(a) No bank or trust company organized under the laws of this state shall change the bank’s or trust company’s place of business, from one city or town to another or from one location to another within the same city or town, without prior approval. Any such bank or trust company desiring to change the bank’s or trust company’s place of business shall file written application with the office of the state bank commissioner in such form and containing such information the commissioner shall require. Notice of the proposed relocation shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the main bank or trust company is currently located and in the county to which the bank or trust company proposes to relocate. The notice shall be in the form prescribed by the commissioner and at a minimum shall contain the name and address of the applicant bank or trust company, the address of the proposed new location and a solicitation for written comments. The notice shall be published on the same day for two consecutive weeks and provide for a comment period of not less than 10 calendar days after the date of the second publication. The applicant shall provide proof of publication to the commissioner.

(b) The commissioner shall examine and investigate the application. The commissioner shall approve the application if it is found that:

(1) There is a reasonable probability of usefulness and success of the bank or trust company in the proposed location;

(2) the applicant bank’s or trust company’s financial history and condition is sound; and

(3) the name selected for the bank is different from that of any other bank:

(A) Doing business in the same city or town; and

(B) within a 15-mile radius of the proposed location; and

(4) the name selected for a trust company is different or substantially dissimilar from any other trust company doing business in this state.

(c) Any bank or trust company may request an exemption from the commissioner from the provisions of subsection (b)(3) or (b)(4).

(d) If the commissioner denies an application, the applicant shall have the right to a hearing before the state banking board to be conducted in accordance with the Kansas administrative procedure act. Any action of the state banking board pursuant to this section is subject to review in accordance with the Kansas judicial review act.

(e) Upon approval of such place of business change, the bank or trust company must notify and make the necessary filings as may be required by the secretary of state’s office.