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HomeFinancial CodeDiv. 1Ch. 7Art. 4§ 670 Debt Settlement Authority Limits

§ 670 Debt Settlement Authority Limits

Financial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 670 Debt Settlement Authority Limits

Key Takeaways

  • •If a business without federal insurance owes money and the debt is $10,000 or less, the commissioner can decide to sell or settle the debt however they think is best.
  • •If the debt is more than $10,000, the commissioner needs the court's approval to sell or settle it.
  • •If the debt is $500 or less and it's unlikely to recover the money, the commissioner can decide not to sue.
  • •If the debt is more than $10,000 and it's unlikely to recover the money, the commissioner needs the court's approval to decide not to sue.

Example

A small local bank without federal insurance closes down and owes money to people. One person is owed $8,000, and another is owed $15,000.

The commissioner can decide how to handle the $8,000 debt, maybe by selling it or making a deal. But for the $15,000 debt, the commissioner needs to get the court's approval before doing anything.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 670 Debt Settlement Authority Limits

Upon taking possession of the property and business of a licensee that does not have federal deposit or share insurance, the commissioner may sell, compromise, or compound any bad or doubtful debt owing the licensee for a principal sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), upon those terms as the commissioner may deem proper. If the principal sum thereof exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the commissioner may compromise, compound, or sell the debt upon those terms as the court may approve. If it appears improbable that a recovery on a debt can be had, and that the costs of an action to collect would be lost, and the principal sum thereof does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), the commissioner may determine that no suit thereon shall be brought. If the principal sum of that debt exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the commissioner may determine that no suit thereon be brought after obtaining approval of the court. (Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 243, Sec. 2. (SB 664) Effective January 1, 2012.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

insurancepossessioncommissionpropertylicense

Related Statutes

  • § 609 Court Jurisdiction For Uninsured Licensees
  • § 623 Federal Agency Powers
  • § 686 Customer Creditor Interest Claims
  • § 687 Safe Deposit Property Notice
  • § 601 Commissioner Asset Liquidation Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Financial Code. Section 670.
View Official Source