32-1-535. Claims -- partial payments -- assignments. (1) The department need not await the expiration of the time allowed for filing claims, as fixed in the notice to the creditors, for the payment of dividends. The department may, if under the circumstances of the particular case it considers it expedient and safe, at any time after taking possession of the bank and prior to the expiration of the period fixed for filing of claims and if it has on hand in cash sufficient funds in excess of the expenses of liquidation, make pro rata distribution to any class of creditors entitled to distribution in the order of priority fixed in this chapter. The department shall make a payment to the creditors as they appear on the books and records of the bank and after determining the priority and basing its apportionment on the amount shown to be due by the books and records.

(2) At any time after the expiration of the date fixed for the presentation of claims against the bank and from time to time after that date when, in its discretion, there are sufficient funds available, the department shall, after making proper provisions for the payment of expenses of liquidation, declare and pay dividends to all creditors of the bank pro rata in the order of their priority. If, after the time fixed for presentation of claims against the bank has expired, it appears that a person, prior to the expiration of the period or at any other time, has been paid more than the pro rata amount due the person as compared with the amounts paid to other creditors, nothing more may be paid to that creditor until the payment made to other creditors places them on equal footing.

(3) In calculating dividends, all disputed claims and deposits must be taken into account and the amount of dividends upon the disputed claims or deposits must be held by the department until the validity of those claims or deposits has been finally determined.

(4) Claims against a bank in process of liquidation may be assigned in whole or in part subject to the approval of the department. Assignments of claims are binding upon the department only after they have been filed and allowed by the department and are subject to the payment of the assignor's liabilities to the bank. An assignment must be made by filing written notice, signed by the original claimant, with the department or person in charge of the bank. Assigned claims may not be offset against obligations due the bank. A check or draft drawn against a bank closed or taken possession of by the department, whether issued before or after closing, may not be recognized as a claim against the bank or as an assignment of any amount, whether protested or not protested.