Regulation

Del. Code tit. 5, ch. 17
in effect

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1701 Definitions.

For the purpose of this Code and any other laws of this State relating to building and loan associations, unless otherwise specifically defined, or another intention clearly appears, or the context requires a different meaning: (1) “Association” means a building and loan association. (2) “Borrower” means one who borrows from a building and loan association and may include a stockholder of such association or a nonstockholder. (3) “Building and loan association” means any corporation, person, firm, partnership, association, trustee or combination of persons whatsoever, within the purview of this chapter and includes savings and loan associations. (4) “Fines” means a penalty imposed for the nonpayment of dues and interest when due. (5) “Full paid plan” refers to the provisions in the charter, constitution, bylaws, declaration of trust, contract, agreement, or other device authorizing the issuance of full paid stock in either installments or otherwise, or any other evidence of money paid to or deposited with a building and loan association, and which may or may not have a definite maturity, but may be withdrawn upon required notice served by the member, and upon which the association may declare periodical dividends. (6) “Guaranteed loan” means a loan that is guaranteed under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. (7) “Insured loan” means a loan that is insured, or as to which the mortgagee is insured, or as to which a commitment for any insurance has been made under either the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq.], or the former Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, as those acts are now, or may hereafter be, amended. (8) “Membership fee” means a fee to be paid by the stockholder upon subscribing for shares of stock. (9) “Premiums” means a sum paid by the borrower over and above the legal rate of interest charges for any loan. (10) “Serial plan” refers to the provisions in the charter, constitution, bylaws, declaration of trust, contract, agreement or other device authorizing the issuance of serial stock in either quarterly, semiannual or annual series and which requires members or customers to pay regular installments to a common fund or series, from which fund or series loans are made to members, customers, or to others, and which contemplates maturity of the series by adding together the amount paid in by members and profits earned.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1702 Application of chapter; exception.

(a) This chapter shall apply to and be enforceable against all corporations, persons, firms, partnerships, associations, trustees or combinations of persons, which or who transact, or attempt to transact, a building and loan business, or a business of like kind or character, or where, by its or their charter, constitution, bylaws, or by a declaration of trust, or other device, or by a contract or agreement the members or customers are required to pay regular installments to a common fund or series, from which fund or series loans are made to members, customers, or others for the purpose of building homes or buildings, purchasing building sites, paying off liens or debts against real estate, or for other purposes, within the boundaries of this State. (b) This chapter shall be applicable to all persons, associations, copartnerships or corporations who shall, by violating this chapter, become subject to the penalties provided herein. (c) This chapter shall not apply or have any relation to building and loan associations incorporated under the general corporation laws of this State which do not transact, or attempt to transact, business within the boundaries of this State. (d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect the legality of investments made prior to April 7, 1921, or be deemed to impair the rights, privileges and powers contained in the charter or certificate of incorporation of any corporation organized prior to April 7, 1921; and vested rights acquired under statutes in effect prior to April 7, 1921 and actually existing and enjoyed on that date shall not be divested or disturbed.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1703 Supervision and examination of association by Commissioner.

(a) Every building and loan association having an office or place of business in this State and transacting business in this State shall be subject to the supervision and examination of the State Bank Commissioner, and shall be examined by the Commissioner as frequently as deemed necessary or expedient. On the occasion of every examination under this section, the Commissioner shall in company with 1 or more of the officers of the association visited be given access to every part of the office or place of business visited and to the assets, securities, books and papers of the association. (b) Any examination under this chapter may be made by the Commissioner in person or by the Commissioner’s deputy, or the Commissioner’s clerk, or by special persons designated by the Commissioner, when so authorized by the Commissioner and acting under the Commissioner’s orders. Before proceeding with the examination of any association, the person conducting the examination shall, if required, exhibit to the officers of the association satisfactory evidence of such person’s authority to make the examination. (c) The examination required by this section shall be a thorough examination into the affairs of the association visited, its resources and liabilities, the investment of its funds, the mode of conducting its business, the safety and prudence of its management, the acts of its officers, directors or trustees, and its compliance or noncompliance with its charter and bylaws and of this Code and any other statutes of the State. (d) In connection with any examination under this section, the Commissioner may examine, under oath or affirmation, the officers, directors or trustees, and the employees, of the association, relative to its affairs, and, for this purpose, the Commissioner may administer oaths or affirmations. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a building and loan association with less than $2,000,000 in assets shall be charged no more than the cost of 5 examiner work days for an examination under this section. For the purposes of this section, an examiner work day is the calculated daily rate of pay for an examiner.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1704 Exemption from examination by Commissioner.

A building and loan association which shall be examined by a certified public accountant may be exempted from examination by the Commissioner, and an examination by a certified public accountant may be accepted by the Commissioner as a sufficient compliance with the requirements of this chapter with respect to examinations. In any such case, a certified report of the examination made by the certified public accountant, shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1705 Annual report to Commissioner.

(a) Every building and loan association existing under this Code or any other law of this State or any other state, and doing business within the boundaries of this State, shall annually, at the end of its fiscal year, furnish to the State Bank Commissioner, a detailed statement of its condition at the close of its last fiscal year, giving a full detailed statement showing the gross amount of dues, interest, premiums, fines, repayments and other funds received and collected by the association for the last fiscal year, and the amount of its earnings, and its aggregate assets and liabilities at the close of the fiscal year and any other information that the Commissioner may request. The statement shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the president and secretary, duly administered by some person authorized by the laws of the State to administer oaths. The Commissioner may, 1 time within every fiscal year of any building and loan association existing under the laws of this State or any other state, and doing business within the boundaries of this State, require any such association to issue, as a part of the annual statement of the association, a list by book number, of all accounts in arrears or in advance, or in the case of associations of the kind commonly designated and described as being organized under the permanent or Dayton plan, may require the confirmation of the accounts of all members. The confirmation shall set forth the credit balance of each of the members as the same is shown upon the books of the building and loan association upon a day selected by the Commissioner. The expense of issuing the list shall be paid entirely by each individual association. (b) Every building and loan association doing business in this State, created by the laws or regulations of any other state or federal agency, shall furnish a statement which sets forth the amount of assets held by the association in this State, and the amount of liabilities due shareholders residing in this State and submit a copy of its annual report at the end of each fiscal year.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1706 Publication of statement of assets and liabilities.

The State Bank Commissioner may require annually at the end of its fiscal year, the publication of a report by a building and loan association in 1 issue of a newspaper located within the county in which it has its office, showing in detail the assets and liabilities at the close of its fiscal year; and the expense of such publication shall be paid by the association.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1707 Foreign associations; annual designation of resident agent; wholly-owned subsidiary required; waiver of requirement [Repealed].

Repealed by 68 Del. Laws, c. 105, § 5, eff. July 3, 1991.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1708 Exemption from operation of attachment laws.

No building and loan association authorized to do business under this Code or any other law of this State shall be subject to the operations of the attachment laws of this State, as provided in the case of individuals.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1709 Unsound condition of association or unauthorized conduct of business; receivership and other remedial proceedings.

(a) Proceedings may be instituted against any building and loan association doing business within the boundaries of this State, whenever it appears to the State Bank Commissioner that the affairs of any building and loan association are in an unsound condition because of illegal or unsafe investments, or that its liabilities exceed its assets, or that it is transacting business without authority or in violation of law, or that it is unsafe or inexpedient for the association to continue business. (b) The Attorney General, on notice by the State Bank Commissioner, shall institute such proceedings against the building and loan association as the nature of the case may require. For any of the reasons mentioned in this section the State Bank Commissioner may forthwith take possession of the building and loan association’s property and business and retain such possession until the termination of the action or proceeding instituted by the Attorney General, or until the appointment of a receiver by due process of law. (c) The receiver to be appointed in a proceeding under this section shall be the State Bank Commissioner or, in his or her absence or disability, the Deputy Bank Commissioner. Neither of those officials shall receive any extra compensation for acting as receiver. The Court may vest the receiver with full power and authority to borrow such sum or sums of money as the Court determines in order the more readily or expeditiously to settle the affairs of the building and loan association and/or to make payments to its creditors, depositors or shareholders. Such borrowing may be from any public or governmental or quasi-public or quasi-governmental corporation, board, commission or other agency or from any source whatsoever, and the Court may authorize the receiver to secure any loan by the pledge of any of the property or assets of the building and loan association, and to give the lender a preference as to the pledged property and assets over the creditors of the building and loan association.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1710 Violations and penalties.

Any building and loan association wilfully violating or failing to observe and comply with this chapter shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $100 for each violation thereof, and for each failure to observe and comply with this chapter. Any building and loan association which neglects or refuses to pay and discharge the amount of the penalty shall have its authority to transact business in this State revoked by the State Bank Commissioner. Such revocation shall continue, and the building and loan association shall not again be authorized or permitted to transact business in this State until the association has paid the amount of the penalty.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1711 Penalty; soliciting subscriptions to shares for a commission [Repealed].

Repealed by 68 Del. Laws, c. 105, § 7, eff. July 3, 1991.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1721 Requirement of license.

No person shall engage in the business of a building and loan association, or a business similar to that of a building and loan association, within the limits of the State until a license has been obtained or the registration requirements fulfilled as provided in this subchapter.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1722 Annual license fees.

Every building and loan association created under this Code or any other law of this State, and doing business in this State, shall pay to the State Bank Commissioner, for the use of the State, at the time of filing its annual report, an annual license fee of $115. Every building and loan association, or a business similar to that of a building and loan association, created under the laws or regulations of any other state or federal agency and doing business within the boundaries of this State shall pay to the State Bank Commissioner, for the use of the State, at the time of filing its annual report, an annual registration fee of $575.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1723 Application for license generally; grounds for refusal; fee upon approval of application; investigation fee; moratorium upon issuance.

(a) Every person, desiring to obtain a license under this chapter, shall file with the Commissioner an application in writing in such form as may be prescribed by the Commissioner, which application must demonstrate public convenience and advantage which will be satisfied by the approval of such application. Before a license shall be issued by the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall make, or cause to be made, an investigation of the condition and affairs of the applicant and its general plan of operation. The Commissioner shall investigate the moral character and general fitness of the applicant, if an individual, and of the members of a partnership or association, and of the directors, managers, trustees, and other officers of every applicant, to discharge the duties reposed in them, and may examine any or all of them under oath. The Commissioner shall require the applicant to enter into written agreement with him or her for a business plan, describing the management, operations and investments. The business plan shall include financial projections of the proposed licensee for the first 3 years of operation and the plan, as a minimum, shall conform with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 571.6(b) as existing on the effective date hereof. Unless the State Bank Commissioner is satisfied as to the character and general fitness of the managing officers of the applicant to honestly and efficiently carry on its business, and that the plan of operation is financially and mathematically sound, and that the contracts or obligations issued or to be issued are practicable and possible of fulfillment, and of such nature as to insure the repayment of the principal amount or amounts actually paid in by the subscriber or purchaser, together with a reasonable profit or accumulation of interest within a reasonable time after notice and demand by the subscriber or purchaser, and is equitable and nonoppressive, the Commissioner shall refuse the license, and forthwith notify the applicant of such refusal, and specify in the notice the cause or causes thereof. (b) An applicant shall pay to the office of the State Bank Commissioner a fee of $1,150 for use of the State upon approval of the application. In addition, the applicant shall pay an investigation fee of $575 which shall not be refundable and shall be submitted with the application. (c) No new license required under § 1721 of this title shall be issued after July 15, 1991.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1724 Issuance of license; term.

If it appears from the annual statement filed with the State Bank Commissioner, that a building and loan association is in a safe or solvent condition, is transacting business in compliance with the law, and payment of the annual renewal license or registration fee as prescribed in § 1722 of this title has been made, then the Commissioner shall issue to the association a license authorizing it to transact its business in this State for 1 year from the date thereof unless the Commissioner deems it necessary, for the protection of the shareholders of the association, or of the public, to sooner revoke the same, which the Commissioner is empowered to do.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1725 Revocation or withholding of license.

If any building and loan association violates this chapter, or any law of the State, the State Bank Commissioner may revoke or withhold its license to do business.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1726 Penalty for doing business without license.

Whoever, being an agent or officer of any building and loan association which has not obtained authority to do business in this State under this chapter, or the authority of which has been revoked by the State Bank Commissioner, solicits or carries on business for the association in this State, shall be fined not less than $25 per violation.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1727 Insurance required.

A building and loan association whose total assets exceed $15,000,000 or registered office of an association created under the laws of any other state may not engage in business within this State unless its shares, savings accounts, savings certificates, and other types of share or deposit accounts offered are federally insured. Before an institution which is not federally insured receives funds from a new shareholder, investor, member, subscriber, or depositor, the institution shall obtain the signature of such person on a disclosure, on a form approved by the State Bank Commissioner, advising such person that the funds deposited with that institution are not federally insured.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title5/c017/sc01/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026

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