1121.18 Confidentiality.
1121.18 Confidentiality.
(A) Information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of the examination of a bank or any examination conducted pursuant to the authority of section 1121.10 or 1121.11 of the Revised Code is privileged and confidential. No person, including any person to whom the information is disclosed under the authority of this section, shall disclose information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination, except as specifically provided in this section.
(B) The superintendent of financial institutions and the superintendent’s agents and employees may disclose information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination conducted pursuant to section 1121.10 or 1121.11 of the Revised Code as follows:
(1) To the governor, director of commerce, or deputy director of commerce to enable them to act in the interests of the public;
(2) To the banking commission to enable the commission to effectively advise the superintendent and take action on any matter the superintendent presents to the commission;
(3) To financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries to assist them in their regulatory duties;
(4) To the directors, officers, agents, and parent company of the bank or other person examined to assist them in conducting the business of the bank or other person examined in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with law;
(5) To law enforcement authorities conducting criminal investigations.
(C)(1) Information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination of a bank or other person pursuant to section 1121.10 or 1121.11 of the Revised Code shall not be discoverable from any source, and shall not be introduced into evidence, except in the following circumstances:
(a) In connection with criminal proceedings;
(b) When, in the opinion of the superintendent, it is appropriate with regard to enforcement actions taken and decisions made by the superintendent under the authority of Chapters 1101. to 1127. of the Revised Code regarding a bank, trust company, or other person;
(c) When litigation has been initiated by the superintendent in furtherance of the powers, duties, and obligations imposed upon the superintendent by Chapters 1101. to 1127. of the Revised Code;
(d) When authorized by agreements between the superintendent and financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries authorized by section 1121.11 of the Revised Code;
(e) When and in the manner authorized in section 1181.25 of the Revised Code.
(2) The discovery of information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination pursuant to division (C)(1)(b), (c), or (d) of this section shall be limited to information that directly relates to the bank, trust company, regulated person, or other person who is the subject of the enforcement action, decision, or litigation.
(D) A report of an examination conducted pursuant to section 1121.10 or 1121.11 of the Revised Code is the property of the division of financial institutions. Under no circumstances may the bank or other person examined, its directors, officers, employees, agents, regulated persons, or contractors, or any person having knowledge or possession of a report of examination, or any of its contents, disclose or make public in any manner the report of examination or its contents. The authority provided in division (B)(4) of this section for use of examination information to assist in conducting the business of the bank or other person examined in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with law shall not be construed to authorize disclosure of a report of examination or any of its contents in conducting business with the examined bank’s or person’s customers, creditors, or shareholders, or with other persons.
(E) Whoever violates this section shall be removed from office, shall be liable, with the violator’s bonder in damages to the person injured by the disclosure of information, and is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
Effective Date: 06-18-2002