§5-5A-20. Branch banks; commercial affiliates.

(a) Alabama banks may establish a branch or office for the transaction of the banking business within the State of Alabama upon prior approval of the superintendent. Alabama banks may establish a branch or office for the transaction of a banking business in any state other than Alabama, any territory of the United States, or in any foreign country in accordance with the provisions of federal law, the laws of the other state, territory, or foreign country and upon the prior approval of the superintendent.

(b) All laws or parts of laws, whether general, local, or general laws of local applications, which conflict with this section are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.

(c) Neither an Alabama bank nor an out-of-state bank may establish or maintain a branch or office for the transaction of the banking business in Alabama on the premises of a commercial affiliate of the bank. For purposes of this section, commercial affiliate is an affiliate of the bank as set forth in subsection (k) of Section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act which engages in commerce. An entity engages in commerce when 15 percent or more of its revenue is derived from activities other than those in which a bank holding company, or its subsidiaries, may engage. Premises of the commercial affiliate are any physical locations where the commercial affiliate directly or indirectly maintains ownership or conducts business.

(Acts 1980, No. 80-658, p. 1259, §5-5-20; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 83-73, p. 76; Acts 1985, No. 85-364, p. 307; Acts 1995, No. 95-115, p. 134, §72; Act 2007-224, p. 284, §1.)