Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XVI— - CIVIL LIABILITY OF FEDERAL RESERVE AND MEMBER BANKS, SHAREHOLDERS, AND OFFICERS › § 504
Regulators can fine a member bank or a person connected to that bank if they break certain banking rules. The basic fine is up to $5,000 for each day the break continues. If the wrong is part of a pattern, is reckless, or breaks a duty and it causes more than a small loss or gives the wrongdoer a benefit, bigger fines can apply. If someone knowingly or recklessly causes a substantial loss or gain, the fine per day can be as high as $1,000,000 for people who are not member banks. For a member bank, the daily maximum is the lesser of $1,000,000 or 1 percent of the bank’s total assets. The Comptroller of the Currency issues fines for national banks. The Board of Governors issues fines for state member banks. A bank or person can ask for an agency hearing within 20 days after getting the notice. All fines go into the U.S. Treasury. "Violate" also means helping, advising, or taking part in a violation. The Comptroller and the Board must make rules to carry out these penalties. Regulators can still start action up to 6 years after a person stops being connected to the bank, if they serve the notice before that period ends (whether that date is before, on, or after August 9, 1989). Institution-affiliated party: see section 1813(u) for who that includes.
Full Legal Text
Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 504
Title 12 — Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73