210-223
FINANCIAL CODE
SECTION 210-223
210. The chief officer of the Department of Financial Institutions is the Commissioner of Financial Institutions. The Commissioner of Financial Institutions is the head of the department and, except as otherwise provided in this code, is subject to the provisions of the Government Code relating to department heads, but need not reside in Sacramento. 210.5. As of the operative date of this section: (a) In this section, "order" means any approval, consent, authorization, exemption, denial, prohibition, requirement, or other administrative action, applicable to a specific case. (b) The office of the Superintendent of Banks and the State Banking Department are abolished. All powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Superintendent of Banks and the State Banking Department are transferred to the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. The Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions succeed to all the rights and property of the Superintendent of Banks and the State Banking Department, respectively; the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions are subject to all the debts and liabilities of the Superintendent of Banks and the State Banking Department, respectively, as if the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions had incurred them. Any action or proceeding by or against the Superintendent of Banks or the State Banking Department may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively, or the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions may be proceeded against or substituted in place of the Superintendent of Banks or the State Banking Department, respectively. References in the Constitution of the State of California or in any statute or regulation to the Superintendent of Banks or to the State Banking Department mean the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. All agreements entered into with, and orders and regulations issued by, the Superintendent of Banks or the State Banking Department shall continue in effect as if the agreements were entered into with, and the orders and regulations were issued by, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. (c) The office of the Savings and Loan Commissioner and the Department of Savings and Loan are abolished. All powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Savings and Loan Commissioner and the Department of Savings and Loan are transferred to the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. The Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions succeed to all the rights and property of the Savings and Loan Commissioner and the Department of Savings and Loan, respectively; the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions are subject to all the debts and liabilities of the Savings and Loan Commissioner and the Department of Savings and Loan, respectively, as if the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions had incurred them. Any action or proceeding by or against the Savings and Loan Commissioner or the Department of Savings and Loan may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively, or the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions may be proceeded against or substituted in place of the Savings and Loan Commissioner or the Department of Savings and Loan, respectively. References in the Constitution of the State of California or in any statute or regulation to the Savings and Loan Commissioner or to the Department of Savings and Loan mean the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. All agreements entered into with, and orders and regulations issued by, the Savings and Loan Commissioner or the Department of Savings and Loan shall continue in effect as if the agreements were entered into with, and the orders and regulations were issued by, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions. (d) All powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Commissioner of Corporations and the Department of Corporations with respect to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business are transferred to the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. The Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions succeed to all the rights and property of the Commissioner of Corporations and the Department of Corporations, respectively, with respect to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business; the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions are subject to all the debts and liabilities of the Commissioner of Corporations and the Department of Corporations, respectively, with respect to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business, as if the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the Department of Financial Institutions had incurred them. Any action or proceeding by or against the Commissioner of Corporations or the Department of Corporations with respect to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively, or the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions may be proceeded against or substituted in place of the Commissioner of Corporations or the Department of Corporations, respectively. References in the Constitution of the State of California or any statute or regulation to the Commissioner of Corporations or to the Department of Corporations with respect to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business mean the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions, respectively. All agreements entered into with, and orders and regulations issued by, the Commissioner of Corporations or the Department of Corporations in the exercise of authority under any law relating to credit unions, the credit union business, industrial loan companies, or the industrial loan business, shall continue in effect as if the agreements were entered into with, and the orders and regulations were issued by, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions or the Department of Financial Institutions. 211. The commissioner is appointed by the Governor, and holds office at the pleasure of the Governor. The appointment of the commissioner is subject to confirmation by the Senate. 212. The commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state for at least three years prior to his or her appointment. The commissioner shall be chosen solely for his or her qualifications and fitness to perform the duties of his or her office. 213. The annual salary of the commissioner is provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. 214. Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the commissioner shall take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office and file the same with the Secretary of State. 215. The commissioner is responsible for the performance of all duties, the exercise of all powers and jurisdiction, and the assumption and discharge of all responsibilities vested by law in the department. The commissioner has and may exercise all the powers necessary or convenient for the administration and enforcement of, among other laws, the laws described in Section 200. The commissioner may issue such rules and regulations consistent with law as he or she may deem necessary or advisable in executing the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the department. 215.5. (a) The commissioner shall apply the Interagency Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Product Risks issued in September 2006 and the Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending issued in June 2007 by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the National Credit Union Administration to state-regulated financial institutions, including, but not limited to, privately insured, state-chartered credit unions. (b) The commissioner may issue emergency and final regulations to clarify the application of this section as soon as possible. (c) A bank or credit union to which the commissioner applies the documents described in subdivision (a) shall adopt and adhere to policies and procedures that are reasonably intended to achieve the objectives set forth in those documents. 216. (a) The commissioner may make the agreements that he or she deems necessary or appropriate in exercising his or her powers. (b) (1) The agreements authorized under subdivision (a) may include, but are not limited to, agreements with agencies of this state, of other states of the United States, of the United States, or of foreign nations that regulate financial institutions, relating to examinations of banks, savings associations, credit unions, industrial loan companies, and other matters. (2) Any agreement with a government agency that regulates financial institutions is exempt from the advertising and competitive bidding requirements of the Public Contract Code. 216.3. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) "Applicable law" means: (A) With respect to any bank, Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 4800), and any of the following provisions of Division 1 (commencing with Section 99) of the Financial Code: (i) Article 5 (commencing with Section 270) of Chapter 2. (ii) Article 3 (commencing with Section 640) of Chapter 5. (iii) Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 670) of Chapter 5. (iv) Article 6 (commencing with Section 690) of Chapter 5. (v) Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 750). (vi) Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1200). (vii) Article 1 (commencing with Section 1400) of Chapter 11. (viii) Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1500). (ix) Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 1700). (x) Section 286. (xi) Section 287. (xii) Section 289. (xiii) Section 290. (xiv) Section 1951. (xv) Section 3359. (xvi) Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 3500). (xvii) Chapter 21.5 (commencing with Section 3750). (xviii) Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 3800). (B) With respect to any savings association, any provision of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 4800) and Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000). (C) With respect to any issuer of traveler's checks, any provision of Chapter 14A (commencing with Section 1851) of Division 1. (D) With respect to any insurance premium finance company, any provision of Division 7 (commencing with Section 18000). (E) With respect to any business and development corporation, any provision of Division 15 (commencing with Section 31000). (F) With respect to any credit union, any of the following provisions: (i) Section 14252. (ii) Section 14253. (iii) Section 14255. (iv) Article 4 (commencing with Section 14350) of Chapter 3 of Division 5. (v) Section 14401. (vi) Section 14404. (vii) Section 14408, only as that section applies to gifts to directors, volunteers, and employees, and the related family or business interests of the directors, volunteers, and employees. (viii) Section 14409. (ix) Section 14410. (x) Article 5 (commencing with Section 14600) of Chapter 4 of Division 5. (xi) Article 6 (commencing with Section 14650) of Chapter 4 of Division 5, excluding subdivision (a) of Section 14651. (xii) Section 14803. (xiii) Section 14851. (xiv) Section 14858. (xv) Section 14860. (xvi) Section 14861. (xvii) Section 14863. (G) With respect to any person licensed to transmit money abroad, any provision of Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 1800). (H) With respect to any person licensed to sell payment instruments, any provision of Division 16 (commencing with Section 33000). (2) "Licensee" means any bank, savings association, credit union, transmitter of money abroad, issuer of payment instruments, issuer of traveler's checks, insurance premium finance agency, or business and industrial development corporation that is authorized by the commissioner to conduct business in this state. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code that applies to a licensee or a subsidiary of a licensee, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may, by order that shall include findings of fact which incorporates a determination made in accordance with subdivision (e), levy civil penalties against any licensee or any subsidiary of a licensee who has violated any provision of applicable law, any order issued by the commissioner, any written agreement between the commissioner and the licensee or subsidiary of the licensee, or any condition of any approval issued by the commissioner. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither the commissioner nor any employee of the department shall disclose or permit the disclosure of any record, record of any action, or information contained in a record of any action, taken by the commissioner under the provisions of this section, unless the action was taken pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), to persons other than federal or state government employees who are authorized by statute to obtain the records in the performance of their official duties, unless the disclosure is authorized or requested by the affected licensee or the affected subsidiary of the licensee. The commissioner shall have the sole authority to bring any action with respect to a violation of applicable law subject to a penalty imposed under this section. Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), any penalty imposed by the commissioner may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) a day, provided that the aggregate penalty of all offenses in any one action against any licensee or subsidiary of a licensee shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). (1) If the commissioner determines that any licensee or subsidiary of the licensee has recklessly violated any applicable law, any order issued by the commissioner, any provision of any written agreement between the commissioner and the licensee or subsidiary, or any condition of any approval issued by the commissioner, the commissioner may impose a penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day, provided that the aggregate penalty of all offenses in an action against any licensee or subsidiary of a licensee shall not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). (2) If the commissioner determines that any licensee or subsidiary of the licensee has knowingly violated any applicable law, any order issued by the commissioner, any provision of any written agreement between the commissioner and the licensee or subsidiary, or any condition of any approval issued by the commissioner, the commissioner may impose a penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day, provided that the aggregate penalty of all offenses in an action against any licensee or subsidiary of a licensee shall not exceed 1 percent of the total assets of the licensee or subsidiary of a licensee subject to the penalty. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or impede the commissioner from pursuing any other administrative action allowed by law. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or impede the commissioner from bringing an action in court to enforce any law or order he or she has issued, including orders issued under this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or impede the commissioner from seeking any other damages or injunction allowed by law. (e) In determining the amount and the appropriateness of initiating a civil money penalty under subdivision (b), the commissioner shall consider all of the following: (1) Evidence that the violation or practice or breach of duty was intentional or was committed with a disregard of the law or with a disregard of the consequences to the institution. (2) The duration and frequency of the violations, practices, or breaches of duties. (3) The continuation of the violations, practices, or breaches of duty after the licensee or subsidiary of the licensee was notified, or, alternatively, its immediate cessation and correction. (4) The failure to cooperate with the commissioner in effecting early resolution of the problem. (5) Evidence of concealment of the violation, practice, or breach of duty or, alternatively, voluntary disclosure of the violation, practice, or breach of duty. (6) Any threat of loss, actual loss, or other harm to the institution, including harm to the public confidence in the institution, and the degree of that harm. (7) Evidence that a licensee or subsidiary of a licensee received financial gain or other benefit as a result of the violation, practice, or breach of duty. (8) Evidence of any restitution paid by a licensee or subsidiary of a licensee of losses resulting from the violation, practice, or breach of duty. (9) History of prior violations, practices, or breaches of duty, particularly where they are similar to the actions under consideration. (10) Previous criticism of the institution for similar actions. (11) Presence or absence of a compliance program and its effectiveness. (12) Tendency to engage in violations of law, unsafe or unsound banking practices, or breaches of duties. (13) The existence of agreements, commitments, orders, or conditions imposed in writing intended to prevent the violation, practice, or breach of duty. (14) Whether the violation, practice, or breach of duty causes quantifiable, economic benefit or loss to the licensee or the subsidiary of the licensee. In those cases, removal of the benefit or recompense of the loss usually will be insufficient, by itself, to promote compliance with the applicable law, order, or written agreement. The penalty amount should reflect a remedial purpose and should provide a deterrent to future misconduct. (15) Other factors as the commissioner may, in his or her opinion, consider relevant to assessing the penalty or establishing the amount of the penalty. (f) The amounts collected under this section shall be deposited in the appropriate fund of the department. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "appropriate fund" means the fund to which the annual assessments of fined licensees, or the parent licensee of the fined subsidiary, are credited. 217. The authority vested in the Superintendent of Banks under subdivision (2) of Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution is delegated to the commissioner. 218. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner may adopt and implement any method of accepting electronic filings of applications, reports, or other matters, which, in the opinion of the commissioner, is secure. Any method of electronic filing chosen by the commissioner shall include a method to verify the identity of the person making the filing. The verification shall be deemed to satisfy all other verifications required by this division, and shall have the same force and effect as the use of manual signatures. 219. (a) (1) In this section, "federal law" includes, but is not limited to, the United States Constitution, any federal statute, any federal court decision, and any regulation, circular, bulletin, interpretation, decision, order, and waiver issued by a federal agency. (2) The definitions set forth in Section 1700 apply to this section. (b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in subdivision (c), if the commissioner finds that any provision of federal law applicable to national banking associations doing business in this state is substantively different from the provisions of this code applicable to banks organized under the laws of this state, the commissioner may by regulation make that provision of federal law applicable to banks organized under the laws of this state. (2) If the commissioner finds that any provision of federal law applicable to foreign (other nation) banks with respect to federal agencies or federal branches in this state is substantively different from the provisions of this code applicable to foreign (other nation) banks with respect to agencies or branch offices licensed by the commissioner under Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 1700), the commissioner may by regulation make that provision of federal law applicable to foreign (other nation) banks with respect to agencies or branch offices licensed by the commissioner under Chapter 13.5. (c) (1) Section 11343.4 and Article 5 (commencing with Section 11346) and Article 6 (commencing with Section 11349) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code do not apply to any regulation adopted under subdivision (b). (2) The commissioner shall file any regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), together with a citation to this section as authority for the adoption and a citation to the provisions of federal law made applicable by the regulation, with the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and publication in the California Code of Regulations. (3) Any regulation adopted under subdivision (b) shall become effective on the date when it is filed with the Secretary of State unless the commissioner prescribes a later date in the regulation or in a written instrument filed with the regulation. (4) Any regulation adopted under subdivision (b) shall expire at 12 p.m. on December 31 of the year following the calendar year in which it becomes effective. (5) Any regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be subject to the following restrictions: (A) The commissioner shall not renew or reinstate the regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (b). (B) The commissioner shall not adopt a new regulation pursuant to subdivision (b), to address the same conformity issue that was addressed by the regulation that expired pursuant to subdivision (c). (d) The commissioner may adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (b) that are exempt from the expiration and restrictions of subdivision (c) if the regulations are adopted in compliance with all provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of the Government Code, including those listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). 220. The powers of supervision and examination of all licensees are vested in the commissioner. 221. The commissioner may promulgate or waive such rules and regulations as may be reasonable or necessary to carry out his or her duties and responsibilities. 222. (a) The commissioner, whenever in his or her opinion such action is necessary or appropriate to carry out his or her duties, may call a meeting of the board of directors of a licensee. (b) A meeting of the board of a licensee called by the commissioner shall be held upon four days' notice by first class mail or 24 hours' notice delivered personally or by telephone. The notice shall be given by the commissioner or, if the commissioner so orders, by an officer of the licensee. (c) A meeting of the board of a licensee called by the commissioner shall be held at a place within this state as may be designated by the commissioner and specified in the notice of the meeting. (d) The expenses of a meeting of the board of a licensee called by the commissioner shall be paid by the licensee. 223. The commissioner may, at any time, require a licensee to write down any asset held by the licensee to a valuation that will represent the asset's then fair market value.