Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 218 - Finance companies, auto dealers, adjustment companies and collection agencies.
218.05 - Community currency exchanges.

218.05 Community currency exchanges.
(1) Definitions. As used in this section:
(b) “Community currency exchange" means any person, except a bank incorporated under the laws of this state, a federal bank organized pursuant to the laws of the United States, a savings bank organized under ch. 214, a savings and loan association organized under ch. 215 and a credit union organized under ch. 186, engaged in the business of and providing facilities for cashing checks, drafts, money orders and all other evidences of money acceptable to such community currency exchange for a fee, service charge or other consideration. Nothing in this section shall be held to apply to any person engaged in the business of transporting for hire, bullion, currency, securities, negotiable or nonnegotiable documents, jewels or other property of great monetary value nor to any person engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail nor to any person licensed to practice a profession or licensed to engage in any business in this state, who, in the course of such business or profession and, as an incident thereto, cashes checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of money.
(d) “Division" means the division of banking.
(2) Licenses required. After July 1, 1945, no person, firm, association, partnership or corporation shall engage in the business of a community currency exchange without first securing a license to do so from the division as required by this section.
(3) Licenses; applications; fees; bond.
(a) Application for such license shall be in writing, under oath, on a form to be prescribed by the division. Each application shall contain the following information:
1. The full name and address (both of residence and place of business) of the applicant, and if the applicant is a partnership, limited liability company or association, of every member thereof, and the name and business address if the applicant is a corporation.
2. The county and municipality, with street and number, if any, where the community currency exchange is to be conducted; and
3. Such other information as the division may require.
(am)
1. In addition to the information required under par. (a) and except as provided in subd. 3., an application for a license under this section shall include the following:
a. If the applicant is an individual, the applicant's social security number.
b. If the applicant is not an individual, the applicant's federal employer identification number.
2. The division may not disclose any information received under subd. 1. to any person except as follows:
a. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227.
b. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. a. to the department of children and families in accordance with a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857.
3. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for or applying to renew a license under this section, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the division that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. Any license issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant under this subdivision is invalid.
(b) An application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $300 for the cost of investigating the applicant. If the cost of an investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall, upon demand of the division, pay the excess cost. At the time of the application, the applicant shall pay an additional $300 as an annual license fee for a period ending on the last day of the current calendar year.
(c) Before any license is issued to a community currency exchange the applicant shall file annually with and have approved by the division a surety bond in the principal sum of $5,000, issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state. The bond shall run to the state of Wisconsin and shall be for the benefit of any creditors of the community currency exchange for any liability incurred for any sum due to any payee of any check, draft or money order left with the community currency exchange for collection, and also for any penalties that may be imposed under this section. If the division finds at any time the bond is insecure or exhausted or otherwise doubtful, an additional bond in like amount to be approved by the division shall be filed by the licensee within 30 days after written demand by the division.
(4) Licenses; issuance; denial.
(a) The division shall issue to the applicant qualifying under this section a license to operate a community currency exchange at the location specified in the application. The license shall remain in full force and effect until it is surrendered by the licensee or revoked by the division if the division finds after investigation that all of the following conditions are met:
1. The applicant is trustworthy and reputable.
2. The applicant has business experience qualifying the applicant to competently conduct, operate, own, or become associated with a community currency exchange.
3. The applicant has a good business reputation and is worthy of a license.
(b) If the division finds that the conditions under par. (a) 1. to 3. are not met, the division shall not issue the license and shall notify the applicant of the denial, retaining the investigation fee to cover the cost of investigating the applicant. The division shall approve or deny every application within 30 days from the filing thereof. No application shall be denied unless the applicant has had notice of a hearing on the application and an opportunity to be heard thereon. If the application is denied, the division shall, within 20 days thereafter, prepare and keep on file with the division a written order of denial which shall contain the division's findings with respect thereto and the reasons supporting the denial. The division shall mail a copy of the order of denial to the applicant at the address set forth in the application, within 5 days after the filing of the order.
(c) In addition to the grounds for denial of a license under par. (a), the division shall deny an application for a license under this section if any of the following applies:
1. The applicant fails to provide any information required under sub. (3) (am) 1.
2. The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
2m. The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
3. The applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent payments is entitled to a notice and hearing under s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any notice or hearing under par. (b).
(5) Forbidden to act as depository. No community currency exchange shall be permitted to accept money or evidences of money as a deposit to be returned to the depositor or upon the depositor's order; and no community currency exchange shall be permitted to act as bailee or agent for persons, to hold money or evidences thereof or the proceeds therefrom for the use and benefit of the owners thereof and deliver such money or proceeds of evidence of money upon request or direction of such owner.
(6) Insurance. Before any license is issued to a community currency exchange or renewed for a community currency exchange, the applicant shall file with, and have approved by, the division a policy or policies of insurance, which shall be issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state and shall insure the applicant against loss by burglary, larceny, robbery, forgery or embezzlement in a principal sum, and with such deductibles, as determined by the division.
(8) Other business forbidden. A community currency exchange shall not be conducted as a unit of another business. It must be an entity, financed and conducted as a separate business unit. This shall not prevent a community currency exchange from leasing a part of the premises of another business for the conduct of this business on the same premises; provided, that no community currency exchange shall be conducted on the same premises with a business whose chief source of revenue is derived from the sale of alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises. This subsection shall not apply when such other business is subject to any statute which provides for supervision and examination by the division.
(9) Tokens. No community currency exchange shall issue tokens to be used in lieu of money for the purchase of goods or services from any enterprise.
(10) Licenses; posting; assignment; number; change of location.
(a) Such license shall state the name of the licensee and the address at which the business is to be conducted. Such license shall be kept conspicuously posted in the place of business of the licensee and shall not be transferable or assignable.
(b) No more than one place of business shall be maintained under the same license, but the division may issue more than one license to the same licensee upon the compliance with the provisions of this section governing an original issuance of a license, for each new license.
(c) Whenever a licensee shall wish to change the licensee's place of business to any location other than that originally set forth in the license, the licensee shall give written notice thereof to the division and if the change is approved the division shall attach to the license, in writing, a rider stating the new address or location of the community currency exchange.
(11) Renewal. Every licensee shall, on or before December 20, pay to the division the sum of $300 as an annual license fee for the next succeeding calendar year and, at the same time, shall file with the division the annual bond and insurance policy or policies in the same amount and of the same character as required by subs. (3) (c) and (6). The division may not renew a license under this section if any of the following applies:
(a) The renewal applicant fails to provide any information required under sub. (3) (am) 1.
(b) The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the renewal applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose application is not renewed under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(bm) The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the renewal applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. An applicant whose application is not renewed under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(c) The renewal applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subsection for delinquent payments or failure to comply with a subpoena or warrant is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(12) Revocation; restriction and suspension.
(a) The division may, upon 10 days' notice to the licensee by mail directed to the licensee at the address set forth in the license, stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, and upon reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to such action, revoke any license issued hereunder if the division shall find that:
1. The licensee has failed to pay the annual license fee or to maintain in effect the required bond or insurance policy or policies or to comply with any order, decision or finding of the division made pursuant to this section.
2. The licensee has violated any provision of this section or any regulation or direction made by the division under this section.
3. Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the division in refusing the issuance of the license.
(am) The division shall restrict or suspend any license issued under this section if the licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. A licensee whose license is restricted or suspended under this paragraph is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(ar) The division shall revoke a license under this section if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(at) The division shall revoke a license under this section if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the licensee is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(b) The division may revoke only the particular license with respect to which grounds for revocation may occur or exist, or if the division shall find that such grounds for revocation are of general application to all offices or to more than one office operated by such licensee, the division may revoke all of the licenses issued to such licensee or such number of licenses to which such grounds apply. A revocation under pars. (am) to (at) applies to all of the licenses issued to the licensee.
(c) A licensee may surrender any license by delivering to the division written notice that the licensee surrenders such license, but such surrender shall not affect such licensee's civil or criminal liability for acts committed prior to such surrender, or affect the licensee's bond, or entitle such licensee to a return of any part of the annual license fee.
(d) Every license issued hereunder shall remain in force until the same has been surrendered or revoked in accordance with this section, but the division may on the division's own motion issue new licenses to a licensee whose license or licenses shall have been revoked if no fact or condition then exists which clearly would have warranted the division in refusing originally the issuance of such license under this section.
(e) Except as provided under pars. (am) to (at), no license shall be revoked until the licensee has had notice of a hearing thereon and an opportunity to be heard. When any license is so revoked, the division shall within 20 days thereafter, prepare and keep on file with the division, a written order or decision of revocation which shall contain the division's findings with respect thereto and the reasons supporting the revocation and shall send by mail a copy thereof to the licensee at the address set forth in the license within 5 days after the filing with the division of such order, finding or decision.
(14) Annual report; records; examination.
(a) A licensee shall annually, on or before February 15, file a report with the division that shall be used only for the official purposes of the division giving relevant information that the division may reasonably require concerning, and for the purpose of examining, the business and operations during the preceding calendar year of each licensed place of business conducted by the licensee within this state. The report shall be made under oath and shall be in the form prescribed by the division.
(b)
1. A licensee shall keep books, accounts and records to enable the division to determine if the licensee is complying with this section and with rules promulgated by and orders issued by the division.
2. A licensee shall keep within this state the books, accounts and records required by this paragraph at the licensee's place of business or a place readily accessible to the division.
(c)
1. The division may investigate the business and examine the books, accounts and records of a licensee at any time. For that purpose, the division shall have free access to the offices and places of business and to the books, accounts and records of a licensee. The division may examine any person under oath or affirmation whose testimony the division requires relative to the licensee. An employee of the division may administer an oath or affirmation to a person called as a witness. An employee of the division may conduct the examination.
2. The division shall determine the cost of an examination. A licensee shall pay the cost of an examination within 30 days after the division demands payment.
(15) Penalty. A person who violates this section may be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
History: 1971 c. 125; 1979 c. 102; 1981 c. 79 s. 17; 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 221, 316; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 27, 225; 1997 a. 27, 35, 191, 237; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2005 a. 212; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 233; 2013 a. 36; 2021 a. 239.

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