(a) Credit unions shall report to the Administrator of the Alabama Credit Union Administration at least annually on or before January 31 in such manner and form as required by the administrator for that purpose. Additional reports may be required. Credit unions shall be examined at least every 18 months by employees of the administration or by other persons designated by the administrator. For failure to file reports when due, unless excused for cause by the administrator, the credit union shall pay to the State Treasurer five dollars ($5) for each day of its delinquency.
(b) If the administrator determines that the credit union is violating this chapter, or is insolvent, the administrator may suspend operations of the credit union by issuing an order requiring that the credit union cease operations pending a hearing on the revocation of the certificate of approval, or the administrator may set a date for a hearing on the revocation of the certificate of approval without suspending operations of the credit union. If the administrator suspends operations of the credit union, a hearing on the revocation of the certificate of authority shall be held by the administrator if requested within 90 days from the date of the order requiring suspension of operations. If demanded by the credit union, the hearing on revocation of the certificate of authority, whether or not the administrator has suspended operations of the credit union pending the hearing, shall be conducted on the record by the administrator who shall also make findings of fact and a written determination concerning revocation of the certificate of authority. The determination may contain an order requiring that credit union to immediately suspend operations or continue in effect a previous order requiring the suspension of operations. If the determination is that the credit union is violating this chapter, or is insolvent, and that the certificate of authority be revoked, and if, for a period of 15 days after the hearing, any violation continues, the administrator may revoke the certificate and take possession of the business and property of the credit union and maintain possession until the administrator shall permit it to continue business or its affairs are finally liquidated through merger or otherwise.
(c)(1) The administrator may, with the approval of a majority of the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration, issue a cease and desist order upon finding that the credit union or any officer, director, committee member, or employee has done any one of the following:
a. Committed any violation of a law, rule, or regulation.
b. Engaged or participated in any unsafe or unsound practice in connection with the credit union business.
c. Engaged in any act, omission, or practice which constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty to the credit union.
d. Committed any fraudulent or questionable practice in the conduct of the credit union's business which endangers the credit union's reputation or threatens insolvency.
e. Violated any condition imposed in writing by the administrator or any written agreement made with the administrator.
f. Concealed, destroyed, removed, falsified, or perjured any book, record, paper, report, statement, or account related to the business and affairs of the credit union.
(2) Any cease and desist order shall be effective not earlier than 10 calendar days after it is delivered to the credit union. The credit union or any person subject to a cease and desist order shall have 10 calendar days from the receipt of any cease and desist order to appeal to the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration by serving the administrator with a written notice of appeal within the 10-day period. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal from the credit union, the effect of the cease and desist order will be suspended pending a decision upon appeal; provided that a majority of the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration may order that a cease and desist order be in force and effect pending the decision on appeal. A hearing of any appeal shall be held before the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration within 60 calendar days of the notice of appeal and the decision of the Credit Union Board shall be rendered within 30 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing.
(d) The Administrator of the Alabama Credit Union Administration may suspend from office and prohibit further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of a credit union, any director, officer, committee member, or employee who has done any one of the following:
(1) Committed any violation of a law, rule, or regulation.
(2) Engaged or participated in any unsafe or unsound practice in connection with the credit union business.
(3) Engaged in any act, omission, or practice which constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty to the credit union.
(4) Committed any fraudulent or questionable practice in the conduct of the credit union's business which endangers the credit union's reputation or threatens insolvency.
(5) Violated any condition imposed in writing by the administrator or any written agreement made with the administrator.
(6) Concealed, destroyed, removed, falsified, or perjured any book, record, paper, report, statement, or account related to the business and affairs of the credit union.
(7) Unless the administrator directs otherwise, the prohibition against participation in the conduct of the affairs of a credit union shall remain effective until it is rescinded by a vote of the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration.
(e) A person subject to an order issued under subsection (d) may file an appeal in writing delivered to the administrator not more than 10 calendar days after the issuance of the order. Not later than 60 calendar days after the filing of an appeal, the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration shall hold a hearing and not later than 30 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, the Credit Union Board shall issue a decision. The hearing shall be confidential.
(f) The Administrator of the Alabama Credit Union Administration, with the approval of a majority of the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration, ex parte without notice, may appoint the Alabama Credit Union Administration or the National Credit Union Administration as conservator and immediately take possession and control of the business and assets of any state-chartered credit union in any case in which any one of the following occurs:
(1) The Alabama Credit Union Administration determines that the action is necessary to conserve the assets of any state-chartered credit union or the interests of the members of the credit union.
(2) A credit union, by resolution of its board of directors, consents to the action by the Alabama Credit Union Administration.
(3) There is a willful violation of a cease-and-desist order which has become final.
(4) There is concealment of books, papers, records, or assets of the credit union or refusal to submit books, papers, records, or affairs of the credit union for inspection to any examiner or to any lawful agent of the Alabama Credit Union Administration.
(g) Not later than 10 calendar days after the date on which the Alabama Credit Union Administration takes possession and control of the business and assets of a credit union pursuant to subsection (f), officials of the credit union who were terminated by the conservator may apply to the circuit court for the judicial circuit in which the principal office of the credit union is located for an order requiring the administration to show cause why it should not be enjoined from continuing possession and control. Except as provided in this subsection, no court may take any action, except at the request of the Credit Union Board by regulation or order, to restrain or affect the exercise of powers or functions of the board as conservator.
(h) The administrator shall report to the Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration at least semi-annually on the condition of the credit unions in which the administration serves as conservator. Reports shall contain the following:
(1) The most recent income statement and balance sheet of the credit union.
(2) Actions taken since the last report by the administrator in its role as conservator of the credit union.
(3) A detailed report of all expenditures, reimbursements, and other financial considerations paid out of the assets of the credit union to the Alabama Credit Union Administration or its designated agents during conservatorship.
(4) A business plan outlining necessary actions and timetables under which the credit union would remain under conservatorship.
(i) The Alabama Credit Union Administration may maintain possession and control of the business and assets of the credit union and may operate the credit union until the time as the following occurs:
(1) The administrator shall permit the credit union to continue business subject to the terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Alabama Credit Union Administration.
(2) The credit union is liquidated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5-17-21.
(3) The Credit Union Board of the Alabama Credit Union Administration votes by a majority of voting members that the Alabama Credit Union Administration shall relinquish possession and control of the credit union. Such vote shall be held on at least a semi-annual basis while the credit union is held in conservatorship by the Alabama Credit Union Administration.
(j) The Alabama Credit Union Administration may appoint special agents as it considers necessary in order to assist the administration in carrying out its duties as a conservator under this section.
(k) All costs incurred by the administration in exercising its authority under this section and Section 5-17-8.1, including, without limitation, all expenses and legal fees incurred in exercising its authority or defending any action taken pursuant to its exercise of authority, and any appeal by any credit union or by any director, officer, committee member, or employee thereof shall be paid out of the assets of the credit union.
(l) The conservator shall have all powers of the members, the directors, the officers, and the committees of the credit union and shall be authorized to operate the credit union in its own name or to conserve its assets in the manner and extent authorized by the administration.
(m) After taking possession of the property and business of a credit union through conservatorship, the conservator may terminate or adopt any executory contract to which the credit union may be a party. The termination of any contracts shall be made within six months after the conservator has obtained knowledge of the existence of the contract or lease. Any provision in the contract or lease which provides for damages or cancellation fees upon termination shall not be binding on the conservator or credit union. The directors, the conservator, and the credit union are not liable for damages arising from or relating to such executory contracts.
(n) The administrator may appoint a temporary board of directors to any credit union subject to conservatorship.
(o)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, if the administrator determines that an emergency requiring expeditious action exists with respect to a credit union, that other alternatives are not reasonably available consistent with National Credit Union Administration precedent, and that the public interest, including the interests of the members of the credit union, would best be served by such action, the administrator may do either of the following:
a. Initiate the involuntary merger of a credit union that is insolvent or is in danger of insolvency with any other credit union or may authorize a credit union to purchase any of the assets of, or assume any of the liabilities of, any other credit union that is insolvent or in danger of insolvency.
b. Authorize a financial institution whose deposits or accounts are insured to purchase any of the assets of, or assume any of the liabilities of, a credit union that is insolvent or in danger of insolvency, except that prior to exercising this authority the administrator shall attempt to effect a merger with, or purchase and assumption by, another credit union as provided in paragraph a.
(2) For purposes of the authority contained in this subsection, insured share and deposit accounts of the credit union, upon consummation of the purchase and assumption, may be converted to insured deposits or other comparable accounts in the acquiring institution, and the administrator and the insuring organization shall be relieved of any liability to the credit union's members with respect to those accounts.
Last modified: May 3, 2021