Florida Statutes 655.55 – Law applicable to deposits in and contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state
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(1) The law of this state, excluding its law regarding comity and conflict of laws, governs all aspects, including without limitation the validity and effect, of any deposit account in a branch or office in this state of a deposit or lending institution, including a deposit account otherwise covered by s. 671.105(1), regardless of the citizenship, residence, location, or domicile of any other party to the contract or agreement governing such deposit account, and regardless of any provision of any law of the jurisdiction of the residence, location, or domicile of such other party, whether or not such deposit account bears any other relation to this state, except that this section does not apply to any such deposit account:
(a) To the extent provided to the contrary in s. 671.105(2); or
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 655.55
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- 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.
- Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
- Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
- National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. Source: OCC
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Revolving credit: A credit agreement (typically a credit card) that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved credit line when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is only billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due. (Also called a charge account or open-end credit.) Source: OCC
- Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) To the extent that all parties to the contract or agreement governing such deposit account have agreed in writing that the law of another jurisdiction will govern it.
(2) The law of this state, excluding its law regarding comity and conflict of laws, governs all aspects, including without limitation the validity and effect, of any contract relating to an extension of credit made by a branch or office in this state of a deposit or lending institution, including a contract otherwise covered by s. 671.105(1), if the contract expressly provides that it will be governed by the law of this state, regardless of the citizenship, residence, location, or domicile of any other party to such contract and regardless of any provision of any law of the jurisdiction of the residence, location, or domicile of such other party, whether or not such contract bears any other relation to this state, except that this section does not apply to any such contract to the extent provided to the contrary in s. 671.105(2).
(3) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Deposit or lending institution” means any of the following:
1. A bank, trust company, credit union, or association organized and existing under the laws of this or any other state.
2. An international bank agency, representative office, or international administrative office operating pursuant to the laws of this state or any branch or other office of an international banking corporation operating pursuant to the laws of this state.
3. A national banking corporation organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the National Bank Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 21 et seq.
4. A federal association organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, 12 U.S.C. ss. 1461 et seq.
5. A federal credit union organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 1751 et seq.
6. A federal agency operating pursuant to the provisions of the International Banking Act of 1978, 12 U.S.C. ss. 3101 et seq.
7. An agreement corporation operating pursuant to s. 25 of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 601 et seq.
8. An Edge Act corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of s. 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 611 et seq.
(b) “Deposit account” means any deposit or account in one or more names including, without limitation, any certificate of deposit, time deposit, credit balance, checking account, interest-bearing account, non-interest-bearing account, individual retirement account (IRA), money market account, NOW account, transaction account, savings account, passbook account, joint account, convenience account, escrow account, trust account, custodial account, fiduciary account, deposit in trust, or Totten trust account.
(c) “Contract relating to extension of credit” means any contract or agreement relating to any extension of credit, including, without limitation, any loan agreement, letter of credit, promissory note, letter of intent, loan commitment, credit facility agreement, confirmation or advice of letter of credit, letter of credit application or reimbursement agreement, overdraft agreement, revolving credit agreement, construction loan agreement, floor plan agreement, acceptance, pledge agreement, hypothecation agreement, assignment, mortgage, security agreement, power of attorney, subordination agreement, assumption agreement, loan modification agreement, guaranty, surety agreement, indemnity agreement, or workout agreement.
(4) Notwithstanding any law that limits or affects the right of a person to maintain an action or proceeding, any person may, to the extent permitted under the United States Constitution, maintain an action or proceeding in this state against any person or other entity residing or located outside this state if the action or proceeding arises out of a deposit account or contract relating to an extension of credit which, pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2), is governed in whole or in part by the law of this state.
(5) This section does not affect the law governing any transactions other than deposit accounts or contracts relating to extensions of credit specified herein, nor does this section affect the jurisdiction of the courts of this state over any dispute arising under any transactions other than deposit accounts or contracts relating to extensions of credit specified herein.
(6) This section applies to deposit accounts and contracts relating to extensions of credit entered into before, on, or after July 1, 1988. However, this section does not apply to any deposit accounts existing on July 1, 1988, if either party to the contract or agreement governing the deposit account provides the other party with a written objection to the application of this section within 6 months of July 1, 1988.