13-3-304. Dividends.

(a) The board of directors may, quarterly, semiannually or annually, declare a dividend of so much of the net profits of the bank as they judge proper, except that no dividends shall be declared until the surplus fund of the bank equals its common capital unless there has been carried to the surplus fund not less than ten percent (10%) of the bank's net profits of the preceding six (6) consecutive months in the case of quarterly or semiannual dividends, or not less than ten percent (10%) of its net profits of the preceding twelve (12) consecutive months in the case of annual dividends. For the purposes of this section, any amounts paid into a fund for the retirement of any preferred stock of any bank out of its net profits for such period are deemed to be additions to its surplus fund if, upon retirement of the preferred stock, the amounts paid into the retirement fund may then properly be carried to surplus. In such case, the bank is obligated to transfer to surplus the amounts paid into the retirement fund on account of the preferred stock as the stock is retired.

(b) The approval of the state banking commissioner is required if the total of all dividends declared by the bank in any calendar year shall exceed the total of its net profits of that year combined with its retained net profits of the preceding two (2) years, less any required transfers to surplus or a fund for the retirement of any preferred stock.

(c) For the purpose of this section:

(i) "Net profits" means the net income or loss reported by a bank in its report of condition and income;

(ii) "Retained net profits" for any period shall be equal to the net income or loss reported in the report of condition and income less any common or preferred stock dividends declared or otherwise charged to the undivided profits of the period for which the retained net profits are computed.

(d) No dividend shall be declared by the board of directors of any bank which is operating under any form of regulatory action without prior written approval of the state banking commissioner.