Fla. Stat. 655.55
Law applicable to deposits in and contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state


(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:To the extent provided to the contrary in s. 671.105(2); orTo 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.

(a)

To the extent provided to the contrary in s. 671.105(2); or

(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:“Deposit or lending institution” means any of the following:
A bank, trust company, credit union, or association organized and existing under the laws of this or any other state.
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.
A national banking corporation organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the National Bank Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 21 et seq.
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.
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.
A federal agency operating pursuant to the provisions of the International Banking Act of 1978, 12 U.S.C. ss. 3101 et seq.
An agreement corporation operating pursuant to s. 25 of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 601 et seq.
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.
“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.“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.

(a)

“Deposit or lending institution” means any of the following:A bank, trust company, credit union, or association organized and existing under the laws of this or any other state.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.A national banking corporation organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the National Bank Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 21 et seq.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.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.A federal agency operating pursuant to the provisions of the International Banking Act of 1978, 12 U.S.C. ss. 3101 et seq.An agreement corporation operating pursuant to s. 25 of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. ss. 601 et seq.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.
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.

Source: Section 655.55 — Law applicable to deposits in and contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0655.­55 (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

§ 655.55. Law applicable to deposits in & contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state's source at flsenate​.gov