45-3-202 - Commissioner's approval of application for certificate of authority Hearing.

45-3-202. Commissioner's approval of application for certificate of authority Hearing.

(a)  Upon receipt of an application for authority to organize an association, including all supporting data, the commissioner shall promptly give written notice to at least one (1) of the incorporators of the proposed association designated to receive notices, and the incorporators shall cause the notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the home office of the proposed association is to be located. The notice shall state the name of the proposed association, where the incorporators propose to establish the home office of the association, and that the association shall have an opportunity to request a hearing on the application. If so requested, the hearing shall not be held within ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the publication of the notice. Any interested person may appear at the hearing in person or by agent or attorney, and orally or in writing show cause, upon any relevant ground, why the application should be approved or denied; provided, that any person objecting to the application shall reduce the substance of the objection to writing and file the same with the commissioner and give notice of the objection to the applicant at least five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

(b)  The commissioner shall not approve any application before affirmatively finding from all the information furnished with the application, the evidence produced at the hearing, and the commissioner's official records, that the prerequisites of this chapter have been complied with and that as to:

     (1)  Management.  The character, responsibility, and general fitness of the persons named in the application are such as to command confidence and warrant belief that the business of the proposed association will be honestly and efficiently conducted in accordance with the purposes of this chapter, and that the proposed association will have qualified full-time management;

     (2)  Public Need.  There is public need for the proposed association in the county stated in the application;

     (3)  Capital Structure.  The proposed capital structure meets the requirements of this chapter;

     (4)  Undue Harm.  The operation of the proposed association will not unduly harm any properly conducted federal or state association existing in the county or in a contiguous county in which the home office of the proposed association is to be located;

     (5)  Name.  The name of the proposed association is not the same as, or deceptively similar to, the name of any other association in the state, and this chapter has been complied with with respect to the use of a name by the proposed association; and

     (6)  Insurance.  A commitment for insurance of deposit accounts has been obtained by the proposed association that meets the requirements of this chapter.

(c)  If the commissioner so finds, the commissioner shall state approval and findings in writing and shall promptly mail one (1) copy of the proposed application and the attached findings to at least one (1) of the incorporators by registered or certified mail. In addition, the incorporators shall cause notice of approval to be promptly published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the home office of the proposed association is to be located.

[Acts 1978, ch. 708, § 1.16; T.C.A., § 45-1316.]