Wis. Stat. § 186.41 — WI Code / Chapter 186 / Section 186.41
Interstate acquisitions and mergers of credit unions.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(am) “Out-of-state credit union” means a state or federal credit union, the principal office of which is located in a state other than this state.

(bm) “Wisconsin credit union” means a credit union having its principal office located in this state.

(2) Wisconsin credit union.

(a) A Wisconsin credit union may do any of the following:

1. Acquire an interest in, or some or all of the assets and liabilities of, one or more out-of-state credit unions.

2. Merge with one or more out-of-state credit unions.

(b) A Wisconsin credit union proposing any action under par. (a) shall provide the office of credit unions a copy of any original application seeking approval by a federal agency or by an agency of another state and of any supplemental material or amendments filed in connection with any application.

(3) Out-of-state credit unions. Except as provided in sub. (4) , an out-of-state credit union may do any of the following:

(a) Acquire an interest in, or some or all of the assets of, one or more Wisconsin credit unions.

(b) Merge with one or more Wisconsin credit unions.

(4) Limitations. An out-of-state credit union may not take any action under sub. (3) until all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) The office of credit unions finds that the statutes of the state in which the out-of-state credit union has its principal office permit Wisconsin credit unions to both acquire out-of-state credit union assets and merge with one or more out-of-state credit unions in that state.

(b) The office of credit unions has not disapproved the acquisition of Wisconsin credit union assets or the merger with the Wisconsin credit union under sub. (5) .

(c) The office of credit unions gives a class 3 notice, under ch. 985 , in the official state newspaper, of the application to take an action under sub. (3) and of the opportunity for a hearing and, if at least 25 residents of this state petition for a hearing within 30 days of the final notice or if the office of credit unions on its own motion calls for a hearing within 30 days of the final notice, the office of credit unions holds a public hearing on the application, except that a hearing is not required if the office of credit unions finds that an emergency exists and that the proposed action under sub. (3) is necessary and appropriate to prevent the probable failure of a Wisconsin credit union that is closed or in danger of closing.

(d) The office of credit unions is provided a copy of any original application seeking approval by a federal agency of the acquisition of Wisconsin credit union assets or of the merger with a Wisconsin credit union and of any supplemental material or amendments filed with the application.

(e) The applicant has paid the office of credit unions a fee of $1,000 together with the actual costs incurred by the office in holding any hearing on the application.

(f) With regard to an acquisition of assets of a Wisconsin credit union that is chartered on or after May 9, 1986, the Wisconsin credit union has been in existence for at least 5 years before the date of acquisition.

(5) Standards for disapproval. The office of credit unions may disapprove of any action under sub. (3) if the office finds any of the following:

(a) Considering the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the applicant and of the Wisconsin credit union concerned, the action would be contrary to the best interests of the members of the Wisconsin credit union.

(b) The action would be detrimental to the safety and soundness of the applicant or of the Wisconsin credit union concerned, or to a subsidiary or affiliate of the applicant or of the Wisconsin credit union.

(c) Because the applicant, its executive officers, or directors have not established a record of sound performance, efficient management, financial responsibility, and integrity, the action would be contrary to the best interests of the creditors, the members, the other customers of the applicant, the Wisconsin credit union, or the public.

(cg) The applicant has failed to provide adequate and appropriate services of the type contemplated by the community reinvestment act of 1977 to the communities in which the applicant is located.

(cr) The applicant has failed to propose to provide adequate and appropriate services of the type contemplated by the community reinvestment act of 1977 in the community in which the Wisconsin credit union which the applicant proposes to acquire or merge with is located.

(ct) The applicant has failed to enter into an agreement prepared by the office of credit unions to comply with laws and rules of this state regulating consumer credit finance charges and other charges and related disclosure requirements, except to the extent preempted by federal law or regulation.

(d) Any of the conditions under sub. (4) (a) , (c) , (d) , (e) or (f) has not been met.

(e) The applicant fails to meet any other standards established by rule of the office of credit unions.

(5m) Branching not limited. This section does not limit branching authority under s. 186.113 (1) .

(6) Applicability. Subsections (1) to (5) do not apply prior to January 1, 1987, except that the office of credit unions may promulgate rules under sub. (5) (e) to be applicable no earlier than the date that subs. (1) to (5) apply.

(7) When invalidated. If any part of subs. (1) to (5) is held to be unconstitutional, then all of subs. (1) to (5) shall be invalid.

History: 1985 a. 325 , 332 ; 1995 a. 27 , 151 ; 2003 a. 63 ; 2005 a. 131 ; 2021 a. 238 s. 44 .