Public Law 119-88 (05/04/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 212

Offer of loan or gratuity to financial institution examiner

(a)

In General .—

Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever, being an officer, director, or employee of a financial institution, makes or grants any loan or gratuity, to any examiner or assistant examiner who examines or has authority to examine such bank, branch, agency, organization, corporation, association, or institution—
(1)
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; and
(2)
may be fined a further sum equal to the money so loaned or gratuity given.
(b)

Regulations .—

A Federal financial institution regulatory agency may prescribe regulations establishing additional limitations on the application for and receipt of credit under this section and on the application and receipt of residential mortgage loans under this section, after consulting with each other Federal financial institution regulatory agency.
(c)

Definitions .—

In this section:
(1)

Examiner .—

The term “examiner” means any person—
(A)
appointed by a Federal financial institution regulatory agency or pursuant to the laws of any State to examine a financial institution; or
(B)
elected under the law of any State to conduct examinations of any financial institutions.
(2)

Federal financial institution regulatory agency .—

The term “Federal financial institution regulatory agency” means—
(A)
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
(B)
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
(C)
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
(D)
the Federal Housing Finance Agency;
(E)
the Farm Credit Administration;
(F)
the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation; and
(G)
the Small Business Administration.
(3)

Financial institution .—

The term “financial institution” does not include a credit union, a Federal Reserve Bank, a Federal home loan bank, or a depository institution holding company.
(4)

Loan .—

The term “loan” does not include any credit card account established under an open end consumer credit plan or a loan secured by residential real property that is the principal residence of the examiner, if—
(A)
the applicant satisfies any financial requirements for the credit card account or residential real property loan that are generally applicable to all applicants for the same type of credit card account or residential real property loan;
(B)
1
1 So in original.
the terms and conditions applicable with respect to such account or residential real property loan, and any credit extended to the examiner under such account or residential real property loan, are no more favorable generally to the examiner than the terms and conditions that are generally applicable to credit card accounts or residential real property loans offered by the same financial institution to other borrowers cardholders  in comparable circumstances under open end consumer credit plans or for residential real property loans; and
(C)
with respect to residential real property loans, the loan is with respect to the primary residence of the applicant.

Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a)117 Stat. 2899 Pub. L. 110–289, div. A, title II, § 1216(c)122 Stat. 2792 Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 377(1)124 Stat. 1569 (Added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

June 25, 1948, ch. 645 62 Stat. 694 Pub. L. 85–699, title VII, § 701(a)72 Stat. 698 Pub. L. 86–168, title I, § 104(h)73 Stat. 387 Pub. L. 87–849, § 1(d)76 Stat. 1125 Pub. L. 101–73, title IX, § 962(a)(1)103 Stat. 501 Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, § 2597(b)104 Stat. 4908 Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII108 Stat. 2141 Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a)117 Stat. 2899 A prior section 212, acts , , § 212, formerly § 217; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 212, , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 330004(1), 330010(1), 330016(1)(K), , , 2143, 2147, related to offer of loan or gratuity to bank examiner, prior to repeal by , , .

act June 25, 1948, ch. 645 62 Stat. 693 Pub. L. 87–849Another prior section 212, , , related to an offer or threat to a customs officer or employee, prior to the general amendment to this chapter by and is substantially covered by revised section 201.

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–2032010—Subsec. (c)(2)(C) to (H). redesignated subpars. (D) to (H) as (C) to (G), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the Office of Thrift Supervision;”.

Pub. L. 110–2892008—Subsec. (c)(2)(E). substituted “Federal Housing Finance Agency” for “Federal Housing Finance Board”.

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.