---
title: O.C.G.A. § 7-1-628.8. Restrictions on de novo branches.
collection: code
id: 7-1-628.8
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 7-1-628.8 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-628.8
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-628.8.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-628.8/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t7-t8-(v5)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6386add7_0#page=346
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: BANKING AND FINANCE / FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS / BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES / INTERSTATE BANKING AND BRANCHING BY MERGER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 7-1-628.8. Restrictions on de novo branches.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “de novo branch” means a branch of a bank which:

(1) Is originally established by the bank as a branch; and

(2) Does not become a branch of the bank as a result of the acquisition of another bank or of a branch of another bank or as the result of the merger, consolidation, or conversion of any such bank or branch.

(b) An out-of-state bank that does not have a branch in Georgia and whose deposits are federally insured may, upon obtaining the necessary approvals from its home state regulator, establish and maintain a de novo branch in this state to the extent that any Georgia bank could establish such a de novo branch.

(c) A Georgia state bank may establish and maintain a de novo branch in another state. Such Georgia state bank shall comply with the provisions of this article, including, but not limited to, obtaining approval from the department prior to establishing the branch.

## History

Code 1981, § 7-1-628.8, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 279, § 2; Ga. L. 1997, p. 485, § 24; Ga. L. 2002, p. 670, § 4; Ga. L. 2016, p. 390, § 2-25/HB 811; Ga. L. 2021, p. 323, § 25/HB 111; Ga. L. 2024, p. 1052, § 1(a)(18)/SB 448, effective July 1, 2024.

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted “As used in this Code section, the term ‘de novo branch’” for “A ‘de novo branch’” in the beginning of subsection (a).