Table of Contents
Sec. 36a-1. (Formerly Sec. 36-1). General statement. Sec. 36a-1. (Formerly Sec. 36-1). General statement. This title shall be known
as the "Banking Law of Connecticut" and shall be applicable to all Connecticut banks,
Connecticut credit unions, first and secondary mortgage lenders and brokers, money
order and travelers check licensees, check cashing service licensees, trustees under mortgages or deeds of trust of real property securing certain investments, corporations exercising fiduciary powers, small loan licensees, sales finance companies, mortgage servicing companies, debt adjusters, and to such other persons as subject themselves to the
provisions of this title or who, by violating any of its provisions, become subject to the
penalties provided in this title. Sec. 36a-2. (Formerly Sec. 36-2). Definitions. As used in this title, unless the
context otherwise requires: Sec. 36a-3. Other defined terms. Other definitions applying to this title or to specified parts thereof and the sections in which they appear are:
Sec. 36a-2. (Formerly Sec. 36-2). Definitions.
Sec. 36a-3. Other defined terms.
Secs. 36a-4 to 36a-9.
(1949 Rev., S. 5731; 1969, P.A. 167; P.A. 78-121, S. 8, 113; P.A. 88-65, S. 5; P.A. 94-122, S. 1, 340.)
History: 1969 act specified applicability to dealers of securities, investment counsel and investment counsel agents;
P.A. 78-121 deleted private bankers and building associations from applicability provision; P.A. 88-65 deleted reference
to industrial banks; P.A. 94-122 consolidated "state bank and trust companies", "savings banks", and "savings and loan
associations" into the definition of "Connecticut banks", added references to specific licensees and removed references to
licensees covered by sections moved to title 36b, effective January 1, 1995; Sec. 36-1 transferred to Sec. 36a-1 in 1995.
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(1) "Affiliate" of a person means any person controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with, that person;
(2) "Applicant" with respect to any license or approval provision pursuant to this
title means a person who applies for that license or approval;
(3) "Automated teller machine" means a stationary or mobile unattended device,
including a satellite device but excluding a point of sale terminal, at which banking
transactions, including, but not limited to, deposits, withdrawals, advances, payments
or transfers, may be conducted;
(4) "Bank" means a Connecticut bank or a federal bank;
(5) "Bank and trust company" means an institution chartered or organized under
the laws of this state as a bank and trust company;
(6) "Bank holding company" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section
1841(a), as from time to time amended, except that the term "bank", as used in 12 USC
Section 1841(a) includes a bank or out-of-state bank that functions solely in a trust or
fiduciary capacity;
(7) "Capital stock" when used in conjunction with any bank or out-of-state bank
means a bank or out-of-state bank that is authorized to accumulate funds through the
issuance of its capital stock;
(8) "Club deposit" means deposits to be received at regular intervals, the whole
amount deposited to be withdrawn by the owner or repaid by the bank in not more than
fifteen months from the date of the first deposit, and upon which no interest or dividends
need to be paid;
(9) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Banking and, with respect to any
function of the commissioner, includes any person authorized or designated by the commissioner to carry out that function;
(10) "Company" means any corporation, joint stock company, trust, association,
partnership, limited partnership, unincorporated organization, limited liability company
or similar organization, but does not include (A) any corporation the majority of the
shares of which are owned by the United States or by any state, or (B) any trust which
by its terms must terminate within twenty-five years or not later than twenty-one years
and ten months after the death of beneficiaries living on the effective date of the trust;
(11) "Connecticut bank" means a bank and trust company, savings bank or savings
and loan association chartered or organized under the laws of this state;
(12) "Connecticut credit union" means a cooperative, nonprofit association, the
membership of which is limited as provided in section 36a-438 which is incorporated
without capital stock under the laws of this state and licensed under chapter 667 for the
purposes of encouraging thrift among its members, creating a source of credit at a fair
and reasonable rate of interest and providing an opportunity for its members to use and
control their own money to improve their economic and social condition;
(13) "Consolidation" means a combination of two or more institutions into a new
institution; all institutions party to the consolidation, other than the new institution, are
"constituent" institutions; the new institution is the "resulting" institution;
(14) "Control" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 1841(a), as
from time to time amended;
(15) "Customer" means any person using a service offered by a financial institution;
(16) "Demand account" means an account into which demand deposits may be
made;
(17) "Demand deposit" means a deposit that is payable on demand, a deposit issued
with an original maturity or required notice period of less than seven days or a deposit
representing funds for which the bank does not reserve the right to require at least seven
days' written notice of the intended withdrawal, but does not include any time deposit;
(18) "Deposit" means funds deposited with a depository;
(19) "Deposit account" means an account into which deposits may be made;
(20) "Depositor" includes a member of a mutual savings and loan association;
(21) "Director" means a member of the governing board of a financial institution;
(22) "Equity capital" means the excess of a Connecticut bank's total assets over
its total liabilities, as defined in the instructions of the federal Financial Institutions
Examination Council for consolidated reports of condition and income;
(23) "Executive officer" means every officer of a Connecticut bank who participates
or has authority to participate, otherwise than in the capacity of a director, in major
policy-making functions of such bank, regardless of whether such officer has an official
title or whether that title contains a designation of assistant and regardless of whether
such officer is serving without salary or other compensation. The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of such bank are deemed to be executive officers, unless,
by resolution of the governing board or by such bank's bylaws, any such officer is
excluded from participation in major policy-making functions, otherwise than in the
capacity of a director of such bank, and such officer does not actually participate in such
policy-making functions;
(24) "Federal agency" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 3101,
as from time to time amended;
(25) "Federal bank" means a national banking association, federal savings bank or
federal savings and loan association having its principal office in this state;
(26) "Federal branch" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 3101,
as from time to time amended;
(27) "Federal credit union" means any institution chartered or organized as a federal
credit union pursuant to the laws of the United States having its principal office in
this state;
(28) "Fiduciary" means a person undertaking to act alone or jointly with others
primarily for the benefit of another or others in all matters connected with its undertaking
and includes a person acting in the capacity of trustee, executor, administrator, guardian,
assignee, receiver, conservator, agent, custodian under the Connecticut Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act or the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, and acting in any other similar
capacity;
(29) "Financial institution" means any Connecticut bank, Connecticut credit union,
or other person whose activities in this state are subject to the supervision of the commissioner, but does not include a person whose activities are subject to the supervision of
the commissioner solely pursuant to chapter 672a, 672b or 672c or any combination
thereof;
(30) "Foreign bank" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 3101,
as from time to time amended;
(31) "Foreign country" means any country other than the United States and includes
any colony, dependency or possession of any such country;
(32) "Governing board" means the group of persons vested with the management
of the affairs of a financial institution irrespective of the name by which such group is
designated;
(33) "Holding company" means a bank holding company or a savings and loan
holding company, except, as used in sections 36a-180 to 36a-191, inclusive, "holding
company" means a company that controls a bank;
(34) "Insured depository institution" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC
Section 1813, as from time to time amended;
(35) "Licensee" means any person who is licensed or required to be licensed pursuant to the applicable provisions of this title;
(36) "Loan" includes any line of credit or other extension of credit;
(37) "Merger" means the combination of one or more institutions with another
which continues its corporate existence; all institutions party to the merger are "constituent" institutions; the merging institution which upon the merger continues its existence
is the "resulting" institution;
(38) "Mutual" when used in conjunction with any institution that is a bank or out-
of-state bank means any such institution without capital stock;
(39) "Mutual holding company" means any mutual savings bank or mutual savings
and loan association reorganized or any nonstock corporation formed in connection with
a reorganization pursuant to sections 36a-192 to 36a-199, inclusive, to hold a majority
of the ordinary voting shares of a reorganized savings institution;
(40) "Out-of-state" includes any state other than Connecticut and any foreign
country;
(41) "Out-of-state bank" means any institution that engages in the business of banking, but does not include a bank, Connecticut credit union, federal credit union or out-
of-state credit union;
(42) "Out-of-state credit union" means any credit union other than a Connecticut
credit union or a federal credit union;
(43) "Out-of-state trust company" means any company chartered to act as a fiduciary but does not include a company chartered under the laws of this state, a bank, an
out-of-state bank, a Connecticut credit union, a federal credit union or an out-of-state
credit union;
(44) "Person" means an individual, company, including a company described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (10) of this section, or any other legal entity,
including a federal, state or municipal government or agency or any political subdivision
thereof;
(45) "Point of sale terminal" means a device located in a commercial establishment
at which sales transactions can be charged directly to the buyer's deposit, loan or credit
account, but at which deposit transactions cannot be conducted;
(46) "Reorganized savings bank" means any savings bank incorporated and organized in accordance with sections 36a-192 and 36a-193 a majority of the ordinary voting
shares of which is owned by a mutual holding company;
(47) "Reorganized savings and loan association" means any savings and loan association incorporated and organized in accordance with sections 36a-192 and 36a-193 a
majority of the ordinary voting shares of which is owned by a mutual holding company;
(48) "Reorganized savings institution" means any reorganized savings bank or reorganized savings and loan association;
(49) "Representative office" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section
3101, as from time to time amended;
(50) "Reserves for loan and lease losses" means the amounts reserved by a Connecticut bank against possible loan and lease losses as shown on the bank's consolidated
reports of condition and income;
(51) "Satellite device" means an automated teller machine which is not part of an
office of the bank, Connecticut credit union or federal credit union which has established
such machine;
(52) "Savings account" means a deposit account, other than an escrow account
established pursuant to section 49-2a, into which savings deposits may be made and
which account must be evidenced by periodic statements delivered at least semiannually
or by a passbook;
(53) "Savings and loan association" means an institution chartered or organized
under the laws of this state as a savings and loan association;
(54) "Savings bank" means an institution chartered or organized under the laws of
this state as a savings bank;
(55) "Savings deposit" means any deposit other than a demand deposit or time
deposit on which interest or a dividend is paid periodically;
(56) "Savings and loan holding company" has the meaning given to that term in 12
USC Section 1467a, as from time to time amended;
(57) "State" means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, any
territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the trust territory
of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands;
(58) "State agency" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 3101,
as from time to time amended;
(59) "State branch" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 3101, as
from time to time amended;
(60) "Subsidiary" has the meaning given to that term in 12 USC Section 1841(d),
as from time to time amended;
(61) "Supervisory agency" means: (A) The commissioner; (B) the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation; (C) the Resolution Trust Corporation; (D) the Office of Thrift
Supervision; (E) the National Credit Union Administration; (F) the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System; (G) the United States Comptroller of the Currency; and
(H) any successor to any of the foregoing agencies or individuals;
(62) "Time account" means an account into which time deposits may be made; and
(63) "Time deposit" means a deposit that the depositor does not have a right and is
not permitted to make withdrawals from within six days after the date of deposit, unless
the deposit is subject to an early withdrawal penalty of at least seven days' simple interest
on amounts withdrawn within the first six days after deposit, subject to those exceptions
permissible under Title 12, Part 204 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as from time
to time amended.
(1949 Rev., S. 5732; 1967, P.A. 461, S. 6; 1969, P.A. 199, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 161, 610; P.A. 78-121, S. 9, 113; P.A.
80-482, S. 233, 345, 348; P.A. 83-406, S. 2, 11; P.A. 87-9, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-65, S. 6; P.A. 92-12, S. 1; P.A. 94-122, S. 2,
340; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 14, 21; P.A. 95-155, S. 2, 29; P.A. 97-223, S. 1, 8; P.A. 98-258, S. 1; P.A. 00-2, S. 1, 3.)
History: 1967 act inserted new Subdiv. (f) defining "savings deposit", relettering former Subdivs. (f) to (h) accordingly
and adding references to savings accounts and deposits as necessary; 1969 act included deposits of savings and loan
associations in Subdiv. (c); P.A. 77-614 replaced bank commissioner with banking commissioner within the department
of business regulation and made banking department a division within that department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
78-121 deleted reference to moneys received by building associations in Subdiv. (a) and reference to deposits of private
bankers in Subdiv. (c); P.A. 80-482 restored banking division as independent department with banking commissioner as
its head and abolished the department of business regulation; P.A. 83-406 added definitions of "capital stock bank",
"national banking association", "capital stock savings bank", "capital stock savings and loan association", "mutual savings
bank", "eligibility record date", "eligible account holder" and "savings account"; (Revisor's note: Pursuant to P.A. 87-9
"banking commissioner" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "commissioner of banking"); P.A. 88-65 redefined
"account" and "deposit" by deleting references to industrial banks; P.A. 92-12 redesignated Subdivs; P.A. 94-122 consolidated, updated, alphabetized and added definitions, included "Connecticut bank" and "automated teller machine" and
expanded the definition of "commissioner", effective January 1, 1995; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 added definitions of "federal
agency", "federal branch", "foreign bank", "representative office", "state agency" and "state branch" and renumbered
prior definitions as necessary, effective January 1, 1995; Sec. 36-2 transferred to Sec. 36a-2 in 1995; P.A. 95-155 added
the definition of "insured depository institution", redefined "state" to include any territory of the United States, Guam,
American Samoa, the trust territory of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Island, and in the
definition of "savings and loan holding company" changed the citation from CFR to USC, effective June 27, 1995; P.A.
97-223 amended definitions of "mutual holding company", "reorganized savings bank" and "reorganized savings and loan
association" in Subdivs. (39), (45) and (46), respectively, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 98-258 added new Subdiv. (43)
defining "out-of-state trust company" and redesignated existing Subdivs. (43) to (62) as Subdivs. (44) to (63); P.A. 00-2
made technical changes to definitions of "commissioner" in Subdiv. (9), "consolidation" in Subdiv. (13) and "merger" in
Subdiv. (37), and redefined "holding company" in Subdiv. (33) by deleting references to bank holding company and savings
and loan holding company and adding "a company that controls a bank", effective April 18, 2000.
See Sec. 1-1 for definitions of "banks", "savings banks" and "deposit account".
See Sec. 36a-435 for definitions relative to credit unions.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
"Account". Sections 36a-155 and 36a-365.
"Advance fee". Sections 36a-510, 36a-485 and 36a-615.
"Advertise" or "advertisement". Sections 36a-485 and 36a-510.
"Agency bank". Section 36a-285.
"Alternative mortgage loan". Section 36a-265.
"Amount financed". Section 36a-690.
"Annual percentage rate". Section 36a-690.
"Annual percentage yield". Section 36a-316.
"Applicant". Section 36a-736.
"Associate". Section 36a-184.
"Bank". Section 36a-30.
"Bankers' bank". Section 36a-70.
"Banking business". Section 36a-425.
"Billing cycle". Section 36a-565.
"Bona fide nonprofit organization". Section 36a-655.
"Branch". Sections 36a-145 and 36a-410.
"Branch or agency net payment entitlement". Section 36a-428n.
"Branch or agency net payment obligation". Section 36a-428n.
"Broker". Section 36a-510.
"Business and industrial development corporation". Section 36a-626.
"Business and property in this state". Section 36a-428n.
"Cash advance". Section 36a-564.
"Cash price". Section 36a-770.
"Certificate of organization". Section 36a-435.
"Closely related activities". Section 36a-250.
"Collective managing agency account". Section 36a-365.
"Commercial vehicle". Section 36a-770.
"Community bank". Section 36a-70.
"Community development bank". Section 36a-70.
"Connecticut holding company". Section 36a-410.
"Consumer". Sections 36a-155, 36a-676 and 36a-695.
"Consumer Credit Protection Act". Section 36a-676.
"Consumer debtor" and "debtor". Sections 36a-645 and 36a-800.
"Consumer collection agency". Section 36a-800.
"Controlling interest". Section 36a-276.
"Credit". Sections 36a-645 and 36a-676.
"Creditor". Sections 36a-676, 36a-695 and 36a-800.
"Credit card", "cardholder" and "card issuer". Section 36a-676.
"Credit clinic". Section 36a-695.
"Credit rating agency". Section 36a-695.
"Credit report". Section 36a-695.
"Credit sale". Section 36a-676.
"De novo branch". Section 36a-410.
"Debt". Section 36a-645.
"Debt adjustment". Section 36a-655.
"Debt mutual fund". Section 36a-275.
"Debt securities". Section 36a-275.
"Deliver". Section 36a-316.
"Deposit". Section 36a-316.
"Deposit account". Sections 36a-136 and 36a-316.
"Deposit account charge". Section 36a-316.
"Deposit account disclosures". Section 36a-316.
"Deposit contract". Section 36a-316.
"Deposit services". Section 36a-425.
"Depositor". Section 36a-316.
"Earning period". Section 36a-316.
"Electronic payment instrument". Section 36a-596.
"Eligible account holder". Section 36a-136.
"Eligible collateral". Section 36a-330.
"Equity mutual fund". Section 36a-276.
"Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act". Section 36a-736.
"Fiduciary". Section 36a-365.
"Filing fee". Section 36a-770.
"Finance charge". Sections 36a-690 and 36a-770.
"Financial institution". Sections 36a-41, 36a-155, 36a-316, 36a-330 and 36a-736.
"Financial records". Section 36a-41.
"First mortgage loan". Sections 36a-485, 36a-705 and 36a-715.
"Fiscal year". Section 36a-435.
"Foreign banking corporation". Section 36a-425.
"General facility". Section 36a-580.
"Global net payment entitlement". Section 36a-428n.
"Global net payment obligation". Section 36a-428n.
"Goods". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Graduated payment mortgage loan". Section 36a-265.
"Guardian". Section 36a-365.
"Holder". Section 36a-596.
"Home banking services". Section 36a-170.
"Home banking terminal". Section 36a-170.
"Home improvement loan". Section 36a-736.
"Home purchase loan". Section 36a-736.
"Home state". Section 36a-410.
"Immediate family". Section 36a-435.
"Installment loan contract". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Instrument". Section 36a-596.
"Insurance bank". Section 36a-285.
"Insurance department". Section 36a-285.
"Interest". Section 36a-316.
"Interest rate". Section 36a-316.
"Lender". Sections 36a-510 and 36a-770.
"Lessor". Section 36a-676.
"License". Section 36a-626.
"Licensee". Sections 36a-510, 36a-596 and 36a-626.
"Limited branch". Section 36a-145.
"Limited facility". Section 36a-580.
"Loan broker". Section 36a-615.
"Loss". Section 36a-330.
"Made in this state". Section 36a-770.
"Managing agent". Section 36a-365.
"Member". Section 36a-435.
"Membership share". Section 36a-435.
"Money order". Section 36a-596.
"Mortgage broker". Section 36a-485.
"Mortgage insurance". Section 36a-725.
"Mortgage lender". Sections 36a-485 and 36a-705.
"Mortgage loan". Sections 36a-261 and 36a-265.
"Mortgage rate lock-in". Section 36a-705.
"Mortgage servicing company". Section 36a-715.
"Mortgagor". Section 36a-715.
"Motor vehicle". Section 36a-770.
"Multiple common bond membership". Section 36a-435.
"Municipality". Section 36a-800.
"Net worth". Section 36a-596.
"Network". Section 36a-155.
"Note account". Sections 36a-301 and 36a-445.
"Office". Section 36a-316.
"Open-end credit plan". Section 36a-676.
"Open-end loan". Section 36a-565.
"Organization". Section 36a-800.
"Out-of-state holding company". Section 36a-410.
"Outstanding". Section 36a-596.
"Passbook savings account". Section 36a-316.
"Periodic statement". Section 36a-316.
"Permissible investment". Section 36a-596.
"Person". Section 36a-184.
"Post". Section 36a-316.
"Prime quality". Section 36a-596.
"Principal amount of the loan". Section 36a-510.
"Principal officer". Section 36a-485.
"Processor". Section 36a-155.
"Public deposit". Section 36a-330.
"Purchaser". Section 36a-596.
"Qualified financial contract". Section 36a-428n.
"Qualified public depository" and "depository". Section 36a-330.
"Records". Section 36a-17.
"Relocate". Section 36a-145.
"Residential property". Section 36a-485.
"Retail buyer". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Retail credit transaction". Section 42-100b.
"Retail deposits". Section 36a-70.
"Retail installment contract". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Retail installment sale". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Retail seller". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Reverse annuity mortgage loan". Section 36a-265.
"Sales finance company". Sections 36a-535 and 36a-770.
"Savings department". Section 36a-285.
"Savings deposit". Section 36a-316.
"Secondary mortgage loan". Section 36a-510.
"Security convertible into a voting security". Section 36a-184.
"Share". Section 36a-435.
"Simulated check". Sections 36a-485 and 36a-510.
"Single common bond membership". Section 36a-435.
"Social purpose investment". Section 36a-277.
"Standard mortgage loan". Section 36a-265.
"Tax and loan account". Sections 36a-301 and 36a-445.
"The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company". Section 36a-285.
"Time account". Section 36a-316.
"Transaction". Section 36a-215.
"Travelers check". Section 36a-596.
"Troubled financial institution". Section 36a-215.
"Uninsured bank". Section 36a-70.
"Unsecured loan". Section 36a-615.
(P.A. 94-122, S. 3, 340; P.A. 95-49, S. 1; 95-129, S. 1; 95-155, S. 3, 29; 95-253, S. 11, 19; P.A. 96-44, S. 8; P.A. 97-
160, S. 2, 7; 97-209, S. 1, 6; P.A. 98-192, S. 1; P.A. 99-22, S. 1, 8; 99-63, S. 1; 99-158, S. 1; P.A. 00-14, S. 1, 3.)
History: P.A. 94-122 effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 95-49 added references to "network" and "processor" definitions
and added a reference to Sec. 36a-155 in previously referenced "account", "consumer" and "financial institution" definitions; P.A. 95-129 added reference to "bankers' bank" definition; P.A. 95-155 added reference to "bank", "de novo branch",
and "home state" definitions and added a reference to Sec. 36a-410 in "branch" definition, effective June 27, 1995; P.A.
95-253 added references to "general facility" and "limited facility" definitions, effective July 6, 1995; P.A. 96-44 added
references to "controlling interest", "debt mutual fund", and "equity mutual fund" (Revisor's note: P.A. 96-44 omitted the
reference to Sec. 36a-316 after "Financial institutions". Since the reference was not enclosed within brackets the omission
has been treated as a clerical error and the reference to Sec. 36a-316 preserved); P.A. 97-160 added references to "branch
or agency net payment entitlement", "branch or agency net payment obligation", "business and property in this state",
"global net payment entitlement", "global net payment net payment obligation" and "qualified financial contract" definitions, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 97-209 added references to "community bank" and "community development bank"
definitions, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 98-192 added reference to "electronic payment instrument" definition; P.A. 99-
22 deleted reference to "groups having a common bond of occupation or association" definition and added references to
"multiple common bond membership" and "single common bond membership" definitions, effective May 12, 1999; P.A.
99-63 added references to "advertise", "advertisement" and "simulated check" definitions; P.A. 99-158 added references
to "closely related activities", "retail deposits" and "uninsured bank" definitions; P.A. 00-14 added reference to Sec. 36a-
136 in "deposit account" definition, effective April 25, 2000.
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