---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 5561"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "5561"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/5561"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection"
  - "Subchapter V — Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection"
  - "Part E — Enforcement Powers"
---

# §5561. Definitions


For purposes of this part, the following definitions shall apply:

- (1) **Bureau investigation—** The term “Bureau investigation” means any inquiry conducted by a [Bureau investigator](#2) for the purpose of ascertaining whether any [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) is or has been engaged in any conduct that is a [violation](#5), as defined in this section.
- (2) **Bureau investigator—** The term “Bureau investigator” means any attorney or investigator employed by the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) who is charged with the duty of enforcing or carrying into effect any [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14).
- (3) **Custodian—** The term “custodian” means the custodian or any deputy custodian designated by the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4).
- (4) **Documentary material—** The term “documentary material” includes the original or any copy of any book, document, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, chart, logs, electronic files, or other data or data compilations stored in any medium.
- (5) **Violation—** The term “violation” means any act or omission that, if proved, would constitute a violation of any provision of [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1051, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2018.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1058, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2035, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle E (§§ 1051–1058), enacting this part] shall become effective on the designated transfer date.”

[The term “designated transfer date” is defined in section 5481(9) of this title as the date established under section 5582 of this title.]