WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced House Bill 4913
By Delegates W. Clark, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker),
Thorne, and Warner [Introduced January 18, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary]
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1 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article,
2 designated §31A-9-1, §31A-9-2, §31A-9-3, §31A-9-4, §31A-9-5, §31A-9-6, §31A-9-7,
3 §31A-9-8, §31A-9-9, §31A-9-10 §31A-9-11, §31A-9-12, §31A-9-13, §31A-9-14, §31A-9-
4 15-and §31A-9-16; all relating to the Uniform Special Deposits Act.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 9. THE UNIFORM SPECIAL DEPOSITS ACT.
§31A-9-1. Title.
1 This article may be cited as the Uniform Special Deposits Act.
§31A-9-2. Definitions
1 In this article:
2 (1) "Account agreement" means an agreement that:
3 (A) Is in a record between a bank and one or more depositors;
4 (B) May have one or more beneficiaries as additional parties; and
5 (C) States the intention of the parties to establish a special deposit governed by this article.
6 (2) "Bank" means a person engaged in the business of banking and includes a savings
7 bank, savings and loan association, credit union, trust company, and a bank as defined in §31A-1-
8 2 of this code. Each branch or separate office of a bank is a separate bank for the purpose of this
9 article.
10 (3) "Beneficiary" means a person that:
11 (A) Is identified as a beneficiary in an account agreement; or
12 (B) If not identified as a beneficiary in an account agreement, may be entitled to payment
13 from a special deposit:
14 (i) Under the account agreement; or
15 (ii) On termination of the special deposit.
16 (4) "Contingency" means an event or circumstance stated in an account agreement that is
17 not certain to occur but must occur before the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary.
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18 (5) "Creditor process" means attachment, garnishment, levy, notice of lien, sequestration,
19 or similar process issued by or on behalf of a creditor or other claimant.
20 (6) "Depositor" means a person that establishes or funds a special deposit.
21 (7) "Good faith" means honesty in fact and observance of reasonable commercial
22 standards of fair dealing.
23 (8) "Knowledge" of a fact means:
24 (A) With respect to a beneficiary, actual knowledge of the fact; or
25 (B) With respect to a bank holding a special deposit:
26 (i) If the bank:
27 (I) Has established a reasonable routine for communicating material information to an
28 individual to whom the bank has assigned responsibility for the special deposit; and
29 (II) Maintains reasonable compliance with the routine, actual knowledge of the fact by that
30 individual; or
31 (ii) If the bank has not established and maintained reasonable compliance with a routine
32 described in clause (i) or otherwise exercised due diligence, implied knowledge of the fact that
33 would have come to the attention of an individual to whom the bank has assigned responsibility for
34 the special deposit.
35 (9) "Obligated to pay a beneficiary" means a beneficiary is entitled under the account
36 agreement to receive from the bank a payment when:
37 (A) A contingency has occurred; and
38 (B) The bank has knowledge the contingency has occurred.
39 (10) "Obligation to pay a beneficiary" has a corresponding meaning.
40 (11) "Permissible purpose" means a governmental, regulatory, commercial, charitable, or
41 testamentary objective of the parties stated in an account agreement. The term includes an
42 objective to:
43 (A) Hold funds:
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44 (i) In escrow, including for a purchase and sale, lease, buyback, or other transaction;
45 (ii) As a security deposit of a tenant;
46 (iii) That may be distributed to a person as remuneration, retirement or other benefit, or
47 compensation under a judgment, consent decree, court order, or other decision of a tribunal; or
48 (iv) For distribution to a defined class of persons after identification of the class members
49 and their interest in the funds;
50 (B) Provide assurance with respect to an obligation created by contract, such as earnest
51 money to ensure a transaction closes;
52 (C) Settle an obligation that arises in the operation of a payment system, securities
53 settlement system, or other financial market infrastructure;
54 (D) Provide assurance with respect to an obligation that arises in the operation of a
55 payment system, securities settlement system, or other financial market infrastructure; or
56 (E) Hold margin, other cash collateral, or funds that support the orderly functioning of
57 financial market infrastructure or the performance of an obligation with respect to the
58 infrastructure.
59 (11) "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, government or
60 governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity. The term includes a
61 protected series, however denominated, of an entity if the protected series is established under
62 law that limits, or limits if conditions specified under law are satisfied, the ability of a creditor of the
63 entity or of any other protected series of the entity to satisfy a claim from assets of the protected
64 series.
65 (12) "Record" means information:
66 (A) Inscribed on a tangible medium; or
67 (B) Stored in an electronic or other medium and retrievable in perceivable form.
68 (13) "Special deposit" means a deposit that satisfies Section 5.
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69 (14) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
70 United States Virgin Islands, or any other territory or possession subject to the jurisdiction of the
71 United States. The term includes an agency or instrumentality of the state.
§31A-9-3. Scope; Choice of Law; Forum.
1 (a) This article applies to a special deposit under an account agreement that states the
2 intention of the parties to establish a special deposit governed by this article, regardless of whether
3 a party to the account agreement or a transaction related to the special deposit, or the special
4 deposit itself, has a reasonable relation to this state.
5 (b) The parties to an account agreement may choose a forum in this state for settling a
6 dispute arising out of the special deposit, regardless of whether a party to the account agreement
7 or a transaction related to the special deposit, or the special deposit itself, has a reasonable
8 relation to this state.
9 (c) This article does not affect:
10 (1) A right or obligation relating to a deposit other than a special deposit under this article;
11 or
12 (2) The voidability of a deposit or transfer that is fraudulent or voidable under other law.
§31A-9-4. Variation by Agreement or Amendment.
1 (a) The effect of §31A-9-2 through §31A-9-6, 8 through 11, and §31A-9-14 of this code may
2 not be varied by agreement, except as provided in those sections. Subject to subsection (b) of this
3 section, the effect of §31A-9-7, §31A-9-12, and §31A-9-13 of this code may be varied by
4 agreement.
5 (b) A provision in an account agreement or other record that substantially excuses liability
6 or substantially limits remedies for failure to perform an obligation under this article is not sufficient
7 to vary the effect of a provision of this article.
8 (c) If a beneficiary is a party to an account agreement, the bank and the depositor may
9 amend the agreement without the consent of the beneficiary only if the agreement expressly
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10 permits the amendment.
11 (d) If a beneficiary is not a party to an account agreement and the bank and the depositor
12 know the beneficiary has knowledge of the agreement's terms, the bank and the depositor may
13 amend the agreement without the consent of the beneficiary only if the amendment does not
14 adversely and materially affect a payment right of the beneficiary.
15 (e) If a beneficiary is not a party to an account agreement and the bank and the depositor
16 do not know whether the beneficiary has knowledge of the agreement's terms, the bank and the
17 depositor may amend the agreement without the consent of the beneficiary only if the amendment
18 is made in good faith.
§31A-9-5. Requirements for Special Deposit.
1 A deposit is a special deposit if it is:
2 (1) A deposit of funds in a bank under an account agreement;
3 (2) For the benefit of at least two beneficiaries, one or more of which may be a depositor;
4 (3) Denominated in a medium of exchange that is currently authorized or adopted by a
5 domestic or foreign government;
6 (4) For a permissible purpose stated in the account agreement; and
7 (5) Subject to a contingency.
§31A-9-6. Permissible Purpose.
1 (a) A special deposit must serve at least one permissible purpose stated in the account
2 agreement from the time the special deposit is created in the account agreement until termination
3 of the special deposit.
4 (b) If, before termination of the special deposit, the bank or a court determines the special
5 deposit no longer satisfies subsection (a) the provisions of §31A-9-8 through §31A-9-11 of this
6 code cease to apply to any funds deposited in the special deposit after the special deposit ceases
7 to satisfy subsection (a).
8 (c) If, before termination of a special deposit, the bank determines the special deposit no
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9 longer satisfies subsection (a), the bank may take action it believes is necessary under the
10 circumstances, including terminating the special deposit.
§31A-9-7. Payment to Beneficiary by Bank.
1 (a) Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the bank is obligated to pay a
2 beneficiary if there are sufficient actually and finally collected funds in the balance of the special
3 deposit.
4 (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the obligation to pay the beneficiary is excused if
5 the funds available in the special deposit are insufficient to cover such payment.
6 (c) Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, if the funds available in the special
7 deposit are insufficient to cover an obligation to pay a beneficiary, a beneficiary may elect to be
8 paid the funds that are available or, if there is more than one beneficiary, a pro rata share of the
9 funds available. Payment to the beneficiary making the election under this subsection discharges
10 the bank's obligation to pay a beneficiary and does not constitute an accord and satisfaction with
11 respect to another person obligated to the beneficiary.
12 (d) Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the obligation of the bank obligated
13 to pay a beneficiary is immediately due and payable.
14 (e) The bank may discharge its obligation under this section by:
15 (1) Crediting another transaction account of the beneficiary; or
16 (2) Taking other action that:
17 (i) Is permitted under the account agreement for the bank to obtain a discharge; or
18 (ii) Otherwise would constitute a discharge under law.
19 (f) If the bank obligated to pay a beneficiary has incurred an obligation to discharge the
20 obligation of another person, the obligation of the other person is discharged if action by the bank
21 under subsection (e) would constitute a discharge of the obligation of the other person under law
22 that determines whether an obligation is satisfied.
§31A-9-8 Property Interest of Depositor or Beneficiary.
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1 (a) Neither a depositor nor a beneficiary has a property interest in a special deposit.
2 (b) Any property interest with respect to a special deposit is only in the right to receive
3 payment if the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary and not in the special deposit itself. Any
4 property interest under this subsection is determined under other law.
§31A-9-9. When Creditor Process Enforceable Against Bank.
1 (a) Subject to subsection (b), creditor process with respect to a special deposit is not
2 enforceable against the bank holding the special deposit.
3 (b) Creditor process is enforceable against the bank holding a special deposit with respect
4 to an amount the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary or a depositor if the process:
5 (1) Is served on the bank;
6 (2) Provides sufficient information to permit the bank to identify the depositor or the
7 beneficiary from the bank's books and records; and
8 (3) Gives the bank a reasonable opportunity to act on the process.
9 (c) Creditor process served on a bank before it is enforceable against the bank under
10 subsection (b) does not create a right of the creditor against the bank or a duty of the bank to the
11 creditor. Other law determines whether creditor process creates a lien enforceable against the
12 beneficiary on a contingent interest of a beneficiary, including a depositor as a beneficiary, even if
13 not enforceable against the bank.
§31A-9-10. Injunction or Similar Relief.
1 A court may enjoin or grant similar relief that would have the effect of enjoining a bank from
2 paying a depositor or beneficiary only if payment would constitute a material fraud or facilitate a
3 material fraud with respect to a special deposit.
§31A-9-11. Recoupment or Set Off.
1 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), a bank may not exercise a right of
2 recoupment or set off against a special deposit.
3 (b) An account agreement may authorize the bank to debit the special deposit:
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4 (1) When the bank becomes obligated to pay a beneficiary, in an amount that does not
5 exceed the amount necessary to discharge the obligation;
6 (2) For a fee assessed by the bank that relates to an overdraft in the special deposit
7 account;
8 (3) For costs incurred by the bank that relate directly to the special deposit; or
9 (4) To reverse an earlier credit posted by the bank to the balance of the special deposit
10 account, if the reversal occurs under an event or circumstance warranted under other law of this
11 state governing mistake and restitution.
12 (c) The bank holding a special deposit may exercise a right of recoupment or set off against
13 an obligation to pay a beneficiary, even if the bank funds payment from the special deposit.
§31A-9-12. Duties and Liability of Bank.
1 (a) A bank does not have a fiduciary duty to any person with respect to a special deposit.
2 (b) When the bank holding a special deposit becomes obligated to pay a beneficiary, a
3 debtor-creditor relationship arises between the bank and beneficiary.
4 (c) The bank holding a special deposit has a duty to a beneficiary to comply with the
5 account agreement and this article.
6 (d) If the bank holding a special deposit does not comply with the account agreement or
7 this article, the bank is liable to a depositor or beneficiary only for damages proximately caused by
8 the noncompliance. Except as provided by other law of this state, the bank is not liable for
9 consequential, special, or punitive damages.
10 (e) The bank holding a special deposit may rely on records presented in compliance with
11 the account agreement to determine whether the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary.
12 (f) If the account agreement requires payment on presentation of a record, the bank shall
13 determine within a reasonable time whether the record is sufficient to require payment. If the
14 agreement requires action by the bank on presentation of a record, the bank is not liable for relying
15 in good faith on the genuineness of the record if the record appears on its face to be genuine.
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16 (g) Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the bank is not required to
17 determine whether a permissible purpose stated in the agreement continues to exist.
§31A-9-13. Term and Termination.
1 (a) Unless otherwise provided in the acco