Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§1344 Bank Fraud

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 63 — MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES › § 1344

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone knowingly tricks a bank into giving money or property by lying or making false promises, it is a crime. Penalty: fine up to $1,000,000, prison up to 30 years, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1344

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice—
(1)to defraud a financial institution; or
(2)to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody or control of, a financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises;
shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–647 substituted “30” for “20” before “years”. 1989—Pub. L. 101–73 amended section generally, restating former subsec. (a) and striking out former subsec. (b) which defined “federally chartered or insured financial institution”. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice— “(1) to defraud a federally chartered or insured financial institution; or “(2) to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities or other property owned by or under the custody or control of a federally chartered or insured financial institution by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1344

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110