31 U.S.C. § 5328 : Money And Finance — Money — Monetary Transactions — Records And Reports On Monetary Instruments Transactions — Whistleblower Protections

(a) Prohibition Against Discrimination.— No financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business may discharge or otherwise discriminate against any employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the employee (or any person acting pursuant to the request of the employee) provided information to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, or any Federal supervisory agency regarding a possible violation of any provision of this subchapter or section 1956, 1957, or 1960 of title 18, or any regulation under any such provision, by the financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business or any director, officer, or employee of the financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business.

(b) Enforcement.— Any employee or former employee who believes that such employee has been discharged or discriminated against in violation of subsection (a) may file a civil action in the appropriate United States district court before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of such discharge or discrimination.

(c) Remedies.—

If the district court determines that a violation has occurred, the court may order the financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business which committed the violation to—

(1) reinstate the employee to the employee’s former position;

(2) pay compensatory damages; or

(3) take other appropriate actions to remedy any past discrimination.

(d) Limitation.—

The protections of this section shall not apply to any employee who—

(1) deliberately causes or participates in the alleged violation of law or regulation; or

(2) knowingly or recklessly provides substantially false information to the Secretary, the Attorney General, or any Federal supervisory agency.

(e) Coordination With Other Provisions of Law.— This section shall not apply with respect to any financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business which is subject to section 33 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, section 213 of the Federal Credit Union Act, or section 21A(q)  of the Home Owners’ Loan Act (as added by section 251(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991).

 See References in Text note below.

(Added Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1563(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4072; amended Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 365(c)(2)(B)(i), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 335.)

References in Text

Section 33 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is classified to section 1831j of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 213 of the Federal Credit Union Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is classified to section 1790b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 21A(q) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, referred to in subsec. (e), probably means section 21A(q) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, which was classified to former section 1441a(q) of Title 12, Banks and Banking, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 111–203, title III, § 364(b), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1555.

Amendments

2001—Subsecs. (a), (c), (e). Pub. L. 107–56 inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution” wherever appearing.