SB494: Bill Text

SB494,97,17 (2) The effects of the action on communities in which the bank operates.

SB494,97,18 (3) Other factors that the director or officer considers pertinent.

SB494,97,25 221.0618 Limited liability of directors. (1) In general. Except as provided in sub. (2) or s. 221.0803, a director is not liable to the bank, its shareholders, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the bank or its shareholders, for damages, settlements, fees, fines, penalties or other monetary liabilities arising from a breach of, or failure to perform, any duty resulting solely from his or her status as a director, unless the person asserting liability proves that the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:

SB494,98,2 (a) A wilful failure to deal fairly with the bank or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director has a material conflict of interest.

SB494,98,5 (b) A violation of criminal law, unless the director had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

SB494,98,6 (c) A transaction from which the director derived an improper personal profit.

SB494,98,7 (d) Wilful misconduct.

SB494,98,11 (2) Articles of incorporation may limit. A bank may limit the immunity provided under this section by its articles of incorporation. A limitation under this subsection applies if the cause of action against a director accrues while the limitation is in effect.

SB494,98,14 221.0619 Director conflict of interest. (1) Definition. In this section, "conflict of interest transaction" means a transaction with the bank in which a director of the bank has a direct or indirect interest.

SB494,98,17 (2) When transaction not voidable. A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable by the bank solely because of the director's interest in the transaction if any of the following is true:

SB494,98,21 (a) The material facts of the transaction and the director's interest were disclosed or known to the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors and the board of directors or committee authorized, approved or specifically ratified the transaction under sub. (4).

SB494,98,24 (b) The material facts of the transaction and the director's interest were disclosed or known to the shareholders entitled to vote and they authorized, approved or specifically ratified the transaction under sub. (5).

SB494,98,25 (c) The transaction was fair to the bank.

SB494,99,3 (3) Indirect interests. For purposes of this section, the circumstances in which a director of the bank has an indirect interest in a transaction include but are not limited to a transaction under any of the following circumstances:

SB494,99,5 (a) Another entity in which the director has a material financial interest or in which the director is a general partner is a party to the transaction.

SB494,99,8 (b) Another entity of which the director is a director, officer or trustee is a party to the transaction and the transaction is or, because of its significance to the bank, should be considered by the board of directors of the bank.

SB494,99,18 (4) Authorization, approval or ratification by board. For purposes of sub. (2) (a), a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved or specifically ratified if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors on the board of directors or on the committee acting on the transaction, who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction. If a majority of the directors who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction vote to authorize, approve or ratify the transaction, a quorum is present for the purpose of taking action under this section. The presence of, or a vote cast by, a director with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction does not affect the validity of any action taken under sub. (2) (a) if the transaction is otherwise authorized, approved or ratified as provided in this section.

SB494,99,25 (5) Authorization, approval or ratification by shareholders. For purposes of sub. (2) (b), a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved or specifically ratified if it receives the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to be counted under this subsection. Shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who has a direct or indirect interest in the transaction, and shares owned by or voted under the control of an entity described in sub. (3) (a), may not be counted in a vote of shareholders to determine whether to authorize, approve or ratify a conflict of interest transaction under sub. (2) (b). The vote of those shares shall be counted in determining whether the transaction is approved under other sections of this chapter. A majority of the shares, whether or not present, that are entitled to be counted in a vote on the transaction under this subsection constitutes a quorum for the purpose of taking action under this section.

SB494,100,8 221.0620 Officers. (1) Creation and appointment. A bank shall have the officers described in its bylaws or appointed by its board of directors by resolution not inconsistent with its bylaws.

SB494,100,11 (2) Election of officers. The officers of the bank shall be elected by the board of directors. However, a duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the bylaws or the board of directors.

SB494,100,13 (3) Senior executive officer. The senior executive officer in charge of conducting business shall be chosen from the board of directors.

SB494,100,15 (4) Multiple offices. An individual may simultaneously hold more than one office in a bank.

SB494,100,18 (5) Ineligibility for office. An individual who has been previously convicted of any crime under federal or state banking laws may not be elected an officer of a bank.

SB494,100,22 221.0621 Duties of officers. Each officer has the authority and shall perform the duties set forth in the bylaws or, to the extent not inconsistent with the bylaws, the duties prescribed by the board of directors or by direction of an officer authorized by the bylaws or by the board of directors to prescribe the duties of other officers.

SB494,101,4 221.0622 Resignation and removal of officers. (1) Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering to the bank notice that complies with s. 221.0103. The resignation is effective when the notice is delivered, unless the notice specifies a later effective date and the bank accepts the later effective date. If a resignation is effective at a later date, the bank's board of directors may fill the pending vacancy before the effective date, if the board of directors provides that the successor may not take office until the effective date.

SB494,101,9 (2) Removal. The board of directors may remove an officer and, unless restricted by the bylaws or by the board of directors, an officer may remove an officer or assistant officer appointed by that officer under s. 221.0620 (2), at any time, with or without cause and notwithstanding the contract rights, if any, of the officer removed.

SB494,101,11 221.0623 Contract rights of officers. (1) Effect of appointment. The appointment of an officer does not itself create contract rights.

SB494,101,14 (2) Effect of resignation or removal. Except as provided in s. 221.0622 (2), an officer's resignation or removal is subject to any remedies provided by any contract between the officer and the bank or otherwise provided by law.

SB494,101,17 221.0624 Signature of officers. Each document required by this chapter to be signed by an officer or officers of the bank shall be signed by the officer or officers designated in the bylaws or by the board of directors.

SB494,102,3 221.0625 Loans to bank officials; penalty. (1) Loans to officers and directors. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a bank may not lend to any officer or director of the bank an amount that, when aggregated with the amount of all other extensions of credit to that person exceeds the higher of $25,000 or 5% of the bank's capital, without prior approval of the bank's board of directors. Prior approval of the bank's board of directors is also required in all cases when a loan aggregated with all other extensions of credit to the officer or director exceeds $500,000. A bank's board of directors may give prior approval to a line of credit to an officer or director, and prior approval by the bank's board of directors is not required for each advance made to the officer or director pursuant to the preapproved line of credit.

SB494,102,6 (2) Penalty. An officer or director of a bank who, in violation of this section, directly or indirectly does any of the following may be imprisoned for not more than 10 years:

SB494,102,8 (a) Borrows or otherwise procures for personal use money, funds or property of the bank.

SB494,102,10 (b) Procures money, funds or property of the bank through use of personal credit or accommodation of another person.

SB494,102,13 (c) Procures money, funds or property of the bank by acceptance for discount at the bank of any note, bond or evidence of debt that he or she knows or has reason to know is worth less than the price at which it is accepted as an asset.

SB494,102,15 221.0626 Definitions applicable to indemnification and insurance provisions. In ss. 221.0626 to 221.0635:

SB494,102,16 (1) "Director or officer" means any of the following:

SB494,102,17 (a) An individual who is or was a director or officer of a bank.

SB494,102,22 (b) An individual who, while a director or officer of a bank, is or was serving at the bank's request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member of any governing or decision-making committee, manager, employe or agent of another bank, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

SB494,103,2 (c) An individual who, while a director or officer of a bank, is or was serving an employe benefit plan because his or her duties to the bank also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, the person to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.

SB494,103,4 (d) Unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a director or officer of a bank.

SB494,103,6 (2) "Expenses" include fees, costs, charges, disbursements, attorney fees and any other expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding.

SB494,103,9 (3) "Liability" includes the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, assessment, forfeiture or fine, including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employe benefit plan, and reasonable expenses.

SB494,103,11 (4) "Party" includes an individual who was or is, or who is threatened to be made, a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.

SB494,103,15 (5) "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding, whether formal or informal, which involves foreign, federal, state or local law and which is brought by or in the right of the bank or by any other person.

SB494,103,20 221.0627 Mandatory indemnification. (1) When successful in defense of a proceeding. A bank shall indemnify a director or officer, to the extent that he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding if the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer.

SB494,104,2 (2) When unsuccessful in defense of a proceeding. (a) In cases not included under sub. (1), a bank shall indemnify a director or officer against liability incurred by the director or officer in a proceeding to which the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer, unless liability was incurred because the director or officer breached or failed to perform a duty that he or she owes to the bank and the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:

SB494,104,4 1. A wilful failure to deal fairly with the bank or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest.

SB494,104,7 2. A violation of a criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

SB494,104,9 3. A transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit.

SB494,104,10 4. Wilful misconduct.

SB494,104,12 (b) Determination of whether indemnification is required under this subsection shall be made under s. 221.0631.

SB494,104,16 (c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or an equivalent plea, does not, by itself, create a presumption that indemnification of the director or officer is not required under this subsection.

SB494,104,18 (3) How indemnification may be sought. A director or officer who seeks indemnification under this section shall make a written request to the bank.

SB494,104,21 (4) Limits on mandatory indemnification. (a) Indemnification under this section is not required to the extent limited by the articles of incorporation under s. 221.0628.

SB494,104,24 (b) Indemnification under this section is not required if the director or officer has previously received indemnification or allowance of expenses from any person, including the bank, in connection with the same proceeding.

SB494,105,5 (c) Indemnification under this section is not required to the extent expressly prohibited by other provisions of this chapter, ch. 220 or applicable federal law or in connection with an administrative proceeding or action instituted under ch. 220 which results in a final order against the officer or director under s. 220.04 (4), (9) or (10).

SB494,105,13 221.0628 Bank may limit indemnification. A bank's articles of incorporation may limit its obligation to indemnify under s. 221.0627. Any provision of the articles of incorporation relating to a banks power or obligation to indemnify that was in existence on the effective date of this section .... [revisor inserts date], does not constitute a limitation on the bank's obligation to indemnify under s. 221.0627. A limitation under this section applies if the first alleged act or omission of a director or officer for which indemnification is sought occurred while the limitation was in effect.

SB494,105,17 221.0629 Allowance of expenses as incurred. Upon written request by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding, a bank may pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses as incurred if the director or officer provides the bank with all of the following:

SB494,105,20 (1) Affirmation of good faith belief. A written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has not breached or failed to perform his or her duties to the bank.

SB494,106,3 (2) Undertaking to repay. A written undertaking, executed personally or on his or her behalf, to repay the allowance and, if required by the bank, to pay reasonable interest on the allowance to the extent that it is ultimately determined under s. 221.0631 that indemnification under s. 221.0627 (2) is not required and that indemnification is not ordered by a court under s. 221.0630 (2) (b). The undertaking under this subsection shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director or officer and may be accepted without reference to his or her ability to repay the allowance. The undertaking may be secured or unsecured.

SB494,106,11 221.0630 Court-ordered indemnification. (1) Application for indemnification. Except as provided otherwise by written agreement between the director or officer and the bank, a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. Application shall be made for an initial determination by the court under s. 221.0631 (5) or for review by the court of an adverse determination under s. 221.0631 (1), (2), (3), (4) or (6). After receipt of an application, the court shall give any notice that it considers necessary.

SB494,106,13 (2) When to be ordered by court. The court shall order indemnification if it determines any of the following:

SB494,106,18 (a) That the director or officer is entitled to indemnification under s. 221.0627. If the court also determines that the bank unreasonably refused the director's or officer's request for indemnification, the court shall order the bank to pay the director's or officer's reasonable expenses incurred to obtain the court-ordered indemnification.

SB494,106,21 (b) That the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, regardless of whether indemnification is required under s. 221.0627.

SB494,107,2 221.0631 Determination of right to indemnification. Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws or by written agreement between the director or officer and the bank, the director or officer seeking indemnification under s. 221.0627 (2) shall select one of the following means for determining his or her right to indemnification:

SB494,107,9 (1) Board or committee vote. By a majority vote of a quorum of the board of directors consisting of directors who are not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. If a quorum of disinterested directors cannot be obtained, by majority vote of a committee duly appointed by the board of directors and consisting solely of 2 or more directors who are not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. Directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings may participate in the designation of members of the committee.

SB494,107,14 (2) Independent legal counsel. By independent legal counsel selected by a quorum of the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in sub. (1) or, if unable to obtain such a quorum or committee, by a majority vote of the full board of directors, including directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings.

SB494,107,18 (3) Panel of arbitrators. By a panel of 3 arbitrators consisting of one arbitrator selected by those directors entitled under sub. (2) to select independent legal counsel, one arbitrator selected by the director or officer seeking indemnification and one arbitrator selected by the 2 arbitrators previously selected.

SB494,107,22 (4) Shareholder vote. By an affirmative vote of shares as provided in s. 221.0501. Shares owned by, or voted under the control of, persons who are at the time parties to the same or related proceedings, whether as plaintiffs or defendants or in any other capacity, may not be voted in making the determination.

SB494,107,23 (5) Court order. By a court under s. 221.0630.

SB494,107,25 (6) Other methods. By any other method provided for in any additional right to indemnification permitted under s. 221.0634.

SB494,108,6 221.0632 Indemnification and allowance of expenses of employes and agents. (1) Mandatory indemnification. Except as provided in sub. (3), a bank shall indemnify an employe who is not a director or officer, to the extent that he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding if the employe was a party because he or she was an employe of the bank.

SB494,108,11 (2) Permitted indemnification. Except as provided in sub. (3), in addition to the indemnification required by sub. (1), a bank may indemnify and allow reasonable expenses of an employe or agent who is not a director or officer to the extent provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws, by general or specific action of the board of directors or by contract.

SB494,108,17 (3) Prohibited indemnification. A bank may not indemnify or allow reasonable expenses of an employe or agent who is not a director or officer if the indemnification or allowance is expressly prohibited by s. 221.0803, by other provisions of this chapter or by applicable federal law or in connection with an administrative proceeding or action instituted under ch. 220 which results in a final order against an officer or director under s. 220.04 (4), (9) or (10).

SB494,109,2 221.0633 Insurance. Except as expressly prohibited by other provisions of this chapter or applicable federal law or in connection with an administrative proceeding or action instituted under ch. 220 which results in a final order against an employe, agent, director or officer under s. 220.04 (4), (9) or (10), a bank may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the employe, agent, director or officer against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in his or her capacity as an employe, agent, director or officer or arising from his or her status as an employe, agent, director or officer, regardless of whether the bank is required or authorized to indemnify or allow expenses to the individual against the same liability under ss. 221.0627, 221.0629, 221.0632 and 221.0634.

SB494,109,10 221.0634 Additional rights to indemnification and allowance of expenses. (1) Provision for additional rights. Except as provided in sub. (2) and except as expressly prohibited by other provisions of this chapter or applicable federal law or in connection with an administrative proceeding or action instituted under ch. 220 which results in a final order against an officer or director under s. 220.04 (4), (9) or (10), ss. 221.0627 and 221.0629 do not preclude any additional right to indemnification or allowance of expenses that a director or officer may have under any of the following:

SB494,109,11 (a) The articles of incorporation or bylaws.

SB494,109,12 (b) A written agreement between the director or officer and the bank.

SB494,109,13 (c) A resolution of the board of directors.

SB494,109,15 (d) A resolution that is adopted, after notice, by a majority vote of all of the bank's voting shares then issued and outstanding.

SB494,109,23 (2) When additional rights prohibited. Regardless of the existence of an additional right under sub. (1), the bank may not indemnify a director or officer, or permit a director or officer to retain any allowance of expenses, unless it is determined by or on behalf of the bank that the director or officer did not breach or fail to perform a duty that he or she owes to the bank which constitutes conduct under s. 221.0627 (2) (a) 1., 2., 3. or 4. A director or officer who is a party to the same or related proceeding for which indemnification or an allowance of expenses is sought may not participate in a determination under this subsection.

SB494,110,3 (3) Reimbursement of certain expenses. Sections 221.0626 to 221.0635 do not affect a bank's power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or officer in any of the following circumstances:

SB494,110,4 (a) As a witness in a proceeding to which he or she is not a party.

SB494,110,6 (b) As a plaintiff or petitioner in a proceeding because he or she is or was an employe, agent, director or officer.

SB494,110,11 221.0635 Indemnification and insurance against securities law claims. (1) In general. It is the public policy of this state to require or permit indemnification, allowance of expenses and insurance for any liability incurred in connection with a proceeding involving securities regulation described under sub. (2) to the extent required or permitted under ss. 221.0626 to 221.0634.

SB494,110,15 (2) Applicability. Sections 221.0626 to 221.0634 apply, to the extent applicable to any other proceeding, to any proceeding involving a federal law or regulation or a state law or rule that regulates the offer, sale or purchase of securities, securities brokers or dealers, or investment companies or investment advisors.

SB494,110,17 221.0636 Theft. (1) Theft prohibited. (a) An officer, director, employe or agent of a bank may not do any of the following:

SB494,110,19 1. Steal, abstract or wilfully misapply money, funds, credits, or property of the bank, whether owned by the bank or held in trust.

SB494,110,22 2. Without authority of the board of directors, issue or put forth a certificate of deposit, draw an order or bill of exchange or make an acceptance, assign a note, bond, draft, bill of exchange, mortgage, judgment or decree.