Obtain a Section 19 FDIC Waiver

If you have a criminal record for a crime of dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering, you will likely need to obtain clearance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – even if your case has been expunged under state law.

What is a Section 19 FDIC Waiver?

A section 19 FDIC Waiver is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) written consent for an employment applicant who has a criminal history that consists of a crime of dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering, to work at an FDIC insured institution or their affiliate (i.e., banks, credit unions, etc.).

A section 19 FDIC waiver is required because section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S Code § 1829) requires all FDIC-insured institutions and their affiliates to make a reasonable examination of every applicant’s criminal history in order to avoid hiring someone who has a criminal record for a crime of dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering and who does not meet the requirement for a “de minimis” waiver.

If an employment applicant has one of these categorical offenses, they cannot work at a bank or other FDIC insured institution without the written consent of the FDIC. Furthermore, the applicant who has one of these offenses has the burden of proving that they are still fit to work at an insured institution, do not pose a risk to its safety, or impair the public’s confidence in it.

Read below to learn more about what is takes to qualify for a Section 19 FDIC Waiver or begin the Section 19 FDIC waiver application process online today or contact our office of experienced FDIC Waiver attorneys.

Begin My FDIC Waiver Application

A good attorney that moves fast.
    

I am thankful to have met such a good attorney that moves fast, which is rare to find. I highly recommend Mr. Randall as an attorney for any legal work. - Lee
Explained everything to me.
    

I hired Shea Randall to complete a Estate Plan for my husband and me. Shea took the time to explain everything to us since we did not understand all the intricate details of creating an estate plan. So glad I did this and now we have nothing to worry about and our future is secured.Thanks Shea you're the BEST! - Joy
Painless and easy process.
    

Just completed our estate plan with Shea and his team. The process was painless and completed with ease. He even helped us cover areas we didn't know we needed protection for from power of attorney to end of life decisions. The comfort and security knowing our estate is in order can't be understated. Loved the completed product too, all in a nice folio and organized for the future. Thanks Shea! - Rob
Always returned calls and emails.
    

Shea Randall, the attorney, was very helpful and helped me obtain all required information/records. He always returned my calls, emails and answered questions promptly. Highly recommend using Lifeback Legal. - Lena
Attentive and responsive communication.
    

I had the privilege of working with Lifeback Legal and I have to say I've never had more attentive and responsive communication with an attorney in my entire life. The ease and simplicity of doing it all has eliminated years of frustration and headaches. - Aaron

What Does it Take to Qualify for a Section 19 FDIC Waiver?

An applicant must file for a waiver if they are not a “youthful offender” or a “juvenile delinquent,” obtain a conviction or enter into a pretrial diversion or similar program for a for a crime of dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering, and their record does not fit within the de minimis exception.

Because a conviction is required, if you have an arrest alone, a pending case not yet brought to trial, an acquittal, or any conviction that has been reversed on appeal, they are not considered a “conviction” for purposes of the FDIC.

If, however,  you participated in a pre-trial diversion program, a waiver is still required. A pre-trial diversion program is one that suspends or dismisses the criminal charges when the accused agrees to a non-criminal or non-punitive alternative. Whether a program is considered a pretrial diversion, is determined by relevant federal, state, or local law. The FDIC will consider each on a case-by-case basis.

Finally, the crime must be one of dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering:

  • “Dishonesty” refers to  acts involving a lack of integrity, an act that shows a disposition to distort, cheat, or act deceitfully or fraudulently (e.g., using a fake ID)
  • “Breach of trust” refers to a wrongful act, use, misappropriation, or omission with respect to any property or fund that has been committed to a person in a fiduciary or official capacity, or the misuse of one’s official or fiduciary position to engage in a wrongful act, use, misappropriation, or omission.
  • “Money laundering”’ includes trafficking, selling, manufacturing, distributing, or transporting controlled substances or drugs. Simple drug possession is not included.

Understanding the De Minimis Waiver  

The FDIC does not require an FDIC waiver for every offense which is covered under its rules. If your case falls under the de minimiscategory, then you are automatically granted a waiver and an application is not required.

In 2018, the FDIC clarified in their Statement of Policy that the following three categories will be considered de minimis:

  • Convictions or program entries based on a simple theft of goods, services, and/or currency (or other monetary instrument) where the aggregate value of the currency, goods and/or services taken was $500 or less at the time of conviction or program entry
  • Provided there is no other conviction or program entry for a covered offense, convictions or program entries based on the use of a fake, false, or altered identification card by a person under the legal age for the purpose of obtaining or purchasing alcohol, or used for the purpose of entering a premise where alcohol is served but for which age appropriate identification is required
  • Convictions or program entries of record based on the writing of “bad” or “insufficient funds.” These shall be considered a de minimisoffense under and will not be considered as having involved an insured depository institution if the following applies:

Obtain clearance from the FDIC.

Have Confidence Obtaining a job in the financial sector.

    • There is no other conviction or program entry subject to Section 19, and the aggregate total face value of all “bad” or “insufficient funds” check(s) cited across all the conviction(s) or program entry(ies) for bad or insufficient funds checks is $1,000 or less; and
    • No insured depository institution or insured credit union was a payee on any of the “bad” or “insufficient funds” checks that were the basis of the conviction(s) or program entry(ies).

If your case does not fall under one of these carved out exceptions, then you must meet all of the following criteria for the de minimis waiver:

  1. You may only have one covered offense;
  2. The offense was punishable by imprisonment for a term of 1 year or less and/or a fine of $2,500 or less, and the individual served three (3) days or less of actual jail time;
  3. The conviction or program was entered at least five years prior to the date an application would otherwise be required; or, if the actions that resulted in a covered conviction or program entry of record all occurred when the individual was 21 years of age or younger, the conviction or program was entered at least 30 months prior to the date an application would otherwise be required andall sentencing or program requirements have been met; and
  4. The offense did not involve an insured bank or credit union (unless it is a “bad” or “insufficient funds” check case for $1,000 or less and the check did not have a bank or credit union as the payee)

To determine the potential punishment, you will need to consult an attorney who can pull the code for the specific year in which your offense was committed.

Cases expunged under state law may still require a Section 19 FDIC Waiver

If you do not meet the de minimis requirement and have an offense that falls in one of the prohibited categories, then the FDIC requires an individual FDIC waiver even if you completed a pre-trial diversion program, paid a fine, or completed any other deferred adjudication. This includes any “expunged” cases. For purposes of the FDIC, you case is not considered expunged unless it is a “complete expungement.” A “complete expungement” is defined as a case which no one – (including law enforcement) – can access, even by court order.

Over the past several years, our law firm has become one of the leading advocates in helping individuals obtain a Section 19 FDIC Waiver. We also expedite your application.

If you are facing a Section 19 FDIC, we are here to help.

How Do I Begin a Section 19 FDIC Waiver?

Our law firm has become one of the leading providers of Section 19 FDIC waivers. In addition, since Section 19 Waivers are an area of federal administrative law, we accept cases throughout the country. So whether you’re in California or Texas, we can help.

The FDIC Section 19 Waiver application process can be long and challenging, so you do not want to feel like a number. This is why when you contact our office you will be in direct contact with our attorneys. Our law office provides outstanding one-on-one communication with clients to ensure all of your legal needs are met and will be in close contact throughout the entire FDIC Section 19 application Waiver process.

The entire FDIC Section 19 Waiver process typically takes several months or more, depending on the case load involved at the FDIC. Once submitted, an FDIC regional representative begins to review your case and then submits it to an FDIC prosecutor at the national office with their recommendation to either grant or deny your request for an individual Section 19 FDIC Waiver.

Throughout this process there are often on-going conversations between the FDIC representatives and your attorney. The length of the Section 19 FDIC Waiver process and the nature of the inquiries often depends on how soon the application is submitted and on the quality of your initial Section 19 FDIC Waiver Application. This is why we expedite your submission and why it is absolutely crucial to have an attorney who is experienced in handling individual Section 19 FDIC Waivers.

Begin My FDIC Waiver Application

REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION

Fill out the form below to recieve a free and confidential intial consultation.

    First name (required)

    Email (required)

    Phone (required)

    Your Message

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.


    By clicking ‘submit’ you understand that this does not create an Attorney-Client relationship. While we do our best to respond to you quickly, we are under no obligation to take your case or provide any sort of response. We do not sell or share your information. Providing your basic information simply gives our law firm the opportunity to follow-up and engage in a conversation to best assist you.