Rhode Island § 19-4-17 - Regulatory Oversight

§ 19-4-17. Unauthorized banking business.

(a) No person, except regulated institutions, including any bank or trust company that has established a trust branch office in this state pursuant to the provisions of § 19-3.1-6(b), or banks or credit unions organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States shall use any sign at the place where its business is transacted, having on it any name containing the word or words “bank”, “savings bank”, “loan and investment bank”, “trust company”, “credit union”, or other word or words, indicating, in the opinion of the director, or the director’s designee, that the place or office is the place or office of a regulated institution or bank or credit union duly organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States. The secretary of state shall not accept for filing any articles of association or incorporation, or amendment thereof, containing the word or words without the approval of the director, or the director’s designee.

(b) No person, except regulated institutions, including any bank or trust company that has established a trust branch office in this state pursuant to the provisions of § 19-3.1-6(b), or other banks or credit unions duly organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States, shall use or circulate any written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, paper whatsoever, having on it any name or other word or words indicating that its business is the business of a regulated institution or other bank or credit union duly organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States. No bank or credit union organized under the laws of any other state within the United States shall establish an office within this state or otherwise have a physical presence within this state for the purpose of receiving deposits, paying checks, lending money, or exercising trust powers within this state unless such bank or credit union has received approval from the director, or the director’s designee, for the establishment of an interstate branch office pursuant to chapter 7 of this title. No person except regulated institutions, banks, or credit unions organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States shall transact business in this state in any way or manner as to lead the public to believe, or as, in the opinion of the director, or the director’s designee, might lead the public to believe, that its business is that of a regulated institution or other bank or credit union duly organized under the laws of the United States or of any other state within the United States.