AB554: Bill Text

AB554, s. 14 Section 14. 221.04 (4h) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB554,9,25 221.04 (4h) Stock in bank-owned banks. Any bank holding company, subject to the limitations in s. 221.59, or any bank may, with the approval of the division, acquire and hold stock in an aggregate amount not exceeding 10% of its capital and surplus, in one or more banks chartered under s. 221.57 or in one or more bank holding companies wholly owning a bank chartered under s. 221.57.

AB554, s. 15 Section 15. 221.08 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB554,10,14 221.08 (9) The board of directors shall meet at least once each month calendar quarter. At the monthly quarterly meeting they shall generally investigate the affairs of the bank and determine whether the assets are of the value at which they are carried on the books of the bank. The directors shall name a loan committee of 3 or more of its members, a majority of whom shall be other than active executives, except in 1st or 2nd class cities, or except when a majority of the directors are actively engaged in the bank's management. The committee shall meet at least once each month calendar quarter and shall determine policies as to renewals and applications for new loans. Any director who is found to be lax in attendance may be removed by the commissioner and the vacancy shall be filled within a reasonable time as the commissioner may direct.

AB554, s. 16 Section 16. 221.08 (9) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB554,11,2 221.08 (9) The board of directors shall meet at least once each calendar quarter. At the quarterly meeting they shall generally investigate the affairs of the bank and determine whether the assets are of the value at which they are carried on the books of the bank. The directors shall name a loan committee of 3 or more of its members, a majority of whom shall be other than active executives, except in 1st or 2nd class cities, or except when a majority of the directors are actively engaged in the bank's management. The committee shall meet at least once each calendar quarter and shall determine policies as to renewals and applications for new loans. Any director who is found to be lax in attendance may be removed by the division and the vacancy shall be filled within a reasonable time as the division may direct.

AB554, s. 17 Section 17. 221.56 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB554,11,24 221.56 (1) Any domestic corporation, investment trust, or other form of trust or any regional state out-of-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. It shall file reports of its financial condition or activities when called for by the commissioner of banking, and the commissioner may order an examination of its condition and solvency whenever in his or her 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 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 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 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 may exercise such authority.

AB554, s. 18 Section 18. 221.56 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB554,12,20 221.56 (1) Any domestic corporation, investment trust, or other form of trust or any out-of-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 shall be deemed to be engaged in the business of banking and shall be subject to the supervision of the division. It shall file reports of its financial condition or activities when called for by the division, and the division may order an examination of its condition and solvency whenever, the division'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 division 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 division may order such corporation or trust to remedy such condition or policy within 90 days and if such order is not complied with, the division 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 division may exercise such authority.

AB554, s. 19 Section 19. 221.58 of the statutes is repealed.

AB554, s. 20 Section 20. 221.59 of the statutes is created to read:

AB554,12,25 221.59 Acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies. (1) Applicability. This section applies to acquisitions of an in-state bank or an in-state bank holding company by any company.

AB554,13,1 (2) Definitions. In this section:

AB554,13,2 (a) "Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1841 (k).

AB554,13,3 (b) "Bank" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1841 (c).

AB554,13,6 (c) "Bank holding company" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1841 (a), and unless the context otherwise requires, includes an in-state bank holding company, an out-of-state bank holding company and a foreign bank holding company.

AB554,13,10 (d) "Bank supervisory agency" means the office of the comptroller of the currency, the federal deposit insurance corporation, the board of governors of the federal reserve system, or any successor to these agencies, or any agency of another state with primary responsibility for chartering and supervising banks.

AB554,13,11 (e) "Comissioner" means the commissioner of banking.

AB554,13,13 (f) "Company" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1841 (b) and includes a bank holding company.

AB554,13,14 (g) "Control" shall be interpreted consistently with 12 USC 1841 (a).

AB554,13,15 (h) "Deposit" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1813 (l).

AB554,13,17 (i) "Depository institution" means any insured depository institution under 12 USC 1813 (c) (2) and (3).

AB554,13,20 (j) "Foreign bank holding company" means a bank holding company that is organized under the laws of a country other than the United States or any territory or possession of the United States.

AB554,13,23 (k) "In-state bank" means a bank that is organized under this chapter, a trust company bank organized under ch. 223 or a bank organized under federal law and having its principal place of business in this state.

AB554,14,2 (L) "In-state bank holding company" means a bank holding company that has its principal place of business in this state or a company that has control of a trust company bank organized under ch. 223 and is not controlled by a bank holding company other than an in-state bank holding company.

AB554,14,5 (m) "Out-of-state bank holding company" means a bank holding company that is not an in-state bank holding company and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes a foreign bank holding company.

AB554,14,7 (n) "Principal place of business" of a bank holding company means the state in which the total deposits of its bank subsidiaries are the greatest.

AB554,14,9 (p) "State" means any state, territory or other possession of the United States, including the District of Columbia.

AB554,14,10 (q) "Subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in 12 USC 1841 (d).

AB554,14,13 (3) Approval requirements. (a) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by federal law or par. (b), no company may do any of the following without the prior approval of the commissioner:

AB554,14,14 1. Merge or consolidate with an in-state bank holding company.

AB554,14,15 2. Assume direct or indirect ownership or control of:

AB554,14,18 a. More than 25% of any class of voting shares of an in-state bank holding company or an in-state bank, if the acquiring company is not a bank holding company prior to the acquisition.

AB554,14,21 b. More than 5% of any class of voting shares of an in-state bank holding company or an in-state bank, if the acquiring company is a bank holding company prior to the acquisition.

AB554,14,23 c. All or substantially all of the assets of an in-state bank holding company or an in-state bank.

AB554,14,25 3. Take other action that results in the direct or indirect acquisition of control of an in-state bank holding company or an in-state bank.

AB554,15,2 (b) The approval of the commissioner is not needed under par. (a) in any of the following transactions:

AB554,15,4 1. A transaction arranged by the commissioner or a bank supervisory agency to prevent the insolvency or closing of the acquired bank.

AB554,15,7 2. A transaction in which a bank forms its own bank holding company, if the ownership rights of the former bank shareholders are substantially similar to those of the shareholders of the new bank holding company.

AB554,15,11 (c) In a transaction under par. (b) in which the commissioner's approval is not required, the parties shall give written notice to the commissioner at least 15 days before the effective date of the acquisition, unless a shorter period of notice is required under applicable federal law.

AB554,15,13 (4) Required application. A company that requires the commissioner's approval under sub. (3) (a) shall do all of the following:

AB554,15,15 (a) File with the commissioner an application in the form that the commissioner requires.

AB554,15,16 (b) Pay to the commissioner an application fee of $5,000.

AB554,15,19 (c) Reimburse the commissioner for all actual costs incurred by the commissioner in making an investigation related to the application under par. (a) and in holding any hearing on the application.

AB554,15,22 (d) Cause to be published a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the form prescribed by the commissioner, in the official state newspaper, of the application under par. (a) and of the opportunity for a hearing under sub. (5).

AB554,15,24 (e) File with the commissioner a proof of publication of the notice under par. (d), upon completion of the publication of the notice.

AB554,16,3 (f) If the applicant is an out-of-state bank holding company, submit to the commissioner, with the application, proof that the applicant has complied with or is exempted from the requirements of subch. XV of ch. 180.

AB554,16,8 (5) Hearing. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the commissioner shall hold a hearing on the application under sub. (4) (a) if at least 25 residents of this state petition for a hearing within 30 days of the notice under sub. (4) (d) or if the commissioner on his or her own motion calls for a hearing within 30 days of the notice under sub. (4) (d).

AB554,16,11 (b) No hearing is required under this section if the commissioner finds that an emergency exists and that the proposed acquisition is necessary and appropriate to prevent the probable failure of an in-state bank.

AB554,16,13 (6) Standards for disapproval. The commissioner may disapprove a transaction under sub. (3) (a) if the commissioner finds any of the following:

AB554,16,17 (a) Considering the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the applicant and of the in-state bank or in-state bank holding company, the transaction would be contrary to the best interests of the shareholders or customers of the in-state bank or in-state bank holding company.

AB554,16,21 (b) The action would be detrimental to the safety and soundness of the applicant or of the in-state bank or in-state bank holding company, or to the safety and soundness of a subsidiary or affiliate of the applicant, the in-state bank or the in-state bank holding company.

AB554,17,2 (c) Because the applicant or its executive officers, directors or principal shareholders have not established a record of sound performance, efficient management, financial responsibility and integrity, the action would be contrary to the best interests of the depositors, other customers, creditors or shareholders of the applicant or of the in-state bank or in-state bank holding company or contrary to the best interests of the public.

AB554,17,6 (d) The applicant has received a rating of "needs to improve record of meeting community credit needs" under 12 USC 2906 (b) (2) (C) or "substantial noncompliance in meeting community credit needs" under 12 USC 2906 (b) (2) (D) by the bank supervisory agency.

AB554,17,10 (f) The applicant has failed to enter into an agreement prepared by the commissioner to comply with the laws and rules of this state regulating consumer credit finance charges and other charges and related disclosure requirements, except to the extent preempted by federal law or regulation.

AB554,17,12 (g) The applicant fails to meet any other standards established by rule of the commissioner.

AB554,17,18 (8) Age requirement. (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), the commissioner may not approve an application by an out-of-state bank holding company under sub. (3) (a) unless the in-state bank to be acquired, or all in-state bank subsidiaries of the in-state bank holding company to be acquired, have as of the proposed date of acquisition been in existence and in continuous operation for at least 5 years.

AB554,17,23 (b) The commissioner may approve an application for an acquisition of an in-state bank holding company that owns one or more in-state banks that have been in existence for less than 5 years, if the out-of-state bank holding company divests itself of those in-state banks within 2 years after the date of acquisition of the in-state bank holding company by the out-of-state bank holding company.

AB554,18,3 (c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to an in-state bank that is the surviving bank of a merger with an in-state bank that had been in existence and continuous operation for at least 5 years at the time of the merger or would have been in existence and in continuous operation for at least 5 years as of the proposed date of acquisition, it the merger had not taken place.

AB554,18,6 (9) Reports. Each bank holding company that controls an in-state bank or an in-state bank holding company shall submit to the commissioner reports under s. 221.56.

AB554,18,8 (10) Penalties. The commissioner may enforce the provisions of this section pursuant to s. 220.04 (9).

AB554, s. 21 Section 21. 221.59 (2) (e) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... this act), is repealed.

AB554, s. 22 Section 22. 221.59 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,18,15 221.59 (3) (a) (intro.) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by federal law or par. (b), no company may do any of the following without the prior approval of the commissioner division:

AB554, s. 23 Section 23. 221.59 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,18,19 221.59 (3) (b) (intro.) The approval of the commissioner division is not needed under par. (a) in any of the following transactions:

AB554, s. 24 Section 24. 221.59 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,18,23 221.59 (3) (b) 1. A transaction arranged by the commissioner division or a bank supervisory agency to prevent the insolvency or closing of the acquired bank.

AB554, s. 25 Section 25. 221.59 (3) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,19,4 221.59 (3) (c) In a transaction under par. (b) in which the commissioner's division's approval is not required, the parties shall give written notice to the commissioner division at least 15 days before the effective date of the acquisition, unless a shorter period of notice is required under applicable federal law.

AB554, s. 26 Section 26. 221.59 (4) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,19,8 221.59 (4) Required application. A company that requires the commissioner's division's approval under sub. (3) (a) shall do all of the following:

AB554,19,10 (a) File with the commissioner division an application in the form that the commissioner division requires.

AB554,19,11 (b) Pay to the commissioner division an application fee of $5,000.

AB554,19,14 (c) Reimburse the commissioner division for all actual costs incurred by the commissioner division in making an investigation related to the application under par. (a) and in holding any hearing on the application.

AB554,19,17 (d) Cause to be published a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the form prescribed by the commissioner division, in the official state newspaper, of the application under par. (a) and of the opportunity for a hearing under sub. (5).

AB554,19,19 (e) File with the commissioner division a proof of publication of the notice under par. (d), upon completion of the publication of the notice.

AB554,19,22 (f) If the applicant is an out-of-state bank holding company, submit to the commissioner division, with the application, proof that the applicant has complied with or is exempted from the requirements of subch. XV of ch. 180.

AB554, s. 27 Section 27. 221.59 (5) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,20,5 221.59 (5) Hearing. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the commissioner division shall hold a hearing on the application under sub. (4) (a) if at least 25 residents of this state petition for a hearing within 30 days of the notice under sub. (4) (d) or if the commissioner division on his or her its own motion calls for a hearing within 30 days of the notice under sub. (4) (d).

AB554,20,8 (b) No hearing is required under this section if the commissioner division finds that an emergency exists and that the proposed acquisition is necessary and appropriate to prevent the probable failure of an in-state bank.

AB554, s. 28 Section 28. 221.59 (6) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,20,12 221.59 (6) (intro.) The commissioner division may disapprove a transaction under sub. (3) (a) if the commissioner division finds any of the following:

AB554, s. 29 Section 29. 221.59 (6) (f) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,20,18 21.59 (6) (f) The applicant has failed to enter into an agreement prepared by the commissioner division to comply with the laws and rules of this state regulating consumer credit finance charges and other charges and related disclosure requirements, except to the extent preempted by federal law or regulation.

AB554,20,20 221.59 (6) (g) The applicant fails to meet any other standards established by rule of the commissioner division.

AB554, s. 30 Section 30. 221.59 (8) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB554,21,2 221.59 (8) (a) Except as provided in pars (b) and (c), the commissioner division may not approve an application by an out-of-state bank holding company under sub. (3) (a) unless the in-state bank to be acquired, or all in-state bank subsidiaries of the in-state bank holding company to be acquired, have as of the proposed date of acquisition been in existence and in continuous operation for at least 5 years.