2017 Delaware Code
Title 5 - Banking
CHAPTER 1. STATE BANK COMMISSIONER
Subchapter II Powers and Duties
§ 131. Unsound condition of bank or trust company; receivership.

(a) If the Commissioner deems that the affairs of any bank or trust company are in an unsound condition because of illegal or unsafe investments, or that its liabilities exceed its assets, or that it is transacting business without authority or in violation of this Code or any other law, or that it is unsafe or inexpedient for such corporation to continue business, the Commissioner shall communicate the facts to the Attorney General who shall file in the Court of Chancery in any county where the bank or trust company is doing business a complaint setting forth the facts and applying for an order requiring the bank or trust company to show cause why its business should not be closed.

(b) In a proper case made, the Court shall have power to appoint a receiver to take charge of, settle and close up the affairs of the bank or trust company under the direction of the Court, and to enjoin it from doing business, or to make such other order or decree as the circumstances shall warrant and to the Court shall seem proper. The Court may make such rules and regulations, and such orders and decrees in the premises as it shall deem proper.

(c) In the case of a bank or trust company whose deposits are to any extent insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or successor corporation or agency, the receiver to be appointed shall be the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or such successor. In all instances in which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or such successor shall pay any portion of the deposits of a bank or trust company, it shall be fully subrogated to the position of depositor to the extent of such deposits. In the case of a bank or trust company whose deposits are not so insured, the receiver to be appointed shall be the Commissioner or, in the Commissioner's absence or disability, a Deputy Commissioner. Neither the Commissioner nor the Deputy Commissioner shall receive any extra compensation for acting as receiver.

(d) The Court may vest the receiver with full power and authority to borrow such sum or sums of money as the Court shall determine in order the more readily or expeditiously to settle the affairs of the bank or trust company and to make payments to its creditors, depositors or stockholders. Such borrowing may be from any public or governmental or quasi-public or quasi-governmental corporation, board, commission or other agency or from any source whatsoever, and the Court may authorize the receiver to secure any loan by the pledge of any of the property or assets of the bank or trust company, and to give the lender a preference or priority as to the pledged property and assets over the other unsecured and unperfected secured creditors of the bank or trust company. The Court shall not have the power to authorize the receiver to (i) secure any loan by the pledge of any property or assets of the bank or trust company which would have a preference or priority over a security interest, lien or other encumbrance created and perfected prior to the appointment of the receiver, or (ii) avoid any security interest, lien or other encumbrance created and perfected prior to the appointment of the receiver provided, however, that the foregoing shall not affect any power, if any, granted to the Court under this subsection in existence prior to July 3, 1991, with respect to security interests held by affiliates of a bank or trust company created in connection with borrowings in excess of the amount of capital and surplus paid in of the bank or trust company. The holder of a perfected security interest, lien or other encumbrance against property or assets of the bank or trust company at the time of the appointment of a receiver shall have the rights and advantages of all other applicable laws.

32 Del. Laws, c. 103, § 9; 38 Del. Laws, c. 93, § 1(3), (4); Code 1935, § 2297; 5 Del. C. 1953, § 131; 60 Del. Laws, c. 376, § 1; 68 Del. Laws, c. 87; 68 Del. Laws, c. 105, § 26; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;