1. (a) As used in this section, "rights and privileges" means the power:

   1. (1) to:

      1. (A) create;
      2. (B) deliver;
      3. (C) acquire; or

      4. (D) sell;

         a product, a service, or an investment that is available to or offered by; or

   2. (2) to engage in mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, or other activities or to exercise other powers authorized for;

      national banks domiciled in Indiana.

2. (b) A bank that intends to exercise any rights and privileges that are:

   1. (1) granted to national banks; but

   2. (2) not authorized for banks under the Indiana Code (except for this section) or any rule adopted under the Indiana Code;

      shall submit a letter to the department describing in detail the requested rights and privileges granted to national banks that the bank intends to exercise. If available, copies of relevant federal law, regulations, and interpretive letters must be attached to the letter submitted by the bank.

3. (c) The department shall promptly notify the requesting bank of the department's receipt of the letter submitted under subsection (b). Except as provided in subsection (e), the bank may exercise the requested rights and privileges sixty (60) days after the date on which the department receives the letter unless otherwise notified by the department.

4. (d) The department may deny the requested rights and privileges if the department finds that:

   1. (1) national banks domiciled in Indiana do not possess the requested rights and privileges;
   2. (2) the exercise of the requested rights and privileges by the bank would adversely affect the safety and soundness of the bank;
   3. (3) the exercise of the requested rights and privileges by the bank would result in an unacceptable curtailment of consumer protection; or
   4. (4) the failure of the department to approve the requested rights and privileges will not result in a competitive disadvantage to the bank.

5. (e) The sixty (60) day period referred to in subsection (c) may be extended by the department based on a determination that the bank's letter raised issues requiring additional information or additional time for analysis. If the sixty (60) day period is extended under this subsection, the bank may exercise the requested rights and privileges only if the bank receives prior written approval from the department. However:

   1. (1) the department must:

      1. (A) approve or deny the requested rights and privileges; or

      2. (B) convene a hearing;

         not later than sixty (60) days after the department receives the bank's letter; and

   2. (2) if a hearing is convened, the department must approve or deny the requested rights and privileges not later than sixty (60) days after the hearing is concluded.
6. (f) The exercise of rights and privileges by a bank in compliance with and in the manner authorized by this section is not a violation of any provision of the Indiana Code or rules adopted under IC 4-22-2 .

7. (g) If a bank receives approval to exercise the requested rights and privileges granted to national banks domiciled in Indiana, the department shall determine by order whether all banks may exercise the same rights and privileges. In making the determination required by this subsection, the department must ensure that the exercise of the rights and privileges by all banks will not:

   1. (1) adversely affect their safety and soundness; or
   2. (2) unduly constrain Indiana consumer protection provisions.
8. (h) If the department denies the request of a bank under this section to exercise any rights and privileges that are granted to national banks, the bank may appeal the decision of the department to the circuit court, superior court, or probate court with jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the bank is located. In an appeal under this section, the court shall determine the matter de novo.

As added by P.L.194-1997, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.73-2004, SEC.34; P.L.213-2007, SEC.39; P.L.217-2007, SEC.37; P.L.35-2010, SEC.117; P.L.84-2016, SEC.121.