326 ARTICLE 11.

An. Code, sec. 22. 1910, ch. 219, sec. 22 (p. 11). 1914, ch. 805, sec. 22. 1918, ch. 33, sec. 22.

22. The articles of incorporation shall be executed in triplicate by the
persons joining therein before any officer authorized to take acknowledg-
ments, and then filed with the Bank Commissioner for examination. The
Bank Commissioner shall thereupon ascertain from the best sources of
information at his command, and by such investigation as he may deem
necessary, whether the character, responsibility and general fitness of the
person or persons, named in such certificate, are such as to command con-
fidence and warrant belief that the business of the proposed corporation
will be honestly and efficiently conducted in accordance with the intent
and purposes of this Article, and whether the public convenience and ad-
vantage will be promoted by allowing such proposed corporation to engage
or continue in business. After the Bank Commissioner shall have satisfied
himself by such investigation whether it is expedient, and desirable to per-
mit such proposed corporation to engage or continue in business, he shall
have power to require such changes in said certificate as he may deem
necessary. He shall within sixty days after the date of the filing of such
certificate for examination, endorse upon each of the triplicates thereof
over his official signature, the word " approved " or the word " refused "
with the date of such endorsement. In case of refusal he shall return one
of the triplicates so endorsed to the proposed incorporators. In. case of
approval, the triplicates shall be returned to the proposed incorporators,
and shall then be submitted to one of the Judges of the Judicial Circuit
in which the bank is to be located in order that h© may determine whether
said Articles are framed in accordance with existing laws. One copy shall
then be filed for record in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the
County in which the Bank is to be located, or in the office of the Clerk of
the Superior Court of Baltimore City, when to be located in said city, and
one copy shall be filed with the Bank Commissioner, who shall issue his
certificate therefor, and one copy shall be filed with the State Tax Com-
mission. The corporation so formed shall have no legal existence until all
copies of the articles of association have been filed for record as herein
directed. The fee for filing such articles of incorporation with the Bank
Commissioner shall be Ten ($10. 00) Dollars, and for filing amendments
to the articles of incorporation Five ($5. 00) Dollars, all such fees to be col-
lected by the Bank Commissioner.

An. Code, sec. 23. 1910, ch. 219, sec. 23 (p. 12). 1918, ch. 33. 1924, ch. 429.

23. Upon making and filing of the articles of incorporation, and upon
the payment of the bonus and other taxes required by the laws of this State,
the bank shall become a body corporate, and as such shall have the following
powers:

First. To make all contracts necessary and proper to effect its purpose
and conduct its business.

Second. To sue and be sued, to appear and defend in all actions and pro-
ceedings under its corporate name to the same extent as a natural person.

Third. To have a common seal and to alter the same at pleasure.