No banking business or the business of a trust company shall be conducted within this State except under a corporate charter valid in this State authorizing the conduct of such business in this State.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  2;  Code 1935, §  2290;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  901; 

No bank or trust company not actively engaged in business in this State prior to January 1, 1933, shall transact any business in this State or open a place of business in this State without having first secured from the State Bank Commissioner a certificate authorizing it to begin the transaction of business and to open a place of business in this State.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §§  3, 22;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(8);  Code 1935, §§  2291, 2310;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  902; 

(a) The Commissioner shall not give any certificate required by § 902 of this title until satisfied by proper evidence that all the requirements of the charter of the corporation applying for the certificate and all the requirements of this Code and any other laws of this State applicable to such a case have been complied with and that the whole capital stock has been fully paid in cash, unless the charter shall expressly provide otherwise.

(b) No certificate shall be issued until the corporation has filed with the Commissioner a duly certified copy of its charter and all amendments thereof, and a copy of its bylaws; and thereafter the corporation shall file with the Commissioner a duly certified copy of every subsequent amendment of its charter and of every subsequent amendment of its bylaws and a failure to file within 30 days after any amendment of its charter or bylaws has been effected, shall render the corporation liable to a penalty of $50 to be sued for by the Commissioner in the name of the State if the Commissioner considers such failure to have been wilful.

(c) A fee of $5,750 for every certificate shall be required by the Commissioner before issuing the same.

(d) In addition, the applicant shall pay an investigation fee of $1,150 which shall not be refundable and shall be submitted with the application.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §§  3, 22;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(8);  Code 1935, §§  2291, 2310;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  903;  62 Del. Laws, c. 247, §§  1, 2;  68 Del. Laws, c. 303, §  20;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1; 

(a) Every bank and trust company shall make and transmit to the State Bank Commissioner at least 4 reports during each year, according to the form which may be prescribed by the Commissioner, verified by the oaths or affirmations of the president or vice-president, and cashier, or treasurer or secretary of the corporation, and attested by the signatures of at least 2 directors. Each report shall exhibit under appropriate heads the resources and liabilities of the corporation at the close of business on any day past specified by the Commissioner, and shall be transmitted to the Commissioner within 30 days after the receipt of a request or requisition therefor.

(b) The Commissioner shall have power to call for special reports whenever in the Commissioner’s judgment the same are necessary. The Commissioner may require a separate report as to each department or subsidiary of any bank or trust company.

(c) The making of reports to the Commissioner under this section shall be in lieu of the making of reports to any other state official except for the purpose of assessment or taxation.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  7;  Code 1935, §  2295;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  904;  61 Del. Laws, c. 82, §  1;  66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  8;  70 Del. Laws, c. 112, §  45;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §§  39, 40; 

National banks, out-of-state banks (as defined in § 795 of this title) having one or more branch offices in this State, and federal savings associations (as defined in the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. § 1461 et seq.) doing business in this State shall make and transmit to the State Bank Commissioner reports according to the form which may be prescribed by the Commissioner when the Commissioner calls upon such banks for the reports; the object and purpose of such reports being the public good and not the regulation of said banks. The Commissioner shall have power to call for special reports whenever in the Commissioner’s judgment the same are necessary.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  7;  Code 1935, §  2295;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  905;  70 Del. Laws, c. 112, §§  46, 47;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  13; 

Every bank or trust company failing to comply with §§ 904 and 905 of this title shall be subject to a penalty of $25 for each day that it continues in such failure; unless the Commissioner is satisfied that such failure was not wilful. Any penalty that may be imposed by the Commissioner hereunder shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  7;  Code 1935, §  2295;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  906;  70 Del. Laws, c. 6, §§  3, 4; 

(a) “Demand deposits” as used in this section shall mean all deposits payable within 30 days; and time deposits shall comprise all deposits payable after 30 days, all savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and postal savings which are subject to not less than 30 days notice before payment.

(b) Every bank, trust company or savings bank shall maintain reserves as follows:

(1) Seven percent of the average aggregate of its demand deposits and 3 percent of the average aggregate of its time deposits, except that no reserves need be maintained against deposits of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or the State or any political subdivision or municipality thereof which are collateralized; and

(2) Such reserves shall consist of cash in the possession of the bank or of net balances payable on demand with banking institutions within or without the State which have been approved in writing as reserve depositories by the State Bank Commissioner or 50% of such required reserves may be maintained in unencumbered obligations of or guaranteed by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof including, without limitation, obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and public housing authorities, or obligations of the State or its municipalities, subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities and having a like market value.

(c) Whenever the State Bank Commissioner determines that the maintenance of sound banking practices or the prevention of injurious credit expansion or contraction makes such action advisable, the Commissioner may, by general regulation, change, from time to time, the requirements as to reserves against demand or time deposits, or both, in banking institutions doing business in this State which are not members of the Federal Reserve System. The reserves so specified shall be not less than the statutory requirement, nor greater than those requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank in this district applicable to member banks in this State. Reserves maintained under federal statute by state chartered nonmember banks shall satisfy the reserve requirements of this section.

(d) No money held in a fiduciary capacity whether as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or otherwise, which is on deposit with other banking institutions, shall be carried or counted as a part of the required reserves in any bank or trust company, exclusive of Federal Reserve Member Banks, unless it shall first set aside, earmarked for the trust department, obligations of or guaranteed by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof including, without limitation, obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and public housing authorities or obligations of the State, its municipalities, subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities having a maturity of not more than 5 years from the date of earmarking for the trust department and having a current market value of at least 110 percent of the amount on deposit.

(e) If the reserve of any corporation comprehended by this section shall be less than prescribed by general regulations issued by the State Bank Commissioner, the corporation shall not make any new loans or discounts, other than discounting bills of exchange payable on sight, nor shall the corporation declare or pay any dividends until the full amount of its reserve shall have been restored. Upon failure of any corporation to make good its reserve within 30 days after notice from the State Bank Commissioner, the Commissioner may treat such corporation as in an unsound condition and may proceed against it accordingly.

(f) For purposes of subsection (b) of this section, “deposits” as they relate to activities of international banking facilities shall not be included in the terms “demand deposits” or “time deposits” as such terms are defined in subsection (a) of this section.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  10;  Code 1935, §  2298;  43 Del. Laws, c. 139, §  1;  44 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  1;  45 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  1;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  907;  61 Del. Laws, c. 96, §§  1-3;  62 Del. Laws, c. 248, §  1;  64 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  3;  69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §  19;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 60; 

No bank or trust company shall carry on its books any of its assets at a sum in excess of the cost value thereof except by and with the written consent of the State Bank Commissioner.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  11;  Code 1935, §  2299;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  908; 

The assets of any bank or trust company shall be liable for and applicable to the payment and satisfaction of the liabilities, obligations and expenses of such bank or trust company only, and not to those liabilities, obligations and expenses of any insurance department or division of such bank or trust company established pursuant to § 767(a) or § 1662(b)(1) of this title. The liabilities, obligations and expenses of any such bank or trust company shall be applied against and paid and satisfied out of the assets of such bank or trust company only, and not out of the assets of any insurance department or division of such bank or trust company established pursuant to § 767(a) or § 1662(b)(1) of this title.

67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  8;  71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  33; 

(a) No bank, trust company or savings bank shall make any loans, directly or indirectly, to any person, firm, association or corporation, aggregating an amount which (including any extension of credit to such person, firm, association or corporation, by means of the issuance of letters of credit, or the discount or purchase of the notes, bills of exchange or other obligations of, such person, firm, association or corporation, or the acceptance, discount or purchase of drafts not eligible for discount by a Federal Reserve bank) shall exceed the following percentage of the lender’s total capital, which for this purpose means, in the case of a bank (including a bank and trust company and a savings bank), the bank’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital included in the bank’s risk-based capital under the capital guidelines of the appropriate federal banking agency, plus the balance of the bank’s allowance for loan and lease losses not included in the bank’s Tier 2 capital for purposes of the calculation of risk-based capital by the appropriate federal banking agency, based on the bank’s most recent consolidated report of condition filed under 12 U.S.C. § 1817(a)(3), or, in the case of a trust company (other than a bank and trust company), the sum of the capital, surplus, undivided profit and the valuation portion of the loan loss reserve accounts of the lender:

(1) Fifteen percent, if the loan be without collateral security. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the taking or receiving of any kind, character or amount of security whatsoever, either real or personal, for the protection of any loan made under this paragraph, but no such loan or any part thereof shall be considered or construed as a secured loan within the meaning of this paragraph unless the whole thereof has collateral security worth at least 15 percent more than the amount of such loan; or

(2) Ten percent (in addition to the amount that may be loaned under paragraph (1) of this subsection) upon collateral security worth at least 15 percent more than the amount of such loan so secured; provided, the aggregate amount which can be loaned under paragraph (1) of this subsection and this paragraph to any 1 person, firm, association or corporation shall not exceed 25 percent of the lender’s total capital; and provided further that no loan which is without collateral security shall be combined or blended with a loan which has collateral security, but the 2 classes of loans shall be kept separate and independent and each shall be represented by a separate evidence of indebtedness; or

(3) Twenty-five percent upon collateral security worth at least 15 percent more than the amount of the loans so secured. When loans so secured are made to this amount, then no loans not so secured shall be permitted in addition to such secured loans, except as set forth in subsection (b) below.

(b) None of the limitations or restrictions contained in subsection (a) of this section shall apply to:

(1) Loans, discounts or other extensions of credit secured by bonds or other obligations of the United States (defined to include any Federal Reserve bank or any department, bureau, board, agency, instrumentality, commission or establishment of the United States including any corporation wholly owned directly or indirectly by the United States) or of this State (defined to include any department, bureau, board, agency, instrumentality, commission or establishment of this State, including any corporation wholly owned directly or indirectly by this State);

(2) Any loan, discount or extension of credit, to the extent that any of the loans, discounts or extensions of credit are to, or are secured or covered by, guaranties, or by commitments, or agreements to take over or to purchase any such loans, discounts or extensions of credit made by the United States or this State, provided that such guaranties, agreements or commitments are unconditional and must be performed by payment of cash or its equivalent within 60 days after demand;

(3) Any loan, discount or extension of credit to an affiliate or subsidiary other than a subsidiary referred to in subsection (e) of this section.

(4) The sale of federal funds to depository institutions as defined in § 19 of the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. § 461] and to Edge Act corporations [12 U.S.C. § 611 et seq.] or the purchase of securities under agreements to resell provided such sales and purchases shall be repayable on the banking day next following their date of execution;

(5) The purchase or discount of bankers acceptances of the kind described in § 13 of the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. § 342 et seq.] and issued by other banks;

(6) Loans or extensions of credit arising from the discount of commercial or business paper evidencing an obligation to the persons negotiating it with recourse;

(7) Loans or extensions of credit secured by a segregated deposit account in the lending bank;

(8) Loans and extensions of credit arising from the discount of negotiable or nonnegotiable installment consumer paper which carries a full recourse endorsement or unconditional guaranty by the person transferring the paper, which shall be subject to a maximum loan limitation equal to 25 percent of such total capital;

(9) Loans and extensions of credit secured by bills of lading, warehouse receipts or similar documents transferring or securing title to readily marketable staples which shall be subject to a limitation of 35 percent of such total capital, if the market value of the staples securing each additional loan or extension of credit at all times equals or exceeds 15 percent more than the outstanding amount of such loan or extension of credit;

(10) The acceptance of a draft eligible for discount by a Federal Reserve bank drawn on the bank or the issue or confirmation of time letters of credit calling for the creation of such acceptances, which shall be subject to a loan limitation of 10 percent of such total capital, unless, with respect to that part in excess of 10 percent of such total capital, the institution is secured either by attached documents or by some other actual security growing out of the same transaction as the acceptance; and

(11) Any provisional debit, loan or extension of credit made by the lending bank or trust company to the demand deposit account of a customer of the lending bank or trust company in the course of settling overlimit checks drawn on such demand deposit account, provided that any such debit, loan or extension of credit is revocable at will by the lending bank or trust company as of the close of business the banking day next following the settlement of such checks, and provided further that any such debit, loan or extension of credit is funded by the customer within such time period.

(c) In computing loans to each of the following types of borrower, the loans shall be computed for such type of borrower only on the basis set forth in the applicable subparagraph below designated for such type of borrower and not with reference to either of the other subparagraphs:

(1) In computing loans to any individual person under this section, there shall be included all loans or extensions of credit by the lending corporation to:

a. Any partnership or unincorporated association of which the borrower is a member, to the extent that the borrower is actually liable to the lending corporation for the liabilities of the partnership or unincorporated association; and

b. All loans made for the borrower’s benefit, or for the benefit of any partnership or unincorporated association, of which the borrower is a member, except partnerships of which the borrower is a limited partner and not also a general partner, and is not otherwise liable for the liabilities of such partnership to the lending corporation.

(2) In computing the loans to any partnership, or unincorporated association under this section there shall be included:

a. All liabilities of its members to the lending corporation except liabilities of limited partners who are not also general partners, and who are not generally liable for the debts of the limited partnership, either by agreement or by operation of law; and

b. All loans made for the benefit of the partnership, or unincorporated association or any member thereof, except limited partners who are not also general partners, and who are not generally liable for the debts of the limited partnership, either by agreement or by operation of law.

(3) In computing the loans to any corporation under this section there shall be included all loans made for the benefit of the corporation. A loan shall not be deemed to be made for the benefit of a corporation if such loan is made to a person other than the corporation, including a subsidiary or affiliate of the corporation, unless the loan proceeds are to be loaned to the corporation or are to be transferred to the corporation without fair and adequate consideration, but the discharge of an equivalent amount of debt previously incurred in good faith and for value shall be considered fair and adequate consideration.

(d) No bank, trust company or savings bank shall make any loans directly or indirectly to any of its executive officers or directors in an amount that, when aggregated with the amount of all other extensions of credit to that person, exceeds the lesser of $500,000 or 5% of the bank’s total capital, except on the following conditions:

(1) That the loan be approved by the vote of a majority of the whole board of directors, or where the granting of loans is vested in a committee of the board of directors, then by a vote of a majority of the whole committee, and the proposed borrower shall not be present when the application for the loan is acted on;

(2) That at the time the loan shall be voted upon, there shall be submitted to and examined by the directors voting upon the loan a written statement signed by the proposed borrower setting forth clearly the proposed borrower’s financial condition and disclosing the proposed borrower’s assets and liabilities, and in case the loan shall be granted, the statement shall be preserved and kept with the evidence of the loan while the same remains unpaid, but no such statement shall be necessary where the loan is secured by liquid collateral worth at least 20 percent more than the amount of the loan.

(e) A department or division or subsidiary of a bank or trust company which engages in any activity authorized by § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title shall be deemed a corporation subject to the limitations of this section.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  12;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(5);  Code 1935, §  2300;  44 Del. Laws, c. 131, §  2;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  909;  61 Del. Laws, c. 524, §  1;  62 Del. Laws, c. 2, §  21;  63 Del. Laws, c. 319, §§  1-5;  64 Del. Laws, c. 141, §  1;  64 Del. Laws, c. 428, §  1;  67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  9;  69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §§  20-22;  71 Del. Laws, c. 19, §  41;  71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  34;  72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  7;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 61; 

No bank or trust company shall invest more than 25 percent of its total capital, surplus and undivided profits in the stock, bonds or other obligations of any 1 corporation or political entity or political division except bonds or other obligations of or guaranteed by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof including, without limitation, obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and public housing authorities, or obligations of the State or its municipalities, subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities; provided, that:

(1) The limitation on investment in this section shall not apply to the investment by a bank or trust company in 1 or more subsidiaries;

(2) The underwriting of or dealing in stocks, bonds, debentures, notes or other securities, or certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances, shall not constitute an investment within the meaning of this section;

(3) No bank or trust company which engages in activities authorized by § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title through subsidiaries or divisions shall initially allocate more than 25 percent of its total capital, surplus and undivided profits in the aggregate to all such subsidiaries or divisions, or shall thereafter allocate to all such subsidiaries or divisions (i) in any 1 year, without the approval of the Commissioner, any amount in excess of 3 percent of its total capital, surplus and undivided profits or (ii) in any event, any amount in excess of 25 percent of its then current total capital, surplus and undivided profits in the aggregate; and

(4) No bank or trust company which engages in activities authorized by § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title through subsidiaries or divisions shall allocate any of its total capital, surplus or undivided profits to any such subsidiaries or divisions unless such allocations are “unimpaired” within the meaning of Title 18 and free of all liens and encumbrances.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  13;  Code 1935, §  2301;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  910;  61 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 256, §§  1, 2;  66 Del. Laws, c. 27, §  9;  67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  10;  69 Del. Laws, c. 165, §  23;  71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  34; 

Section 762 of this title shall be applicable to all banks and trust companies of this State, except with respect to the investment or expenditure of money prior to July 1, 1933.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  16;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(6);  Code 1935, §  2304;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  911; 

No bank or trust company shall purchase shares of its own capital stock, nor make any loan on the faith or pledge of shares of its own capital stock; but nothing in this section shall inhibit such purchase or loan when necessary to prevent loss on debts created prior to March 31, 1921, nor shall it affect the holding of stock acquired by any bank or trust company prior to March 31, 1921. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commissioner may approve the purchase by a bank or trust company of the shares of its own capital stock, subject to such terms and conditions, if any, as the Commissioner may require.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  14;  Code 1935, §  2302;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  912;  80 Del. Laws, c. 1, §  2; 

Any national bank located in this State, when authorized by the laws of the United States, may act by any and every method of appointment, and in any capacity whatever, as trustee, executor, administrator, or register of stocks and bonds.

29 Del. Laws, c. 118, §  1;  Code 1935, §  2368;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  913; 

Any court, judge or officer, authorized by law to appoint any person or corporation to any office of trust, may appoint to such office any trust company incorporated under the laws of this State, and having its principal office or place of business in this State, if the court, judge or officer is satisfied that the capital stock of the trust company has been fully paid in cash, and that the trust company is authorized by its charter to perform the duties of the office.

22 Del. Laws, c. 388, §  1;  Code 1915, §§  635, 641, 3872;  37 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  Code 1935, §§  525, 4398;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  914; 

Repealed by 59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 1, eff. Mar. 23, 1974.

Whenever any bank or trust company holds on deposit funds as a part of its deposit liabilities for the account of an estate for which it is acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or in any other fiduciary capacity, the liability of such institution to the estate entitled to the funds shall be at all times a preferred claim superior to all unsecured claims of other creditors, including depositors of the institution. This section shall not be construed to subordinate the security of any secured creditor of any such institution to the preference hereby accorded to the deposits of any estate.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  23;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(8);  38 Del. Laws, c. 94, §  23;  Code 1935, §§  2311, 2392;  45 Del. Laws, c. 161, §  1;  45 Del. Laws, c. 164, §  1;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  916;  61 Del. Laws, c. 491, §  1; 

(a) (1) Whenever a trust company is appointed to an office of trust or to act in a fiduciary capacity, no surety need be required, in the discretion of the appointing court, judge or officer, on any bond given by it for the faithful performance of its duties, by reason of such appointment, unless otherwise stipulated in the will or other instrument making the appointment, or unless required in or by an order or decree of court having jurisdiction in the premises; but all of the capital stock, surplus and property owned by the trust company shall be specially and primarily liable for the obligation of the trust company while acting in such trust or fiduciary capacity.

(2) All liabilities and obligations, arising from or growing out of any such trusts, shall be liens upon its real estate prior and paramount to any other lien or encumbrance the trust company may create or suffer respecting the same.

(b) In case any national bank located in this State shall be appointed trustee, executor or administrator, it need not be required, in the discretion of the appointing person, corporation, court, judge, officer, or authority, to give security on any bonds, which it may by law be compelled to give by reason of such appointment.

22 Del. Laws, c. 388, §  2;  Code 1915, §§  635, 641, 2911, 3872;  37 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  29 Del. Laws, c. 118, §  2;  38 Del. Laws, c. 94, §  24;  Code 1935, §§  525, 2369, 2393, 3416, 4398;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  917; 

(a) No bank or trust company shall pledge or hypothecate any of its assets except to undertake any of the following:

(1) To secure any borrowing, guarantee, credit exposure, or other potential liability in an aggregate amount up to but not exceeding the amount of its capital and surplus actually paid in and undiminished by losses or otherwise.

(2) To secure any borrowing, guarantee, credit exposure, or other potential liability in an amount in excess of the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section upon written consent of the State Bank Commissioner.

(3) To secure any borrowing, guarantee, credit exposure, or other potential liability, in addition to the amounts specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, for the purpose of buying United States bonds, United States Treasury certificates, or notes or obligations of the United States or any United States government agency, and in such case the consent of the State Bank Commissioner shall not be required.

(4) To qualify itself to receive deposits of money of the United States or any United States government agency.

(5) To qualify itself to receive deposits of money of the State or any political subdivision or municipality thereof.

(6) To qualify itself to exercise any of the powers of a trust company or to act in any fiduciary capacity; provided, however, that assets pledged in accordance with this subsection shall not be counted for purposes of satisfying the minimum capital stock and paid-in surplus required to be maintained by any bank, trust company or limited purpose trust company pursuant to § 745 of this title.

(b) No bank or trust company shall repledge or rehypothecate any property held by it or delivered to its account in pledge or hypothecation as collateral which belongs to any other corporation or person, unless such property is accompanied by the obligation of the original borrower from, or counterparty to, the institution.

(c) No borrowing, guarantee, credit exposure, or other potential liability entered into in contravention of this section shall be rendered illegal for this cause as against the lender, creditor, or holder thereof, but the bank or trust company shall be subject to appropriate proceedings by the State Bank Commissioner for a violation of law.

(d) Any savings bank or savings society doing business in this State may borrow money, and may secure the same by the assignment or pledge of any mortgage, mortgages, bonds, or other assets held by said savings bank or savings society, provided that the amount borrowed from all sources shall not at any time exceed in the aggregate 25% of the amount set aside for surplus and reserves. The amounts borrowed from all sources shall at all times, irrespective of whether or not the same are secured, constitute a preferred claim superior to all other claims on the assets of said savings bank or savings society. Provided, however, that any savings bank or savings society may borrow in excess of the 25% limitation set out above on written approval by the State Bank Commissioner.

(e) The limitation on pledges and hypothecations in paragraph (a)(1) of this section and the limitation on repledges and rehypothecations in subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to any pledge, hypothecation, repledge, or rehypothecation by a bank or trust company supervised by a federal banking agency if the pledge, hypothecation, repledge, or rehypothecation is permitted under applicable federal law or regulations or orders promulgated thereunder by the federal banking agency.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, §  18;  38 Del. Laws, c. 93, §  1(7);  Code 1935, §  2306;  44 Del. Laws, c. 131, §  1;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  918;  54 Del. Laws, c. 85;  60 Del. Laws, c. 374, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  73 Del. Laws, c. 24, §  1;  81 Del. Laws, c. 403, § 1; 

Repealed by 70 Del. Laws, c. 112, § 48, eff. Sept. 29, 1995.

(a) Any bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company may receive money on deposit from or in the name of any minor. When any deposit of money shall be made by or in the name of any minor with any bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company in this State, the same shall be held for the benefit of the depositor, in the same way and to the same extent as if the depositor were an adult person. The minor depositor may make drafts or withdrawals of his deposits, and the deposits shall be paid, together with the dividends and interest thereon, to the person in whose name the deposit shall have been made, or upon his or her written order. The receipt or acquittance of a minor shall be a valid and sufficient release and discharge to the bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company for the deposit, or any part thereof.

(b) Any bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company shall have the right to refuse any deposit offered by or in the name of a minor.

(c) Any minor depositing money with a bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company shall be subject, in all transactions connected therewith, as between himself or herself and the bank, savings bank, savings institution or trust company, to all the obligations, equities and defenses to which an adult person would be subject in similar transactions.

27 Del. Laws, c. 196, §§  1, 2;  Code 1915, §  2113;  Code 1935, §  2267;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  920; 

Repealed by 71 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 42, eff. Apr. 23, 1997.

Banks, trust companies, savings banks, and savings societies may pay out deposits of decedents, without requiring letters of administration to be issued upon the estates of such decedents, when and as provided by §§ 2306 and 2307 of Title 12.

Code 1915, §  2115;  Code 1935, §  2269;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  922; 

When a deposit in any bank, trust company, savings bank or other banking institution in this State, is made in the name of 2 or more persons, deliverable or payable to either, or to their survivor or survivors, the deposit, or any part thereof, or the increase thereof, may be delivered or paid to either of the persons, or to the survivor or survivors, in due course of business.

28 Del. Laws, c. 107, §  1;  Code 1935, §  2270;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  923; 

(a) The following terms shall have the following definitions for the purposes of this section.

(1) A “beneficiary” is a natural person, or a nonprofit organization (as qualified under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)), that is described by a depositor as a person for whom a trust account is established and maintained. There shall be no more than 1 beneficiary per trust account, unless otherwise provided by the respective banking organization’s agreements, rules or regulations.

(2) A “depositor” is a natural person in whose name a trust account subject to this part is established or maintained. There shall be no more than 2 depositors per trust account, unless otherwise provided by the respective banking organization’s agreements, rules or regulations.

(3) A “trust account” includes all deposits in a savings account, interest- or noninterest-bearing transaction account, time deposit whether or not evidenced by a certificate or any similar deposit account in a banking organization which:

a. Is established by a depositor as trustee for another, other than a depositor describing the depositor as acting under a will, trust instrument or other document, court order or decree (including so-called Totten Trust accounts); or

b. Pursuant to an agreement with the banking organization, is payable on request to the depositor during the depositor’s lifetime and, on the depositor’s death, to a beneficiary (including so-called payable-on-death accounts).

(b) All funds in a trust account, including any interest or additions thereto, shall be trust funds subject to the following terms:

(1) Except as otherwise provided by the respective banking organization’s agreements, rules or regulations, the trust can be revoked, terminated or modified in whole or in part by any depositor during the depositor’s lifetime by means of, and to the extent of, partial or total withdrawals from or charges against the trust account made or authorized by the depositor or by a writing, other than a will or other similar testamentary disposition, received by the banking organization wherein the account is maintained during the lifetime of the depositor.

(2) The trust account cannot be revoked, terminated or modified in whole or in part by any depositor by will or other similar testamentary disposition.

(3) If the depositor survives the beneficiary, the trust shall terminate and title to the funds shall continue in the depositor free and clear of the trust.

(4) If the beneficiary survives the depositor, the trust shall terminate and title to the funds shall vest in the beneficiary free and clear of the trust.

(5) If the depositor and beneficiary die under circumstances where it is impossible to determine which survived the other, it shall be conclusively presumed that the depositor was the survivor and title to the funds shall vest in the depositor’s estate, free and clear of the trust.

(c) If the beneficiary survives the depositor under the circumstances provided in paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this section, the funds shall be paid to the beneficiary upon the beneficiary’s order, if, at the time of the beneficiary’s demand for payment of all or part of the funds, the beneficiary is 18 or more years of age. If the beneficiary survives the depositor under the circumstances provided in paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this section and if the beneficiary is under 18 years of age at the time demand for payment of any part or all of the funds is made, the funds may be paid to the order of the parent or parents of the beneficiary to be held for the use and benefit of such minor beneficiary or to the order of the duly appointed guardian of the property of the beneficiary.

(d) A banking organization which, upon the death of a depositor prior to service upon it of a restraining order, injunction or other appropriate process from a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting payment, makes payment to a beneficiary or, if the beneficiary is under 18 years of age, to the guardian of the property or to the parent or parents of the minor beneficiary pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, shall, to the extent of such payment, be released from liability to any person claiming a right to the funds and the receipt or acquittance of the person to whom payment is made shall be a valid and sufficient release and discharge of the banking organization.

(e) If a trust account is established in the names of more than 1 depositor, in form to be paid or delivered to any or the survivor of them, in trust for another, or payable on death of all of the depositors to a beneficiary, such account shall be subject to the terms of this section, except that the title to the funds on deposit and any additions and accruals thereon, as between the depositors, shall be the property of such depositors as joint tenants; and the property, together with all the additions and accruals thereon, may be paid or delivered to any of such depositors during the lifetime of such depositors subject to the terms of § 923 of this title, and, after the death of 1 of them, title to the property, together with all additions and accruals thereon, shall become property of the surviving depositor or surviving depositors, subject to the trust which may be revoked, terminated or modified by the surviving depositor or depositors, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of this section.

66 Del. Laws, c. 263, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  8;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 153, §  1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 62; 

Whenever a receiver has been appointed by the Court of Chancery for a bank or trust company in this State and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation pays or makes available for payment to the receiver the insured deposit liabilities of the closed institution, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be subrogated to all the rights against the closed institution of the owners of the insured deposits in the same manner and to the same extent as if the owners had lawfully assigned to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation so much or such of their deposits as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has paid or is ready to pay to the receiver.

40 Del. Laws, c. 231, §  1;  Code 1935, §  2408;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  926; 

Whoever wilfully and maliciously makes, circulates or transmits to another or others, any false statement, rumor or suggestion, written, printed or by word of mouth, which is directly or by inference derogatory to the financial condition or affects the solvency or financial standing of any bank, trust company, savings bank, or other banking institution in this State, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

28 Del. Laws, c. 107, §  1;  Code 1935, §  2272;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  927; 

(a) Any person, firm, or association of individuals or any agent or official of any corporation or other person who in any manner represents or holds out himself, herself, themselves or itself, whether by public advertisement, placard, handbill or otherwise, as engaged in the receipt of deposits of money as a savings fund, bank or trust company or any business substantially similar thereto within the boundaries of the State, or as engaged in the business of a trust company within the boundaries of the State, not being authorized under this Code or any other laws of this State to engage in such business or any business substantially similar thereto, shall be fined $1,000 per day in accordance with § 143 of this title, except that § 143(c) of this title shall not apply. In addition, any such person or agent or official of any such corporation, firm or association of individuals may be imprisoned not more than 1 year.

(b) When the name of any person or persons, firm, association or corporation appears in or on any handbill, placard, advertisement or other representation advertising or holding out such person, firm, association or corporation as engaged in the business of receiving deposits of money within the boundaries of the State, or as engaged in the business of a trust company within the boundaries of the State, it shall be prima facie evidence of its presence there by the authority and with the knowledge of such person, firm, association or corporation and of the officers and representatives in this State of the corporation or other person.

22 Del. Laws, c. 467, §§  1, 2;  Code 1915, §§  3507, 3508;  Code 1935, §§  3987, 3988;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  928;  70 Del. Laws, c. 6, §  5;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  73 Del. Laws, c. 247, §  5; 

(a) No bank or trust company shall, either directly or indirectly through any subsidiary, division or 3rd person, in any manner extend credit, sell any product or furnish any service to any person, or fix or vary the consideration for any of the foregoing, on the condition or requirement that:

(1) The person shall obtain some additional credit, product or service from such bank or trust company or its affiliate other than a loan, discount, deposit or trust service; or

(2) The person provide some additional credit, product or service to such bank or trust company or its affiliate other than those related to and usually provided in connection with a loan, discount, deposit or trust services; or

(3) The person shall not obtain some other credit, product or service from a competitor of such bank or trust company or its affiliate, other than a condition or requirement that such bank or trust company shall reasonably impose in a credit transaction to assure the soundness of the credit.

(b) No bank or trust company which is first authorized to engage in any activity by § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title shall, while an application for a loan, credit or other services previously submitted to such bank or trust company by any person is pending, accept from such person, either directly or through any division or subsidiary, an application for a policy of insurance directly related to the applied-for loan, credit or other services, or thereafter accept such an insurance application until such person has received from such bank or trust company a commitment with respect to the applied-for loan, credit or other services.

(c) The Commissioner shall by regulation promulgated after consultation with the Insurance Commissioner provide for the adequate disclosure of the prohibitions set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) For purposes of this section, the term “affiliates” shall mean a person that directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified. “Control” means beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries, of 25% or more of the voting securities or partnership interests in any person other than an individual.

(e) The prohibitions contained in this section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, those provided for under the laws of the United States, including 12 U.S.C. § 1971 et seq., the laws of this State, including § 2305 of Title 18, and all other applicable statutes, rules and regulations.

(f) The prohibitions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to conduct authorized by the Commissioner by regulation, if such conduct is permissible under 12 U.S.C. § 1972 or regulations or orders promulgated thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  11;  71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  34;  75 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  4; 

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the case of any extension of credit by the bank or trust company engaged directly or indirectly in activities first authorized under § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title to an individual borrower in connection with which insurance is obtained from such bank or trust company, or any subsidiary thereof engaged in activities first authorized under § 761(a)(14) or § 1661(a)(14) of this title, the individual borrower shall have the right to cancel the purchase of such insurance until midnight of the 30th calendar day following the consummation of the transaction or the delivery of the information and forms required under this section, whichever is later. Within the first 10 days, the individual borrower shall be entitled to an unconditional refund of the premium upon serving notice of cancellation as provided herein. The individual borrower shall effect such cancellation by notifying the bank or trust company or its subsidiary, in accordance with the regulations of the Commissioner, of an intention to do so. In accordance with the regulations of the Commissioner, the bank or trust company or its subsidiary shall:

(1) Clearly and conspicuously disclose to any individual borrower in a transaction subject to this section the rights of the individual borrower under this section; and

(2) Provide appropriate forms for the exercise by the individual borrower of this right to cancel any insurance subject to this section. Such forms shall contain a clear and specific statement setting forth:

a. The cost of the insurance;

b. That the individual borrower may choose the person through which the insurance is to be obtained;

c. The individual borrower’s right to use the cancellation period to obtain price quotations for insurance from other sources;

d. The actions necessary for the individual borrower to cancel the insurance; and

e. The individual borrower’s right to receive a credit or the unearned portion of the insurance premium after cancellation.

(b) Within 20 days after the unconditional recision period if no liability for a loss under the insurance has been incurred, the bank or trust company or its subsidiary shall:

(1) Credit the unearned portion of the premium, computed in accordance with applicable law or regulation promulgated by the Insurance Commissioner to enforce the provisions of this section, as of the date of cancellation and, where the premium has been financed, credit the unearned portion of the finance charge, if any, attributable to the insurance, computed as of the date of cancellation in accordance with the terms of the contract documents; or

(2) At the option of the individual borrower, refund the unearned portion of the premium to the borrower.

(c) When the insurance written in connection with an extension of credit is against loss of, or damage to, or against liability arising out of ownership or use of, property used as security for the extension of credit, the bank or trust company or its subsidiary may require evidence that the individual borrower has obtained other adequate insurance before exercising the right of cancellation set forth in this subsection. For reasonable cause, a bank or trust company on its subsidiary may refuse to accept an insurer offered by the individual borrower; provided, however, that a bank or trust company shall accept a policy of insurance issued by an authorized insurer offered by the individual borrower, so long as such insurer is not then impaired, insolvent, the subject of any rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding, or deemed by the Insurance Commissioner to be otherwise disqualified.

(d) Any individual borrower who has the right to cancel insurance under this section in connection with an obligation which has been assigned may cancel the insurance only by delivering to the assignee of the obligation the notice of cancellation required by this section. Delivery shall be considered made when mailed, or if sent by other means, when received by the assignee.

(e) Any individual borrower who exercises the right to cancel the purchase of insurance pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the imposition of any fee, cancellation charge, or other penalty payment.

(f) For purposes of this section, “individual borrower” means a borrower who is a natural person borrowing for personal, household or family purposes, or business or commercial purposes where the natural person employs 500 employees or less, or a borrower who is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership or other business entity which is borrowing for business or commercial purposes and which employs 500 employees or less.

(g) The rights provided under this section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, those provided by contract under the laws of the United States, the laws of this State, and all other applicable statutes, rules and regulations.

67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  12;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 25, §  34; 

(a) Any bank or trust company issuing policies of insurance either directly or through a division or subsidiary, shall disclose or cause to be disclosed to all applicants for such policies and to all policyholders that such policies, if and when issued, are not direct liabilities of such bank or trust company, and that only the assets of the insurance division or subsidiary issuing such policy are applicable to the payment and satisfaction of such policies or claims made thereunder.

(b) The Commissioner shall by regulation provide for the adequate disclosure of the information set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

67 Del. Laws, c. 223, §  13; 

(a) Savings banks and savings societies, subject to the laws of this State, may, in the discretion of a majority of all the managers or governing board, retire any officer, clerk or other employee, who has served the savings bank or savings society for a period of 30 years or more, or who has served the savings bank or savings society for a period of 10 years or more and shall have become incapacitated, or who has served the savings bank or savings society for a period of 20 years or more and has attained the age of 60 years. Any person retired from service pursuant to this section may be paid an annual pension, in equal monthly installments. The maximum pension paid shall in no case exceed 60% of the average annual salary for the 3 years preceding retirement. The discretion of the managers or governing board as to the time of payments, the amount of payments, and the duration of payments, within the maximum amounts allowed under this section, shall at all times be absolute and final.

(b) For the purpose of establishing and maintaining a pension plan or a plan for carrying life insurance or providing other after death benefits for any of its officers, clerks or employees, or their estates or beneficiaries, or a plan combining these types of benefits, any such savings bank or savings society may, in the discretion of a majority of its board of managers or governing board, segregate or allocate funds from its income or other assets and pay the same into a trust fund. Any such institution establishing such trust fund may itself act as trustee or may have an independent trustee. Even though the ultimate benefits of the plan are paid out of such trust fund, or even though premiums for the coverage are paid out of such trust fund, rather than directly out of the savings institution’s operating funds, unless the terms of the said trust are approved by the State Bank Commissioner as provided in this section, the limitations of years and percentage specified in the preceding paragraph shall remain applicable, and the only benefits payable shall be such as are authorized by the said paragraph. If the State Bank Commissioner shall determine that the said plan is not injurious to the institution or the security of its deposits, then such benefits as may be provided by said plan may be paid to officers, clerks or employees, or their estates or beneficiaries, in accordance with the terms of the plan, even though these terms may not be within the limitations of the preceding paragraph. If the plan has once been approved but is thereafter amended, the amendment shall be approved before any benefits are paid out under the amended plan.

43 Del. Laws, c. 141, §  1;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  931;  49 Del. Laws, c. 250;  55 Del. Laws, c. 118.; 

(a) Banks, savings banks, trust companies, building and loan associations and insurance companies, subject to this Code and any other laws of this State, may make such loans and advances of credit and purchases of obligations representing loans and advances of credit as are eligible for insurance by the Federal Housing Administrator, and may obtain such insurance; and may make such loans, secured by real property or leasehold, as the Federal Housing Administrator insures or makes a commitment to insure, and may obtain such insurance.

(b) Banks, savings banks, trust companies, building and loan associations, insurance companies, trustees, guardians and other fiduciaries, may invest their funds and the moneys in their custody or possession, eligible for investment, in notes or bonds secured by mortgage or trust deed insured by the Federal Housing Administrator, provided such notes or bonds or the notes, bonds or debentures into which the same are convertible upon foreclosure of such mortgage or deed of trust shall be guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States government.

(c) The mortgages, debentures and other securities herein made eligible for investment may be used, wherever securities must be furnished by any depository in the State, as security for the deposit of any funds whatsoever, or wherever securities must be deposited with any official of the State pursuant to this Code and any other statute of this State.

(d) No law of this State requiring security upon which loans or investments may be made, or prescribing the nature, amount or form of such security, or prescribing or limiting interest rates upon loans or investments or limiting investments of capital or deposits, or prescribing or limiting the period for which loans or investments may be made, shall be deemed to apply to loans or investments made pursuant to this section.

40 Del. Laws, c. 150, §§  1, 2;  Code 1935, §§  2405, 2405(a), 2406, 2406(a);  41 Del. Laws, c. 133, §§  1-4;  5 Del. C. 1953, §  932; 

(a) For purposes of this section “savings promotion raffle” means a raffle conducted by a bank or credit union doing business in Delaware where the sole action required for a chance of winning designated prizes is the deposit of a minimum specified amount of money in a savings account or other savings program.

(b) Any bank or credit union doing business in this State may conduct a savings promotion raffle provided that the bank or credit union:

(1) Conducts the savings promotion raffle in a manner that ensures that each entry has an equal chance of winning the designated prize;

(2) Fully discloses the terms and conditions of the savings promotion raffle to each of its account holders;

(3) Offers an interest rate that is commensurate with the interest rate the bank or credit union offers on comparable savings accounts or savings programs that are not subject to a savings promotion raffle; and

(4) Maintains records sufficient to facilitate an audit of such savings promotion raffle.

(c) A savings promotion raffle is not a lottery for purposes of Chapter 48 of Title 29.

81 Del. Laws, c. 13, § 1; 

The Commissioner may by rule except from the terms “deposit,” “borrowing,” and “extension of credit,” as they relate to the activities of international banking facilities and as defined in § 101 of this title, any class of transactions if the Commissioner finds that its inclusion would not be in the public interest. Any class of transactions otherwise included within the aforementioned terms “deposit,” “borrowing” and “extension of credit” shall be deemed by the Commissioner to be in the public interest if it promotes an environment conducive to the conduct of international banking business in this State, and does not constitute an unsafe, unsound or anticompetitive banking practice.

64 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  5;  72 Del. Laws, c. 15, §  9;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1; 

(a) Financial institutions that delay availability shall review their policies and consider reducing the delay periods to the extent possible, consistent with prudent business practices.

(b) Financial institutions shall disclose to depositors in an effective manner as to their delayed availability policies.

(c) Financial institutions shall refrain from imposing unnecessary delays on all checks, particularly on social security and other government checks, deposited into established accounts beyond the time required to receive credit for the checks.

64 Del. Laws, c. 478, §  1; 

(a) For purposes of this section, “fiduciary” shall mean a banking organization or trust company of a type referred to in this section acting as a trustee, personal representative, guardian or custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or any comparable act.

(b) The term “interested person” means any living person who:

(1) Is an income beneficiary or vested remainderman of a trust;

(2) Has a vested interest in a decedent’s estate;

(3) Receives benefits as a ward from a guardianship account; or

(4) Is the minor with respect to an account established under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or a comparable act.

(c) With the prior written approval of, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of transfer prescribed by, the office of the State Bank Commissioner, and upon completion of the notice procedure of subsection (d) of this section, a banking organization, trust company or a bank holding company having its principal place of business in this State may transfer 1 or more of the fiduciary accounts administrated by such banking organization, trust company, or 1 or more of the banking organizations or trust companies controlled by such bank holding company to another banking organization or trust company controlled by such banking organization or bank holding company. With the prior written approval of, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of transfer prescribed by, the office of the State Bank Commissioner, and upon completion of the notice procedures of subsection (d) of this section, a banking organization or trust company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction (including federal law) that has a place of business in this State but not its principal place of business in this State may transfer 1 or more of the fiduciary accounts administered in this State by such banking organization or trust company, to another banking organization or trust company in this State controlled by such banking organization or trust company or by a bank holding company or a savings and loan holding company that controls such transferring banking organization or trust company.

(d) Prior to effecting a transfer of 1 or more fiduciary accounts under subsection (c) of this section, the fiduciary shall send written notice of such transfer to all interested persons or their legal or natural guardians. If the persons, or their legal or natural guardians in the case of minor children or incompetents, to whom such notice was sent do not make written objections to the fiduciary of the account within 30 days of the date such notice was mailed, then the fiduciary may complete the transfer of the account.

(e) If a fiduciary completes a transfer as described in the preceding subsections, the banking organization or trust company to which such fiduciary accounts have been transferred shall automatically be substituted as a fiduciary of all the accounts so transferred without further action and without any order or decree of any court or public officer, and such transferee banking organization or trust company shall have all the rights, duties, responsibilities, obligations and liabilities, financial or otherwise, of such transferring fiduciary with respect to such accounts. Likewise, a fiduciary which completes a transfer of 1 or more accounts as described in the preceding subsections shall be removed as fiduciary of all such accounts without an accounting and without any order or decree of any court or public officer, and prospectively such fiduciary shall have no continuing duties, responsibilities, obligations or liabilities, financial or otherwise, with respect to the accounts so transferred. Such transfer shall not relieve a fiduciary of any liability it may have incurred for its action or inaction prior to the transfer.

65 Del. Laws, c. 422, §  1;  80 Del. Laws, c. 90.; 

(a) For purposes of this section, “fiduciary” shall have the same meaning as in § 3301(d) of Title 12.

(b) If a negotiable instrument is drawn upon the account of a principal in a bank by a fiduciary who is empowered to draw upon the principal’s account, the bank is authorized to pay such instrument without being liable to the principal for the application of the funds.

(c) If any negotiable instrument payable or endorsed to a fiduciary as such is endorsed by a fiduciary, or if any negotiable instrument payable or endorsed to a principal is endorsed by a fiduciary empowered to endorse such instrument on behalf of the principal, the endorsee is not bound to inquire whether the fiduciary is committing a breach of its obligation as fiduciary by endorsing or delivering the instrument, and is not liable for the application of the funds.

65 Del. Laws, c. 422, §  1; 

(a) Definitions. — For purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein:

(1) “Depository institution” means a state-chartered or federally-chartered financial institution that is located in this State and is authorized to maintain deposit or share accounts.

(2) “Depository institution affiliate” means any corporation whose stock is at least 80 percent owned by a depository institution or the holding company of a depository institution.

(3) “Compliance review committee” means a person or persons assigned by a depository institution or a depository institution affiliate to test, review or evaluate its conduct, transactions or potential transactions for the purpose of monitoring and improving or enforcing compliance with:

a. Safe, sound and fair lending practices;

b. Financial reporting to federal or state regulatory agencies;

c. The depository institution’s or depository institution affiliate’s own policies and procedures; or

d. Federal or state statutory or regulatory requirements.

(4) “Compliance review document” means any document prepared for or created by a compliance review committee for its exclusive use.

(5) “Person” means an individual, a group of individuals, a board committee or a corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated association or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

(b) Privilege. — Notwithstanding any provisions of Delaware common or statutory law to the contrary, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section:

(1) Compliance review documents shall be confidential and shall not be discoverable or admissible into evidence in any civil action;

(2) Compliance review documents delivered to a federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory agency shall remain confidential and shall not be discoverable or admissible in any civil action; and

(3) No person serving on a compliance review committee or acting at the request of a compliance review committee shall be required to testify in any civil action:

a. As to the contents or conclusions of any compliance review document; or

b. As to the actions taken by a compliance review committee.

(c) Limitations. — (1) This section shall not apply to any person serving on or at the request of a compliance review committee in connection with such person’s duties pursuant to the depository institution’s or depository institution affiliates’ by laws or operations manual, management responsibility for the operations, records, employees or activities being examined or evaluated by the compliance review committee.

(2) This section shall not be construed to limit the discovery or admissibility in any civil action of any documents that are not compliance review documents.

(3) This section shall not apply if, after an in camera review by the court consistent with applicable rules of procedure, the court determines that the compliance review was initiated or used to enable persons serving on the compliance review committee or the depository institution or the depository institution affiliate which created such committee to commit or plan to commit what the committee knew or reasonably should have known to be a crime.

70 Del. Laws, c. 359, §  1;