A life company may contract for or accept premium deposits, other than premiums stated in the policy. The unused accumulation from such shall be held and accounted for as a premium deposit reserve, and in such case the policy or an endorsement thereon shall provide for the manner of application of the premium deposit reserve to the payment of premiums in default and for the disposition of such reserve if it is not sufficient to pay the next premium. Such premium deposit reserve shall be available as an addition to the loan and cash surrender values, shall be paid with other benefits upon death or maturity of the policy, and shall be paid to the insured whenever the cash surrender value with the premium deposit reserve shall equal or exceed the original amount of insurance, but no part of the premium deposit reserve may be paid to the insured during the continuance of the policy except at such times or in such amounts as specified in the policy or in endorsements thereon.
215 ILCS 5/240