Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 221 - State banks.
221.0521 - Acceptance of instruments showing shareholder action.

221.0521 Acceptance of instruments showing shareholder action.
(1) When name corresponds to that of a shareholder. If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment corresponds to the name of a shareholder, the bank, if acting in good faith, may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of the shareholder.
(2) When name does not correspond to that of a shareholder. If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment does not correspond to the name of its shareholder, the bank, if acting in good faith, may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of the shareholder if any of the following applies:
(a) The shareholder is an entity and the name signed purports to be that of an officer or agent of the entity.
(b) The name signed purports to be that of a personal representative, guardian, or conservator representing the shareholder and, if the bank requests, evidence of fiduciary status acceptable to the bank is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment.
(c) The name signed purports to be that of a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy of the shareholder and, if the bank requests, evidence of this status acceptable to the bank is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment.
(d) The name signed purports to be that of a pledgee, beneficial owner, or attorney-in-fact of the shareholder and, if the bank requests, evidence acceptable to the bank of the signatory's authority to sign for the shareholder is presented with respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment.
(e) Two or more persons are the shareholder as cotenants or fiduciaries and the name signed purports to be the name of at least one of the co-owners and the person signing appears to be acting on behalf of all co-owners.
(3) When rejection permitted. The bank may reject a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment if the officer or agent of the bank who is authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith, has reasonable basis for doubt about the validity of the signature on it or about the signatory's authority to sign for the shareholder.
(4) Effect on liability. The bank and its officer or agent who accepts or rejects a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment in good faith and in accordance with this section are not liable in damages to the shareholder for the consequences of the acceptance or rejection.
(5) Effect on validity of action. Bank action based on the acceptance or rejection of a vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment under this section is valid unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise.
History: 1995 a. 336; 2001 a. 102.

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