In your Bank’s letter of March
28, 1961, and in subsequent correspondence and discussions, the question
was presented as to whether the institution by a member bank of a
program of so-called “split-dollar” life insurance for its managerial
employees would result in executive officers becoming indebted to
the bank in excess of $2,500, which is prohibited by section 22(g)
of the Federal Reserve Act and the Board’s Regulation O. In the meantime,
the same question has been raised in two other Federal Reserve Districts
involving life insurance plans that differ somewhat in detail but
are substantially the same as the plan described by you.
It is understood that the member
banks are interested in the plan since they believe it will enable
them to recruit and retain in their employ promising young men having
potential managerial ability. The insurance may be attractive to a
young employee since it enables him to secure life insurance at much
lower rates than would be otherwise available, and at a time when
his need for insurance is perhaps the greatest.
All the various plans of split-dollar insurance
which have been examined are based on the fact that in every permanent
life insurance contract there is (1) an investment element represented
by cash value and dividends, if any, that increases each year, and
(2) the insurance element that decreases as the investment element
increases.
While, as indicated, different plans may vary in detail,
they all appear to incorporate the same basic features. Pursuant to
an agreement made with its key employees, a bank takes out a life
insurance policy for each. The bank pays that portion of the premium
that is equivalent to the increase in the cash surrender value of
the policy and the employee pays the remainder. However, since the
policy at its inception has no cash surrender value, special arrangements
usually are made for payment of the entire first year premium by the
employee, although arrangements in this respect vary with different
insurance plans. When a policy is paid up, or should the employee
die or his services be terminated during the life of the policy, the
bank receives a return of an amount equivalent to the sum of the premiums
it has paid.
Under some forms of agreement, the employee obligates
himself, in the event his employment is terminated during the life
of the policy, to pay to the bank any difference there may be between
the cash surrender value of the policy and the aggregate premiums
therefore paid
by the bank with interest compounded at 2 percent per annum. In the
unlikely event that no dividends have been paid, it is understood
that this could amount to $2,920 in the twenty-fifth year of a $50,000
policy, thus exceeding the $2,500 limitation provided by Regulation
O. However, the Board considers the likelihood of this ever happening
to be so remote that it may be disregarded for purposes of the question
here considered.
Regulation O may be violated whenever, as a result of
any transaction, an executive officer becomes indebted to his bank,
directly or indirectly. Under no plan of split-dollar insurance that
has been brought to the Board’s attention does the executive officer
ever become so obligated. On the contrary, the bank must look solely
to the cash surrender value of the policy, including dividends, for
reimbursement of the sum expended for its portion of the premium.
Accordingly, since any obligation to make payment to the bank runs
to the insurance company and not to the executive officer, it is the
Board’s view that no violation of the regulation would be involved.
Finally, it seems evident from the legislative history
of section 22(g) that its underlying purpose was not to interfere
with or discourage banks from providing their employees with various
forms of fringe benefits, including programs for life insurance. This
is not to say, however, that a violation of the regulation would not
result if, under the terms and conditions of a particular plan, an
executive officer is required to become indebted to his bank in excess
of the $2,500 permitted by the Regulation. S-1887, March 28, 1961.