Sec. 5. (a) At the time of the filing of a plan of exchange with the department, the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank may submit a written request asking the department to hold a hearing on the matter. If such a request is submitted, the department shall hold a public hearing upon the fairness of the terms, conditions, and provisions of the plan of exchange and the proposed issuance and exchange of stock of the holding company for the stock of the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank. In addition, the department may on its own motion hold such a public hearing. The shareholders of the bank, the trust company, the corporate fiduciary, and the holding company and any other interested party may appear and become a party to the proceeding at any public hearing at which the fairness of the exchange is to be determined. The department shall require the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank and the holding company to produce such evidence as the director considers necessary to the hearing.

     (b) The department shall commence any public hearing held under this section not less than thirty (30) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date on which the plan of exchange is filed with the department. The hearing shall be held at such place, date, and time as the department shall specify. The hearing may be held by any member or members of the department, by the director of the department, by a deputy director of the department, by the supervisor of the department’s division of banks and trust companies, or by any employee of the department designated by the members of the department. At least ten (10) days before the hearing, the applicant shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the principal offices of the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank and the holding company are located and in the county where the hearing will be held. Written notice of the hearing shall be mailed at least ten (10) days before the hearing by the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank and by the holding company to all of their respective shareholders. All expenses of publication, court reporter fees, department expenses, and hearing room fees shall be paid by:

(1) the bank, trust company, corporate fiduciary, or stock savings bank;

(2) the holding company; or

(3) both;

as specified in the plan of exchange.

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the hearing and the determination made by the department are subject to IC 4-21.5-3.

As added by P.L.238-1983, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.7-1987, SEC.158; P.L.14-1992, SEC.74; P.L.122-1994, SEC.64; P.L.262-1995, SEC.17.