Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

OF %?iCXAS April 16, 1959 b&J- Hon. J. M. Falkner Opinion No. 597 Commissioner Ranking Department Re: Whether amendments to Articles Austin, Texas of Association of a credit union should be approved by the State Ranking Board or by the Dear Mr. Falkner: Ranking Commissioner. You have requested the opinion of this office as to whether amendments to the articles of association of a credit union should be approved by the State Ranking Board or the Banking Commissioner of Texas. Article 2643, Vernon's Civil Statutes, providing for the incorporation of credit unions, is as follows: "Ten (10) or more residents of this State may associate themselves together by articles of agreement and form a credit union and m auuroval of the State %ankine Board. mav become a coru ration uuon comulvmz with such DrOVL.- gions zf theJa epulatine State banks as m;cy. be aunlicable tz ihe transaction of b iness ein authorized to be done. The?tate Ranking Board may permit the formation of such corporation when it is satisfied that the pro- posed field of operation is favorable to the success of a credit union, and the standing of the proposed members is such as to give assur- ance that its affairs will be administered in accordance with the spirit of this Law, and said Board may investigate or cause to be inves- tigated such matters when deemed by it necessary to assist it in Its determination of such duties, the actual expenses of such investigation to be paid upon itemized statement thereof by the ap- plicants for charter under this Law. If the charter is granted, the corporation shall reim- burse said applicants for such payment. When ermission for the formation of such corpora- e- ion shall have been granted by the State Bank- ing Board, the Ranking Commissioner shall issue a charter to said credit union to do business in Hon. J. M. Falkner, page 2 (WW-597) conformity with the provisions of this Title upon the ayment of a charter fee of Ten Dollars (ii lo)." (Emphasis added). Article 2467, V.C,S., provides: 'INosuch credit union shall receive de- posits or payments on account of shares, or make any loans until its by-laws have been approved in writing by the Banking Commis- sioner, nor shall any amendment to its by-laws become operative until they have been so ap- proved." Articles 2461 through 2484b Vernon's Civil Statutes, which govern the formation and conducE of credit unions, con- tain no specific provision relating to amendments to the arti- cles of association. However, Article 2463 provides that, upon approval by the State Banking Board, ten or more residents of Texas may form a credit union Wpon complying with such provi- sions of the law regulating State banks as may be applicable to the transaction of business as herein authorized to be done." Article 342-312, Texas Banking Act of 1943, provides 'for amendments to articles of association of State banks to be filed with and after approval by the Banking Commissioner of Texas such amendments shall thereupon become effective. How- ever, 'it is provided that any amendment changing the domicile of any State bank to another city or town shall not be effec- tive until approved by the State Banking Board in the manner provided for the approval of an original application for char- ter. The use of the emphasized phraseology contained in Article 2463 V.C.S. evidences the legislative intent that the Banking Commlssioner'of Texas should approve all amendments to the articles of association of credit unions in the same manner required for the approval of amendments to the articles of asso- ciation of State Banks. The approval of amendments to the arti- cles of association of credit unions by the State Banking Board is not required except under the conditions prwided for in Article 342-312, V.C.S., in the case of approval of amendments to articles of association of State banks. Hon. J. M. Falkner, page 3 (W- 5971 SUMMARY The State Banking Commissioner shall approve all amendments to articles of association of credit unions except where the approval of the State Bank- ing Board is required under the provisions of Arti- cle 342-312, V.C.S. Yours very truly, WILL WILSON Attorney Gene2 of Texas p&J&& BY C. K. Richards CKR:wb Assistant APPROVED: OPINION COMMITTEE Geo. P. Blackburn, Chairman Richard 0. Jones Milton Richardson Marvin H. Brown, Jr. Robert T. Lewis David Thomas REVIEWEDFOR THEATTORNEYGENERAL BY: W. V. Geppert