association’s capital ratio, the Association’s liquidity, or the Association’s ability to conduct and finance the Association’s operations; and

(II)

the Association’s policies, procedures, and systems for monitoring and controlling any such financial risk.

(ii)

Summary reports.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may require summary reports of such information to be filed no more frequently than quarterly. If, as a result of adverse market conditions or based on reports provided pursuant to this subparagraph or other available information, the Secretary of the Treasury has concerns regarding the financial or operational condition of the Association, the Secretary of the Treasury may, notwithstanding the preceding sentence and clause (i), require the Association to make reports concerning the activities of any associated person, whose business activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the financial or operational condition of the Association.

(iii)

Definition.—

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “associated person” means any person, other than a natural person, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Association.

(F)

Compensation of auditors and examiners.—

(i)

Rates of pay.—

Rates of basic pay for all auditors and examiners appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be set and adjusted by the Secretary of the Treasury without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 or subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.

(ii)

Comparability.—

(I)

In general.—

Subject to section 5373 of title 5, the Secretary of the Treasury may provide additional compensation and benefits to auditors and examiners appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) if the same type of compensation or benefits are then being provided by any agency referred to in section 1833b of title 12 or, if not then being provided, could be provided by such an agency under applicable provisions of law, rule, or regulation.

(II)

Consultation.—

In setting and adjusting the total amount of compensation and benefits for auditors and examiners appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the Treasury shall consult with, and seek to maintain comparability with, the agencies referred to in section 1833b of title 12.

(3)

Monitoring of safety and soundness

(4)

Capital standard

(5)

Capital restoration plan

(A)

Submission, approval, and implementation

(B)

Disapproval

(C)

Association implementation and response

(6)

Substantial capital ratio reduction

(A)

Additional plan required

(B)

Disapproval

(C)

Review by Congress; Association implementation

(7)

Actions by Secretary of the Treasury

If the capital ratio of the Association does not equal or exceed 1.75 percent at the end of the Association’s most recent calendar quarter, the Secretary of the Treasury may, until the capital ratio equals or exceeds 1.75 percent, take any one or more of the following actions:

(A)

Limit increase in liabilities

(B)

Restrict growth

(C)

Restrict distributions

(D)

Require issuance of new capital

(E)

Limit executive compensation

(8)

Critical capital standard

(A)

If the capital ratio is less than 1 percent at the end of the Association’s most recent calendar quarter and the Association has already submitted a capital restoration plan to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (4) or (6)(A), the Association shall forthwith proceed with diligence to implement the most recently proposed plan with such modifications as the Secretary of the Treasury determines are necessary to cause the capital ratio to equal or exceed 2 percent within 60 months.

(B)

If the capital ratio is less than 1 percent at the end of the Association’s most recent calendar quarter and the Association has not submitted a capital restoration plan to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (4) or (6)(A), the Association shall—

(i)

within 14 days of such occurrence submit a capital restoration plan to the Secretary of the Treasury which the Association believes is adequate to cause the capital ratio to equal or exceed 2 percent within 60 months; and

(ii)

forthwith proceed with diligence to implement such plan with such modifications as the Secretary of the Treasury determines are necessary to cause the capital ratio to equal or exceed 2 percent within 60 months.

(C)

Immediately upon a determination under subparagraph (A) or (B) to implement a capital restoration plan, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit the capital restoration plan to be implemented to the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of Education.

(9)

Additional reports to committees

The Association shall submit a copy of its capital restoration plan, modifications proposed to the Secretary of the Treasury, and proposed modifications received from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office upon their submission to the Secretary of the Treasury or receipt from the Secretary of the Treasury. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office shall maintain the confidentiality of information received pursuant to the previous sentence. In the event that the Secretary of the Treasury does not approve a capital restoration plan as provided in paragraph (5)(A) or (6)(A), or in the event that a capital restoration plan is modified by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (6)(B) or (8), the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office shall each submit a report within 30 days of the Secretary of the Treasury’s submission to the Chairmen and ranking minority members as required in paragraphs (5)(B), (6)(B), and (8)(C) to such Chairmen and ranking members—

(A)

analyzing the financial condition of the Association;

(B)

analyzing the capital restoration plan and reasons for disapproval of the plan contained in the Secretary of the Treasury’s submission made pursuant to paragraph (5)(B), or the capital restoration plan proposed by the Association and the modifications made by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (6)(B) or (8);

(C)

analyzing the impact of the capital restoration plan and reasons for disapproval of the plan contained in the Secretary of the Treasury’s submission made pursuant to paragraph (5)(B), or the impact of the capital restoration plan proposed by the Association and the modifications made by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (6)(B) or (8), and analyzing the impact of the recommendations made pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, on—

(i)

the ability of the Association to fulfill its purpose and authorized activities as provided in this section, and

(ii)

the operation of the student loan programs; and

(D)

recommending steps which the Association should take to increase its capital ratio without impairing its ability to perform its purpose and authorized activities as provided in this section.

(10)

Review by Secretary of Education

The Secretary of Education shall review the Secretary of the Treasury’s submission required pursuant to paragraph (5)(B), (6)(B), or (8) and shall submit a report within 30 days to the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and to the Chairman and ranking minority member of the House Committee on Education and Labor—

(A)

describing any administrative or legislative provisions governing the student loan programs which contributed to the decline in the Association’s capital ratio; and

(B)

recommending administrative and legislative changes in the student loan programs to maintain the orderly operation of such programs and to enable the Association to fulfill its purpose and authorized activities consistent with the capital ratio specified in paragraph (4).

(11)

Safe harbor

(12)

Treatment of confidential information

(13)

Enforcement of safety and soundness requirements

(14)

Actions by Secretary

(A)

In general

For any fiscal quarter ending after January 1, 2000, the Association shall have a capital ratio of at least 2.25 percent. The Secretary of the Treasury may, whenever such capital ratio is not met, take any one or more of the actions described in paragraph (7), except that—

(i)

the capital ratio to be restored pursuant to paragraph (7)(D) shall be 2.25 percent; and

(ii)

if the relevant capital ratio is in excess of or equal to 2 percent for such quarter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall defer taking any of the actions set forth in paragraph (7) until the next succeeding quarter and may then proceed with any such action only if the capital ratio of the Association remains below 2.25 percent.

(B)

Applicability

(15)

Definitions

As used in this subsection:

(A)

The term “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as that term is defined in section 78c(a) of title 15.

(B)

The term “capital ratio” means the ratio of total stockholders’ equity, as shown on the Association’s most recent quarterly consolidated balance sheet prepared in the ordinary course of its business, to the sum of—

(i)

the total assets of the Association, as shown on the balance sheet prepared in the ordinary course of its business; and

(ii)

50 percent of the credit equivalent amount of the following off-balance sheet items of the Association as of the date of such balance sheet—

(I)

all financial standby letters of credit and other irrevocable guarantees of the repayment of financial obligations of others; and

(II)

all interest rate contracts and exchange rate contracts, including interest exchange agreements, floor, cap, and collar agreements and similar arrangements.

For purposes of this subparagraph, the calculation of the credit equivalent amount of the items set forth in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, the netting of such items and eliminations for the purpose of avoidance of double-counting of such items shall be made in accordance with the measures for computing credit conversion factors for off-balance sheet items for capital maintenance purposes established for commercial banks from time to time by the Federal Reserve Board, but without regard to any risk weighting provisions in such measures.

(C)

The term “legislative days” means only days on which either House of Congress is in session.

(16)

Dividends

(17)

Certification prior to payment of dividend

(s)

Charter sunset

(1)

Application of provisions

(2)

Sunset plan

(A)

Plan submission by the Association

Not later than July 1, 2007, the Association shall submit to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities of the House of Representatives, a detailed plan for the orderly winding up, by July 1, 2013, of business activities conducted pursuant to the charter set forth in this section. Such plan shall—

(i)

ensure that the Association will have adequate assets to transfer to a trust, as provided in this subsection, to ensure full payment of remaining obligations of the Association in accordance with the terms of such obligations;

(ii)

provide that all assets not used to pay liabilities shall be distributed to shareholders as provided in this subsection; and

(iii)

provide that the operations of the Association shall remain separate and distinct from that of any entity to which the assets of the Association are transferred.

(B)

Amendment of the plan by the Association

(C)

Plan monitoring

(D)

Amendment of the plan by the Secretary of the Treasury

(E)

Implementation by the Association

(3)

Dissolution of the Association

The Association shall dissolve and the Association’s separate existence shall terminate on July 1, 2013, after discharge of all outstanding debt obligations and liquidation pursuant to this subsection. The Association may dissolve pursuant to this subsection prior to such date by notifying the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury of the Association’s intention to dissolve, unless within 60 days of receipt of such notice the Secretary of Education notifies the Association that the Association continues to be needed to serve as a lender of last resort pursuant to subsection (q) or continues to be needed to purchase loans under an agreement with the Secretary described in paragraph (4)(A). On the dissolution date, the Association shall take the following actions:

(A)

Establishment of a trust

(B)

Use of trust assets

(C)

Obligations not transferred to the trust

(D)

Transfer of remaining assets

(4)

Restrictions relating to winding up

(A)

Restrictions on new business activity or acquisition of assets by the Association

(i)

In general

Beginning on July 1, 2009, the Association shall not engage in any new business activities or acquire any additional program assets (including acquiring assets pursuant to contractual commitments) described in subsection (d) other than in connection with the Association—

(I)

serving as a lender of last resort pursuant to subsection (q); and

(II)

purchasing loans insured under this part, if the Secretary, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, enters into an agreement with the Association for the continuation or resumption of the Association’s secondary market purchase program because the Secretary determines there is inadequate liquidity for loans made under this part.

(ii)

Agreement

(B)

Issuance of debt obligations during the wind up period; attributes of debt obligations

(C)

Use of Association name

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 439, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 402(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1418; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 10(dd), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 347; Pub. L. 100–369, § 7(c), July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 837; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 431, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 554; Pub. L. 103–66, title IV, §§ 4041(c), 4104, Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 356, 367; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(69), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2470; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 358, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3968; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VI, § 602(b)(2)–(4), (c)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–284 to 3009–286; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(1) [title III, § 309], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–45; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 109–291, § 4(b)(5), Sept. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 1338.)

cite as: 20 USC 1087-2

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