Section 81-7-1 - Application and procedure for establishment of branch banks; appeal; judicial review(1) Banks may establish branch banks under the restrictions prescribed in this chapter, but no branch bank may be established unless the parent bank shall have first obtained from the commissioner a certificate that the public convenience and necessity will be promoted by the establishment of such branch bank. Applications seeking permission for the establishment of branch banks shall be filed with the commissioner and shall be in such form and contain such information as the commissioner by regulation may require. A separate application shall be filed for each branch bank proposed to be established, and each application shall be accompanied by the fee required by statute, which shall be transferred by the commissioner into the maintenance fund of the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.(2) Upon receipt of such application, the commissioner shall immediately give written notice of the filing of said application to all banks having their domicile or a branch bank or branch office in the county in which the applicant bank maintains its principal office, together with all banks, branch banks or branch offices located in the county in which the proposed branch bank is to be located, and to such other banks and interested parties that, in the opinion of the commissioner, may have an interest in the application; and the commissioner shall also at the same time publish such notice once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county in which the proposed branch bank is to be located. Any interested party may file a written protest to said application with the commissioner within thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing and publishing of said notice. Any protest shall specify the interest of the protestant in the application and state the grounds for the protest.(3) If no protest is filed within the time prescribed, the commissioner shall investigate the facts and render a final decision within sixty (60) days after receipt of the application as to whether the public convenience and necessity requires the establishment of the proposed branch bank, said decision to be based upon the results of the commissioner's investigation, the contents of the application and any additional evidence which the commissioner may request the applicant to furnish. If his decision is favorable to the applicant, he shall immediately grant the applicant a certificate to establish and operate the branch bank. If the commissioner's decision shall be unfavorable to the applicant, he shall immediately furnish the applicant bank a copy of his final decision. Appeals from an unfavorable final decision may be taken by the applicant bank to the State Board of Banking Review by filing a notice of appeal with the commissioner within ten (10) days after the commissioner has rendered his final decision. The commissioner shall inform the board of such appeal, and the board shall hold a hearing on the matter within sixty (60) days after such notice is filed. At the hearing the board shall consider the findings and decision of the commissioner, shall hear such oral testimony as the commissioner may wish to give and shall also receive information and testimony from the applicant bank. The board may also consider such other information and evidence as it deems necessary to dispose of the application. The board shall render a decision within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the final hearing on the matter. If the board's decision is favorable to the applicant, the commissioner shall immediately grant to the applicant a certificate to establish and operate the branch bank. If the board's decision is unfavorable to the applicant, the commissioner shall immediately furnish the applicant a copy of the board's final decision.
Appeals from an unfavorable board decision may be taken by the applicant bank within ten (10) days from the date of the board's order to the chancery court of the county in which the proposed branch bank is to be located. Except as otherwise provided herein, appeals by an applicant bank from the State Board of Banking Review to a chancery court shall be taken in the manner set forth in Section 81-3-13(2), which governs appeals from the State Board of Banking Review in regard to the incorporation of a new bank.
(4) If a protest to an application to establish a branch bank is received by the commissioner within the prescribed time, he shall investigate the facts and submit said application, the results of his investigation, and his recommendations as to the disposition of said application to the State Board of Banking Review within sixty (60) days after receipt of the application. The board shall hold a hearing on the matter within one hundred twenty (120) days after the application is received and render a final decision thereon within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of the final board hearing. Except as otherwise provided herein, the board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with Section 81-3-13(1), which prescribes the procedures for actions by the board on applications to establish new banks. Appeals from any final decision of the State Board of Banking Review acting upon a contested application may be taken by the applicant or any interested organization, person or persons who have participated in the proceeding and feel aggrieved by such decision. Such appeals shall be taken within ten (10) days from the date of the board's order to the chancery court of the county in which the proposed branch bank is to be located. Except as otherwise provided herein, appeals from the State Board of Banking Review to a chancery court shall be taken in the manner set forth in Section 81-3-13(2), which governs appeals from the State Board of Banking Review in regard to the incorporation of a new bank.
(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of law to the contrary, if a branch bank has not been established and is not in operation within two (2) years from the date of the certificate approving such branch bank or within two (2) years from the date upon which any appellate litigation with respect to such certificate has been concluded, the certificate shall expire. Provided, however, the State Board of Banking Review may extend for good cause shown said two-year period a maximum number of two (2) times for periods not exceeding six (6) months each. This provision shall in no way affect certificates issued prior to March 21, 1980.(6) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner may grant by regulation eligible banks, as defined in Section 81-3-1, certain preferences with respect to new branch activity which may include but are not limited to an expedited approval process.Codes, 1942, § 5226; Laws, 1934, ch. 146; Laws, 1978, ch. 310, § 2, 1980, ch. 312, § 34; Laws, 1986, ch. 469, § 3; Laws, 1997, ch. 542, § 6, eff. 4/10/1997.