(a) Any Alabama state bank may, upon compliance with the requirements of this section, agree to receive deposits, renew time deposits, close loans, service loans, receive payments on loans and other obligations and, with the prior approval of the superintendent, perform other services as an agent for any depository institution.

(b) An Alabama state bank that proposes to enter into an agency agreement to perform services other than those specifically designated in subsection (a) shall file with the superintendent at least 30 days before the effective date of the agreement:

(1) A notice of intention to enter into such an agency agreement with a depository institution;

(2) A description of the services other than those specifically designated in subsection (a) proposed to be performed under the agency agreement; and

(3) A copy of the agreement.

(c) If any proposed service is not specifically designated in subsection (a) and has not previously been approved in a regulation issued by the superintendent, the superintendent shall decide whether to approve the offering of such service within 30 days after receipt of the notice required by subsection (b); provided, that if the superintendent requests additional information after reviewing such notice, the time limit for the superintendent's decision shall be 30 days after receiving such additional information. In deciding whether to approve, by regulation or order, any proposed service that is not specifically designated in subsection (a), the superintendent shall consider whether such service would be consistent with applicable federal and state law and the safety and soundness of the principal and agent depository institutions. The superintendent shall give appropriate notice to the public of each approval, by regulation or order, of any proposed service pursuant to this subsection.

(d) Any proposed service subject to subsection (c) shall be deemed approved if the superintendent takes no action on the notice required by subsection (b) within the time limits specified in subsection (c).

(e) An Alabama state bank may not under any agency agreement:

(1) Conduct any activity as an agent that it would be prohibited from conducting as a principal under applicable state or federal law; or

(2) Have an agent conduct any activity that the bank as principal would be prohibited from conducting under applicable state or federal law.

(f) The superintendent may order an Alabama state bank or any other depository institution subject to the superintendent's enforcement powers to cease acting as an agent or principal under any agency agreement with a depository institution that the superintendent finds to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law of this state, an Alabama state bank acting as an agent for a depository institution in accordance with this section shall not be considered to be a branch of that depository institution.