Cal. Fin. Code § 5860

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, but subject to prior approval of the commissioner, any mutual association may reorganize so as to become a mutual holding company by causing a reorganized savings and loan association to be incorporated and organized as a stock association under this chapter, transferring to the reorganized stock association a substantial part of the assets of that mutual association and causing the reorganized stock association to assume all or a substantial part of the liabilities of the mutual association, including all of its savings account liabilities.