§5-5A-23. Investments and loans with respect to housing.

(a) Banks, insurance companies and savings and loan associations are authorized:

(1) To make such loans and advances of credit and purchases of obligations representing loans and advances of credit as are eligible for insurance and to obtain such insurance; and

(2) To make such loans secured by real property or leasehold as the Federal Housing Administrator insures or makes a commitment to insure and to obtain such insurance.

(b) It shall be lawful for banks, insurance companies or savings and loan associations to purchase, invest in and dispose of bonds or notes secured by mortgages issued by the Federal Housing Administrator and in securities issued by national mortgage associations.

(c) No law of this state requiring security upon which loans or investments may be made, or prescribing or limiting interest rates upon loans or investments, or prescribing or limiting the period for which loans or investments may be made shall be deemed to apply to loans or investments made pursuant to the foregoing paragraph.

(d) Any bank or trust company purchasing, investing in or otherwise holding in any fiduciary capacity for the benefit of any ward or other beneficiary any mortgage loan insured by the Federal Housing Administrator shall be entitled to receive and retain for its own individual or corporate account any service charge allowed by said administrator on account of the servicing of the insured mortgage loan. Such service charge shall be considered as a reimbursement to such fiduciary for the additional expense of handling for the mortgagor and the Federal Housing Administrator monthly collections on such mortgage loan and payments of taxes, insurance and other charges on the property securing such loan as such administrator and regulations may require.

(e) Wherever, by statute of this state, collateral is required as security for the deposit of public or other funds, or deposits are required to be made with any public official or department, or an investment of capital or surplus or a reserve or other fund is required to be maintained, consisting of designated securities, notes and bonds insured by the Federal Housing Administrator and debentures issued by the Federal Housing Administrator and obligations of national mortgage associations shall be acceptable at face value for such purposes.

(Acts 1980, No. 80-658, §5-5-23.)