Title 12 — Banks and BankingRelease 119-73not60
§1977 Limitation of Actions; Suspension of Limitations
Title 12 › Chapter 22— TYING ARRANGEMENTS › § 1977
Summary
Private lawsuits under this chapter must be started within four years after the claim first arises, or they are forever barred. If the United States starts an enforcement case about something that could lead to a private lawsuit, the four-year time limit for any related private lawsuit is paused while the government case is ongoing and for one year after it ends. If the time is paused, a private suit must be filed either during that pause or within the original four-year period, or it will be forever barred.
Full Legal Text
Title 12, §1977
Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(1)Subject to paragraph (2), any action to enforce any cause of action under this chapter shall be forever barred unless commenced within four years after the cause of action accrued.
(2)Whenever any enforcement action is instituted by or on behalf of the United States with respect to any matter which is or could be the subject of a private right of action under this chapter, the running of the statute of limitations in respect of every private right of action arising under this chapter and based in whole or in part on such matter shall be suspended during the pendency of the enforcement action so instituted and for one year thereafter: Provided, That whenever the running of the statute of limitations in respect of a cause of action arising under this chapter is suspended under this paragraph, any action to enforce such cause of action shall be forever barred unless commenced either within the period of suspension or within the four-year period referred to in paragraph (1).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 1977
Title 12 — Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60