(a) Capital investment advances; criteria The Office may make a capital investment advance to any eligible cooperative, either in conjunction with or without a loan if the Office determines that
(1)
(A) the applicants initial or supplemental capital requirements exceeds its ability to obtain such capital through a loan under section
3018 of this title or from other sources; or
(B) the membership of the applicant is, or will consist, substantially of low-income persons, as defined by the Board of Directors, or the applicant proposes to undertake to provide specialized goods, services, or facilities to serve their needs; and
(2) the applicant cannot obtain sufficient funds through a loan under section
3018 of this title or otherwise, and the applicant presents a plan which the Office determines will permit the replacement of a capital investment advance out of member equities within a period not to exceed thirty years.
(c) Interest rate applicable to advances Capital investment advances made by the Office pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and interest supplement advances made by the Office pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Board of Directors of the Bank, and the Board of Directors may authorize an interest rate applicable to such advances lower than the rate applicable to loans by the Bank pursuant to section
3018 of this title.