(a) In general. Section 408(b)(6) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) exempts from the prohibitions of
section 406 of the Act the provision of certain ancillary services by a bank or similar financial institution (as defined in
§ 2550.408b-4(c)(1) supervised by the United States or a State to a plan for which it acts as a fiduciary if the conditions of
§ 2550.408b-6(b) are met. Such ancillary services include services which do not meet the requirements of
section 408(b)(2) of the Act because the provision of such services involves an act described in
section 406(b)(1) of the Act (relating to fiduciaries dealing with the assets of plans in their own interest or for their own account) by the fiduciary bank or similar financial institution or an act described in
section 406(b)(2) of the Act (relating to fiduciaries in their individual or in any other capacity acting in any transaction involving the plan on behalf of a party (or representing a party) whose interests are adverse to the interests of the plan or the interests of its participants or beneficiaries).
Section 408(b)(6) provides an exemption from
sections 406(b)(1) and (2) because
section 408(b)(6) contemplates the provision of such ancillary services without the approval of a second fiduciary (as described in
§ 2550.408b-2(e)(2)) if the conditions of
§ 2550.408b-6(b) are met. Thus, for example, plan assets held by a fiduciary bank which are reasonably expected to be needed to satisfy current plan expenses may be placed by the bank in a non-interest-bearing checking account in the bank if the conditions of
§ 2550.408b-6(b) are met, notwithstanding the provisions of
section 408(b)(4) of the Act (relating to investments in bank deposits). However,
section 408(b)(6) does not provide an exemption for an act described in
section 406(b)(3) of the Act (relating to fiduciaries receiving consideration for their own personal account from any party dealing with a plan in connection with a transaction involving the assets of the plan). The receipt of such consideration is a separate transaction not described in
section 408(b)(6).
Section 408(b)(6) does not contain an exemption from other provisions of the Act, such as
section 404, or other provisions of law which may impose requirements or restrictions relating to the transactions which are exempt under
section 408(b)(6) of the Act. See, for example,
section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The provisions of
section 408(b)(6) of the Act are further limited by
section 408(d) of the Act (relating to transactions with owner-employees and related persons).