(a)(1) No Connecticut credit union shall establish a branch in this state or outside of this state unless prior to such establishment the credit union has filed with the commissioner an application to establish a branch. The Connecticut credit union may establish such branch unless the commissioner disapproves the application not later than thirty days after the application has been filed with the commissioner. The thirty-day period may be extended by the commissioner, in writing, if the commissioner determines that the application raises issues that require additional information or additional time for analysis. The commissioner may disapprove an application to establish a branch if the commissioner finds that: (A) Establishment of the proposed branch is inconsistent with safety and soundness; (B) establishment of the proposed branch is inconsistent with the Connecticut credit union's field of membership; (C) in the case of a Connecticut credit union whose membership is limited to a well-defined community, neighborhood or rural district, (i) the proposed branch is not generally accessible to the public, (ii) establishment of the proposed branch will result in an oversaturation of financial institutions in the town in which the branch is to be located, or (iii) such credit union does not have a record of compliance with the requirements of sections 36a-37 to 36a-37e, inclusive; or (D) in the case of an out-of-state branch, the laws of such other state do not authorize the establishment of such branch. Except as provided in this subdivision, a Connecticut credit union may establish or operate a branch in the same or approximately the same location as another financial institution, provided any such institution's insurable accounts or deposits are federally insured.

1. (2)

   1. (A) A Connecticut credit union that proposes to close a branch within or outside of this state shall submit to the commissioner a notice of the proposed closing as soon as possible but not less than thirty days prior to the closing date. The notice shall include a detailed statement of the reasons for the decision to close the branch.

   2. (B) The Connecticut credit union shall provide notice of the proposed closing to its members by:

      1. (i) Posting such notice in a conspicuous manner on the premises of the branch proposed to be closed at least thirty days prior to the closing, and
      2. (ii) Including such notice in at least one regular account statement mailed to its members who utilize the branch proposed to be closed, or in a separate mailing to such members at least thirty days prior to the closing date.
2. (3) With the approval of the commissioner, any Connecticut credit union may relocate any branch within this state in accordance with such notice and other requirements as the commissioner may prescribe. As used in this subdivision, “relocate” means to move within the same immediate neighborhood without substantially affecting the nature of the business or members served.

3. (b)

   1. (1) No Connecticut credit union shall establish a mobile branch in this state or outside of this state unless prior to such establishment the credit union has filed with the commissioner an application to establish a mobile branch listing each predetermined location. The Connecticut credit union may establish such mobile branch unless the commissioner disapproves the application not later than thirty days after the application has been filed with the commissioner. The thirty-day period may be extended by the commissioner, in writing, if the commissioner determines that the application raises issues that require additional information or additional time for analysis. The commissioner may disapprove an application for a mobile branch if the commissioner makes such findings under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section as the commissioner deems necessary. A mobile branch shall be conspicuously identified as a branch of a Connecticut credit union.
   2. (2) A Connecticut credit union that proposes to close any mobile branch shall submit to the commissioner a notice of the proposed closing not later than thirty days prior to the date proposed for such closing. The notice shall include a detailed statement of the reasons for the decision to close the mobile branch.
   3. (3) A Connecticut credit union that proposes to close any predetermined location of a mobile branch shall notify the commissioner prior to the closing of such location.
4. (c) The commissioner may examine and supervise the out-of-state branches of any Connecticut credit union and may enter into agreements with other state or federal credit union regulators concerning such examination or supervision. Any such agreement may include provisions concerning the assessment or sharing of fees for such examination or supervision.

(P.A. 02-73, S. 63; P.A. 03-84, S. 65; 03-196, S. 14; P.A. 04-51, S. 1; P.A. 06-10, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 03-84 changed “Commissioner of Banking” to “commissioner”, effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 03-196 designated provisions of existing Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (a)(1), merged existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) into Subsec. (a)(1), substituted “oversaturation of credit unions” for “impermissible overlap with the field of membership of other credit unions” in Subsec. (a)(1)(C), designated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (a)(2) and existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (a)(3), added new Subsec. (b) re establishment and closing of mobile branches, redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as new Subsec. (c), amended Subsec. (c) by allowing agreement to include provisions re assessment or sharing of fees for examination or supervision, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-51 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to delete former Subpara. (C) re finding applicable to Connecticut credit union whose membership is limited to persons with single common bond or multiple common bond, and to redesignate existing Subparas. (D) and (E) as new Subparas. (C) and (D), respectively, effective May 4, 2004; P.A. 06-10 amended Subsecs. (a)(1) and (b)(1) to allow commissioner to extend thirty-day period if commissioner determines that application raises issues that require additional information or additional time for analysis, effective May 2, 2006.