{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/6.2-939.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/6.2-939.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/6.2-939.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/6.2-939.html"}],"law_id":63908,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63908,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-939","catch_line":"Unlawful use of terms indicating that business is bank; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 6-134; 1966, c. 584, \u00a7 6.1-112; 1972, c. 187; 1992, cc. 24, 136; 2000, c. 56; 2003, c. 592; 2010, c. 794.","full_text":"A\n\nA person not authorized to engage in the banking business in the Commonwealth by the provisions of this title or under the laws of the United States, shall not (i) use any office sign having thereon any name or other words indicating that any such office is the office of a bank; (ii) use or circulate any letterheads, billheads, blank notes, blank receipts, certificates, circulars, or any written or printed paper, having thereon any name or word indicating that such person is a bank; or (iii) use the word “bank,” “banking,” “banker,” or “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in any foreign language, or the plural thereof in connection with any business other than a banking business.B\n\nThe foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to use by a bank holding company, as defined in § 6.2-800, of the word “bank,” “banks,” “banking,” “banker,” “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in its name, or of a name similar to that of a subsidiary bank of such bank holding company.C\n\nThe use of the above-mentioned words in the name of, or in connection with, any other business shall not be prohibited if the context or remaining words show clearly and definitely that the business is not a bank, and is not carrying on a banking business.D\n\nAny person violating the provisions of this section, either individually or as an interested party, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":232749,"text":"A person not authorized to engage in the banking business in the Commonwealth by the provisions of this title or under the laws of the United States, shall not (i) use any office sign having thereon any name or other words indicating that any such office is the office of a bank; (ii) use or circulate any letterheads, billheads, blank notes, blank receipts, certificates, circulars, or any written or printed paper, having thereon any name or word indicating that such person is a bank; or (iii) use the word “bank,” “banking,” “banker,” or “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in any foreign language, or the plural thereof in connection with any business other than a banking business.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":232750,"text":"The foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to use by a bank holding company, as defined in § 6.2-800, of the word “bank,” “banks,” “banking,” “banker,” “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in its name, or of a name similar to that of a subsidiary bank of such bank holding company.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":232751,"text":"The use of the above-mentioned words in the name of, or in connection with, any other business shall not be prohibited if the context or remaining words show clearly and definitely that the business is not a bank, and is not carrying on a banking business.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":232752,"text":"Any person violating the provisions of this section, either individually or as an interested party, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15097,"edition_id":1,"name":"Banking Offenses","identifier":"15","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13791,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:07","permalink":{"id":265307,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15097,"identifier":"15","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15","url":"\/6.2\/II\/8\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13791,"edition_id":1,"name":"Banks","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13000,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:53","permalink":{"id":265065,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13791,"identifier":"8","token":"6.2\/II\/8","url":"\/6.2\/II\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13000,"edition_id":1,"name":"Depository Institutions and Trust Organizations","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12852,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","permalink":{"id":263685,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13000,"identifier":"II","token":"6.2\/II","url":"\/6.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12852,"edition_id":1,"name":"Financial Institutions and Services","identifier":"6.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":263249,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12852,"identifier":"6.2","token":"6.2","url":"\/6.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63864,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-938","catch_line":"Engaging in banking business without authority; Commission may examine accounts of suspected person; penalty","url":"\/6.2-938\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-938","metadata":false},{"id":63908,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-939","catch_line":"Unlawful use of terms indicating that business is bank; penalty","url":"\/6.2-939\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-939","metadata":false},{"id":62194,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-940","catch_line":"Making derogatory statements affecting banks; penalty","url":"\/6.2-940\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-940","metadata":false},{"id":57525,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-941","catch_line":"Use of bank name, logo, or symbol for marketing purposes; penalty","url":"\/6.2-941\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-941","metadata":false},{"id":57751,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-942","catch_line":"False certification of checks; penalty","url":"\/6.2-942\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-942","metadata":false},{"id":82686,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-943","catch_line":"Offenses by officer, director, agent, or employee of bank; penalties","url":"\/6.2-943\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-943","metadata":false},{"id":75692,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-944","catch_line":"Officers, directors, agents, and employees violating or causing bank to violate laws; civil liability not affected","url":"\/6.2-944\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-944","metadata":false},{"id":76241,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-945","catch_line":"Receiving deposit knowing bank to be insolvent; penalty","url":"\/6.2-945\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-945","metadata":false},{"id":71872,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-946","catch_line":"Civil penalties for violation of Commission's orders","url":"\/6.2-946\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-946","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63864,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-938","catch_line":"Engaging in banking business without authority; Commission may examine accounts of suspected person; penalty","url":"\/6.2-938\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-938","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62194,"structure_id":15097,"section_number":"6.2-940","catch_line":"Making derogatory statements affecting banks; penalty","url":"\/6.2-940\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-940","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/6.2-939\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 584; in 1972, chapter 187; in 1992, chapters 24 and 136; in 2000, chapter 56<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 592<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 794<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68645,"section_number":"13.1-1214","catch_line":"Name","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-1214\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":86656,"section_number":"6.2-800","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/6.2-800\/"}],"permalink":{"id":265313,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63908,"identifier":"6.2-939","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-939","url":"\/6.2-939\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/6.2-939\/","token":"6.2\/II\/8\/15\/6.2-939","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful use of terms indicating that business is bank; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 6.2-939","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A person<\/span> not authorized to engage in the banking business in the Commonwealth by the provisions of this title or under the laws<\/span> of the United States, shall not (i) use any office sign having thereon any name or other words indicating that any such office is the office of a bank<\/span>; (ii) use or circulate any letterheads, billheads, blank notes, blank receipts, certificates, circulars, or any written or printed paper, having thereon any name or word indicating that such person<\/span> is a bank<\/span>; or (iii) use the word “bank<\/span>,” “banking,” “banker,” or “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in any foreign language, or the plural thereof in connection with any business other than a banking business. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to use by a bank holding company<\/span>, as defined in § 6.2-800<\/a>, of the word “bank,” “banks<\/span>,” “banking,” “banker,” “trust,” or the equivalent thereof in its name, or of a name similar to that of a subsidiary bank of such bank holding company<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The use of the above-mentioned words in the name of, or in connection with, any other business shall not be prohibited if the context or remaining words show clearly and definitely that the business is not a bank, and is not carrying on a banking business. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any person<\/span> violating the provisions of this section, either individually or as an interested party<\/span>, is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL USE OF TERMS INDICATING THAT BUSINESS IS BANK; PENALTY (\u00a7 6.2-939)\n\nA. A person not authorized to engage in the banking business in the Commonwealth\nby the provisions of this title or under the laws of the United States, shall\nnot (i) use any office sign having thereon any name or other words indicating\nthat any such office is the office of a bank; (ii) use or circulate any\nletterheads, billheads, blank notes, blank receipts, certificates, circulars, or\nany written or printed paper, having thereon any name or word indicating that\nsuch person is a bank; or (iii) use the word “bank,”\n“banking,” “banker,” or “trust,” or the\nequivalent thereof in any foreign language, or the plural thereof in connection\nwith any business other than a banking business.\n\nB. The foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to use by a bank holding company,\nas defined in § 6.2-800, of the word “bank,”\n“banks,” “banking,” “banker,”\n“trust,” or the equivalent thereof in its name, or of a name similar\nto that of a subsidiary bank of such bank holding company.\n\nC. The use of the above-mentioned words in the name of, or in connection with,\nany other business shall not be prohibited if the context or remaining words\nshow clearly and definitely that the business is not a bank, and is not carrying\non a banking business.\n\nD. Any person violating the provisions of this section, either individually or\nas an interested party, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 6-134; 1966, c. 584, \u00a7 6.1-112; 1972, c. 187; 1992, cc.\n24, 136; 2000, c. 56; 2003, c. 592; 2010, c. 794.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}