(1) The State Board of Financial Institutions shall examine periodically at intervals it deems appropriate the loans, business and records of every licensee. In addition, for the purpose of discovering violations of this title or securing information lawfully required, the Agency to whose supervision the organization is subject may at any time investigate the loans, business and records of any lender. For these purposes such agency shall have free and reasonable access to the offices, places of business and records of the lender. For these purposes insurance agents, brokers and premium service companies are subject to the supervision of the Department of Insurance. Other supervised financial organizations [§ 37-1-301(17)], restricted lenders and supervised lenders (§ 37-3-501) are subject to the supervision of the agency which issued its license or charter. All other lenders are subject to the supervision of the Administrator of Consumer Affairs.

(2) If the lender’s records are located outside this State, the lender at his option shall make them available to the supervisory agency at a convenient location within this State, or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the agency or its representative to examine them at the place where they are maintained. The agency may designate representatives, including comparable officials of the State in which the records are located, to inspect them on his behalf.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the agency or official may administer oaths or affirmations, and upon its own motion or upon request of any party may subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, adduce evidence, and require the production of any matter which is relevant to the investigation, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, or any other matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.

(4) Upon failure without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena or to give testimony and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected thereby, the agency may apply to the circuit court for an order compelling compliance.