Fla. Stat. 655.001
Purpose; application


(1)

Provide general regulatory powers to be exercised by the Financial Services Commission and the Office of Financial Regulation in relation to the regulation of financial institutions. The financial institutions codes apply to all state-authorized or state-chartered financial institutions and to the enforcement of all laws relating to state-authorized or state-chartered financial institutions.

(2)

Provide for and promote:The safe and sound conduct of the business of the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.The prudent conservation of the assets of the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.The maintenance of public confidence in the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.The protection of the interests of the public in the safety and soundness, and the preservation, of the financial institution system in this state and the protection of the interests of the depositors and creditors of financial institutions.The protection of the interests of the public in the proper conduct of fiduciary functions; the safety, soundness, and preservation of the system of the conduct in this state of trust business by trust companies and banks and associations that have trust departments; the protection of the interests of beneficiaries and other members of the public using the services of, doing business with, or otherwise affected by trust companies, trust departments of banks and associations, and other business organizations in the conduct of trust business or other exercise of fiduciary functions or powers; and the protection of the interests of the creditors of trust companies.The opportunity for state financial institutions to be and remain competitive with each other, with financial institutions or organizations existing under statutes of this state other than the financial institutions codes, and with other financial institutions and organizations organized or existing under, or deriving their authority or powers from, the laws of other states, the United States, or foreign countries.The opportunity for financial institutions to serve effectively the convenience and needs of their customers or members and the public and to participate in and promote the economic progress and welfare of this state and the United States.The opportunity for the management of financial institutions in conducting the business and affairs of their institutions, to exercise their business judgment, subject to the provisions of the financial institutions codes and to the extent compatible with, and subject to, the purposes and policies stated in this section.The modernization of state law governing financial institutions and governing the exercise of fiduciary and other representative powers by trust companies and trust departments of banks and associations.The delegation to the commission of adequate rulemaking power and to the office adequate administrative discretion, subject to the provisions of the financial institutions codes and to the purposes and policies stated in this section, in order that the supervision and regulation of financial institutions may be flexible and readily responsive to changes in economic conditions, in technology, and in financial institution practices.

(a)

The safe and sound conduct of the business of the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.

(b)

The prudent conservation of the assets of the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.

(c)

The maintenance of public confidence in the financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes.

(d)

The protection of the interests of the public in the safety and soundness, and the preservation, of the financial institution system in this state and the protection of the interests of the depositors and creditors of financial institutions.

(e)

The protection of the interests of the public in the proper conduct of fiduciary functions; the safety, soundness, and preservation of the system of the conduct in this state of trust business by trust companies and banks and associations that have trust departments; the protection of the interests of beneficiaries and other members of the public using the services of, doing business with, or otherwise affected by trust companies, trust departments of banks and associations, and other business organizations in the conduct of trust business or other exercise of fiduciary functions or powers; and the protection of the interests of the creditors of trust companies.

(f)

The opportunity for state financial institutions to be and remain competitive with each other, with financial institutions or organizations existing under statutes of this state other than the financial institutions codes, and with other financial institutions and organizations organized or existing under, or deriving their authority or powers from, the laws of other states, the United States, or foreign countries.

(g)

The opportunity for financial institutions to serve effectively the convenience and needs of their customers or members and the public and to participate in and promote the economic progress and welfare of this state and the United States.

(h)

The opportunity for the management of financial institutions in conducting the business and affairs of their institutions, to exercise their business judgment, subject to the provisions of the financial institutions codes and to the extent compatible with, and subject to, the purposes and policies stated in this section.

(i)

The modernization of state law governing financial institutions and governing the exercise of fiduciary and other representative powers by trust companies and trust departments of banks and associations.

(j)

The delegation to the commission of adequate rulemaking power and to the office adequate administrative discretion, subject to the provisions of the financial institutions codes and to the purposes and policies stated in this section, in order that the supervision and regulation of financial institutions may be flexible and readily responsive to changes in economic conditions, in technology, and in financial institution practices.

Source: Section 655.001 — Purpose; application, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0655.­001 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

655.001
Purpose
655.005
Definitions
655.012
General supervisory powers
655.013
Effect on existing financial institutions
655.015
Construction
655.016
Liability when acting upon rule, order, or declaratory statement
655.017
Local regulation preempted
655.031
Administrative enforcement guidelines
655.032
Investigations, subpoenas, hearings, and witnesses
655.033
Cease and desist orders
655.034
Injunctions
655.035
Military lending
655.037
Removal of a financial institution-affiliated party by the office
655.41
Definitions
655.041
Administrative fines
655.043
Articles of incorporation
655.044
Accounting practices
655.045
Examinations, reports, and internal audits
655.047
Assessments
655.049
Deposit of fees and assessments
655.50
Florida Control of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Financial Institutions Act
655.51
Employment information
655.55
Law applicable to deposits in and contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state
655.56
Collection of fines, interest, or premiums on loans made by financial institutions
655.057
Records
655.059
Access to books and records
655.60
Appraisals
655.061
Competitive equality with federally organized or chartered financial institutions
655.071
International banking facilities
655.77
Deposits by minors
655.78
Deposit accounts in two or more names
655.79
Deposits and accounts in two or more names
655.80
Convenience accounts
655.82
Pay-on-death accounts
655.83
Adverse claim to a deposit or fiduciary account
655.84
Limitations
655.85
Settlement of checks
655.86
Issuance of postdated checks
655.89
Legal holidays
655.90
Closing during emergencies and other special days
655.91
Records of institutions and copies thereof
655.93
Definitions for ss
655.94
Special remedies for nonpayment of rent
655.0201
Service of process, notice, levy, or demand on financial institutions
655.0321
Restricted access to certain hearings, proceedings, and related documents
655.0322
Prohibited acts and practices
655.0323
Unsafe and unsound practices
655.0385
Disapproval of directors and executive officers
655.0386
Transactions with financial institution-affiliated parties
655.0391
Retention of supervision by office
655.0392
Place of transacting business
655.411
Conversion of charter
655.412
Merger and consolidation
655.414
Acquisition of assets
655.416
Book value of assets
655.417
Effect of merger, consolidation, conversion, or acquisition
655.418
Nonconforming activities
655.419
Effect
655.0591
Trade secret documents
655.762
Sale of assets
655.769
Definitions of terms used in ss
655.825
Deposits in trust
655.851
Unclaimed credit balances
655.921
Transaction of business by out-of-state financial institutions
655.922
Banking business by unauthorized persons
655.931
Authority to engage in safe-deposit business
655.932
Lease to minor
655.933
Access by fiduciaries
655.934
Effect of lessee’s death or incapacity
655.935
Search procedure on death of lessee
655.936
Delivery of safe-deposit box contents or property held in safekeeping to personal representative
655.937
Access to safe-deposit boxes leased in two or more names
655.938
Adverse claims to contents of safe-deposit box
655.939
Limiting right of access for failure to comply with security procedures
655.942
Standards of conduct
655.943
Applications
655.946
Single interest insurance placed by financial institutions
655.947
Debt cancellation products
655.948
Significant events
655.949
Personnel
655.954
Financial institution loans
655.955
Liability of financial institution to third parties
655.960
Definitions
655.961
Violation of specified provisions not negligence per se
655.962
Lighting
655.963
Access devices
655.964
Application
655.965
Preemption
655.966
Automated teller machine
655.967
State-funded endowments
655.968
Financial institutions
655.03855
Provisional directors and executive officers
655.4185
Emergency action

Current through Fall 2025

§ 655.001. Purpose; application's source at flsenate​.gov