The Department of Banking News Bulletin 

Bulletin # 1922
Week Ending December 22, 2000

This bulletin constitutes the only official notification you will receive from this office concerning any of the following applications. Any observations you may have are solicited. Any comments should be in writing to John P. Burke, Banking Commissioner, at the Connecticut Department of Banking, 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103-1800 or via E-mail to john.burke@ct.gov. Written comments will be considered only if they are received within ten days from the date of this bulletin.

STATE BANK ACTIVITY
Branch Activity

Section 36a-145 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that each application for a branch, or for a limited branch at which loans will be made, be accompanied by a plan detailing how adequate services to meet the banking needs of all community residents will be provided. Plans are submitted when such applications are filed and are available for public inspection and comment at this Department for a period of 30 days. Questions concerning branch activity should be directed to the Bank Examination Division, (860) 240-8180.
Note: dates are listed in month/day/year format.

SECURITIES AND BUSINESS INVESTMENTS DIVISION ACTIVITY
Ledyard Man Permanently Barred From Securities Business

On December 11, 2000, the Banking Commissioner entered a Consent Order with respect to W. Henry Oppermann of Ledyard, Connecticut. The Consent Order claimed that from November 1996 to April 1999, Oppermann sold unregistered, non-exempt securities of Ameritech Petroleum, Omne-SRL Taormina, Redbank Petroleum, Inc., Sebastian International Enterprises, Inc., Sun Broadcasting Systems, Inc. and Sweetwater Development Corporation to Connecticut residents and that, in so doing, Oppermann acted as an unregistered agent of issuer in violation of the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act.

The Consent Order permanently barred Oppermann from transacting business in Connecticut as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, broker-dealer agent, agent of issuer and investment adviser agent as well as from effecting purchases or sales of business opportunities. In addition, the Consent Order directed Oppermann to cease and desist from regulatory violations and mandated that he remit $1,500 to the agency, $1,000 of which constituted an administrative fine and $500 of which represented reimbursement for investigative costs.

Broker-Dealer Agent Permanently Barred from Securities Business

On December 22, 2000, the Banking Commissioner entered a Consent Order with respect to James S. Halligan of Middlefield, Connecticut. The Consent Order alleged that from approximately October 1998 to January 1999, Halligan sold unregistered, non-exempt securities of Palm Beach Investment Group, Inc. to Connecticut residents and that, in so doing, Halligan acted as an unregistered agent of issuer in violation of the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act. The Consent Order also claimed that Halligan violated Section 36b-31-6e of the Regulations under the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act by engaging in private securities transactions involving Palm Beach Investment Group, Inc. absent written notice to his employing firm, Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc.

The Consent Order permanently barred Halligan from transacting business in Connecticut as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, broker-dealer agent, agent of issuer and investment adviser agent as well as from effecting purchases or sales of business opportunities. The Consent Order also permanently barred Halligan from acting as a finder for compensation, and from splitting commissions or receiving referral fees in connection with any recommendation, sale or purchase of securities. Halligan could, however, effect transacts in insurance or endowment policies or annuity contracts issued by insurers subject to regulation by the Connecticut Insurance Commissioner. In addition, the Consent Order directed Halligan to cease and desist from regulatory violations and required that he remit $1,500 to the agency, $1,000 of which constituted an administrative fine and $500 of which represented reimbursement for investigative costs.

CREDIT UNION DIVISION ACTIVITY

Pursuant to Section 36a-469 of the Connecticut General Statutes, on November 28, 2000, approval was granted to Sikorsky Federal Credit Union to convert from a federal credit union into a state credit union. The field of membership of Sikorsky Financial Credit Union, Inc. is: Persons who live, worship or volunteer, and businesses, partnerships, corporations or organizations located within Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties of Connecticut. Also included are employees of this credit union, persons retired as pensioners or annuitants from above employment, members of their immediate families, households, and organizations of such persons. The credit union is retaining its out-of-state employees of current select groups. Excluded are the existing fields of membership of Amphenol RF Operation Employees Credit Union, Inc.; B.M.G. Credit Union, Inc.; Bethel Stamford Credit Union, Inc.; Brand-Rex Employees Credit Union, Inc.; Coca-Cola of Hartford Employees Credit Union, Inc.; East Haven Municipal Employees Credit Union, Inc.; Harborview Employees Credit Union, Inc.; Heim Employees Credit Union, Inc.; Taylor & Fenn Co. Employees Credit Union, Inc.; and U.S. Baird Employees Credit Union, Inc.

SECTION 36a-425 APPROVAL

On December 21, 2000, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, filed an application to establish an office of its subsidiary, Trumbull Services, L.L.C., a Connecticut corporation, at Griffin Center, 4 Griffin Road, North, Windsor, Connecticut.