Alabama Code 5-17-3. Use of words “credit union” in name or title
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person, association, copartnership, or corporation, except corporations organized in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, credit unions incorporated under the laws of the United States, the trade associations of credit unions doing business in this state, and other organizations as approved by the administrator, to use the words “credit union” in their name, title, or in advertising. A credit union organized under the provisions of this chapter shall include in its corporate name or title the words “credit union.” Any violation of this prohibition shall subject the party chargeable therewith to a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each day, with a maximum amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), during which the violation is committed or repeated. The penalty may be recovered by the administrator by an action instituted for that purpose, and, in addition to the penalty, the violation may be enjoined and the injunction enforced as in other cases. If the directors, officers, or those persons performing similar functions as corporate directors or officers of any entity shall knowingly and willfully violate or knowingly and willfully permit any of the officers, agents, employees, or those persons performing similar functions of the entity to violate any of the provisions of this section, each director, officer, or other person engaging in the violation shall be liable in his or her personal and individual capacity for all damages which the entity or any other person shall have sustained in consequence of the violation. Provided, however, that a credit union organized in another state may conduct business as a credit union in this state with the prior approval of the Administrator of the Alabama Credit Union Administration provided all of the following criteria are met:
Attorney's Note
Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Violation | up to 30 days | up to $200 |
Terms Used In Alabama Code 5-17-3
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
- person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- United States: includes the territories thereof and the District of Columbia. See Alabama Code 1-1-1