Based on
section 581 and
592 of title 12, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Banks and Banking (R.S. §§ 5187, 5209; Sept. 26, 1918, ch. 177, § 7, 40 Stat. 972; Aug. 23, 1935, ch. 614, § 316, 49 Stat. 712). This section consolidates
section 581 and part of
section 592 of title 12, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Banks and Banking. The punishment provision was drawn from said
section 592 as being the latest expression of congressional intent, in preference to the provision of said
section 581 which authorized a fine “not more than double the amount so countersigned and delivered and imprisonment not more than 15 years”. The words “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor” were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of misdemeanor in
section 1 of this title. Likewise the words “upon conviction in any district court of the United States” were omitted as unnecessary since punishment can follow only after conviction. (See reviser’s note under
section 656 of this title for statement of reasons for dividing said
section 592 into three revised sections, with consequent changes in phraseology, style, and arrangement.)
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.