---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1693a"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1693a"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1693a"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection"
  - "Subchapter VI — Electronic Fund Transfers"
---

# §1693a. Definitions


As used in this subchapter—

- (1) the term “accepted card or other means of access” means a card, code, or other means of access to a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s [account](#2) for the purpose of initiating [electronic fund transfers](#7) when the [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) to whom such card or other means of access was issued has requested and received or has signed or has used, or authorized another to use, such card or other means of access for the purpose of transferring money between [accounts](#2) or obtaining money, property, labor, or services;
- (2) the term “account” means a demand deposit, savings deposit, or other asset account (other than an occasional or incidental [credit](/usc/15/1602.md?p=f) balance in an [open end credit plan](/usc/15/1602.md?p=j) as defined in [section 1602(i)](/usc/15/1602.md?p=i)[^1] of this title), as described in regulations of the [Bureau](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=1), established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, but such term does not include an account held by a [financial institution](#9) pursuant to a bona fide trust [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2);
- (4) [^2] the term “Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
- (4) [^2] the term “[Bureau](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=1)” means the [Bureau](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=1) of [Consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) Financial Protection;
- (5) the term “business day” means any day on which the offices of the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s [financial institution](#9) involved in an [electronic fund transfer](#7) are open to the public for carrying on substantially all of its business functions;
- (6) the term “[consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)” means a natural [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e);
- (7) the term “electronic fund transfer” means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument, which is initiated through an [electronic terminal](#8), telephonic instrument, or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct, or authorize a [financial institution](#9) to debit or [credit](/usc/15/1602.md?p=f) an [account](#2). Such term includes, but is not limited to, point-of-sale transfers, automated teller machine transactions, direct deposits or withdrawals of funds, and transfers initiated by telephone. Such term does not include—
  - (A) any check guarantee or authorization service which does not directly result in a debit or [credit](/usc/15/1602.md?p=f) to a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s [account](#2):[^3]
  - (B) any transfer of funds, other than those processed by automated clearinghouse, made by a [financial institution](#9) on behalf of a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) by means of a service that transfers funds held at either Federal Reserve banks or other depository institutions and which is not designed primarily to transfer funds on behalf of a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3);
  - (C) any transaction the primary purpose of which is the purchase or sale of [securities](/usc/15/1667.md?p=5) or commodities through a broker-dealer registered with or regulated by the [Securities](/usc/15/1667.md?p=5) and Exchange [Commission](/usc/15/1602.md?p=dd-1);
  - (D) any automatic transfer from a savings [account](#2) to a demand deposit [account](#2) pursuant to an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) between a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) and a [financial institution](#9) for the purpose of covering an overdraft or maintaining an agreed upon minimum balance in the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s demand deposit [account](#2); or
  - (E) any transfer of funds which is initiated by a telephone conversation between a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) and an officer or employee of a [financial institution](#9) which is not pursuant to a prearranged plan and under which periodic or recurring transfers are not contemplated;

  as determined under regulations of the [Bureau](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=1);

- (8) the term “electronic terminal” means an electronic [device](/usc/15/55.md?p=d), other than a telephone operated by a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3), through which a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) may initiate an [electronic fund transfer](#7). Such term includes, but is not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, and cash dispensing machines;
- (9) the term “financial institution” means a [State](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=8) or National bank, a [State](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=8) or Federal savings and loan association, a mutual savings bank, a [State](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=8) or Federal [credit](/usc/15/1602.md?p=f) union, or any other [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) who, directly or indirectly, holds an [account](#2) belonging to a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3);
- (10) the term “preauthorized electronic fund transfer” means an [electronic fund transfer](#7) authorized in advance to recur at substantially regular intervals;
- (11) the term “[State](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=8)” means any [State](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=8), territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing; and
- (12) the term “unauthorized electronic fund transfer” means an [electronic fund transfer](#7) from a [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s [account](#2) initiated by a [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) other than the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) without actual authority to initiate such transfer and from which the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) receives no benefit, but the term does not include any [electronic fund transfer](#7) (A) initiated by a [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) other than the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) who was furnished with the card, code, or other means of access to such [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3)’s [account](#2) by such [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3), unless the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) has notified the [financial institution](#9) involved that transfers by such other [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) are no longer authorized, (B) initiated with fraudulent intent by the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3) or any [person](/usc/15/1602.md?p=e) acting in concert with the [consumer](/usc/15/1692a.md?p=3), or (C) which constitutes an error committed by a [financial institution](#9).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.
[^2]: So in original. There are two pars. designated “(4)” and no par. (3).
[^3]: So in original. The colon probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–321, title IX, § 903, as added Pub. L. 95–630, title XX, § 2001, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3728; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1084(1), (2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2081.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 1602(i) of this title, referred to in par. (2), was redesignated section 1602(j) of this title by Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1100A(1)(A), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2107.

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–203, § 1084(1), which directed the substitution of “Bureau” for “Board” wherever appearing, was executed by making the substitution in pars. (2) and (6) but not in par. (3), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–203, § 1084(2)(A), redesignated par. (3) as (4) defining the term “Board”.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 111–203, § 1084(2)(B), which directed addition of par. (4) defining the term “Bureau” after par. (3), was executed by making the addition after par. (4) defining the term “Board”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 111–203, § 1084(2)(A), redesignated par. (3) as (4) defining the term “Board”. Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Pars. (5) to (12). Pub. L. 111–203, § 1084(2)(A), redesignated pars. (4) to (11) as (5) to (12), respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the designated transfer date, see section 1100H of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 552a of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.