Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter DFI-SL 10

Chapter DFI-SL 10

BYLAWS

DFI-SL 10.01 Bylaws of mutual associations.

DFI-SL 10.02 Bylaws of capital stock associations.

DFI-SL 10.03 Optional board of directors' maximum age limitations.

Ch. DFI-SL 10 Note Note: Chapter S-L 10 was renumbered chapter DFI-SL 10 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register, July, 1998, No. 511.

DFI-SL 10.01 DFI-SL 10.01 Bylaws of mutual associations. The following form of bylaws is approved for use by each mutual association:

BYLAWS OF THE

(Full name of Association)

1.01 HOME OFFICE. The home office of the association is located at in County, Wisconsin.

2.01 MEMBERSHIP. Each person owning a savings account in the association, except a savings account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit which is not in registered form, is a member of the association. The rights of membership are subject to these bylaws, the association's articles of incorporation, the Wisconsin Statutes, administrative rules and such resolutions as the association's board of directors may from time to time adopt and which are consistent with the bylaws, articles, statutes and rules.

3.01 MEETINGS OF MEMBERS. (1) Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of members of the association for the election of directors and the transaction of any other business of the association will be held at the association's home office at a time and date within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year fixed by the board of directors. The annual meeting shall be held at: (a) the association's home office or at another place in the same community determined by the board of directors, or (b) at such other location in Wisconsin determined by the board of directors and approved by the division of banking in the department of financial institutions.

(2) Special Meetings. Special meetings of members may be called at any time by the chairperson of the board, the president, or the board of directors. Upon the written request of members of record holding at least 10% of the aggregate savings accounts of the association, the secretary of the association, or a person designated to act in the secretary's absence, will call a special meeting to be held within 60 days after delivery of the request. All requests for special meetings must indicate the purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Written requests for special meetings must be delivered to the association's home office and addressed to its secretary.

(3) Conduct Of Members' Meetings. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with the most recent available edition of Robert's Rules of Order, unless other written procedural rules are adopted by the members board of directors and are available to the members. The chief executive officer, or in the chief executive officer's absence an officer designated by standing resolution of the board of directors, or in the absence of such an officer any person chosen by the members present, will preside over the meeting. The secretary of the association will act as secretary of all members' meetings, but in the absence of the secretary another person will be appointed by the presiding officer to act in that capacity.

(4) Notice Of Members' Meetings. The secretary will cause notice of the place, day and hour of a meeting of members to be given at least 10 days but not more than 50 days before the meeting by: (a) mailing the notice to each member at the member's last known post office address as shown by the books of the association; or (b) publishing the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in each community in which the association maintains an office. In addition the notice will be posted in a conspicuous place in each of the association's offices during the 10 days immediately preceding the date on which the meeting will convene. If the meeting is the annual meeting, the notice will so state and will contain an agenda of the meeting. If the meeting is a special meeting, the notice will indicate the purpose of the meeting.

(5) Quorum. Any number of members present in person or by proxy at any meeting of members constitutes a quorum.

(6) Voting. The members entitled to vote at a meeting of members are those savers who were members of record at the end of a day determined by the board which shall be not more than 30 days preceding the date of the first day of a meeting at which a vote is or may be taken, except those who have since ceased to be members. Unless a greater number or margin of votes is required by law, the association's articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, a majority of all votes cast at a meeting of members will determine any question.

(7) Proxies. (a) Generally. Members may vote in person or by written proxy. Except as provided in paragraph (b), no individual may hold or vote proxies representing more than 20% of the association's savings capital.

(b) Exception to limitation on proxies held or voted. All proxies solicited by the association's board of directors and given to the association's board of directors, a committee established by the board of directors, or an individual designated by the board of directors, shall be voted as directed by a majority vote of the association's entire board of directors.

(8) New Business. Any new business proposed to be conducted at an annual meeting of members must be stated in writing and delivered to the association's home office addressed to its secretary, at least 20 days before the meeting. All new business so stated and filed will be considered at the annual meeting, but no other proposal may be acted upon. No new business may be acted upon at a special meeting unless that business has been stated in the notice of the special meeting.

4.01 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (1) Directors. (a) Number. The association's board of directors consists of directors.

(b) Term. The term of each director is three years or until his or her death, resignation, removal or a successor is elected and qualified. The terms of directors will be staggered in a manner that will provide for the election of approximately one-third of the board of directors each year.

(c) Qualifications. Directors and persons nominated to serve as a director are subject to such qualifications as may be required by statute and administrative rule.

(d) Vacancies. In case of a vacancy on the board of directors, a majority of the remaining directors may elect a qualified member to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting of members. At that annual meeting, the members shall elect a qualified person to serve for the duration of the unexpired term.

(e) Nomination and election. 1. At least 30 days before each annual meeting of members, the chief executive officer must with the approval of the board of directors appoint a nominating committee of three persons who are members of the association. No director may stand for reelection on a slate of candidates nominated by a committee of which he or she was a member. The committee will nominate at least one qualified member of the association to fill each vacancy on the board of directors and to succeed each director whose term will expire at the annual meeting. Nominations made by the committee must be in writing and must be signed by the members of the nominating committee.

2. Any member of the association acting in his or her own membership capacity may nominate a qualified member of the association to fill any vacancy on the board of directors or to succeed each director whose term will expire at the annual meeting. Nominations made by a member acting in his or her own membership capacity must be in writing and signed by the member.

3. All nominations must be delivered to the association's home office addressed to its secretary at least 20 days before the annual meeting of members. The secretary must cause a list of the names of qualified persons whose nominations for the office of director have been duly filed to be posted in a prominent place in each office of the association for a period of at least 10 days before the date of the annual meeting.

4. No other nomination may be considered at the annual meeting. However, if no nomination has been made by either the nominating committee or by a member as provided above, or if the number of qualified persons nominated is not sufficient to fill the vacancies on the board, nominations may be made from the floor by members in attendance at the annual meeting.

(f) Resignation. A director may resign at any time by delivering a written resignation to the association's home office addressed to its secretary. The written resignation shall take effect upon receipt of the resignation by the secretary or at such later date as may be specified in the notice. Unless excused by a resolution of the board of directors, more than 3 consecutive absences from regular meetings of the board automatically constitute a resignation.

(g) Removal. The board may remove a director for a violation of Chapter 215 of the Wisconsin Statutes, a rule or order of the division of banking in the department of financial institutions, the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, or any law governing savings and loan operations or whenever in the board's judgment removal is in the best interests of the association. A director may only be removed after being afforded an opportunity to be heard by the board.

(2) Meetings Of The Board. (a) Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the board of directors will be held at a place, hour and date fixed by a resolution of the board.

(b) Special meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors will be called by the secretary or a person designated to act in the secretary's absence, at the written request of the president, the chairperson of the board, or a majority of the board's members. Each special meeting must be held upon at least 3 days notice to each director given either personally or by telegram or upon at least five days notice by mail, unless the director attends the meeting and does not object to the transaction of business because of improper notice or unless notice is waived in writing by each director before or after the meeting.

(c) Action by unanimous consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors at a meeting or by resolution may be taken without a meeting if all the directors consent to the action in writing.

(d) Quorum. For all meetings of the board of directors a majority of the board constitutes a quorum. A majority of the quorum may approve the business of the meeting.

(e) Conduct of meetings. All meetings of the board of directors will be conducted in accordance with the most recent available edition of Robert's Rules of Order, unless other written procedural rules are adopted by the board. The chairperson of the board, or in the chairperson's absence a director designated by the chairperson, or in their absence any director chosen by the directors present, will chair the meeting. The act of the majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum is the act of the board, unless the act of a greater number is required by law, the association's articles of incorporation, or these bylaws.

(3) Powers. To the extent that its actions are not contrary to law, the association's articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, the board of directors may:

(a) Form committees. Create such committees as it deems necessary and prescribe committee duties and authority. Committee members will be appointed by the chief executive officer with the approval of the board.

(b) Remove personnel. Remove any employee or committee member at any time with or without cause and any officer if the board determines that removal is in the best interest of the association.

(c) Extend leniency. Extend leniency to borrowers in distress, and compromise and settle any debts or claims of the association.

(d) Act on applications for membership. Accept or reject any application for membership.

(e) Make donations Make donations on behalf of the association for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, educational or religious purposes.

(f) Exercise other powers. Exercise any and all other powers of the association not expressly reserved to the members.

5.01 OFFICERS. (1) Designation. Each year at the meeting of the board of directors following the annual meeting of members, the board of directors will elect a director to serve as chairperson of the board and will elect a president, a secretary, a treasurer, one or more vice presidents, and any other association officers it may deem necessary. The association's chief executive officer shall be a director. One person may hold two or more offices, but the chief executive officer may not hold the office of secretary or treasurer.

(2) Term Of Office. The term of each officer is one year or until his or her successor is elected and qualified, unless the officer is removed prior to that time by law or in accordance with these bylaws.

(3) Vacancies. In case of a vacancy in any office designated in subsection (1), the directors will, as soon as practicable, fill the vacancy for the then unexpired term.

(4) Duties. (a) Chief executive officer. The chief executive officer will serve on a full time basis and shall have responsibility for the general management and control of the affairs and business of the association.

(b) Other officers. Each officer of the association is responsible for performing the duties assigned to his or her office by the board of directors or by law, the association's articles of incorporation, or these bylaws.

6.01 MANDATORY INDEMNIFICATION. The association shall indemnify any present or former officer or director to the extent permitted under ss. 215.512 to 215.525 of the Wisconsin statutes or any present or former employee or agent of the association to the same extent as a business corporation may indemnify its employees or agents.

7.01 DELIVERY OF MATERIALS TO THE ASSOCIATION. All materials that these bylaws require to be delivered to the association may be delivered in person or by certified mail. When delivered by certified mail they are deemed to be delivered at the time they are deposited in the United States mail.

8.01 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the association begins on and ends on (first day of fiscal year) (last day of fiscal year)

9.01 DISTRIBUTION OF EARNINGS AND NET WORTH. When earnings of the association are distributed to savers, the distribution will be made on the basis of the amount on deposit in each member's savings account, at a rate or rates determined by the association's account agreement with the saver. In the event of liquidation, all owners of savings accounts in the association will share in the association's net worth, pro rata to the balance in their savings accounts.

10.01 SEAL. The corporate seal of the association consists of two concentric circles between which the name of the association appears. The words “corporate seal” appear at its center

11.01 AMENDMENTS. (1) By Members. The members of the association may amend or repeal these bylaws or adopt new bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast at a duly called meeting of members.

(2) By Directors. These bylaws may also be amended or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the board of directors upon an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors present at a meeting of directors at which a quorum is present.

(3) Effective Date. No change to these bylaws will take effect until it has been filed with and approved by the division of banking in the department of financial institutions.

DFI-SL 10.01 Note Note: This section interprets or implements s. 215.42 (1), Stats.

DFI-SL 10.01 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1989, No. 402, eff. 7-1-89; correction in (form) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register March 2020 No. 771.