Banking (restricted word or expression) consent No. 1 of 2018

Building Societies, Credit Unions and Trustees of Superannuation Entities

Banking Act 1959 – section 66

 

SINCE there is no determination in force under section 11 of the Banking Act 1959 (the Act) that section 66 of the Act does not apply,

I, Christopher Gower, a delegate of APRA:

(a) under paragraph 66(2)(c) of the Act REVOKE the Banking (restricted word or expression) consent No. 3 of 2015 made on 14 December 2015; and

(b) under paragraph 66(1)(d) of the Act, CONSENT to the assumption or use in Australia by the classes of persons specified in Column 2 of Schedule 1, of the restricted words and expressions specified in the same row in Column 1 of Schedule 1 (or words of like import), in relation to the financial business carried on by each member of the class.

This consent is subject to the conditions I IMPOSE under paragraph 66(2)(a) of the Act, specified in Column 3 of Schedule 1.

This instrument commences upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Dated    23 October 2018 

 

 

[Signed]

 

Chris Gower

General Manager

Resolution and Enforcement


Interpretation

In this instrument

ADI has the meaning given in subsection 5(1) of the Act.

APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

banking activities means:

(a)     both taking money on deposit (otherwise than as part-payment for identified goods or services) and making advances of money; and

(b)     any other financial activities prescribed by regulations for the purposes of the definition of banking business in subsection 5(1) of the Act; and

(c)     financial activities incidental to the activities mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).

Building Society means a body corporate in the class of persons described in Schedule 2.

Credit Union means a body corporate in the class of persons described in Schedule 3.

Federal Register of Legislation means the register established under section 15A of the Legislation Act 2003.

financial business has the meaning given in subsection 66(4) of the Act.

holding company, in relation to a body corporate, means a body corporate of which the first-mentioned body corporate is a subsidiary.

related body corporate is:

(a)   a holding company of; or

(b)   a subsidiary of; or

(c)   a subsidiary of a holding company of,

a Building Society or Credit Union.

restricted word or expression has the meaning given in subsection 66(4) of the Act.

subsidiary, in relation to a body corporate, means a subsidiary of the body corporate within the meaning of Division 6 of Part 1.2 of the Corporations Act 2001.

superannuation entity has the meaning given in subsection 10(1) of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

 

Note 1 This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (the Legislation Act) (see section 8).  The requirement in subsection 66(2A) of the Act, for publication of this instrument in the Gazette, is satisfied by registration on the Federal Register of Legislation (see subsection 11(4) Legislation Act).

Note 2 Under subsection 66(1) of the Act, a person who carries on a financial business is guilty of an offence if the person assumes or uses, in Australia, a restricted word or expression in relation to that financial business, where:

(i)            subsections 66(1AB) and 66(1AC) do not apply; and

(ii)          APRA has not consented to that assumption or use; and

(iii)        there is no determination in force under section 11 of the Act that subsection 66(1) does not apply to that person.

The penalty is 50 penalty units or, in the case of a body corporate, subsection 4B(3) of the Crimes Act 1914 allows a court to impose a penalty of up to 250 penalty units. Under subsection 66(1AA), an offence against subsection 66(1) is committed on the first day on which the offence is committed and on each subsequent day that the circumstances giving rise to the offence continue, including the day of conviction or any later day.

Note 3 Under subsection 66(2) of the Act, APRA may at any time impose conditions, or additional conditions, on a consent or vary or revoke conditions imposed on a consent or revoke a consent.

Note 4 Under subsection 66(3) of the Act, a person who has been given a consent under section 66 and who contravenes a condition applicable to the consent (where there is no applicable determination in force under section 11 of the Act) is guilty of an offence.  The penalty is 50 penalty units or, in the case of a body corporate, subsection 4B(3) of the Crimes Act 1914 allows a court to impose a penalty of up to 250 penalty units. Under subsection 66(3A) of the Act, an offence against subsection 66(3) is committed on the first day on which the offence is committed and on each subsequent day that the circumstances giving rise to the offence continue, including the day of conviction or any later day.

Note 5 Under subsection 66(2B) of the Act, APRA must notify the Australian Securities and Investments Commission if APRA grants or revokes a consent or imposes, varies or revokes conditions on a consent given under section 66 of the Act.


Schedule 1 – assumption or use of restricted words or expressions

 

Column 1

Restricted words and expressions

Column 2

Class of Persons

Column 3

Conditions

building society

Building Societies

A Building Society may use the expression building society.

credit union, credit society and credit               co-operative

Credit Unions

A Credit Union may use the expressions credit union, credit society and credit co-operative.

bank, banker, banking, building society, credit union, credit society or credit               co-operative

trustees of a superannuation entity of which all members are officers or employees, or former officers or employees, of an ADI (ADI staff fund trustee)

An ADI staff fund trustee may use the restricted words or expressions bank, banker, banking, building society, credit union, credit society or credit co-operative only as part of:

(a)          the trustee’s name; and

(b)          the superannuation entity’s name,

provided that:

(c)          the ADI staff fund trustee assumes or uses the name of an ADI as part of the trustee’s name or the superannuation entity’s name;

(d)          the words or expressions are assumed or used by the ADI as part of its name, and the ADI is permitted to use the word under the Act or APRA has consented to that assumption or use; and

(e)          the words or expressions are not used in a misleading or deceptive way.

Note 1: An example of using in a misleading or deceptive way is using to suggest that the trustee or the superannuation entity is a bank, building society, credit union, credit society or credit co-operative, where that is not the case.

Note 2: Nothing in this instrument is intended to authorise any act that infringes on a person’s rights under, or contravenes, any other law.

 


Schedule 2 – Building Societies

 

 

Schedule 3 – Credit Unions