EXPENSES.

(a) The banking commissioner shall determine and approve the reasonable expenses attributable to the service of a supervisor or conservator, including costs incurred by the department and the compensation and expenses of the supervisor or conservator and any professional employees appointed to represent or assist the supervisor or conservator. The banking commissioner or an employee of the department may not receive compensation in addition to salary for serving as supervisor or conservator, but the department may receive reimbursement for the fully allocated personnel cost associated with service of the banking commissioner or an employee of the department as supervisor or conservator.

(b) All approved expenses shall be paid by the bank as the banking commissioner determines. The banking commissioner has a lien against the assets and money of the bank to secure payment of approved expenses. The lien has a higher priority than any other lien against the bank.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the bank may employ an attorney and other persons the bank selects to assist the bank in contesting or satisfying the requirements of an order of supervision or conservatorship. The banking commissioner shall authorize the payment of reasonable fees and expenses from the bank for the attorney and other persons as expenses of the supervision or conservatorship.

(d) The banking commissioner may defer collection of assessment and examination fees by the department from the bank during a period of supervision or conservatorship if deferral would appear to aid prospects for rehabilitation. As a condition of release from supervision or conservatorship, the banking commissioner may require the rehabilitated bank to pay or develop a reasonable plan for payment of deferred fees.