Chapter 1

§ 101 Definitions. For the purpose of this Code and any other laws of this State relating to banks or banking, unless otherwise specifically defined, or unless another intention clearly appears, or unless the context requires a different meaning: (1) “Affiliate” means a person that directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with, the person specified. (2) “Automated service branch” means an automated teller machine, cash dispensing machine or other electronic facility located in this State installed or operated by any bank, remote from its main office or any branch office, by which funds may be deposited into or withdrawn from established accounts, advances may be obtained against previously authorized lines of credit, transfers of funds between accounts may be made, loan and other payments may be made or cash may be received or dispensed. (3) “Bank” means every bank and every corporation conducting a banking business of any kind or plan whose principal place of business is in this State, except a national bank. (4) “Banking organization” means: a. A bank or bank and trust company organized and existing under the laws of this State; b. A national bank, including a federal savings bank, with its principal office in this State; c. An Edge Act corporation organized pursuant to § 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. § 611 et seq., or a state chartered corporation exercising the powers granted thereunder pursuant to an agreement with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and maintaining an office in this State; d. A federal branch or agency licensed pursuant to § 4 and § 5 of the International Banking Act of 1978, 12 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq., to maintain an office in this State; e. A foreign bank branch, foreign bank limited purpose branch or foreign bank agency organized pursuant to Chapter 14 of this title, or a resulting branch in this State of a foreign bank authorized pursuant to Chapter 14 of this title; or f. A resulting branch in this State of an out-of-state bank (as defined in § 795 of this title, and also including branch offices in this State of an out-of-state bank, as defined in § 795 of this title). (5) The terms “borrowing,” “deposit” and “extension of credit” as they relate to the activities of international banking facilities shall have the meanings ascribed to them in pertinent regulations adopted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as such regulations may be amended from time to time. (6) “Capital stock” means both common stock and preferred stock. (7) “Commissioner” means the State Bank Commissioner. (8) “Control” means, directly or indirectly or acting through one or more other persons, to own, control or have the power to vote 25 percent or more of any class of voting securities, to control in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or trustees, or to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank, trust company, other financial institution or any other company. (9) “Digital asset” means any digital representation of value which is recorded on a cryptographically-secured distributed ledger or other similar technology, including virtual currency. (10) “Financial institution” means any bank, trust company or other institution or person either licensed under this title or subject to the supervision and regulation of the State Bank Commissioner. (11) “Foreign bank” means any company organized under the laws of a foreign country, a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or the Virgin Islands, which engages in the business of banking, or any subsidiary or affiliate, organized under such laws, of any such company. The term “foreign bank” includes, without limitation, foreign commercial banks, foreign merchant banks and other foreign institutions that engage in banking activities usual in connection with the business of banking in the countries where such foreign companies are organized or operating. (12) “Foreign bank agency” means an office in this State of a foreign bank that is exercising the powers authorized by § 1404(b) of this title. (13) “Foreign bank branch” means an office in this State of a foreign bank that is exercising the powers authorized by § 1404(a) of this title. (14) “Foreign bank limited purpose branch” means an office in this State of a foreign bank that is exercising the powers authorized by § 1404(c) of this title. (15) “Foreign country” means any country other than the United States, and includes any colony, dependency or possession of any such country. (16) “International banking facility” means a set of asset and liability accounts, segregated on the books and records of a banking organization, that includes only international banking facility deposits, borrowings and extensions of credit. (17) “International banking transaction” means any of the following transactions, whether engaged in by a banking organization, any foreign branch thereof (established pursuant to § 771 of this title or federal law) or any subsidiary corporation directly or indirectly owned by any banking organization: a. The financing of the exportation from, or the importation into, the United States or between jurisdictions abroad of tangible property or services; b. The financing of the production, preparation, storage or transportation of tangible personal property or services which are identifiable as being directly and solely for export from, or import into, the United States or between jurisdictions abroad; c. The financing of contracts, projects or activities to be performed substantially abroad, except those transactions secured by a mortgage, deed of trust or other lien upon real property located in this State; d. The receipt of deposits or borrowings or the extensions of credit by an international banking facility, except the loan or deposit of funds secured by mortgage, deed of trust or other lien upon real property located in this State; e. The underwriting, distributing and dealing in debt and equity securities outside of the United States and the conduct of any activities permissible to a banking organization described in subsection (4)c. of this section, or any of its subsidiaries, in connection with the transaction of banking or other financial operations; or f. The entering into foreign exchange trading or hedging transactions in connection with the activities described in paragraphs a. through e. of this subdivision. (18) “National bank” means a banking association organized under the authority of the United States and having a principal place of business in this State. (19) “Person” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated association or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein. (20) “Representative office” means an office in this State of a foreign bank that is exercising the powers authorized by § 1423 of this title. (21) “Subsidiary” means any association, corporation, partnership, statutory trust, business trust or other similar organization, having offices and exercising its powers within or without the State, that is controlled by a bank, trust company, other financial institution or any other company through: a. Direct or indirect ownership or control of 25 percent or more of the voting rights; b. Control of the election of majority of the directors; or c. The power, directly or indirectly, to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the organization. (22) “Trust company” means a trust company or corporation or limited liability company doing a trust company business which has a principal place of business in this State. (23) “Virtual currency” means a digital representation of value that is used as a medium of exchange, unit of account, or store of value; and is not money, whether or not denominated in money; and does not include any of the following: a. A transaction in which a merchant grants, as part of an affinity or rewards program, value that cannot be taken from or exchanged with the merchant for money, bank credit, or virtual currency . b. A digital representation of value issued by or on behalf of a publisher and used solely within an online game, game platform, or family of games sold by the same publisher or offered on the same game platform. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  1 ; Code 1935, §§  2274, 2289; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  101; 60 Del. Laws, c. 349, §  1 ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 544, §  1 ; 64 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  2 ; 65 Del. Laws, c. 444, §  2 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  2 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §§  1, 2 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §§  1-4 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 16, §§  1, 2 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 112, §§  1-4 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  2 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  2 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 35, §§  2-5 ; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, §  3 ; 76 Del. Laws, c. 383, §  1 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 337, § 2 ; § 103 Deputies and other employees. (a) The State Bank Commissioner may appoint not more than 2 deputies and may employ such personnel as shall be necessary for making examinations of and giving adequate supervision over the corporations under the jurisdiction of the State Bank Commissioner. The Commissioner shall lend such aid and counsel to the officers and directors of those corporations as the situation or the circumstances may require, and in general, properly conduct the affairs of the Commissioner’s office and discharge in a proper manner the duties imposed upon the Commissioner by law. (b) The tenure, duties and compensation of the persons appointed or employed under subsection (a) of this section shall be determined by the State Bank Commissioner as provided by law, in a manner consistent with the Merit System of Personnel Administration, Chapter 59 of Title 29, where applicable. (c) Upon the removal, resignation, death or disability of any person appointed or employed under subsection (a) of this section, the vacancy may be filled by the State Bank Commissioner. (d) The State Bank Commissioner may contract for and procure such additional and independent consulting, legal and other technical and professional services as may be required for discharge of the duties of the office. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  2 ; 36 Del. Laws, c. 89, §  2 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(2) ; Code 1935, §  2275; 43 Del. Laws, c. 135, §  1 ; 48 Del. Laws, c. 225, §  1 ; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  103; 49 Del. Laws, c. 16 ; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §§  16B-16D ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 385, §  1 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §§  3, 4 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 337, § 3 ; § 104 Qualifications of Commissioner and employees. The Commissioner and the employees who work for the Commissioner shall be selected with respect to their knowledge of and experience in banking and accounting. The Commissioner shall be a resident of the State. The Commissioner and the employees who work for the Commissioner shall not be stockholders in any corporation coming under this title. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  3 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(3) ; Code 1935, §  2276; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  104; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §§  16E, 16F ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 359, §  1 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §  5 ; § 105 Office; expenses; account of receipts; Regulatory Revolving Fund [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 62, § 124, effective July 1, 2025]. (a) The principal office of the Commissioner shall be in Dover. The necessary expenses of the office, the salaries or compensation of the Commissioner and the employees who work for the Commissioner, and the necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their respective duties shall be paid by the Secretary of Finance when and as vouchers therefor are presented to him or her by the Commissioner or the Secretary of State. (b) There is hereby created within the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund which shall be used in the operation of the Office of the State Bank Commissioner in the performance of the various functions and duties required of the Office by law. (c) All supervisory assessments, examination fees, payment for costs and expenses in acting as a receiver, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the operation of the office and any investigation fees collected by the Commissioner pursuant to this title shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of said State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund to be used in the operation of the Office as authorized by the General Assembly in its annual operating budget. All other fees and/or taxes collected by the Commissioner shall not be deposited in said fund but shall be deposited in the General Fund. (d) Money reposing in the State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund shall be used by the Commissioner in the performance of the Commissioner’s various functions and duties as provided by law, subject always to annual appropriations by the General Assembly for salaries and other routine operating expenses of the Office. The Council on Banking shall submit comments on the budget request of the Commissioner to the Secretary of State, the Governor and members of the General Assembly. (e) The maximum unencumbered balance which shall remain in the State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be 15 percent of the total budget for the previous year and any amount in excess thereof shall be reverted to each financial institution in an amount proportionate to the sum paid by that financial institution in the previous calendar year pursuant to § 127(b) of this title in such a manner as prescribed by the State Bank Commissioner and submitted to the Council on Banking. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  4 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(4) ; Code 1935, §  2277; 42 Del. Laws, c. 77 ; 43 Del. Laws, c. 135, §  2 ; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  105; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §§  16E, 16G-16I ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 435, §§  1-3 ; 63 Del. Laws, c. 195, §  1B ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  1 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §  6 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §§  1, 2 ; § 106 Seal. The Commissioner shall use the official seal, a full description of which, with the impress thereof, has heretofore been filed in the office of the Secretary of State. Such seal shall continue to be the official seal of the Commissioner until changed by authority of law. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  5 ; Code 1935, §  2278; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  106; § 107 Annual report. The Commissioner shall make an annual report of all the Commissioner’s official acts to the Governor. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  14 ; Code 1935, §  2287; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  107; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 108 Prohibited relationships with supervised institutions. The Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, examiners or compliance reviewers employed by the Commissioner, or such person’s spouse or such person’s son or daughter residing at such person’s residence shall not obtain a loan or utilize credit from any financial institution. To the extent that a licensee subject to the provisions of Chapter 22 or 29 of this title is examined solely for purposes of determining compliance with State law and consumer protection statutes, the above shall not apply unless the Commissioner finds that an actual conflict may arise. For the purposes of this section, an entity shall not be considered supervised or regulated by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner solely because it is exempt under § 2202 of this title or because it is subject to an escheat examination conducted by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The prohibition contained above shall not be construed as prohibiting such persons from being a depositor or member of any such financial institution on the same terms as available to the public generally. 61 Del. Laws, c. 359, §  2 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §  5 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3 ; § 109 Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund. (a) In this section, the following word has the meanings indicated: “Low- to moderate-income tract” means a census tract delineated by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census as published by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council that corresponds to low- to moderate-income level classifications as defined by the regulation of the Federal Reserve Board implementing the Federal Community Reinvestment Act, 12 C.F.R. § 228.12; provided, however, that the Commissioner may designate a successor index for the low- to moderate-income tract if the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council tract income level data is no longer published. (b) There is hereby created a special fund to be designated as the “Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund.” (c) The purpose of the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund is to develop opportunities for banking organizations, community-development financial institutions, and credit unions doing business in this State to better serve the needs of low- to moderate-income tracts in this State by: (1) Investing in the development of financial product or financial product underwriting innovations that will enhance access to capital, funding, and other financial services for businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware; (2) Deploying, testing, and evaluating these innovations for providing capital and funding to businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware; and (3) Promoting and making these innovations available to a variety of banking organizations, community-development financial institutions, and credit unions for use in enhancing access to capital, funding, and other financial services for businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware. (d) The Commissioner may transfer the following amounts, in 1 or more transfers, from the State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund to the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund: (1) An initial amount up to $2,500,000. (2) An additional amount up to $250,000 to cover the expenses associated with organizing the activities of the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund, including accounting, advisory, third-party service provider, marketing, and other necessary expenses. (3) Through June 30, 2028, an additional amount up to $500,000 each fiscal year. (4) After June 30, 2028, the Commissioner may not transfer any amount from the State Bank Commissioner Regulatory Revolving Fund to the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund. (e) The Council on Banking, with the approval of the Commissioner, may: (1) Authorize expenditures from the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund to accomplish the purposes of this section. (2) Adopt guidelines or regulations to carry out the purposes of this section. (f) Expenditures from the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund shall be exempt from Chapter 69 of Title 29. (g) All amounts transferred to the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund shall be invested by the State Treasurer consistent with the standards established by the Cash Management Policy Board. The State Treasurer shall credit interest to the fund on a monthly basis consistent with the rate established by the Cash Management Policy Board. 84 Del. Laws, c. 220, § 1 ; Delaware General Assembly Judicial Executive Contact Twitter Help function submitSearch() { if (!window.location.origin) { window.location.origin = window.location.protocol + "//" + window.location.hostname + (window.location.port ? ':' + window.location.port : ''); } keyword = document.getElementById('srch-term').value; window.location.href = "/Search?query=" + keyword; } document.getElementById('srch-term').onkeyup = function (e) { if (e.keyCode == 13) { submitSearch(); } } § 121 Supervision over banks and other financial institutions; administration and enforcement of title. (a) The Commissioner shall have authority to administer and enforce all the provisions of this title and shall have supervision over: (1) All state banks, savings banks, trust companies, building and loan associations and other corporations engaged in like business, incorporated under the laws of or doing business in this State, and the subsidiaries of the foregoing, and the Commissioner shall secure the execution of all laws relative to such corporations, provided that with respect to any activity authorized by § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title, the Commissioner shall only have supervision to the extent such activity is not subject to the supervision of the Insurance Commissioner of this State or of another jurisdiction or, if it is subject to such supervision, when the Commissioner determines that such activity is likely to have a materially adverse effect on the safety and soundness of the bank; (2) All persons, trustees or trustee systems, or any other combinations of persons who transact or attempt to transact the business of making small loans or loaning money as provided for or mentioned in Chapter 22 of this title, with all the powers, duties and responsibilities with respect thereto, as provided by this Code and any other laws with respect to banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, and other corporations engaged in like business and with like full power and authority to enforce all necessary rules and regulations as in the case of banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, and other corporations engaged in like business; (3) All persons who have been issued a license pursuant to any of the provisions of this title. (b) The Commissioner may prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this title. No such regulation shall extend, modify or conflict with any law of this State or the reasonable implications thereof. (c) The Commissioner may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, papers, books, records and other evidence before him or her in any matter over which he or she has jurisdiction, control or supervision. The Commissioner may administer oaths and affirmations to any person whose testimony is required. (d) If any person shall fail to comply with any subpoena issued by the Commissioner, or to testify with respect to any matter concerning which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, the Superior Court, on application of the Commissioner, may issue an order requiring the attendance of such person and the giving of testimony or production of evidence. Any person failing to obey the Court’s order may be punished by Court as for contempt. (e) [Repealed.] 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  6 ; 36 Del. Laws, c. 89, §  3 ; Code 1935, §§  2279, 2287; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  121; 61 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1 ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 423, §§  1, 2 ; 62 Del. Laws, c. 418, §  1 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 22, §§  2, 3 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  3 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  5 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 344, §  3 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  2 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  3 ; § 122 Examination of financial institutions. (a) The Commissioner shall visit and examine each financial institution as frequently as the Commissioner deems it necessary or expedient. On the occasion of every such visit and examination, the Commissioner shall, in company with 1 or more of the officers of the institution visited, be given free access to every part of the office or place of business visited and to the assets, securities, books, papers and records of the institution. (b) Any examination may be made by a deputy or by any person designated by the Commissioner, and in such case all the powers vested in the Commissioner by this section shall be possessed by the deputy or other persons making the examination. When any examination is made without the presence of the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall give written authority to the person conducting the examination which shall be exhibited to the officers of the institution visited. (c) The examination required by this section shall be a thorough examination into the affairs of the institution, its resources and liabilities, the investment of its funds, the mode of conducting its business, the safety and prudence of its management, the acts of its officers, directors, trustees or managers, its compliance or noncompliance with its charter and bylaws, its compliance or noncompliance with this Code or any regulations promulgated thereunder, and any other statutes or regulations of this State or the United States, and also, such other matters, as in the judgment of the Commissioner may have relation to the solvency or insolvency of the institution. (d) In connection with such examination, the Commissioner shall have power to examine, under oath or affirmation, the officers, directors, trustees, managers and employees, of the institution being examined, relative to its affairs, and for this purpose the Commissioner may administer oaths or affirmations. (e) The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s lawful designee shall examine banking organizations for compliance with the provisions of subchapter II of Chapter 11 of Title 12 and shall report the Commissioner’s findings, on a confidential basis, to the State Escheator. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  8 ; 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  5 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(5), (6) ; Code 1935, §§  2281, 2293; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  122; 66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  4 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 268, §  1 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 126, §  1 ; § 123 False statements, entries or reports; penalty. Every director, officer, agent, clerk or employee of any institution affected by § 122 of this title, who wilfully and knowingly subscribes or makes any false statement of facts or false entries in the books of the institution, or knowingly subscribes or exhibits any false paper, with intent to deceive any person authorized to examine as to the condition of the institution, or wilfully or knowingly subscribes to or makes any false report, shall be fined or imprisoned, or both. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  8 ; Code 1935, §  2296; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  123; § 124 Commissioner’s report of examination; cooperation with other regulatory agencies. (a) The Commissioner shall make and file in the Commissioner’s office a detailed report of each examination made by the Commissioner or any of the employees who work for the Commissioner, and shall furnish a copy of the report to the institution examined, and with respect to a state bank or trust company that is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve District embracing the State, the Commissioner shall also furnish a copy of the report of the examination of the state bank or trust company to the Federal Reserve Bank, and with respect to a state bank or trust company which has established a division pursuant to § 767 or § 1662(b) of this title, the Commissioner shall also furnish a summary, on a confidential basis, of the report of any examination of the state bank or trust company to the Insurance Commissioner. In order to protect the confidentiality of the contents of the examination report or other related documents, the Commissioner may prescribe regulations to prevent the disclosure of confidential information relating to the examination of any institution under the Commissioner’s supervision. (b) The Commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with other regulatory authorities with respect to any institution subject to the Commissioner’s supervision, which cooperative agreements may include, but not be limited to, the sharing of examination reports with appropriate state and federal authorities, and the Commissioner may enter into joint actions with other regulatory authorities with respect to any institution subject to the Commissioner’s supervision, which joint action, among other things, may be to assure the safety and soundness of any Delaware bank and to assure compliance with applicable Delaware banking laws, consistent with the purposes of this chapter. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  11 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(7), (8), (9), (10) ; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  124; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §  16E ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 191, §  1 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  6 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §  6 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §  3 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  3 ; § 125 Disclosure of information; penalty. (a) The Commissioner and each of the employees who work for the Commissioner shall be bound by their oath of office to keep secret all the facts and information obtained in the course of the examination, except insofar as public duty shall require a report to be made of the examination, and except when the Commissioner or any of the employees who work for the Commissioner, shall be called as a witness or witnesses in any criminal proceeding. (b) Upon the request of any state bank or trust company which has made application for membership in the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve District embracing the State, or which is a member of such Federal Reserve Bank, together with the request of the Federal Reserve Bank, the Commissioner shall furnish to the Federal Reserve Bank all the facts and information at any time in the Commissioner’s possession concerning the state bank or trust company. (c) If the Commissioner or any of the employees who work for the Commissioner disclose anything relative to the private accounts or transactions of any institution examined, or disclose any facts and information discovered in the course of the examination, or retain in their private possession, or remove from the office of the Commissioner, copies of any letters, papers, accounts, books or records disclosing such facts and information, except as provided in § 124 of this title and this section, whether during their term of office or employment or thereafter, they shall be subject to forfeiture of their office or employment, and may be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  11 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 92, §  1(7), (8), (9), (10) ; Code 1935, §  2284; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  125; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §§  16E, 16J ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 126 Exemptions from examination. (a) Any state bank or trust company which is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve District embracing the State, and which shall be examined by a Federal Reserve Examiner, may be exempted from examination by the Commissioner; and the examination by the Federal Reserve Examiner may be accepted by the Commissioner as a sufficient compliance with the requirements of this chapter with respect to examinations. (b) Any state bank or trust company, whether a member or nonmember of the Federal Reserve Bank, which shall be examined by a certified public accountant, may be exempted from examination by the Commissioner; and an examination by a certified public accountant may be accepted by the Commissioner as a sufficient compliance with the requirements of this chapter with respect to examinations. (c) In the case of each exemption under this section, a certified report of the examination made by a Federal Reserve Examiner, or by a certified public accountant, shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  12 ; Code 1935, §  2285; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  126; § 127 Fees for examination; supervisory assessment [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 62, § 124, effective July 1, 2025]. (a) The Commissioner shall charge each institution examined by the Commissioner or by the Commissioner’s direction an examination fee based on the actual costs of the examination. Costs of the examination are to include direct salaries paid and fringe benefits for salaries, charges and fees for filing, copying, inspecting and other services rendered. The Commissioner shall submit to the Council on Banking by July 10 each year, the calculated daily rate of pay for each examiner class. The rates for examinations shall be the basis for the charges to the institutions and shall be utilized during the ensuing fiscal year. The examination fees provided by this subsection shall be due and payable when invoiced by the Commissioner. If any institution shall fail to pay the examination fee due under this section on or before 30 days after the invoice date, a penalty of 0.05 percent shall be assessed for each day that the examination fee shall remain unpaid after such date. (b) The Commissioner shall assess annually each institution subject to examination by the Commissioner or by the Commissioner’s direction a supervisory assessment based on the total assets of said institutions as of December 31 each year; provided however, that there shall be allowed as a credit against this assessment the amount of the supervisory assessment otherwise due from a subsidiary of such institution. The supervisory assessments are to provide for the balance of the budget of the office of the Commissioner not covered under subsection (a) of this section. The assessment shall not exceed 5 cents for each $1,000 of an institution’s total assets. In no event shall the assessment to any institution be less than $500 when the examination is conducted within the State and $1,000 when the examination is conducted outside the State. The Commissioner shall compute the rate per $1,000 of assets required for the ensuing fiscal year and submit such data to the Council on Banking by July 10 each year. The rates shall be invoiced to the institutions on July 15 each year, and are due and payable on August 1 each year. If any institution shall fail to pay the supervisory assessment due under this section on or before the August 1 due date, a penalty of 0.05 percent shall be assessed for each day that the supervisory assessment shall remain unpaid after such date. (c) The fees derived from subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be deposited in the Regulatory Revolving Fund established under § 105 of this title and shall be accounted for by the Commissioner as part of the receipts for the Commissioner’s office. (d) The Chairperson of the Council on Banking may appeal to the Secretary of State any rates specified in subsections (a) and (b) of this section which the Council on Banking believes have been computed incorrectly, and the Secretary of State shall make the final determination and revise the rates if necessary. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  13 ; Code 1935, §  72286; 45 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  1 ; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  127; 49 Del. Laws, c. 119 ; 60 Del. Laws, c. 268, §  1 ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 436, §  1 ; 62 Del. Laws, c. 359, §  1 ; 64 Del. Laws, c. 141, §  2 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  5 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §§  7-9 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 112, §  5 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 327, §§  1, 2 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §§  4-6 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  4 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 3, §  1 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 2 ; § 128 Federal Reserve System reserve requirements. The Commissioner, in determining, in the course of the Commissioner’s examination, the amount of lawful money reserve required under this Code and any other law of this State to be maintained, at all times, by state banks and trust companies, shall not require those state banks and trust companies that hold reserves under federal statutes to maintain a greater reserve than that required by the Federal Reserve Act. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  9 ; Code 1935, §  2282; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  128; 62 Del. Laws, c. 246, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 129 Insufficient proportion of assets in cash or readily convertible securities; Commissioner’s notice to directors, stockholders, etc. Whenever the Commissioner shall be satisfied from the Commissioner’s examination of any bank or trust company (other than savings banks and savings societies) that the bank or trust company has an insufficient proportion of its assets in cash and securities readily convertible into cash, the Commissioner shall so notify the board of directors of the bank or trust company, and thereupon the board of directors shall carry out the requirements of the Commissioner in that behalf, and upon their failure to do so within such time as the Commissioner considers reasonable, the Commissioner shall report the matter to the stockholders of the bank or trust company either at a regular or special meeting. The Commissioner may call a special meeting of the stockholders for this purpose should the Commissioner deem it advisable. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or curtail the powers and duties of the Commissioner as provided in §§ 131-135 of this title. 37 Del. Laws, c. 132, §  1 ; Code 1935, §  2313; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  129; 49 Del. Laws, c. 129 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 130 Impaired capital; procedure upon failure to make good. If the Commissioner believes that the capital of any bank or trust company under the Commissioner’s jurisdiction has been impaired, the Commissioner may require it to make good the deficiency within such time as the Commissioner shall specify. If the bank or trust company shall fail to comply with the Commissioner’s notice within the time prescribed, the Commissioner may forthwith take possession of the institution’s place of business, and retain such possession until the institution shall have made good the deficiency, or has been finally liquidated, or a receiver shall have been appointed to take charge of its business and affairs. The Commissioner may cause proceedings to be instituted against the institution, and the Attorney General shall, upon the request of the Commissioner, institute such proceedings as the nature of the case may require. 30 Del. Laws, c. 111, §  10 ; 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  6 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(2) ; Code 1935, §§  2283, 2294; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  130; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 131 Unsound condition of bank or trust company; receivership. (a) If the Commissioner deems that the affairs of any bank or trust company are in an unsound condition because of illegal or unsafe investments, or that its liabilities exceed its assets, or that it is transacting business without authority or in violation of this Code or any other law, or that it is unsafe or inexpedient for such corporation to continue business, the Commissioner shall communicate the facts to the Attorney General who shall file in the Court of Chancery in any county where the bank or trust company is doing business a complaint setting forth the facts and applying for an order requiring the bank or trust company to show cause why its business should not be closed. (b) In a proper case made, the Court shall have power to appoint a receiver to take charge of, settle and close up the affairs of the bank or trust company under the direction of the Court, and to enjoin it from doing business, or to make such other order or decree as the circumstances shall warrant and to the Court shall seem proper. The Court may make such rules and regulations, and such orders and decrees in the premises as it shall deem proper. (c) In the case of a bank or trust company whose deposits are to any extent insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or successor corporation or agency, the receiver to be appointed shall be the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or such successor. In all instances in which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or such successor shall pay any portion of the deposits of a bank or trust company, it shall be fully subrogated to the position of depositor to the extent of such deposits. In the case of a bank or trust company whose deposits are not so insured, the receiver to be appointed shall be the Commissioner or, in the Commissioner’s absence or disability, a Deputy Commissioner. Neither the Commissioner nor the Deputy Commissioner shall receive any extra compensation for acting as receiver. (d) The Court may vest the receiver with full power and authority to borrow such sum or sums of money as the Court shall determine in order the more readily or expeditiously to settle the affairs of the bank or trust company and to make payments to its creditors, depositors or stockholders. Such borrowing may be from any public or governmental or quasi-public or quasi-governmental corporation, board, commission or other agency or from any source whatsoever, and the Court may authorize the receiver to secure any loan by the pledge of any of the property or assets of the bank or trust company, and to give the lender a preference or priority as to the pledged property and assets over the other unsecured and unperfected secured creditors of the bank or trust company. The Court shall not have the power to authorize the receiver to (i) secure any loan by the pledge of any property or assets of the bank or trust company which would have a preference or priority over a security interest, lien or other encumbrance created and perfected prior to the appointment of the receiver, or (ii) avoid any security interest, lien or other encumbrance created and perfected prior to the appointment of the receiver provided, however, that the foregoing shall not affect any power, if any, granted to the Court under this subsection in existence prior to July 3, 1991, with respect to security interests held by affiliates of a bank or trust company created in connection with borrowings in excess of the amount of capital and surplus paid in of the bank or trust company. The holder of a perfected security interest, lien or other encumbrance against property or assets of the bank or trust company at the time of the appointment of a receiver shall have the rights and advantages of all other applicable laws. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  9 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(3), (4) ; Code 1935, §  2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  131; 60 Del. Laws, c. 376, §  1 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 87 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  26 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 132 Possession and operation of bank or trust company by Commissioner without receivership. If by reason of any circumstance or condition whatsoever, the Commissioner shall be satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of the depositors and the conservation of the assets of any state bank or trust company doing business in this State, the Commissioner may forthwith take possession of the place of business of the bank or trust company and take charge of its affairs and the conduct of its business for such time as the Commissioner deems necessary without first instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding in the Court of Chancery, but every bank or trust company shall have the right to apply to the Court of Chancery for a rule on the Commissioner so taking possession of the bank or trust company to show cause why the Commissioner should continue in possession, and the Court may after a hearing upon such rule, direct the Commissioner to withdraw from the possession of the bank or trust company if the Court deems that the taking of such possession or the Commissioner’s continuance therein is unnecessary or inexpedient. The Commissioner may keep the bank or trust company open and continue it in the transaction of business during the Commissioner’s possession of it, and if the Commissioner deems it necessary, to prescribe restrictions as to the withdrawal of deposits, whether time or demand, and to prescribe the conditions upon which deposits, whether time or demand, may be withdrawn during the Commissioner’s possession of the bank or trust company. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  9 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(3), (4) ; Code 1935, §  2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  132; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 133 Employment of assistants. The Secretary of State may employ such persons outside the regular force in the State Banking Department as the Secretary deems necessary or proper to assist the Commissioner in the performance of the Commissioner’s duties, whether acting as receiver under order of Court or in possession of the bank or trust company on the Commissioner’s own motion, under §§ 131 and 132 of this title, and may select some or all of the officers and employees of the bank or trust company for this purpose. He or she shall require such security as he or she deems proper from the persons appointed pursuant to this section. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  9 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(3), (4) ; Code 1935, §  2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  133; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §  16I ; 63 Del. Laws, c. 195, §  1B ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 134 Commissioner’s costs and expenses as receiver; priority. The costs and expenses incurred by the Commissioner in acting as the receiver for any bank or trust company, including the compensation and expenses of all assistants, shall be paid out of the assets of the said bank or trust company and shall have priority over all of its other corporate indebtedness. The costs and expenses incurred by the Commissioner in taking possession of a corporation without being appointed receiver thereof, including the compensation and expenses of all assistants, shall be paid out of the assets of the bank or trust company and shall have priority over its other debts. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  9 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(3), (4) ; Code 1935, §  2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  134; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, §  16J ; § 135 Moratorium on deposit withdrawals and segregation of new deposits. The Commissioner may, in addition to all other powers, whenever in the Commissioner’s judgment the circumstances warrant it, authorize any and all banks and trust companies under the Commissioner’s jurisdiction to: (1) Extend for a period of 90 days, and for a further period if the Commissioner deems it expedient, payment of any time accounts where notice of withdrawal has been given or may thereafter be given; (2) Postpone for any length of time the payment of any proportion of the deposits in demand accounts of any individual, firm or corporation as the Commissioner deems necessary and expedient, to be determined by the Commissioner according to the ability of any bank or trust company to pay such withdrawals; (3) Receive new deposits which shall be segregated from the old deposits and which shall not be subject to the restriction or limitations authorized by subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section. The new deposits shall be invested in such liquid assets as may be approved by the Commissioner in order that banks and trust companies may at all times have sufficient funds to meet the demands for withdrawal of such new deposits. 32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  9 ; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(3), (4) ; Code 1935, §  2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, §  135; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 136 Cease and desist orders. (a) If, in the opinion of the Commissioner, a financial institution subject to this title or any other financial company is engaging in or has engaged in, or if the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that such institution or company is about to engage in any of the following: (1) An unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the business of such financial institution or company; (2) Violation of a law, rule or regulation relating to the supervision of such institution or company; (3) Violation of any written agreement entered into with the Commissioner; the Commissioner shall have the power and authority to issue and serve an order upon such institution or company requiring the institution or company to cease and desist from such violation or practice. (b) Where, in the opinion of the Commissioner, extraordinary circumstances make such action necessary and appropriate for the protection of depositors, shareholders or the public, the Commissioner may, by order, restrict the withdrawal of funds from 1 or more financial institutions or financial companies. (c) Such order may require the officers or directors of the institution or company to take affirmative action to correct any violation or practice. (d) A cease and desist order issued pursuant to this section shall include a statement of the facts upon which the order is based, and specific activities which the financial institution or financial company must cease, the affirmative acts required of the financial institution or financial company and the effective date of the order. A cease and desist order may be served by any member of the State Bank Commissioner’s office who is designated by the Commissioner. Service may be effected by hand delivering the order to the financial institution or financial company at its principal place of business in this State during normal working hours or, with respect to a financial institution or financial company that does not maintain a place of business in this State, by hand delivering the order to the registered agent in this State (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State, as provided in Title 8) and, within 7 days of such delivery, depositing in the United States mails, by registered mail, postage prepaid, a true and attested copy of the order, together with a statement that service is being made pursuant to this section, addressed to such financial institution or financial company at its address as the same appears on the records in the Commissioner’s office. (e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a cease and desist order shall not become effective in less than 10 days after the order is served. After an order is served, but before its effective date, upon petition of any interested party the Commissioner shall conduct a hearing. At the conclusion of such hearing, the Commissioner may affirm the cease and desist order as originally issued, or the Commissioner may modify, amend or rescind such order. (f) Whenever, in the opinion of the Commissioner, the violation or practice set forth in subsection (a) of this section represents an immediate danger or substantial harm to the interests of depositors or shareholders or the public, or where such violation or practice, or the continuation thereof, is likely to cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of the assets or earnings of the institution, the Commissioner may issue a cease and desist order pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which shall become effective upon service thereof, without prior notice or hearing. Upon the application of an interested party, the Commissioner shall afford an opportunity for a hearing to consider rescission of any order issued pursuant to this subsection and any action taken promptly thereafter. (g) As used in this section, “financial company” and “company” mean any person transacting, conducting or engaged in any business or activity that is subject to licensing, regulation or supervision under this title. 61 Del. Laws, c. 544, §  2 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §  7 ; 73 Del. Laws, c. 247, §  1 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 54 ; § 137 Removal of officer or director. The Commissioner shall have the power to remove any officer or director of a bank, trust company, building and loan association or building and industrial development corporation subject to supervision by the Commissioner and also to prohibit such person from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution, in accordance with the procedures and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in this section. (1) The Commissioner may serve written notice of intent to remove an officer or director from office or to prohibit the officer’s or director’s further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution if, in the opinion of the Commissioner, such officer or director has: a. Violated a law, rule, regulation or cease and desist order which has become final; b. Engaged in or participated in any unsafe or unsound practice; or c. Committed or engaged in any act, omission or practice which constitutes a breach of the officer’s or director’s fiduciary duties as such officer or director; and the Commissioner determines that as a result of such action by the officer or director the financial institution has suffered or probably will suffer substantial financial loss or other damage, or that the interests of depositors or shareholders could be seriously prejudiced by reason of such violation, practice or breach of fiduciary duty; provided, however, that such violation, practice or breach of fiduciary duty must be found by the Commissioner to be 1 involving personal dishonesty on the part of such officer or director. The Commissioner may serve written notice of intent to remove an officer or director from office or to prohibit the officer’s or director’s further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution if, in the opinion of the Commissioner, such officer or director has, by conduct with respect to any other business entity which resulted, or is likely to result, in substantial financial loss or other damage, evidenced such officer’s or director’s personal dishonesty and unfitness to continue as an officer or director. (2) The written notice required by paragraph (1) of this section shall set forth the following: a. A statement of the facts upon which such removal or prohibition is based; b. The time and place at which a hearing shall be held thereon, which date shall be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the service of the notice, unless such officer or director shall request an earlier or later hearing for good cause. The Commissioner shall serve written notice, in accordance with Chapter 101 of Title 29, upon the officer or director involved and copies of such notice shall be served upon the financial institution of which such person is an officer or director or in the conduct of whose affairs such person has participated. (3) If the Commissioner deems it necessary for the protection of the institution or the interests of its depositors or shareholders, such written notice may suspend the officer or director from office or prohibit such person from further participation in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution. (4) Any officer or director adversely affected by a suspension or prohibition contained in a written notice pursuant to paragraph (3) of this section may apply to the Court of Chancery in the county where the financial institution of which such person is an officer or director has its main office for a stay of such suspension or prohibition pending completion of administrative proceedings required under this section. Such court shall have jurisdiction to stay such suspension or prohibition. (5) The Commissioner shall hold a hearing at the time and place specified by the notice required under paragraph (2) of this section. Unless the officer or director affected shall appear at such hearing, the officer or director shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of an order for the officer’s or director’s removal or prohibition. In the event of consent, or if upon the record made at any such hearing the Commissioner shall find that any of the grounds specified in the notice have been established, the Commissioner may issue such orders of suspension or removal from office or prohibition from participation in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution as the Commissioner may deem appropriate. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary such orders shall be issued not later than 30 days after the close of the hearing, if any, held pursuant to this section. (6) Any order issued pursuant to paragraph (5) of this section shall become effective at the expiration of 30 days after service upon the officer or director and the financial institution concerned; provided, however, that an order issued upon consent shall become effective within the time specified therein. In either event, such order shall remain effective and enforceable except to the extent it is stayed, modified, terminated or set aside by action of the Commissioner or a court of competent jurisdiction. (7) The Commissioner may issue written notice of a suspension or prohibition pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (5) of this section to any officer or director charged in any information, complaint or indictment with commission of or participation in a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust, pursuant to laws of the State or of the United States. Such suspension or prohibition shall remain in effect until terminated by the Commissioner or until final disposition of such information, complaint or indictment. When a judgment of conviction with respect to such offense is entered against an officer or director, and such judgment is not subject to further appellate review, the Commissioner may issue and serve upon such officer or director an order removing the officer or director from office or prohibiting that officer or director from further participation in the conduct of the affairs of any financial institution except with the written consent of the Commissioner. Such order shall become effective on service upon the officer or director and the financial institution. A finding of not guilty or other disposition of the charge in this subdivision shall not preclude the Commissioner from instituting proceedings pursuant to this section on the grounds set forth in paragraph (1) of this section. 61 Del. Laws, c. 544, §  3 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  5 ; 73 Del. Laws, c. 247, §  2 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 42, §§ 1, 55 ; § 138 Hearings. A hearing conducted pursuant to § 136, § 137 or § 143 of this title shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 101 of Title 29; provided, however, that such a hearing shall be a nonpublic hearing, notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary. A nonpublic hearing shall be identical in all respects to a public hearing; provided, however, that the notice of hearing, the transcript, the proposed findings and conclusions of the Commissioner, the findings and conclusions of the Commissioner and other papers which are filed in connection with any hearing shall not be made public. 61 Del. Laws, c. 544, §  4 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §  7 ; § 139 Judicial review. (a) Orders issued by the Commissioner pursuant to §§ 136 and 137 of this title shall be enforced by the Court of Chancery, subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Any person aggrieved and directly affected by an order of the Commissioner issued pursuant to §§ 136 and 137 of this title may appeal to the Court of Chancery within 30 days after the issuance of such order; (2) The filing of an appeal shall not stay the enforcement of an order, but the Court may order a stay on such terms as it deems proper; (3) The Court may affirm, modify, terminate or set aside, in whole or in part, the order of the Commissioner if such order was issued pursuant to an invalid statute or regulation, in excess of statutory authority or if such order was not support