Chapter 217

Effective date note NOTE: This section is created eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267.

217.05 History History: 2023 a. 267.

217.06 217.06 Acquisition of control; change of key individual.

217.06(1) (1) Acquisition of control.

217.06(1)(a) (a) Any person, or group of persons acting in concert, seeking to acquire control of a licensee shall obtain the written approval of the division prior to acquiring control. An individual is not deemed to acquire control of a licensee and is not subject to the requirements under this subsection when that individual becomes a key individual in the ordinary course of business.

217.06(1)(b) (b) A person, or group of persons acting in concert, seeking to acquire control of a licensee shall, in cooperation with the licensee, submit an application in a form and manner prescribed by the division. The application shall include the information required by s. 217.05 (4) for any new key individuals who have not previously completed the requirements of s. 217.05 (4) for a licensee. Upon request, the division may permit an applicant under this section to submit information required in the application without using the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry.

217.06(1)(c) (c) When an application under this subsection appears to include all the items and address all the matters that are required, the application is complete. The division shall promptly notify the applicant in a record of the date on which the application is determined to be complete.

217.06(1)(d) (d) A determination by the division that an application is complete and is accepted for processing means only that the application, on its face, appears to include all the items and address all the matters that are required, and is not an assessment of the substance of the application or of the sufficiency of the information provided.

217.06(1)(e) (e) When an application is filed and considered complete under this subsection, the division shall investigate the financial condition and responsibility, financial and business experience, character, and general fitness of the person, or group of persons acting in concert, seeking to acquire control. If the applicant utilizes a multistate licensing process, the division may accept the investigation results of another state.

217.06(1)(f) (f) The division shall approve an acquisition of control under this subsection if the division finds all of the following:

217.06(1)(f)1. 1. The applicant has satisfied all applicable requirements of this subsection.

217.06(1)(f)2. 2. The financial condition and responsibility, financial and business experience, competence, character, and general fitness of the person, or group of persons acting in concert, seeking to acquire control, and the competence, experience, character, and general fitness of the key individuals and persons who would be in control of the licensee after the acquisition of control, indicate that it is in the interest of the public to permit the person, or group of persons acting in concert, to control the licensee.

217.06(1)(g) (g) The division shall approve or deny the application within 60 days after the completion date. The division may for good cause extend the review period. Unless the review period has been extended, an application that is not approved or denied within 60 days after the completion date is deemed approved.

217.06(1)(h) (h) The division shall issue a formal written notice of the denial of a license application within 30 days of the decision to deny the application. The division shall set forth in the notice of denial the specific reasons for the denial of the application. An applicant whose application is denied by the division under this section may request a hearing under s. 227.44 within 30 days after the date of denial. The division may appoint a hearing examiner under s. 227.46 to conduct the hearing.

217.06(1)(i) (i) The requirements of pars. (a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following:

217.06(1)(i)1. 1. A person who acts as a proxy for the sole purpose of voting at a designated meeting of the shareholders or holders of voting shares or voting interests of a licensee or a person in control of a licensee.

217.06(1)(i)2. 2. A person who acquires control of a licensee by devise or descent.

217.06(1)(i)3. 3. A person who acquires control of a licensee as a personal representative, custodian, guardian, conservator, or trustee, or as an officer appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction or by operation of law.

217.06(1)(i)4. 4. A person who is exempt under s. 217.03 (1) (g).

217.06(1)(i)5. 5. A person exempted from the requirements of this section by written determination of the division, if the division finds this exemption to be in the public interest.

217.06(1)(i)6. 6. A public offering of securities of a licensee or a person in control of a licensee.

217.06(1)(i)7. 7. An internal reorganization of a person in control of the licensee if the ultimate person in control of the licensee remains the same.

217.06(1)(i)8. 8. A person who has complied with and received approval to engage in money transmission under this chapter or was identified as a person in control in a prior application filed with and approved by the division or by an MSB-accredited state pursuant to a multistate licensing process, if all the following conditions are satisfied:

217.06(1)(i)8.a. a. The person has not had a license revoked or suspended, and has not controlled a licensee that has had a license revoked or suspended while the person was in control of the licensee, within the previous 5 years.

217.06(1)(i)8.b. b. If the person is a licensee, the person is well-managed and received at least a satisfactory rating for compliance at its most recent examination by an MSB-accredited state, if a rating was given.

217.06(1)(i)8.c. c. The licensee to be acquired and the person acquiring control, if the person acquiring control is a licensee, are each projected to meet the requirements of s. 217.10 after the acquisition of control is completed.

217.06(1)(i)8.d. d. The licensee to be acquired and the person acquiring control, if the person acquiring control is a licensee, will not implement any material changes to their respective business plans as a result of the acquisition of control.

217.06(1)(i)8.e. e. The person acquiring control, in cooperation with the licensee, provides notice of the acquisition and attests to the conditions of subd. 8. a. to d. in a form and manner prescribed by the division. If the notice is not disapproved within 30 days after the date on which the notice was determined by the division to be complete, the notice is deemed approved.

217.06(1)(j) (j) A person who is exempt from the requirements of pars. (a) and (b) pursuant to par. (i) 2., 3., 4., 6., or 7. shall, in cooperation with the licensee, notify the division within 15 days after the acquisition of control. Notice shall be provided by updating the licensee’s record through the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry or in any other manner acceptable to the division.

217.06(1)(k) (k) Before filing an application for approval to acquire control of a licensee, a person may request in writing a determination from the division as to whether the person would be considered a person in control of a licensee upon consummation of a proposed transaction. If the division determines that the person would not be a person in control of a licensee, the person is not subject to the requirements of pars. (a) and (b).

217.06(2) (2) Change of key individuals.

217.06(2)(a) (a) Upon adding or replacing any key individual, a licensee shall do all of the following:

217.06(2)(a)1. 1. No later than 15 days after the effective date of the key individual’s appointment, provide notice of the change in a manner acceptable to the division.

217.06(2)(a)2. 2. No later than 45 days after the effective date of the individual’s appointment, provide the information required by s. 217.05 (4).

217.06(2)(b) (b) The division may issue a notice of disapproval of a key individual if it finds that the competence, experience, character, or integrity of the individual indicates that it is not in the interest of the public or the customers of the licensee to permit the individual to be a key individual of the licensee. The notice of disapproval shall contain a statement of the basis for disapproval. An applicant whose application is denied by the division under this subsection may request a hearing under s. 227.44 within 30 days after the date of denial. The division may appoint a hearing examiner under s. 227.46 to conduct the hearing.

217.06(2)(c) (c) If the notice of the change is not disapproved within 90 days after the date on which the requirements of par. (a) were determined to be complete, the key individual is deemed approved.

Effective date note NOTE: This section is created eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267.

217.06 History History: 2023 a. 267.

217.07 217.07 Reporting and records.

217.07(1) (1) Report of condition. Each licensee shall submit a report of condition no later than 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, unless a longer period is authorized by the division. The report of condition shall include all of the following:

217.07(1)(a) (a) Financial information at the licensee level.

217.07(1)(b) (b) Nationwide and state-specific money transmission transaction information in every jurisdiction in the United States in which the licensee is licensed to engage in money transmission.

217.07(1)(c) (c) A permissible investments report.

217.07(1)(d) (d) Transaction destination country reporting for money received for transmission, if applicable. This requirement applies only to a report of condition submitted within 45 days of the end of the 4th calendar quarter.

217.07(1)(e) (e) Any other information the division reasonably requires with respect to the licensee.

217.07(2) (2) Audited financials.

217.07(2)(a) (a) Each licensee shall submit audited financial information no later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, unless a longer period is authorized by the division. The submission shall include an audited financial statement of the licensee for the fiscal year prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, together with any other information the division may reasonably require with respect to the licensee.

217.07(2)(b) (b) The audited financial statement shall be prepared by an independent certified public accountant or independent public accountant satisfactory to the division and shall be accompanied by a certificate of opinion that is satisfactory to the division. If the certificate of opinion is qualified, the division may order the licensee to take any action the division finds necessary to enable the independent certified public accountant or independent public accountant to remove the qualification.

217.07(3) (3) Report of authorized delegates. Each licensee shall submit a report of authorized delegates no later than 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, unless a longer period is authorized by the division. The report of authorized delegates shall include all of the following, if applicable:

217.07(3)(a) (a) Contact information for each authorized delegate of the licensee, including each authorized delegate’s legal name, any fictitious or trade name, employer identification number, principal provider identifier, physical address, mailing address, primary contact person, telephone number, email address, start date as the licensee’s authorized delegate, and end date, if any.

217.07(3)(b) (b) Information concerning each authorized delegate’s business in other states, including whether any court or regulatory authority has prohibited the authorized delegate from acting as an authorized delegate in any jurisdiction.

217.07(3)(c) (c) Any other information the division reasonably requires with respect to the licensee’s authorized delegates.

217.07(4) (4) Reports of certain events.

217.07(4)(a) (a) A licensee shall file a report with the division within one business day after the licensee has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events:

217.07(4)(a)1. 1. The filing of a petition by or against the licensee under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, 11 USC 101 to 110, for bankruptcy or reorganization.

217.07(4)(a)2. 2. The filing of a petition by or against the licensee for receivership, the commencement of any other judicial or administrative proceeding for its dissolution or reorganization, or the making of a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors.

217.07(4)(a)3. 3. The commencement of a proceeding to revoke or suspend its license in a state or country in which the licensee engages in business or is licensed.

217.07(4)(b) (b) A licensee shall file a report with the division within 3 business days after the licensee has reason to know that the licensee or a key individual, person in control, or authorized delegate of the licensee has been charged with or convicted of a felony.

217.07(5) (5) Bank Secrecy Act reports. A licensee and an authorized delegate shall comply with all federal currency reporting, record keeping, and suspicious activity reporting requirements as set forth in the Bank Secrecy Act and other federal and state laws pertaining to money laundering.

217.07(6) (6) Records.

217.07(6)(a) (a) A licensee shall maintain all of the following records for at least 3 years:

217.07(6)(a)1. 1. A record of each outstanding money transmission obligation sold.

217.07(6)(a)2. 2. A general ledger posted at least monthly containing all asset, liability, capital, income, and expense accounts.

217.07(6)(a)3. 3. Bank statements and bank reconciliation records.

217.07(6)(a)4. 4. Records of outstanding money transmission obligations.

217.07(6)(a)5. 5. Records of each money transmission obligation paid within the 3-year period.

217.07(6)(a)6. 6. A list of the last-known names and addresses of all the licensee’s authorized delegates.

217.07(6)(a)7. 7. Any other records the division requires to be maintained by order or rule.

217.07(6)(b) (b) Upon written request of the division to inspect any record specified in par. (a), the licensee shall promptly make the record available to the division. A licensee shall maintain the records specified in par. (a) in a location and manner that ensures the licensee can make the records available to the division no later than 7 business days after the division’s written request.

Effective date note NOTE: This section is created eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267.

217.07 History History: 2023 a. 267.

217.08 217.08 Authorized delegates.

217.08(1) (1) Before a licensee is authorized to conduct business through an authorized delegate or allows a person to act as the licensee’s authorized delegate, the licensee shall do all of the following:

217.08(1)(a) (a) Adopt, and update as necessary, written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the licensee’s authorized delegates comply with applicable state and federal law.

217.08(1)(b) (b) Conduct a reasonable risk-based background investigation sufficient for the licensee to determine whether the authorized delegate has complied and will likely comply with applicable state and federal law.

217.08(1)(c) (c) Enter into a signed written agreement that does all of the following:

217.08(1)(c)1. 1. Appoints the authorized delegate for the licensee with the authority to conduct money transmission on behalf of the licensee.

217.08(1)(c)2. 2. Sets forth the nature and scope of the relationship between the licensee and the authorized delegate and the respective rights and responsibilities of the parties.

217.08(1)(c)3. 3. Requires the authorized delegate to fully comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to money transmission, including relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and federal and state laws pertaining to money laundering.

217.08(1)(c)4. 4. Requires the authorized delegate to remit and handle money and monetary value in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

217.08(1)(c)5. 5. Imposes a trust for the benefit of the licensee on money and monetary value net of fees received for money transmission.

217.08(1)(c)6. 6. Requires the authorized delegate to prepare and maintain records as required by this chapter and applicable rules.

217.08(1)(c)7. 7. States the authorized delegate’s consent to examination or investigation by the division.

217.08(1)(c)8. 8. States that the licensee is subject to regulation by the division, and that, as part of that regulation, the division may suspend or revoke an authorized delegate designation or require the licensee to terminate an authorized delegate designation.

217.08(1)(c)9. 9. Acknowledges the authorized delegate’s receipt of the written policies and procedures required under par. (a).

217.08(2) (2) An authorized delegate of a licensee holds in trust for the benefit of the licensee all money net of fees received from money transmission. If any authorized delegate commingles any funds received from money transmission with any other funds or property owned or controlled by the authorized delegate, all commingled funds and other property shall be considered held in trust in favor of the licensee in an amount equal to the amount of money net of fees received from money transmission.

217.08(3) (3) An authorized delegate may not use a subdelegate to conduct money transmission on behalf of a licensee.

217.08(4) (4) A person shall not engage in the business of money transmission on behalf of a person not licensed under this chapter or not exempt pursuant to s. 217.03. A person violating this subsection shall be jointly and severally liable with the unlicensed and nonexempt person for engaging in the business of money transmission without a license.

217.08(5) (5) If a licensee’s license is suspended, revoked, surrendered, or expired, the licensee shall, within 5 business days, provide documentation to the division that the licensee has notified all applicable authorized delegates of the licensee of the suspension, revocation, surrender, or expiration of the license. Upon receiving notice of the suspension, revocation, surrender, or expiration of a license, an authorized delegate shall immediately cease to provide money transmission as an authorized delegate of the applicable licensee.