Code Section

8201.  

(a) Whenever the commissioner determines that any institution-affiliated party or any director, officer, or employee of a savings and loan holding company or affiliate thereof has committed any of the following violations, engaged or participated in any of the following unsafe or unsound practices, or committed any of the following breaches of fiduciary duty that meet the additional criteria of subdivision (b), the commissioner may serve upon that person a written notice of the commissioner’s intent to order the removal of the person from his or her office or employment or to prohibit any further participation (in any manner) in the conduct of the affairs of any savings association, or both:

(1) Violation of any statute or regulation, any cease and desist order which has become final, any condition imposed in writing by the commissioner in connection with the grant of any application or other request by the savings association or any written agreement between the savings institution and the commissioner.

(2) Engaging or participating in any unsafe or unsound practice in connection with any savings association.

(3) Committing or engaging in any act, omission, or practice which constitutes a breach of the person’s fiduciary duty.

(b) A violation, practice, or breach specified in subdivision (a) is subject to the commissioner’s authority under this section if the commissioner finds both of the following:

(1) By reason of the violation, practice, or breach (A) the savings association has suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or other damage (B) the interests of the savings association’s depositors have been or could be prejudiced, or (C) the institution-affiliated party or other person specified in subdivision (a) has received financial gain or other benefit by reason of the violation, practice, or breach.

(2) The violation, practice, or breach (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of the institution-affiliated party or other person specified in subdivision (a) or (B) demonstrates willful or continuing disregard by the institution-affiliated party or other person for the safety or soundness of the savings institution.

(c) The written notice shall contain a full statement of the alleged violations, practices, or breaches of fiduciary duty, shall state the facts alleged in support of the violation, practice or breach, and shall state the commissioner’s intention to enter a removal or prohibition order, or both. The notice shall be delivered to the board of directors of the association, savings and loan holding company, or subsidiary, and to the institution-affiliated party or other director, officer, or employee concerned. If a hearing on the matter is requested within 10 days after service of the written notice, the commissioner shall hold a public hearing at which any pertinent evidence relating to the matters set forth in the written notice may be presented. After the hearing, the commissioner, on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing, may proceed to enter (1) an order for the immediate removal of the institution-affiliated party or director, officer, or employee affected, (2) an order prohibiting further participation by the person, in any manner, in the conduct of the affairs of any savings association, (3) a reprimand of the individuals and entities or other persons concerned, or (4) a dismissal of the entire matter.

(d) If no hearing is requested within the time specified, the commissioner may proceed to issue orders of removal, prohibition, or both on the basis of the facts set forth in the written notice.

(e) No institution-affiliated party or director, officer, or employee who has been removed from his or her position pursuant to a removal order that has become final, shall thereafter participate in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the savings association from or with respect to which that director, officer, or employee was removed, or without prior written approval of the commissioner, serve as a director, officer, or employee of any other savings association. No institution-affiliated party, including an officer, director, or employee, who is subject to an order of prohibition which has become final shall thereafter participate, in any manner, in the conduct of the affairs of any savings association.

(f) In respect to any officer, director, or employee of a savings association, savings and loan holding company or subsidiary thereof who is the subject of a written notice served by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a), the commissioner may, if the commissioner deems it necessary for the protection of the savings association or the interests of the association’s depositors, by written notice to that effect served upon the officer, director, employee, suspend him or her from office or prohibit him or her from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of the savings association or related entity, or take both these actions. The suspension or prohibition shall become effective upon service of the notice and, unless stayed by the court in proceedings authorized by subdivision (g), shall remain in effect pending completion of the proceedings pursuant to the written notice served under subdivision (a) and until the effective date of an order entered by the commissioner under subdivision (c) or (d). Copies of the notice shall also be served upon the savings association, savings and loan holding company, or subsidiary of which the person is a director, officer, or employee.

(g) Within 10 days after any director, officer, or employee has been suspended from office or prohibited from participation in the conduct of the affairs of a savings association, savings and loan holding company, or subsidiary thereof under subdivision (f), the director, officer, or employee may apply to a court having jurisdiction for a stay of the suspension or prohibition pending completion of the proceedings pursuant to subdivision (c), and the court shall have power to stay the suspension or prohibition.