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CREDS 3A.1 Application and purpose

Application

CREDS 3A.1.1 R RP

1This chapter applies to all credit unions

Purpose

CREDS 3A.1.2 G RP

The purpose of this chapter is to provide conduct rules and guidance on credit unions’ holding of shares and deposits, joint accounts, borrowings and insurance cover.

CREDS 3A.2 Shares and deposits

Joint accounts

CREDS 3A.2.1 G RP

1There is no restriction on the number of members who may jointly hold shares in a credit union.

Deposits including child trust funds

CREDS 3A.2.2 R RP

A credit union must not accept deposits except:

  1. (1)

    by way of subscription for its shares from persons who may lawfully be admitted to membership of the credit union under the Credit Unions Act 1979 or the Credit Union (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as appropriate) and the rules of the credit union; or

  2. (2)

    from persons too young to be members under any provision of the credit union’s rules or (for Northern Ireland credit unions) under article 15 of the Credit Unions (Northern Ireland) Order 1985; or

  3. (3)

    as loans from persons under CREDS 3A.3.1R.

CREDS 3A.2.3 G RP

Credit unions that provide CTFs should ensure that under their rules depositors under the age of 18 whose deposits are held within a CTF continue to be treated as juvenile depositors until the age of 18. This will provide for the fact that CTF account holders may not withdraw any money from the CTF until they reach the age of 18, in contrast with the position in relation to other deposits which become shares and may be withdrawn earlier.

CREDS 3A.2.4 G RP

CREDS 3A.2.2R and CREDS 3A.3.1R are intended to ensure that the liberalisation of credit union borrowing (CREDS 3A.3.2G) does not have the unintended effect of undermining the common bond concept by allowing credit unions to operate deposit accounts for natural persons who do not qualify for membership.

Sale of deferred shares

CREDS 3A.2.5 R RP

2A credit union must not require any of its members to purchase deferred shares or purport to do so.

CREDS 3A.3 Borrowing

CREDS 3A.3.1 R RP

1A credit union must not borrow from a natural person, except by way of a subordinated loan qualifying as capital under PRA rules.

CREDS 3A.3.2 G RP

CREDS 3A.3.1R does not apply to borrowing from a body corporate. A loan made to a credit union by a body corporate can either be a subordinated loan (providing regulatory capital within PRA rules) or a senior loan (providing ordinary funding, but not constituting regulatory capital).

CREDS 3A.3.3 R RP

2A credit union must not require any of its members to make a subordinated loan to the credit union or purport to do so.

CREDS 3A.4 Insurance against fraud or other dishonesty

CREDS 3A.4.1 R RP

1A credit union must at all times maintain in force a policy of insurance that complies with the requirements in part 2.10 of the Credit Unions Rulebook Part of the PRA Rulebook.

CREDS 3A.4.2 G RP

The policy of insurance required by CREDS 3A.4.1R is intended to protect the credit union from loss suffered or liability incurred by reason of the fraud or other dishonesty of any of its officers or employees.

CREDS 3A.4.3 R RP

A credit union must ensure that the governing body reports to the members at the annual general meeting of the credit union on whether the credit union has maintained at all times the policy of insurance required by CREDS 3A.4.1R.

CREDS 3A.5 Requirements on the retail distribution and financial promotion of capital instruments

Application

CREDS 3A.5.1 R RP
  1. (1)

    1The requirements in this section apply:

    1. (a)

      (excluding the requirements in CREDS 3A.5.6R and CREDS 3A.5.7R) to a firm when dealing in or arranging a deal in a deferred share with or for a relevant credit union client where the relevant credit union client is to enter into the deal as buyer; and

    2. (b)

      (excluding the requirements in CREDS 3A.5.3R to CREDS 3A.5.5R) to a firm when:

      1. (i)

        communicating a direct offer financial promotion relating to credit union subordinated debt to a relevant credit union client; or

      2. (ii)

        approving a direct offer financial promotion relating to credit union subordinated debt for communication to a relevant credit union client.

  2. (2)

    The requirements in this section do not apply if the deal relates to the trading of a deferred share or credit union subordinated debt in the secondary market.

  3. (3)

    The requirements in this section, other than CREDS 3A.5.8R, CREDS 3A.5.9R and CREDS 3A.5.10R, do not apply if the firm has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the relevant credit union client is a certified high net worth investor, a certified sophisticated investor or a self-certified sophisticated investor in accordance with COBS 22.2.4R, as adapted by CREDS 3A.5.8R for the purposes of this section.

CREDS 3A.5.2 G RP

The effect of CREDS 3A.5.1R(1)(a) is that the requirements of this section apply to a credit union where it is dealing in its own deferred shares.

Statements requirement relating to the retail distribution of deferred shares

CREDS 3A.5.3 R RP
  1. (1)

    The firm must:

    1. (a)

      give the relevant credit union client a risk warning in the form in (2) on paper or another durable medium; and

    2. (b)

      obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has read it,

    in good time before the relevant credit union client has committed to buy the deferred share.

  2. (2)

    “The investment to which this communication relates is a deferred share. Direct investment in deferred shares can be high risk and is very different to investment in deposit accounts or other savings products. In particular, you should note that:

    1. (a)

      the entire amount you pay for the deferred share is at risk;

    2. (b)

      the sum you pay is only repayable to you in limited circumstances, specifically if:

      1. (i)

        the credit union has obtained specific regulatory permission to make the repayment; or

      2. (ii)

        the credit union is wound up, and there are funds remaining after all creditors, including savers and holders of subordinated debt, have been repaid;

    3. (c)

      the sum you pay for deferred shares is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme;

    4. (d)

      a deferred share may only be sold to a member of the same credit union and may be difficult to sell on; and

    5. (e)

      investing more than 10% of your savings or net investment portfolio in deferred shares issued by a credit union, credit union subordinated debt and mutual society shares is unlikely to be in your best interests.”

CREDS 3A.5.4 R RP
  1. (1)

    The firm must:

    1. (a)

      give the relevant credit union client a statement in the form in (2) on paper or another durable medium; and

    2. (b)

      obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has signed it,

    in good time before the relevant credit union client has committed to buy the deferred share.

  2. (2)

    “I make this statement in connection with my proposed investment in deferred shares issued by a credit union. I have been made aware that investing more than 10% of my net assets in deferred shares issued by a credit union, credit union subordinated debt and mutual society shares is unlikely to be in my best interests. I declare that the proposed investment would not result in more than 10% of my net assets being invested in deferred shares issued by a credit union, credit union subordinated debt and mutual society shares. Net assets for these purposes mean my financial assets after deduction of any debts I have. My debts for these purposes do not include the outstanding balance of any mortgage I have on my home, unless this is more than the current value of my home, in which case the debts include the amount above the current value. My financial assets for these purposes do not include:

    1. (a)

      the property which is my primary residence or any money raised through a loan secured on that property;

    2. (b)

      any rights of mine under a contract of insurance; or

    3. (c)

      any benefits (in the form of pensions or otherwise) which are payable on the termination of my service or on my death or retirement and to which I am (or my dependants are) or may be entitled.

    I accept that the investment to which this statement relates will expose me to a significant risk of losing all the money invested.

    Signature:

    Date: ”

  3. (3)

    The requirement in (1) to give a relevant credit union client the statement, and to obtain written confirmation that the statement has been signed, applies only where the relevant credit union client:

    1. (a)

      is an individual; and

    2. (b)

      is not receiving advice that constitutes a regulated activity on the deferred share.

Assessing the appropriateness of an investment in deferred shares

CREDS 3A.5.5 R RP

If the relevant credit union client is not receiving advice that constitutes a regulated activity on the deferred share, the firm must assess whether investment in the deferred share is appropriate for the relevant credit union client, complying with the requirements in COBS 10 as if the firm were providing non-advised investment services in the course of MiFID or equivalent third country business.

Statements requirement in the case of a direct offer financial promotion relating to subordinated debt

CREDS 3A.5.6 R RP
  1. (1)

    The firm must:

    1. (a)

      include a risk warning in the form in (2) for any direct offer financial promotion to a relevant credit union client relating to credit union subordinated debt; and

    2. (b)

      obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has read the risk warning,

    in good time before the relevant credit union client makes the subordinated loan to the credit union.

  2. (2)

    “The investment to which this financial promotion relates is credit union subordinated debt. Making a subordinated loan to a credit union can be high risk and is very different to investment in deposit accounts or other savings products. In particular you should note that:

    1. (a)

      the entire amount you lend is at risk;

    2. (b)

      the loan will not be repaid to you until at least five years from the date on which you lend the amount to the credit union;

    3. (c)

      if the credit union is wound up the sum you lend is only repayable to you if there are funds remaining after all creditors (excluding holders of deferred shares) have been repaid;

    4. (d)

      the entire amount you lend is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme;

    5. (e)

      to the fullest extent possible, you will be required to waive any right to set off any amount you owe to the credit union against any amount the credit union owes to you under the subordinated loan; and

    6. (f)

      investing more than 10% of your savings or net investment portfolio in credit union subordinated debt, deferred shares issued by a credit union and mutual society shares is unlikely to be in your best interests.”

CREDS 3A.5.7 R RP
  1. (1)

    The firm must:

    1. (a)

      include a statement in the form in (2) in any direct offer financial promotion to a relevant credit union client relating to credit union subordinated debt; and

    2. (b)

      obtain confirmation in writing from the relevant credit union client that the relevant credit union client has signed the statement,

    in good time before the relevant credit union client makes the subordinated loan to the credit union.

  2. (2)

    “I make this statement in connection with my proposed making of a subordinated loan to a credit union. I have been made aware that investing more than 10% of my net assets in credit union subordinated debt, deferred shares issued by a credit union and mutual society shares is unlikely to be in my best interests. I declare that the proposed investment would not result in more than 10% of my net assets being invested in credit union subordinated debt, deferred shares issued by a credit union and mutual society shares. Net assets for these purposes mean my financial assets after deduction of any debts I have. My debts for these purposes do not include the outstanding balance of any mortgage I have on my home, unless this is more than the current value of my home, in which case the debts include the amount above the current value. My financial assets for these purposes do not include:

    1. (a)

      the property which is my primary residence or any money raised through a loan secured on that property;

    2. (b)

      any rights of mine under a contract of insurance; or

    3. (c)

      any benefits (in the form of pensions or otherwise) which are payable on the termination of my service or on my death or retirement and to which I am (or my dependants are) or may be entitled.

    I accept that the investment to which this statement relates will expose me to a significant risk of losing all the money invested.

    Signature:

    Date: ”

  3. (3)

    The requirement in (1) to include the statement in a direct offer financial promotion, and to obtain written confirmation that the statement has been signed, applies only where the relevant credit union client:

    1. (a)

      is an individual; and

    2. (b)

      is not receiving advice that constitutes a regulated activity on the credit union subordinated debt.

Application of exemptions in COBS 22.2.4R

CREDS 3A.5.8 R RP
  1. (1)

    Where a firm applies any exemption set out in COBS 22.2.4R under CREDS 3A.5.1R(3)2, any reference in COBS 22.2.4R to mutual society share must be read as though it includes a deferred share or credit union subordinated debt, as applicable.

  2. (2)

    For the purposes of any assessments or certifications required by the exemptions in COBS 22.2.4R, as applied for the purposes of this section under CREDS 3A.5.1R(3)2, any reference in COBS 4.12 provisions to non-mainstream pooled investments must be read as though it is a reference to deferred shares or credit union subordinated debt, as applicable.

  3. (3)

    If the firm is relying on the exemptions for certified high net worth investors, certified sophisticated investors or self-certified sophisticated investors to comply with this section, the statement the investor must sign should have any reference to non-mainstream pooled investments replaced with a reference to deferred shares or credit union subordinated debt, as applicable.

  4. (4)

    The firm must give the relevant credit union client a written copy of any risk warning or statement that the relevant credit union client has been asked to sign for the purposes of compliance with this section.

CREDS 3A.5.9 G RP

COBS 22.2.4R contains the requirements that must be met before an individual can be exempted from the requirements of this section as a certified high net worth investor, a certificated sophisticated investor, or a self-certified sophisticated investor.

Record keeping

CREDS 3A.5.10 R RP

A firm which carries on an activity which is subject to this section must comply with the following record-keeping and disclosure requirements:

  1. (1)

    the firm must make a record at or near the time of the activity certifying it complies with the requirements set out in this section;

  2. (2)

    the record in (1) must include information and evidence demonstrating compliance with each of the requirements in this section, as applicable;

  3. (3)

    if the requirements of this section did not apply because the firm relied on one of the exemptions, the record in (1) must include which exemption was relied on, together with the reason why the firm is satisfied that exemption applies;

  4. (4)

    where the firm relies on the certified high net worth investor, the certified sophisticated investor or the self-certified sophisticated investor exemption, the record required in (1) must include a copy of the certificate or investor statement (as signed by the investor) and of the warnings or indications required by the exemption; and

  5. (5)

    the firm must retain the record required in (1) for three years.

Electronic documents

CREDS 3A.5.11 G RP

In this section:

  1. (1)

    any requirement that a document is signed may be satisfied by an electronic signature or electronic evidence of assent; and

  2. (2)

    any references to writing should be construed in accordance with GEN 2.2.14R and its related guidance provisions.

Responsibility of the credit union

CREDS 3A.5.12 R RP

Where the requirements of this section apply to a firm other than the credit union that issues the deferred shares or receives the credit union subordinated debt, the credit union must ensure that the firm complies with the requirements of this section.