---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 4809"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "4809"
heading: "“Plain language” requirement for Federal banking agency rules"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/4809"
units:
  - "Chapter 48 — Financial Institutions Regulatory Improvement"
---

# §4809. “Plain language” requirement for Federal banking agency rules

- (a) **In general—** Each Federal banking agency shall use plain language in all proposed and final rulemakings published by the agency in the Federal Register after January 1, 2000.
- (b) **Report—** Not later than March 1, 2001, each Federal banking agency shall submit to the Congress a report that describes how the agency has complied with [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Definition—** For purposes of this section, the term “Federal banking agency” has the meaning given that term in [section 1813 of this title](/usc/12/1813.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–102, title VII, § 722, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1471.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and not as part of title III of Pub. L. 103–322 which comprises this chapter.