--- kind: "section" citation: "12 U.S.C. § 5564" title: "12" title_heading: "Banks and Banking" number: "5564" heading: "Litigation authority" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/5564" units: - "Chapter 53 — Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection" - "Subchapter V — Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection" - "Part E — Enforcement Powers" --- # §5564. Litigation authority - (a) **In general—** If any [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) violates a [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14), the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may, subject to sections [5514](/usc/12/5514.md), [5515](/usc/12/5515.md), and [5516](/usc/12/5516.md) of this title, commence a civil action against such [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) to impose a civil penalty or to seek all appropriate legal and equitable relief [including](/usc/12/5301.md?p=18-A) a permanent or temporary injunction as permitted by law. - (b) **Representation—** The [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may act in its own name and through its own attorneys in enforcing any provision of this title,[^1] rules thereunder, or any other law or regulation, or in any action, suit, or proceeding to which the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) is a party. - (c) **Compromise of actions—** The [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may compromise or settle any action if such compromise is approved by the [court](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-6). - (d) **Notice to the Attorney General—** - (1) **In general—** When commencing a civil action under [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14), or any rule thereunder, the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) shall notify the Attorney General and, with respect to a civil action against an [insured depository institution](/usc/12/5301.md?p=18-A) or [insured credit union](/usc/12/5481.md?p=17), the appropriate [prudential regulator](/usc/12/5481.md?p=24). - (2) **Notice and coordination—** - (A) **Notice of other actions—** In addition to any notice required under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) shall notify the Attorney General concerning any action, suit, or proceeding to which the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) is a party, except an action, suit, or proceeding that involves the offering or provision of [consumer](/usc/12/5481.md?p=4) financial products or services. - (B) **Coordination—** In order to avoid conflicts and promote consistency regarding litigation of matters under Federal law, the Attorney General and the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) shall consult regarding the coordination of investigations and proceedings, [including](/usc/12/5301.md?p=18-A) by negotiating an agreement for coordination by not later than 180 days after the [designated transfer date](/usc/12/5481.md?p=9). The agreement under this subparagraph shall include provisions to ensure that parallel investigations and proceedings involving the [Federal consumer financial laws](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14) are conducted in a manner that avoids conflicts and does not impede the ability of the Attorney General to prosecute [violations](/usc/12/5561.md?p=5) of Federal criminal laws. - (C) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) under this title,[^1] [including](/usc/12/5301.md?p=18-A) the authority to interpret [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14). - (e) **Appearance before the Supreme Court—** The [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may represent itself in its own name before the Supreme [Court](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-6) of the United States, provided that the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) makes a written request to the Attorney General within the 10-day period which begins on the date of entry of the judgment which would permit any party to file a petition for writ of certiorari, and the Attorney General concurs with such request or fails to take action within 60 days of the request of the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4). - (f) **Forum—** Any civil action brought under this title[^1] may be brought in a United States district [court](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-6) or in any [court](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-6) of competent jurisdiction of a [state](/usc/12/5301.md?p=16) in a district in which the defendant is located or resides or is doing business, and such [court](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-6) shall have jurisdiction to enjoin such [person](/usc/12/5481.md?p=19) and to require compliance with any [Federal consumer financial law](/usc/12/5481.md?p=14). - (g) **Time for bringing action—** - (1) **In general—** Except as otherwise permitted by law or equity, no action may be brought under this title[^1] more than 3 years after the date of discovery of the [violation](/usc/12/5561.md?p=5) to which an action relates. - (2) **Limitations under other Federal laws—** - (A) **In general—** An action arising under this title[^1] does not include [claims](/usc/12/5381.md?p=a-4) arising solely under [enumerated consumer laws](/usc/12/5481.md?p=12). - (B) **Bureau authority—** In any action arising solely under an enumerated [consumer](/usc/12/5481.md?p=4) law, the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may commence, defend, or intervene in the action in accordance with the requirements of that provision of law, as applicable. - (C) **Transferred authority—** In any action arising solely under laws for which authorities were transferred under subtitles F and H, the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) may commence, defend, or intervene in the action in accordance with the requirements of that provision of law, as applicable. ## Footnotes [^1]: See References in Text note below. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1054, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2028.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This title, referred to in subsecs. (b), (d)(2)(C), (f), and (g)(1), (2)(A), is title X of Pub. L. 111–203, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1955, known as the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, which enacted this subchapter and enacted, amended, and repealed numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of title X to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables. Subtitle F, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(C), is subtitle F (§§ 1061–1067) of title X of Pub. L. 111–203, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2035, which is classified generally to part F (§ 5581 et seq.) of this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle F to the Code, see Tables. Subtitle H, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(C), is subtitle H (§§ 1081–1100H) of title X of Pub. L. 111–203, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2080. For complete classification of subtitle H to the Code, see Tables. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Section effective on the designated transfer date, see section 1058 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 5561 of this title.