12 C.F.R. § 16.2
Definitions.
Cite as 12 C.F.R. § 16.2 (2026)
For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:
(a)
Accredited investor
means the same as in SEC Rule 501(a) (17 CFR 230.501(a)).
(b)
Dealer
means the same as in section 2(a)(12) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(12)).
(c)
Exchange Act
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a
et seq.
).
(d)
Insured depository institution
means the same as in section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2)).
(e)
Federal savings association
means an existing Federal savings association chartered under section 5 of the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) (12 U.S.C. 1464
et seq.
) or a Federal savings association in organization.
(f)
Investment grade
means the issuer of a security has an adequate capacity to meet financial commitments under the security for the projected life of the asset or exposure. An issuer has an adequate capacity to meet financial commitments if the risk of default by the obligor is low and the full and timely repayment of principal and interest is expected.
(g)
Issuer
means a national bank or Federal savings association that issues or proposes to issue any security.
(h)
National bank
means an existing national bank, a national bank in organization, or a Federal branch or agency of a foreign bank.
(i)
Nonconvertible debt
means a general obligation of the national bank or Federal savings association, whether senior or subordinated, that is not convertible into any class of common or preferred stock or any derivative thereof.
(j)
Person
means the same as in section 2(a)(2) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(2)) and includes a national bank and a Federal savings association.
(k)
Prospectus
means an offering document that includes the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77j(a)).
(l)
Registration statement
means a filing that includes the prospectus and other information required by section 7 of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77g).
(m)
Sale, sell, offer to sell, offer for sale,
and
offer
mean the same as in section 2(a)(3) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(3)).
(n)
SEC
means the Securities and Exchange Commission. When used in the rules, regulations, or forms of the SEC referred to in this part, the term “SEC” shall be deemed to refer to the OCC.
(o)
Securities Act
means the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a
et seq.
).
(p)
Security
means the same as in section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(1)).
(q)
Underwriter
means the same as in section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(11)). SEC Rules 137, 140, 141, 142, and 144 (17 CFR 230.137, 230.140, 230.141, 230.142, and 230.144) (which apply to section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act) apply to this part.
[59 FR 54798, Nov. 2, 1994, as amended at 73 FR 22243, Apr. 24, 2008; 77 FR 35258, June 13, 2012; 82 FR 8107, Jan. 23, 2017]
- Cross-references to the US Code
- 12:146412:181315:77a15:77b15:77g15:77j15:78a
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 17:230.13717:230.501