Chapter 186

186.02(4)(c) (c) A credit union is not required to obtain the prior approval of its membership to move the credit union’s principal office within a 20-mile radius of its present location, including to another county.

186.02 History History: 1971 c. 193 ss. 42 (1), (3); 1983 a. 369; 1983 a. 538 ss. 171, 172; 1985 a. 25 s. 15; 1993 a. 301; 1995 a. 27, 151; 1997 a. 152; 2003 a. 63.

186.03 186.03 Use of name exclusive.

186.03(1) (1) Limits. A person may not use a name containing the phrase “credit union”, represent itself as a credit union or conduct business as a credit union unless the person is any of the following:

186.03(1)(a) (a) A credit union.

186.03(1)(b) (b) An association of credit unions.

186.03(1)(c) (c) An organization, association or corporation whose membership or ownership is primarily confined or restricted to credit unions.

186.03(2) (2) Use required. A credit union shall use the phrase “credit union” in its corporate name.

186.03(3) (3) Name approval. The office of credit unions shall approve a credit union’s name before the name is officially adopted. A credit union may not adopt the name of another credit union doing business in this state.

186.03(4) (4) Penalty. Whoever violates this section may be fined not more than $5,000.

186.03 History History: 1971 c. 193 s. 42 (1); 1985 a. 127; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 151 ss. 63, 64, 301.

186.035 186.035 Deceptive or misleading use of credit union name, logo, or symbol.

186.035(1) (1) Use of credit union name, logo, or symbol for marketing purposes. Except as provided in sub. (3), no person may use the name, logo, or symbol, or any combination thereof, of a credit union, or any name, logo, or symbol, or any combination thereof, that is deceptively similar to the name, logo, or symbol of a credit union, in any marketing material provided to or solicitation of another person in a manner such that a reasonable person may believe that the marketing material or solicitation originated from or is endorsed by the credit union or that the credit union is responsible for the marketing material or solicitation.

186.035(2) (2) Enforcement and penalties. The office of credit unions shall direct any person the office finds to have violated sub. (1) to cease and desist from violating sub. (1). If a person violates sub. (1) after receiving such direction, the office of credit unions may impose a forfeiture of up to $1,000 for each violation. Each instance in which marketing material is provided to another person or solicitation of another person takes place in violation of sub. (1) constitutes a separate violation. This subsection does not affect the availability of any remedies otherwise available to a credit union.

186.035(3) (3) Exceptions. Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who uses the name, logo, or symbol of a credit union in any of the following circumstances:

186.035(3)(a) (a) With the consent of the credit union.

186.035(3)(b) (b) If the person is the credit union, an affiliate of the credit union, or an agent of the credit union.

186.035 History History: 2003 a. 262.

186.06 186.06 Membership meetings, fiscal year.

186.06(1) (1) Manner of meeting. The annual meeting and any special meeting of the members of a credit union shall be held in the manner provided by the bylaws.

186.06(1m) (1m) Voting. At a meeting, each member shall have one vote irrespective of the member’s share total. Except as provided in sub. (2), a member may not vote by proxy.

186.06(2) (2) Representation. An organization, association or corporation member of a credit union may be represented by and have its vote cast by an authorized representative of its members or owners.

186.06(2m) (2m) Voting eligibility. The bylaws shall prescribe the terms by which a member is eligible to vote at a meeting.

186.06(3) (3) Meeting issues.

186.06(3)(a) (a) At any meeting, if the notice so indicates, a majority of the members present may direct the board of directors to do any of the following:

186.06(3)(a)1. 1. Consider implementing any policy proposed by the members.

186.06(3)(a)2. 2. Reconsider any decision of the directors, officers or committees.

186.06(3)(b) (b) At any meeting, if the notice so indicates, the members may, by a three-fourths vote of the members present, do any of the following:

186.06(3)(b)1. 1. Remove any member of the board of directors.

186.06(3)(b)2. 2. Amend the bylaws.

186.06(4) (4) Fiscal year. The fiscal year of every credit union shall end at the close of business on December 31.

186.06 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1973 c. 255; 1979 c. 282; 1981 c. 156; 1983 a. 369; 1995 a. 151; 2003 a. 63.

186.07 186.07 Board of directors.

186.07(1) (1) Directors. At the first meeting of the members, the members shall elect a board of directors, consisting of an odd number of directors. A board of directors shall consist of at least 5 directors. Subsequent elections for board members shall be held at the annual membership meeting held in a manner prescribed in the bylaws.

186.07(1m) (1m) Appointments.

186.07(1m)(a) (a) The board of directors shall appoint a president of the credit union. The board may also appoint any committee that the board considers to be necessary.

186.07(1m)(b) (b) The president shall appoint any employee officer.

186.07(2) (2) Terms. A director shall hold office until any of the following occurs:

186.07(2)(a) (a) A successor is elected or appointed and the successor signs an oath of office.

186.07(2)(b) (b) The director is removed under sub. (5) or dies.

186.07(3) (3) Meeting participation.

186.07(3)(a) (a) Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors may permit any or all directors to participate in a regular or special meeting or in a committee meeting of the board of directors, including a meeting of the executive committee, in any manner described in par. (b). Unless the articles of incorporation, bylaws or board of directors provide otherwise, the credit committee may permit any or all members of the committee to participate in a credit committee meeting in any manner described in par. (b).

186.07(3)(b) (b) If authorized under par. (a), the directors or credit committee members may participate in a meeting by, or conduct a meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which any of the following occurs:

186.07(3)(b)1. 1. All participating directors or members may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting.

186.07(3)(b)2. 2. All communication during the meeting is immediately transmitted to each participating director or member, and each participating director or member is able to immediately send messages to all other participating directors or members.

186.07(3)(c) (c) If a meeting will be conducted through the use of any means described in par. (b), all participating directors or credit committee members shall be informed that a meeting is taking place at which official business may be transacted. A director or member participating in a meeting by any means described in par. (b) is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. If requested by a director or member, minutes of the meeting shall be prepared and distributed to each director or member.

186.07(3m) (3m) Written consent in lieu of meeting.

186.07(3m)(a) (a) Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, any action required or permitted by this chapter to be authorized at a board of directors’ meeting may be authorized without a meeting if that action is authorized by all directors and is evidenced by one or more written statements, signed by each director, describing and consenting to the action. Such an action has the same effect as an action authorized by unanimous vote at a meeting at which all directors are present and may be described as such in any document.

186.07(3m)(b) (b) Any action authorized under par. (a) is effective when the last director signs the statement evidencing his or her consent, unless the statement specifies a different effective date.

186.07(3m)(c) (c) A credit union shall retain all statements signed by its directors under par. (a).

186.07(4) (4) Director eligibility. Eligibility for election to the board of directors shall be prescribed in the bylaws.

186.07(5) (5) Director removal. The board of directors shall remove a director from the board if any of the following applies:

186.07(5)(a) (a) The director withdraws from membership in the credit union.

186.07(5)(b) (b) The director causes a loss to the credit union because of a delinquency or a known conflict of interest.

186.07(5)(c) (c) The director is unable to be bonded in accordance with the standards set by the board of directors.

186.07(5)(d) (d) In the judgment of the board of directors, removal of the director is in the best interests of the credit union.

186.07(6) (6) Removal notice and appeal. A director who is removed under sub. (5) or s. 186.071 (2) shall be given notice of removal. The removed director may petition the board of directors to reconsider its decision. If the board of directors does not reinstate the director, the director may appeal the decision of the board of directors to the office of credit unions. If the office of credit unions determines that the removal of the director was improper, the office of credit unions shall order the reinstatement of the director and, if the board of directors has already appointed a person to fill the vacancy created by the removal of the director, the removal of such person.

186.07(7) (7) Vacancies. Within 90 days of a vacancy on the board of directors, the board of directors shall appoint a director to fill the vacancy. The appointee shall serve until a successor is elected at the next annual membership meeting.

186.07(8) (8) Director conflict of interest.

186.07(8)(a) (a) In this subsection, “conflict of interest transaction” means a transaction with the credit union in which a director of the credit union has a direct or indirect interest.

186.07(8)(b) (b) A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable by the credit union solely because of the director’s interest in the transaction if any of the following is true:

186.07(8)(b)1. 1. 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 par. (d).

186.07(8)(b)2. 2. The transaction was fair to the credit union.

186.07(8)(c) (c) For purposes of this subsection, the circumstances in which a director of the credit union has an indirect interest in a transaction include a transaction under any of the following circumstances:

186.07(8)(c)1. 1. 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.

186.07(8)(c)2. 2. 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 credit union, should be considered by the board of directors of the credit union.

186.07(8)(d) (d) For purposes of par. (b) 1., 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 subsection. 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 par. (b) 1. if the transaction is otherwise authorized, approved, or ratified as provided in this subsection.

186.07 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1979 c. 282; 1981 c. 156; 1983 a. 369; 1989 a. 308; 1991 a. 16; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2003 a. 63; 2015 a. 304; 2023 a. 128.

186.071 186.071 Oath of office.

186.071(1) (1) Oath. Every director, officer, committee member and employee shall sign an oath of office. The oath shall require the director, officer, committee member and employee to do all of the following:

186.071(1)(a) (a) Keep confidential the financial affairs of credit union members, unless state and federal laws, security requirements or sound lending practices permit disclosure.

186.071(1)(b) (b) Keep confidential the records and accounts of the credit union and the deliberations of the board of directors unless state or federal law permits disclosure.

186.071(1)(c) (c) Familiarize themselves with the credit union laws, bylaws, rules and policies.

186.071(1)(d) (d) Avoid initiating or participating in any insider dealings using credit union funds or the credit union’s power or authority.

186.071(1)(e) (e) Avoid initiating or participating in any action that may present to that person a personal conflict of interest.

186.071(2) (2) Removal for violation. If an individual refuses to sign the oath of office or knowingly and willfully violates the oath of office, the board shall remove that individual as a director, officer or committee member or shall direct that the individual be terminated as an employee.

186.071 History History: 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2015 a. 304.

186.08 186.08 Officers, management.

186.08(1) (1) Management. At its first meeting following the annual membership meeting, the board of directors shall elect from its number a chairperson and one or more vice chairpersons, a secretary of the board and a treasurer of the board. Any 2 or more offices of the board may be held by the same person, except the offices of chairperson and vice chairperson and the offices of chairperson and secretary. The board of directors shall have the general oversight and final decision-making authority over the affairs, funds and records of the credit union, and shall meet as often as may be necessary. The president of the credit union shall be the chief executive officer of the credit union and shall be in active charge of managing the credit union’s day-to-day operations. 

186.08(1m) (1m) Board duties. The board’s duties include all of the following:

186.08(1m)(a) (a) Acting on all applications for membership, unless the board delegates that responsibility.

186.08(1m)(b) (b) Expelling members for cause.

186.08(1m)(c) (c) Setting the type and amount of bond required for directors, officers and employees.

186.08(1m)(d) (d) Filling vacancies on the board of directors.

186.08(1m)(e) (e) Establishing rates of interest on all loans or authorizing an officer or committee of the credit union to establish interest rates on loans.

186.08(1m)(f) (f) Establishing conditions applicable to deposit accounts.

186.08(1m)(g) (g) Establishing rates of interest on all deposit accounts or authorizing an officer or committee of the credit union to establish interest rates on deposit accounts.

186.08(3) (3) Executive committee, meetings. The board of directors may appoint an executive committee consisting of at least 3 directors. If an executive committee is appointed, the executive committee shall meet as often as necessary, and the full board of directors shall meet at least quarterly. The board of directors may delegate all or any part of its authority to an executive committee, subject to any conditions or limitations the board may impose.

186.08 History History: 1971 c. 193 ss. 18, 19, 42 (3); 1975 c. 345; 1977 c. 152; 1981 c. 156; 1983 a. 369; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152.