Chapter 1315 | Transmitters Of Money; Check-cashing Businesses

Section 1315.01 | Transmitters of money definitions.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

Except when the context otherwise requires, as used in sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Authorized delegate" means a person designated by a licensee under section 1315.11 of the Revised Code to receive, directly or indirectly, money or its equivalent for transmission by the licensee.

(B) "Control" means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management and policies of a licensee or the ownership, control of, or power to vote twenty-five per cent or more of any class of the outstanding voting securities of a controlling person. For purposes of determining the percentage of a licensee controlled by any person, the person's interest shall be aggregated with the interest of any other person controlled by the person or by any spouse, parent, or child of the person.

(C) "Controlling person" means any person that controls a licensee.

(D) "Executive officer" means the licensee's president, treasurer, secretary, each senior officer responsible for the licensee's business, and any other person that performs similar functions.

(E) "Licensee" means a person licensed under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code to receive, directly or indirectly, for transmission, money or its equivalent from persons located in this state.

(F) "Outstandings" means the total of all moneys received for transmission that are not yet delivered, paid, or accessed.

(G) "Transmit money" means to receive, directly or indirectly and by any means, money or its equivalent from a person and to deliver, pay, or make accessible, by any means, method, manner, or device, whether or not a payment instrument is used, the money received or its equivalent to the same or another person, at the same or another time, and at the same or another place, but does not include transactions in which the recipient of the money or its equivalent is the principal or authorized representative of the principal in a transaction for which the money or its equivalent is received, other than the transmission of money or its equivalent. "Transmit money" also includes the sale of checks and other payment instruments.

Section 1315.02 | Recipient of money to be licensed or authorized.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) No person, regardless of the location of that person, its facilities, or its agents, shall receive, directly or indirectly and by any means, money or its equivalent for transmission from a person located in this state, unless that person receiving the money or its equivalent for transmission is a licensee, an authorized delegate of a licensee that is not itself required to be licensed under division (B) of this section, or is one of the following:

(1) The United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States;

(2) The United States postal service;

(3) A state of the United States or any political subdivision of a state of the United States;

(4) A bank, credit union, savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or doing business under a license granted under Chapter 1119. of the Revised Code, a subsidiary or affiliate of a bank, savings and loan association, or savings bank, a credit union service organization, or an authorized representative of any of these;

(5) A contractor providing electronic transfer of government benefits on behalf of the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or on behalf of any state or any political subdivision of any state of the United States;

(6) A person the only money transmitter activity of which is to deliver payroll money on behalf of employers to employees by check or deposit in a checking or savings account at a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, savings association, or credit union;

(7) A person the only money transmitter activity of which is to accept prepayment for future purchases of that person's goods or services that are other than money transmitter services;

(8) A licensed securities, insurance, mortgage, or real estate broker or agent acting within the scope of its license;

(9) A person the only money transmitter activity of which is receiving money or its equivalent as an intermediary facilitating the closing of a sale of property or a loan;

(10) A retail seller of goods and services the only money transmitter activities of which are receipt of money or its equivalent from and to be delivered at the direction of an obligor on a credit card account for a credit card to be used solely for purchases from that retail seller or branded with the name of that retail seller or an affiliate of that retail seller;

(11) A person, the regulation of money transmitter activities under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code of which, the superintendent of financial institutions determines would not serve the intended purposes of the regulation.

(B) No authorized delegate of a licensee also shall do accounting, verification, or reconciliation of transmissions completed or bank statements for a licensee, unless the authorized delegate also is a licensee.

Section 1315.03 | Application for money transmitter license - confidentiality.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Each application for a money transmitter license shall be in the form prescribed by the superintendent of financial institutions and accompanied by an application fee established in section 1315.13 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The superintendent shall approve or deny every application for a license under this section within one hundred eighty days after the date that the superintendent accepts the application as complete, unless the applicant has, by written consent, agreed to a longer time for the superintendent to make a determination on the application.

(2) Subject to division (D) of this section, an application is not complete and the superintendent shall not accept it for processing until the applicant pays the application fee described in division (A) of this section. The time described in division (B)(1) of this section in which the superintendent must make a determination on an application does not begin until the superintendent has determined that the application is complete and has accepted it for processing.

(3) A determination by the superintendent that an application is complete and is accepted for processing means only that the application, on its face, appears to include all of the items and to address all of the matters that are required, and is not an assessment of the substance of the application or of the sufficiency of the information provided.

(C)(1) The superintendent may grant confidential treatment for information in or related to an application described in division (A) of this section, if confidential treatment is requested by the applicant in compliance with division (C)(2) of this section and any of the following applies:

(a) The information is of a commercial or financial nature, disclosure of which likely would result in substantial harm to the competitive position of the applicant or its affiliates or to any party to the transaction or its affiliates.

(b) The information is of a personal, medical, financial, or similar nature, disclosure of which would result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

(c) The information is contained in, related to, or derived from examinations, operating or condition reports, agreements, orders, or actions prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of a governmental agency or authority.

(d) The information has been filed with a governmental agency or authority and has not been approved for disclosure by that agency or authority.

(e) The information specifically is excepted from disclosure by statute.

(2)(a) An applicant requesting confidential treatment under division (C) of this section shall do so in writing at the time that the application containing the information, or additional information related to an application, is submitted.

(b) The request described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section separately shall address each item of information for which confidential treatment is requested, explaining the applicability of the asserted justification for confidential treatment and either specifically demonstrating the harm that would result from public disclosure of the item of information or setting forth the reason that the applicant cannot authorize public disclosure of the item of information.

(c) The applicant separately shall bind and identify all items of information for which confidential treatment is requested under division (C) of this section and shall make specific reference to those items in the remainder of the application or additional information related to the application.

(3)(a) The superintendent shall review a request for confidential treatment under division (C) of this section and provide the applicant with written notice of the superintendent's decision on granting confidential treatment for each item of information for which it is requested.

(b) If the superintendent's decision provided pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of this section is not to grant confidential treatment to an item of information, the applicant may withdraw the item of information by written notice within ten days after the applicant's receipt of the superintendent's decision. If the applicant fails to withdraw the item of information within the ten-day period, the applicant is deemed to have waived the right to withdraw, and the item of information is a part of the application available to the public.

(4)(a) An item of information submitted with a request for confidential treatment under division (C) of this section is not deemed filed with the superintendent until the superintendent grants confidential treatment or the applicant is deemed to have waived the right to withdraw the item of information.

(b) Until the item of information submitted with a request for confidential treatment is filed in accordance with division (C)(4)(a) of this section, no person shall copy or inspect the item of information or anything derived from the item of information, except as necessary to assist the superintendent in deciding whether to grant confidential treatment to the item of information in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(5) When an item of information is filed following the superintendent's decision to grant it confidential treatment pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of this section, the item of information is not a public record as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code and only the superintendent shall use it in connection with the performance of the duties and exercise of the powers of the superintendent. Without prior notice to the applicant, the superintendent may disclose or comment on any of the contents of the application in an order, statement, or opinion issued by the superintendent in connection with a decision on the application.

(D) Division (B)(2) of this section does not prohibit either of the following:

(1) The superintendent denying an application described in division (A) of this section prior to the superintendent's acceptance of the application for processing, on the basis that the applicant failed to include all of the items and address all of the issues required for the application, if both of the following apply:

(a) The superintendent advised the applicant that the application was incomplete.

(b) After being advised by the superintendent pursuant to division (D)(1)(a) of this section that the application was incomplete, the applicant did not, within a reasonable period of time, complete the application.

(2) The superintendent denying an application described in division (A) of this section on the basis that the applicant failed to provide the information necessary for the superintendent to consider the application adequately after the superintendent's acceptance of the application for processing, if both of the following apply:

(a) After beginning to process the application, the superintendent determined and advised the applicant additional information was necessary to consider the application adequately.

(b) After the superintendent advised the applicant pursuant to division (D)(2)(a) of this section that additional information was necessary to consider the application adequately, the applicant did not, within a reasonable period of time, provide that information.

Section 1315.04 | Determination on application - conditional approval.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

(A)(1) After accepting an application for a money transmitter license described in section 1315.03 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of financial institutions shall examine all the facts and circumstances relating to the application.

(2) At the applicant's expense, the superintendent may conduct an on-site examination of the applicant's books, records, and operations. If the superintendent requests, the applicant shall advance to the superintendent the superintendent's estimate of the cost of the on-site examination, with any unconsumed portion to be returned to the applicant.

(3) The applicant shall pay the cost of its examination described in division (A) of this section, or any balance of the cost of its examination in the case of an applicant that advanced the estimated cost of its examination, within fourteen days after receiving an invoice for payment.

(B) In making a determination on an application described in division (A)(1) of this section, the superintendent shall consider all of the following:

(1) The applicant's financial condition;

(2) The applicant's business practices;

(3) The applicant's and its directors', executive officers', and controlling persons' experience, competence, and history of compliance with applicable laws.

(C) The superintendent shall not approve an application described in division (A)(1) of this section if the applicant does not meet both of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant is a legally established business entity that is capitalized separately and distinctly from every other legal entity and is qualified to do business in this state.

(2) The applicant has a minimum net worth of not less than five hundred thousand dollars, calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding any assets that the superintendent disqualifies and including any off-balance sheet liabilities that the superintendent requires.

(D)(1) In approving an application for a money transmitter license, the superintendent may impose any condition the superintendent determines to be appropriate.

(2) When an applicant has satisfied all prior conditions imposed by the superintendent in approving the applicant's application for a money transmitter license and has provided a security device as required by section 1315.07 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall issue the applicant a money transmitter license. A license issued pursuant to this section remains in force and effect until surrendered by the licensee pursuant to section 1315.18 of the Revised Code or suspended or revoked by the superintendent pursuant to section 1315.151 of the Revised Code.

(E) On or before the first day of July of each year, each licensee shall pay to the superintendent an annual fee for carrying on the business as a money transmitter, which fee is established by the superintendent pursuant to division (B) of section 1315.13 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:31 AM

Section 1315.05 | Continuing duties of licensees.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

Each licensee, at all times, shall meet both of the following requirements:

(A) Be a legally established business entity that is capitalized separately and distinctly from every other legal entity and qualified to do business in this state;

(B) Have a minimum net worth of not less than five hundred thousand dollars, calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding any assets that the superintendent of financial institutions disqualifies and including any off-balance sheet liabilities that the superintendent requires.

(C) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.06 | Minimum amount of permissible investments.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A)(1)(a) Subject to division (A)(2) of this section, each licensee shall maintain permissible investments described in division (B) of this section having an aggregate market value of not less than the aggregate amount of all of the licensee's outstandings received from persons in the United States, directly and through authorized delegates, to the extent reported to the licensee.

(b) For purposes of division (A)(1)(a) of this section, a licensee's permissible investments, even if commingled with other assets of the licensee, and a licensee's other assets to the extent necessary to equal the licensee's outstandings, are, by operation of law, impressed with a trust and held for the benefit of persons the money of which the licensee holds for transmission, and these permissible investments are not available to satisfy any other of the licensee's creditors.

(2) The superintendent of financial institutions may waive the requirement described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section if the volume of a licensee's outstandings does not exceed the licensee's security device provided pursuant to section 1315.07 of the Revised Code.

(B) All of the following are permissible investments by a licensee:

(1) Cash;

(2) Certificates of deposit or other debt obligations of a depository institution, either domestic or foreign;

(3) Bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank, otherwise known as bankers' acceptances, that are eligible for purchase by member banks of the federal reserve system;

(4) Any investment bearing a rating of one of the three highest grades as defined by a nationally recognized organization that rates securities;

(5) Investment securities that are obligations of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities; obligations that are guaranteed fully as to principal and interest by the United States; or any obligations of any state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state;

(6) Shares in a money market mutual fund; interest-bearing bills, notes, bonds, debentures, or preferred stock traded on any national securities exchange or on a national over-the-counter market; or mutual funds primarily composed of such securities or a fund composed of one or more permissible investments described in division (B) of this section;

(7) Any demand borrowing agreement or agreements made to a corporation or a subsidiary of a corporation the capital stock of which is listed on a national exchange, provided that the total borrowing agreements with any one borrower do not exceed ten per cent of the licensee's outstandings;

(8) To the extent permitted by the superintendent, receivables that are due to a licensee from its authorized delegates and are not past due or doubtful of collection;

(9) Any other investments approved by the superintendent.

(C) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.07 | Satisfactory security device maintained.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A)(1) In a form satisfactory to the superintendent of financial institutions, each licensee shall provide and maintain a security device of one or more of the types described in division (B) of this section of not less than three hundred thousand dollars or such greater amount as the superintendent finds appropriate but, except pursuant to a supervisory action, not exceeding two million dollars.

(2) By control agreement or terms of the bond, the security device described in division (A)(1) of this section shall run to the superintendent for the benefit of any claimants against the licensee, to secure the faithful performance of the obligations of the licensee with respect to its receipt of money from persons in this state for transmission. In the case of a bond, the superintendent may bring suit on behalf of claimants, either in one action or in successive actions, or may authorize claimants to bring their own actions on the bond.

(B) The security device required by division (A) of this section shall be one or more of the following:

(1) A pledge, with a holder acceptable to the superintendent and subject to a control agreement with the superintendent, of any of the following:

(a) Cash;

(b) Interest-bearing stocks, bonds, notes, debentures, or other obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or guaranteed by the United States;

(c) Interest bearing stocks, bonds, notes, debentures, or other obligations of this state, or of a city, county, town, village, school district, or instrumentality of this state, or guaranteed by this state.

(2) A surety bond;

(3) Any other security device approved by the superintendent.

(C)(1)(a) In the case of a security device provided in the form of a pledge of securities, the securities pledged shall be valued at the lower of principal amount or market value.

(b) The licensee is entitled to receive all interest and dividends on cash or securities pledged and, with the approval of the superintendent, may substitute pledged securities, which substitution also may be ordered by the superintendent pursuant to a written order.

(2) In the case of a security device provided in the form of a surety bond, both of the following apply:

(a) The surety bond shall remain in effect until canceled, which may occur only after thirty days' written notice to the superintendent.

(b) Cancellation of a surety bond does not affect any liability incurred or accrued during the bond's effective period.

(D) A licensee shall maintain the security device required by division (A) of this section after the licensee ceases money transmission operations in this state, until the licensee's outstandings in this state all have been satisfied or properly reported to the division of unclaimed funds. However, the superintendent may permit the security device to be reduced to the extent that the amount of the licensee's outstandings in this state are reduced.

(E) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.08 | Quarterly reports - annual financial statements.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Within forty-five days after the end of each calendar quarter, each licensee shall submit to the superintendent of financial institutions all of the following in the form prescribed by the superintendent:

(1) The licensee's unaudited, unconsolidated financial statements as of the end of the calendar quarter, including a balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in shareholder's equity, and statement of cash flows;

(2) A statement for the calendar quarter of the number of money transmission transactions undertaken by the licensee in this state and in the United States in total, the dollar amount of those transactions, and the number and dollar amount of those transactions currently outstanding;

(3) A schedule of the licensee's permissible investments and their market values as of the end of the calendar quarter;

(4) A schedule of the locations, if any, within this state at which the licensee is conducting business directly or through its authorized delegates;

(5) Any other information that the superintendent requires.

(B) Annually, not more than one hundred twenty days after the end of its fiscal year, each licensee shall submit to the superintendent its audited unconsolidated financial statements for the fiscal year, including a balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in shareholder equity, and statement of cash flows. If the licensee is a subsidiary of another company, the licensee also shall submit the audited consolidated financial statements of its parent company.

(C) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.081 | Written report of specified events.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Within fifteen business days after the occurrence of any of the events listed below, a licensee shall file a written report with the superintendent describing the event and its expected impact on the licensee's activities in the state:

(1) Any material changes in information provided in a licensee's application or any report submitted to the superintendent under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code;

(2) The licensee's filing for bankruptcy or reorganization;

(3) The institution of revocation or suspension proceedings against the licensee by any state or governmental authority with regard to the licensee's money transmission activities;

(4) Any felony indictment of the licensee, or any of its controlling persons, directors, officers, or employees, related to money transmission activities;

(5) Any felony conviction of the licensee, or any of its controlling persons, directors, officers, or employees, related to money transmission activities;

(6) Any proposed change of control of the licensee;

(7) The licensee's decision to voluntarily surrender or not to renew a money transmitter license it holds in another jurisdiction.

(B)(1) No person shall make a false statement, misrepresentation, or false certification to the division of financial institutions or in a record filed or required to be maintained under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code or make a false entry or omit a material entry in a record filed or required to be maintained under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code or made available to the division.

(2) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.09 | Records required to be kept.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Each licensee shall make, keep, and preserve with respect to the licensee the following books, accounts, and other records for a period of five years to be open to inspection by the superintendent of financial institutions:

(1) A record or records of each money transmission transaction;

(2) A general ledger containing all assets, liabilities, capital, income, and expense accounts, posted at least monthly;

(3) All bank statements and bank reconciliation records;

(4) A record of all outstandings;

(5) A record of all payments made;

(6) The names and addresses of all authorized delegates of the licensee;

(7) Any other records that the superintendent requires.

(B) For purposes of this section, a licensee may retain a document, paper, or other instrument or record by use of a process to record, copy, photograph, or store a representation of the original document, paper, or other instrument or record, if all of the following apply:

(1) The process correctly and accurately copies or reproduces, or provides a means for correctly and accurately copying or reproducing, the original document, paper, or other instrument or record with regard to both its substance and appearance, except that the copy or reproduction need not reflect the original paper or other medium, size, or color, unless the medium, size, or color is necessary to establish the authenticity of the original.

(2) The process does not permit the recording, copy, photographic image, or stored representation of the original document, paper, or other instrument or record to be altered or manipulated.

(3) The medium the process uses to record, copy, photograph, or store a representation of an original document, paper, or other instrument or record is a durable medium for retaining and reproducing records.

(C) A licensee may maintain its records described in division (A) of this section at a location other than within this state, so long as the licensee makes its records accessible to the superintendent on seven business days written notice.

(D) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.10 | Application for approval of control acquisition.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Subject to division (F) of this section, no person, alone or acting in concert with other persons, shall, directly or indirectly, acquire control of a licensee without the prior approval of the superintendent of financial institutions.

(B) A person or group of persons proposing to acquire control of a licensee shall submit an application for the superintendent's approval in the form prescribed by the superintendent.

(C)(1) The superintendent may grant confidential treatment for information in or related to an application described in division (B) of this section, if confidential treatment is requested by the applicant in compliance with division (C)(2) of this section and any of the following applies:

(a) The information is of a commercial or financial nature, disclosure of which likely would result in substantial harm to the competitive position of the applicant or its affiliates or to any party to the transaction or its affiliates.

(b) The information is of a personal, medical, financial, or similar nature, disclosure of which would result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

(c) The information is contained in, related to, or derived from examinations, operating or condition reports, agreements, orders, or actions prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of a governmental agency or authority.

(d) The information has been filed with a governmental agency or authority and has not been approved for disclosure by that agency or authority.

(e) The information specifically is excepted from disclosure by statute.

(2)(a) An applicant requesting confidential treatment under division (C) of this section shall do so in writing at the time the application containing the information, or additional information related to an application, is submitted.

(b) The request described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section separately shall address each item of information for which confidential treatment is requested, explaining the applicability of the asserted justification for confidential treatment and either specifically demonstrating the harm that would result from public disclosure of the item of information or setting forth the reason that the applicant cannot authorize public disclosure of the item of information.

(c) The applicant separately shall bind and identify all items of information for which confidential treatment is requested under division (C) of this section and make specific reference to those items in the remainder of the application or additional information related to the application.

(3)(a) The superintendent shall review a request for confidential treatment under division (C) of this section and provide the applicant with written notice of the superintendent's decision on granting confidential treatment for each item of information for which it is requested.

(b) If the superintendent's decision provided pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of this section is not to grant confidential treatment to an item of information, the applicant may withdraw the item of information by written notice within ten days after the applicant's receipt of the superintendent's decision. If the applicant fails to withdraw the item of information within the ten-day period, the applicant is deemed to have waived the right to withdraw, and the item of information is deemed a part of the application available to the public.

(4)(a) An item of information submitted with a request for confidential treatment under division (C) of this section is not deemed filed with the superintendent until the superintendent grants confidential treatment, or the applicant is deemed to have waived the right to withdraw the item of information.

(b) Until the item of information submitted with a request for confidential treatment is filed in accordance with division (C)(4)(a) of this section, no person shall copy or inspect the item of information or anything derived from the item of information, except as is necessary to assist the superintendent in deciding whether to grant confidential treatment to the item of information in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(5) When an item of information is filed following the superintendent's decision to grant it confidential treatment pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) of this section, the item of information is not a public record as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code and only the superintendent shall use it in connection with the performance of the duties and exercise of the powers of the superintendent. Without prior notice to the applicant, the superintendent may disclose or comment on any of the contents of the application in an order, statement, or opinion issued by the superintendent in connection with a decision on the application.

(D)(1) If the superintendent requests, the applicant shall bear the expense of the examination conducted in accordance with section 1315.101 of the Revised Code, and upon the superintendent's request, shall advance to the superintendent the superintendent's estimate of the cost of the examination, with any unconsumed portion to be returned to the applicant.

(2) If the superintendent requests payment pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section, the applicant shall pay the cost of its examination described in section 1315.101 of the Revised Code, or any balance of the cost of its examination in the case of an applicant that advanced the estimated cost of its examination, within fourteen days after receiving an invoice for payment.

(E) The superintendent may do either of the following:

(1) Deny an application described in division (B) of this section prior to the superintendent's acceptance of the application for processing, on the basis that the applicant failed to include all of the items and address all of the issues required for the application, if both of the following apply:

(a) The superintendent advised the person that the application was incomplete.

(b) After being advised by the superintendent pursuant to division (E)(1)(a) of this section that the application was incomplete, the person, within a reasonable period of time, did not complete the application.

(2) Deny an application described in division (B) of this section on the basis that the applicant failed to provide the information necessary for the superintendent to consider the application adequately after the superintendent's acceptance of the application for processing, if both of the following apply:

(a) After beginning to process the application, the superintendent determined and advised the applicant that additional information was necessary to consider the application adequately.

(b) After being advised by the superintendent pursuant to division (E)(2)(a) of this section that additional information was necessary to consider the application adequately, the applicant, within a reasonable period of time, did not provide that information.

(F)(1) Division (A) of this section requiring prior approval to obtain control, directly or indirectly, of a licensee does not apply to any of the following persons, but these persons shall notify the superintendent of a change of control:

(a) A person that acts as a proxy for the sole purpose of voting at a designated meeting of the shareholders or holders of voting interests of a licensee or person in control of a licensee;

(b) A person that acquires control of a licensee by devise or descent;

(c) A person that acquires control as a personal representative, custodian, guardian, conservator, or trustee, or as an officer appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction or by operation of law;

(d) A person that the superintendent by rule or order determines is not subject to division (A) of this section based on the public interest.

(2) Division (A) of this section does not apply to public offerings of securities.

(3) Before filing an application described in division (A) of this section, a person may request in writing a determination from the superintendent of whether the person would be considered a person in control of a licensee upon consummation of a proposed transaction. If the superintendent determines that the person would not be a person in control of a licensee, the person and the proposed transaction are not subject to the requirements of division (A) of this section.

(G) No person shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.101 | Approval of application for control acquisition.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) After accepting an application to acquire control of a licensee described in section 1315.10 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of financial institutions shall examine all of the facts and circumstances relating to the application.

(B) The superintendent shall approve the application described in division (A) of this section if the superintendent determines both of the following:

(1) The competence and experience of the applicant or applicants seeking to acquire control of a licensee and the applicant's or applicants' general fitness to operate the licensee or person in control of the licensee in a lawful and proper manner are acceptable.

(2) The interests of the public are not jeopardized by the change of control.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:19 AM

Section 1315.11 | Conduct of activities through authorized delegate.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) A licensee that chooses to conduct money transmission activities in this state through an authorized delegate shall execute an express written contract with the authorized delegate that, at a minimum, sets forth all of the following:

(1) The duties and responsibilities of the authorized delegate regarding money or its equivalent received from persons located in this state for transmission by the licensee;

(2) The duties and responsibilities of the authorized delegate regarding instruments, devices, or processes used by the licensee to transmit money;

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the authorized delegate with regard to compliance with laws regulating money transmission activities.

(B) A licensee shall monitor the activities of its authorized delegate with regard to money or its equivalent received from persons in this state for transmission by the licensee and for compliance with all of the following:

(1) The written contract between the licensee and the authorized delegate;

(2) Sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code;

(3) Other laws applicable to the business of transmitting money.

(C) As part of the examination of a licensee authorized by section 1315.12 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of financial institutions may examine the books and records and policies and procedures of the licensee's authorized delegate.

(D)(1) An authorized delegate or other person that receives money or its equivalent for transmission by a licensee shall keep it separate and shall not commingle it with other money or receipts. All money or its equivalent, less fees, that is received by an authorized delegate or by any other person for transmission by a licensee, from the time received until remitted to the licensee, shall constitute funds owned by and belonging to the licensee and shall be impressed with a trust for the benefit of the person from which the money or its equivalent is received.

(2) If an authorized delegate or other person fails to comply with division (D)(1) of this section and commingles any money or its equivalent received for transmission by a licensee with any other funds or property owned or controlled by the authorized delegate or other person, all commingled proceeds and other property shall be impressed with a trust in favor of the licensee in an amount equal to the amount due the licensee.

(E) No licensee shall fail to comply with division (A) or (B) of this section, and no authorized delegate or other person that receives money or its equivalent for transmission by a licensee shall fail to comply with division (D) of this section.

Section 1315.12 | Examination of records and affairs of licensee.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) As often as the superintendent of financial institutions considers necessary, the superintendent, or any deputy or examiner appointed or any contractor engaged by the superintendent for that purpose, thoroughly shall examine the records and affairs of each licensee. The examination shall include a review of all of the following:

(1) Compliance with law;

(2) Safety and soundness;

(3) Other matters that the superintendent determines.

(B) The superintendent may conduct all aspects of an examination described in division (A) of this section concurrently or may divide the examination into constituent parts and conduct them at various times.

(C)(1) The licensee shall bear the expense of the examination. If the superintendent requests, the licensee shall advance to the superintendent the superintendent's estimate of the cost of the examination, with any unconsumed portion to be returned to the licensee.

(2) A licensee shall pay the cost of its examination conducted pursuant to this section, or any balance of the cost of its examination in the case of a licensee that advanced the estimated cost of its examination, within fourteen days of receiving an invoice for payment.

(D) The superintendent shall preserve the report of each examination conducted pursuant to this section, including related correspondence received and copies of related correspondence sent, for twenty years after the examination date.

Section 1315.121 | Administrative powers of superintendent.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) In administering sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code and fulfilling the duties imposed by those sections, including the duty imposed by section 1315.12 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of financial institutions may do any of the following:

(1) Participate with financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries in any of the following:

(a) Programs for alternate examinations of the records and affairs of licensees and other money transmitters over which they have concurrent jurisdiction;

(b) Joint or concurrent examinations of the records and affairs of licensees and other money transmitters over which they have concurrent jurisdiction;

(c) Coordinated examinations of the records and affairs of licensees and other money transmitters over which they have collective jurisdiction.

(2) Conduct, participate in, or coordinate independent, concurrent, joint, or coordinated examinations of the records and affairs of licensees and other money transmitters and otherwise act on behalf of financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries having jurisdiction over the licensees and other money transmitters;

(3) Rely on information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of examinations conducted by financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries when both of the following apply:

(a) Pursuant to agreement and applicable law, the superintendent may receive and use the information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of the other regulatory authorities' examinations in administering sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code and acting under the authority of those sections;

(b) In the superintendent's judgment the other regulatory authorities' personnel, practices, and authority warrant the superintendent's reliance.

(4) Authorize financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries to receive and use information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of examinations conducted by the division of financial institutions in the same manner and for the purposes they could use information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of their own examinations when both of the following apply:

(a) Pursuant to applicable law, information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of examinations the other regulatory authorities conduct is protected from general disclosure and may only be disclosed for purposes similar to those provided in section 1315.122 of the Revised Code, which are principally regulatory in nature, for disclosure of information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of examinations conducted by the division;

(b) Pursuant to agreement and applicable law, information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of examinations conducted by the division will, in the other regulatory authorities' possession or the possession of any persons to whom the other regulatory authorities disclosed the information as a part of examinations of those persons, be protected from disclosure to the same extent as information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of those regulatory authorities' examinations.

(5) Rely on the actions of financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, or other countries, or participate with them jointly, in responding to violations of law, unsafe or unsound practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, or other regulatory concerns affecting licensees and other money transmitters over which they have concurrent jurisdiction when the other regulatory authorities have adequate personnel, practices, and authority to warrant the reliance;

(6) Implement other cooperative arrangements with financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries consistent with safety and soundness.

(B) No person shall use any reliance by the superintendent, in whole or in part, on financial institution regulatory authorities of this or other states, the United States, or other countries in accordance with division (A) of this section to support any assertion of either of the following:

(1) Failure of the superintendent or division to properly administer sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code or fulfill the duties imposed by those sections;

(2) Disagreement by the superintendent or division with any action taken by financial institution regulatory authorities of this or other states, the United States, or other countries.

(C) In conducting, participating in, or coordinating independent, concurrent, joint, or coordinated examinations of the records and affairs of licensees and other money transmitters, the superintendent may purchase services from financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries, including services provided by employees of other financial institution regulatory authorities in their capacities as employees of other financial institution regulatory authorities. The purchase of services from one or more financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, or other countries is the purchase of services from a sole source provider and is not the employment of any financial institution regulatory authority or any of its employees.

The authority to purchase services pursuant to this division does not impair the superintendent's authority to purchase services from any other source.

Section 1315.122 | Examination information privileged and confidential.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of the examination of a licensee or other person conducted pursuant to the authority of sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code is privileged and confidential. No person, including any person to whom the information is disclosed under the authority of this section, shall disclose information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination, except as specifically provided in this section.

(B) The superintendent of financial institutions and the superintendent's agents and employees may disclose information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination conducted pursuant to section 1315.12 or 1315.121 of the Revised Code as follows:

(1) To the governor, director of commerce, or deputy director of commerce to enable them to act in the interests of the public;

(2) To the banking commission, created pursuant to section 1123.01 of the Revised Code, to enable the commission to effectively advise the superintendent and take action on any matter the superintendent presents to the commission;

(3) To financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries to assist them in their regulatory duties;

(4) To the directors, officers, agents, and parent company of the licensee or other money transmitter examined to assist them in conducting the business of the licensee or other money transmitter examined in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with the law;

(5) To law enforcement authorities conducting criminal investigations.

(C) Information leading to, arising from, or obtained in the course of an examination of a licensee or other person pursuant to sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code shall not be discoverable from any source. The information shall not be introduced into evidence, except in the following circumstances:

(1) In connection with criminal proceedings;

(2) When, in the opinion of the superintendent, it is appropriate with regard to enforcement actions taken and decisions made by the superintendent under the authority of sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code regarding a licensee or other person;

(3) When litigation has been initiated by the superintendent in furtherance of the powers, duties, and obligations imposed upon the superintendent by sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code;

(4) When authorized by agreements between the superintendent and financial institution regulatory authorities of this and other states, the United States, and other countries authorized by section 1315.121 of the Revised Code;

(5) When and in the manner authorized in section 1181.25 of the Revised Code.

(D) A report of an examination conducted pursuant to section 1315.12 or 1315.121 of the Revised Code is the property of the division of financial institutions. Under no circumstances may the licensee or other money transmitter examined, its directors, officers, employees, agents, regulated persons, or contractors, or any person having knowledge or possession of a report of examination, or any of its contents, disclose or make public in any manner the report of examination or its contents. The authority provided in division (B)(4) of this section for use of examination information to assist in conducting the business of the licensee or other money transmitter examined in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with law shall not be construed to authorize disclosure of a report of examination or any of its contents in conducting business with the examined licensee's or other money transmitter's customers, creditors, or shareholders, or with other persons.

(E) Whoever violates this section shall be removed from office, shall be liable, with the violator's bonder in damages to the person injured by the disclosure of information, and is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

Section 1315.13 | Superintendent to establish fees.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

Annually, the superintendent shall establish both of the following:

(A) The application fee for an application for a license to transmit money under section 1315.03 of the Revised Code;

(B) An annual fee described in division (E) of section 1315.04 of the Revised Code for each licensee to carry on the business of a money transmitter. When establishing the annual fee for each licensee, the superintendent may consider the number of offices and authorized delegates the licensee has and the volume of business the licensee does in this state.

Section 1315.14 | Implementing rules.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

The superintendent of financial institutions may adopt rules that, in the superintendent's judgment, are necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code.

Section 1315.141 | Criminal records check to be requested by superintendent.

• Effective: January 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

Whenever the approval of the superintendent of financial institutions is required under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code, or under an order or supervisory action issued or taken under those sections, for a person to serve as an organizer, incorporator, director, executive officer, or controlling person of a licensee, or to otherwise have a substantial interest in or participate in the management of a licensee, the superintendent shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, or a vendor approved by the bureau, to conduct a criminal records check based on the person's fingerprints in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code. The superintendent of financial institutions shall request that criminal record information from the federal bureau of investigation be obtained as part of the criminal records check. Any fee required under division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code shall be paid by the person who is the subject of the request.

Section 1315.15 | Notice of charges - cease and desist order.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may issue and serve a notice of charges and intent to issue a cease and desist order upon a licensee or other person if, in the opinion of the superintendent, either of the following applies to the licensee or other person:

(1) The licensee or other person is engaging, has engaged, or, the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe, is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the business of transmitting money.

(2) The licensee or other person is violating, has violated, or, the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe, is about to violate any of the following:

(a) A law or rule;

(b) A condition imposed in writing by the superintendent in connection with granting an application or other request by the licensee or other person;

(c) A written agreement entered into with the superintendent.

(B) The notice of charges and intent to issue a cease and desist order described in division (A) of this section shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement of the violation or violations or unsafe or unsound practice or practices alleged;

(2) A statement of the facts constituting the violation or violations or unsafe or unsound practice or practices alleged;

(3) Notice that the licensee or other person is entitled to a hearing, in accordance with section 1315.17 of the Revised Code, to determine whether a cease and desist order should be issued against the licensee or other person, if the licensee or other person requests the hearing within thirty days of service of the notice;

(4) Notice that, if the licensee or other person makes a timely request for a hearing, the licensee or other person may appear at the hearing in person or by attorney or by presenting positions, arguments, and contentions in writing, and at the hearing may present evidence and examine witnesses for and against the licensee or other person.

(5) Notice that failure of the licensee or other person to make a timely request for a hearing to determine whether a cease and desist order should be issued or to appear at the hearing, in person, by attorney, or by writing, is consent by the licensee or other person to the issuance of the cease and desist order.

(C) The superintendent may issue a cease and desist order against the licensee or other person if any of the following applies:

(1) The licensee or other person consents to the issuance of the cease and desist order.

(2) Upon the record of the hearing described in division (B) of this section, the superintendent finds that a violation or unsafe or unsound practice has been established.

(3) The superintendent determines that the licensee's or other person's books and records are too incomplete or inaccurate to permit the superintendent, through the normal supervisory process, to determine the financial condition of the licensee or other person or the details or purpose of one or more transactions that may have a material effect on the financial condition of the licensee or other person.

(4) The superintendent finds that the violation or unsafe or unsound practice alleged in division (B) of this section is likely, prior to completion of the hearing described in that division, to cause any of the following:

(a) The licensee's or other person's insolvency;

(b) Significant dissipation of the licensee's or other person's earnings or assets;

(c) Weakening of the licensee's or other person's condition or other prejudice to the interests of the licensee's or other person's customers.

(D) A cease and desist order may require the licensee or other person to cease and desist from each violation or unsafe or unsound practice, to correct or remedy the conditions resulting from each violation or unsafe or unsound practice, and to take affirmative action, including any of the following:

(1) Make restitution or provide reimbursement, indemnification, or guarantee against loss, if either of the following applies:

(a) The licensee or other person was or will be unjustly enriched in connection with the violation or practice.

(b) The violation or practice involved a reckless disregard for the law or any applicable rule or prior order of the superintendent.

(2) Restrict the licensee's or other person's growth;

(3) Dispose of any loan or asset involved;

(4) Rescind agreements or contracts;

(5) Employ qualified officers or employees, who may be subject to approval by the superintendent;

(6) Take any other action that the superintendent determines appropriate.

(E) A cease and desist order issued by the superintendent pursuant to division (C) of this section is effective at the time specified in the order, which shall be as follows:

(1) In the case of a cease and desist order issued pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, not less than thirty days after service of the order upon the licensee or other person;

(2) In the case of a cease and desist order issued pursuant to division (C)(1), (3), or (4) of this section, immediately upon service of the order on the licensee or other person.

(F) A cease and desist order shall remain effective and enforceable as provided in the order except to the extent it is stayed, modified, terminated, or set aside by action of the superintendent or a reviewing court. If, upon the record of a hearing, the superintendent determines not to issue a cease and desist order, any cease and desist order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of this section is terminated.

(G) Within ten days after being served a cease and desist order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of this section, a licensee or other person may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal place of business of the licensee or other person is located, or to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, for an injunction setting aside, limiting, or suspending the enforcement, operation, or effectiveness of the cease and desist order pending completion of the hearing to determine whether a cease and desist order should be issued against the licensee or other person pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, and the court has jurisdiction to issue the injunction.

Section 1315.151 | Suspension or revocation of license.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may issue and serve a notice of charges and intent to suspend or revoke a licensee's license, if the superintendent finds that any of the following applies:

(1) Any fact or condition exists that, if it had existed at the time when the licensee applied for its license, would have been grounds for denying the application.

(2) The licensee's net worth becomes inadequate and the licensee, after ten days' written notice from the superintendent, fails to take steps that the superintendent considers necessary to remedy the deficiency.

(3) The licensee knowingly violates any material provision of sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code or any rule or order adopted by the superintendent.

(4) The licensee is conducting its business in an unsafe or unsound manner.

(5) The licensee is insolvent.

(6) The licensee has suspended payment of its obligations, has made an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or has admitted in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due.

(7) The licensee has applied for an adjudication of bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, or other relief relating to bankruptcy.

(8) The licensee refuses to permit the superintendent to make any examination authorized by sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code.

(9) The licensee willfully fails to make any report required by sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code.

(10) The competence, experience, character, or general fitness of the licensee indicates that it is not in the public interest to permit the licensee to continue to transmit money in this state.

(B) The notice of charges and intent to suspend or revoke a license described in division (A) of this section shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement of the grounds alleged;

(2) A statement of the facts constituting the grounds alleged;

(3) Notice that the licensee is entitled to a hearing, in accordance with section 1315.17 of the Revised Code, to determine whether a license should be suspended or revoked, if the licensee requests the hearing within thirty days of service of the notice;

(4) Notice that, if the licensee makes a timely request for a hearing, the licensee may appear at the hearing in person or by attorney or by presenting positions, arguments, and contentions in writing, and at the hearing may present evidence and examine witnesses for and against the licensee.

(5) Notice that failure of the licensee to make a timely request for a hearing to determine whether the license should be suspended or revoked or to appear at the hearing, in person, by attorney, or by writing, is consent by the licensee to the suspension or revocation of the license.

(C) The superintendent may order a license suspended or revoked, if any of the following applies:

(1) The licensee consents to the suspension or revocation.

(2) Upon the record of the hearing described in division (B) of this section, the superintendent finds that one or more grounds alleged pursuant to that division have been established.

(3) The superintendent determines that the licensee's books and records are too incomplete or inaccurate to permit the superintendent, through the normal supervisory process, to determine the financial condition of the licensee or the details or purpose of one or more transactions that may have a material effect on the financial condition of the licensee.

(4) The superintendent finds that one or more of the grounds alleged pursuant to division (B) of this section are likely, prior to completion of the hearing described in that division, to cause any of the following:

(a) The licensee's insolvency;

(b) Significant dissipation of the licensee's earnings or assets;

(c) Weakening of the licensee's condition or other prejudice to the interests of the licensee's customers.

(D) A suspension or revocation of a license order issued by the superintendent pursuant to division (C) of this section is effective at the time specified in the order, which shall be as follows:

(1) In the case of a suspension or revocation order issued pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, not less than thirty days after service of the order upon the licensee;

(2) In the case of a suspension or revocation order issued pursuant to division (C)(1), (3), or (4) of this section, immediately upon service of the order on the licensee.

(E) A suspension or revocation of a license order shall remain effective and enforceable as provided in the order except to the extent it is stayed, modified, terminated, or set aside by action of the superintendent or a reviewing court. If, upon the record of a hearing, the superintendent determines not to suspend or revoke a license, any suspension or revocation order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of this section is terminated.

(F) Within ten days after being served a suspension or revocation of a license order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of this section, a licensee may apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal place of business of the licensee is located, or to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, for an injunction setting aside, limiting, or suspending the enforcement, operation, or effectiveness of the suspension or revocation order pending completion of the hearing to determine whether a suspension or revocation order should be issued against the licensee pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section, and the court has jurisdiction to issue the injunction.

Section 1315.152 | Civil penalties for violation or breach.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may assess civil penalties against a licensee or other person for each day a violation, unsafe or unsound practice, or breach continues as follows:

(1) The superintendent may assess a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars per day if the licensee or other person violates any of the following:

(a) Any law or rule;

(b) Any order issued pursuant to section 1315.15 or 1315.151 of the Revised Code;

(c) Any condition imposed in writing by the superintendent in connection with granting any application by the licensee or other person;

(d) A written agreement between the licensee or other person and the superintendent.

(2) The superintendent may assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars per day if both of the following apply:

(a) The licensee or other person does any of the following:

(i) Commits any violation listed in division (A)(1) of this section;

(ii) Recklessly engages in an unsafe or unsound practice;

(iii) Breaches any fiduciary duty.

(b) The violation, unsafe or unsound practice, or breach is part of a pattern of misconduct or causes or is likely to cause more than a minimal loss to the licensee or other person.

(B) A notice of assessment of a civil penalty shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement of the violation or violations or unsafe or unsound practice or practices or breach or breaches alleged;

(2) A statement of the facts supporting the assessment of the civil penalty;

(3) Notice that the licensee or other person is entitled to a hearing, in accordance with section 1315.17 of the Revised Code to determine whether a civil penalty should be assessed against the licensee or other person, if the licensee or other person requests the hearing within thirty days of service of the notice of assessment of a civil penalty;

(4) Notice that, if the licensee or other person makes a timely request for a hearing, the licensee or other person may appear at the hearing in person, by attorney, or by presenting positions, arguments, and contentions in writing, and at the hearing may present evidence and examine witnesses for and against the licensee or other person;

(5) Notice that failure of the licensee or other person to make a timely request for a hearing to determine whether a civil penalty should be assessed against the licensee or other person, or to appear at the hearing, in person, by attorney, or by writing, is consent by the licensee or other person to the assessment of the civil penalty.

(C) The superintendent may assess a civil penalty if either of the following applies:

(1) The licensee or other person consents to the assessment of the civil penalty.

(2) Upon the record of the hearing described in division (B) of this section the superintendent finds a violation, unsafe or unsound practice, or breach has been established.

(D) In determining the amount of the civil penalty to be assessed pursuant to this section, the superintendent shall consider all of the following:

(1) The seriousness of and the risk posed by the violation, unsafe or unsound practice, or breach;

(2) The licensee's or other person's good faith efforts to prevent the violation, unsafe or unsound practice, or breach;

(3) The licensee's or other person's history regarding violations, unsafe or unsound practices, and breaches;

(4) The licensee's or other person's financial resources;

(5) Any other matters justice may require.

(E) Any licensee's or other person assessed a civil penalty pursuant to this section shall pay the civil penalty to the superintendent, and the superintendent shall deposit any civil penalty paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

Section 1315.153 | Injunctive relief for violation of RC 1315.02.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

If the superintendent of financial institutions has reason to believe that a person has violated or is violating section 1315.02 of the Revised Code, the superintendent may petition the court of common pleas of the county where the person's principal place of business or residence is located or, if the person's principal place of business or residence is not in this state, the court of common pleas of Franklin county for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or an injunction.

Section 1315.16 | Enforcement powers of superintendent.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may do both of the following:

(1) Summon and compel, by order or subpoena, witnesses to appear before the superintendent, deputy superintendent, examiner, or attorney examiner, and testify under oath regarding the affairs of a licensee or other person;

(2) Compel, by order or subpoena, the production of any record, book, paper, document, item, or other thing pertaining to a licensee or other person.

(B) The superintendent shall serve an order or subpoena issued pursuant to division (A) of this section in any manner provided by section 1315.161 of the Revised Code.

(C) If a person fails to comply with an order or subpoena of the superintendent or refuses to testify to any matter regarding which the person is lawfully interrogated before the superintendent, on application of the superintendent, the court of common pleas of the county in which the person resides or in which the principal place of business of the person is located, or a judge of the court, shall compel compliance by attachment proceedings as for contempt in the case of noncompliance with a subpoena issued from the court or refusal to testify in the court.

Section 1315.161 | Service of notice, subpoena, or order.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may serve any notice that the superintendent is required or authorized to give and any subpoena or order that the superintendent is required or authorized to issue pursuant to sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code, at the sole discretion of the superintendent, by any of the following means:

(1) In person by the superintendent or an employee or agent of the division of financial institutions;

(2) By regular mail;

(3) By registered or certified mail;

(4) By private carrier;

(5) By any other means permitted by the Rules of Civil Procedure for service of process;

(6) By any other manner the superintendent provides, by rule or otherwise, that is reasonably calculated to give notice, including by publication.

(B) A notice, subpoena, or order served by the superintendent in accordance with this section is effective upon delivery with respect to divisions (A)(1) and (4) of this section, upon placing in the regular mail with respect to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section, and upon publication or completion of the act reasonably calculated to give notice with respect to division (A)(6) of this section.

(C) Fees for service of a notice, subpoena, or order described in division (A) of this section shall be paid from amounts appropriated to the division of financial institutions for that purpose.

Section 1315.17 | Administrative hearing - judicial review - enforcement of order.

• Effective: July 1, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 127th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon a licensee's or other person's request for an administrative hearing authorized in section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code, the division of financial institutions shall set a reasonable time, date, and place in this state for the hearing and notify the licensee or other person requesting the hearing. Within ninety days after the hearing, the superintendent of financial institutions shall render a decision, which shall include findings of fact upon which the decision is predicated, and shall issue and serve on the licensee or other person the decision and an order consistent with the decision. Judicial review of the order exclusively is as provided in division (B) of this section. Unless a notice of appeal is filed within thirty days after service of the superintendent's order as provided in division (B) of this section, and until the record of the administrative hearing has been filed, the superintendent may, at anytime, upon the notice and in the manner that the superintendent considers proper, modify, terminate, or set aside the superintendent's order. After filing the record, the superintendent may modify, terminate, or set aside the superintendent's order with permission of the court.

(2) In the course of, or in connection with, an administrative hearing governed by this section, the superintendent, or a person designated by the superintendent to conduct the hearing, may administer oaths and affirmations; take or cause depositions to be taken; and issue, revoke, quash, or modify subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum. The superintendent may adopt rules regarding these hearings. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents provided for in this section may be required from any place within or outside the state. A party to a hearing governed by this section may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, or the court of common pleas of the county in which the hearing is being conducted or the witness resides or carries on business, for enforcement of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued pursuant to this section, and the courts have jurisdiction and power to order and require compliance with the subpoena. Witnesses subpoenaed under this section shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) A licensee or other person against whom the superintendent issues an order upon the record of a hearing under the authority of section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code may obtain a review of the order by filing a notice of appeal in the court of common pleas in the county in which the principal place of business of the licensee or other person, or the residence of the other person, is located, or in the court of common pleas of Franklin county, within thirty days after the date of service of the superintendent's order. The clerk of the court promptly shall transmit a copy of the notice of appeal to the superintendent, and the superintendent shall file the record of the administrative hearing. Upon the filing of the notice of appeal, the court has jurisdiction, which upon the filing of the record of the administrative hearing is exclusive, to affirm, modify, terminate, or set aside, in whole or in part, the superintendent's order.

(2) The commencement of proceedings for judicial review pursuant to division (B) of this section does not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay of any order issued by the superintendent. If it appears to the court an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from the execution of the superintendent's order pending determination of the appeal, and the interests of the public will not be threatened by a stay of the order, the court may grant a stay and fix its terms.

(C) The superintendent may, in the sole discretion of the superintendent, apply to the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal place of business of the licensee or other person, or the residence of the other person, is located, or the court of common pleas of Franklin county, for the enforcement of an effective and outstanding superintendent's order issued under section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code, and the court has jurisdiction and power to order and require compliance with the superintendent's order. In an action by the superintendent pursuant to this division to enforce an order assessing a civil penalty issued under section 1315.152 of the Revised Code, the validity and appropriateness of the civil penalty is not subject to review.

(D) No court has jurisdiction to affect, by injunction or otherwise, the issuance or enforcement of an order issued under section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code or to review, modify, suspend, terminate, or set aside an order issued under section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code, except as provided in this section, in division (G) of section 1315.15 of the Revised Code for an order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of section 1315.15 of the Revised Code, or in division (F) of section 1315.151 of the Revised Code for an order issued pursuant to division (C)(3) or (4) of section 1315.151 of the Revised Code.

(E) Nothing in this section or in any other section of the Revised Code or rules implementing this or any other section of the Revised Code shall prohibit or limit the superintendent from doing any of the following:

(1) Issuing orders pursuant to section 1315.15, 1315.151, or 1315.152 of the Revised Code;

(2) Individually or contemporaneously taking any other action provided by law or rule with respect to a licensee or other person;

(3) Taking any action provided by law or rule, whether alone or in conjunction with another regulatory agency or authority, with respect to a licensee or other person.

Section 1315.18 | Termination of business - approval of plan - implementation.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 454 - 126th General Assembly

(A) A licensee that ceases to do business in this state shall do so in accordance with a plan approved by the superintendent of financial institutions or pursuant to directions issued by the superintendent in connection with the revocation or suspension of the licensee's license pursuant to section 1315.151 of the Revised Code.

(B) When a licensee ceases to do business in this state, if the superintendent considers it necessary to protect the interests of the licensee's customers, the superintendent may do either of the following:

(1) Take control of permissible investments or other assets owned by the licensee equal in value to the licensee's outstandings in this state;

(2) Require the sale of the licensee's contracts for continuing services or require the licensee's termination of those contracts with compensation to the customers for loss of the services.

(C) No licensee shall fail to comply with this section.

Section 1315.21 | Check-cashing businesses definitions.

• Effective: March 23, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 199 - 132nd General Assembly

As used in sections 1315.21 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Check" means any check, draft, money order, or other instrument for the transmission or payment of money. "Check" does not include a travelers check.

(B) "Check-cashing business" means any person that engages in the business of cashing checks for a fee. "Check-cashing business" does not include any of the following:

(1) A licensee as defined in section 1321.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) A registrant as defined in section 1321.51 of the Revised Code;

(3) A financial institution;

(4) A person that is primarily engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property or services at retail and does not derive more than five per cent of the person's gross income from the cashing of checks;

(5) A person licensed under sections 1315.01 to 1315.18 of the Revised Code, or any agent of that person, to the extent that the person or the agent is engaged in cashing checks or travelers checks issued by the licensed person ;

(6) A person registered as a mortgage lender under Chapter 1322. of the Revised Code.

(C) "Financial institution" means any bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, that is incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, or of Canada or any province thereof, and subject to regulation or supervision by such country, state, or province.

(D) "Superintendent of financial institutions" includes the deputy superintendent for consumer finance as provided in section 1181.21 of the Revised Code.

Section 1315.22 | Application for license to operate check-cashing business.

• Effective: September 26, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 121st General Assembly

(A) No person, on and after January 1, 1993, shall operate a check-cashing business without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of financial institutions.

(B) Application for an original license required under this section or a renewal license required under section 1315.23 of the Revised Code shall be in writing, under oath, and in the form prescribed by the superintendent. The application shall contain the following information:

(1)(a) If the applicant is an individual, the individual's exact name and residence address;

(b) If the applicant is a partnership, the exact name and residence address of each member of the partnership;

(c) If the applicant is a corporation or association, the exact name and residence address of each director and principal officer of the corporation or association.

(2) The complete address of the principal office or offices from which the business is to be conducted, showing the street and number, if any, and the municipal corporation and county;

(3) Any other pertinent information that the superintendent requires.

(C) For purposes of division (B) of this section, an applicant shall not use a post-office box address as the only address for the applicant's residence or principal office or offices.

(D) Application for a license shall be accompanied by an initial, nonrefundable investigation fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars, except if the applicant's principal place of business is located outside this state, in which case the initial, nonrefundable investigation fee shall not exceed one thousand dollars. The applicant also shall pay an annual license fee for each business location not to exceed five hundred dollars, except that applications for original licenses issued on or after the first day of July for any year shall be accompanied by an annual fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars. All fees paid to the superintendent pursuant to this division shall be deposited by the superintendent into the state treasury to the credit of the consumer finance fund.

Section 1315.23 | Investigation of applicant for license - issuance or renewal of license - hearing prior to suspension, revocation or refusal of license.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Upon the filing of an application for an original license to engage in the business of cashing checks, and the payment of the fees for investigation and licensure, the superintendent of financial institutions shall investigate the financial condition and responsibility and general fitness of the applicant. As part of that investigation, the superintendent shall request that the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation investigate and determine, with respect to the applicant, whether the bureau has any information gathered under section 109.57 of the Revised Code that pertains to that applicant.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the superintendent shall issue a license, which shall apply to all check-cashing business locations of the applicant, if the superintendent determines that the applicant meets all the following requirements:

(a) The applicant is financially sound and has a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars. The applicant's net worth shall be computed according to generally accepted accounting principles. The applicant shall maintain a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars throughout the licensure period.

(b) The applicant has the ability and fitness in the capacity involved to engage in the business of cashing checks.

(c) The applicant has not been convicted of, or has not pleaded guilty or no contest to, a disqualifying offense determined in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(d) The applicant has never had a check-cashing license revoked.

(2) The superintendent shall issue a license to engage in the business of cashing checks in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(a) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(b) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter in the business of cashing checks in a state that does not issue that license.

(C)(1) A license issued to a check-cashing business shall remain in full force and effect through the thirty-first day of December following its date of issuance, unless earlier surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

(2) Each check-cashing business shall conspicuously post and at all times display in every business location its check-cashing license. No check-cashing license is transferable or assignable.

(D) A check-cashing business voluntarily may surrender its license at any time by giving written notice to the superintendent and sending, by certified mail, to the superintendent all license documents issued to it pursuant to sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) A check-cashing business annually may apply to the superintendent for a renewal of its license on or after the first day of December of the year in which its existing license expires.

(2) If a check-cashing business files an application for a renewal license with the superintendent before the first day of January of any year, the license sought to be renewed shall continue in full force and effect until the issuance by the superintendent of the renewal license applied for or until ten days after the superintendent has given the check-cashing business notice of the superintendent's refusal to issue a renewal license.

(F) The superintendent may, except as otherwise provided in this division, suspend, revoke, or refuse an original or renewal license for failure to comply with this section or for any violation of section 1315.28 of the Revised Code. If a suspension, revocation, or refusal of an original or renewal license is based on a violation of section 1315.28 of the Revised Code that is committed, without the licensee's knowledge, at a check-cashing business location of the licensee, the suspension or revocation applies only to that check-cashing business location. In all other cases, a suspension, revocation, or refusal of an original or renewal license applies to all check-cashing business locations of the licensee. The superintendent shall not refuse an original license to an applicant because of a criminal conviction unless the refusal is in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(G) No original or renewal license shall be suspended, revoked, or refused except after a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. In suspending a license under this division, the superintendent shall establish the length of the suspension, provided that no suspension may be for a period exceeding one year. The superintendent's decision to revoke, suspend, or refuse an original or renewal license may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(H) Upon revocation of a license, the licensee shall immediately send, by certified mail, all license documents issued pursuant to sections 1310.21 to 1310.28 of the Revised Code to the superintendent.

(I) The superintendent may, in lieu of a suspension or revocation of a license, impose a fine of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:26 AM

Section 1315.24 | Investigation of violations - hearings - injunctive relief.

• Effective: July 1, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 127th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of financial institutions may make any investigation and conduct any hearing the superintendent considers necessary to determine whether any person has violated sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code, or has engaged in conduct that would justify the suspension, revocation, or refusal of an original or renewal check-cashing license.

(B) In making any investigation or conducting any hearing pursuant to this section, the superintendent, or any person designated by the superintendent, at any time may compel by subpoena witnesses, may take depositions of witnesses residing without the state in the manner provided for in civil actions, pay any witnesses the fees and mileage for their attendance provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code, and administer oaths. The superintendent also may compel by order or subpoena duces tecum the production of, and examine, all relevant books, records, accounts, and other documents. If a person does not comply with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, the superintendent may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county for an order compelling the person to comply with the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum or, for failure to do so, an order to be held in contempt of court. If the person is licensed under section 1315.23 of the Revised Code, the superintendent also may suspend, revoke, or refuse an original or renewal license.

(C) In connection with any investigation under this section, the superintendent may file an action in the court of common pleas of Franklin county or the court of common pleas of the county in which the person who is the subject of the investigation resides, or is engaging in or proposing to engage in actions in violation of sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code, to obtain an injunction, temporary restraining order, or other appropriate relief.

Section 1315.25 | Conditions for deposit of checks into financial institution.

• Effective: July 30, 1993
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 266 - 120th General Assembly

On and after January 1, 1993, no check-cashing business shall deposit, in a financial institution, any check cashed by the check-cashing business unless both of the following conditions are met:

(A) The check is indorsed with the name of the check-cashing business that appears on its license.

(B) The words "licensed check-cashing business" are written legibly or stamped immediately after or below the name of the indorser.

Section 1315.26 | Limitations on fees and charges.

• Effective: July 30, 1993
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 266 - 120th General Assembly

(A) No check-cashing business shall charge check-cashing fees or other check-cashing charges in an amount that exceeds three per cent of the face amount of the check for cashing checks issued by this state, a state agency, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States.

(B) Each check-cashing business shall conspicuously post and at all times display in every business location a schedule of its fees and charges for all services permitted under sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code.

Section 1315.27 | Rules.

• Effective: September 26, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 121st General Assembly

The superintendent of financial institutions shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for the administration and enforcement of sections 1315.21 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code. The rules shall include, but shall not be limited to, both of the following:

(A) Record-keeping requirements that require check-cashing businesses to do all of the following:

(1) Maintain a daily cash reconcilement that:

(a) Summarizes daily activity;

(b) Reconciles cash-on-hand at the opening of business to cash-on-hand at the close of business;

(c) Separately reflects cash received from the sale of checks, cash disbursed in cashing of checks, redemption of returned items, bank cash deposits, and bank cash withdrawals.

(2) Maintain a general ledger that:

(a) Contains records of all assets, liabilities, capital, income, and expenses;

(b) Is posted monthly from the original entry records;

(c) Facilitates the preparation of an accurate trial balance of accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices;

(d) May consolidate activity at two or more locations, provided that books of original entries are maintained separately for each location.

(3) Provide a receipt to each customer indicating the amount of the check and the fee charged;

(4) Maintain business records for at least two years.

(B) Reasonable business practices of persons licensed under sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code.

Section 1315.28 | Prohibited acts - damages for violation.

• Effective: September 26, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 121st General Assembly

(A) No check-cashing business shall knowingly make any incorrect statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact in any application made, investigation conducted, or hearing held pursuant to sections 1315.22 to 1315.24 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall:

(1) Obstruct or refuse to permit any lawful investigation by the superintendent of financial institutions, a person acting on behalf of an agency of the state or a political subdivision, or a law enforcement officer;

(2) Fail to comply with division (A) of section 1315.22 of the Revised Code;

(3) Violate or participate in the violation of sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code or the rules adopted thereunder.

(C) Any person that knowingly violates any provision of sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code shall forfeit to the injured party an amount equal to twice the actual damages suffered by the injured party by reason of the violation.

Section 1315.30 | State to solely regulate check-cashing business.

• Effective: September 26, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 121st General Assembly

The state, through the superintendent of financial institutions and in accordance with sections 1315.21 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code, shall solely regulate persons engaged in the check-cashing business and the manner in which any such business is conducted.

By the enactment of sections 1315.21 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code, it is the intent of the general assembly to preempt municipal corporations and other political subdivisions from the regulation and licensing of check-cashing businesses.

Section 1315.51 | Transaction reporting, money laundering definitions.

• Effective: September 19, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 333 - 121st General Assembly

As used in sections 1315.51 to 1315.55 of the Revised Code, unless the context otherwise requires:

(A) "Conduct the business" means engaging in activities regulated under sections 1315.51 to 1315.55 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Corrupt activity" has the same meaning as in section 2923 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Knowingly" has the same meaning as in section 2901.22 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Material" means a statement or omission that can affect the course or outcome of a transaction, regardless of whether or not the person making the statement or omission believes it to be material. "Material" includes the furnishing of a false or erroneous name, address, taxpayer identification number, business, profession, or occupation and the displaying or otherwise producing of physical proof of this false information.

(E) "Money" means a medium of exchange that is authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government as a part of its currency and that is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.

(F) "Money transmitter" means a person who is located or doing business in this state, including a check casher and a foreign money exchanger, and who does any of the following:

(1) Sells or issues payment instruments;

(2) Conducts the business of receiving money for the transmission of payment instruments or transmitting money;

(3) Conducts the business of exchanging payment instruments or money into a form of money or payment instrument;

(4) Conducts the business of receiving money for obligors for the purpose of paying that obligor's bills, invoices, or accounts;

(5) Meets the definition of a bank, financial agency, or financial institution as set forth in the "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act," 84 Stat. 1118 (1970), 31 U.S.C.A. 5312 or 31 C.F.R. 103.11;

(6) Is a financial institution as defined in section 1315.21 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Payment instrument" means a check, draft, money order, travelers check, or other instrument or order for the transmission or payment of money, sold to one or more persons, whether or not that instrument or order is negotiable. "Payment instrument" does not include an instrument that is redeemable by the issuer in merchandise or service, a credit card voucher, or a letter of credit.

(H) "Proceeds" means property acquired or derived directly or indirectly from, produced through, realized through, or caused by an act or omission and includes property of any kind.

(I) "Property" means anything of value and includes an interest in property, including a benefit, privilege, claim, or right with respect to anything of value, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible.

(J) "Purposely" has the same meaning as in section 2901.22 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Structure a transaction" means dividing a transaction that otherwise would be reportable under this chapter into two or more transactions that, if considered separately, would not be reportable.

(L) "Transaction" includes a purchase, sale, trade, loan, pledge, investment, gift, transfer, transmission, delivery, deposit, withdrawal, payment, transfer between accounts, exchange of currency, extension of credit, purchase or sale of a payment instrument, use of a safe deposit box, or any other acquisition or disposition of property.

(M) "Transmitting money" includes the transmission of money by any means, including transmissions within the United States or to or from locations outside the United States by payment instrument, wire, facsimile or electronic transfer, or courier.

(N) "Travelers check" means an instrument identified as a travelers check on its face or commonly recognized as a travelers check and issued in a money multiple of United States or foreign currency with a provision for a specimen signature of the purchaser to be completed at the time of purchase and a countersignature of the purchaser to be completed at the time of negotiation.

(O) "Unlawful activity" means an act that is a criminal offense in the state in which the act is committed and, if the act is committed in a state other than this state, would be a criminal offense if committed in this state.

Section 1315.52 | Liberal construction of statutes.

• Effective: September 19, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 333 - 121st General Assembly

Sections 1315.51 to 1315.55 of the Revised Code shall be liberally construed to effectuate their remedial purposes.

Section 1315.53 | Reporting transactions - records.

• Effective: September 19, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 333 - 121st General Assembly

(A) A money transmitter that is required to file a report regarding business conducted in this state pursuant to the "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act," 84 Stat. 1118 (1970), 31 U.S.C.A. 5311 to 5326 and 31 C.F.R. part 103 or 12 C.F.R. 21.11, shall file a duplicate of that report with the attorney general.

(B) All persons engaged in a trade or business, who receive more than ten thousand dollars in money in one transaction or who receive more than ten thousand dollars in money through two or more related transactions, and who are required to file returns under 26 U.S.C.A. 6050I and 26 C.F.R. 1.6050I, shall complete and file with the attorney general the information required by 26 U.S.C.A. 6050I and C.F.R. 1.6050I.

(C) A money transmitter that is regulated under the "Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act," 84 Stat. 1118 (1970), 31 U.S.C.A. 5325 and 31 C.F.R. part 103 and that is required to make available prescribed records to the secretary of the United States department of treasury upon request at any time shall follow the same prescribed procedures and create and maintain the same prescribed records relating to a transaction and shall make those records available to the attorney general on request at any time.

(D)(1) The good faith filing of a report required by this section with the appropriate federal agency shall be considered compliance with the reporting requirements of this section.

(2) This section does not preclude a money transmitter or a person engaged in a trade or business, in their discretion, from instituting contact with, and thereafter communicating with and disclosing customer financial records to, appropriate state or local law enforcement agencies if the money transmitter or person has information that may be relevant to a possible violation of a section of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance or to the evasion or attempted evasion of a reporting requirement of this section.

(3) A money transmitter, a person engaged in a trade or business, or an officer, employee, agent, or authorized delegate of an entity or person of that nature, or a public official or governmental employee who keeps or files a record pursuant to this section or who communicates or discloses information or records under division (D)(2) of this section is not liable to its customer, a state or local agency, or a person for loss or damage caused in whole or in part by the making, filing, or governmental use of the report or of information contained in that report.

(E)(1) The attorney general may report possible violations indicated by analysis of the reports required by this section to an appropriate law enforcement agency for use in the proper discharge of its official duties. The attorney general shall provide copies of the reports required by this section to an appropriate prosecutorial or law enforcement agency upon being provided with a written request for records relating to a specific individual or entity and stating that the agency has an articulable suspicion that the specific individual or entity has committed an offense to which the reports appear to be relevant.

(2) No person shall release information received pursuant to division (E) of this section, except in the proper discharge of the person's official duties.

(F)(1) No person shall do any of the following:

(a) Purposely violate or fail to comply with this section;

(b) With the intent to conceal or disguise the fact that money or a payment instrument is the proceeds of unlawful activity, or to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of an unlawful activity, knowingly furnish or provide to a money transmitter, a person engaged in a trade or business, an officer, employee, agent, or authorized delegate of a money transmitter or person engaged in a trade or business, or the attorney general, false, inaccurate, or incomplete information or knowingly conceal a material fact in connection with a transaction for which a report is required to be filed pursuant to this section;

(c) With the intent to conceal or disguise the fact that money or a payment instrument is the proceeds of unlawful activity, or to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of unlawful activity, or to avoid the making or filing of a report required under this section, or to cause the making or filing of a report required under this section that contains a material omission or misstatement, conduct or structure or attempt to conduct or structure a transaction by or through one or more money transmitters or persons engaged in a trade or business.

(2) In addition to the criminal sanctions imposed under section 1315.99 of the Revised Code, the sentencing court may impose upon a person who violates division (F)(1) of this section an additional fine of three times the value of the property involved in the transaction or, if no transaction is involved, five thousand dollars. The fine shall be paid to the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

(G) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, each transaction conducted or attempted to be conducted and each exemption from reporting claimed in violation of this section constitutes a separate, punishable offense.

(H) A report, record, information, analysis, or request obtained by the attorney general or an agency pursuant to this section is not a public record subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is not subject to disclosure.

Section 1315.54 | Investigations.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general may conduct investigations within or outside this state to determine if a money transmitter or person engaged in a trade or business has failed to file a report required by section 1315.53 of the Revised Code or has engaged or is engaging in an act, practice, or transaction that constitutes a violation of a provision of sections 1315.51 to 1315.55 of the Revised Code.

(B) On request of the attorney general, a money transmitter shall make the money transmitter's books and records available to the attorney general during normal business hours for inspection and examination in connection with an investigation conducted under this section. No person shall purposely fail to comply with this division.

(C) Any record or other document or information obtained by the attorney general pursuant to an investigation conducted under this section is not a public record subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is not subject to disclosure.

(D) This section does not apply to any bank, bank holding company, or affiliate of a bank or bank holding company, or to any savings and loan association, savings and loan holding company, or affiliate of a savings and loan association or savings and loan holding company that is subject to examination by the comptroller of the currency, the federal reserve, or the federal deposit insurance corporation.

Last updated September 6, 2023 at 2:29 PM

Section 1315.55 | Additional prohibited activities.

• Effective: September 19, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 333 - 121st General Assembly

(A)(1) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction knowing that the property involved in the transaction is the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity with the purpose of committing or furthering the commission of corrupt activity.

(2) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction knowing that the property involved in the transaction is the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity with the intent to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the property or the intent to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under section 1315.53 of the Revised Code or federal law.

(3) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction with the purpose to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity.

(4) No person shall conduct or structure or attempt to conduct or structure a transaction that involves the proceeds of corrupt activity that is of a value greater than ten thousand dollars if the person knows or has reasonable cause to know that the transaction involves the proceeds of corrupt activity.

(5) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction that involves what has been represented to the person by a law enforcement officer or another person at the direction of or with the approval of a law enforcement officer to be the proceeds of corrupt activity or property used to conduct or facilitate corrupt activity with the intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity, to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the property believed to be the proceeds of corrupt activity, or to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under section 1315.53 of the Revised Code or federal law.

(B) In addition to the criminal sanctions imposed under section 1315.99 of the Revised Code, the sentencing court may impose upon a person who violates division (A) of this section an additional fine of three times the value of the property involved in the transaction. The fine shall be paid to the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

(C) For the purposes of division (A) of this section, a person shall be considered to know or have reasonable cause to know that proceeds are from corrupt activity if either of the following apply:

(1) The person knows or has reasonable cause to know that the proceeds are from some form of activity that constitutes corrupt activity, though not necessarily which form of corrupt activity;

(2) As a part of a covert investigation, a law enforcement officer in his undercover capacity represents to the person that the proceeds are from some form of activity that constitutes corrupt activity.

Section 1315.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: September 1, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 545 - 127th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of section 1315.28 or division (E)(2) of section 1315.53 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(B) Whoever violates division (F)(1) of section 1315.53 or division (B) of section 1315.54 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of section 1315.55 of the Revised Code is guilty of money laundering. A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of that section is a felony of the third degree, and, in addition, the court may impose a fine of seven thousand five hundred dollars or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.

(D) Whoever knowingly violates division (A) of section 1315.02, or intentionally violates division (B)(1) of section 1315.081, of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.