W. Va. Code § 31I-1-2 – Purposes; findings.

(a) The purpose of the article is to establish requirements for licensing private trust companies, to regulate persons who provide fiduciary services to family members of no more than three families and their related interests as a private trust company, and to establish the degree of regulatory oversight required of the State Auditor over such companies. The public interest served by this article is to ensure that fiduciary activities performed by a private trust company are restricted to family members and their related interests and as otherwise provided in this article.
(b) The Legislature finds that:
1. (1) A private trust company is not a financial institution, and licensure of such a company is not required.
2. (2) A private trust company may elect to be a licensed private trust company under this article if the company desires to be subject to the regulatory oversight of the State Auditor, as provided in this article, notwithstanding that the company restricts its services to family members.
3. (3) With respect to a licensed private trust company, the State Auditor is responsible for regulating, supervising, and examining the company as provided under this article.
4. (4) With respect to a private trust company that does not elect to be licensed, the State Auditor’s role is limited to ensuring that fiduciary services provided by the company are restricted to family members and authorized related interests and not to the general public. The State Auditor is not responsible for examining a private trust company regarding the safety or soundness of its operations.