18 U.S.C. § 214 — Offer for procurement of Federal Reserve bank loan and discount of commercial paper

This law applies to anyone who arranges a deal to get money from a Federal Reserve Bank — an advance, loan, extension of credit, or a discount or purchase of some financial obligation or commitment tied to one. It's a crime to stipulate for, give, receive, or agree to give or receive a fee, commission, bonus, or anything of value for procuring or trying to procure that Federal Reserve Bank deal. This applies whether the arrangement runs straight to the Federal Reserve Bank or goes through another financing institution first. There is one way this is allowed: the fee, commission, bonus, or thing of value — and every material fact about the arrangement or understanding behind it — must be disclosed in writing, right in the application or request for the loan, advance, credit, discount, purchase, or commitment. Anyone who breaks this rule can be fined under this title, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.