This course provides a practically oriented introduction to the organization, ownership structures, powers, and regulation of State and Federally chartered banks, savings institutions, and holding companies. Students are introduced to the history and development and current structure of the U.S. banking and thrift industries, the differences in corporate powers between deposit-taking and other types of business organization, the historic roots and current status of America’s “dual banking system,” and the origin, “moral hazards” and other effects and limitations of federal deposit insurance. Through review of assigned commentary, corporate charter and bylaw provisions, judicial and agency decisions, agency policy statements, and Federal and State statutes and regulations, students will examine the evolution, corporate organization and regulation of bank, savings and loan, and financial holding companies, including business powers, capital and liquidity requirements, affiliate and insider transactions restrictions, restrictions on geographic and product line expansion. The course includes critical review of the existing system of supervision, licensing and examination of financial institutions, the application of antitrust principles to the banking industry, and the principles and tools of financial consumer protection. Also reviewed are the supervisory and enforcement powers of the Federal financial regulatory agencies. Focusing on the 2023 failures of Silicon Valley, Signature, and First Republic Bank, the FDIC’s tools and methodologies for resolving failed financial institutions are also examined. The course text is the current (3rd) edition of M.Barr, H.Jackson & M. Tahyar’s Financial Regulation Law & Policy. Weekly lectures are supplemented with topical slides and instructors’ notes, and sample documents from actual transactions. A research paper on an assigned topic of current interest is required.
FALL 2025: LAW BK 925 A1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
FALL 2025: LAW BK 925 O2, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
FALL 2025: LAW BK 925 OL, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025