2021 US Code
Title 12 - Banks and Banking
Chapter 21 - Financial Recordkeeping
Sec. 1960 - Safe harbor with respect to keep open directives

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Citation 12 U.S.C. § 1960 (2021)
Section Name §1960. Safe harbor with respect to keep open directives
Section Text (a) Definition

In this section, the term "financial institution" means an entity to which section 1953(b) of this title applies.

(b) Safe harbor

With respect to a customer account or customer transaction of a financial institution, if a Federal law enforcement agency, after notifying FinCEN of the intent to submit a written request to the financial institution that the financial institution keep that account or transaction open (referred to in this section as a "keep open request"), or if a State, Tribal, or local law enforcement agency with the concurrence of FinCEN submits a keep open request—

(1) the financial institution shall not be liable under this chapter for maintaining that account or transaction consistent with the parameters and timing of the request; and

(2) no Federal or State department or agency may take any adverse supervisory action under this chapter with respect to the financial institution solely for maintaining that account or transaction consistent with the parameters of the request.

(c) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section may be construed—

(1) to prevent a Federal or State department or agency from verifying the validity of a keep open request submitted under subsection (b) with the law enforcement agency submitting that request;

(2) to relieve a financial institution from complying with any reporting requirements, including the reporting of suspicious transactions under section 5318(g) of title 31; or

(3) to extend the safe harbor described in subsection (b) to any actions taken by the financial institution—

(A) before the date of the keep open request to maintain a customer account; or

(B) after the termination date stated in the keep open request.

(d) Letter termination date

For the purposes of this section, any keep open request submitted under subsection (b) shall include a termination date after which that request shall no longer apply.

(e) Record keeping

Any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law enforcement agency that submits to a financial institution a keep open request shall, not later than 2 business days after the date on which the request is submitted to the financial institution—

(1) submit to FinCEN a copy of the request; and

(2) alert FinCEN as to whether the financial institution has implemented the request.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 91–508, title I, §130, as added Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXIII, §6306(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4588.)

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 12 - BANKS AND BANKING
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 12 - BANKS AND BANKING
CHAPTER 21 - FINANCIAL RECORDKEEPING
Sec. 1960 - Safe harbor with respect to keep open directives
Contains section 1960
Date 2021
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 3, 2022
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 134 Stat. 4588
Public Law References Public Law 91-508, Public Law 116-283
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