(a) Board Representation. The credit union's bylaws shall govern board selection and election procedures. No credit union shall adopt or amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws to designate or reserve one or more places on the board of directors for any classification that results in a restriction or infringement upon the equal rights of all members to vote for, or seek any position on, the board of directors of the credit union. In addition, each credit union shall adopt policies and procedures that are designed to assure that the elections of directors are conducted in an impartial manner.
(b) Qualifications. A member may not serve as director of a credit union if that member:
  (1) has been convicted of any criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust;
  (2) is not eligible for coverage by the blanket bond required under the provisions of the Act, or §91.510 of this title (relating to Bond and Insurance Requirements);
  (3) has had a final judgment entered against him/her in a civil action upon the grounds of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation;
  (4) has a payment on a voluntary obligation to the credit union that is more than 90 days delinquent or has otherwise caused the credit union to suffer a financial loss;
  (5) has been removed from office by any regulatory or government agency as an officer, agent, employee, consultant or representative of any financial institution;
  (6) has been personally made subject to an operating directive for cause while serving as an officer, director, or senior executive management person of a financial institution; or has caused or participated in a prohibited activity or an unsafe or unsound condition at a financial institution which resulted in the suspension or revocation of the financial institution's certificate of incorporation, or authority or license to do business;
  (7) has failed to complete and return a director application in accordance with subsection (c) of this section; or
  (8) refuses to take and subscribe to the prescribed oath or affirmation of office.
(c) Director application. Any member nominated for, or seeking election to, the board of directors shall submit a written application in such form as the credit union may prescribe. The application shall be submitted either to the nominating committee prior to its selection of nominees; or to the board chair within 30 days following the election of a member who was not nominated by the nominating committee or who was appointed by the board to fill a vacancy. The applications of the elected/appointed directors shall be incorporated into and made part of the minutes of the first board meeting following the election/appointment of those directors. Applications of unsuccessful candidates shall be destroyed or returned upon request. The commissioner may review and require that changes be made to any application form, which is deemed inadequate or unfairly discriminates against certain classes of members.
(d) Director continuing education. Directors must develop and maintain a fundamental, ongoing knowledge of the regulations and issues affecting credit union operations to assure a safe and sound institution. A credit union shall, by written board policy, establish appropriate continuing education requirements and provide sufficient resources for directors to achieve and maintain professional competence. The policy shall include a provision requiring the credit union to prepare, on an annual basis, a continuing education plan for its Directors that is appropriate to the size and financial condition of the credit union and the nature and scope of its operations.
(e) Prohibited conduct. A director shall not:
  (1) Divulge or make use of, except in the performance of office duties, any fact, information, or document not generally available to the membership that is acquired by virtue of serving on the board of the credit union.
  (2) Use the director's position to obtain or attempt to obtain special advantage or favoritism for the director, any relative of the director, or any person residing in the director's household.
  (3) Accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, fee, or other present that is offered or could be reasonably be viewed as being offered to influence official action or to obtain information that the director has access to by reason of serving on the board of the credit union.
(f) Recall of director(s).
  (1) Petition. Under procedures set out in the credit union's bylaws, members may request a special membership meeting to consider removing the entire board or individual directors for cause relating to serious mismanagement or a breach of fiduciary duties. The board shall conduct any resulting special meeting as prescribed in the credit union's bylaws.
  (2) Membership Vote. The members of a credit union may remove a director by a vote of two-thirds of those members voting at the special meeting; provided, however, that:
    (A) a separate vote is conducted for each director sought to be recalled;
    (B) the members voting shall constitute not less than 10% of the membership eligible to vote in the recall election;
    (C) all members are given at least 30 days notice of the meeting which shall state the reasons why the meeting has been called; and
    (D) the affected director(s) is afforded an opportunity to be heard at such meeting prior to a vote on removal.
  (3) Vacancy on the Board. If a vacancy occurs as a result of a recall, the vacancy shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors. If the entire board is removed as a result of the recall, the members shall fill the vacancies at the recall meeting. Directors elected to fill a recall vacancy shall hold office only until the next annual meeting when any unexpired terms shall be filled by vote of the members.
(g) Absences. Any director who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings without an excuse approved by a majority vote of the board, or who fails to attend six (6) regularly scheduled meetings during any twelve-month period following the director's election or appointment is automatically removed from office. A new person shall be appointed to fill any vacancies resulting from poor attendance within sixty days of the date of the meeting that led to the automatic removal. The commissioner in the exercise of discretion may extend the deadline for filling the vacancy.

Source Note: The provisions of this §91.501 adopted to be effective May 11, 2000, 25 TexReg 3951; amended to be effective March 14, 2004, 29 TexReg 2636; amended to be effective July 8, 2007, 32 TexReg 3978; amended to be effective July 10, 2011, 36 TexReg 4110; amended to be effective July 13, 2014, 39 TexReg 5147