655.037 Removal of a financial
institution-affiliated party by the department. ---
(1) The department may issue and serve upon any
financial institution-affiliated party and upon the state financial
institution, subsidiary, or service corporation involved, a
complaint stating charges whenever the department has reason to
believe that the financial institution-affiliated party is engaging
or has engaged in conduct that is:
(a) An unsafe or unsound practice;
(b) A prohibited act or practice;
(c) A willful violation of any law relating to financial
institutions;
(d) A violation of any other law involving fraud or moral
turpitude which constitutes a felony;
(e) A violation of s. 655.50, relating to the Florida
Control of Money Laundering in Financial Institutions Act; chapter
896, relating to offenses related to financial transactions; or any
similar state or federal law;
(f) A willful violation of any rule of the
department;
(g) A willful violation of any order of the
department;
(h) A willful breach of any written agreement with the
department; or
(i) An act of commission or omission or a practice which
is a breach of trust or a breach of fiduciary duty.
(2) The complaint must contain the statement of facts
and notice of opportunity for a hearing pursuant to s.
120.57.
(3) If no hearing is requested within the time allowed
by s. 120.57, or if a hearing is held and the department finds
that any of the charges in the complaint are true and that the
state financial institution has suffered or will likely suffer loss
or other damage or that the interests of the depositors, members,
or shareholders could be seriously prejudiced by reason of such
violation or practice or breach of fiduciary duty or that the
financial institution-affiliated party has received financial gain
by reason of such violation, practice, or breach of fiduciary duty,
and that such violation, practice, or breach of fiduciary duty is
one involving personal dishonesty on the part of such financial
institution-affiliated party or a continuing disregard for the
safety or soundness of the state financial institution, subsidiary,
or service corporation, the department may enter an order removing
the financial institution-affiliated party or restricting or
prohibiting participation by such financial institution-affiliated
party in the affairs of that particular state financial
institution, subsidiary, or service corporation or any other state
financial institution, subsidiary, or service
corporation.
(4) If the financial institution-affiliated party
fails to respond to the complaint within the time allowed in s.
120.57, such failure constitutes a default and justifies the entry
of an order of removal.
(5) A contested or default order of removal is
effective when reduced to writing and served on the state financial
institution, subsidiary, or service corporation and the financial
institution-affiliated party. An uncontested order of removal is
effective as agreed.
(6)
(a) The chief executive officer, or the person holding the
equivalent office, of a state financial institution shall promptly
notify the department if he has actual knowledge that any
financial institution-affiliated party is charged with a felony in
a state or federal court.
(b) Whenever any financial institution-affiliated party is
charged with a felony in a state or federal court, or in the
courts of any foreign country with which the United States
maintains diplomatic relations, and such charge alleges violation
of any law involving fraud, currency transaction reporting, money
laundering, theft, or moral turpitude and the charge under such
foreign law is equivalent to a felony charge under state or federal
law, the department may enter an emergency order suspending such
financial institution-affiliated party or restricting or
prohibiting participation by such financial institution-affiliated
party in the affairs of that particular state financial
institution, subsidiary, or service corporation or any other
financial institution, subsidiary, or service corporation, upon
service of the order upon the state financial institution,
subsidiary, or service corporation and the financial
institution-affiliated party so charged. The order shall contain
notice of opportunity for a hearing pursuant to s. 120.57, where
the financial institution-affiliated party may request a
postsuspension hearing to show that continued service to or
participation in the affairs of the state financial institution,
subsidiary, or service corporation does not pose a threat to the
interests of the state financial institution's depositors, members,
or stockholders, or threaten to impair public confidence in the
state financial institution. In accordance with applicable
departmental rules, the department shall notify the financial
institution-affiliated party whether the order suspending or
prohibiting the financial institution-affiliated party from
participation in the affairs of a state financial institution,
subsidiary, or service corporation will be rescinded or otherwise
modified. The emergency order will remain in effect, unless
otherwise modified by the department, until the criminal charge is
disposed of. The acquittal of the financial institution-affiliated
party charged, or the final, unappealed dismissal of all charges
against such person, will dissolve the emergency order, but will
not prohibit the department from instituting proceedings under
subsection (1). If the financial institution-affiliated party
charged is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere, whether
or not an adjudication of guilt is entered by the court, the
emergency order becomes final.
(7) Any financial institution-affiliated party removed
from office pursuant to this section is not eligible for
reelection to such position or to any official position in any
financial institution in this state except with the written consent
of the department. Any financial institution-affiliated party who
is removed, restricted, or prohibited from participation in the
affairs of a state financial institution pursuant to this section
may petition the department for modification or termination of any
such removal, restriction, or prohibition.
(8) The resignation, termination of employment or
participation, or separation from a state financial institution,
subsidiary, or service corporation of the financial
institution-affiliated party does not affect the jurisdiction and
authority of the department to issue any notice and proceed under
this section against such financial institution-affiliated party,
if such notice is served before the end of the 6-year period
beginning on the date such person ceases to be such a financial
institution-affiliated party with respect to such state financial
institution, subsidiary, or service
corporation.
History: s. 1, ch. 80-273; s. 439, ch. 81-259; ss. 5, 6, ch. 84-216;
s. 39, ch. 85-62; s. 1, ch. 85-65; s. 4, ch. 89-229; s. 1, ch.
90-51; s. 1, ch. 91-307; ss. 1, 17, ch. 92-303.