Background. Chapter 546 of the Laws of 1994 altered the licensing criteria applicable to check cashers by substantially amending section 369 of the Banking Law to require, among other things, that the superintendent determine whether there is a community need for a new licensee in the proposed area to be served and to prohibit entirely the granting of a license at a location which is less than three-tenths of a mile from an existing licensee. In so acting, the Legislature adopted a specific statutory finding of legislative intent, to wit, “The legislature hereby finds and declares that check cashers provide important and vital services to New York citizens; that the business of check cashers shall be supervised and regulated through the department in such a manner as to maintain consumer confidence in such business and protect the public interest; that the licensing of check cashers shall be determined in accordance with the needs of the communities they are to serve; and that it is in the public interest to promote the stability of the check cashing business for the purpose of meeting the needs of the communities that are served by check cashers.” However, the legislation left unamended Banking Law, section 370 which permits a licensee to apply to the superintendent for leave to change its place of business to any other location and which does not make explicit the standards to be applied by the superintendent in granting permission to relocate. A licensee must obtain a new license to conduct business at another location. In order to promote and maintain the stability of the check cashing business while accommodating the reasonable needs of current licensees to relocate, the following standards shall be applied by the superintendent in determining whether to approve applications for relocation to any site which is within three-tenths of a mile of another licensed location: