53C-3-4. Commissioner's approval of charter issuance.

(a) The Commissioner may approve a charter for a proposed bank only when the Commissioner has determined that all the following requirements have been satisfied or are reasonably probable to be satisfied within a reasonable period of time specified by the Commissioner in the order of approval:

(1) The proposed bank has solicited or will solicit subscriptions for purchases of shares sufficient to provide an amount of required capital satisfactory to the Commissioner for the commencement of the business of banking.

(2) All prior public solicitations for purchases of shares and all future solicitations will be solicited with appropriate disclosure, taking into account all the circumstances of the public solicitation, including a prominent statement in any solicitation document to the effect that the solicitation has not been approved by the Commissioner or the Commission and that a representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

(3) All payments for purchases of shares in a bank in organization are made in United States currency.

(4) The proposed bank has an operational expense fund from which to pay organizational expenses, in an amount determined by the Commissioner to be sufficient for the safe and sound operation of the proposed bank while the charter application is pending.

(5) The proposed bank has been formed for legitimate and lawful business purposes.

(6) The character, competence, and experience of the organizers, proposed directors, proposed officers, and initial holders of more than ten percent (10%) of the voting securities of the proposed bank will command the confidence of the public.

(7) The proposed officers and directors, as a group, have degrees of character, competence, and experience sufficient to justify a belief that the proposed bank will be free from improper or unlawful influence and otherwise will operate safely, soundly, and in compliance with law.

(8) The anticipated volume and nature of business of the proposed bank projected in the application are reasonable and indicate a reasonable probability of safe, sound, and profitable operation of the proposed bank.

(9) If the proposed bank intends to conduct "trust business," as defined by G.S. 53C-1-4(70), it appears that trust powers should be granted based on consideration of the various factors set forth in Article 24 of Chapter 53 of the General Statutes for considering applications and setting capital for a State trust company.

(b) The Commissioner's determination that the requirements described in subsection (a) are reasonably probable of satisfaction may be based on partial satisfaction of the requirements at a level set by the Commissioner as a prerequisite for approval of the charter, and also may be based on presentation of a plan for the full satisfaction of the requirements.

(c) If it appears to the Commissioner that the proposed bank has satisfied or is reasonably probable to satisfy the requirements for issuance of a charter, the Commissioner shall issue an order approving the application for a charter and such order shall be submitted to the Commission for its review at a public hearing. The Commissioner may, in the order approving the proposed bank's charter, impose other reasonable conditions or restrictions upon the proposed bank or the new bank, consistent with this Chapter.

(d) If it appears to the Commissioner that the proposed bank has not satisfied and is not reasonably probable of satisfying the requirements for issuance of a charter, the Commissioner shall issue an order denying approval of the application. The applicant may, within 10 days of issuance of the order, give notice of appeal of this decision to the Commission pursuant to G.S. 53C-2-6.