Chapter 215

215.53 215.53 Absorption involving mutual associations.

215.53(1) (1) Conditions precedent.

215.53(1)(a) (a) With the consent of the division and subject to any condition that the division prescribes, a mutual association organized under this chapter may, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the board of each institution, do any of the following:

215.53(1)(a)1. 1. Absorb or be absorbed by any thrift institution.

215.53(1)(a)4. 4. Absorb a mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company under a plan, approved by the division, that provides that the mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company ceases to engage in activities that the absorbing association may not engage in and that provides that stock in a subsidiary association that is not held by the absorbed mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company is redeemed.

215.53(1)(b) (b) The absorbed thrift institution, mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company shall transfer its assets and liabilities to the absorbing thrift institution but not to defeat or defraud creditors.

215.53(2) (2) Effect of absorption.

215.53(2)(a) (a) All the rights, franchises and property interests of the absorbed thrift institution or, subject to sub. (1) (a) 4., of the absorbed mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company shall be deemed to be transferred to the absorbing thrift institution, which shall hold and enjoy same and all rights of property, franchises and interest in the same manner and to the same extent as was held and enjoyed by the absorbed thrift institution, mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company. Except as provided in s. 215.01 (17), the savers of the absorbed thrift institution or of a subsidiary of an absorbed mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company shall be members of the absorbing thrift institution or, if the absorbing thrift institution is a subsidiary of a mutual savings and loan holding company, members of the mutual savings and loan holding company, and possess and be subject to all rights, privileges and duties as provided in the bylaws of the absorbing thrift institution or mutual savings and loan holding company.

215.53(2)(b) (b) Stockholders of a thrift institution absorbed under this section may be compensated by converting the shares of the absorbed thrift institution into, in whole or in part: obligations or other securities of the absorbing thrift institution or shares, obligations or other securities of any other thrift institution or corporation; or cash or other thing of value.

215.53(3) (3) Withdrawal requests. Any saver in an absorbed thrift institution or in a subsidiary of an absorbed mutual savings and loan holding company or mutual savings bank holding company, who intends to file a written withdrawal request for savings accounts within one year after the date of approval of such absorption by the division, may do so by giving 90 days’ written notice of such intention, and the savings accounts shall be withdrawn as provided in s. 215.17. Any person who has filed such written withdrawal request shall remain a member and be subject to all rights, privileges and duties under this chapter and the bylaws and the rules and regulations of the absorbing thrift institution or, if the absorbing thrift institution is a subsidiary of a mutual savings and loan holding company, of the mutual savings and loan holding company, until the withdrawal value of the savings accounts has been paid to the person.

215.53 History History: 1971 c. 229; 1975 c. 359 s. 38; 1975 c. 421; Stats. 1975 s. 215.53; 1983 a. 167, 538; 1989 a. 242; 1991 a. 221, 315; 1995 a. 27, 104.

215.56 215.56 Voluntary liquidation of a mutual association.

215.56(1) (1) Procedure for voluntary liquidation.

215.56(1)(a) (a) A mutual association may go into liquidation by a majority vote of the dollar value of the outstanding savings accounts at a members’ meeting held especially for that purpose, after 30 days’ notice to each saver.

215.56(1)(b) (b) When an association has voted to liquidate, the board shall cause notice of this fact to be:

215.56(1)(b)1. 1. Certified to the division under the seal of the association by its president and secretary;

215.56(1)(b)2. 2. Published as a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in each county in which an office of the association is located, calling on all persons who have claims against the association to present them to the association and make proof thereof at a specified place and time; and

215.56(1)(b)3. 3. Mailed to all persons who appear as creditors on its books.

215.56(2) (2) Period of liquidation. A mutual association so liquidating shall dispose of all its assets within 10 years from the date of liquidation, unless the division orders otherwise.

215.56(3) (3) Status of board of directors. The board shall remain a body corporate until the association is fully liquidated.

215.56(4) (4) Filling vacancies on board of directors. In case of a vacancy on the board, the remaining directors may fill the vacancy by electing a director from the association’s savers.

215.56(5) (5) Applicability of other sections. Any association so liquidating shall be subject to ss. 215.02 (16) and 215.03 the same as an association in actual operation.

215.56(6) (6) Resumption of business. Any mutual association in liquidation may with the approval of the division resume business upon conditions approved by the division.

215.56(7) (7) Disposition of funds.

215.56(7)(a) (a) Unclaimed liquidating dividends and all funds remaining unpaid in the hands of the association or its board of directors at or immediately prior to the date of final distribution, together with all final liquidating costs, shall be delivered by them to the division to be deposited by the division in one or more state banks, state savings banks or state-chartered savings and loan associations, to the credit of the division, in trust for the various members and creditors entitled thereto. The division shall include in the annual report under s. 215.02 (11) the names of the associations so liquidated and the sums of unclaimed and unpaid liquidating dividends and unclaimed funds with respect to each of them respectively, including a statement of interest or dividends earned upon the funds.

215.56(7)(b) (b) The division may:

215.56(7)(b)1. 1. Pay the moneys so held to the persons respectively entitled thereto, upon being furnished satisfactory evidence of their right to the same.

215.56(7)(b)2. 2. In case of doubt or conflicting claims, require an order of the circuit court authorizing and directing the payment of such moneys.

215.56(7)(b)3. 3. Apply the interest and dividends earned by the moneys so held toward defraying the expenses of the division.

215.56(8) (8) Reserved authority. This section shall not prohibit the division from proceeding against any association as provided in s. 215.32.

215.56 History History: 1971 c. 164; 1975 c. 359 s. 45; 1975 c. 421; Stats. 1975 s. 215.56; 1983 a. 167, 524, 538; 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 27.

215.56 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See ch. 177 for disposition of unclaimed funds.

215.57 215.57 Jurisdictional conversion of mutual associations.

215.57(1) (1) Procedure to effect conversion. A state-chartered mutual association may convert itself into a federal association, and any federal mutual association may convert itself into a state-chartered association, as follows:

215.57(1)(a) (a) A meeting of the members shall be held upon not less than 10 days’ written notice to each member, served either personally or by mail, directed to the member at the member’s last-known post-office address, stating the time, place and purpose of such meeting.

215.57(1)(b) (b) At such meeting, by the affirmative vote, in person or by proxy, of not less than two-thirds of the dollar value of savings accounts of the association the members may by resolution declare to convert such association into a federal association or into a state-chartered association. A copy of the minutes of such meeting, verified by the affidavit of the chairperson and the secretary of the meeting, shall be filed with the division within 10 days after the meeting.

215.57(1)(c) (c) If the members vote to convert the association, the secretary shall, within 30 days after such meeting, serve notice on all members, either personally or by mail directed to them at their last-known post-office addresses. Within 30 days after service of the notice, any saver in the association may notify the association in writing that the saver desires to withdraw savings accounts. Each saver so notifying the association shall be entitled to the withdrawal value of the savings accounts, less any amount due the association.

215.57(1)(d) (d)

215.57(1)(d)1. 1. Within 6 months after the adjournment of a meeting to convert into a federal association, the association shall do what is necessary to make it a federal association. Within 10 days after the receipt of the federal charter, the association shall file with the division a copy of the federal charter certified by the deposit insurance corporation. Upon such filing the association shall cease to be a state-chartered association and shall thereafter be a federal association.

215.57(1)(d)2. 2. Within 6 months after the adjournment of a meeting of the members of a federal mutual association called for the purpose of converting the association into a state-chartered association, the division shall examine such association and shall determine the action necessary to qualify the converting federal mutual association for a state charter. Upon complying with the necessary requirements, a state charter shall be issued to such association.

215.57(2) (2) When state supervision ceases. When conversion from a state-chartered mutual association to a federal association becomes effective, the association shall cease to be supervised by this state.

215.57(3) (3) Corporate existence of association does not terminate upon conversion. Upon the conversion of any state-chartered mutual association into a federal association or vice versa, the corporate existence of the converting association shall not terminate, and the resulting association shall be a continuance of the converting association. All of the property and rights of the converted association shall by operation of law vest in the resulting association as of the time of the conversion, and all of its obligations become those of the resulting association. Actions and other judicial proceedings to which the converting association is a party may be prosecuted and defended as if the conversion had not been made.

215.57(4) (4) Approval required before conversion becomes effective. Before any such conversion of any association shall be final and in effect, the written approval of the division must be secured by such association.

215.57 History History: 1975 c. 359 s. 41; 1975 c. 421; Stats. 1975 s. 215.57; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 27, 104.

215.57 Annotation Conversion from a federal-chartered association to a state-chartered association did not render moot an action to set aside a resolution of the federal home loan bank board authorizing the establishment of a branch office. Elm Grove Savings & Loan Association v. Federal Home Loan Bank Board, 391 F. Supp. 1041 (1975).

215.58 215.58 Organizational conversion from mutual to stock form.

215.58(1) (1) Conversion into stock association.

215.58(1)(a) (a) A state chartered mutual association may convert to a stock association or a mutual savings and loan holding company may convert to a stock savings and loan holding company under this section. The board shall adopt a plan of conversion which complies with this section and the rules of the division. The plan of conversion is subject to the approval of the division.

215.58(1)(b) (b) Conversion of a mutual association or a mutual savings and loan holding company under this section is effective only if done according to a plan of conversion approved by the division under par. (a) and if the plan is approved by an affirmative vote of the majority of all votes entitled to be cast by members. Notice of a meeting to vote on the plan of conversion shall be sent to each member at least 10 days prior to such meeting. The notice shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting, and provide a summary of the plan of conversion and such other information as the division requires.

215.58(1)(c) (c) Within 10 days after a meeting of members at which a plan of conversion is adopted, the board shall submit to the division:

215.58(1)(c)1. 1. A copy of the minutes of the meeting adopting the plan. The minutes shall be certified by the secretary or president, and shall show that, by an affirmative vote as required under par. (b), the members voted to convert the association to a stock association or to convert the mutual savings and loan holding company to a stock savings and loan holding company.

215.58(1)(c)2. 2. Such additional information pertaining to the plan of conversion as the division may require.

215.58(2) (2) Approval of plan of conversion; standards. The division may approve a plan of conversion under this section if the division finds that the plan meets all of the following conditions:

215.58(2)(a) (a) The plan of conversion is fair and equitable to all savers in a converting association or to all savers in each subsidiary association of a converting mutual savings and loan holding company.

215.58(2)(b) (b) The plan protects the interest of depositors and owners of savings accounts of the prospective stock association or of each subsidiary association of the prospective stock savings and loan holding company.

215.58(2)(c) (c) The plan complies with any other standard which the division may promulgate by rule as in the public interest.

215.58(2)(d) (d) The plan does not permit members of the board of directors to acquire stock in the converting association under terms that are different from the terms offered to depositors, except that a director who is an employee may participate in any tax qualified retirement plan acquiring stock in the converting association.

215.58(3) (3) Certificate of conversion; effective date. The division may issue a certificate of conversion from a mutual association to a stock association or from a mutual savings and loan holding company to a stock savings and loan holding company if the division determines the plan of conversion has been implemented as approved and the association or holding company has complied with this section and any conditions to the approval. The date specified in the certificate is the effective date of conversion. The certificate shall be recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the home office of the association or the registered office of the holding company is located.

215.58(4) (4) Retention of directors. Unless the plan of conversion provides otherwise, the directors of the converted mutual association or the converted mutual savings and loan holding company shall continue to serve as directors of the stock association or stock savings and loan holding company for the duration of the term to which they were elected.

215.58(5) (5) Continuation of corporate existence after conversion; assumption of privileges and obligations.

215.58(5)(a) (a) Upon conversion of a mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company under this section, the legal existence of the association or holding company shall not terminate. The stock association shall be a continuation of the mutual association and the stock savings and loan holding company shall be a continuation of the mutual savings and loan holding company. All property of the mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company and every right, privilege, interest and asset of every conceivable value or benefit then existing or pertaining to it, or which would inure to it, shall immediately, without any conveyance, transfer or further act, remain and vest in the stock association or stock savings and loan holding company. The stock association or stock savings and loan holding company shall have, hold and enjoy the same in its own right as fully and to the same extent as the same was possessed, held and enjoyed by the mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company.

215.58(5)(b) (b) The stock association or stock savings and loan holding company resulting from a conversion under this section shall continue to have and succeed to all the rights, obligations and relations of the mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company. No pending action or judicial proceeding to which the mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company is a party shall be abated or discontinued by reason of the conversion. Such an action or proceeding may be prosecuted to final judgment, order or decree in the same manner as if the conversion had not been made, and the stock association or stock savings and loan holding company resulting from the conversion may continue the action in its corporate name as a mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company. Any judgment, order or decree may be rendered for or against the stock association or stock savings and loan holding company that might have been rendered for or against the mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company previously involved in the proceedings. Each owner of a savings account in the mutual association or a subsidiary association of the mutual savings and loan holding company continues ownership of the account in the stock association or the subsidiary association of the stock savings and loan holding company under the same terms applicable to the account prior to conversion.

215.58(6) (6) Reserved authority. The division may issue rules governing the conversion of a mutual association or mutual savings and loan holding company, including:

215.58(6)(a) (a) Procedural rules.

215.58(6)(b) (b) The fixing of a record date or dates for determining the respective rights of owners of savings accounts.

215.58(6)(c) (c) Provisions of the plan of conversion and the restated articles of incorporation.

215.58(6)(d) (d) Voting rights.

215.58(6)(e) (e) The composition, qualification and experience of principal officers and directors.

215.58(6)(f) (f) Voting trust agreements.

215.58(6)(g) (g) Employment contracts.

215.58(6)(h) (h) The disposition, if any, of retained earnings.

215.58(6)(i) (i) The distribution, issuance, sale and subscription of capital stock and additional paid-in capital.

215.58(6)(j) (j) Any other requirement for converting a mutual association to a stock association or a mutual savings and loan holding company to a stock savings and loan holding company.

215.58 History History: 1975 c. 359, 421; 1983 a. 167, 538; 1989 a. 242; 1995 a. 27, 104.

215.58 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DFI-SL 16.04, Wis. adm. code.

215.59 215.59 Mutual savings and loan holding companies.

215.59(1) (1) Formation.

215.59(1)(a) (a) Reorganization. A mutual association may reorganize as a mutual savings and loan holding company under this section.

215.59(1)(b) (b) Plan. A reorganizing mutual association shall prepare a reorganization plan. Under a reorganization plan, a mutual association shall do all of the following:

215.59(1)(b)1. 1. Charter a stock association.

215.59(1)(b)2. 2. Transfer to the stock association a substantial part of its assets and liabilities, including all of its savings account liabilities.

215.59(1)(b)3. 3. Prepare articles of incorporation and bylaws for the mutual savings and loan holding company.

215.59(1)(c) (c) Capital asset retention. Subject to the approval of the division, if the net worth of the stock association chartered under the reorganization plan exceeds the minimum net worth under s. 215.24, a plan may permit a mutual savings and loan holding company to retain capital assets of the reorganizing mutual association.

215.59(1)(d) (d) Approval required. A mutual association may not implement a reorganization plan unless the plan is approved by all of the following:

215.59(1)(d)1. 1. Two-thirds of the directors of the mutual association.

215.59(1)(d)2. 2. The members of the mutual association under par. (e).

215.59(1)(d)3. 3. The division under par. (f).

215.59(1)(e) (e) Member approval.

215.59(1)(e)1. 1. Notice of a meeting to vote on a reorganization plan shall be sent to members at least 10 days before the meeting. The notice shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall provide a summary of the reorganization plan and shall provide any other information that the division requires.