Bank of California v. City of Portland

The city contends that the rental of safe deposit vaults is not a function or power of a national bank as an agency of the United States government, as such powers and functions are set forth in the National Bank Act and the Federal Reserve Act and amendments thereto, nor is the rental of safe deposit vaults a necessary or integral part of the general banking business carried on by the respondent banks.

Plaintiffs contend that the city ordinance imposing the license fee has no application to national banks and that the officers and agents of the city of Portland have no power to enforce…