AB150: Bill Text

AB150,2004,24 221.15 (7) The commissioner department shall also have the power to call for special reports from any bank whenever in the commissioner's department's judgment the same is necessary to inform the commissioner department fully of the condition of such bank.

AB150, s. 6139 Section 6139. 221.16 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2005,8 221.16 One hundred dollars per day forfeiture. Every bank failing to make and transmit to the commissioner of banking department any of the reports or proofs of publication as required by this chapter shall be subject, at the discretion of the commissioner department, to a forfeiture of $100 for each day after the time required for making such reports. Whenever any bank fails or refuses to pay the forfeiture herein imposed for a failure to make and transmit such report, the commissioner department is hereby authorized to institute proceedings for the recovery of such forfeiture.

AB150, s. 6140 Section 6140. 221.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2005,20 221.18 Inspection; refusal to permit; action to dissolve; prosecutions. Whenever any officer in charge of a bank refuses to submit the books, papers and concerns of such bank to the inspection of the commissioner of banking, the commissioner's deputy, or examiner appointed hereunder, department of financial institutions or refuses to be examined on oath touching the concerns of the bank, the commissioner department of financial institutions may inform the attorney general. The department of justice shall then institute an action to procure a judgment dissolving such corporation. In order to carry out this section the commissioner department may commence and maintain in the commissioner's department's name as commissioner of banking any and all actions necessary or proper to enforce this section.

AB150, s. 6141 Section 6141. 221.19 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2005,25 221.19 Prosecutions. In order to carry out ss. 220.07, 220.08 and 221.18, the commissioner of banking department may commence and maintain in the commissioner's department's name any and all actions necessary or proper to enforce any of said sections.

AB150, s. 6142 Section 6142. 221.205 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2006,24 221.205 Banks; disciplinary provisions. Whenever the commissioner of banking department shall have or receive information causing the commissioner department to believe that any bank, trust company bank, or any other corporation, limited liability company or association in respect to whose affairs or any part thereof the commissioner department has any supervision or control under the law, or any officer, employe, member or manager thereof has been guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of law or regulations or orders in execution thereof which subjects any such corporation, limited liability company or association or person to prosecution for a criminal offense or for recovery of penalty under the law, the commissioner department shall bring such facts and information to the attention of the banking review board with the commissioner's department's recommendation in writing as to action to be taken. Said banking review board shall, if in its judgment probable cause exists for believing that a criminal offense has been committed, or a penalty incurred, call the facts and information to the attention of the attorney general whose duty it shall be to cause prosecution or other action to be instituted if in the attorney general's judgment the facts warrant. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the institution of any prosecution by any district attorney of this state with or without any advice or act on the part of the attorney general. Nothing herein contained shall preclude the commissioner of banking department, in any case where the commissioner department deems it important to act immediately, from causing any arrest and prosecution where the commissioner department is satisfied that there is reason to believe the offense has been committed and that prosecution should be immediately commenced.

AB150, s. 6143 Section 6143. 221.21 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2007,9 221.21 When organized as national bank. Any bank organized under this chapter may reorganize under the laws of the United States as a national bank. As soon as such bank shall have obtained the certificate from the comptroller of the currency, authorizing it to commence business under the United States banking law, such reorganized bank shall take and hold all of the assets, real and personal, of such bank organized under this chapter, subject to all liabilities existing against said bank organized under this chapter at the time of such reorganization, and shall immediately notify the commissioner of banking department of such reorganization and transfer.

AB150, s. 6144 Section 6144. 221.22 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2007,25 221.22 National banks may reorganize as state banks. Any national bank authorized to dissolve, and which shall have taken the necessary steps to effect dissolution, may reorganize under this chapter, upon the consent in writing of the owners of two-thirds of the capital stock of such bank, and with the approval of the commissioner of banking department. Such stockholders shall make, execute and acknowledge articles of organization as required by this chapter, and shall set forth the said written consent of such stockholders. A national bank seeking to reorganize under this section shall pay to the commissioner department a fee of $1,000 plus the actual costs incurred by the commissioner department in investigating the proposed reorganization. Upon the filing of the articles as provided by this chapter, and upon the approval of the commissioner department, such bank shall be deemed to be reorganized under this chapter, and thereupon all assets, real and personal, of such dissolved national bank shall be vested in and be and become the property of such reorganized bank, subject to all liabilities of such national bank not liquidated before such reorganization.

AB150, s. 6145 Section 6145. 221.23 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2008,7 221.23 Consolidation of banks. A bank, which is in good faith winding up its business, for the purpose of consolidating with some other bank, may transfer its resources and liabilities to the bank with which it is in process of consolidation; but no consolidation shall be made without the consent of the commissioner of banking department, and not then to defeat or defraud any of the creditors in the collection of their debts against such banks, or either of them.

AB150, s. 6146 Section 6146. 221.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2008,15 221.24 (1) Any bank organized or doing business under this chapter may go into liquidation by a vote of its stockholders owning two-thirds of the capital stock. Whenever a vote is taken to go into liquidation, the board of directors shall give notice of this fact to the commissioner of banking department, and the notice shall be certified by the president or cashier under the seal of the bank. No liquidating bank may transfer assets or liabilities to another bank until the transfer is approved by the commissioner department.

AB150, s. 6147 Section 6147. 221.245 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2008,23 221.245 Cancellation of charter of merged bank. Whenever any bank has merged or consolidated with or been absorbed by another bank, the commissioner of banking department may cancel the charter of the first mentioned bank after notice of proposed cancellation has been published as a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the county wherein the bank is located, unless written objections are filed with the commissioner department within a time specified in the notice stating grounds which the commissioner department deems sufficient.

AB150, s. 6148 Section 6148. 221.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2010,9 221.25 (1) Any 2 or more banks may, with the approval of the commissioner of banking department, consolidate into one bank under the charter of either existing bank on such terms and conditions as may be lawfully agreed upon by a majority of the board of directors of each bank proposing to consolidate and be ratified and confirmed by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of each such bank owning at least two-thirds of its capital stock outstanding and at least two-thirds of any outstanding preferred stock having voting rights, at a meeting to be held on call of the directors, after sending notice of the time, place and object of the meeting to each shareholder of record by registered mail at least 30 days prior to said meeting; provided that the capital stock of such consolidated bank shall not be less than that required under existing law for the organization of a state bank in the place in which it is located. When such consolidation is approved by the commissioner department, any shareholder of either of the banks so consolidated who has not voted for such consolidation shall be given notice of the approval by the bank in which the shareholder holds an interest and of the shareholder's right to receive the appraised value for the shareholder's shares. If within 20 days after the date that notice of approval is mailed or delivered to a shareholder the shareholder notifies the directors of the bank in which the shareholder is interested that the shareholder dissents from the plan of consolidation as adopted and approved and desires to withdraw from such bank, the shareholder shall be entitled to receive in cash the value of the shares so held by the shareholder, to be ascertained by an appraisal made by a committee of 3 persons, one to be selected by the shareholders, one by the directors, and the 3rd by the 2 so chosen; the expense of such appraisal shall be borne by the bank; and in case the value so fixed shall not be satisfactory to the shareholder he or she may within 5 days after being notified of the appraisal appeal to the commissioner, who department, which shall cause a reappraisal to be made by an appraiser or appraisers to be named by said commissioner the department, which appraisal shall be final and binding, and if said reappraisal shall exceed the value fixed by said committee the bank shall pay the expense of reappraisal, otherwise the shareholder shall pay said expense, and the value so ascertained and determined shall be deemed to be a debt due and be forthwith paid to said shareholder from said bank, and the share or shares so paid shall be surrendered and after such notice as the board of directors may provide, be sold at public auction within 30 days after the final appraisement provided for by this section.

AB150, s. 6149 Section 6149. 221.25 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2010,23 221.25 (3) The commissioner department may after consultation with the banking review board make recommendations to any bank or trust company within this state as to advisability of consolidation with other banks and may make recommendations as to terms for consolidation or merger of banks in order to avoid a condition of oversupply of banks in any community or area of the state. The commissioner department may also, if requested so to do, act as mediator or arbitrator to fix any of the terms of any such consolidation or merger. It shall be within the power of the board of directors of any bank or trust company organized under the laws of this state to appropriate a reasonable amount from the assets of the bank toward assisting in bringing about a consolidation or merger of banks or to aid in reorganization or in avoiding the closing of a bank where such action is deemed to be in the interests of safe banking and the maintenance of credit and banking facilities in the county in which such bank is located.

AB150, s. 6150 Section 6150. 221.25 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2011,4 221.25 (4) Application for approval of a consolidation under sub. (1) shall be made on a form prescribed by the commissioner department. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $5,000, except that if more than 3 banks are to be consolidated the fee is $5,000 plus $1,000 for each bank after the 3rd bank.

AB150, s. 6151 Section 6151. 221.26 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2011,21 221.26 (title) Banks may be placed in hands of commissioner under department control. Any bank doing business under this chapter may place its affairs and assets under the control of the commissioner of banking department by posting a notice on its front door, as follows: "This bank is in the hands of the commissioner of banking department of financial institutions". Immediately upon posting such notice, the bank shall notify the commissioner department of such action. The posting of such notice, or the taking possession of any bank by the commissioner department, shall be sufficient to place all its assets and property of whatever nature in the possession of the commissioner department, and shall operate as a bar to any attachment proceedings. For each day the commissioner department is so placed in possession of the bank, and until such time as a special deputy commissioner of banking is appointed under s. 220.08 (4), the bank shall pay to the commissioner department the actual cost of such liquidation proceedings. All such fees shall be paid by the commissioner department to the state treasurer to be placed to the credit of s. 20.124 20.144 (1) (g) in the percentage specified in that paragraph.

AB150, s. 6152 Section 6152. 221.27 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2012,3 221.27 (2) Every bank shall maintain sufficient reserves to meet anticipated withdrawals, commitments and loan demand. Every bank shall maintain at least the level of reserves required for it by the federal reserve system. The commissioner of banking department may prescribe additional reserve requirements for an individual bank based on examination findings or other reports available to the commissioner department.

AB150, s. 6153 Section 6153. 221.27 (3) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2012,6 221.27 (3) (g) Short-term obligations approved by rule of the commissioner of banking department.

AB150, s. 6154 Section 6154. 221.28 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2012,20 221.28 Reserve to be kept up. Whenever the reserve of any bank falls below the amount required to be kept, such bank shall not increase its loans or discounts otherwise than by discounting or purchasing bills of exchange payable at sight or on demand, and the commissioner department of financial institutions shall notify any bank whose reserve is below the amount required, to make good such reserve, and in case the bank fails, for 30 days thereafter to make good such reserve, the commissioner department of financial institutions may assess such bank $100 for each 2-week period which the bank has been in default or may notify the attorney general and the department of justice shall institute proceedings for the appointment of a receiver and to wind up the business of the bank. Such assessment shall be paid to the commissioner department of financial institutions and if any such bank fails or refuses to pay such assessment the commissioner department of financial institutions may maintain an action for the recovery of the assessment.

AB150, s. 6155 Section 6155. 221.29 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2013,2 221.29 (1) (f) The limitations in this section shall not apply to that portion of any loan which is guaranteed by a federal or Wisconsin state guaranty program approved by the commissioner department. The commissioner department shall designate federal and Wisconsin state guaranty programs which qualify under this paragraph.

AB150, s. 6156 Section 6156. 221.295 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2013,16 221.295 (1) Except as provided in sub. (3), a bank may lend under this subsection, through the bank or a subsidiary of the bank, to all borrowers from the bank and all of its subsidiaries, an aggregate amount not to exceed the percentage of its capital and surplus established by the commissioner department under sub. (3). Neither a bank nor any subsidiary of the bank may lend to any borrower, under this subsection and any other law or rule, an amount that would result in an aggregate amount for all loans to that borrower that exceeds the percentage of the bank's capital and surplus established under sub. (3). A bank or its subsidiary may take an equity position or other form of interest as security in a project funded through such loans. Every transaction by a bank or its subsidiary under this subsection shall require prior approval by the board of directors of the bank or its subsidiary, respectively. Such loans are not subject to s. 221.36 or to classification as losses for a period of 2 years from the date of each loan except as provided in sub. (3).

AB150, s. 6157 Section 6157. 221.295 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2014,4 221.295 (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a bank may invest under this subsection amounts not to exceed, in the aggregate, that percentage of its capital and surplus established by the commissioner of banking department under sub. (3) in equity positions, such as profit-participation projects. A bank may take an investment position in a project with respect to which it is also a lender. The bank shall limit its liability as an investor in a specific project under this subsection to an amount not exceeding the amount of its investment in that project. For purposes of calculating the bank's aggregate investment under this subsection, the amount of each investment shall be established as of the date that the investment is made. Every transaction by a bank under this subsection shall require prior approval by the board of directors of the bank and shall be disclosed to the shareholders of the bank prior to each annual meeting of the shareholders.

AB150, s. 6158 Section 6158. 221.295 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2014,13 221.295 (3) The commissioner of banking department shall establish for each bank the applicable percentage, not to exceed 20%, under sub. (1) and the applicable percentage, not to exceed 10%, under sub. (2). The commissioner department may withdraw or suspend a percentage established under this subsection and, in such case, may specify how outstanding loans or investments shall be treated by the bank or subsidiary. Among the factors that the commissioner department may consider in establishing, withdrawing or suspending a percentage under this subsection are the bank's capital, assets, management and liquidity ratio and its capital ratio.

AB150, s. 6159 Section 6159. 221.295 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2014,18 221.295 (4) At the time of making a loan or investment, the bank or subsidiary shall note in its records whether it is made under sub. (1) or (2). The forms of security for loans under sub. (1) and the forms of investment under sub. (2) shall be as approved by the commissioner of banking department by rule.

AB150, s. 6160 Section 6160. 221.295 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2015,2 221.295 (6) A bank may make loans secured by assignment or transfer of stock certificates or other evidence of the borrower's ownership interest in a corporation formed for the cooperative ownership of real estate. Sections 846.10 and 846.101, as they apply to a foreclosure of a mortgage involving a one-family residence, apply to a proceeding to enforce the lender's rights in security given for a loan under this subsection. The commissioner department shall promulgate joint rules with the commissioners office of credit unions and savings and loan that establish procedures for enforcing a lender's rights in security given for a loan under this subsection.

AB150, s. 6161 Section 6161. 221.296 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2015,13 221.296 (1) A bank may invest amounts not to exceed, in the aggregate, that percentage of its capital and surplus established by the commissioner of banking department under sub. (2) in partnership interests in farm operations. A bank may acquire a partnership interest in a farm operation with respect to which it is also a lender. The bank may only acquire a partnership interest in a farm operation as a limited partner. For purposes of calculating the bank's aggregate investment, the amount of each investment shall be established as of the date that the investment is made. Every transaction by a bank under this subsection shall require prior approval by the board of directors of the bank and shall be disclosed to the shareholders of the bank prior to each annual meeting of the shareholder.

AB150, s. 6162 Section 6162. 221.296 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2015,22 221.296 (2) The commissioner of banking department shall establish for each bank the applicable percentage, not to exceed 10%, under sub. (1). The commissioner department may withdraw or suspend a percentage established under this subsection and, in such case, may specify how outstanding investments shall be treated by the bank. Among the factors the commissioner department may consider in establishing, withdrawing or suspending a percentage established under this subsection are the bank's capital, assets, management and liquidity ratio and its capital ratio.

AB150, s. 6163 Section 6163. 221.297 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2016,3 221.297 (1) Subject to any regulatory approval required by law and subject to sub. (2), a bank, directly or through a subsidiary, may undertake any activity, exercise any power or offer any financially related product or service in this state that any other provider of financial products or services may undertake, exercise or provide or that the commissioner department finds to be financially related.

AB150, s. 6164 Section 6164. 221.297 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2016,13 221.297 (2) The activities, powers, products and services that may be undertaken, exercised or offered by banks under sub. (1) are limited to those specified by rule of the commissioner of banking department and, with respect to loans under s. 221.295 (1) and investments under s. 221.295 (2), are subject to the limitations set forth in s. 221.295. The commissioner department may direct any bank to cease any activity, the exercise of any power or the offering of any product or service authorized by rule under this subsection. Among the factors that the commissioner department may consider in so directing a bank are the bank's capital, assets, management and liquidity ratio and its capital ratio.

AB150, s. 6165 Section 6165. 221.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2017,22 221.33 (1) Except as provided in s. 34.07, no bank or bank officer shall give preference to any depositor or creditor by pledging the assets of the bank as collateral security. A state bank may deposit with the treasurer of the United States, or in the custody of federal reserve banks or branches thereof designated by the judges of the several courts of bankruptcy, so much of its assets not exceeding its capital and surplus as may be necessary under the act of congress approved June 25, 1910, and all amendments thereof, to qualify as a depository for postal savings funds, other government deposits and as depository for bankrupt estates, debtors, corporations and railroads under reorganization under U.S. bankruptcy laws, and amendments thereto, and receivers, trustees and other officers thereof appointed by any U.S. district court or by any bankruptcy court of the United States and that in acting as such depository a state bank shall have all the rights and privileges granted to banking institutions under section 61 of the U.S. bankruptcy act, and amendments thereto; and any bank may borrow money for temporary purposes, and may pledge assets of the bank not exceeding 50% in excess of the amount borrowed as collateral security therefor. Any state bank so authorized by the commissioner of banking, who department, that complies with s. 223.02, shall be exempt from furnishing the bond specified in s. 221.04 (6), and shall be entitled to the same exemption as to making and filing any oath or giving any bond or security as is conferred on trust company banks by s. 223.03 (8), but it is unlawful for any bank to borrow money unless the board of directors has adopted a resolution designating the bank from which the money may be borrowed, the maximum amount for which the bank may become indebted at any one time, and the names of the officers who may sign the promissory note evidencing the indebtedness. A bank may pledge assets in an amount not to exceed 4 times the amount of its capital and surplus to the federal reserve bank (as fiscal agent of the United States) of the federal reserve district in which it is located, except that no such pledge shall be made in excess of the amount of its capital and surplus without the consent of the commissioner of banking department. Whenever it appears that a bank is borrowing habitually for the purpose of reloaning, the commissioner department may require the bank to repay money so borrowed. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any bank from rediscounting in good faith and endorsing any of its negotiable notes if the same has been authorized by a recorded resolution of the board of directors.

AB150, s. 6166 Section 6166. 221.37 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2018,7 221.37 (1) Before the board of directors of a bank may declare and pay a cash dividend, a sum equivalent to not less than one-fifth of the net profits of the bank for the preceding half year, or for such period as is covered by the dividend, shall be carried to a surplus fund, until such surplus fund shall amount to 100 per cent of the capital stock, except that the bank, with the approval of the commissioner department, may be exempted from the requirements of this section whenever its daily average of deposits for a period of one year shall be less than 10 times the unimpaired capital and surplus; such surplus shall not include items classified by the commissioner of banking department as doubtful or loss.

AB150, s. 6167 Section 6167. 221.38 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2018,14 221.38 (1) (b) Compliance has been made with s. 221.37; except that, if a bank has had, during the immediate preceding 2 years, insufficient net profits to declare and pay a dividend out of current earnings and has paid a dividend out of undivided profits accrued during prior years, such bank shall not declare and pay a second dividend either in part or in full out of undivided profits accrued during prior years except with the written consent of the commissioner of banking department.

AB150, s. 6168 Section 6168. 221.38 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2019,4 221.38 (2) No dividend shall be declared by the directors of a bank to the stockholders except out of net profits applicable thereto, and which shall not in any way impair or diminish the capital; and if any such shall be paid, every stockholder receiving the same shall be liable to restore the full amount thereof unless the capital be subsequently made good; and if the directors of any bank shall pay such dividend when the corporation is insolvent or in danger of insolvency, or not having reason to believe that there were sufficient net profits properly applicable thereto, to pay the same without impairing or diminishing the capital, they shall be jointly and severally liable to the creditors of the corporation at the time of declaring such dividends to double the amount thereof. Interest unpaid, although due or accrued, on debts owing to any bank, shall not be included in calculation of its profits previous to a dividend; nor shall any bank, except with the previous written consent of the commissioner department, enter or at any time, carry on its books any of its assets at a valuation exceeding its actual cost to such bank.

AB150, s. 6169 Section 6169. 221.41 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2019,15 221.41 Charter, how forfeited. If the board of directors or a quorum thereof or any committee of such board of any bank shall knowingly violate or knowingly permit any of the officers, agents or employes of the bank to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, such directors shall jointly and severally be liable for the amount of the loss sustained by the bank; and if after a warning from the commissioner of banking department it shall fail to make good any loss or damage resulting from such acts, or continue such conduct, it shall constitute a ground for the forfeiture of the charter of such bank, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the commissioner department to institute proceedings to enforce such forfeiture and to secure a dissolution and a winding up of the affairs of such bank.

AB150, s. 6170 Section 6170. 221.43 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2020,2 221.43 Shares of stock, when not transferable. The shares of stock of an incorporated bank shall be deemed personal property, and shall be transferred on the books of the bank in such manner as the bylaws thereof may direct, and no transfer of capital stock shall be valid while the bank is under notice to make good the impairment of its capital, as provided in s. 220.07, nor until such impairment shall have been made good. A transfer of stock shall be certified by the bank cashier to the commissioner of banking department within 3 days after the transfer, if the transfer is of at least 5% of the outstanding shares or affects the holdings of the owner of record or beneficial owner of at least 5% of the outstanding shares. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be punishable by a fine of not to exceed $100.

AB150, s. 6171 Section 6171. 221.47 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2020,11 221.47 Circulating notes, when issuable. If the congress of the United States hereafter removes the tax on bank circulation or provides for the establishment of circulation of banks organized under state laws, any bank organized or doing business under this chapter may issue circulating notes or currency in accordance with any such act of congress, or under such regulations as the office of the commissioner of banking department prescribes. This section shall not be construed to permit any loan and trust company or any other than a banking corporation to issue circulating notes.

AB150, s. 6172 Section 6172. 221.49 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2020,24 221.49 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person engaged in business in this state, not subject to supervision and examination by the commissioner of banking department, and not required to make reports to the commissioner of banking department by this chapter, may use the term "bank", in any form upon any office sign at the place where the business is transacted, nor may the person make use of or circulate any letterheads, billheads, blank notes, blank receipts, certificates, circulars, or any written or printed or partly written and partly printed paper having thereon any artificial or corporate name, or other words, indicating that the business is the business of a bank, but mortgage bankers registered under s. 440.72 224.72 may use the designation "mortgage banker" and a savings bank organized under ch. 214 may use the designation "savings bank". Violations of this section are subject to s. 220.02 (2).

AB150, s. 6173 Section 6173. 221.50 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2021,9 221.50 Declaration of unlimited individual responsibility. The stockholders of any bank organized under the provisions of this chapter may file with the commissioner of banking department a declaration in writing, signed by each and all of them and by them acknowledged, consenting and agreeing to hold themselves individually responsible for all the debts, demands and liabilities of said bank. Upon application therefor the commissioner department shall make and certify a copy of said declaration which shall be received in evidence and have the same effect as the original declaration would have if produced in evidence and duly proved.

AB150, s. 6174 Section 6174. 221.51 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2022,6 221.51 Liability under the stockholders' declaration. On and from the filing of such declaration the persons who have executed the same shall be individually liable for all the debts, demands and liabilities of said bank, as well those then existing and unpaid as those thereafter to be made, created or incurred. And in any action brought against any such bank for any debt, demand or liability thereof it shall be competent for the party plaintiff to join as defendant therewith any one, or more, or all of the stockholders, whose names are attached to such declaration, and in such action to recover and have judgment and execution against the defendants or either or any of them; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any action from being maintained for any debt, demand or liability of such bank against said bank alone, or against the said stockholders, or either or any of them. In case of the bona fide sale and transfer of any stock or interest of any stockholder, in any such bank, as provided in s. 221.43, a written memorandum of such transfer, signed and acknowledged in manner aforesaid by the vendor of said stock or interest, may be filed with the commissioner of banking department, and thereupon the individual liability of such vendor for the debts, demands and liabilities of said bank, which may be created or incurred after the expiration of 6 months from and after the filing of said memorandum shall cease; and in such case the purchaser of said stock shall not become or be responsible or liable in any manner for the debts, demands and liabilities of such bank unless the purchaser shall execute and file the declaration mentioned in s. 221.50.

AB150, s. 6175 Section 6175. 221.52 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2022,13 221.52 (title) Commissioner Department may disregard such declaration. The commissioner of banking, the commissioner's deputy or any examiner appointed by the commissioner department shall not be required to take into consideration such certificate of unlimited individual responsibility in determining the impairment of capital of any bank, or in determining the solvency of any such bank.

AB150, s. 6176 Section 6176. 221.53 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2022,21 221.53 Fees for certified copies. Whenever any certified copy or copies of any records or papers filed in the office of the commissioner of banking department shall be lawfully required to be furnished by the commissioner department, the commissioner department shall be entitled to a fee of 10 cents for each folio for making such copy or copies and 50 cents for each certificate. All such fees shall be paid by the commissioner department into the state treasury to the credit of the general fund.

AB150, s. 6177 Section 6177. 221.56 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2023,19 221.56 (1) Any domestic corporation, investment trust, or other form of trust or any regional state bank holding company which shall own, hold or in any manner control a majority of the stock in a state bank or trust company, or a bank or bank holding company which through a transaction under s. 701.108 acquires control of a majority of the stock in a state bank, shall be deemed to be engaged in the business of banking and shall be subject to the supervision of the office of the commissioner of banking department. It shall file reports of its financial condition when called for by the commissioner of banking department, and the commissioner department may order an examination of its condition and solvency whenever in his or her the department's opinion such examination is required, and the cost of such examination shall be paid by such corporation or association. Whenever in the opinion of the commissioner department the condition of such corporation or association shall be such as to endanger the safety of the deposits in any bank or trust company which is owned or in any manner controlled by such corporation, or the operation of such corporation, association or trust shall be carried on in such manner as to endanger the safety of such bank or trust company or its depositors, the commissioner department may order such corporation or trust to remedy such condition or policy within 90 days and if such order is not complied with, the commissioner department shall have power to fully direct the operation of such banks or trust companies until such order is complied with, and may withhold all dividends from such corporation or trust during the period in which the commissioner department may exercise such authority.

AB150, s. 6178 Section 6178. 221.57 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2024,7 221.57 Bank-owned banks. The commissioner department may authorize the establishment of, and issue a charter to, a bank, all of the stock of which is owned by 2 or more state or national banks whose home offices are situated in this state. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, the commissioner department may authorize, by rule, up to 10% of the stock to be held by other persons to accommodate operational needs of the bank. The bank shall be deemed a state bank chartered under this chapter for all purposes, except that its functions shall be limited solely to providing banking and banking-related services to other banks, subsidiaries of banks, bank holding companies, subsidiaries of bank holding companies and directors, officers and employes of other banks, subsidiaries of banks, bank holding companies and subsidiaries of bank holding companies. Such bank shall be empowered to authorize and to hold authorized but not issued stock.

AB150, s. 6179 Section 6179. 221.58 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2024,13 221.58 (2) (b) An in-state bank or in-state bank holding company proposing any action under par. (a) shall provide the commissioner of banking department a copy of any original application seeking approval by a federal agency or by an agency of the regional state and of any supplemental material or amendments filed in connection with any application.

AB150, s. 6180 Section 6180. 221.58 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2024,19 221.58 (4) (a) The commissioner of banking department finds that the statutes of the regional state in which the regional state bank holding company has its principal place of business permit in-state bank holding companies both to acquire one or more regional state banks and to acquire and merge with one or more regional state bank holding companies in the regional state.

AB150, s. 6181 Section 6181. 221.58 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,2024,23 221.58 (4) (b) The commissioner of banking department has not disapproved the acquisition of or merger with the in-state bank or in-state bank holding company.

AB150, s. 6182 Section 6182. 221.58 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read: