HB5342eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5342 Engrossed LRB098 19293 ZMM 55277 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Credit Union Act is amended by changing Sections 1.1, 9, 30, 34, 39, and 46 and by adding Section 57.1 as follows:

(205 ILCS 305/1.1) (from Ch. 17, par. 4402)

Sec. 1.1. Definitions.

Credit Union - The term "credit union" means a cooperative, non-profit association, incorporated under this Act, under the laws of the United States of America or under the laws of another state, for the purposes of encouraging thrift among its members, creating a source of credit at a reasonable rate of interest, and providing an opportunity for its members to use and control their own money in order to improve their economic and social conditions. The membership of a credit union shall consist of a group or groups each having a common bond as set forth in this Act.

Common Bond - The term "common bond" refers to groups of people who meet one of the following qualifications:

(1) Persons belonging to a specific association, group or organization, such as a church, labor union, club or society and members of their immediate families which shall include any relative by blood or marriage or foster and adopted children.

(2) Persons who reside in a reasonably compact and well defined neighborhood or community, and members of their immediate families which shall include any relative by blood or marriage or foster and adopted children.

(3) Persons who have a common employer or who are members of an organized labor union or an organized occupational or professional group within a defined geographical area, and members of their immediate families which shall include any relative by blood or marriage or foster and adopted children.

Shares - The term "shares" or "share accounts" means any form of shares issued by a credit union and established by a member in accordance with standards specified by a credit union, including but not limited to common shares, share draft accounts, classes of shares, share certificates, special purpose share accounts, shares issued in trust, custodial accounts, and individual retirement accounts or other plans established pursuant to Section 401(d) or (f) or Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended, or similar provisions of any tax laws of the United States that may hereafter exist.

Credit Union Organization - The term "credit union organization" means any organization established to serve the needs of credit unions, the business of which relates to the daily operations of credit unions.

Department - The term "Department" means the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Secretary - The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation or a person authorized by the Secretary or this Act to act in the Secretary's stead.

Division of Financial Institutions - The term "Division of Financial Institutions" means the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Director - The term "Director of Financial Institutions" means the Director of the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Office - The term "office" means the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

NCUA - The term "NCUA" means the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the United States Government charged with the supervision of credit unions chartered under the laws of the United States of America.

Central Credit Union - The term "central credit union" means a credit union incorporated primarily to receive shares from and make loans to credit unions and directors, officers, committee members and employees of credit unions. A central credit union may also accept as members persons who were members of credit unions which were liquidated and persons from occupational groups not otherwise served by another credit union.

Corporate Credit Union - The term "corporate credit union" means a credit union which is a cooperative, non-profit association, the membership of which is limited primarily to other credit unions.

Insolvent - "Insolvent" means the condition that results when the total of all liabilities and shares exceeds net assets of the credit union.

Danger of insolvency - For purposes of Section 61, a credit union is in "danger of insolvency" if its net worth to asset ratio falls below 2%. In calculating the danger of insolvency ratio, secondary capital shall be excluded. For purposes of Section 61, a credit union is also in "danger of insolvency" if the Department is unable to ascertain, upon examination, the true financial condition of the credit union.

Net Worth - "Net worth" means the retained earnings balance of the credit union, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, and forms of secondary capital approved by the Secretary and the Director pursuant to rulemaking.

Charitable Donation Account – The term "charitable donation account" means an account owned by a credit union that is held in a segregated custodial account or special purpose entity and specifically identified as a charitable donation account whereby, no less frequently than every 5 years and upon termination of the account, at least 51% of the total return on assets in the account is distributed to one or more charitable organizations or non-profit entities.

(Source: P.A. 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/9) (from Ch. 17, par. 4410)

Sec. 9. Reports and examinations.

(1) Credit unions shall report to the Department on forms supplied by the Department, in accordance with a schedule published by the Department. A recapitulation of the annual reports shall be compiled and published annually by the Department, for the use of the General Assembly, credit unions, various educational institutions and other interested parties. A credit union which fails to file any report when due shall pay to the Department a late filing fee for each day the report is overdue as prescribed by rule. The Secretary may extend the time for filing a report.

(2) The Secretary may require special examinations of and special financial reports from a credit union or a credit union organization in which a credit union loans, invests, or delegates substantially all managerial duties and responsibilities when he determines that such examinations and reports are necessary to enable the Department to determine the safety of a credit union's operation or its solvency. The cost to the Department of the aforesaid special examinations shall be borne by the credit union being examined as prescribed by rule.

(3) All credit unions incorporated under this Act shall be examined at least biennially by the Department or, at the discretion of the Secretary, by a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The costs of an examination shall be paid by the credit union. The scope of all examinations by a public accountant shall be at least equal to the examinations made by the Department. The examiners shall have full access to, and may compel the production of, all the books, papers, securities and accounts of any credit union. A special examination shall be made by the Department or by a public accountant approved by the Department upon written request of 5 or more members, who guarantee the expense of the same. Any credit union refusing to submit to an examination when ordered by the Department shall be reported to the Attorney General, who shall institute proceedings to have its charter revoked. If the Secretary determines that the examination of a credit union is to be conducted by a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the examination is done in conjunction with the credit union's external independent audit of financial statements, the requirements of this Section and subsection (3) of Section 34 shall be deemed met.

(3.5) Pursuant to Section 8, the Secretary shall adopt rules that ensure consistency and due process in the examination process. The Secretary may also establish guidelines that (i) define the scope of the examination process and (ii) clarify examination items to be resolved. The rules, formal guidance, interpretative letters, or opinions furnished to credit unions by the Secretary may be relied upon by the credit unions.

(4) A copy of the completed report of examination and a review comment letter, if any, citing exceptions revealed during the examination, shall be submitted to the credit union by the Department. A detailed report stating the corrective actions taken by the board of directors on each exception set forth in the review comment letter shall be filed with the Department within 40 days after the date of the review comment letter, or as otherwise directed by the Department. Any credit union through its officers, directors, committee members or employees, which willfully provides fraudulent or misleading information regarding the corrective actions taken on exceptions appearing in a review comment letter may have its operations restricted to the collection of principal and interest on loans outstanding and the payment of normal expenses and salaries until all exceptions are corrected and accepted by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/30) (from Ch. 17, par. 4431)

Sec. 30. Duties of directors.

(a) It shall be the duty of the directors to:

(1) Review actions on applications for membership. A record of the membership committee's approval or denial of membership or management's approval or denial of membership if no membership committee has been appointed shall be available to the board of directors for inspection. A person denied membership by the membership committee or credit union management may appeal the denial to the board;

(2) Provide adequate fidelity bond coverage for officers, employees, directors and committee members, and for losses caused by persons outside of the credit union, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary;

(3) Determine from time to time the interest rates, not in excess of that allowed under this Act, which shall be charged on loans to members and to authorize interest refunds, if any, to members from income earned and received in proportion to the interest paid by them on such classes of loans and under such conditions as the board prescribes. The directors may establish different interest rates to be charged on different classes of loans;

(4) Within any limitations set forth in the credit union's bylaws, fix the maximum amount which may be loaned with and without security to a member;

(5) Declare dividends on various classes of shares in the manner and form as provided in the bylaws;

(6) Limit the number of shares which may be owned by a member; such limitations to apply alike to all members;

(7) Have charge of the investment of funds, except that the board of directors may designate an investment committee or any qualified individual or entity to have charge of making investments under policies established by the board of directors;

(8) Authorize the employment of or contracting with such persons or organizations as may be necessary to carry on the operations of the credit union, provided that prior approval is received from the Department before delegating substantially all managerial duties and responsibilities to a credit union organization, and fix the compensation, if any, of the officers and provide for compensation for other employees within policies established by the board of directors;

(9) Authorize the conveyance of property;

(10) Borrow or lend money consistent with the provisions of this Act;

(11) Designate a depository or depositories for the funds of the credit union and supervise the investment of funds;

(12) Suspend or remove, or both, any or all officers or any or all members of the membership, credit, or other committees whenever, in the judgment of the board of directors, the best interests of the credit union will be served thereby; provided that members of the supervisory committee may not be suspended or removed except for failure to perform their duties; and provided that removal of any officer shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed;

(13) Appoint any special committees deemed necessary; and

(14) Perform such other duties as the members may direct, and perform or authorize any action not inconsistent with this Act and not specifically reserved by the bylaws to the members.

(b) The board of directors may delegate to the chief management official, according to guidelines established by the board that may include the authority to further delegate one or more duties, all of the following duties:

(1) determining the interest rates on loans;

(2) determining the dividend rates on share accounts; and

(3) hiring employees other than the chief management official and fixing their compensation.

(c) Each director shall have a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices consistent with the size and complexity of the credit union operation they serve, including the ability to read and understand the credit union's balance sheet and income and expense statements and the ability to ask, when appropriate, substantive questions of management and auditors. For the purposes of this subsection (c), substantive questions include queries concerning financial services and products offered to the membership; how those activities generate revenue for the credit union; the credit, liquidity, interest rate, compliance, strategic, transaction, and reputation risks associated with those activities; and the internal control structures maintained by the credit union that limit and manage those risks.

A director who was elected or appointed on or after January 1, 2015 and who comes to the position without the requisite financial skills shall have until 6 months after the date of election or appointment to acquire the enumerated skills.

An incumbent director who was elected or appointed before January 1, 2015 and does not possess the requisite financial skills shall have until July 1, 2015 to acquire the enumerated skills.

An incumbent director or a director who is elected or appointed on or after January 1, 2015 who already understands his or her credit union's financial statements shall not be required to do anything further to satisfy the financial skills requirement set forth in subsection (c).

It is the intent of the Department that all credit union directors possess a basic understanding of their credit union's financial condition. It is not the intent of the Department to subject credit union directors to examiner scrutiny of their financial skills. Rather, the Department shall evaluate whether the credit union has in place a policy to make available to their directors appropriate training to enhance their financial knowledge of the credit union. Directors may receive the training through internal credit union training, external training offered by the credit union's retained auditors, trade associations, vendors, regulatory agencies, or any other sources or on-the-job experience, or a combination of those activities. The training may be received through any medium, including, but not limited to, conferences, workshops, audit closing meetings, seminars, teleconferences, webinars, and other internet based delivery channels.

(Source: P.A. 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/34) (from Ch. 17, par. 4435)

Sec. 34. Duties of supervisory committee.

(1) The supervisory committee shall make or cause to be made an annual internal audit of the books and affairs of the credit union to determine that the credit union's accounting records and reports are prepared promptly and accurately reflect operations and results, that internal controls are established and effectively maintained to safeguard the assets of the credit union, and that the policies, procedures and practices established by the board of directors and management of the credit union are being properly administered. The supervisory committee shall submit a report of that audit to the board of directors and a summary of that report to the members at the next annual meeting of the credit union. It shall make or cause to be made such supplementary audits as it deems necessary or as are required by the Secretary or by the board of directors, and submit reports of these supplementary audits to the Secretary or board of directors as applicable. If the supervisory committee has not engaged a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to make the internal audit, the supervisory committee or other officials of the credit union shall not indicate or in any manner imply that such audit has been performed by a public accountant or that the audit represents the independent opinion of a public accountant. The supervisory committee must retain its tapes and working papers of each internal audit for inspection by the Department. The report of this audit must be made on a form approved by the Secretary. A copy of the report must be promptly mailed to the Secretary.

(2) The supervisory committee shall make or cause to be made at least once each year a reasonable percentage verification of members' share and loan accounts, consistent with rules promulgated by the Secretary.

(3) The supervisory committee of a credit union with assets of $5,000,000 or more shall engage a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to perform an annual external independent audit of the credit union's financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The supervisory committee of a credit union with assets of $3,000,000 or more, but less than $5,000,000, shall engage a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to perform an external independent audit of the credit union's financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards at least once every 3 years. A copy of an external independent audit shall be completed and mailed to the Secretary no later than 90 days after December 31 of each year; provided that a credit union or group of credit unions may obtain an extension of the due date upon application to and receipt of written approval from the Secretary. If the annual internal audit of such a credit union is conducted by a public accountant registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the annual internal audit is done in conjunction with the credit union's annual external audit, the requirements of subsection (1) of this Section shall be deemed met.

(4) In determining the appropriate balance in the allowance for loan losses account, a credit union may determine its historical loss rate using a defined period of time of less than 5 years, provided that:

(A) the methodology used to determine the defined period of time is formally documented in the credit union's policies and procedures and is appropriate to the credit union's size, business strategy, and loan portfolio characteristics and the economic environment of the areas and employers served by the credit union;

(B) supporting documentation is maintained for the technique used to develop the credit union loss rates, including the period of time used to accumulate historical loss data and the factors considered in establishing the time frames; and

(C) the external auditor conducting the credit union's financial statement audit has analyzed the methodology employed by the credit union and concludes that the financial statements, including the allowance for loan losses, are fairly stated in all material respects in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

(5) A majority of the members of the supervisory committee shall constitute a quorum.

(6) On an annual basis commencing January 1, 2015, the members of the supervisory committee shall receive training related to their statutory duties. Supervisory committee members may receive the training through internal credit union training, external training offered by the credit union's retained auditors, trade associations, vendors, regulatory agencies, or any other sources or on-the-job experience, or a combination of those activities. The training may be received through any medium, including, but not limited to, conferences, workshops, audit closing meetings, seminars, teleconferences, webinars, and other Internet-based delivery channels.

(Source: P.A. 96-141, eff. 8-7-09; 96-963, eff. 7-2-10; 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/39) (from Ch. 17, par. 4440)

Sec. 39. Special purpose share accounts; charitable donation accounts.

(1) If provided for in and consistent with the bylaws, Christmas clubs, vacation clubs and other special purpose share accounts may be established and offered under conditions and restrictions established by the board of directors.

(2) Pursuant to a policy adopted by the board of directors, which may be amended from time to time, a credit union may establish one or more charitable donation accounts. The investments and purchases to fund a charitable donation account are not subject to the investment limitations of this Act, provided the charitable donation account is structured in accordance with this Act. At their time of purchase, the book value of the investments in all charitable donation accounts, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 5% of the credit union's net worth.

(a) If a credit union chooses to establish a charitable donation account using a trust vehicle, the trustee must be an entity regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, another federal regulatory agency, or a State financial regulatory agency. A regulated trustee or other person who is authorized to make investment decisions for a charitable donation account, other than the credit union itself, shall either be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor or regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

(b) The parties to the charitable donation account must document the terms and conditions controlling the account in a written operating agreement, trust agreement, or similar instrument. The terms of the agreement shall be consistent with the requirements and conditions set forth in this Section. The agreement, if applicable, and policies must document the investment strategies of the charitable donation account trustee or other manager in administering the charitable donation account and provide for the accounting of all aspects of the account, including its distributions and liquidation, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(c) A credit union's charitable donation account agreement, if applicable, and policies shall provide that the charitable organization or non-profit entity recipients of any charitable donation account funds must be identified in the policy and be exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(d) Upon termination of a charitable donation account, the credit union may receive a distribution of the remaining assets in cash, or a distribution in kind of the remaining assets, but only if those assets are permissible investments for credit unions pursuant to this Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/46) (from Ch. 17, par. 4447)

Sec. 46. Loans and interest rate.

(1) A credit union may make loans to its members for such purpose and upon such security and terms, including rates of interest, as the credit committee, credit manager, or loan officer approves. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law in connection with extensions of credit, a credit union may elect to contract for and receive interest and fees and other charges for extensions of credit subject only to the provisions of this Act and rules promulgated under this Act, except that extensions of credit secured by residential real estate shall be subject to the laws applicable thereto. The rates of interest to be charged on loans to members shall be set by the board of directors of each individual credit union in accordance with Section 30 of this Act and such rates may be less than, but may not exceed, the maximum rate set forth in this Section. A borrower may repay his loan prior to maturity, in whole or in part, without penalty. The credit contract may provide for the payment by the member and receipt by the credit union of all costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees and collection agency charges, incurred by the credit union to collect or enforce the debt in the event of a delinquency by the member, or in the event of a breach of any obligation of the member under the credit contract. A contingency or hourly arrangement established under an agreement entered into by a credit union with an attorney or collection agency to collect a loan of a member in default shall be presumed prima facie reasonable.

(2) Credit unions may make loans based upon the security of any interest or equity in real estate, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary. In any contract or loan which is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or conveyance in the nature of a mortgage, on residential real estate, the interest which is computed, calculated, charged, or collected pursuant to such contract or loan, or pursuant to any regulation or rule promulgated pursuant to this Act, may not be computed, calculated, charged or collected for any period of time occurring after the date on which the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties, is paid in full.

For purposes of this subsection (2) of this Section 46, a prepayment shall mean the payment of the total indebtedness, with the exception of late payment penalties if incurred or charged, on any date before the date specified in the contract or loan agreement on which the total indebtedness shall be paid in full, or before the date on which all payments, if timely made, shall have been made. In the event of a prepayment of the indebtedness which is made on a date after the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged, or collected but before the next date on which interest on the indebtedness was to be calculated, computed, charged, or collected, the lender may calculate, charge and collect interest on the indebtedness for the period which elapsed between the date on which the prepayment is made and the date on which interest on the indebtedness was last computed, calculated, charged or collected at a rate equal to 1/360 of the annual rate for each day which so elapsed, which rate shall be applied to the indebtedness outstanding as of the date of prepayment. The lender shall refund to the borrower any interest charged or collected which exceeds that which the lender may charge or collect pursuant to the preceding sentence. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1985 shall apply only to contracts or loans entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a credit union authorized under this Act to make loans secured by an interest or equity in real estate may engage in making "reverse mortgage" loans to persons for the purpose of making home improvements or repairs, paying insurance premiums or paying real estate taxes on the homestead properties of such persons. If made, such loans shall be made on such terms and conditions as the credit union shall determine and as shall be consistent with the provisions of this Section and such rules and regulations as the Secretary shall promulgate hereunder. For purposes of this Section, a "reverse mortgage" loan shall be a loan extended on the basis of existing equity in homestead property and secured by a mortgage on such property. Such loans shall be repaid upon the sale of the property or upon the death of the owner or, if the property is in joint tenancy, upon the death of the last surviving joint tenant who had such an interest in the property at the time the loan was initiated, provided, however, that the credit union and its member may by mutual agreement, establish other repayment terms. A credit union, in making a "reverse mortgage" loan, may add deferred interest to principal or otherwise provide for the charging of interest or premiums on such deferred interest. "Homestead" property, for purposes of this Section, means the domicile and contiguous real estate owned and occupied by the mortgagor.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, a credit union authorized under this Act to make loans secured by an interest or equity in real property may engage in making revolving credit loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust on such real property or by security assignments of beneficial interests in land trusts.

For purposes of this Section, "revolving credit" has the meaning defined in Section 4.1 of the Interest Act.

Any mortgage or deed of trust given to secure a revolving credit loan may, and when so expressed therein shall, secure not only the existing indebtedness but also such future advances, whether such advances are obligatory or to be made at the option of the lender, or otherwise, as are made within twenty years from the date thereof, to the same extent as if such future advances were made on the date of the execution of such mortgage or deed of trust, although there may be no advance made at the time of execution of such mortgage or other instrument, and although there may be no indebtedness outstanding at the time any advance is made. The lien of such mortgage or deed of trust, as to third persons without actual notice thereof, shall be valid as to all such indebtedness and future advances form the time said mortgage or deed of trust is filed for record in the office of the recorder of deeds or the registrar of titles of the county where the real property described therein is located. The total amount of indebtedness that may be so secured may increase or decrease from time to time, but the total unpaid balance so secured at any one time shall not exceed a maximum principal amount which must be specified in such mortgage or deed of trust, plus interest thereon, and any disbursements made for the payment of taxes, special assessments, or insurance on said real property, with interest on such disbursements.

Any such mortgage or deed of trust shall be valid and have priority over all subsequent liens and encumbrances, including statutory liens, except taxes and assessments levied on said real property.

(5) Compliance with federal or Illinois preemptive laws or regulations governing loans made by a credit union chartered under this Act shall constitute compliance with this Act.

(6) Credit unions may make residential real estate mortgage loans on terms and conditions established by the United States Department of Agriculture through its Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Program. The portion of any loan in excess of the appraised value of the real estate shall be allocable only to the guarantee fee required under the program.

(7) For a renewal, refinancing, or restructuring of an existing loan that is secured by an interest or equity in real estate, a new appraisal of the collateral shall not be required when the transaction involves an existing extension of credit at the credit union, no new moneys are advanced other than funds necessary to cover reasonable closing costs, and there has been no obvious or material change in market conditions or physical aspects of the real estate that threatens the adequacy of the credit union's real estate collateral protection after the transaction.

(Source: P.A. 96-141, eff. 8-7-09; 97-133, eff. 1-1-12.)

(205 ILCS 305/57.1 new)

Sec. 57.1. Services to other credit unions.

(a) A credit union may act as a representative of and enter into an agreement with credit unions or other organizations for the purpose of:

(1) sharing, utilizing, renting, leasing, purchasing, selling, and joint ownership of fixed assets or engaging in activities and services that relate to the daily operations of credit unions; and

(2) providing correspondent services to other credit unions that the service provider credit union is authorized to perform for its own members or as part of its operations, including, but not limited to, loan processing, loan servicing, member check cashing services, disbursing share withdrawals and loan proceeds, cashing and selling money orders, ACH and wire transfer services, coin and currency services, performing internal audits, and automated teller machine deposit services.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.