Skip to content

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Part I · Chapter 11 — Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest

§ 212. Offer of loan or gratuity to financial institution examiner

Statutory text

(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)

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 1 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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Preserving Independence of Financial Institution Examinations Act of 2003

    Pub. L. 108–198 § 2(a) · 117 Stat. 2899

    Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 212

    Added Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a), Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2899

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a), Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2899

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) In General.— Title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking sections 212 and 213 and inserting the following: “§ 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 Office of Thrift Supervision; “(D) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; “(E) the Federal Housing Finance Board; “(F) the Farm Credit Administration; “(G) the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation; and “(H) 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) 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. “§ 213.  Acceptance of loan or gratuity by financial institution examiner “(a) In General.— Whoever, being an examiner or assistant examiner, accepts a loan or gratuity from any bank, branch, agency, organization, corporation, association, or institution examined by the examiner or from any person connected with it, shall— “(1) be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; “(2) may be fined a further sum equal to the money so loaned or gratuity given; and “(3) shall be disqualified from holding office as an examiner. “(b) Definitions.— In this section, the terms ‘examiner’, ‘Federal financial institution regulatory agency’, ‘financial institution’, and ‘loan’ have the same meanings as in section 212.” .

  2. Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008

    Pub. L. 110–289 div. A title II § 1216(c) · 122 Stat. 2654

    Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 212(c)(2)(E)

    Pub. L. 110–289 substituted “Federal Housing Finance Agency” for “Federal Housing Finance Board”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Pub. L. 110–289 substituted “Federal Housing Finance Agency” for “Federal Housing Finance Board”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (c) Title 18, United States Code.— Title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “Federal Housing Finance Board” each place such term appears in each of sections 212, 657, 1006, and 1014, and inserting “Federal Housing Finance Agency”.

  3. Enhancing Financial Institution Safety and Soundness Act of 2010

    Pub. L. 111–203 title III § 377(1) · 124 Stat. 1376

    1. Redesignated · 18 U.S.C. § 212(c)(2)(C)(H)

      Pub. L. 111–203 redesignated subpars. (D) to (H) as (C) to (G), respectively

    2. Struck · 18 U.S.C. § 212(c)(2)(C)(H)

      Pub. L. 111–203 struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the Office of Thrift Supervision;”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(2)(C) to (H). Pub. L. 111–203 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;”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) in section 212(c)(2)— (A) by striking subparagraph (C); and (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively;

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

4 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 212, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 694, § 212, formerly § 217; Pub. L. 85–699, title VII, § 701(a), , 72 Stat. 698; Pub. L. 86–168, title I, § 104(h), , 73 Stat. 387; renumbered § 212, 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 XXXIII, §§ 330004(1), 330010(1), 330016(1)(K), , 108 Stat. 2141, 2143, 2147, related to offer of loan or gratuity to bank examiner, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a), , 117 Stat. 2899.

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

Amendments2008–2010 · 2 rounds

2010

Subsec. (c)(2)(C) to (H). Pub. L. 111–203 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;”.

2008

Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Pub. L. 110–289 substituted “Federal Housing Finance Agency” for “Federal Housing Finance Board”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

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

Credits

2003–2010 · 3 acts
  1. 2003Added Pub. L. 108–198, § 2(a), , 117 Stat. 2899
  2. 2008amended Pub. L. 110–289, div. A, title II, § 1216(c), , 122 Stat. 2792
  3. 2010Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 377(1), , 124 Stat. 1569.
Show as published

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

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc18.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-05-04

USLM identifier /us/usc/t18/s212