093_HB3178 LRB093 09865 JLS 10113 b 1 AN ACT concerning banking. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Banking on Illinois Act is amended by 5 changing Section 5 as follows: 6 (205 ILCS 710/5) 7 Sec. 5. Findings and declarations of policy. The 8 General Assembly hereby finds and declares: 9 (1) that the economic strength and general welfare 10 of Illinois depends on a strong, profitable, and 11 competitive banking industry in this State that 12 preserves, enhances, and creates employment, increases 13 credit availability, attracts capital, and expands the 14 savings base for the citizens of this State; 15 (2) that the removal of geographic restrictions in 16 the federal banking laws and in the laws of the 50 states 17 has given rise to a substantial number of newly created 18 community banks and interstate bank mergers requiring the 19 selection of main office locations and relocations; 20 (3) that by ensuring a favorable environment for 21 banks to commence and operate their businesses from this 22 State, more newly created community banks and merging 23 banks will choose to maintain or retain their 24 headquarters in and relocate their main banking offices 25 to Illinois; and 26 (4) that preserving and increasing the number of 27 bank charters, headquarters, and main banking offices 28 within Illinois will substantially increase employment 29 opportunities, credit availability, and capital 30 investment in this State, while strengthening the savings 31 base of this State, thereby providing significant -2- LRB093 09865 JLS 10113 b 1 benefits to all Illinois citizens, to commercial and 2 agricultural businesses of all sizes in this State, and 3 to all local governments and political subdivisions of 4 this State. 5 (Source: P.A. 91-330, eff. 7-29-99.) 6 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 7 becoming law.