CHANGES IN CAPITAL 
The initial proceedings in a stock dividend increase are the same 
as in an ordinary increase of capital, that is, the submission to the 
Comptroller of a formal application from the Board and report of 
the vote of the shareholders authorizing the capital increase. 
In addition there is required a report of the dividend and cer- 
tification by the president, vice-president or cashier of the payment 
of the increase. The increase in capital is not effective until it has been 
certified to the Comptroller, and until his certificate has been obtained 
specifying the amount of his increase and stating his approval. It is 
permissible to effect an increase of capital in whole or in part by means 
of a stock dividend. 
When any bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System 
increases its capital and surplus, it is obliged to file with its Federal 
Reserve Bank an application (form furnished by Federal Reserve 
Bank) for an additional amount of capital stock of the Federal 
Reserve Bank of its district equal to 6%, of such increase. Upon 
approval of the application by the Federal Reserve Agent, and the 
Federal Reserve Board, the applying bank pays to its Federal Re- 
serve Bank one-half the amount of its additional subscription; the 
remaining half is subject to call when deemed necessary by the 
Federal Reserve Board. 
Federal law makes no provision governing the distribution of 
new national bank stock when the capital is increased, but under the 
common law, (where not modified by statute) the shareholders of 
a corporation have the right to participate in the increase in capital 
proportionately to the number of shares held by each. Waiver of 
that right should be obtained before allotting any of the shares to 
others. The right of a shareholder to subscribe to new stock, how- 
ever, must be exercised within a fixed or reasonable period of time. 
2. Reduction of Capital—Approval of the Comptroller and also of 
the Federal Reserve Board must be obtained before a national bank 
may reduce its capital stock. A bank contemplating such action 
should advise the Comptroller, giving the reasons for the proposed 
reduction, and should similarly advise the Federal Reserve Bank of 
its district. 
On receipt of the application, the Comptroller will advise the bank 
what conditions must be met before approval may be given, viz.: 
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