This division, Division 1.1 (commencing with Section 1000), Division 1.2 (commencing with Section 2000), Division 1.6 (commencing with Section 4800), Division 2 (commencing with Section 5000), Division 5 (commencing with Section 14000), Division 7 (commencing with Section 18000), and Division 15 (commencing with Section 31000) shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Financial Institutions Law.”

If and to the extent that any provision of the Financial Institutions Law is preempted by federal law, the provision does not apply and shall not be enforced.

The word “bank” as used in the Financial Institutions Law means any incorporated banking institution that shall have been incorporated to engage in commercial banking business, industrial banking, or trust business.

Banks are divided into the following classes:

“Commercial bank” means a corporation organized for the purpose of engaging in the commercial banking business.

“Commercial banking business” includes, but is not limited to, the business of soliciting, receiving, or accepting of money or its equivalent on deposit as a regular business whether the deposit is made subject to check or is evidenced by a certificate of deposit, a passbook, a note, a receipt, or other writing, provided that nothing herein shall apply to or include money or its equivalent left in escrow, or left with an agent pending investment in real estate or securities for, or on

account of, his or her principal. In addition, “commercial banking business” means to lend money on the security of real or personal property or without security; to discount or deal in bills, notes, or other commercial paper; to buy and sell for the account of customers, and, if eligible for investment, for its own account, securities, gold and silver bullion, foreign coins, and bills of exchange; and generally to transact a commercial banking business.

“Industrial bank” means a corporation organized for the purpose of engaging in the industrial banking business.

“Industrial banking business” includes the making of loans and acceptance of deposits, including deposits evidenced by investment or thrift certificates, but excluding demand deposits.

“Trust business” means the business of acting as executor, administrator, guardian or conservator of estates, assignee, receiver, depositary or trustee under the appointment of any court, or by authority of any law of this or any other state or of the United States, or as trustee for any purpose permitted by law.

“Trust company” means a corporation, industrial bank, or a commercial bank that is authorized to engage in the trust business.

“Bank” or “banks” includes a public bank, as defined in Section 57600 of the Government Code, commercial banks, industrial banks, and trust companies unless the context otherwise requires. However, “bank” does not include a savings association or a credit union.

“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation and “department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

“Person” means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, estate, business trust, corporation, joint stock company, limited liability company, unincorporated association, sovereign government or agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof, or any similar entity or organization.

Unless the provision or the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this chapter govern the construction of the Financial Institutions Law.

References in this division to the voting of shares shall be construed in accordance with Section 111 of the Corporations Code.

If the articles of a bank provide for more or less than one vote for any share on any matter, the references in Sections 139 and 141 to a majority or other proportion of shares means, as to such matter, a majority or other proportion of the votes entitled to be cast. Whenever, under Division 1 (commencing with Section 100), Title 1 of the Corporations Code, this division, or Division 1.1 (commencing with Section 1000), shares are disqualified from voting on any matter, they shall not be considered outstanding for the determination of a quorum at any meeting to act upon, or the required vote to approve action upon, such matter under any provision of Division 1 (commencing with Section 100), Title 1 of the Corporations Code, of this division, Division 1.1 (commencing

with Section 1000), or of the articles or bylaws.

Any requirement in this division for a vote of each class of outstanding shares shall be construed in accordance with Section 117 of the Corporations Code.

“Approved by (or approval of) the board” means approved or ratified by the vote of the board or by the vote of a committee authorized to exercise the powers of the board, except as to any matter not within the competence of the committee under Section 311 of the Corporations Code or any matter for which this division also requires approval of the shareholders or approval of the outstanding shares.

“Approved by (or approval of) the outstanding shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 152 of the Corporations Code and shall include approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class or series entitled, by any provision of the articles, of this division, or of Division 1 (commencing with Section 100), Title 1 of the Corporations Code, to vote as a class or series on the subject matter being voted upon, and shall also include approval by the

affirmative vote of such greater proportion (including all) of the outstanding shares of any class or series if such greater proportion is required by the articles, by this division, or by Division 1 (commencing with Section 100), Title 1 of the Corporations Code.