Article 3. General Provisions of California Financial Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.

(a) The name, rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of each association in existence on the effective date of this division shall be governed by the provisions of this division to the same extent and effect as if the association had been incorporated pursuant to this division. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of an association existing on the effective date of this division may be amended to conform to the provisions of this division, with or without the issuance or approval by the commissioner of conformed copies of those documents, and the provisions in the articles and bylaws are superseded to the extent that they are inconsistent with the provisions of this division, except that the obligations of the existing association between the association and its stockholders, members, or any valid contract between the stockholders or members of the association or between the association and any other persons, existing at the time this division takes effect, shall not be impaired by the provisions of this division. With these exceptions, each association in existence on the effective date of this division shall possess all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities and shall be subject to all the duties, liabilities, disabilities, and restrictions conferred and imposed by this division, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in its articles of incorporation, bylaws, or rules.
  (b) The power of each association in existence on the effective date of this division pursuant to its articles of incorporation or bylaws to issue voting interests to savings account holders, shall not be impaired by any provision of this division.

(a) Wherever it is stated in this division that an agreement or contract contrary to any of the division's provisions is void, the statement is limited to the particular portion of the agreement or contract that is contrary to the provision, and the entire agreement or contract is not void unless the particular part is not a separable portion. Unless expressly so provided by the commissioner, the violation of any provision of this division does not render invalid any agreement, contract, stock, savings account, note, trust deed, mortgage, or other instrument.
  (b) No provision of this division imposing any liability, either civil or criminal, applies to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any rule, regulation, approval, consent, order, direction, or other act of the commissioner, even if the rule, regulation, approval, consent, order, direction, or other act of the commissioner is amended, rescinded, or determined invalid by judicial or other authority, after the act or omission.

Whenever the term " association" is used in any provision of law, such term shall be deemed to include savings banks organized under this division; and wherever the term "federal association" is so used, such term shall be deemed to include federal savings banks.

(a) All references in this division to financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and statements of changes in financial position of an association and all references to assets, liabilities, earnings, retained earnings, shareholders' equity, and similar accounting items of an association, mean financial statements or items prepared or determined in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles then applicable which fairly present in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles the matters that they purport to present, subject to any specific accounting treatment required or permitted by any provision of this division, or by any regulation or order issued under this division.
  (b) The commissioner may, by regulation or order, require any financial statement or accounting item of an association to be prepared or determined in a manner other than in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles if it is found that the other manner of preparation or determination is necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes or provisions of this division. A report utilizing accounting methods required pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall not be available for other than purposes as provided by the commissioner.

Whenever the terms "board of directors," "directors," or "director" are used in any provision of law, such terms shall mean, with respect to savings banks organized under this division, "board of trustees," "trustees," or "trustee."

If any provision, clause, or phrase of this division or application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, its invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this division that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end, the provisions of this division are separable.

This division, being a comprehensive coverage of its subject matter, shall not be deemed to be impliedly repealed, in whole or in part, by subsequent legislation not specifically repealing it, if that construction can be avoided.

Insofar as the provisions of this division are inconsistent with any other law in effect at the time the provisions of this division are enacted, the provisions of this division shall control. Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 6500, nothing within this section is intended to provide for preemption of other provisions of law expressly overruling the provisions of this division and enacted subsequent to the effective date of the inconsistent provision within this division.