North Dakota Century Code Title 6. Banks and Banking § 6-05.2-02. Administration of fiduciary powers

1. The board of directors is responsible for the proper exercise of fiduciary powers by the banking institution. All pertinent matters, including the determination of policies, the investment and disposition of property held in a fiduciary capacity, and the direction and review of the actions of all officers, employees, and committees used by the banking institution in the exercise of its fiduciary powers, are the responsibility of the board. In discharging this responsibility, the board of directors may assign, by action duly entered in the minutes, the administration of any of the banking institution's fiduciary powers as it may consider proper to assign to its directors, officers, employees, or committees as it may designate.

2. No fiduciary account may be accepted without the prior approval of the board of directors, or of the directors, officers, or committees to whom the board may have designated the performance of that responsibility. A written record must be made of all acceptances and of the relinquishment or closing out of all fiduciary accounts. Upon the acceptance of an account for which the banking institution has investment responsibilities, a prompt review of the assets must be made. The board must ensure that at least once during every calendar year, and within fifteen months of the last review, all the assets held in or for each fiduciary account where the banking institution has investment responsibilities are reviewed to determine the advisability of retaining or disposing of the trust assets.

3. All officers and employees taking part in the operating of trust activities must be adequately bonded.

4. Every banking institution exercising fiduciary powers must designate, employ, or retain legal counsel who is readily available to pass upon fiduciary matters and to advise the banking institution as to its trust activities.

5. Every banking institution exercising fiduciary powers must adopt written policies and procedures to ensure that the federal securities laws are complied with in connection with any decision or recommendation to purchase or sell any security. The policies and procedures, in particular, must ensure the banking institution may not use inside information in connection with any decision or recommendation to purchase or sell any security.