Chapter 221

221.0303(4) (4) Use of transmitted information. Information transmitted from a customer bank communications terminal, either identified as to particular transactions or aggregate information, may be used only for purposes of effecting the financial transactions for which the information was received, for any other purpose lawfully authorized by contract or for any other purpose permitted by statute or rules pertaining to the dissemination and disclosure of such information.

221.0303 History History: 1995 a. 336; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 128.

221.0303 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DFI-Bkg 14.02, Wis. adm. code.

221.0304 221.0304 Safe deposits. A bank may take and receive personal property from any person for safekeeping and storage and may rent out the use of safes or other receptacles upon its premises upon such compensation as may be agreed upon. The bank has a lien for its charges on any property taken or received by it for safekeeping. If the lien is not paid within 2 years after the date the charges accrue, or if the property taken or received by the bank is not called for within 2 years after the date the charges accrue, the bank may sell the property at public auction. The bank shall provide such notice as is required for the sale of personal property on execution. After retaining from the proceeds of such sale all the liens and charges due the bank and the reasonable expenses of the sale, the bank shall pay the balance to the person who deposited the property, or to the person’s legal representatives or assignees.

221.0304 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0305 221.0305 Memberships and investments in federal reserve bank. A bank may purchase and hold, for the purpose of becoming a member of the federal reserve bank, so much of the capital stock of the federal reserve bank as will qualify it for membership under 12 USC 321 to 339 in the federal reserve bank. The bank may become a member of the federal reserve bank, and may have and exercise all powers, not in conflict with the laws of this state, that are conferred upon a member bank. The member bank and its directors, officers and shareholders remain subject to all liabilities and duties imposed upon them by the laws of this state.

221.0305 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0306 221.0306 Memberships and investments in federal home loan bank.

221.0306(1) (1) Permitted activities. Subject to review by the division under sub. (2), a bank may, with the approval of its board of directors, purchase and hold capital stock of the federal home loan bank for the purpose of becoming a member of the federal home loan bank under 12 USC 1421 to 1449. A bank that becomes a member may exercise borrowing privileges or use any other services offered to a member by the federal home loan bank, if the privileges or services are not in conflict with the laws of this state. Without becoming a member, a bank may exercise deposit privileges and use other services offered to nonmembers by the federal home loan bank.

221.0306(2) (2) Notice and review. A bank that intends to become a member of the federal home loan bank shall give the division written notice of its intention to apply for membership. The division may prohibit a bank from becoming a member if the bank’s capital and undistributed surplus is less than the amount required for that bank or if the division finds that the bank is in an unsafe or unsound condition. The division shall have 30 days after the date on which the notice is received to issue a prohibition under this subsection. The division may extend the time for issuing a prohibition up to 30 additional days if the division notifies the bank before the initial 30-day period expires that the division is extending the time limit.

221.0306 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0307 221.0307 Memberships and investments in other state and federal agencies. A bank may, with the approval of the division and by action of the bank’s board of directors, acquire and hold the stock of any state or federal agency or of any similar institution approved by the division. A bank that intends to make such an investment shall give the division written notice of its intention. The division may disallow the investment if it finds that the bank is in an unsafe or unsound condition or that the transaction would be an unsafe or unsound investment for the bank. The division shall have 30 days after the date on which notice is received to issue a prohibition under this section. The division may extend the time for issuing the prohibition to 30 additional days if the division notifies the bank before the initial 30-day period expires that the division is extending the time limit.

221.0307 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0308 221.0308 Benefits under federal law; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A bank may, by action of its board of directors, enter into such contracts, incur such obligations and perform such acts as may be necessary or appropriate in order to take advantage of any and all memberships, loans, subscriptions, contracts, grants, rights or privileges that may at any time be available or inure to banking institutions or to their depositors, creditors, shareholders, conservators, receivers or liquidators, by virtue of any federal law establishing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; providing for the insurance of deposits; or regulating or safeguarding banking institutions and their depositors. A bank may also subscribe for and acquire any stock, debenture, bond or other type of security of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A bank that becomes a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall comply with the lawful regulations and requirements issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The bank and its directors, officers and shareholders shall continue to be subject to all liabilities and duties imposed upon them by any laws of this state.

221.0308 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0309 221.0309 Investments in international banking and financial institutions. A bank may, with the approval of the division, invest an amount not exceeding in the aggregate 15 percent of its capital in one or more corporations principally engaged in international or foreign banking, or banking in dependencies or insular possessions of the United States, organized pursuant to 12 USC 611 to 631. A bank may also invest, with the approval of the division, an amount not exceeding in the aggregate 10 percent of its capital in the stock of one or more corporations principally engaged in international or foreign financial operations other than banking, as well as such financial operations in dependencies or insular possessions of the United States, organized pursuant to 12 USC 611 to 631.

221.0309 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0310 221.0310 Federal National Mortgage Association. A bank that has loans secured by real estate mortgages may, with the approval of the division, sell all or any portion of the loans to the Federal National Mortgage Association, or any successor to that association. In connection with this sale of loans, the bank may make payments of any required capital contributions in the nature of subscriptions for stock of the Federal National Mortgage Association or any successor to that association, may receive stock evidencing these capital contributions and may hold or dispose of this stock.

221.0310 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0311 221.0311 Investments in agricultural credit corporations. A bank may invest, with the approval of the division, in an agricultural credit corporation. Unless a bank owns at least 80 percent of the stock of the agricultural credit corporation, the amount invested by the bank may not exceed 20 percent of the bank’s capital.

221.0311 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0312 221.0312 Investments in development companies. A bank is authorized to invest, in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate 5 percent of its capital, in shares of the Wisconsin Development Credit Corporation and in shares of small business investment companies located in this state.

221.0312 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0313 221.0313 Information to division; stock holdings. A bank that invests in the capital stock of other banks or of corporations as provided in this chapter shall furnish information concerning the condition of the other banks or corporations to the division upon demand. If the division determines that the bank is not complying with rules of the division regarding these investments, the division may institute an investigation of the bank’s investments. If the investigation establishes a violation of division rules regarding permissible investments, the division may require the bank to dispose of its investment in the other bank or corporation, upon reasonable notice.

221.0313 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0314 221.0314 Sale of U.S. bonds. A bank may, by resolution of its board of directors authorizing such action, act as agent for the U.S. treasury or other instrumentality of the United States in connection with the sale of bonds or other obligations of the United States or an instrumentality of the United States, if designated as agent by the secretary of the U.S. treasury or by the other instrumentality. A bank may enter into contracts, incur obligations, make investments, pledge assets or take other actions if necessary or appropriate in order to act as agent under this section. A bank may exercise powers granted under this section only upon express approval previously granted by the division, and only in such manner and to such extent as the division may approve, and with such limitations upon the exercise of those powers as the division may impose.

221.0314 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0315 221.0315 Insurance activities.

221.0315(1) (1) Insurance intermediary activities permitted. A bank, or an officer or salaried employee of a bank, may obtain a license as an insurance intermediary, if otherwise qualified.

221.0315(2) (2) Insurance underwriting prohibited. A bank may not, directly or through a subsidiary, engage in the business of underwriting insurance.

221.0315 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0316 221.0316 Trust powers.

221.0316(1) (1) General. When authorized by the division, and after the bank has in good faith complied with all requirements of law and fulfilled all the conditions precedent to the exercise of trust powers imposed by law upon trust company banks, a bank may act as trustee, personal representative, registrar of stocks and bonds, guardian of estates, assignee, receiver, and in any other fiduciary capacity in which trust company banks are permitted to act. A bank authorized by the division to exercise trust powers under this section shall comply with s. 223.02 before exercising such authority. Upon compliance with s. 223.02, the bank is entitled to the same exemption as to making and filing any oath or giving any bond or security as is conferred on trust company banks by s. 223.03 (6) (a).

221.0316(2) (2) Application and approval.

221.0316(2)(a) (a) With its application for permission to exercise trust powers under this section, a bank shall submit to the division a fee determined by the division.

221.0316(2)(b) (b) In approving an application by a bank to exercise trust powers, the division may take into consideration the amount of capital of the applying bank, whether the capital is sufficient under the circumstances, the needs of the community to be served, and any other facts and circumstances that may be material. The division shall approve or disapprove the application within 6 months after the date on which the application is filed. The division may approve an application under this subsection if the division is satisfied that the bank has in good faith complied with all the requirements of law and has fulfilled all the conditions precedent to the exercise of these powers imposed by law.

221.0316(2)(c) (c) If the division approves the application, the division shall issue, in duplicate, a special authorization certificate to the bank. The certificate shall state that the bank has complied with the provisions of law applicable to banks exercising trust powers and that the bank is authorized to exercise trust powers. One of the duplicate special authorization certificates shall be transmitted by the division to the bank and the other shall be filed with the division.

221.0316(2)(d) (d) In exercising trust powers, a bank shall comply with all the provisions of law applicable to individuals acting in a trust or fiduciary capacity.

221.0316(3) (3) Trust Funds; how kept.

221.0316(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “affiliated bank” means, with respect to a bank exercising trust powers, any bank that directly or indirectly controls, or is directly or indirectly controlled by, or is under common control with, the bank exercising trust powers.

221.0316(3)(b) (b) A bank that exercises trust powers shall keep its trust accounts in books separate from its other books of account. All funds and property held by the bank in a trust capacity shall, at all times, be kept separate from the other funds and property of the bank, except that uninvested trust funds may be deposited in an account in the bank or in any other bank, including an affiliated bank, that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. All deposits of uninvested trust funds shall be deposited as trust funds to its credit as trustee. In the event of insolvency or liquidation of a bank in which the accounts are maintained, all bank accounts comprising trust funds so deposited have preference and priority in all assets of the bank over the bank’s general creditors, without the necessity of tracing or identifying the trust funds.

221.0316(4) (4) Trust service offices. A state bank exercising trust powers may, with the approval of the division, establish and maintain a trust service office at any office of any other depository institution, as defined under s. 221.0901 (2) (i). A state bank may, with the approval of the division, permit any other depository institution, as defined under s. 221.0901 (2) (i), exercising trust powers or any trust company bank organized under ch. 223 to establish and maintain a trust service office at any of its banking offices. The establishment and operation of a trust service office are subject to s. 223.07. This subsection does not authorize branch banking.

221.0316 History History: 1995 a. 336; 1997 a. 138; 2001 a. 102; 2005 a. 158.

221.0317 221.0317 Securitization of assets. A bank may, with the approval of the division, securitize its assets for sale to the public in accordance with the rules which shall be promulgated by the division under this section.

221.0317 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0318 221.0318 Notes and debentures.

221.0318(1) (1) Issuance. A bank may, by the action of its board of directors, issue and sell its notes or debentures of one or more classes in the amount, in the form and with the maturity determined by the board. The notes and debentures may confer such rights and privileges upon the holders of the notes and debentures as determined by the board.

221.0318(2) (2) Limitation on issuance. A bank may issue notes and debentures if the amount issued is within limits previously established by the division for issuances by the bank.

221.0318(3) (3) Status as capital of bank. Notes and debentures issued by a bank constitute capital of the bank, only if approved by the division.

221.0318(4) (4) Retirement of notes and debentures. Before a bank may retire or pay notes or debentures, any existing deficiency of the bank’s capital, disregarding the notes and debentures to be retired, must be paid in cash or in assets acceptable to the division, so that the sound capital assets of the bank shall at least equal the capital stock of the bank.

221.0318(5) (5) Liability for assessment. A bank’s notes or debentures are not subject to any assessment. The holders of these notes or debentures are not liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the bank or for assessments to restore impairments in the capital of the bank.

221.0318 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0319 221.0319 Real estate.

221.0319(1) (1) Purposes for which real estate may be held. A bank may purchase, lease, hold and convey only the following types of real estate:

221.0319(1)(a) (a) Real estate necessary for the convenient transaction of its business, including facilities connected with the office, furniture, equipment and fixtures. A bank may include with its banking offices, other facilities to rent as a source of income. A bank may also invest in the stocks, bonds or obligations of a bank building corporation. A bank’s investment under this paragraph or its liability for it may not exceed in the aggregate 60 percent of the bank’s capital.

221.0319(1)(b) (b) Real estate conveyed to the bank in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in the course of the bank’s business.

221.0319(1)(c) (c) Real estate purchased at sale on judgments, decrees or mortgage foreclosures under securities held by the bank, but a bank may not bid at a sale a larger amount than is necessary to satisfy its debts and costs.

221.0319(1)(d) (d) Subject to the approval of the division, real estate purchased and held for the purpose of providing needed housing accommodations for its essential employees who are relocated by the bank, including purchasing the former residence of the relocated, essential employee.

221.0319(1)(e) (e) Real estate acquired or held for such other purposes as may be approved by the division, subject to s. 221.0321.

221.0319(2) (2) Time limitation. Real estate acquired under sub. (1) (b), (c) or (d) may not be held for more than 5 years, unless an extension is granted by the division. If an application for an extension is denied, the real estate must be sold at a private or public sale within one year after the denial of the application. This section does not prevent a bank from lending money secured by real estate as provided by law. Real estate may be conveyed under the signature of an officer of the bank.

221.0319(3) (3) Holding companies. Subject to sub. (1) (a), a bank may convey real estate to an entity engaged solely in holding property of the bank, to a bank holding company, as defined in 12 USC 1841 (a), of which the bank is a subsidiary or to any other subsidiary of that bank holding company. A liability of the entity holding property of the bank, bank holding company or subsidiary of the bank holding company to the bank that results from a conveyance under this subsection is not subject to the limitation under s. 221.0320 (1).

221.0319 History History: 1995 a. 336.

221.0320 221.0320 Limit of loans and investments.

221.0320(1) (1) In general. Except as provided in subs. (2) to (8) and s. 221.0319 (3), the total liabilities of any person, other than a municipal corporation, to a bank for money borrowed may not, at any time, exceed 20 percent of the capital of the bank. In determining compliance with this section, the total liabilities of a partnership includes the liabilities of the general partners of the partnership, computed individually as to each general partner on the basis of his or her direct liability.

221.0320(2) (2) Warehouse receipts and certain bonds and notes. The percentage limitation under sub. (1) is 50 percent of the bank’s capital, if the liabilities under sub. (1) are limited to the following types of liabilities:

221.0320(2)(a) (a) A liability secured by warehouse receipts issued by warehouse keepers licensed and bonded in this state under ss. 99.02 and 99.03 or under the federal bonded warehouse act or holding a license under s. 126.26, if all of the following requirements are met:

221.0320(2)(a)1. 1. The receipts cover readily marketable nonperishable staples.

221.0320(2)(a)2. 2. The staples are insured, if it is customary to insure the staples.

221.0320(2)(a)3. 3. The market value of the staples is not, at any time, less than 140 percent of the face amount of the obligation.

221.0320(2)(b) (b) A liability in the form of a note or bond that meets any of the following qualifications:

221.0320(2)(b)1. 1. The note or bond is secured by not less than a like amount of bonds or notes of the United States issued since April 24, 1917, or certificates of indebtedness of the United States.

221.0320(2)(b)2. 2. The note or bond is secured or covered by guarantees or by commitments or agreements to take over, or to purchase the bonds or notes, and the guarantee, commitment or agreement is made by a federal reserve bank, the federal small business administration, the federal department of defense or the federal maritime commission.

221.0320(2)(b)3. 3. The note or bond is secured by mortgage or trust deeds insured by the federal housing administrator.

221.0320(3) (3) Obligations of certain local governmental units.

221.0320(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “local governmental unit” has the meaning given in s. 16.97 (7).

221.0320(3)(b) (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the total liabilities of a local governmental unit to a bank for money borrowed may not, at any time, exceed 25 percent of the capital of the bank.

221.0320(3)(c) (c) Liabilities in the form of revenue obligations of a local governmental unit are subject to the limitations provided in par. (b). In addition, a bank is permitted to invest in a general obligation of that local governmental unit in an amount that will bring the combined total of the general obligations and revenue obligations of a single local governmental unit to a sum not in excess of 50 percent of the capital of the bank.

221.0320(3)(d) (d) If the liabilities of the local governmental unit are in the form of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are a general obligation of a local governmental unit in this state, the total liability of the local governmental unit may not exceed 50 percent of the capital of the bank.

221.0320(3)(e) (e) The total amount of temporary borrowings of any local governmental unit maturing within one year after the date of issue may not exceed 60 percent of the capital of the bank. Temporary borrowings and longer-term general obligation borrowings of a single local governmental unit in this state may be considered separately in arriving at the limitations provided in this subsection.

221.0320(4) (4) Obligations of certain international organizations; other foreign bonds. A bank may purchase bonds offered for sale by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Redevelopment and the Inter-American Development Bank or such other foreign bonds as may be approved under rules established by the division. At no time shall the aggregate investment in any of these bonds issued by a single issuer exceed 10 percent of the capital of such bank.

221.0320(5) (5) Foreign national government bonds. A bank may invest in general obligation bonds issued by any foreign national government if the bonds are payable in American funds. The aggregate investment in these foreign bonds may not exceed 3 percent of the capital of the bank, except that this limitation does not apply to bonds of the Canadian government and Canadian provinces that are payable in American funds.

221.0320(6) (6) Deposits. A bank may invest in time deposits and certificates of deposit of other financial institutions in an amount not to exceed the following:

221.0320(6)(a) (a) In each domestic insured U.S. bank, including its offshore branches, and in each domestic insured savings and loan association, savings bank or credit union, 20 percent of capital or, in domestic insured financial institutions including their offshore branches designated by the board of directors, 50 percent of capital.

221.0320(6)(b) (b) In each uninsured bank or foreign bank, including its domestic branches, and in any other savings and loan association, savings bank or credit union, 20 percent of capital.

221.0320(7) (7) Limits established by board.

221.0320(7)(a) (a) A bank may not make or renew a loan or loans, the aggregate total of which exceeds the level established by the board of directors without being supported by a signed financial statement unless the loan is secured by collateral having a value in excess of the amount of the loan. A signed financial statement furnished by the borrower to a bank in compliance with this paragraph must be renewed annually as long as the loan or any renewal of the loan remains unpaid and is subject to this paragraph.

221.0320(7)(b) (b) A loan or a renewal of a loan made by a bank in compliance with par. (a), without a signed financial statement, may be treated by the bank as entirely independent of any secured loan made to the same borrower if the loan does not exceed the limitations provided in this section.

221.0320(8) (8) Exceptions. This section does not apply to any of the following:

221.0320(8)(a) (a) A liability that is secured by not less than a like amount of direct obligations of the United States which will mature not more than 18 months after the date such liabilities to the bank are entered into.