Wisconsin Bankers Association v. Albert J. Robertson, Comprising the Federal Home Loan Bank Board , 294 F.2d 714 ( 1961 )

WILBUR K. MILLER, Chief Judge.

In their complaint, filed June 25, 1958, the appellants asked the United States District Court to declare unauthorized and illegal certain regulations and charter provisions for federal savings and loan associations promulgated by the appellees in 1949. They also asked the Distriet Court to order that the 1949 regulations “generally be restored to the original regulations prevailing prior to March 7, 1949 * * In a pre-trial statement the parties agreed that the District Court first determine two legal issues, and that trial of the action would not be necessary unless both were decided in favor of the plaintiffs [appellants]. The issues were thus stated in an order of the District Court:

i“(a) The legality of the regulations (and charter provisions) promulgated and maintained by defendants as a Board since on or about March 7, 1949.

“(b) The plaintiffs’ legal standing to sue upon the basis of the defendants stipulating for purpose of determining this question that the-business of banking may be conducted in Wisconsin by only such organizations, including plaintiffs, as are chartered to operate as banks, and upon the assumption for the purpose of determining this question that the factual allegations of the com- • plaint are true. * * *»

Argument was heard on the agreed j issues and thereafter, in a carefully con- , sidered opinion, reported in 1960, 190 ; F.Supp. 90, the trial judge held that the Plaintiffs had standing to sue but that the challenged regulations and charter Provisions are authorized and legal. ¡ Consequently, the complaint was dis- •' missed ’

. , ,, TIT. . , , This appeal by the Wisconsin banks , , , , . , „ , ,, and bankers brings before us only the holding that the regulations and charter provisions are valid, for “An appeal brings up for review only that which was decided adversely to the appellant.” Loudon v. Taxing District, 1881, 104 U.S. 771, 774, 26 L.Ed. 923. As a cross appeal was not filed by the appellees, we cannot consider, and therefore express no opinion concerning, their argument that the District Court erred in holding the appellants had standing to sue. In the ’ absence of a cross appeal, an “appellee may not attack the decree with a view either to enlarging his own rights thereunder or of lessening the rights of his adversary * * United States v. American Ry. Exp. Co., 1924, 265 U.S. 425, 435, 44 S.Ct. 560, 564, 68 L.Ed. 1087. In Morley Co. v. Maryland Casualty Co., 1937, 300 U.S. 185, 191, 57 S.Ct. 325, 328, 81 L.Ed. 593, Mr. Justice Cardozo said tMs “rule is inveterate and certain.”

The general theory of the complaint is that the challenged regulations and charter provisions are not in accord with Section 5 of the governing statute,¹ which provides that federal savings and loan associations “shall raise their capital only in the form of payments on such shares as are authorized in their charter” and that “No deposits shall be accepted * * * »» by them.

We recently held that a share ^ m a federal savings and loan association is an investment, and is not equivalent to the deposit of money in a bank² But the appellants here contend the 1949 regulations unlawfully permit federal sav- ... , . . mgs and loan associations to raise capí- . f, , .. , „ tal by payments on savings accounts • , , „ ,, , „ ,, , , , instead of on shares as the statute re- , . . ,, quires: that under this provision, the , ,, ’ . . . „ \ i holder of a savings account m a federal . ,. . ,. savmgs and loan association is a creditor of the association just as a holder oí \ . . a savings account m a bank is a creditor , ,, of the bank; and that, therefore, the ' * , » ' provision authorizes the acceptance oí , mi ,ij. ix deposits. They argue that, as a result * . -t ** , , . 7. . «X1 of this and other related provisions of the nii • j 1949 regulations, federal savings and •m . ■» . TTT. . loan associations m Wisconsin are accepting deposits and so illegally engaging in the banking business in competition with the duly chartered banks of that

The appellants principally rely for support of their theory of illegality upon the 1949 regulation which defines “capital” as “the aggregate of the payments on savings accounts in a Federal association, plus earnings credited thereto, less lawful deductions therefrom.” Whether this regulation is in accord with Section 5(b) of the Act depends upon the meaning of the term “savings account.” If it means an account similar to a savings i account in a bank with respect to which the bank is debtor to the depositor, the regulation is repugnant to Section 5(b), for two reasons: (a) payments on such savings accounts cannot be payments on : “shares” of capital, as contemplated by the statute, and (b) it violates the provisjon that “No deposits shall be accepted , # * *_» Qn ^ 0^er kan(j jf the term , “savingS accounts” was used to mean “shares” of an association’s capital, the regulation is in accord with Section 5 (b).

,. „ ,, , ,. The section of the 1949 regulations , , „ ., . . , „ which defines capital m terms of pay- , . ^ , . . ,. . n ments on savings accounts is immediately . „ , , ,. followed by a section which defines the , „ . , term savings account as the monetary . , ,, . . ,, interest of the holder thereof m the capi- , Federa1 expiation and consists * ,, , , , « . . oi the withdrawal value of such inter- , „ T, .. , ,, « est.” It seems quite clear, therefore, , t( , „ . ,, that the words savings accounts 7 m the , n„ , ,, regulation defining capital7 have the . ,, , „ , „ . same meaning as the word shares m , . , . . ,, the statutory provision governing the . . « .f 1 raising ox ca^pixai.

Tl . , , , (< ,ls suggested however, that the term sfin®s acfunts haf, a sfcial ff “ficanuce an<! 18 S^erally understood to describe such accounts m banks, with the result that its use in the regulation concerning the raising of capital permits the associations to accept deposits just as banks accept them. This suggestion assumes that the regulation defining “capital” as the “aggregate of payments on savings accounts” will be read without reference to the succeeding regulation which defines “savings account” as a share of capital. It also assumes that the term “savings account” has come to be restricted in its meaning to such an account in a bank, and may not be used as having any other significance. We do not agree to either assumption.

Other 1949 regulations and charter provisions are attacked as unauthorized and illegal, mainly on the theory that they tend to confirm the allegation that the associations have been authorized to accept deposits in competition with banking institutions. Among them are these provisions: (1) that which requires an association to obtain a signature card upon issuance of a savings account; (2) that which requires that a member be furnished with a copy of the charter and by-laws only upon request; (3) that which permits the withdrawal value of a savings account to be paid at any time; (4) that which requires that earnings, after payment of expenses and credits to reserves, be distributed semi-annually on savings accounts; (5) those which declare that “Holders of savings accounts for which application for withdrawal has been made shall remain holders of savings accounts and shall not become creditors,” and that “All savings accounts shall be non-assessable;” and (6) that which prescribes the following form of subscription to capital by organizers of an association:

“Having been given permission to organize a Federal association, the undersigned hereby subscribe for the amount of capital indicated below, and contract to pay into a savings account, upon the issuance of a charter, the amount of cash stated opposite their respective names below. We agree to cooperate in the development of such an association for the promotion of local savings and home-financing.”

The mere statement of the regulations and charter provisions referred to in the preceding paragraph refutes the allegation of illegality with respect to them, particularly in view of the fact that we hold valid the regulations which define “capital” and “savings account.” All the challenged provisions seem to us to be consistent with the statute, and to have been validly promulgated thereunder. As the District Court so held, its judgment will not be disturbed.

Affirmed.

1 . ’ Section 5 of the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended, 48 Stat. 132, 12 U.S.C.A. § 1464, is, in pertinent part, as follows:

“ (a) Organization authorized. In order to provide local mutual thrift institutions in which people may invest their funds and in order to provide for the financing of homes, the Board is authorized, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, to provide for the organization, incorporation, examination, operation, and regulation of associations to be known as ‘Federal Savings and Loan Associations’, and to issue charters therefor, giving primary consideration to the best practices of local mutual thrift and home-financing institutions in the United States.

“(b) Capital; deposit; certificates of indebtedness. Such associations shall raise their capital only in the form of payments on such shares as are authorized in their charter, which shares may be retired as is therein provided. No deposits shall be accepted and no certificates of indebtedness shall be issued except for such borrowed money as may be authorized by regulations of the Board.”

2 . Aetna Casualty and Surety Co. v. Porter, 1961, 110 U.S.App.D.C. — , — F.2d — .