Chapter 186

186.118(3)(b)1. 1. The office of credit unions shall promulgate a rule adding an activity or power to the list of activities and powers established under sub. (2) (a) if the office of credit unions determines under par. (a) that the activity or power authorized for federally chartered credit unions should also be authorized for credit unions organized under s. 186.02.

186.118(3)(b)2. 2. The office of credit unions shall submit the proposed rule under subd. 1. to the legislative reference bureau in an electronic format approved by the legislative reference bureau, and the legislative reference bureau shall publish the proposed rule in the notice section of the Wisconsin administrative register under s. 35.93.

186.118(3)(b)3. 3. Sections 227.114 (4) and (6), 227.115, 227.135, 227.137, 227.14 (2) (a) 6., (2g), (4), and (4m), 227.15, 227.16, 227.17, 227.18, 227.185, 227.19, and 227.30 do not apply to the office of credit unions in promulgating a rule under subd. 1. or to any rule promulgated by the office of credit unions under subd. 1. Guidelines prescribed by executive order of the governor do not apply to the office of credit unions in promulgating a rule under subd. 1.

186.118(4) (4) The office of credit unions shall publish and maintain on the department of financial institutions’ Internet site the list of activities and powers under sub. (2) (a).

186.118(5) (5) If the office of credit unions promulgates a rule listing an activity or power as provided in sub. (2) (a) or (3) (b) 1., subs. (2) (b) and (c) and (3) (b) 2. and 3. do not apply to any subsequent rule modifying or eliminating the listed activity or power.

186.118 History History: 2013 a. 277; 2017 a. 72; 2023 a. 128.

186.12 186.12 Compensation of officers, operation expenses.

186.12(1) (1) Board members. No member of the board of directors may receive any compensation for services as a member of the board other than reasonable health, accident and similar insurance.

186.12(3) (3) Expenditures. To the extent permitted by a credit union’s bylaws, the officers elected by the board of directors and the members of the credit committee may receive such compensation as the board authorizes, but the expenditures of the credit union for all purposes shall be paid from its earnings.

186.12 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1983 a. 369; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2015 a. 304.

186.13 186.13 Expulsion. If the board of directors adopts a written policy, a credit union may expel a member if the member neglects or refuses to comply with this chapter or the credit union bylaws or if the board has other just cause. The credit union shall provide notice to the member in writing of the reason for expulsion. The notice shall include a description of the member’s right to petition the board for reconsideration of the member’s expulsion and the time period for the member to petition. If a member petitions the board in writing within 45 days of receipt of the expulsion notice, the board shall reconsider the expulsion within 90 days after the date of the expulsion notice.

186.13 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1981 c. 156; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2015 a. 304.

186.14 186.14 Expelled member rights and liabilities. The amounts paid in on shares by members who have withdrawn or have been expelled shall be paid to them, but in the order of withdrawal or expulsion as funds become available and after deducting any amounts due from the members to the credit union. Expulsion or withdrawal shall not relieve a member from any remaining liability to the credit union.

186.14 History History: 1971 c. 193 s. 42 (3); 1995 a. 151.

186.15 186.15 Auditing.

186.15(1) (1) Annual audit. Except as provided in sub. (2), the board of directors shall hire a certified public accountant licensed or certified under ch. 442 or other qualified person to conduct a comprehensive annual audit of the records, accounts and affairs of the credit union.

186.15(2) (2) Audit committee. The board of directors may appoint an auditing committee of one or more capable persons to annually audit the records, accounts and cash of the credit union and to verify member accounts. Verification procedures shall be conducted according to the credit union’s bylaws or the rules of the office of credit unions.

186.15(3) (3) Independent audit. The office of credit unions may order an independent audit at the credit union’s expense if the office of credit unions finds an annual audit to be unsatisfactory.

186.15(4) (4) Audit reports. Audit reports under this section shall be submitted to the board of directors and retained as records of the credit union.

186.15 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1993 a. 482; 1995 a. 151; 2001 a. 16.

186.16 186.16 Dividends.

186.16(1) (1) Board establishes dividends. The board of directors shall establish the dividend period. Dividends shall be considered a normal operating expense of the credit union. Rates of dividends and terms of payment may be established and guaranteed in advance by action of the board of directors. The board of directors may classify its accounts and declare dividends which may be at variable rates.

186.16(2) (2) Maximum set by office of credit unions. The office of credit unions may establish the maximum dividend that a credit union and a corporate central credit union may pay in each classification of its savings.

186.16 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1979 c. 282; 1981 c. 156; 1995 a. 27, 151.

186.16 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DFI-CU 60, Wis. adm. code.

186.17 186.17 Reserves. A credit union shall maintain sufficient reserves to meet anticipated withdrawals, commitments, and loan demand. A credit union shall maintain at least the level of reserves required for it by the national credit union administration. The office of credit unions may prescribe additional reserve requirements for an individual credit union based on examination findings or other reports available to the office.

186.17 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1975 c. 345; 1995 a. 27, 151; 2003 a. 63; 2015 a. 304.

186.18 186.18 Dissolution. Upon a two-thirds recommendation of the board of directors, the members may vote to dissolve the credit union. If a majority of the total membership vote by ballot, in person or by letter or other written communication in favor of dissolution, and if not more than the greater of 15 members or 10 percent of the total membership, by written notice, vote against dissolution, the credit union shall be dissolved. If both the number of votes in favor of dissolution and the number of votes against dissolution are each less than 25 percent of the total number of members, the board of directors may, with the permission of the office of credit unions, mail to each member at the member’s last-known address a written notice which states that the board’s proposal to dissolve the credit union will be approved or disapproved at a special or annual meeting to be held at the time and place specified in the notice. The credit union shall be dissolved only if a majority of the members present at the meeting vote in favor of the board’s proposal to dissolve the credit union. If the members vote to dissolve the credit union, a committee of 3 shall be elected by the members to liquidate the assets of the credit union. After assets are liquidated and debts paid, members shall be paid a liquidating dividend in proportion to their savings from remaining assets. The committee in charge of liquidation may sell or dispose of the assets in whole or in part at a public or private sale subject to confirmation by the board of directors and the office of credit unions.

186.18 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1981 c. 156; 1995 a. 27, 151.

186.19 186.19 Bonding requirements. A credit union shall maintain the necessary bonds for directors, officers and employees according to any standards prescribed by the national board.

186.19 History History: 1971 c. 193 s. 42 (1); 1971 c. 307; 1993 a. 482; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 151 ss. 180, 302; 1997 a. 152.

186.20 186.20 Financial privacy. A credit union shall comply with any applicable requirements under 15 USC 6801 to 6803 and any applicable regulations prescribed under 15 USC 6804.

186.20 History History: 2003 a. 63; 2021 a. 241.

186.21 186.21 Credit unions promoted.

186.21(1) (1) Office to cooperate. It shall be the duty of the office of credit unions to cooperate with every group of people that is interested in the formation of, or in an affiliation with, a credit union in this state. The office of credit unions may do all things reasonably necessary for the discharge of this duty.

186.21(2) (2) Advertising. The office of credit unions shall use advertising that is suitable and effective to acquaint the people of this state with the agencies and organizations dealing with credit unions.

186.21(3) (3) Consultations. The office of credit unions shall offer without charge to any group, either joined in a credit union or considering such an organization, advice and direction on accounting practices and managerial problems.

186.21(4) (4) Materials. The office of credit unions shall provide application forms, model bylaws, and other materials to help in the organization, efficient functioning and expansion of credit unions.

186.21 History History: 1971 c. 193 s. 42 (2); 1995 a. 27, 151; 2001 a. 107.

186.235 186.235 Office of credit unions.

186.235(1) (1) Supervision. A credit union shall be under the control and supervision of the office of credit unions.

186.235(2) (2) Enforcement. The office of credit unions shall enforce this chapter and other laws relating to credit unions.

186.235(3) (3) Full-time duties. The administrator of the office of credit unions shall devote full time to his or her position.

186.235(3m) (3m) Conflicts of interest. No employee of the office of credit unions may serve as a director or officer of a credit union or any other organization that is under the supervision of the office of credit unions.

186.235(4) (4) Bond required. A person who is appointed to or employed by the office of credit unions shall furnish a surety bond in an amount authorized by the office.

186.235(5) (5) Immunity of office of credit unions. The office of credit unions shall not be subject to any civil liability or penalty, or to any criminal prosecution, for any error in judgment or discretion made in good faith and upon reasonable grounds in any action taken or omitted by the office of credit unions in an official capacity.

186.235(7) (7) Disclosure of information.

186.235(7)(a) (a) Employees of the office of credit unions and members of the review board shall keep secret all the facts and information obtained in the course of examinations or contained in any report provided by a credit union other than any semiannual or quarterly financial report that is regularly filed with the office of credit unions. This requirement does not apply in any of the following situations:

186.235(7)(a)1. 1. If the public duty of the person requires that person to report upon or take special action regarding the affairs of any credit union.

186.235(7)(a)2. 2. If the person is called as a witness in any criminal proceeding.

186.235(7)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a) and unless otherwise provided by rule, the office of credit unions may do any of the following:

186.235(7)(b)1. 1. Furnish to the national board a copy of any examination made by the office of credit unions of any credit union or of any report made by the credit union.

186.235(7)(b)1m. 1m. Furnish any state regulatory authority regulating state financial institutions with a copy of any examination made by the office of credit unions of any credit union or of any report made by the credit union, if the authority agrees to treat the information received under this subdivision with the same degree of confidentiality that is required of employees of the office of credit unions under par. (a).

186.235(7)(b)2. 2. Give access to and disclose to the national board any information possessed by the office of credit unions about the conditions or affairs of any credit union whose savings are insured by federal share insurance.

186.235(7)(b)3. 3. Provide examination reports to a credit union’s attorneys, independent certified public accountants, or other consultants or advisers who have agreed in writing to maintain the confidentiality of the reports.

186.235(7)(b)4. 4. Furnish to a federal home loan bank, upon request, a copy of any examination report made by, or other supervisory information created by, the office of credit unions of any credit union, if the federal home loan bank agrees to treat the information received under this subdivision with the same degree of confidentiality that is required of employees of the office of credit unions under par. (a).

186.235(7)(c) (c) If any person mentioned in par. (a) discloses any information about the private account or transactions of a credit union or any information obtained in the course of an examination of a credit union, except as provided in pars. (a) and (b), that person is guilty of a Class I felony.

186.235(7m) (7m) Return of examination reports. Examination reports possessed by a credit union are confidential, remain the property of the office of credit unions, and shall be returned to the office of credit unions immediately upon request. This subsection does not prohibit a credit union from providing an examination report to its attorneys, independent certified public accountants, or other consultants or advisers who have agreed in writing to maintain the confidentiality of the report.

186.235(8) (8) Rules. The office of credit unions shall, with the approval of the credit union review board, promulgate rules relating to the business of credit unions.

186.235(9) (9) Charter revocation. The office of credit unions shall report to the department of justice any credit union that conducts its business in violation of this chapter. The department of justice may bring an action to revoke the credit union’s articles of incorporation.

186.235(10) (10) Removal.

186.235(10)(a) (a) The office of credit unions may remove an officer, director, committee member or employee of a credit union if any of the following applies:

186.235(10)(a)1. 1. The policies or practices of the officer, director, committee member or employee are prejudicial to the best interest of the credit union, endanger or will endanger the safety or solvency of the credit union, or impair the interests of the members.

186.235(10)(a)2. 2. The officer, director, committee member or employee violates or permits the violation of this chapter, a rule promulgated under this chapter or an order of the office of credit unions.

186.235(10)(b) (b) An officer, director, committee member or employee removed by the office of credit unions under par. (a) shall be given an opportunity for a hearing before the review board within 30 days after the date on which the removal order is issued.

186.235(10)(c) (c) An order of removal takes effect on the date on which it is issued. A copy of the order shall be served upon the credit union and upon the officer, director, committee member or employee in the manner provided by law or by mailing a copy to the credit union and officer, director, committee member or employee at their last-known post-office addresses. An officer, director, committee member or employee who is removed from office or employment under this subsection may not be elected as an officer or director of, or be employed by, a credit union without the approval of the office of credit unions and the review board. An order of removal under this subsection is a final order or determination of the review board under s. 186.015.

186.235(10)(d) (d) The office of credit unions may appoint any member of the credit union to fill a vacancy caused by a removal under this subsection. The person who is appointed shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the membership.

186.235(11) (11) Possession by office.

186.235(11)(a) (a) Conditions for taking possession. The office of credit unions may take possession and control of the business and property of any credit union if the credit union violates this chapter or if the credit union does any of the following:

186.235(11)(a)1. 1. Conducts its business contrary to law.

186.235(11)(a)2. 2. Violates its charter, or any law.

186.235(11)(a)3. 3. Conducts its business in an unauthorized or unsafe manner.

186.235(11)(a)4. 4. Has an impairment of its capital.

186.235(11)(a)5. 5. Suspends payment of its obligations.

186.235(11)(a)6. 6. Neglects or refuses to comply with the terms of an order of the office of credit unions.

186.235(11)(a)7. 7. Refuses to submit its books, papers, records, accounts or affairs for inspection to a credit union examiner.

186.235(11)(a)8. 8. Refuses to be examined upon oath regarding its affairs.

186.235(11)(a)9. 9. Receives notice of intent to terminate insured status by the national board.

186.235(11)(b) (b) Suspension.

186.235(11)(b)1. 1. The office of credit unions may suspend, for a period of up to 120 days, an officer, director, committee member or employee of a credit union from engaging in credit union business if the office of credit unions finds the existence of any condition under par. (a) 1. to 9. The office of credit unions may renew a suspension under this subdivision any number of times and for periods of up to 120 days if the office of credit unions finds that the condition or conditions continue to exist.

186.235(11)(b)2. 2. The office of credit unions shall suspend the business of a credit union, other than a corporate central credit union, if the credit union does not comply with s. 186.34.

186.235(11)(c) (c) Possession by office of credit unions.

186.235(11)(c)1. 1. The office of credit unions may take possession of the business and property of a credit union if the office finds the existence of any condition under par. (a) 1. to 9.

186.235(11)(c)2. 2. The office of credit unions shall take possession of the business and property of a credit union that violates s. 186.34, unless the office approves a merger under s. 186.31.

186.235(11)(d) (d) Procedure on taking possession. Upon taking possession of the business and property of a credit union, the office of credit unions shall:

186.235(11)(d)1. 1. Serve a notice in writing upon the president and secretary of the credit union stating that the office of credit unions has taken possession and control of the business and property of the credit union. The notice shall be executed in duplicate, and immediately after service, one of the notices shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the credit union is located together with proof of service.

186.235(11)(d)2. 2. Give notice to all individuals, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies and associations known to the office of credit unions to be holding or in possession of any assets of the credit union.

186.235(11)(dg) (dg) Special deputies. The office of credit unions may appoint one or more special deputies as agent to assist in the duty of liquidation and distribution of the assets of one or more credit unions whose business and property the office of credit unions holds. A certificate of appointment shall be filed in the office of credit unions and a certified copy in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the credit union is located. The office of credit unions may employ counsel and procure expert assistance and advice as necessary in the liquidation and distribution of the assets of the credit union, and may retain any officers or employees of the credit union that the office of credit unions considers to be necessary. The special deputies and assistants shall furnish security for the faithful discharge of their duties in an amount that the office of credit unions considers to be necessary. The special deputies may execute, acknowledge and deliver any deeds, assignments, releases or other instruments necessary to effect any sale and transfer or encumbrance of real estate or personal property and may borrow money for use in the liquidation after the liquidation has been approved by the office of credit unions and an order obtained from the circuit court of the county in which the credit union is located.

186.235(11)(dr) (dr) Special deputy duties. Upon taking possession of the property and business of the credit union, a special deputy is authorized to collect all moneys due to the credit union, and to do other acts necessary to conserve its assets and business, and shall proceed to liquidate the affairs of the credit union. The special deputy shall collect all debts due and claims belonging to the credit union, and upon a petition approved by the office of credit unions and upon order of the circuit court of the county in which the credit union is located, may sell or compound all bad or doubtful debts, or do any act or execute any other necessary instruments and upon petition and order may sell all the real and personal property of the credit union on such terms as the court shall approve.