Florida Statutes Title XXXVIII. Banks and Banking § 655.061. Competitive equality with federally organized or chartered financial institutions

Subject to the prior approval of the office pursuant to commission rule or office order of general application, state financial institutions subject to the financial institutions codes may make any loan or investment or exercise any power which they could make or exercise if incorporated or operating in this state as a federally chartered or regulated financial institution of the same type and are entitled to all privileges and protections granted federally chartered or regulated financial institutions of the same type under federal statutes and regulations.  The provisions of this section take precedence over, and must be given effect over, any other general or specific provisions of the financial institutions codes to the contrary.  In issuing an order or rule under this section, the office or commission shall consider the importance of maintaining a competitive dual system of financial institutions and whether such an order or rule is in the public interest.