ARTICLE 3. Branch Offices and Agencies [16550. - 16555.]

Cal. Financial Code - FIN 3.

in effect

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16550. Section 16550.

(a) No foreign (other nation) credit union shall transact business in this state except at a branch office or agency that it is licensed to maintain and at which it is permitted by this chapter to transact the business transacted. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not be deemed to prohibit any of the following: (1) Any foreign (other nation) credit union from carrying on the activities described in subdivision (d) of Section 191 of the Corporations Code. (2) The advertising or solicitation of shares or deposits in this state by a foreign (other nation) credit union made through the media of the mail, radio, television, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, or similar media, provided that shares or deposits are not accepted or received in this state. (3) The acceptance of loan applications through agents in this state, provided the loan applications are approved or rejected, and the loans are funded, outside of this state. (c) For the purposes of subdivision (a), no foreign (other nation) credit union shall be deemed to be transacting business in this state merely because a majority-owned subsidiary transacts business in this state.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16551. Section 16551.

No foreign (other nation) credit union shall be licensed to maintain a branch office or agency unless it is qualified to transact intrastate business in this state under Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, except as provided in Section 8910 of the Corporations Code.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16552. Section 16552.

(a) No foreign (other nation) credit union shall establish or maintain a branch office or agency unless the commissioner shall have first approved its establishment and issued a license authorizing the foreign (other nation) credit union to maintain the branch office or agency. (b) If the commissioner finds all of the following with respect to an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to establish a branch office or agency, the commissioner shall approve the application: (1) That the foreign (other nation) credit union, the directors and officers of the foreign (other nation) credit union, and the proposed management of the office are each of good character and sound financial standing. (2) That the financial history and condition of the foreign (other nation) credit union are satisfactory. (3) That the management of the foreign (other nation) credit union and the proposed management of the office are adequate. (4) That it is reasonable to believe that, if licensed to maintain the office, the foreign (other nation) credit union will operate the office in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and orders. (5) That the foreign (other nation) credit union’s plan to establish and to maintain the office affords reasonable promise of successful operation. (6) That the foreign (other nation) credit union’s establishment and maintenance of the office will promote the public convenience and advantage, and is necessary or convenient to meet the needs of the foreign (other nation) credit union’s members. (7) Not more than 50 percent of the members of the foreign (other nation) credit union are or will be residents of this state. If the commissioner finds otherwise, the commissioner shall deny the application. (c) Whenever an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to establish a branch office or agency has been approved and all conditions precedent to the issuance of a license authorizing the foreign (other nation) credit union to maintain the branch office or agency have been fulfilled, the commissioner shall issue the license.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16553. Section 16553.

The approval of an application for approval to establish a branch office or agency shall be revoked by operation of law if the applicant foreign (other nation) credit union does not establish and maintain the office within one year after the date of the approval, unless prior to the expiration of the one-year period the commissioner extends the time within which the foreign (other nation) credit union may establish the branch office or agency.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16554. Section 16554.

(a) No foreign (other nation) credit union which is licensed to maintain a branch office or agency shall relocate the office unless the commissioner shall have first approved the relocation and issued a license authorizing the foreign (other nation) credit union to maintain the office at the new site. (b) (1) In case the new site of the office is in the same vicinity as the old site, the commissioner shall approve an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to relocate a branch office or agency if the commissioner finds all of the following: (A) That it will not be unsafe or unsound for the foreign (other nation) credit union to relocate the office. (B) That the relocation of the office will not be substantially detrimental to the public convenience and advantage, or that the relocation is necessary in the interests of the safety and soundness of the foreign (other nation) credit union. (2) In case the new site of the office is not in the same vicinity as the old site, the commissioner shall approve an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to relocate a branch office or agency if the commissioner finds all of the following: (A) That the foreign (other nation) credit union’s plan to relocate the office and to maintain the office at the new site affords reasonable promise of successful operation. (B) That the relocation of the office from the old site will not be substantially detrimental to the public convenience and advantage in the area which is primarily served by the office at the old site, or that the relocation is necessary in the interests of the safety and soundness of the foreign (other nation) credit union. (C) That the relocation of the office to the new site will promote the public convenience and advantage. If the commissioner finds otherwise, the commissioner shall deny the application. (c) Whenever an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to relocate a branch office or agency has been approved and all conditions precedent to the issuance of a license authorizing the foreign (other nation) credit union to maintain the office at the new site have been fulfilled, the commissioner shall issue the license. (d) Promptly after a foreign (other nation) credit union that is licensed to maintain a branch office or agency relocates the office, the foreign (other nation) credit union shall surrender to the commissioner the license which authorized it to maintain the office at the old site.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 16555. Section 16555.

(a) (1) No foreign (other nation) credit union that is licensed to maintain a branch office or agency shall close the office unless the commissioner shall have first approved the closing. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not be deemed to prohibit a foreign (other nation) credit union that is licensed to maintain a branch office or agency from closing an office in accordance with Article 8 (commencing with Section 16800). (b) If the commissioner finds the following with respect to an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to close a branch office or agency, the commissioner shall approve the application: (1) That it will not be unsafe or unsound for the foreign (other nation) credit union to close the office. (2) That the closing of the office will not be substantially detrimental to the public convenience and advantage or that the closing of the office is necessary in the interests of the safety and soundness of the foreign (other nation) credit union. If the commissioner finds otherwise, the commissioner shall deny the application. (c) Whenever an application by a foreign (other nation) credit union for approval to close a branch office or agency has been approved and all conditions precedent to the closing have been fulfilled, the foreign (other nation) credit union may close the office and shall promptly thereafter surrender to the commissioner the license which authorized it to maintain the office.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026