Title 12 › CHAPTER 35 — RIGHT TO FINANCIAL PRIVACY › § 3401
Defines key words used in this chapter. "Financial institution" means banks and similar lenders and credit providers (for example, banks, savings banks, card issuers, industrial loan companies, trust companies, savings associations, building-and-loan or homestead associations including cooperative banks, credit unions, and consumer finance firms) located in any State or U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, except as provided in section 3414. "Financial record" means any original, copy, or information a financial institution has about a customer's dealings with it. "Government authority" means any U.S. agency, department, officer, employee, or agent. "Person" means an individual or a partnership of five or fewer individuals. "Customer" means a person (or their authorized representative) who used or uses a financial institution’s services, or for whom the institution has acted as a fiduciary, for an account in that person’s name. "Holding company" includes bank holding companies and companies described in section 1843(f)(1). "Supervisory agency" means any federal or state agency that can examine a financial firm, including the FDIC, CFPB, NCUA, Federal Reserve Board, Comptroller of the Currency, SEC, CFTC, the Secretary of the Treasury for Bank Secrecy Act matters, or a state banking or securities agency. "Law enforcement inquiry" means a lawful investigation or official proceeding looking into possible violations of criminal or civil laws, rules, or orders.
Full Legal Text
Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 3401
Title 12, Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110