Chapter 186

186.07(1m) (1m) Appointments.

186.07(1m)(a) (a) The board of directors shall appoint a president of the credit union. The board may also appoint any committee that the board considers to be necessary.

186.07(1m)(b) (b) The president shall appoint any employee officer.

186.07(2) (2) Terms. A director shall hold office until any of the following occurs:

186.07(2)(a) (a) A successor is elected or appointed and the successor signs an oath of office.

186.07(2)(b) (b) The director is removed under sub. (5) or dies.

186.07(3) (3) Meeting participation.

186.07(3)(a) (a) Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors may permit any or all directors to participate in a regular or special meeting or in a committee meeting of the board of directors, including a meeting of the executive committee, in any manner described in par. (b). Unless the articles of incorporation, bylaws or board of directors provide otherwise, the credit committee may permit any or all members of the committee to participate in a credit committee meeting in any manner described in par. (b).

186.07(3)(b) (b) If authorized under par. (a), the directors or credit committee members may participate in a meeting by, or conduct a meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which any of the following occurs:

186.07(3)(b)1. 1. All participating directors or members may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting.

186.07(3)(b)2. 2. All communication during the meeting is immediately transmitted to each participating director or member, and each participating director or member is able to immediately send messages to all other participating directors or members.

186.07(3)(c) (c) If a meeting will be conducted through the use of any means described in par. (b), all participating directors or credit committee members shall be informed that a meeting is taking place at which official business may be transacted. A director or member participating in a meeting by any means described in par. (b) is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. If requested by a director or member, minutes of the meeting shall be prepared and distributed to each director or member.

186.07(3m) (3m) Written consent in lieu of meeting.

186.07(3m)(a) (a) Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, any action required or permitted by this chapter to be authorized at a board of directors’ meeting may be authorized without a meeting if that action is authorized by all directors and is evidenced by one or more written statements, signed by each director, describing and consenting to the action. Such an action has the same effect as an action authorized by unanimous vote at a meeting at which all directors are present and may be described as such in any document.

186.07(3m)(b) (b) Any action authorized under par. (a) is effective when the last director signs the statement evidencing his or her consent, unless the statement specifies a different effective date.

186.07(3m)(c) (c) A credit union shall retain all statements signed by its directors under par. (a).

186.07(4) (4) Director eligibility. Eligibility for election to the board of directors shall be prescribed in the bylaws.

186.07(5) (5) Director removal. The board of directors shall remove a director from the board if any of the following applies:

186.07(5)(a) (a) The director withdraws from membership in the credit union.

186.07(5)(b) (b) The director causes a loss to the credit union because of a delinquency or a known conflict of interest.

186.07(5)(c) (c) The director is unable to be bonded in accordance with the standards set by the board of directors.

186.07(5)(d) (d) In the judgment of the board of directors, removal of the director is in the best interests of the credit union.

186.07(6) (6) Removal notice and appeal. A director who is removed under sub. (5) or s. 186.071 (2) shall be given notice of removal. The removed director may petition the board of directors to reconsider its decision. If the board of directors does not reinstate the director, the director may appeal the decision of the board of directors to the office of credit unions. If the office of credit unions determines that the removal of the director was improper, the office of credit unions shall order the reinstatement of the director and, if the board of directors has already appointed a person to fill the vacancy created by the removal of the director, the removal of such person.

186.07(7) (7) Vacancies. Within 90 days of a vacancy on the board of directors, the board of directors shall appoint a director to fill the vacancy. The appointee shall serve until a successor is elected at the next annual membership meeting.

186.07(8) (8) Director conflict of interest.

186.07(8)(a) (a) In this subsection, “conflict of interest transaction” means a transaction with the credit union in which a director of the credit union has a direct or indirect interest.

186.07(8)(b) (b) A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable by the credit union solely because of the director’s interest in the transaction if any of the following is true:

186.07(8)(b)1. 1. The material facts of the transaction and the director’s interest were disclosed or known to the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors and the board of directors or committee authorized, approved, or specifically ratified the transaction under par. (d).

186.07(8)(b)2. 2. The transaction was fair to the credit union.

186.07(8)(c) (c) For purposes of this subsection, the circumstances in which a director of the credit union has an indirect interest in a transaction include a transaction under any of the following circumstances:

186.07(8)(c)1. 1. Another entity in which the director has a material financial interest or in which the director is a general partner is a party to the transaction.

186.07(8)(c)2. 2. Another entity of which the director is a director, officer, or trustee is a party to the transaction and the transaction is or, because of its significance to the credit union, should be considered by the board of directors of the credit union.

186.07(8)(d) (d) For purposes of par. (b) 1., a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved, or specifically ratified if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors on the board of directors or on the committee acting on the transaction who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction. If a majority of the directors who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction vote to authorize, approve, or ratify the transaction, a quorum is present for the purpose of taking action under this subsection. The presence of, or a vote cast by, a director with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction does not affect the validity of any action taken under par. (b) 1. if the transaction is otherwise authorized, approved, or ratified as provided in this subsection.

186.07 History History: 1971 c. 193; 1979 c. 282; 1981 c. 156; 1983 a. 369; 1989 a. 308; 1991 a. 16; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2003 a. 63; 2015 a. 304; 2023 a. 128.

186.071 186.071 Oath of office.

186.071(1) (1) Oath. Every director, officer, committee member and employee shall sign an oath of office. The oath shall require the director, officer, committee member and employee to do all of the following:

186.071(1)(a) (a) Keep confidential the financial affairs of credit union members, unless state and federal laws, security requirements or sound lending practices permit disclosure.

186.071(1)(b) (b) Keep confidential the records and accounts of the credit union and the deliberations of the board of directors unless state or federal law permits disclosure.

186.071(1)(c) (c) Familiarize themselves with the credit union laws, bylaws, rules and policies.

186.071(1)(d) (d) Avoid initiating or participating in any insider dealings using credit union funds or the credit union’s power or authority.

186.071(1)(e) (e) Avoid initiating or participating in any action that may present to that person a personal conflict of interest.

186.071(2) (2) Removal for violation. If an individual refuses to sign the oath of office or knowingly and willfully violates the oath of office, the board shall remove that individual as a director, officer or committee member or shall direct that the individual be terminated as an employee.

186.071 History History: 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152; 2015 a. 304.

186.08 186.08 Officers, management.

186.08(1) (1) Management. At its first meeting following the annual membership meeting, the board of directors shall elect from its number a chairperson and one or more vice chairpersons, a secretary of the board and a treasurer of the board. Any 2 or more offices of the board may be held by the same person, except the offices of chairperson and vice chairperson and the offices of chairperson and secretary. The board of directors shall have the general oversight and final decision-making authority over the affairs, funds and records of the credit union, and shall meet as often as may be necessary. The president of the credit union shall be the chief executive officer of the credit union and shall be in active charge of managing the credit union’s day-to-day operations. 

186.08(1m) (1m) Board duties. The board’s duties include all of the following:

186.08(1m)(a) (a) Acting on all applications for membership, unless the board delegates that responsibility.

186.08(1m)(b) (b) Expelling members for cause.

186.08(1m)(c) (c) Setting the type and amount of bond required for directors, officers and employees.

186.08(1m)(d) (d) Filling vacancies on the board of directors.

186.08(1m)(e) (e) Establishing rates of interest on all loans or authorizing an officer or committee of the credit union to establish interest rates on loans.

186.08(1m)(f) (f) Establishing conditions applicable to deposit accounts.

186.08(1m)(g) (g) Establishing rates of interest on all deposit accounts or authorizing an officer or committee of the credit union to establish interest rates on deposit accounts.

186.08(3) (3) Executive committee, meetings. The board of directors may appoint an executive committee consisting of at least 3 directors. If an executive committee is appointed, the executive committee shall meet as often as necessary, and the full board of directors shall meet at least quarterly. The board of directors may delegate all or any part of its authority to an executive committee, subject to any conditions or limitations the board may impose.

186.08 History History: 1971 c. 193 ss. 18, 19, 42 (3); 1975 c. 345; 1977 c. 152; 1981 c. 156; 1983 a. 369; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 151; 1997 a. 152.

186.082 186.082 Definitions applicable to indemnification and insurance provisions. In ss. 186.082 to 186.091:

186.082(1) (1) “Credit union” means a cooperative, nonprofit corporation incorporated under s. 186.02 and any domestic or foreign predecessor of that corporation where the predecessor’s existence ceased upon the consummation of a merger or other transaction.

186.082(2) (2) “Director or officer” means any of the following:

186.082(2)(a) (a) A natural person who is or was a director or officer of a credit union.

186.082(2)(b) (b) A natural person who, while a director or officer of a credit union, is or was serving at the credit union’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member of any governing or decision-making committee, manager, employee or agent of another credit union or foreign credit union, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

186.082(2)(c) (c) A natural person who, while a director or officer of a credit union, is or was serving an employee benefit plan because his or her duties to the credit union also imposed duties on, or otherwise involved services by, the person to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.

186.082(2)(d) (d) Unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a director or officer.

186.082(2)(e) (e) A natural person who is or was a member of a credit union’s credit committee.

186.082(3) (3) “Expenses” include fees, costs, charges, disbursements, attorney fees and any other expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding.

186.082(4) (4) “Liability” includes the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, forfeiture, or fine, including any excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, and reasonable expenses.

186.082(5) (5) “Party” means a natural person who was or is, or who is threatened to be made, a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.

186.082(6) (6) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding, whether formal or informal, which involves foreign, federal, state or local law and which is brought by or in the right of the credit union or by any other person.

186.082 History History: 1987 a. 13; 1993 a. 112; 2003 a. 139; 2005 a. 134; 2021 a. 241.

186.083 186.083 Mandatory indemnification.

186.083(1) (1) Indemnification required. A credit union shall indemnify a director or officer, to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding if the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer of the credit union.

186.083(2) (2) Exceptions.

186.083(2)(a) (a) In cases not included under sub. (1), a credit union shall indemnify a director or officer against liability incurred by the director or officer in a proceeding to which the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer of the credit union, unless liability was incurred because the director or officer breached or failed to perform a duty he or she owes to the credit union and the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:

186.083(2)(a)1. 1. A willful failure to deal fairly with the credit union or its members in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest.

186.083(2)(a)2. 2. A violation of criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

186.083(2)(a)3. 3. A transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit.

186.083(2)(a)4. 4. Willful misconduct.

186.083(2)(b) (b) Determination of whether indemnification is required under this subsection shall be made under s. 186.084.

186.083(2)(c) (c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or an equivalent plea, does not, by itself, create a presumption that indemnification of the director or officer is not required under this subsection.

186.083(3) (3) Written requests. A director or officer who seeks indemnification under this section shall make a written request to the credit union.

186.083(4) (4) Indemnification not required.

186.083(4)(a) (a) Indemnification under this section is not required to the extent limited by the articles of incorporation under s. 186.086.

186.083(4)(b) (b) Indemnification under this section is not required if the director or officer has previously received indemnification or allowance of expenses from any person, including the credit union, in connection with the same proceeding.

186.083 History History: 1987 a. 13; 1995 a. 151.

186.083 Annotation Cooperative indemnification. La Rowe and Weine. WBB Sept. 1988.

186.084 186.084 Determination of right to indemnification. Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws or by written agreement between the director or officer and the credit union, the director or officer seeking indemnification under s. 186.083 (2) shall select one of the following means for determining his or her right to indemnification:

186.084(1) (1) By majority vote of a quorum of the board of directors consisting of directors not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. If a quorum of disinterested directors cannot be obtained, by majority vote of a committee duly appointed by the board of directors and consisting solely of 2 or more directors not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. Directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings may participate in the designation of members of the committee.

186.084(2) (2) By independent legal counsel selected by a quorum of the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in sub. (1) or, if unable to obtain such a quorum or committee, by a majority vote of the full board of directors, including directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings.

186.084(3) (3) By a panel of 3 arbitrators consisting of one arbitrator selected by those directors entitled under sub. (2) to select independent legal counsel, one arbitrator selected by the director or officer seeking indemnification and one arbitrator selected by the 2 arbitrators previously selected.

186.084(4) (4) By an affirmative vote of a majority of members present at an annual meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. Voting rights owned by, or voted under the control of, persons who are at the time parties to the same or related proceedings, whether as plaintiffs or defendants or in any other capacity, may not be voted in making the determination.