Section 38: The Bank shall not—

(a) except as expressly authorised by this Act, engage in trade or otherwise have a direct interest in any commercial, agricultural, industrial or any other undertaking, except such interests as it may in any way acquire in the course of the satisfaction of debts due to it, and all such interests so acquired shall be disposed of at the earliest suitable moment; (b) grant loans on the security of any shares; (c) subject to section 42, grant unsecured advances or advances secured otherwise than as laid down in paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection (l) of section 36, and under the Banking Act permitting advances to avert a banking crisis; 50 No. 3 Bank of Sierra Leone Act 2000 but in the event of any debts due to the Bank becoming in the opinion of the Bank endangered, the Bank may secure such debts on any real or other property of the debtor and may acquire such property, which shall be resold at the earliest suitable moment; (d) purchase, acquire or lease real property except in accordance with paragraph (c) and except so far as the Bank considers necessary or expedient for the provision, or future provision of premises for the conduct of its business, the residence of staff or other similar requirements incidental to the performance of its functions under this Act; (e) draw or accept bills payable otherwise than on demand; (f) allow the renewal or substitution of maturing bills of exchange purchased, discounted or rediscounted by or pledged with the Bank except in exceptional circumstances when the Board may by resolution authorise one renewal or one substitution only in either case of not more than fifty percent of the original amount of such bill for a period not exceeding ninety days; (g) accept for discount, or as security for an advance made by the Bank, bills or notes signed by members of the Board or by the Bank's officers, employees or other employees on their own account. [Margin: Determination of interest and discount rates.]