Section 7-1-394. Investigation; approval or disapproval by department; abbreviated procedures

   (a) Upon receipt of the articles and the filings and fees from the incorporators as required by Code Section 7-1-393, the department shall conduct such investigation as it may deem necessary to ascertain whether it should approve the proposed bank or trust company. The department shall approve the bank or trust company if and only if it determines in its discretion that:

   (1) The articles and supporting items satisfy the requirements of this chapter;

   (2) The convenience and needs of the public will be served by the proposed bank or trust company;

   (3) There is a reasonable promise of adequate support for the bank or trust company in the light of:

      (A) The competition offered by existing banks and trust companies and other financial institutions;

      (B) The previous financial history of the community as to banks, trust companies, and other financial institutions;

      (C) As to banks, the opportunities for profitable employment of bank funds as indicated by the average demand for credit, the number of potential depositors, the volume of bank transactions, and the businesses and industries of the community with particular regard to their stability, diversification, and size; and

      (D) As to trust companies, the opportunities for profitable employment of fiduciary or other representative services;

   (4) The character and fitness of the incorporators, of the directors, and of the proposed officers are such as to command the confidence of the community and to warrant the belief that the business of the proposed bank or trust company will be honestly and efficiently conducted;

   (5) There has not been any material violation of Code Section 7-1-391, so that approving the articles would, in the opinion of the department, impair the policy manifested by that provision;

   (6) The capital structure of the proposed bank or trust company is adequate in relation to the amount and character of the anticipated business of the bank or trust company and the safety of prospective depositors; and

   (7) In the case of trust companies, the proposed company will have sufficient personnel with adequate knowledge and experience to administer fiduciary accounts.

(b) Within 90 days after receipt of the articles and the filings and fees from the incorporators as required by Code Section 7-1-393, the department shall approve or disapprove the proposed bank or trust company. In giving approval, the department may impose conditions to be satisfied prior to the issuance of a permit to do business under Code Section 7-1-396. If the department, in its discretion, shall approve the proposed bank or trust company with or without conditions, it shall deliver its written approval of the articles to the Secretary of State and notify the incorporators of its action, provided that if the approval of a federal public body is also required with respect to the bank or trust company, then the department may, at its option, withhold its written approval from the Secretary of State until such approval is given and may, at its option, withdraw its approval if the federal public body refuses to grant its approval to the bank or trust company. If the department, in its discretion, shall disapprove the proposed bank or trust company, it shall notify the incorporators of its disapproval and state generally the unfavorable factors influencing its decision. The decision of the department shall be conclusive, except that it may be subject to judicial review as provided in Code Section 7-1-90.

(b.1) The procedure and criteria used in the review of a request to establish an additional banking location pursuant to Code Sections 7-1-601 and 7-1-602 may be streamlined and abbreviated as provided by departmental rule, regulation, or written policy.

(c) Nothing contained in this Code section, Code Section 7-1-608, or Code Section 7-1-622 shall limit the authority of the department to approve the organization of a special purpose bank or trust company which does not do a general banking business with the public but is organized for the purpose of conducting a limited banking business which facilitates the economic, commercial, or export-import trade growth of this state. The department may establish, by rule or by condition to its approval of articles of incorporation of any special bank or of any credit card bank incorporated under the provisions of Chapter 5 of this title, such special provisions concerning distribution of ownership, composition of the board of directors, bylaws, or the conduct of corporate affairs for any such special purpose bank or credit card bank incorporated under the provisions of Chapter 5 of this title as it determines to be consistent with the special nature of such charters and their efficient operation and safe and sound banking practice; provided, however, in no event shall fewer than a majority of the directors of such special purpose bank or credit card bank be residents of this state.

(d) The department shall not approve articles for any trust company that is not also a bank or an affiliated trust company as defined in Code Section 7-1-320.

(e) The department may utilize in its investigation process such reports from other bank supervisory agencies as are pertinent to the requirements of Georgia law.

Ga. L. 1925, p. 119, § 1; Code 1933, § 13-905; Ga. L. 1949, p. 308, § 1; Ga. L. 1951, p. 287, § 1; Ga. L. 1966, p. 692, § 11; Code 1933, § 41A-1805, enacted by Ga. L. 1974, p. 705, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 602, § 11; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1211, § 7; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1257, § 6; Ga. L. 1990, p. 8, § 7; Ga. L. 1993, p. 511, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 848, § 6; Ga. L. 1998, p. 795, § 16.