215.40(1)(a)(a) A corporation organized under this subchapter shall be known as a mutual savings and loan association. The words “savings and loan association" or “savings association" shall form part of the name of every mutual association so organized.
215.40(1)(b)
(b) No corporation other than a corporation organized under this subchapter or subch.
III may use a name embodying those words. No association may adopt a name identical to that of any other association or so similar to an existing association name as to be misleading.
215.40(1)(c)
(c) An association shall include the word “savings" in its name if its name includes the word “bank". This paragraph does not apply to an association name if the association obtained approval for use of the name from the division before February 12, 1992.
215.40(2)
(2) Minimum membership and savings accounts. The division shall determine:
215.40(2)(a)
(a) The minimum number of persons required to organize a mutual savings and loan association in any locality.
215.40(2)(b)
(b) The aggregate minimum amount of savings accounts to be paid into the association by persons subscribing for savings accounts.
215.40(2)(c)
(c) The length of time for which the incorporators shall guarantee or pay the association's operating expenses.
215.40(2)(d)
(d) Such other requirements as the division deems necessary or desirable.
215.40(3)
(3) Who may organize. Adult citizens of this state, hereinafter referred to as incorporators, desiring to organize a mutual association under this section shall make application to the division as prescribed on forms furnished by the division.
215.40(4)
(4) Application to organize a mutual association. The application to organize a mutual association shall be in duplicate and shall set forth:
215.40(4)(c)
(c) The full name, residence and occupation of each incorporator.
215.40(4)(d)
(d) The need of an association in the locality in which the proposed association intends to locate.
215.40(4)(e)
(e) Such other information as the division requires.
215.40(5)
(5) Application fee. The applicants shall pay to the division $200 to defray the cost of investigation, which sum shall be deposited into the general fund to the credit of the division.
215.40(6)(a)
(a) Along with the application, the incorporators shall file an agreement with the division that, in addition to their initial savings account subscriptions, they will create an expense fund in an amount not less than one-half of the total minimum required amount of savings accounts. The expense fund is for organization expenses, operating deficits, earnings distributions on savings accounts and losses.
215.40(6)(b)
(b) This expense fund shall become a part of the assets of the proposed association if the division approves the application and will be reflected on the books as a liability under the caption “Subsidy by incorporators."
215.40(6)(c)
(c) If the income of a period is insufficient to pay expenses or pay a competitive rate of earnings, appropriate charges shall be made to the expense fund account.
215.40(6)(d)
(d) At the end of 3 years of corporate existence, the board of directors may petition the division for authority to repay the incorporators on a proportional basis, any unused portion remaining in the subsidy by directors. If the division determines that the operations of the association at that point are of such degree as to enable the association to operate as an independent institution, requiring no further subsidy, the division may authorize such repayment.
215.40(6)(e)
(e) At the end of the 4th year, and each subsequent year, the board of directors of the association may petition the division for authority to pay out of current income of any period to the incorporators on a proportional basis the amount remaining after payment of expenses, provision for taxes, and the provision for distribution of earnings as a recovery of previous charges made to the expense fund account by incorporators. The division may approve or deny the petition for recovery payments. In no event shall refunds of this type exceed the total of the charges made to the expense fund account by incorporators.
215.40(6)(f)
(f) The contributions made to the expense fund shall be noninterest bearing.
215.40(7)
(7) Notice of applications; hearings. 215.40(7)(a)(a) Within 30 days after receiving a completed application the division shall furnish a notice of application to the applicant and to each association authorized to operate an office within 4 miles of the proposed office if the office is to be located in Milwaukee County, or 20 miles of the proposed office if located elsewhere. The notice shall describe the location and nature of the proposed office and shall solicit written comments on the application. If a hearing on the application has been scheduled the notice shall also indicate the time and place of the hearing. If not, the notice shall notify interested persons of their right to request a hearing under par.
(b) 2. The applicant shall publish the notice of application as a class 3 notice under ch.
985 in the city, town or village where the office is to be located and shall provide the division with proof of its publication.
215.40(7)(b)
(b) The division shall conduct a public hearing on the application if any of the following occur:
215.40(7)(b)1.
1. The applicant requests a hearing at the time of filing;
215.40(7)(b)2.
2. Within 3 days after publication of the notice of application any person planning to participate in a hearing on the application files with the division a request for hearing; or
215.40(7)(b)3.
3. The division determines that a hearing will be necessary or useful.
215.40(7)(c)
(c) If a hearing date was not indicated in the notice of application and a hearing is subsequently required, the division shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the applicant and to anyone who has requested a hearing, not later than 10 days in advance of the scheduled hearing.
215.40(8)
(8) Certification of authority, when issued. If the application is approved, the division shall issue to the incorporators a certificate of authority to effect a temporary organization, consisting of a chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer; to execute and file articles of incorporation; to adopt and file bylaws; to adopt rules for the procedure of the incorporators; to conduct the first meeting of members; and to open subscription books for savings accounts.
215.40(9)
(9) Powers of incorporators. The incorporators shall, until the completion of the organization, exercise such other powers as are conferred upon the incorporators of other corporations so far as such powers are not in conflict with this chapter.
215.40(10)
(10) Surety bond of officers. The incorporators shall require a surety bond in a suitable amount from the treasurer and other officers who may handle funds of the temporary organization.
215.40(11)
(11) Certificate of authority, when voided. The certificate of authority shall be void after 90 days from its date, but the division may for cause, after a hearing, extend the life of such certificate for such time as the division deems advisable.
215.40(12)
(12) Compensation for organizing prohibited. 215.40(12)(a)(a) No person may directly or indirectly receive or contract to receive any commission, salary, compensation, bonus, rights or privileges for organizing the association, or for securing a subscription for the original savings accounts of the association.
215.40(12)(b)
(b) This subsection does not prohibit an attorney from receiving reasonable compensation for legal services in connection therewith, after the association has been granted a certificate of incorporation.
215.40(12)(c)
(c) Whoever violates this subsection shall forfeit to the state $1,000 for each violation, and in addition double the amount of the violator's commission, salary, compensation or bonus.
215.40(13)(a)
(a) Within the time prescribed in sub.
(11), the incorporators shall file with the division a certificate stating:
215.40(13)(a)1.
1. That articles of incorporation have been executed, filed with and approved by the division, and recorded; and
215.40(13)(a)2.
2. That the first meeting of members was held and that directors and officers were elected at such meeting; and
215.40(13)(a)3.
3. That bylaws were adopted at the first meeting of members and filed with and approved by the division; and
215.40(13)(a)4.
4. That the minimum number of required savers was obtained, and that said savers, in the aggregate, paid to the association the required initial amount of savings accounts; and
215.40(13)(a)5.
5. That funds, representing the initial amount of savings accounts, have been deposited in the association's designated depository bank; and
215.40(13)(a)6.
6. That the incorporators, in accordance with the requirement of sub.
(6), paid to the association the moneys for an expense fund; and
215.40(13)(a)7.
7. That the moneys, representing the expense fund, have been deposited in the association's designated depository bank; and
215.40(13)(a)8.
8. That ground floor, independent office quarters have been obtained for the proposed association; and
215.40(13)(a)9.
9. That necessary action has been taken to obtain insurance of savings accounts from the deposit insurance corporation or other instrumentality approved by the division.
215.40(13)(b)
(b) No business, other than that of completing the organization of the proposed association, may be transacted until such time as the division issues a certificate of incorporation to the association to commence business.
215.40(14)
(14) Certificate of incorporation, when issued. Upon receipt of the certificate of compliance from the incorporators, the division may within 30 days issue a certificate of incorporation to the association authorizing the association to commence business. The date appearing on the certificate of incorporation shall be the date of the corporate existence of the association.
215.40(15)
(15) Fee for certificate of incorporation. The incorporators shall pay to the division a fee of $50 for the certificate of incorporation, which sum shall be deposited into the general fund to the credit of the division.
215.40(16)
(16) Certificate of incorporation, when voided. Any association failing to commence business within one year from the date of the certificate of incorporation shall have its corporate existence terminated, and its articles of incorporation and certificate of incorporation shall be void.
215.40(17)
(17) Discretionary authority. The division shall have discretionary power in the granting of certificates of authority to incorporators desiring to organize such associations. The division may also refuse to issue certificates of incorporation to the incorporators to commence business when, in the division's opinion, the incorporators or any of them are not of such character and general fitness as to warrant belief that the association will be conducted for the best interest of its members; the location of the association is so close to an existing association that its business might be interfered with and the support of the new association would not be such as to assure its success; or when other good and sufficient reasons exist for such refusal.
215.40(18)
(18) Appeal by applicants after being denied certificate of authority. If the division refuses to grant a certificate of authority to organize an association, and the applicants feel aggrieved thereby, they may appeal to the review board to review the division's determination under s.
215.04 (1) (b) and
(4).
215.40 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DFI-SL 18, Wis. adm. code.
215.41
215.41
Articles of incorporation for mutual associations. 215.41(1)(1)
Form. The articles of incorporation of a mutual association shall be approved by the division. The division shall, with the approval of the review board, promulgate rules governing articles of incorporation.
215.41(2)
(2) Filing and approval. Duplicate originals of the articles of incorporation executed by the incorporators, and any subsequent amendments thereto adopted by the members of the association, shall be filed with and approved by the division.
215.41(3)
(3) Recording. Upon their approval by the division, articles of incorporation and amendments thereto shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the home office of the association is located.
215.41(4)
(4) Amendment procedure. Amendments to the articles of incorporation may be made at any annual or special meeting of the members duly called for that purpose, provided that a statement of the nature of the proposed amendment is included in the notice of meeting. The proposed amendment shall be adopted upon receiving the affirmative vote of a majority of the total eligible votes thereon, pursuant to s.
215.43 (4).
215.41(5)
(5) Effective date. The effective date of articles of incorporation and amendments thereto shall be the date when left for record in the office of the register of deeds. The register of deeds shall forward a certificate of recording to the division.
215.41 History
History: 1975 c. 359 s.
8; Stats. 1975 s. 215.41;
1979 c. 287;
1983 a. 167 ss.
54,
112;
1991 a. 316;
1995 a. 27.
215.41 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
DFI-SL 9.01 and
9.04, Wis. adm. code.
215.42
215.42
Bylaws of mutual associations. 215.42(1)(1)
Form. The bylaws of a mutual association shall be approved by the division. The division shall, with the approval of the review board, promulgate rules governing bylaws.
215.42(2)
(2) Filings and approval. Duplicate originals of the bylaws and any subsequent amendments thereto shall be filed with and approved by the division.
215.42(3)
(3) Effective date. The effective date of bylaws and amendments thereto shall be the date when approved by the division.
215.42(4)
(4) Bylaws available to members. Each association shall have its bylaws prepared in convenient form and upon request shall furnish a copy to any member.
215.42(5)
(5) Amendments to bylaws. The bylaws of the association may be amended as prescribed therein.
215.42 History
History: 1975 c. 359 s.
9; Stats. 1975 s. 215.42;
1983 a. 167;
1991 a. 316;
1995 a. 27.
215.42 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DFI-SL 10, Wis. adm. code.
215.43
215.43
Members and voting rights in a mutual association. 215.43(1)(1)
Who may become a member. Any person, including but not limited to a partnership, corporation, fiduciary, association or federal agency, may become a member of any mutual association by owning a savings account in the association unless the savings account is evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit which is not in registered form. As of March 29, 1984, no person is a member of a state chartered mutual savings and loan association solely because the person has borrowed money from the association regardless of when the borrowing occurred.
215.43(2)
(2) Ownership of savings accounts by minors. With respect to any account created before July 1, 1975:
215.43(2)(a)
(a) Minors under 14 years of age may own savings accounts held by a trustee or guardian.
215.43(2)(b)
(b) Minors above the age of 14 years may own savings accounts, and shall then be subject to the same duties and liabilities as adult members. Payment for the withdrawal of savings accounts may, in the discretion of the board, be made to such minor, the parents or guardian, and the payments made on such withdrawals shall be valid, as well as payments on forfeited savings accounts or redeemed savings accounts.
215.43(3)
(3) Meetings of members. Annual and special meetings of members shall be held in accordance with the method prescribed in the bylaws.
215.43(4)(a)
(a) Each saver in a mutual association shall have one vote for each $100 or additional fraction of $100 of the withdrawal value of each of the saver's savings accounts as they appear on the books of the association at the end of a day determined by the board which shall be not more than 60 days preceding the first day of a meeting at which a vote is taken.
215.43(4)(b)
(b) At any meeting of members, voting may be in person or by proxy. Every proxy shall be in writing and signed by the member or the member's duly authorized attorney in fact.
215.43(4)(c)
(c) If a member appears at a meeting, the member's proxy shall be void for that meeting.
215.43(4)(d)
(d) Any proxy, when filed with the secretary, shall, unless otherwise specified in the proxy, continue in force from year to year until revoked by a written notice delivered to the secretary or until superseded by subsequent proxies.
215.43(5)
(5) Termination of membership. Any member who has made a request for the withdrawal of the member's savings account remains a member and has all rights, privileges and duties of a member, until the withdrawal value of the savings account is paid.
215.50
215.50
Directors of a mutual association. 215.50(1)(1)
Management responsibility. The government and management of a mutual association shall be vested in a board of directors, who are charged with the responsibility of compliance with this chapter, orders of the division, rules of the division promulgated under ch.
227, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the association, and other laws applicable to savings and loan operations.
215.50(2)
(2) Qualifications of directors and composition of the board.
