§ 54C-13.  Commission to review findings and recommendations of Commissioner of Banks.

(a) If the Commissioner of Banks does not have the completed application within 120 days of the filing of the preliminary application, the application shall be returned to the applicants.

(b) When the Commissioner of Banks has completed the examination and investigation of the facts relevant to the establishment of the proposed savings bank, the Commissioner of Banks shall present the findings and recommendations to the Commission at a public hearing. The Commission shall approve or reject an application within 180 days of the submission of the preliminary application.

(c) Not less than 45 days before the public hearing held for the consideration of the application to establish a savings bank, the incorporators shall cause to be published a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area to be served by the proposed savings bank. The notice shall contain:

(1) A statement that the application has been filed with the Commissioner of Banks;

(2) The name of the community where the principal office of the proposed savings bank intends to locate;

(3) A statement that a public hearing shall be held to consider the application; and

(4) A statement that any interested or affected party may file a written statement either favoring or protesting the creation of the proposed savings bank. The statement shall be filed with the Commissioner of Banks within 30 days of the date of publication.

(d) The Commission, at the public hearing, shall consider the findings and recommendations of the Commissioner of Banks and shall hear oral testimony that the Commissioner of Banks may wish to give or be called upon to give, and shall also receive information and hear testimony from the original incorporators of the proposed savings bank and from any and all other interested or affected parties. The Commission shall hear only testimony and receive only information that is relevant to the consideration of the application and the operation of the proposed savings bank. (1991, c. 680, s. 1; 2001-193, s. 16.)