---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 6802"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "6802"
heading: "Obligations with respect to disclosures of personal information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/6802"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — Privacy"
  - "Subchapter I — Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information"
---

# §6802. Obligations with respect to disclosures of personal information

- (a) **Notice requirements—** Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) may not, directly or through any [affiliate](/usc/15/6809.md?p=6), disclose to a [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) any [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A), unless such [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) provides or has provided to the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) a notice that complies with [section 6803 of this title](/usc/15/6803.md).
- (b) **Opt out—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) may not disclose [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A) to a [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) unless—
    - (A) such [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) clearly and conspicuously discloses to the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9), in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under [section 6804 of this title](/usc/15/6804.md), that such information may be disclosed to such third party;
    - (B) the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party; and
    - (C) the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) is given an explanation of how the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) can exercise that nondisclosure option.
  - (2) **Exception—** This subsection shall not prevent a [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) from providing [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A) to a [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) to perform services for or functions on behalf of the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A), including marketing of the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A)’s own products or services, or financial products or services offered pursuant to [joint agreements](/usc/15/6809.md?p=10) between two or more [financial institutions](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) that comply with the requirements imposed by the regulations prescribed under [section 6804 of this title](/usc/15/6804.md), if the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) fully discloses the providing of such information and enters into a contractual [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) with the third party that requires the third party to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
- (c) **Limits on reuse of information—** Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) that receives from a [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A) under this section shall not, directly or through an [affiliate](/usc/15/6809.md?p=6) of such receiving third party, disclose such information to any other [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) that is a [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) of both the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) and such receiving third party, unless such disclosure would be lawful if made directly to such other [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) by the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A).
- (d) **Limitations on the sharing of account number information for marketing purposes—** A [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) shall not disclose, other than to a [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) reporting agency, an account number or similar form of access number or access code for a credit card account, deposit account, or transaction account of a [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) to any [nonaffiliated third party](/usc/15/6809.md?p=5) for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing, or other marketing through electronic mail to the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9).
- (e) **General exceptions—** Subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) shall not prohibit the disclosure of [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A)—
  - (1) as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9), or in connection with—
    - (A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9);
    - (B) maintaining or servicing the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9)’s account with the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A), or with another entity as part of a private label credit card program or other extension of credit on behalf of such entity; or
    - (C) a proposed or actual securitization, secondary market sale (including sales of servicing rights), or similar transaction related to a transaction of the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9);
  - (2) with the consent or at the direction of the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9);
  - (3)
    - (A) to protect the confidentiality or security of the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A)’s records pertaining to the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9), the service or product, or the transaction therein; (B) to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability; (C) for required institutional risk control, or for resolving customer disputes or inquiries; (D) to [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) holding a legal or beneficial interest relating to the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9); or (E) to [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity on behalf of the [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9);
  - (4) to provide information to insurance rate advisory organizations, guaranty funds or agencies, applicable rating agencies of the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A), [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) assessing the institution’s compliance with industry standards, and the institution’s attorneys, accountants, and auditors;
  - (5) to the extent specifically permitted or required under other provisions of law and in accordance with the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 [[12 U.S.C. 3401](/usc/12/3401.md) et seq.], to law enforcement agencies (including the Bureau of [Consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) Financial Protection[^1] a [Federal functional regulator](/usc/15/6809.md?p=2), the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to subchapter II of [chapter 53](/usc/31/chstIV/ch53.md) of title 31, and [chapter 2](/usc/15/chch2.md) of title I of Public Law 91–508 ([12 U.S.C. 1951–195](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t12/s1951–195))9), a [State insurance authority](/usc/15/6809.md?p=8), or the Federal Trade Commission), self-regulatory organizations, or for an investigation on a matter related to public safety;
  - (6)
    - (A) to a [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) reporting agency in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act [[15 U.S.C. 1681](/usc/15/1681.md) et seq.], or (B) from a [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) report reported by a [consumer](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) reporting agency;
  - (7) in connection with a proposed or actual sale, merger, transfer, or exchange of all or a portion of a business or operating unit if the disclosure of [nonpublic personal information](/usc/15/6809.md?p=4-A) concerns solely [consumers](/usc/15/6809.md?p=9) of such business or unit; or
  - (8) to comply with Federal, [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), or local laws, rules, and other applicable legal requirements; to comply with a properly authorized civil, criminal, or regulatory investigation or subpoena or summons by Federal, [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), or local authorities; or to respond to judicial process or government regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the [financial institution](/usc/15/6809.md?p=3-A) for examination, compliance, or other purposes as authorized by law.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–102, title V, § 502, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1437; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1093(2), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2095.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle A (§§ 501–510) of title V of Pub. L. 106–102, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1436, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

The Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e)(5), is title XI of Pub. L. 95–630, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3697, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 3401 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3401 of Title 12 and Tables.

Chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 91–508, referred to in subsec. (e)(5), is chapter 2 (§§ 121–129) of title I of Pub. L. 91–508, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1116, which is classified generally to chapter 21 (§ 1951 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of chapter 2 to the Code, see Tables.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(6)(A), is title VI of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 91–508, title VI, § 601, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1127, which is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1681 et seq.) of chapter 41 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 111–203 inserted “the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection” after “(including”.

### 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.