§ 45-1-107 — Powers and duties of commissioner

(a) In addition to other powers conferred by this title, the commissioner has the power to: (1) Interpret this chapter and chapter 2 of this title, and regulate banking practices thereunder; (2) Restrict the withdrawal of deposits from all or one (1) or more state banks where the commissioner finds that extraordinary circumstances make the restriction necessary for the proper protection of depositors in the affected institutions; (3) Authorize a state bank to participate in a public agency hereafter created under the laws of this state or of the United States, the purpose of which is to afford advantages or safeguards to banks or to depositors and to comply with all requirements and conditions imposed upon the participants; (4) Order any person to cease violating a provision of this title or lawful regulation issued under this title; (5) Order any person to cease and desist from engaging in any unsafe or unsound banking practice when the practice is likely to cause insolvency or dissipation of assets or earnings of a state bank or is likely to otherwise seriously prejudice the interests of the depositors of a state bank; and (6) Bring an action in the chancery court of Davidson County to enjoin any act or practice in or from this state that constitutes a violation of any provision of law or any rule or order that the department has the duty to execute pursuant to § 45-1-104 . The court may not require the commissioner to post a bond in bringing the action. Upon a proper showing by the commissioner, the court shall grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, writ of mandamus, disgorgement, or other proper equitable relief including the recovery by the commissioner of costs and attorney fees. Further, to the extent that this subdivision (a)(6) does not conflict with other provisions of this title, a receiver or conservator may be appointed for the defendant or the defendant's assets. (b) The commissioner may remove a director, trustee, officer or employee of a state bank who becomes ineligible to hold the position or who, after receipt of an order to cease under subsection (a), violates this title or a lawful regulation or order issued under this title, or who is dishonest. It is a criminal offense against the state for any such persons, after receipt of a removal order, to perform any duty or exercise any power of any state bank for a period of three (3) years. A removal order shall specify the grounds of removal and a copy of the order shall be sent to the bank concerned. (c) Notice and opportunity for a hearing shall be provided in advance of any of the foregoing actions in this section taken by the commissioner, except the formulation of regulations of general application. In cases involving extraordinary circumstances requiring immediate action, the commissioner may take the action but shall promptly afford a subsequent hearing upon application to rescind the action taken. (d) The commissioner may, on petition of any interested person and after hearing, issue a declaratory order with respect to the applicability to any person, property or state of facts under this title or a rule issued by the commissioner. The order shall bind the commissioner and all parties to the proceeding on the state of facts alleged unless it is modified or reversed by a court. A declaratory order may be reviewed and enforced in the same manner as other orders of the commissioner, but the refusal to issue a declaratory order shall not be reviewable. (e) In addition to other powers conferred by this title, the commissioner has power to require a state bank to: (1) Maintain its accounts in accordance with regulations that the commissioner prescribes, having regard to the size of the organization; (2) Observe methods and standards that the commissioner prescribes for determining the value of various types of assets; (3) Charge off the whole or part of an asset that at the time of the commissioner's action could not lawfully be acquired; (4) Write down an asset to its market value; (5) Record liens and security in property or at the option of the bank, insure against losses from not recording; (6) Obtain a financial statement from a prospective borrower to the extent that the bank can do so; (7) Search, or obtain insurance of, the title to real estate taken as security; (8) Maintain adequate insurance against other risks that the commissioner determines to be necessary and appropriate for the protection of depositors and the public; and (9) Call a special meeting of the shareholders. (f) The commissioner has the power to subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, require the production of evidence, administer an oath and examine any person under oath in connection with any subject relating to duty imposed upon or a power vested in the commissioner. These powers shall be enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the hearing is held. (g) No person shall be subjected to any civil or criminal liability for any act or omission to act in good faith in reliance upon a subsisting order, regulation or definition of the commissioner, notwithstanding a subsequent decision by a court invalidating the order, regulation or definition. (h) The commissioner is granted the power to enact reasonable substantive and procedural rules to carry out the purposes of any and all chapters within the commissioner's regulatory authority as conferred by law. This power shall specifically include, but not be limited to, the authority to establish a schedule of fees to be charged by the department relative to notifications or applications to be reviewed by the department. The promulgation shall be done in conformity with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. (i) (1) The commissioner may accept payments to the department by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, electronic check or other electronic means. The commissioner may adopt reasonable policies and rules governing the manner of acceptance of such payments. (2) The commissioner may enter into appropriate agreements with card issuers or other appropriate parties as needed to facilitate the acceptance of payments authorized under this subsection (i). The commissioner may impose and collect a convenience fee from any person making payment by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, electronic check or other electronic means in order to offset the actual administrative fees and costs incurred by the department for accepting or processing such payments. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the convenience fee shall be charged in addition to all other fees, penalties, taxes and costs required by law. (3) The commissioner also may enter into appropriate agreements with third-party service providers for the acceptance and processing of payments made by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, electronic check or other electronic means. Such agreements may authorize third-party service providers to impose and collect a convenience fee from persons making such payments. (4) When a person elects to make a payment to the department by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, electronic check or other electronic means and a convenience fee is imposed and collected as authorized by this subsection (i), the payment of the convenience fee shall be deemed voluntary and shall not be refundable.

Legislative History

Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 102,s 1, eff. 4/11/2013. Acts 1969, ch. 36, § 1 (2.012); impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 137, § 2; Acts 1973, ch. 294, § 12; 1975, ch. 59, § 1; 1978, ch. 516, § 1; T.C.A., § 45-108; Acts 1992, ch. 658, § 1; 1993, ch. 130, § 1; 1994, ch. 551, § 1; 1996, ch. 562, § 2; 2001, ch. 54, §§ 1, 2.