EXHIBIT 10.27
Marketing and Servicing Agreement between
Republic Bank & Trust Company and Advance America Cash Advance
Centers of North Carolina, Inc. (portions of the exhibit have been
omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment).
A mark of [***] in the text of this Exhibit
indicates that confidential material has been omitted.
This Exhibit, including the omitted portions,
has been filed separately with the Secretary of the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to an application requesting
confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
MARKETING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
This Marketing and Servicing
Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of the 12th day
of February, 2003, is by and between (i) Republic Bank & Trust
Company, a Kentucky state-chartered bank (“BANK”), and
(ii) (a) Advance America, Cash Advance Centers of North Carolina,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AA”) and (b)
McKenzie Check Advance of North Carolina, LLC d/b/a National Cash
Advance, a Tennessee limited liability company (“NCA,”)
which shall hereinafter sometimes collectively be referred to as
“ADVANCE AMERICA”).
WHEREAS, AA is a duly organized and
validly existing Delaware corporation, authorized to do business in
the State of North Carolina;
WHEREAS, NCA is a duly organized and
validly existing Tennessee limited liability company, authorized to
do business in the State of North Carolina;
WHEREAS, BANK is a Kentucky
state-chartered bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation and is authorized under applicable Kentucky and federal
law to engage in the transactions referred to herein;
WHEREAS, BANK agrees that during the
term of the Agreement BANK will deal exclusively, with the possible
exception of BANK’s existing relationship with [***] whereby
BANK engages in TRANSACTIONS (as defined below) with [***] in North
Carolina, with ADVANCE AMERICA with respect to TRANSACTIONS for all
CUSTOMERS (as defined below) located in the MARKET (as defined
below);
WHEREAS, ADVANCE AMERICA agrees that
BANK shall have the first and exclusive right to all TRANSACTIONS
originated in the MARKET by ADVANCE AMERICA. The Parties agree that
BANk will contiue to fund all Transactions that are orignated by
ADVANCE AMERICA and meet the BANK’s stablished underwriting
criteria until and unless the BANK’s outstanding Transactions
under this Agreement and any other Marketing and Servicing
Agreement with ADVANCE AMERICA equals [***] exclusive of
Transactions rejected by BANK;
WHEREAS, in accordance with its
established underwriting and other criteria as may be amended from
time to time, BANK desires to engage in the TRANSACTIONS in
compliance with Kentucky Revised Statutes (“KRS”)
Chapter § 368; and
WHEREAS, ADVANCE AMERICA desires to
market and service the TRANSACTIONS on BANK’s behalf, while
retaining authority and control over, and responsibility for, its
own employees and methods of operation.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the foregoing and of the mutual promises contained in this
Agreement, and other valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound,
BANK and ADVANCE AMERICA (together, the “Parties”)
agree as follows:
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1.
DEFINITIONS.
Terms not specifically defined
herein shall have the definitions ascribed to them elsewhere in
this Agreement.
(a)
“AA” shall mean Advance
America, Cash Advance Centers of North Carolina, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
(b)
“ADVANCE AMERICA” shall
be defined individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as
AA and NCA.
(c)
“ADVANCE AMERICA INDEMNIFIED
PARTIES” shall be defined as AA, NCA and their parent,
subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of their officers, directors,
shareholders, employees, representatives, agents and
attorneys.
(d)
“ADVERSE ACTION NOTICE”
shall be defined as an appropriately completed notice in compliance
with Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) Regulation B, and
applicable law required to be provided to CUSTOMERS who are not
eligible for the PROGRAM.
(e)
“APPLICANT” shall be
defined as a prospective CUSTOMER seeking to take advantage of or
otherwise participate in the PROGRAM.
(f)
“APPLICATIONS” shall be
defined as each of the forms filled out by a CUSTOMER seeking to
take advantage of the PROGRAM as such forms may be amended or
modified from time to time.
(g)
“BANK” shall be defined
as Republic Bank & Trust Company, a Kentucky state-chartered
bank.
(h)
“BANK DEPOSIT ACCOUNT”
shall be defined as that bank account held at a bank or banks
designated by BANK and made known to ADVANCE AMERICA and into which
shall be deposited all the daily receipts collected by ADVANCE
AMERICA for the benefit of BANK and applied to the
TRANSACTIONS.
(i)
“BANK INDEMNIFIED
PARTIES” shall be defined as BANK and its holding company,
subsidiary and affiliates, and each of their officers, directors,
shareholders, employees, representatives, agents and
attorneys.
(j)
“BANK INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTIES” shall be defined as the name, trade name,
trademarks, service marks and logos of BANK.
(k)
“BANK POLICIES” shall be
defined as the reasonable and lawful practices, policies and
procedures established by BANK and communicated in writing to
ADVANCE AMERICA from time to time with respect to the
TRANSACTIONS.
(l)
“CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION” shall be defined as all documents, materials and
other information related to this Agreement which shall have been
obtained during the course of the negotiations leading to, and
during the performance of, this Agreement, excepting those items
excluded from this definition by Section 9(c) of this
Agreement.
(m)
“CUSTOMER” shall be
defined as any person who participates in the PROGRAM.
(n)
“CUSTOMER INFORMATION”
shall be defined as all information derived from whatever source
about any of the CUSTOMERS or the APPLICANTS, including without
limitation names, addresses, demographic information and financial
information.
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(o)
“DISCLOSURES” shall be
defined as all information required to be provided to an APPLICANT
or CUSTOMER under federal law or applicable state law.
(p)
“EFFECTIVE DATE” shall
be the first business day following delivery of written notice by
ADVANCE AMERICA to BANK that the PEOPLES AGREEMENT has been
terminated.
(q)
“EVENT OF DEFAULT” shall
be defined in Section 7(d).
(r)
“FEES” shall be defined
as the marketing and servicing fees set forth on Exhibit A attached
hereto.
(s)
“HARMFUL ACTS” shall be
defined as any fraud, theft, dishonesty, defamation, or other
willful misconduct of any party to this Agreement, or any
party’s officer, employee, director or agent.
(t)
“LOSSES” shall be
defined as claims, losses, liabilities, damages, penalties,
demands, judgments, settlements, costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(u)
“MARKET” shall mean all
ADVANCE AMERICA stores in North Carolina during the term of this
Agreement.
(v)
“NCA” shall mean
McKenzie Check Advance of North Carolina, LLC (dba National Cash
Advance), a Tennessee limited liability company.
(w)
“NET CHARGE OFFS” shall
mean the difference between the sum of the principal and FEES of
any TRANSACTIONS which have been charged off less any recoveries,
payments or collections on such TRANSACTIONS.
(x)
“NOTES” shall be defined
as those promissory notes or similar negotiable instruments which
may be made by a CUSTOMER to secure the CUSTOMER’S
obligations under any TRANSACTION.
(y)
“NSF CHARGE OFFS” shall
be defined as items for which payment has not been received in a
[***] period from the date such items are recorded by ADVANCE
AMERICA which date shall be within a reasonable time from the date
the drawee bank notifies ADVANCE AMERICA that such items are
uncollected.
(z)
“PEOPLES AGREEMENT”
shall mean those certain Marketing and Servicing Agreements
presently in effect between ADVANCE AMERICA and PEOPLES NATIONAL
BANK dated as of September 11, 2001.
(aa)
“PROGRAM” shall be
defined as the totality of the TRANSACTIONS contemplated under this
Agreement with regard to the deferred deposit
transactions.
(bb)
“PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS”
shall be defined as all letters, advertising and promotional
literature or material incorporating BANK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES
and all related designs, artwork, logos, slogans, copy and other
similar materials.
(cc)
“REPAYMENT CHECKS” shall
be defined as checks issued by a CUSTOMER as security for and in
repayment of the TRANSACTIONS.
(dd)
“RESTRICTED PARTY” shall
be defined as any party who is bound by Section 9 of this Agreement
with regard to the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, including, without
limitation, all agents, employees, officers, directors and other
third-party agents of any of the Parties hereto.
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(ee)
“ROLLOVER” shall be
defined as extending a TRANSACTION for an additional term by paying
only the fee due and refinancing the remaining principal amount of
the TRANSACTION for an additional fee.
(ff)
“TRANSACTIONS” shall be
defined as those certain deferred deposit transactions as provided
under Kentucky and other applicable law.
(gg)
“TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS”
shall be defined as (i) all original APPLICATIONS and copies of all
ADVERSE ACTION NOTICES and other documents relating to rejected
APPLICATIONS; and (ii) originals or copies, as applicable, of
all APPLICATIONS, NOTES (including DISCLOSURES), REPAYMENT CHECKS
and other documents provided to or received from
CUSTOMERS.
(hh)
“TRANSACTION LOSS RATE”
shall have the meaning set forth in Exhibit A.
2.
INCORPORATION OF
RECITALS.
The recitals set forth above are
incorporated herein by reference.
3.
CONDITION TO EFFECTIVENESS OF
AGREEMENT.
The Parties acknowledge and agree
that it is an express condition to the effectiveness of this
Agreement that the PEOPLES AGREEMENT shall have been terminated,
and that this Agreement shall not become effective unless and until
the PEOPLES AGREEMENT shall have been terminated. Immediately upon
termination of the PEOPLES AGREEMENT, ADVANCE AMERICA will deliver
to BANK written notice that such termination has occurred. In no
event shall ADVANCE AMERICA deliver said written notice later than
February 28, 2003.
4.
BANK’S SERVICES.
(a)
BANK in its sole discretion shall
determine all of the conditions, terms and features of the
TRANSACTIONS, including, without limitation, amounts, fees and
charges, limits, credit standards, underwriting criteria, payment
terms and all other terms and conditions of the TRANSACTIONS.
BANK shall approve the form of all TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.
BANK shall enter into the TRANSACTIONS with all APPLICANTS
originated by ADVANCE AMERICA and who, in the sole discretion of
BANK, meet such standards and other qualifications as established
by BANK; provided that BANK shall not be required to enter
into a TRANSACTION if it reasonably believes that the TRANSACTION
or its solicitation will violate or has violated any applicable
law. Neither ADVANCE AMERICA, nor BANK, nor their respective
employees shall state or suggest to APPLICANTS that TRANSACTIONS
are made with or approved by ADVANCE AMERICA or that ADVANCE
AMERICA (or any employee or agent of ADVANCE AMERICA) can improve
or otherwise influence an APPLICANT’s prospect of entering
into a TRANSACTION with BANK. Subject to BANK policy and
applicable law, BANK may reject any TRANSACTION or TRANSACTIONS, at
any time, in its sole discretion.
(b)
ADVANCE AMERICA acknowledges that
all rights of ownership in the TRANSACTIONS and the TRANSACTION
DOCUMENTS are and remain the sole property of BANK, and ADVANCE
AMERICA shall have no ownership rights to such TRANSACTIONS or
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS during the term of this Agreement.
Furthermore, ADVANCE AMERICA shall not in any way fund, or purchase
any share or “participation interest” in, any
TRANSACTION.
(c)
In its sole discretion, BANK may
sell, transfer, grant an interest in, or otherwise assign any
TRANSACTION, or any portion of any TRANSACTION, to a third party or
parties provided that BANK shall not sell any TRANSACTION to any
business or entity whose primary business is conducting
or
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generating deferred deposit transactions.
Any sale, transfer or assignment by BANK of any such TRANSACTION
shall comply with applicable law.
(f)
BANK shall forward to ADVANCE
AMERICA, via facsimile, with a copy by first-class mail, within one
(1) business day of receipt any written notices it receives that
bankruptcy proceedings have been initiated with respect to any
CUSTOMER.
(g)
During the term of this Agreement,
BANK shall promptly provide to ADVANCE AMERICA or its agents the
data submission and reports necessary for ADVANCE AMERICA to
maintain effective internal controls and to monitor results under
this Agreement, including without limitation the performance of the
TRANSACTIONS and BANK’s obligations hereunder.
5.
ADVANCE AMERICA’s
SERVICES.
(a)
General Duties of ADVANCE
AMERICA; Standards of Performance : ADVANCE AMERICA shall perform all
services reasonably required to market and service the TRANSACTIONS
of BANK in the MARKET, including without limitation, the
establishment of retail outlets in number and location determined
by ADVANCE AMERICA in its sole discretion, where APPLICANTS may
submit APPLICATIONS and receive DISCLOSURES required by applicable
law and where CUSTOMERS may execute and deliver the TRANSACTION
DOCUMENTS and deliver REPAYMENT CHECKS or other payment on the
TRANSACTIONS for deposit by ADVANCE AMERICA to BANK DEPOSIT
ACCOUNT. In marketing the TRANSACTIONS and performing its
services hereunder, ADVANCE AMERICA shall at all times and in all
respects comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
ADVANCE AMERICA agrees to conduct such TRANSACTIONS in accordance
with Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference
and shall comply with BANK’S PROGRAM and protocols
contemplated hereby. Further, ADVANCE AMERICA shall use only
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS approved by BANK and shall follow BANK
POLICIES. ADVANCE AMERICA shall train and supervise its
employees to act in conformity with BANK POLICIES and the
requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(b)
Marketing of
TRANSACTIONS :
(i)
BANK hereby authorizes ADVANCE
AMERICA during the term of this Agreement to market TRANSACTIONS to
prospective CUSTOMERS on BANK’s behalf. BANK hereby
grants to ADVANCE AMERICA the right to use BANK INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTIES during the term of this Agreement in connection with
this Agreement on letters, print advertisements, the Internet,
television and radio communications and other advertising and
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS; provided, however , ADVANCE AMERICA
shall submit all PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS to BANK for its written
approval prior to any use thereof. If BANK fails to reject
any proposed PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS within five (5) business days of
receipt of the request for approval, such PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
shall be deemed approved by BANK. All rights to BANK
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES not expressly granted to ADVANCE AMERICA
herein are reserved by BANK. Regardless of whether they
incorporate BANK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, all advertising and
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS for the TRANSACTIONS (A) shall
prominently identify BANK as maker of the TRANSACTIONS,
(B) shall be accurate, (C) shall not be misleading, and
(D) shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
(ii)
In connection with ADVANCE
AMERICA’s performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, it is expressly agreed that (A) BANK shall not hold
any ownership or leasehold interest in any ADVANCE AMERICA store or
any personal property located therein, except for REPAYMENT CHECKS,
NOTES, TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, and cash reflecting TRANSACTION
repayments for the TRANSACTIONS, and (B) no BANK employees
shall work in any ADVANCE AMERICA store except for BANK agents who
may examine ADVANCE AMERICA stores from time to time, during
regular business hours, for compliance with BANK POLICIES and other
aspects of this Agreement.
(c)
Servicing of TRANSACTIONS and
APPLICATIONS :
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(i)
BANK also hereby authorizes ADVANCE
AMERICA to obtain APPLICATIONS for TRANSACTIONS from APPLICANTS,
using an APPLICATION approved by BANK. ADVANCE AMERICA shall
make APPLICATIONS available to prospective APPLICANTS and shall not
discourage any prospective APPLICANT from submitting an APPLICATION
and shall provide reasonable assistance to each prospective
APPLICANT in completing an APPLICATION. ADVANCE AMERICA shall
not discriminate against or discourage any APPLICANT in any aspect
of the application process on any “prohibited basis,”
as such term is defined in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA),
Regulation B and KRS Section 344.400.
(ii)
Based upon the information provided
by APPLICANTS to BANK in the APPLICATIONS and such other
credit-related information as obtained by ADVANCE AMERICA at the
direction of BANK, or by BANK directly, and pursuant to the
underwriting standards and criteria adopted by BANK in its sole
discretion, BANK shall be solely responsible for determining
whether to enter into a TRANSACTION with an APPLICANT. BANK
shall, either itself or through its designated agent, communicate
to ADVANCE AMERICA its decision on each APPLICATION. On
BANK’s behalf, ADVANCE AMERICA shall provide an ADVERSE
ACTION NOTICE to any APPLICANT whose APPLICATION is rejected by
BANK.
(iii)
The CUSTOMER’S obligations
under the TRANSACTION shall be evidenced by a NOTE containing the
DISCLOSURES and secured by a REPAYMENT CHECK.
(iv)
ADVANCE AMERICA shall (A) obtain
from the CUSTOMER the executed NOTE; (B) deliver an executed copy
of the NOTE to the CUSTOMER; (C) obtain from the CUSTOMER his
or her REPAYMENT CHECK, dated the due date of the NOTE and made
payable to BANK for the Total of Payments set forth in the NOTE and
held in trust separate and apart from ADVANCE AMERICA’s
records; and (D) shall not allow CUSTOMERS to engage in
ROLLOVERS or to renew a TRANSACTION made pursuant to this Agreement
except to the extent permitted by applicable law and BANK
POLICIES.
(d)
Collection of
TRANSACTIONS .
(i)
BANK hereby authorizes ADVANCE
AMERICA to service the TRANSACTIONS by, among other things,
(1) using its commercially reasonable efforts to collect
payments on the TRANSACTIONS at and after maturity thereof on
behalf of BANK (said collection efforts will include, but shall not
be limited to, the representment of checks via the Automated
Clearing House (ACH)); (2) accurately recording and reporting
payments of funds received from CUSTOMERS, which payments shall be
kept in a cash drawer, separate in all respects from any cash or
other assets of ADVANCE AMERICA; and (3) making prompt
remittance to and settlement with BANK by daily deposits of the
CUSTOMER funds in said cash drawer. In collecting payments
owed under the NOTES, ADVANCE AMERICA shall comply in all respects
with applicable law, rules and regulations. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, ADVANCE AMERICA shall not,
explicitly or implicitly, make any threats of criminal prosecution
in connection with debt collection, or otherwise engage in any
collection practices that violate any applicable law, rules and
regulations; including without limitation, but only where
applicable, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
(“FDCPA”); any debt collection regulations or consumer
protection laws applicable to BANK or ADVANCE AMERICA; and the Best
Practices of the Community Financial Services Association of
America (the “CFSA Best Practices”).
(ii)
ADVANCE AMERICA shall service the
TRANSACTIONS at all times in accordance with the terms of the NOTES
and the DISCLOSURES, the TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS and BANK
POLICIES. BANK shall notify ADVANCE AMERICA in writing at
least thirty (30) days prior to any change in BANK POLICIES, unless
such changes are required sooner by applicable law.
(iii)
On each day ADVANCE AMERICA operates
its stores for regular business, ADVANCE AMERICA shall deposit and
transfer to BANK DEPOSIT ACCOUNT (A) all cash received from
CUSTOMERS representing repayment of TRANSACTIONS and (B) all
REPAYMENT
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CHECKS held by ADVANCE AMERICA with respect to
TRANSACTIONS as to which repayment was not otherwise received on or
before the due date, subject to such delay in deposit, as ADVANCE
AMERICA may reasonably accommodate to secure repayment in cash from
the CUSTOMER. However, in no event shall ADVANCE AMERICA hold a
check more than ten (10) days past the due date.
(iv)
ADVANCE AMERICA shall be responsible
for any deficiency in the amount of cash reported and the actual
amount of cash received from CUSTOMERS in repayment of
TRANSACTIONS. Any deficiencies shall be refunded to BANK on a
quarterly basis.
(v)
Files and boxes containing
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS shall be clearly marked “Property of
Rupblic Bank and Trust Company. Do not Destory.”
(e)
Reports; Access to Stores, Books
and Records and Employees :
(i)
During the term of this Agreement,
ADVANCE AMERICA shall promptly provide to BANK or its agents the
data submissions and reports set forth on Exhibit B hereto in order
for BANK to maintain effective internal controls and to monitor
results under this Agreement, including without limitation the
performance of the TRANSACTIONS and ADVANCE AMERICA’s
obligations hereunder.
(ii)
ADVANCE AMERICA shall, as reasonably
required by BANK, but no more often than quarterly, provide BANK
with its most recent unaudited financial statements and its annual
audited financial statements.
(iii)
BANK agrees to allow ADVANCE
AMERICA, as its agent and bailee, without an ownership interest by
ADVANCE AMERICA, to maintain and retain possession of the
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS for the term of the Agreement and any
additional period required by applicable law. Except as
otherwise allowed by Section 9 of this Agreement, ADVANCE AMERICA
agrees to use such TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS solely to service the
TRANSACTIONS and to segregate all such TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, and
all document files and records which relate to the services
provided by ADVANCE AMERICA hereunder, from ADVANCE AMERICA’s
other files and records.
(iv)
The TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS shall be
held by ADVANCE AMERICA, pursuant to BANK’S record retention
requirements, as more particularly set forth in Exhibit B attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference in trust for BANK, and
BANK will have and shall continue to have constructive possession
and legal title to such documents, files and records. At such
time or times as BANK may reasonably request, and at BANK’s
cost, ADVANCE AMERICA shall promptly deliver copies of requested
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS to BANK at its headquarters or such other
location or locations as BANK shall direct. All such
documents shall be maintained segregated from other books and
records of ADVANCE AMERICA and otherwise in such a manner as to
facilitate their inspection by and delivery to BANK, if so
requested.
(v)
During the term of this Agreement
and at all times thereafter, BANK and banking agencies with
regulatory authority over BANK shall have reasonable access to
ADVANCE AMERICA stores, to the books and records of ADVANCE AMERICA
(to the extent that such books and records pertain to the
TRANSACTIONS), to the officers, employees and accountants of
ADVANCE AMERICA, and to copies of TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, all for
the purpose of ensuring that ADVANCE AMERICA is carrying out BANK
POLICIES and is otherwise complying fully with its obligations
under this Agreement. Such access shall include permission to
maintain employees on the premises of ADVANCE AMERICA in North
Carolina or such offices of ADVANCE AMERICA where any information
requested may be located during regular business hours to
audit ADVANCE AMERICA’s services contemplated by this
Agreement. BANK agrees to provide reasonable advance notice
of its intent to audit any ADVANCE AMERICA store.
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(vi)
In addition, and not as a limitation
of the foregoing, BANK shall have the right at ADVANCE
AMERICA’s expense, provided that the aggregate expense to
ADVANCE AMERICA shall not exceed $15,000 per year, from time to
time during the term of this Agreement, to conduct reasonable
outside audits in any given year and other reasonable audits and/or
compliance reviews of the services provided hereunder, and the
records generated thereunder; provided, that such audit and review
rights shall be conducted during normal business hours in a manner
which does not unreasonably interfere with ADVANCE AMERICA’s
normal business operations and CUSTOMER and employee
relations.
(f)
FEES and Costs
: In consideration for ADVANCE
AMERICA’s performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, BANK shall pay ADVANCE AMERICA the FEES, as such FEES
may be changed from time to time by mutual written agreement of the
Parties. Such FEES shall be paid by BANK to ADVANCE AMERICA, as
defined by, and containing the information required by
Exhibit A. ADVANCE AMERICA will be responsible for all
costs, expenses and taxes (of whatever nature or authority)
associated with its stores and its services under this Agreement,
including without limitation rental and occupancy costs; costs of
up-fit and leasehold improvements; equipment costs; processing
costs; printing costs; maintenance costs; staffing costs; taxes
assessed to or against ADVANCE AMERICA; signage costs; and
advertising costs. Other than the costs and expenses set
forth in this section, ADVANCE AMERICA shall not be responsible for
any other costs or expenses associated with TRANSACTIONS, provided,
however, that each of the Parties hereto shall be responsible for
their own corporate and other expenses resulting from negotiating
and executing this Agreement.
6.
Representations and
Warranties.
(a)
BANK hereby represents and warrants
to ADVANCE AMERICA as of the date hereof that:
(i)
BANK is a duly organized Kentucky
state-chartered bank validly existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, and is authorized to conduct its business
as described in this Agreement in the State of North
Carolina. The deposits of BANK are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation up to applicable limits. BANK
has the corporate power and authority and all requisite licenses,
permits and authorizations to execute and deliver this Agreement
and perform its obligations contemplated hereunder;
(ii)
BANK is authorized under applicable
law to enter into the TRANSACTIONS with CUSTOMERS in the MARKET in
accordance with terms set forth in KRS Chapter 368;
(iii)
This Agreement has been duly
authorized and will be ratified by BANK’s Board of Directors
at the next scheduled meeting of BANK’s Board of Directors
following execution hereof.
(iv)
This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by BANK and constitutes its legal, valid and
binding agreement, enforceable against BANK in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership,
conservatorship, and the rights and obligations of receivers and
conservators under 12 U.S.C. §§1821 (d) and (e), and any
other laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies
generally;
(v)
The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by BANK does not violate or conflict
with (A) any provision of the articles of incorporation or
other governance documents of BANK; or (B) any Kentucky or
federal law, or (C) any order, arbitration award, judgment or
decree to which BANK is a party or by which BANK or any of its
assets may be bound;
(vi)
BANK is authorized by applicable
laws to contract with a third party agent to provide the services
that ADVANCE AMERICA will provide under this Agreement;
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(vii)
BANK is authorized under applicable
laws to contract with a third party to provide loan processing
services not covered by this Agreement, and represents that
transmission by and between ADVANCE AMERICA and such third party of
information required for processing the TRANSACTIONS does not
violate any applicable state laws or federal law;
(viii)
During the term of this Agreement,
but only to the extent permissible under applicable laws,
regulations and regulatory practices, ADVANCE AMERICA and its
auditors shall have complete access to BANK’S accounting
records relating to TRANSACTIONS made in the MARKET. Subject to the
foregoing limitations, ADVANCE AMERICA will also have access to the
officers, employees and accountants of BANK for the same purposes
as set forth above to discuss such records and TRANSACTIONS during
normal business hours and with reasonable notice;
(ix)
There are no undisclosed regulatory
actions, investigations, or lawsuits against BANK or its
affiliates, relating to or potentially impacting upon the marketing
and servicing of TRANSACTIONS or the performance of BANK’s
obligations under this Agreement;
(x)
To the best of its knowledge, BANK
represents that any and all written information and financial
statements provided to ADVANCE AMERICA in contemplation of this
Agreement did not contain any material omissions of fact and were
materially correct;
(xi)
BANK is a current member of and in
good standing with the Community Financial Services Association of
America (the “CFSA”); and
(xii)
BANK shall use its reasonable best
efforts to comply in all material respects with the CFSA Best
Practices in effect on the date of this Agreement, and any
reasonable Best Practices, or modifications to such practices
approved and adopted by the CFSA during the term of this Agreement;
provided the practices comply in all respects with all applicable
law, and the interpretation of such law by authorities with
jurisdiction.
(xiii)
BANK will provide to ADVANCE AMERICA
any information system examinations performed and submit to ADVANCE
AMERICA BANK’s disaster recovery plan at least
annually.
(b)
ADVANCE AMERICA hereby represents
and warrants to BANK, as of the date hereof that:
(i)
AA is a duly organized and validly
existing corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, and
is duly qualified to do business as contemplated under this
Agreement and has all requisite licenses, permits and
authorizations under applicable state and federal law to execute
and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations contemplated
hereunder;
(ii)
AA has the corporate power and
authority, and all requisite licenses, permits and authorizations,
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
hereunder. This Agreement has been duly authorized by
AA’s Board of Directors, has been executed and delivered by
AA and constitutes its legal, valid and binding agreement,
enforceable against AA in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally;
(vi)
The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by AA does not violate or conflict
with (A) any provision of the governance documents of AA; or
(B) any applicable state or federal law; or (C) any order,
arbitration award, judgment or decree to which AA is a party or by
which AA or any of its assets may be bound;
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(vii)
AA will operate its stores in North
Carolina in accordance with this Agreement and will follow its
normal operating procedures in operating these stores including
providing adequate security measures, hiring appropriate employees,
and being open for business during normal business operating
hours;
(viii)
There are no undisclosed regulatory
actions, investigations, or lawsuits against AA or its affiliates
relating to the marketing and servicing of the TRANSACTIONS in the
MARKET;
(vi)
To the best of its knowledge, AA
represents that any and all written financial statements provided
to BANK in contemplation of this Agreement did not contain any
material omissions of fact and were materially correct;
(vii)
AA is a current member of and in
good standing with the CFSA; and
(viii)
AA shall use its reasonable best
efforts to comply in all material respects with the CFSA Best
Practices in effect on the date of this Agreement, and any
reasonable Best Practices, or modifications to such practices
approved and adopted by the CFSA during the term of this Agreement;
provided the practices comply in all respects with all applicable
law, and the interpretation of such law by authorities with
jurisdiction.
(ix)
NCA is a duly organized and validly
existing limited liability company under the laws of the State of
Tennessee, and is duly qualified to do business as contemplated
under this Agreement and has all requisite licenses, permits and
authorizations under applicable state and federal law to execute
and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations contemplated
hereunder;
(x)
NCA has the power and authority, and
all requisite licenses, permits and authorizations, to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to perform hereunder. This
Agreement has been duly authorized by NCA’s Board of
Directors, has been executed and delivered by NCA and constitutes
its legal, valid and binding agreement, enforceable against NCA in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting
creditors’ rights and remedies generally;
(xi)
The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by NCA does not violate or conflict
with (A) any provision of the governance documents of NCA; or
(B) any applicable state or federal law; or (C) any order,
arbitration award, judgment or decree to which NCA is a party or by
which NCA or any of its assets may be bound;
(xii)
NCA will operate its stores in North
Carolina in accordance with this Agreement and will follow its
normal operating procedures in operating these stores including
providing adequate security measures, hiring appropriate employees,
and being open for business during normal business operating
hours;
(xiii)
There are no undisclosed regulatory
actions, investigations, or lawsuits against NCA or its affiliates
relating to the marketing and servicing of the TRANSACTIONS in the
MARKET;
(xiv)
To the best of its knowledge, NCA
represents that any and all written financial statements provided
to BANK in contemplation of this Agreement did not contain any
material omissions of fact and were materially correct;
(xv)
NCA is a current member of and in
good standing with the CFSA; and
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(xvi) NCA shall use its reasonable
best efforts to comply in all material respects with the CFSA Best
Practices in effect on the date of this Agreement, and any
reasonable Best Practices, or modifications to such practices
approved and adopted by the CFSA during the term of this Agreement;
provided the practices comply in all respects with all applicable
law, and the interpretation of such law by authorities with
jurisdiction.
(xvii) On a quarterly basis
ADVANCE AMERICA will disclose all contingencies relating to
off-balance sheet guarantee arrangements and other significant
events that may affect ADVANCE AMERICA’s ability