US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

12 U.S.C. § 1834

Reduced assessment rate for deposits attributable to lifeline accounts

(a)

Qualification of lifeline accounts

(1)

In general

section 1817(b)(2)(E) of this titleThe Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall establish minimum requirements for accounts providing basic transaction services for consumers at insured depository institutions in order for such accounts to qualify as lifeline accounts for purposes of this section and .

(2)

Factors to be considered

In determining the minimum requirements under paragraph (1) for lifeline accounts at insured depository institutions, the Corporation shall consider the following factors:
(A)
Whether the account is available to provide basic transaction services for individuals who maintain a balance of less than $1,000 or such other amount which the Comptroller may determine to be appropriate.
(B)
Whether any service charges or fees to which the account is subject, if any, for routine transactions do not exceed a minimal amount.
(C)
Whether any minimum balance or minimum opening requirement to which the account is subject, if any, is not more than a minimal amount.
(D)
Whether checks, negotiable orders of withdrawal, or similar instruments for making payments or other transfers to third parties may be drawn on the account.
(E)
Whether the depositor is permitted to make more than a minimal number of withdrawals from the account each month by any means described in subparagraph (D) or any other means.
(F)
Whether a monthly statement itemizing all transactions for the monthly reporting period is made available to the depositor with respect to such account or a passbook is provided in which all transactions with respect to such account are recorded.
(G)
Whether depositors are permitted access to tellers at the institution for conducting transactions with respect to such account.
(H)
Whether other account relationships with the institution are required in order to open any such account.
(I)
Whether individuals are required to meet any prerequisite which discriminates against low-income individuals in order to open such account.
(J)
Such other factors as the Corporation may determine to be appropriate.
(3)

Definitions

For purposes of this subsection—
(A)

Comptroller

The term “Comptroller” means the Comptroller of the Currency.

(B)

Corporation

The term “Corporation” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(C)

Insured depository institution

section 1813(c)(2) of this titleThe term “insured depository institution” has the meaning given to such term in .

(D)

Lifeline account

section 461(b)(1)(C) of this titleThe term “lifeline account” means any transaction account (as defined in ) which meets the minimum requirements established by the Corporation under this subsection.

(b)

Omitted

(c)

Availability of funds

The provisions of this section shall not take effect until appropriations are specifically provided in advance. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

Pub. L. 102–242, title II, § 232105 Stat. 2308Pub. L. 102–550, title XVI106 Stat. 4083Pub. L. 102–558, title III106 Stat. 4224–4226Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2704(d)(16)110 Stat. 3009–495Pub. L. 109–171, title II, § 2102(b)120 Stat. 9Pub. L. 109–173, § 3(a)(9)119 Stat. 3606Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 353124 Stat. 1546(, , ; , §§ 1604(b)(1), 1605(a)(3), , , 4085; , §§ 303(b)(1), (4), 305, , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Bank Enterprise Act of 1991, and also as part of the Foreign Bank Supervision Enhancement Act of 1991 and as part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, and not as part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act which comprises this chapter.

section 232 of Pub. L. 102–242section 232 of Pub. L. 102–242section 1817 of this titleSection is comprised of . Subsec. (b) of amended .

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–203, § 353(1)2010—Subsec. (a). , struck out “by Federal Reserve Board” at end of heading.

Pub. L. 111–203, § 353(2)Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “The Comptroller of the Currency” for “The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,” and “section 1817(b)(2)(E)” for “section 1817(b)(2)(H)”.

Pub. L. 111–203, § 353(3)Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , substituted “Comptroller” for “Board”.

Pub. L. 111–203, § 353(4)Subsec. (a)(3). , added subpar. (A) and redesignated former subpars. (A) to (C) as (B) to (D), respectively.

Pub. L. 109–171Pub. L. 104–208, § 2704(d)(16)2006—Subsec. (a)(1). repealed . See 1996 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 109–173, § 3(a)(9)(A)Subsec. (a)(2). , struck out “the Board and” before “the Corporation” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 109–173, § 3(a)(9)(B)Subsec. (a)(2)(J). , substituted “the Corporation” for “the Board”.

Pub. L. 109–173, § 3(a)(9)(C)Subsec. (a)(3)(A). , added subpar. (A) and struck out heading and text of former subpar. (A). Text read as follows: “The term ‘Board’ means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.”

Pub. L. 109–173, § 3(a)(9)(D)Subsec. (a)(3)(C). , substituted “Corporation” for “Board”.

Pub. L. 104–208, § 2704(d)(16)section 1817(b)(2)(G) of this titlesection 1817(b)(2)(H) of this titlePub. L. 109–1711996—Subsec. (a)(1). , which directed substitution of “” for “”, was repealed by . See Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 102–558, § 303(b)(4)Pub. L. 102–550, § 1605(a)(3)Pub. L. 102–558, § 305section 1815 of this title1992—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “section 1817(b)(2)(H)” for “section 1817(b)(10)”. , which made an identical amendment, was repealed, effective , by , set out as a Repeal of Duplicative Provisions note under .

Pub. L. 102–558, § 303(b)(1)Pub. L. 102–550, § 1604(b)(1)Pub. L. 102–558, § 305section 1815 of this titleSubsec. (b). , made technical correction to directory language of subsec. (b)(1). See Codification note above. , which made a similar amendment, was repealed, effective , by , set out as a Repeal of Duplicative Provisions note under .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–203section 351 of Pub. L. 111–203section 906 of Title 2Amendment by effective on the transfer date, see , set out as a note under , The Congress.

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–173section 3(b) of Pub. L. 109–173section 1817 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 109–171section 2102(c) of Pub. L. 109–171section 1821 of this titleAmendment by effective no later than the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the end of the 90-day period beginning , see , set out as a Merger of BIF and SAIF note under .

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–208section 2704(c) of Pub. L. 104–208section 1821 of this titleAmendment by effective , if no insured depository institution is a savings association on that date, see , formerly set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1992 Amendments

Pub. L. 102–558, title III, § 303(b)(4)106 Stat. 4225section 302(a) of Pub. L. 102–242section 302(g) of Pub. L. 102–242section 1817 of this title, , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective on the effective date of the amendment made by [see , set out as a note under ].

Pub. L. 102–550, title XVI, § 1605(a)(3)106 Stat. 4085section 305 of Pub. L. 102–558section 1815 of this title, , , which provided effective date provisions for the amendment made by that section, was repealed, effective , by , set out as a Repeal of Duplicative Provisions note under .