N.D. Cent. Code § 6-08.6-01

6-08.6-01. Definitions

In this chapter:

1. "Account agreement" means an agreement that:

a. Is in a record between a bank or credit union and one or more depositors;

b. May have one or more beneficiaries as additional parties; and

c. States the intention of the parties to establish a special deposit in accordance

with this chapter.

2. "Bank" means a trust company or a person engaged in the business of banking as

defined in section 6-01-02.

3. "Beneficiary" means a person that:

a. Is identified as a beneficiary in an account agreement; or

b. If not identified as a beneficiary in an account agreement, may be entitled to

payment from a special deposit:

(1) Under the account agreement; or

(2) On termination of the special deposit.

4. "Contingency" means an event or circumstance stated in an account agreement which

is not certain to occur but must occur before the bank or credit union is obligated to

pay a beneficiary.

5. "Creditor process" means attachment, garnishment, levy, notice of lien, sequestration,

or similar process issued by or on behalf of a creditor or other claimant.

6. "Depositor" means a person that establishes or funds a special deposit.

7. "Good faith" means honesty in fact and observance of reasonable commercial

standards of fair dealing.

8. "Knowledge" of a fact means:

a. With respect to a beneficiary, actual knowledge of the fact; or

b. With respect to a bank or credit union holding a special deposit:

(1) If the bank or credit union:

(a) Has established a reasonable routine for communicating material

information to an individual to whom the bank or credit union has

assigned responsibility for the special deposit; and

(b) Maintains reasonable compliance with the routine, actual knowledge

of the fact by that individual; or

(2) If the bank or credit union has not established and maintained reasonable

compliance with a routine described in paragraph 1 or otherwise exercised

due diligence, implied knowledge of the fact that would have come to the

attention of an individual to whom the bank or credit union has assigned

responsibility for the special deposit.

9. "Obligated to pay a beneficiary" or "obligation to pay a beneficiary" means a

beneficiary is entitled under the account agreement to receive from the bank or credit

union a payment when:

a. A contingency has occurred; and

b. The bank or credit union has knowledge the contingency has occurred.

10. "Permissible purpose" means a governmental, regulatory, commercial, charitable, or

testamentary objective of the parties stated in an account agreement. The term

includes an objective to:

a. Hold funds:

(1) In escrow, including for a purchase and sale, lease, buyback, or other

transaction;

(2) As a security deposit of a tenant;

(3) That may be distributed to a person as remuneration, retirement or other

benefit, or compensation under a judgment, consent decree, court order, or

other decision of a tribunal; or
tated in an account agreement. The term

includes an objective to:

a. Hold funds:

(1) In escrow, including for a purchase and sale, lease, buyback, or other

transaction;

(2) As a security deposit of a tenant;

(3) That may be distributed to a person as remuneration, retirement or other

benefit, or compensation under a judgment, consent decree, court order, or

other decision of a tribunal; or

(4) For distribution to a defined class of persons after identification of the class

members and their interest in the funds;

b. Provide assurance with respect to an obligation created by contract, including

earnest money to ensure a transaction closes;

c. Settle an obligation that arises in the operation of a payment system, securities

settlement system, or other financial market infrastructure;

d. Provide assurance with respect to an obligation that arises in the operation of a

payment system, securities settlement system, or other financial market

infrastructure; or

e. Hold margin, other cash collateral, or funds that support the orderly functioning of

financial market infrastructure or the performance of an obligation with respect to

the infrastructure.

11. "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, government or

governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity. The term

includes a protected series, however denominated, of an entity if the protected series

is established under law that limits, or limits if conditions specified under law are

satisfied, the ability of a creditor of the entity or of any other protected series of the

entity to satisfy a claim from assets of the protected series.

12. "Record" means information:

a. Inscribed on a tangible medium; or

b. Stored in an electronic or other medium and retrievable in perceivable form.

13. "Special deposit" means a deposit that satisfies section 6-08.6-04.

14. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the

United States Virgin Islands, or any other territory or possession subject to the

jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes an agency or instrumentality of the

state.