Chapter 214

214.03(2) (2) The activities, powers, products and services that may be undertaken, exercised or offered by a savings bank under sub. (1) are limited to those specified by rule of the division. The division may direct a savings bank to cease any activity, the exercise of any power or the offering of any product or service authorized by rule under this subsection. Among the factors that the division may consider in so directing a savings bank are the savings bank’s net worth, assets, management rating, liquidity ratio and ratio of net worth to assets.

214.03(3) (3) This section does not authorize a savings bank, directly or through a subsidiary, to engage in the business of underwriting insurance.

214.03 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.03 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DFI-SB 16 and 17, Wis. adm. code.

214.035 214.035 Use of name.

214.035(1) (1) An institution organized under this chapter shall be known as a state savings bank and shall adopt a name that identifies it as such and that includes the term “savings”. The division shall approve the name of a savings bank.

214.035(2) (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), an association, as defined in s. 215.01 (1), that converts to a savings bank may use a name that does not include the term “savings” in its name if that name was approved for use by the association by the division under ch. 215 before February 12, 1992, and that name is approved by the division under this subsection as appropriate to identify the converted association as a savings bank.

214.035(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a federally chartered financial institution that converts to a savings bank may use a name that does not include the term “savings” in its name if the financial institution did not use the term “savings” in its name on May 7, 1992, and its name is approved by the division as appropriate to identify the converted institution as a savings bank.

214.035(4) (4) 

214.035(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), no person may use the name, logo, or symbol, or any combination thereof, of a savings bank, or any name, logo, or symbol, or any combination thereof, that is deceptively similar to the name, logo, or symbol of a savings bank, 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 savings bank or that the savings bank is responsible for the marketing material or solicitation.

214.035(4)(b) (b) The division shall direct any person the division finds to have violated par. (a) to cease and desist from violating par. (a). If a person violates par. (a) after receiving such direction, the division 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 par. (a) constitutes a separate violation. This subsection does not affect the availability of any remedies otherwise available to a savings bank.

214.035(4)(c) (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who uses the name, logo, or symbol of a savings bank in any of the following circumstances:

214.035(4)(c)1. 1. With the consent of the savings bank.

214.035(4)(c)2. 2. If the person is the savings bank, an affiliate of the savings bank, or an agent of the savings bank.

214.035 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27, 367; 2003 a. 262.

214.04 214.04 General corporate powers. A savings bank shall be a body corporate and shall have all of the specific powers conferred by this chapter and all of the following general powers:

214.04(1) (1) To sue and be sued in its corporate name and to have a seal, which it may alter or renew.

214.04(2) (2) To obtain and maintain insurance by a deposit insurance corporation.

214.04(3) (3) To act as a fiscal agent for the United States, this state or any department, office, agency, board, commission or authority of this state or any county, city, village, town or school district in the state, if designated for that purpose, and as agent to perform reasonable functions as may be required of it.

214.04(4) (4) With the approval of the division, to become a member of, purchase stock or securities in, deposit money with, or comply with any other conditions of membership or credit for any corporation or agency of the United States or of this state, to the extent that such agency assists in furthering or facilitating the purposes or powers of the savings bank.

214.04(5) (5) To make donations in reasonable amounts for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, religious or educational purposes.

214.04(6) (6) To adopt and operate reasonable insurance, bonus, profit sharing, and retirement plans for officers and employees and for directors who are not officers or employees.

214.04(7) (7) To reject any application for membership and to close deposit accounts as provided in this chapter and its bylaws; and to limit the issuance of, or payments on, deposit accounts, subject to contractual obligations.

214.04(8) (8) To purchase stock in service corporations and to invest in any form of indebtedness of any service corporation, subject to rules of the division.

214.04(9) (9) With the approval of the division, to purchase stock of a corporation whose principal purpose is to operate a safe deposit or escrow service business, if the purchase is necessary to utilize the services of that business.

214.04(10) (10) To exercise all the powers necessary to qualify as a trustee or custodian under the federal self-employed individuals tax retirement act of 1962, as amended, and invest any funds held in that capacity in a deposit account if the trust or custodial retirement plan authorizes and directs the investment.

214.04(12) (12) Subject to rules of the division, to make contracts, incur obligations, make investments, pledge assets or take other action necessary to do any of the following:

214.04(12)(a) (a) Enable it to act as agent for the sale of obligations of the United States.

214.04(12)(b) (b) Secure deposits of public funds.

214.04(12)(c) (c) Secure deposits of money if required by the federal bankruptcy act.

214.04(12)(d) (d) Qualify as a fiduciary under ch. 112.

214.04(12)(e) (e) Secure trust funds if acting as a corporate fiduciary. A savings bank may not commingle trust funds under this paragraph with the savings bank’s funds, whether deposited by the savings bank or an affiliate.

214.04(13) (13) To accept for payment at a future date, not to exceed one year from the date of acceptance, drafts drawn upon it by its customers; and to issue, advise or confirm letters of credit authorizing holders to draw drafts upon it or its correspondents.

214.04(14) (14) Subject to rules of the division, to own and lease personal property acquired by the savings bank at the request of a prospective lessee and, upon the agreement of that person, to lease the personal property.

214.04(15) (15) To indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents to the extent authorized for mutual savings and loan associations under ss. 215.512 to 215.525 if a mutual savings bank, or to the extent authorized under ss. 180.0850 to 180.0859 if a stock savings bank.

214.04(16) (16) To provide data processing services to others and to act as a custodian of records for others on a for-profit basis.

214.04(17) (17) With prior written approval of the division, to acquire all or any part of the assets of a financial institution or to sell all or any part of its assets to another financial institution.

214.04(18) (18) To borrow money and issue its obligations for the borrowed money, including but not limited to obligations, bonds, notes or other debt securities. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or by rules of the division, the aggregate amount borrowed may not exceed 50 percent of the savings bank’s total assets, except with the prior written approval of the division. An obligation, bond, note or other debt security may include a written provision subordinating the debt to claims of other creditors or of depositors.

214.04(19) (19) To utilize data processing services and place records of the savings bank for storage and safekeeping with another person for a fee.

214.04(20) (20) Upon receiving approval from the division, to act as an authorized agent for its customers in the business and functions under ch. 217. A savings bank that applies to function as a money transmitter shall meet the application requirements under ch. 217. The division may not charge a license or investigation fee for an application under this subsection. The money transmitter function of a savings bank shall be under the jurisdiction and supervision of the division. The division shall enforce ch. 217 as it applies to savings banks. The division shall determine what records shall be maintained and shall require the segregation of funds that are necessary for a savings bank to operate as a money transmitter under this subsection and ch. 217.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (20) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267. Prior to 1-1-25 it reads:

Effective date text (20) Upon receiving approval from the division, to act as an authorized agent for its customers in the business and functions under ch. 217. A savings bank that applies to function as a seller of checks shall meet the application requirements under ch. 217. The division may not charge a license or investigation fee for an application under this subsection. The seller of checks function of a savings bank shall be under the jurisdiction and supervision of the division. The division shall enforce ch. 217 as it applies to savings banks. The division shall determine what records shall be maintained and shall require the segregation of funds that are necessary for a savings bank to operate as a seller of checks under this subsection and ch. 217.

214.04(21) (21) 

214.04(21)(a) (a) Directly or indirectly, to acquire, place and operate, or participate in the acquisition, placement and operation of, at locations other than its home office and branch offices, remote service units, in accordance with rules established by the division.

214.04(21)(b) (b) The rules of the division shall provide that any remote service unit shall be available for use, on a nondiscriminatory basis, by any state or federal savings bank which has its principal place of business in this state, by any other state or federal savings bank obtaining the consent of a state or federal savings bank that has its principal place of business in this state and is using the terminal and by all customers designated by a savings bank using the unit. This paragraph does not authorize a savings bank which has its principal place of business outside this state to conduct business as a savings bank in this state. A remote service unit shall be available for use, on a nondiscriminatory basis, by any credit union, state or national bank or state or federal savings and loan association, whose home office is located in this state, if the credit union, bank or savings and loan association requests to share its use, subject to joint rules established by the division and the office of credit unions.

214.04(21)(c) (c) If any person primarily engaged in the retail sale of goods or services owns or operates a remote service unit on such person’s premises and allows access to the unit by any financial institution, group of financial institutions or their customers, nothing in this paragraph or in rules established by the division shall require such person to accept any connection to or use of the unit on its premises for any other purpose or function or to accept any connection to the unit on its premises by any other financial institution.

214.04(21)(d) (d) If a person primarily engaged in the retail sale of goods or services owns or operates a remote service unit on such person’s premises and allows access to the unit by any financial institution, group of financial institutions or their customers for any purpose or function, laws governing such institutions or rules established by the division shall not apply to such person other than those laws or rules directly related to the particular function performed by the unit on such person’s premises for a financial institution.

214.04(21)(e) (e) Information transmitted from a remote service unit, either identified as to particular transactions or aggregate information, shall only be used for purposes of effecting the financial transactions for which such information was received, for any other purpose lawfully authorized by contract, or for any other purpose permitted by statute and rules pertaining to the dissemination and disclosure of such information.

214.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DFI-SB 12, Wis. adm. code.

214.04(22) (22) To maintain real estate broker trust accounts under s. 452.13, attorney trust accounts under s. 757.293, collection agency trust accounts under s. 218.04 (9g), burial trust accounts under s. 445.125 (1) and care funds and preneed trust funds under s. 157.19.

214.04(23) (23) To contract for the provision of trust services to its customers with a trust company or other organization with trust powers authorized to do business in this state. For this purpose, the trust company or other organization with trust powers may serve savings bank customers at savings bank facilities on a full-time or part-time basis.

214.04(25) (25) Subject to rules of the division, to issue credit cards, extend open-end credit and otherwise engage in or participate in credit card operations.

214.04(26) (26) With the prior approval of the division, establish a limited office.

214.04(27) (27) After giving notice to the division, establish an extended office.

214.04(28) (28) To exercise any power reasonably related or incident to the purposes of the savings bank.

214.04 History History: 1991 a. 221, 315; 1995 a. 27, 55, 103, 295; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 128, 267.

214.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. DFI-SB 16 and 17, Wis. adm. code.

214.045 214.045 Status as internal revenue service qualified thrift lender. A savings bank shall qualify for and maintain either the 60 percent asset test of section 7701 (a) (19) of the internal revenue code, or an asset test prescribed by rule of the division that is not less than the percentage prescribed by section 7701 (a) (19) of the internal revenue code.

214.045 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.06 214.06 Branch offices.

214.06(1) (1) With the prior written approval of the division, a savings bank may establish one or more branch offices. A branch office may be located in any of the following:

214.06(1)(a) (a) This state.

214.06(1)(b) (b) The geographic area, subject to subch. III.

214.06(2) (2) A savings bank may operate a branch office outside this state to the same extent that a savings bank holding company or savings bank that has its principal place of business outside this state is allowed to operate in this state under subch. III.

214.06(3) (3) A savings bank may establish a branch office as the result of a merger or consolidation, or of the bulk sales of facilities in the case of a relocation.

214.06(4) (4) A savings bank that purchases or assumes all or any part of the assets or liabilities of another financial institution may retain and maintain the home office or branch offices purchased from that financial institution, as branch offices of the acquiring savings bank.

214.06 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

subch. II of ch. 214 SUBCHAPTER II

HOLDING COMPANIES

214.07 214.07 Authorized activities. A savings bank holding company may engage in activities that are authorized by the division.

214.07 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.08 214.08 Registration. A savings bank holding company and each subsidiary of a savings bank holding company shall register with the division within 180 days after May 7, 1992, or within 90 days after becoming a savings bank holding company or subsidiary, whichever is later. A savings bank holding company and each subsidiary of a savings bank holding company shall register on forms prescribed by the division. A registration form shall include information with respect to the financial condition, ownership, management, and intercompany relations of the holding company and its subsidiaries and such related matters as the division considers necessary.

214.08 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.085 214.085 Reporting requirements.

214.085(1) (1) A savings bank holding company and each subsidiary of a savings bank holding company shall do all of the following:

214.085(1)(a) (a) File with the division reports as required by the division. A report shall be on a form prescribed by the division and may require whatever information the division considers to be necessary concerning the operations of each savings bank holding company and subsidiary.

214.085(1)(b) (b) Maintain such books and records as may be prescribed by the division.

214.085(1)(c) (c) Be subject to examination by the division.

214.085(2) (2) The division shall assess a savings bank holding company fees and charges as necessary to cover the cost of the division’s examination and supervision under this chapter. The division may promulgate rules to establish fees and payment schedules to support registration, examination and supervision under this chapter.

214.085 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.09 214.09 Acquisitions. Subject to rules of the division, a savings bank holding company may acquire control of a savings bank or of a savings bank holding company upon application to and with the prior written approval of the division. The application shall be in a form prescribed by the division. The division shall approve the application if the division determines that the acquisition is consistent with the interest of maintaining a sound financial system and that the proposed acquisition does not afford a basis for supervisory objection.

214.09 History History: 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

214.095 214.095 Reorganization as a holding company.

214.095(1) (1) A savings bank may reorganize as a savings bank holding company by doing all of the following:

214.095(1)(a) (a) Organizing one or more subsidiary savings banks, the ownership of which shall be evidenced by stock shares, to be owned by the organizing parent savings bank.

214.095(1)(b) (b) Transferring a substantial portion of its assets and all of its insured deposits and part or all of its other liabilities to one or more subsidiary savings banks.

214.095(1)(c) (c) Preparing articles of incorporation and bylaws for the savings bank holding company.

214.095(2) (2) In order to effect a reorganization under sub. (1), the board of directors of the original savings bank shall approve a plan providing for the reorganization. The plan shall be submitted for approval by a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by members or stockholders of the savings bank at a meeting held in accordance with the savings bank’s articles of incorporation and bylaws.

214.095(3) (3) The division shall promulgate rules to regulate the formation of and the ongoing business of the subsidiaries and the savings bank holding company, including the rights of members or stockholders, levels of investment in holding company subsidiaries, and stock sales.