Chapter 215

215.01(24m) (24m) “Savings and loan holding company” includes a mutual savings and loan holding company or an equivalent mutual entity organized under the laws of another jurisdiction, a stock savings and loan holding company and includes any person, corporation, partnership, trust, joint stock company, association, state or federal savings and loan association, state or federal savings bank or state or national bank, which owns, holds or in any manner controls, directly or indirectly, 10 percent of the stock in a savings and loan association.

215.01(25) (25) “State chartered association” means a savings and loan association organized under this chapter.

215.01(26) (26) “Stock association” means a capital stock savings and loan association.

215.01(27) (27) “Stockholder” means a person owning one or more shares of capital stock in a capital stock association.

215.01(27m) (27m) “Stock savings and loan holding company” means a savings and loan holding company organized as a capital stock corporation.

215.01(27s) (27s) “Thrift institution” means an association, a federal savings and loan association or a federal or state savings bank.

215.01(28) (28) “Withdrawal value of a savings account” means the aggregate of deposits in a savings account and the total earnings credited to that account, less withdrawals.

215.01 History History: 1971 c. 229; 1975 c. 359; 1983 a. 167; 1989 a. 56; 1989 a. 242 ss. 1 to 4; 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27, 104; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2019 a. 65; 2021 a. 241.

215.01 Annotation Chapter 215 is inapplicable to federal savings and loan associations. Kaski v. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Madison, 72 Wis. 2d 132, 240 N.W.2d 367 (1976).

215.02 215.02 Powers of the division.

215.02(4) (4) Immunity. Employees of the division shall not be subject to any civil liability or penalty, nor to any criminal prosecution, for any error in judgment or discretion made in good faith and upon reasonable grounds in any action taken or omitted by the employee in the employee’s official capacity.

215.02(5) (5) Actions venue. Proceedings by any association to enjoin the division in the discharge of the division’s duties shall be had in the county where the savings and loan association is located, or in the state supreme court. All suits and proceedings arising out of this chapter, in which the state, or any of its officers or agents are parties, shall be conducted under the direction and supervision of the department of justice.

215.02(6) (6) Disclosure of information; penalty.

215.02(6)(a) (a) All employees of the division and members of the review board shall keep confidential all the facts and information obtained in the course of examinations by the office and all examination and other confidential information obtained from a deposit insurance corporation, a federal regulatory agency or any state regulatory authority, including an authority of this state or another state, for financial institutions, mortgage bankers, insurance or securities, except:

215.02(6)(a)1. 1. So far as the public duty of such person requires the person to report upon or take special action regarding the affairs of any association.

215.02(6)(a)2. 2. When called as a witness in any criminal proceeding or trial in a court of justice.

215.02(6)(a)3. 3. For the purpose of comparing notes as to matters affecting an association with an examiner of a deposit insurance corporation or a federal regulatory agency as to any association whose savings accounts are insured by the deposit insurance corporation.

215.02(6)(a)4. 4. The division may furnish to the deposit insurance corporation, to a federal regulatory agency or to any official or examiner of a deposit insurance corporation or a federal regulatory agency a copy of any examination made by the division of any association or of any report made by an association and filed with the division.

215.02(6)(a)6. 6. The division may disclose to any regulatory authority of this state or another state for financial institutions, mortgage bankers, insurance or securities facts and information obtained in the course of examinations by the division, if the regulatory authority agrees to keep the facts and information confidential.

215.02(6)(a)7. 7. The division may furnish to a federal home loan bank a copy of any examination report made by, or other supervisory information created by, the division of any association if the federal home loan bank agrees to keep the examination report or other information confidential.

215.02(6)(b) (b) If any person mentioned in par. (a) discloses the name of any debtor of any association or any information about the private account or transactions of such association, discloses any fact obtained in the course of any examination of any association, or discloses examination or other confidential information obtained from any state or federal regulatory authority, including an authority of this state or another state, for financial institutions, mortgage bankers, insurance or securities, except as provided in par. (a), he or she is guilty of a Class I felony and shall forfeit his or her office or position.

215.02(7) (7) Orders and rules.

215.02(7)(a) (a) In addition to performing the duties prescribed in this chapter, the division shall, with the approval of the review board, issue orders prescribing reasonable rules for conducting the business of associations, subject to the requirements of ch. 227.

215.02(7)(c) (c) If the division, as a result of any examination or report made to the division, finds that any association is violating the provisions of the articles or bylaws of the association, or the laws of this state, or the laws of the United States, or any lawful rule or order promulgated by the division and review board or any order of the division, the division shall deliver a formal written order to the board of directors of the association in which the facts known to the division are set forth, demanding the discontinuance of the violation and, where applicable, order the association to institute corrective action thereon. The association affected by the order may within 10 days after the order has been delivered to the association request a review of the findings and order before the division, at which time any pertinent evidence may be presented. After review, the division, on the basis of the evidence presented and any matters of record in the division’s offices, shall continue, modify or set aside the order. The enforcement of any order issued under this paragraph shall be stayed pending review before the division, and during the period of any subsequent review under s. 215.04 (4).

215.02(7)(d) (d) Any association which willfully violates par. (c) or any order issued thereunder shall, for each violation, forfeit not more than $250 per day for each day the violation continues. Assessment of any forfeiture shall become effective 20 days from the date of delivery of the order, 20 days from the date of review by the division, if requested, or 20 days from the date of the decision of the review board, if an appeal is taken pursuant to s. 215.04 (4).

215.02(8) (8) Revocation of certificate of incorporation or license. Whenever it appears to the division that any association or corporation which has received a certificate of incorporation or a license to do business in this state is conducting its business in violation of this chapter, the division shall report the facts to the department of justice which may bring an action to revoke the certificate of incorporation or license of such association or corporation.

215.02(9) (9) Approval of acts. Whenever any association requests approval of the division for any act, which by statute requires such approval, the division shall have 90 days in which to grant or deny such approval. If the division fails to act, approval shall be deemed to have been granted. In matters which require the holding of public hearings, the 90-day period shall not commence until the conclusion of the hearing and the date set by the division for receipt of briefs.

215.02(10) (10) Removal of officers, directors or employees.

215.02(10)(a) (a)

215.02(10)(a)1. 1. The division may remove an officer, director or employee of an association if either of the following applies:

215.02(10)(a)1.a. a. The policies or practices of the officer, director or employee are prejudicial to the best interest of the association or its savers, endanger or will endanger the safety or solvency of the association, or impair the interests of the savers.

215.02(10)(a)1.b. b. The officer, director or employee violates or permits the violation of this chapter, a rule promulgated under this chapter or an order of the division.

215.02(10)(a)2. 2. The division may issue an order removing an officer, director or employee under subd. 1. only after the officer, director or employee is afforded a hearing before the review board and the review board approves the order.

215.02(10)(a)3. 3. An order of removal takes effect on the date issued. A copy of the order shall be served upon the association and upon the officer, director, or employee in the manner provided by law for service of a summons in a court of record or by mailing a copy to the association and officer, director, or employee at their last-known, post-office addresses. Any removal under this subsection has the same effect as if made by the board of directors or the members or stockholders of the association. An officer, director, or employee removed from office or employment under this subsection may not be elected as an officer or director of, or be employed by, an association without the approval of the division and the review board. An order of removal under this subsection is a final determination of the review board under s. 215.04 (5).

215.02(10)(b) (b) The division may appoint any person to fill the vacancies caused by removal of officers or directors. Any person so appointed shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the members or stockholders.

215.02(11) (11) Annual report.

215.02(11)(a) (a) The division shall submit to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) an annual report on the general conduct and condition of associations doing business in this state. The report shall be based upon the individual annual reports of associations filed with the division, and shall also include the information required in ss. 215.32 (7) (a), 215.56 (7) (a) and 215.76 (7) (a).

215.02(11)(b) (b) The division shall designate the number of copies of the report to be made available for distribution. Each association is entitled to one copy.

215.02(12) (12) Disposition of obsolete records. The division may turn over obsolete departmental records to the secretary of administration, pursuant to s. 16.61.

215.02(14) (14) Fees for publications.

215.02(14)(a) (a) Whenever extra copies of statutory reprints of this chapter, the annual report of savings and loan associations or any other publication published by the division are requested, such extra copies shall be furnished upon payment of such fee as the division determines. All such fees shall be paid by the division into the general fund to the credit of the division.

215.02(14)(b) (b) Upon request, extra copies may be distributed free to agencies or legislators of this state or any other state, county clerks and to the courts of this state, trade organizations and any other agencies of the United States.

215.02(15) (15) Hearings, findings and orders on complaints against associations.

215.02(15)(a) (a)

215.02(15)(a)1. 1. Within 10 days after any of the following petitions have been filed with the division, the division shall proceed to hear the same:

215.02(15)(a)1.a. a. A petition stating that an association fails to pay its debts on demand.

215.02(15)(a)1.b. b. A petition signed by not less than 25 savers in an association, stating that the association or the officers or directors of the association fail to honor requests for the withdrawal of savings accounts under this chapter, the officers or directors are conducting the business of the association in an unsafe or unauthorized manner, and by the acts or negligence of officers or directors the funds or assets of the association are or may become impaired.

215.02(15)(a)2. 2. Not less than 3 days before the date of hearing, a copy of the petition and a notice stating the date, time and place for the hearing shall be mailed or delivered to the association and the party petitioning.

215.02(15)(b) (b) At the time and place so fixed, unless by stipulation some other time and place is fixed, the division shall hear all parties interested and shall cause the testimony given to be reduced to writing.

215.02(15)(c) (c) The division shall within a reasonable time make findings as to all matters covered by the petition and make such order as the division deems just and reasonable.

215.02(15)(d) (d) The findings and order of the division shall be final unless modified by the court.

215.02(16) (16) Annual fees and examination costs.

215.02(16)(a) (a) Annual fee. An association shall, before July 16, pay an annual fee as determined by the division and the review board, but not exceeding 12 cents per $1,000 of assets or fraction thereof, as of the close of the preceding calendar year.

215.02(16)(am) (am) Fees on conversion or absorption. If a depository institution that is not a state-chartered association converts to a state-chartered association or is absorbed by a state-chartered association, the converted association or the absorbing association shall pay an annual fee based on the assets of the converted association or the absorbed association at the same rate as other associations for the prorated portion of the fiscal year in which the association is subject to this chapter.

215.02(16)(b) (b) Penalty for failure to pay fee. An association failing to pay the annual fee to the division before July 16 of each year shall, if ordered by the division, pay the fee and pay interest at an annual rate of 12 percent on any portion of the fee that is past due.

215.02(16)(c) (c) Regular examination costs.

215.02(16)(c)1. 1. Before July 1 of each year the division and the review board shall fix a per-hour charge for the services of each examiner used in the examination of an association, for the next 12 months. The per-hour charge shall be the same for all associations.

215.02(16)(c)2. 2. After the per-hour charge for each examiner has been fixed, each association shall be uniformly billed for examinations during the ensuing year on a fixed per-hour basis for each examiner engaged in an examination.

215.02(16)(c)3. 3. Charges assessed under this paragraph shall be paid within 30 days from the date on which the association receives notice of the assessment.

215.02(16)(d) (d) Special examination costs. The division shall charge any special costs and expenses incurred for special work required because an association does not have proper or sufficient management or fails to keep its books, records and other matters in a standard and approved manner. An itemized statement of special charges must be submitted to the association.

215.02(16)(e) (e) Penalty for failure to pay examination costs. An association shall pay the charges and assessments under pars. (c) and (d) when due and shall pay interest at an annual rate of 12 percent on any portion of the charges and assessments that are past due.

215.02(17) (17) Testimonial powers.

215.02(17)(a) (a) The division may, in relation to any matter within its powers, issue subpoenas and take testimony.

215.02(17)(b) (b) Witnesses shall be entitled to the same fees as are allowed to witnesses in courts of record. Such fees shall be audited and paid by the state in the same manner as other expenses of the division are audited and paid. No witness subpoenaed at the instance of any party other than the division shall be entitled to payment of fees by the state, unless the division certifies that the testimony of the witness was material to the hearing or proceeding.

215.02(17)(c) (c) No person may, without reasonable cause, fail to comply with a subpoena issued under this subsection, nor refuse to be sworn or to be examined, or to answer a proper question or produce a pertinent document, when ordered to do so by the official conducting the investigation or proceeding.

215.02(18) (18) Authority to grant certain powers. Unless the division is expressly restricted by statute from acting under this subsection with respect to a specific power, right or privilege, the division by rule may, with the approval of the review board, authorize associations to exercise any power under the notice, disclosure or procedural requirements governing federally chartered associations or to make any loan or investment or exercise any right, power or privilege of federally chartered associations permitted under a federal law, regulation or interpretation. Notice, disclosure and procedures prescribed by statute which may be modified by a rule adopted under this subsection include, but are not limited to, those provided under s. 138.056. A rule adopted under this subsection may not affect s. 138.041 or chs. 421 to 428 or restrict powers specifically granted associations under this chapter.

215.02 History History: 1971 c. 101; 1971 c. 270 s. 104; 1973 c. 205; 1975 c. 41 s. 52; 1975 c. 348, 359, 421; 1977 c. 140; 1977 c. 196 s. 131; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (6); 1979 c. 287; 1981 c. 45; 1983 a. 167, 524, 538; 1985 a. 157; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 221, 316; 1995 a. 27, 104, 225, 400; 1997 a. 35, 283; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2017 a. 340.

215.02 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also DFI-SL, Wis. adm. code.

215.02 Annotation Under sub. (6), “in the course of examinations” includes activities before, during, and after actual inspection. National Savings & Loan Assoc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. 515 F. Supp. 12 (1981).

215.03 215.03 Supervision and control of associations.

215.03(1) (1) Types of associations supervised. All associations organized under this chapter or similar laws, or permitted by license to transact, in this state, a business similar to that authorized by this chapter, shall be under the supervision and control of the division.

215.03(2) (2) Annual supervisory examinations.

215.03(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), at least once within every 18-month period, the division shall examine the cash, bills, collaterals, securities, assets, books of account, condition and affairs of all such associations and for that purpose the division or the division’s examiners shall have access to, and may compel the production of, all their books, papers, securities and moneys, administer oaths to and examine their officers and agents as to their affairs. In conducting examinations under this paragraph, the division may accept and rely on information collected by other agencies or independent 3rd parties in determining whether an association has satisfied any requirement that is part of the examination. An employee of the division may not examine an association in which the employee is interested as an officer or director.

215.03(2)(b) (b) In lieu of any examination required under par. (a), the division may accept any examination that may have been made of any association within a reasonable period by the deposit insurance corporation, a federal regulatory agency, or any agency of another state with primary responsibility for supervising associations chartered under the laws of that state.

215.03(4) (4) Refusal to submit to an examination. Any association refusing to submit to an examination so ordered or requested, shall be reported to the attorney general, who shall institute proceedings to revoke its certificate of incorporation for such refusal.

215.03(5) (5) Accounting and bookkeeping procedure.

215.03(5)(a) (a) Whenever it appears to the division that any association does not keep books and accounts in such manner as to enable the division to readily ascertain its true condition, the division may require the officers of such associations or any of them to open and keep such books or accounts as the division prescribes.

215.03(5)(b) (b) Any association that fails to open books or keep books or accounts as prescribed by the division, shall, at the discretion of the division, forfeit $10 for each day it so fails. If the association fails to pay the forfeiture, the division may institute proceedings to recover such forfeitures.

215.03(6) (6) File annual reports.

215.03(6)(a) (a)

215.03(6)(a)1. 1. Not later than February 1 of each year each association subject to the supervision and control of the division shall file with the division a report of its activities of the preceding year, upon forms furnished by the division.

215.03(6)(a)2. 2. The report shall include:

215.03(6)(a)2.a. a. A true and verified copy of a statement of condition as of the close of December 31 of the preceding calendar year;

215.03(6)(a)2.b. b. A statement of its operations during that period; and

215.03(6)(a)2.c. c. Such other information as the division requires.

215.03(6)(a)3. 3. Attached to the annual report shall be a copy of a printed statement of condition and operations as of the end of the association’s most recent fiscal year, which shall be available to the public. The printed statement shall contain such information as the division may by rule prescribe.

215.03(6)(b) (b) If such association fails or refuses to furnish the report herein required, it shall be subject, at the discretion of the division, to a forfeiture of $10 per day for each day of default, and the division may maintain an action to recover such penalty, and the same shall be paid into the general fund.

215.03(7) (7) Relocation of association office. Any association which determines to move its home office or a branch office to some other location shall make an application to the division. In approving or denying the application for relocation, the division shall ascertain the need for relocation and determine whether undue harm or injury would be caused to any properly conducted association or branch now doing business in the area or vicinity of the proposed relocation.

215.03(8) (8) Application to establish branches; appeal.