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§31C-4-1. Membership defined.
(a) The membership of a credit union shall consist of those persons who share a common bond set forth in the bylaws, have been duly admitted members, have paid any required one-time or periodic membership fee, or both, have subscribed to one or more shares and have complied with such other requirements as the articles of incorporation and bylaws specify.

(b) Credit union membership shall be limited to, persons within one or more groups having a common bond or bonds of similar occupation, employer, association or interest, and members of the immediate family of such persons.

§31C-4-2. Organizations.
(a) Organizations comprised primarily of individuals who are eligible for membership in the credit union, and corporations whose total number of stockholders or whose majority stockholders are comprised primarily of such individuals, may be admitted to membership in the same manner and under the same conditions as individuals. Likewise, organizations one of whose principal functions is to provide services to persons who are eligible for membership in the credit union may be admitted to membership. Other organizations having a commonality of interest with the credit union may be admitted to membership with the approval of the commissioner.

(b) Any corporate credit union organized under this chapter may accept as a member any other credit union organized under this or any other act.

§31C-4-3. Membership applications.

The board of directors of the credit union shall act upon applications for membership or appoint one or more membership officers to approve applications for membership under such conditions as the board prescribes. A record of the actions taken by a membership officer shall be made available in writing to the board of directors for inspection. A person denied membership by a membership officer may appeal the denial to the credit union's board of directors.

§31C-4-4. Members who cease to be eligible.
Members who cease to be eligible for membership may be permitted to retain their membership in the credit union, under reasonable standards established by the credit union's board of directors.

§31C-4-5. Liability and expulsion of members.
(a) The members of the credit union shall not be personally or individually liable for the payment of its debts solely by virtue of holding membership.

(b) Any member may be expelled by a two-thirds vote of its members present at any regular meeting or a special meeting called to consider the matter, but only after an opportunity has been given the member to be heard.

(c) The credit union's board of directors may expel a member pursuant to a written policy adopted by it. All members shall be given written notice of the terms of any such policy upon becoming a member. Any person expelled by the credit union's board of directors shall have the right to request a hearing before it to reconsider the expulsion.

§31C-4-6. Meetings of members.
(a) The annual meeting and any special meetings of the members of the credit union shall be held in accordance with the bylaws.

(b) At all such meetings a member shall have but one vote, irrespective of the member's shareholdings. No member may vote by proxy, but a member may vote by absentee ballot, mail or other method if the bylaws of the credit union so provide.

(c) The credit union's board of directors may establish a minimum age, not greater than eighteen years of age, as a qualification of eligibility to vote at meetings of the members or to hold office, or both.

(d) An organization having membership in the credit union, may be represented and have its vote cast by one of its members or shareholders, provided such person has been so authorized by the organization's governing body.

§31C-4-7. Calling of special meeting.
(a) The supervisory committee by a majority vote may call a special meeting of the members to consider any violation of this chapter, the credit union's articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any practice of the credit union deemed by the supervisory committee to be unsafe or unauthorized; and may call a special meeting to consider the suspension or removal of any officer or director of the credit union as provided for in this chapter.

(b) The bylaws may also prescribe the manner in which a special meeting of the members may be called by the members or by the credit union's board of directors or both.

(c) The commissioner may also require the directors of a credit union to call a special meeting of the members pursuant to his or her authority under section nine, article two, chapter thirty-one-a of this code.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session