Mont. Code Ann. § 32-6-103
Definitions
En. 5-1703 by Sec. 3, Ch. 503, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 5-1703; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 255, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 265, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 101, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 75, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 120, L. 2025.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply:
- (1) "Customer", in relation to a financial institution, means a holder of a demand or time account or a membership share in the institution or a person who is a borrower or a mortgagor; in relation to a merchant, it means a purchaser of goods or services.
- (2) "Department" means the department of administration.
(3)
- (a) "Electronic funds transfer" means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit an account. The term includes but is not limited to point-of-sale transfers, automated teller machine transfers, interactive teller machine transfers, direct deposits or withdrawals of funds, and transfers initiated by telephone. It also includes a transfer resulting from a debit card transaction, including a transaction that does not involve an electronic terminal at the time of the transaction.
- (b) The term does not include payments made by check, draft, or similar paper instrument at an electronic terminal.
- (4) "Electronic terminal" means an electronic device, other than a telephone operated by a consumer, through which a consumer may initiate an electronic funds transfer. The term includes but is not limited to point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, interactive teller machines, and cash dispensing machines.
- (5) "Financial institution" means a bank chartered under chapter 1 of this title, a bank chartered under the National Banking Acts in Title 12 of the United States Code, a building and loan association chartered under chapter 2 of this title, a savings and loan association chartered under the Home Owners' Loan Act in Title 12 of the United States Code, a credit union chartered under chapter 3 of this title, or a credit union chartered under the Federal Credit Union Act in Title 12 of the United States Code. For purposes of this chapter only, a consumer loan company licensed under chapter 5 is considered a financial institution.
- (6) "Merchant" means a natural person, corporation, partnership, or association engaged in buying and selling goods or services, except that a financial institution is not a merchant.
- (7) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other business organization.
- (8) "Premises" means those locations where, by applicable law, financial institutions are authorized to maintain a principal place of business and other offices for the conduct of their respective businesses.
(9)
- (a) "Satellite terminal" means any machine or device that is located off the premises of a financial institution and that a financial institution or its customers may use to carry out electronic funds transfers.
(b) The term includes:
- (i) an automated teller machine, which means a satellite terminal to make electronic funds transfers, that is located off the premises of financial institutions, operated by customers of financial institutions without assistance, and activated by a unique identification device and personal identification number;
- (ii) an interactive teller machine as defined in 32-1-109; and
- (iii) a point-of-sale terminal, which means a satellite terminal located on the premises of a merchant, operated by a customer, a merchant, or the merchant's employees solely to debit or credit a customer's deposit or share account in a financial institution and solely to credit or debit the merchant's account commensurately for transactions in goods or services. A point-of-sale terminal need not be activated by a unique personal identification device. A merchant has the option, if the necessary computer capability exists at a reasonable cost, of selling goods or services by point-of-sale terminals with the electronic funds transfer taking effect at the time of the transaction or at a stated time after the transaction.
(c) The definition of satellite terminal does not include and nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to:
- (i) an automated teller machine or interactive teller machine located on the premises of a financial institution;
- (ii) an automated clearinghouse or any equivalent system designed to transfer funds between financial institutions; or
- (iii) a point-of-sale terminal that is used by a merchant in the merchant's business only and does not provide access to a financial institution.
- (10) "Unique identification device" means a magnetic encoded plastic card or equivalent device that contains either a number or a dollar balance, or both, that is unique to a customer and that is issued by a financial institution, merchant, or other person.
History: En. 5-1703 by Sec. 3, Ch. 503, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 5-1703; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 255, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 265, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 101, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 75, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 120, L. 2025.