---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 1831k"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "1831k"
heading: "Reward for information leading to recoveries or civil penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/1831k"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation"
---

# §1831k. Reward for information leading to recoveries or civil penalties

- (a) **In general—** An [appropriate Federal banking agency](/usc/12/1813.md?p=q), with the concurrence of the Attorney General, may pay a reward to a [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) who provides original information which leads to—
  - (1) recovery of a criminal fine, restitution, or civil penalty—
    - (A) under—
      - (i) this chapter;
      - (ii) the Federal [Credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) Union Act [[12 U.S.C. 1751](/usc/12/1751.md) et seq.];
      - (iii) section [93(b)](/usc/12/93.md?p=b), [164](/usc/12/164.md), or [481](/usc/12/481.md) to [485](/usc/12/485.md) of this title;
      - (iv) the Federal Reserve Act [[12 U.S.C. 221](/usc/12/221.md) et seq.];
      - (v) the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970;
      - (vi) the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 [[12 U.S.C. 1841](/usc/12/1841.md) et seq.];
      - (vii) the Home Owners’ Loan Act [[12 U.S.C. 1461](/usc/12/1461.md) et seq.]; or
      - (viii) [section 3663 of title 18](/usc/18/3663.md) pursuant to a conviction for an offense referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph,
    - (B) pursuant to a conviction for an offense under section [215](/usc/18/215.md), [656](/usc/18/656.md), [657](/usc/18/657.md), [1005](/usc/18/1005.md), [1006](/usc/18/1006.md), [1007](/usc/18/1007.md), [1014](/usc/18/1014.md), [1341](/usc/18/1341.md), [1343](/usc/18/1343.md), or [1344](/usc/18/1344.md) of title 18 affecting a [depository institution](/usc/12/1813.md?p=c-1) insured by the Federal [Deposit](/usc/12/1813.md?p=l) Insurance Corporation, or for a conspiracy to commit such an offense; or
    - (C) under [section 1833a of this title](/usc/12/1833a.md); or
  - (2) a forfeiture under section [981](/usc/18/981.md) or [982](/usc/18/982.md) of title 18 that arises in connection with a [depository institution](/usc/12/1813.md?p=c-1) insured by the Federal [Deposit](/usc/12/1813.md?p=l) Insurance Corporation.
- (b) **Percentage limitation—** An [appropriate Federal banking agency](/usc/12/1813.md?p=q) may not pay a reward under [subsection (a)](#a) of more than 25 percent of the amount of the fine, penalty, restitution, or forfeiture or $100,000, whichever is less.
- (c) **Officials and persons ineligible—** An [appropriate Federal banking agency](/usc/12/1813.md?p=q) may not pay a reward under [subsection (a)](#a) to—
  - (1) an officer or employee of the United States or of a [State](/usc/12/1813.md?p=a-3) or local government who provides information described in [subsection (a)](#a), obtained in the performance of official duties; or
  - (2) a [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) who—
    - (A) deliberately causes or participates in the alleged [violation](/usc/12/1813.md?p=v) of law or regulation, or
    - (B) knowingly or recklessly provides substantially false information to such an agency or the Attorney General.
- (d) **Nonreviewability—** Any agency decision under this section is final and not reviewable by any court.

## Source credit

(Sept. 21, 1950, ch. 967, § 2[34], as added Pub. L. 101–73, title IX, § 933(a), Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 495; amended Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, § 2586, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4903; Pub. L. 103–325, title VI, § 602(a)(62), (63), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2291.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Credit Union Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ii), is act June 26, 1934, ch. 750, 48 Stat. 1216, which is classified generally to chapter 14 (§ 1751 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1751 of this title and Tables.

The Federal Reserve Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(iv), is act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, 38 Stat. 251, which is classified principally to chapter 3 (§ 221 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 226 of this title and Tables.

The Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(v), is Pub. L. 91–607, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1760. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1970 Amendment note set out under section 1841 of this title and Tables.

The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(vi), is act May 9, 1956, ch. 240, 70 Stat. 133, which is classified principally to chapter 17 (§ 1841 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1841 of this title and Tables.

The Home Owners’ Loan Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(vii), is act June 13, 1933, ch. 64, 48 Stat. 128, which is classified generally to chapter 12 (§ 1461 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1461 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 103–325, § 602(a)(62), substituted “section” for “sections” and “or” for “and”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–325, § 602(a)(63), inserted period at end.

1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2586(1), struck out “, in an amount that exceeds $50,000,” after “recovery” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2586(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “a forfeiture under section 981 or 982 of title 18 that—

“(A) arises in connection with a depository institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and

“(B) exceeds $50,000.”