223.105 Regulation of organizations acting as fiduciaries.
223.12 Foreign trust company as executor or trustee in this state.
SUBCHAPTER III
TRUST COMPANY BANK CONSOLIDATION AND
REORGANIZATION
223.20 Reorganization of a trust company bank.
223.21 Consolidation of trust company banks.
Ch. 223 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
220.01.
TRUST COMPANY BANKS
223.01
223.01
Trust company banks, capital. Trust company banks may be organized pursuant to
ch. 221 and shall be subject to all the provisions, requirements, and liabilities of
chs. 220 and
221, so far as applicable, except that trust company banks may not accept deposits other than trust deposits and except as otherwise hereinafter provided. The division may, with the approval of the banking review board, establish minimum capital requirements for a trust company bank.
223.01 History
History: 1987 a. 252;
1995 a. 336.
223.02
223.02
Indemnity fund deposit; errors and omissions insurance. Before any trust company bank may commence business in this state, the trust company bank shall do one of the following:
223.02(1)
(1) Indemnity fund deposit. Deposit at least $100,000 with the state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent in accordance with the following provisions:
223.02(1)(a)
(a) The deposit may be securities eligible for trust investments under
ch. 881 and approved by the division or be cash. The trust company bank may from time to time withdraw securities or cash, if the value of the balance of the deposit remains at least $100,000.
223.02(1)(b)
(b) The state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent shall pay over to the bank trust company the interest, dividends or other income on deposit or may authorize the bank trust company to collect the interest, dividends or other income. The state treasurer shall issue a certificate stating that a deposit has been made with the state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent in the manner provided in this section.
223.02(1)(c)
(c) The state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent shall hold the deposit as security for the faithful execution of any trust which may be lawfully imposed upon and accepted by the trust company bank. The cash or securities shall remain in the possession of the state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent until otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless released pursuant to
par. (d).
223.02(1)(d)
(d) The securities and cash deposited by a trust company bank may be released by the state treasurer or the state treasurer's agent and returned to the bank, if the division certifies to the state treasurer that the bank no longer exercises trust powers and that the division is satisfied that there are no outstanding trust liabilities.
223.02(1)(e)
(e) The state treasurer may designate a banking corporation, having an authorized capital of $1,000,000 or more, to act as an agent to hold the cash or securities in safekeeping. The agent shall furnish to the state treasurer a safekeeping receipt for all cash and securities received by it. The agent shall pay the cash and securities to the state treasurer on demand without conditions.
223.02(2)
(2) Errors and omissions insurance policy. Obtain and maintain adequate insurance against loss, expense and liability resulting from errors, omissions or neglect in the performance of any trust which may be lawfully imposed upon and accepted by the trust company bank. The trust company bank shall file a copy of the policy with the division.
223.03
223.03
Corporate powers. Any such corporation shall have the following powers:
223.03(1)
(1) To make all contracts necessary and proper to effect its purpose and conduct its business.
223.03(2)
(2) To sue and be sued, to appear and defend in all actions and proceedings under its corporate name to the same extent as a natural person.
223.03(3)
(3) To have a common seal and alter the same at pleasure.
223.03(4)
(4) To elect or appoint all necessary officers, agents, and servants, to define their duties and obligations, fix their compensations, dismiss them, fill vacancies, and require bonds.
223.03(5)
(5) To make, amend, and repeal bylaws and regulations not inconsistent with law or its articles of organization, for its own government, for the orderly conduct of its affairs and the management of its property, for determining the manner of calling and conducting its meetings, the tenure of office of its several officers; and such others as shall be necessary or convenient for the accomplishment of its purpose.
223.03(6)
(6) To act as trustee, executor, administrator, registrar of stocks and bonds, custodian, agent, guardian of estates, assignee, receiver, and in any other fiduciary capacity authorized by the division.
223.03(7)
(7) And any such corporation may act generally as agent or attorney for the transaction of business, the management of estates, the collection of rents, interests, dividends, mortgages, bonds, bills, notes, and other securities, or moneys, and also as agent for the purpose of issuing, negotiating, registering, transferring, or countersigning certificates of stock, bonds, or other obligations of any corporation, association, or municipality, and manage any sinking fund or debt service fund therefor, on such terms as may be agreed upon; and may also accept and execute the offices of executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, assignee, or guardian of any minor or insane or incompetent person or any person subject to guardianship; and in all cases in which application shall be made to any court for the appointment of any person in any such capacity, it shall be lawful to appoint such corporation, with its consent, to hold such office or offices.
223.03(8)
(8) In case of such appointment, or in case such corporation shall be named as an executor in any will or as assignee in any assignment for the benefit of creditors, it shall not be required to make and file any oath or give any bond or security, except in the discretion of the court making such appointment, or having jurisdiction of such will or assignment.
223.03(9)
(9) The accounts of said corporation as such trustee, receiver, assignee, executor, administrator, or guardian shall be regularly settled and adjusted by the proper officers or tribunals; and all proper, legal, usual, and customary charges, costs and expenses shall be allowed to such corporation for the care and management of the estate so committed to it.
223.03(13)
(13) It shall be lawful for any such corporation to lease, purchase, hold and convey such land as may be necessary to carry on its business, and execute any trust committed to it, as well as such real or personal estate as it may deem necessary to acquire in the enforcement or settlement of any claims or demands arising out of its business transactions, and to execute and issue in the transaction of its business all necessary receipts, certificates and contracts, which shall be signed by such person or persons as may be designated by its bylaws.
223.03(14)
(14) To establish and maintain a branch trust company bank to the same extent and in the same manner that a state bank may establish and maintain a branch bank under
s. 221.0302.
223.05(1)(1)
Accounts, how kept. Every such corporation shall keep its trust accounts in books separate from its own general books of account. All funds and property held by it in a trust capacity shall, at all times, be kept separate from the funds and property of the corporation, and all deposits by it of such funds in any banking institution shall be deposited as trust funds to its credit as trustee and not otherwise. Trust funds may be deposited with funds belonging to other trusts in one account in any banking institution to the credit of such corporation as trustee. Every security in which trust funds or property are invested shall at once, upon the receipt thereof, be transferred to it, as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver, assignee or other trustee as the case may be for each particular trust or fund by name and immediately entered in the proper books as belonging to the particular trust whose funds have been invested therein. Any change in such investment shall be fully specified in and under the account of the particular trust to which it belongs, so that all trust funds and property shall be readily identified at any time by any person.
223.05(2)
(2) Registration of securities held in name of nominee. Any trust company bank, or any state bank or national banking association authorized to exercise trust powers in this state, acting as executor, administrator, guardian, testamentary trustee or trustee of any inter vivos trust unless prohibited by the terms of the trust instrument, whether alone or jointly with an individual or individuals, may with the consent of the individual fiduciary or fiduciaries, if any (who are hereby authorized to give such consent) cause any stock or other securities held in any such capacity to be registered and held in the name of a nominee or nominees of such trust company bank or bank exercising trust powers; and provided further, that any bank, individual or individuals acting as executor, administrator, guardian, testamentary trustee or trustee of any inter vivos trust unless prohibited by the terms of the trust instrument, is and are authorized respectively to request any bank or trust company bank incorporated under the laws of the state of Wisconsin or any national bank located in this state to cause any stock or other securities deposited with such bank or trust company bank by such individual or individuals as fiduciary or fiduciaries to be registered and held in the name of a nominee or nominees of such bank or trust company bank. Such bank or trust company bank shall not redeliver such stock or other securities to such individual fiduciary or fiduciaries causing any stock or other securities to be so registered in the name of the nominee of such bank or trust company bank without first causing such stock or other securities to be registered in the name of such individual fiduciary or fiduciaries as such. But any sale or transfer of such stock or other securities made by such bank or trust company bank at the direction of such individual fiduciary or fiduciaries shall not be construed to be redelivery; and any such bank or trust company bank or any nominee or nominees in whose name such securities shall be registered shall be deemed to have fully discharged the responsibilities of that bank, trust company bank, nominee or nominees if any such securities are sold or transferred in accordance with the direction of individual fiduciary or fiduciaries making such deposit, and the proceeds of such sale or transfer are accounted for and delivered to such individual fiduciary or fiduciaries. Such bank or trust company bank may make any disposition of such stock or other securities authorized or directed in an order or decree of any court having jurisdiction. Any such bank or trust company bank shall be absolutely liable for any loss occasioned by the acts of any nominee of such bank or trust company bank with respect to such stock or other securities so registered. The records of such bank or trust company bank shall at all times show the ownership of any such stock or other securities. Such stock or other securities shall at all times be kept separate and apart from the assets of such bank or trust company bank.
223.05 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
223.055
223.055
Uniform common trust fund act. 223.055(1)
(1)
Establishment of common trust funds. Any bank or trust company qualified to act as fiduciary in this state may establish common trust funds for the purpose of furnishing investments to itself as fiduciary, or to itself and others, as cofiduciaries; and may, as such fiduciary or cofiduciary, invest funds which it lawfully holds for investment in interests in such common trust funds, if such investment is not prohibited by the instrument, judgment, decree or order creating such fiduciary relationship, and if, in the case of cofiduciaries, the bank or trust company procures the consent of its cofiduciaries to such investment; and the provisions of this section shall apply to trusts now in existence or hereafter created.
223.055(2)
(2) Court accountings. Unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction the bank or trust company operating such common trust funds is not required to render a court accounting with regard to such funds; but it may, by application to the circuit court of the county in which it has its principal office, secure approval of such an accounting on such conditions as the court may establish. When an accounting of a common trust fund is presented to a court for approval, the court shall assign a time and place for hearing and order notice thereof by:
223.055(2)(a)
(a) Publication of a class 3 notice, under
ch. 985, in the county in which the bank or trust company or branch thereof operating the common trust fund is located; and
223.055(2)(b)
(b) Mailing not less than 14 days prior to the date of the hearing a copy of the notice to all beneficiaries of the trusts participating in the common trust fund whose names are known to the bank or trust company from the records kept by it in the regular course of business in the administration of said trusts, directed to them at the addresses shown by such records; and
223.055(2)(c)
(c) Such further notice if any as the court may order.
223.055(3)
(3) Investments. The bank or trust company operating such common trust fund may buy, sell, hold, invest and reinvest the funds and assets thereof in its discretion and shall not be limited or restricted by
ch. 881 or any amendment thereof, but the bank or trust company shall not invest the funds of any fiduciary account in any common trust fund unless every investment in such fund is one that would then be a permissible investment for such fiduciary account.
223.055(4)
(4) Uniformity of interpretation. This section shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
223.055(5)
(5) Short title. This section may be cited as the "Uniform Common Trust Fund Act".
223.055 History
History: 1971 c. 41 s.
12;
1979 c. 89.
223.056
223.056
Multi-institutional common trust funds. In addition to the powers granted in
s. 223.055, any bank or trust company qualified to act as a fiduciary in this state may:
223.056(1)
(1) Establish, alone or jointly with one or more other banks or trust companies, common trust funds for the purpose of furnishing investments to itself as fiduciary, to itself and others as cofiduciaries, to other banks or trust companies as fiduciaries and to other banks or trust companies and others as cofiduciaries.
223.056(2)
(2) Operate, either alone or jointly with one or more other banks or trust companies, such common trust funds.
223.056(3)
(3) As a fiduciary or cofiduciary, invest funds which it lawfully holds for investment in interests in common trust funds administered by itself or by any bank or trust company organized under the laws of any state or the United States, if such investment is not prohibited by the instrument, judgment, decree or order creating such fiduciary relationship, and if, in the case of cofiduciaries, the bank or trust company procures the consent of its cofiduciaries to such investment. This subsection applies to fiduciary relationships now in existence or hereafter created.
Section 223.055 (2) and
(3) applies to common trust funds established under this section and the banks and trust companies operating these common trust funds.
223.056(4)
(4) For the purposes of
ss. 223.055 and this section, the term "fiduciary" shall include a managing agent.
223.056 History
History: 1987 a. 252.
223.057
223.057
Taxation of common trust funds. No common trust fund established under
s. 223.055 or
223.056 shall be subject to taxation as a corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company or individual, but it shall be a fiduciary within
subch. II of ch. 71. All income of such trust and all capital gains and losses shall be income received or loss realized to the fiduciary account holding a participation in such common trust fund in accordance with its participation.
223.057 History
History: 1987 a. 312 s.
17;
1993 a. 112.
223.06
223.06
Loans to officers. A trust company bank may not loan its funds, trust or otherwise, to any salaried officer or employee, nor shall any officer or employee become, in any manner, indebted to the bank by means of an overdraft, promissory note, account, indorsement, guaranty or any other contract.
223.06 History
History: 1977 c. 307;
1991 a. 74.
223.07
223.07
Trust service offices. 223.07(1)
(1) Any trust company bank may, with the approval of the division, establish and maintain a trust service office at any office in this state of a depository institution, as defined in
s. 221.0901 (2) (i), if the establishment of the trust service office has been approved by the board of directors of the state or national bank at a meeting called for that purpose.
223.07(2)
(2) Upon establishment of a trust service office under
sub. (1), the trust company bank may conduct at the office any trust business and business incidental thereto which it is permitted to conduct at its principal office, but may not accept deposits except as incidental to the trust business.
223.07(3)
(3) If the depository institution at which a trust service office is to be established has exercised trust powers, the trust company bank and the depository institution shall enter into an agreement respecting those fiduciary powers to which the trust company bank shall succeed and shall file the agreement with the division. The trust company bank shall cause a notice of the filing, in a form prescribed by the division, to be published as a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985, in the city, village or town where the depository institution is located. After filing and publication, the trust company bank establishing the office shall, as of the date the office first opens for business, without further authorization of any kind, succeed to and be substituted for the depository institution as to all fiduciary powers, rights, duties, privileges and liabilities of the depository institution in its capacity as fiduciary for all estates, trusts, guardianships and other fiduciary relationships of which the depository institution is then serving as fiduciary, except as may be otherwise specified in the agreement between the trust company bank and the depository institution. The trust company bank shall also be deemed named as fiduciary in all writings, including, but not limited to, wills, trusts, court orders and similar documents and instruments naming the depository institution as fiduciary, signed before the date the trust office first opens for business, unless expressly negated by the writing or otherwise specified in the agreement between the trust company bank and the depository institution. On the effective date of the substitution, the depository institution shall be released and absolved from all fiduciary duties and obligations under such writings and shall discontinue its exercise of trust powers on all matters not specifically retained by the agreement. This subsection does not effect a discharge in the manner of
s. 701.16 (6) or other applicable statutes and does not absolve a depository institution exercising trust powers from liabilities arising out of any breach of fiduciary duty or obligation occurring prior to the date the trust service office first opens for business at the depository institution. This subsection does not affect the authority, duties or obligations of a depository institution with respect to relationships which may be established without trust powers, including escrow arrangements, whether the relationships arise before or after the establishment of the trust service office.
223.07(4)
(4) Not less than 60 days prior to the effective date of a proposed substitution under
sub. (3), the parties to the substitution shall send written notice of the proposed substitution to each cofiduciary, each surviving settlor of a trust, each ward under guardianship, each person who alone or in conjunction with others has the power to remove the fiduciary being substituted and each adult beneficiary currently receiving or entitled to receive a distribution of principal or income from a trust or estate with respect to which such substitution is to be effected. Intentional failure to send such notice to any such party at the party's current address as shown in the fiduciary's records shall render not effective the substitution of fiduciaries with respect to such fiduciary relationship, but an unintentional failure to give such notice shall not impair the validity or effect of any substitution of fiduciaries under
sub. (3). A trust company bank substituted or about to be substituted as fiduciary with respect to a trust, estate or guardianship under
sub. (3) may be removed as fiduciary, or the substitution may be denied, upon petition by a cofiduciary, by a beneficiary of a trust or estate, by the settlor of a trust or on behalf of a ward under guardianship if the trust company bank files a written consent to its removal or a written declination to act, or if the court having jurisdiction over the fiduciary relationship, upon notice and hearing, approves the petition as in the best interests of the petitioner and all other parties interested in the trust, estate or guardianship. This subsection applies in addition to any applicable provision for removal of a fiduciary or appointment of a successor fiduciary in any other statute or in the instrument creating the fiduciary relationship.
223.07 History
History: 1977 c. 307;
1995 a. 27,
336.
223.08
223.08
Name of corporation; penalty. The word "trust" shall form part of the name of every corporation organized under this chapter, but the word "bank" may not be used as a part of the name. All persons, partnerships, associations, or corporations not organized under the provisions of this chapter, except state banks vested with trust powers under
s. 221.0316 and nonprofit corporations organized for the advancement of historic preservation or for the protection of land for public conservation purposes, are prohibited from using the word "trust" in their business, or as a portion of the name or title of the person, partnership, association or corporation. A person who violates this section, either individually or as an interested party in any partnership, association, or corporation, may be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not less than 60 days nor more than one year in the county jail or both.
223.09
223.09
Assessment of stock. The capital stock and property of corporations organized, continued, or reorganized under this chapter shall be assessed and taxed in the same manner as the stock and property of state banks.
223.09 History
History: 1989 a. 56.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACTING AS FIDUCIARIES
223.10
223.10
Organizations as fiduciaries. Except as provided in
s. 880.35, no court or probate registrar in this state may appoint or issue letters to any corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership or business trust as trustee, personal representative, guardian, conservator, assignee, receiver, or in any other fiduciary capacity unless such corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership or business trust is subject to regulation and examination under
s. 223.105, or is a national bank, state or federal savings and loan association, state or federal savings bank or federal credit union with authority to exercise such powers, or is a foreign corporation operating under
s. 223.12.
223.105
223.105
Regulation of organizations acting as fiduciaries. 223.105(1)(a)
(a) "Fiduciary operation" means any action taken by an organization acting as a trustee or in any fiduciary capacity requiring appointment or issuance of letters by a court or probate registrar in this state.
223.105(1)(b)
(b) "Organization" means any corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership or business trust, other than a national bank, state or federal savings and loan association, state or federal savings bank or federal credit union or other than a corporation, limited liability company, association or partnership, all of whose shareholders or members are licensed under
SCR 40.02.
223.105(2)
(2) Organizations subject to rules and examination. Any organization which holds itself out to residents of this state as available to act, for compensation, as trustee or which seeks or consents to serve in any fiduciary capacity requiring appointment or issuance of letters by a court or probate registrar in this state is subject to:
223.105(2)(b)
(b) Periodic examination of its fiduciary operations as provided under
sub. (3).
223.105(3)
(3) Periodic examination by state agency. 223.105(3)(a)(a) To assure compliance with such rules as may be established under
s. 220.04 (7) the division of banking, the office of credit unions and the division of savings institutions shall, at least once every 18 months, examine the fiduciary operations of each organization which is under its respective jurisdiction and is subject to examination under
sub. (2). If a particular organization subject to examination under
sub. (2) is not otherwise under the jurisdiction of one of the foregoing agencies, such examination shall be conducted by the division of banking.
223.105(3)(b)
(b) The cost of examinations conducted under
par. (a) shall be determined by the examining agency, and assessed to and paid by the organization which is examined.
223.105(3)(c)
(c) In lieu of an examination under
par. (a), the agency responsible for conducting such an examination may accept an examination made within a reasonable period by any other agency of a state or of the federal government.
223.105(4)
(4) Notice of fiduciary operation. Except for those organizations licensed under
ch. 221 or this chapter, any organization engaged in fiduciary operations as defined in this section shall, as required by rule, notify the division of banking, the office of credit unions or the division of savings institutions of that fact, directing the notice to the agency then exercising regulatory authority over the organization or, if there is none, to the division of banking. Any organization which intends to engage in fiduciary operations shall, prior to engaging in such operations, notify the appropriate agency of this intention. The notifications required under this subsection shall be on forms and contain information required by the rules promulgated by the division of banking.
223.105(5)
(5) Enforcement remedy. The division of banking or the division of savings institutions or office of credit unions shall upon the failure of such organization to submit notifications or reports required under this section or otherwise to comply with the provisions of this section, or rules established by the division of banking under
s. 220.04 (7), upon due notice, order such defaulting organization to cease and desist from engaging in fiduciary activities and may apply to the appropriate court for enforcement of such order.
223.105(6)
(6) Sunset. Except for an organization regulated by the office of credit unions or the division of savings institutions or an organization authorized by the division of banking to operate as a bank or trust company under ch.
221 or this chapter, an organization may not begin activity as a fiduciary operation under this section after May 12, 1992. An organization engaged in fiduciary operations under this section on May 12, 1992, may continue to engage in fiduciary operations after that date.
223.105 Annotation
A chapter 180 corporation cannot offer general trust services to the public, notwithstanding compliance with 223.105.
78 Atty. Gen. 153.
