Section 41 - Removal and prohibition1. Grounds for enforcement action. Whenever the superintendent has reason to believe that any director, trustee, officer, member or partner, or, in the case of a foreign banking corporation, the person in charge, or an officer, of a branch or agency (for purposes of this section, each a "covered individual"), of any bank, trust company, limited purpose trust company, private bank, savings bank, safe deposit company, savings and loan association, credit union, investment company, bank holding company (as such term is defined in article three-A of this chapter), foreign banking corporation, licensed lender, licensed casher of checks, budget planner, mortgage banker, mortgage loan servicer, mortgage broker, licensed transmitter of money or student loan servicer (for purposes of this section, each a "covered entity") has, directly or indirectly: (a) caused, facilitated, permitted or participated in any violation by a covered entity of a law or regulation, order issued by the superintendent or any written agreement between such covered entity or covered individual and the superintendent; (b) engaged or participated in any unsafe or unsound practice in connection with any covered entity; or (c) engaged or participated in any willful material act or omitted to take any material act that directly contributed to the failure of a covered entity; the superintendent may bring an action to remove such covered individual from office. 2. Notice and hearing. (a) Whenever the superintendent has reason to believe that any grounds exist to remove a covered individual, the superintendent may serve a statement of the charges against such covered individual, either personally or, upon a finding that such individual cannot be served personally within this state, by registered mail at the last address of such individual shown on the department's records, and a notice of an opportunity to appear before the superintendent to show cause why such covered individual should not be removed from office. A copy of such notice shall also be sent to any affected covered entity. (b) If after notice and a hearing, the superintendent finds that the covered individual has engaged in conduct described in subdivision one of this section, or if such covered individual waives a hearing, or fails to appear in person or by a duly authorized representative without good cause shown at the time and place set for the hearing, the superintendent may issue an order removing the covered individual from office and prohibiting the covered individual's employment or the performance of any contractual agreements with any covered entity. (c) Such order and the findings of fact upon which it is based shall be effective upon service on such covered individual personally or, upon a finding that such individual cannot be served personally within this state, by registered mail, and may not be made public or disclosed to anyone, except as provided in subdivision ten of section thirty-six of this article or in connection with proceedings relating to a violation of this section. Such order shall also be served upon any affected covered entity served with the statement of charges in the proceeding resulting in the order. Any such order shall remain in effect, unless it is amended or rescinded by the superintendent or a court of competent jurisdiction, or replaced by an order issued pursuant to subdivision three of this section. (d) To the extent consistent with the requirements in this section, a proceeding to remove a covered individual pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of article three of the financial services law and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. 3. Suspension pending determination of charges. Upon, or at any time after service of written notice pursuant to subdivision two of this section, the superintendent may suspend, pending the determination of the charges, a covered individual from office or prohibit such individual from participating in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any covered entity for a period of up to one hundred eighty days if the superintendent has reason to believe that by reason of the conduct described in subdivision one of this section: (a) a covered entity has suffered or will probably suffer financial loss that impacts its ability to operate in a safe and sound manner; (b) the interests of the depositors at a covered entity have been or could be prejudiced; or (c) the covered individual demonstrates willful disregard for the safety and soundness of a covered entity. The superintendent may extend the suspension for additional periods of up to one hundred eighty days if the hearing is not completed within the prior suspension period due to the request of the covered individual. 4. Effect of order for removal or suspension. Any covered individual subject to an order issued pursuant to this section shall be prohibited from participating, in any manner, in the conduct of the affairs of any covered entity unless permitted to, in writing, by the superintendent. Any covered individual who thereafter, without permission of the superintendent, participates in any manner in the management of a covered entity shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 5. Manner of review. Any order issued pursuant to this section may be reviewed in the manner provided by article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.Amended by New York Laws 2024, ch. 660,Sec. 1, eff. 12/21/2024.