{"data":{"id":"us-pa/17-pa.c.s.-104","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"17 Pa.C.S. § 104","heading":"Prohibition on use of words \"credit union.\"","body":"(a) General rule.--Only a credit union subject to this title, a Federal credit union or a corporation organized in accordance with a state credit union statute may assume and use the words \"credit union\" in its name or title or operate in the manner of a credit union. Only a credit union which has received a low-income designation by the department and the National Credit Union Administration, or a Federal credit union which has received a low-income designation from the National Credit Union Administration, may assume and use the words \"community development credit union\" or a similar designation in its name or title or operate in the manner of a community development credit union.\n(b) Penalties.--Any person, other than a credit union subject to this title, a Federal credit union, a corporation organized in accordance with a state credit union statute or an association of credit unions, who violates subsection (a) by using a name or title containing the words \"credit union\" or any other derivation thereof or so representing itself in its advertising, or otherwise conducting business as a credit union shall, for each offense, be subject to a penalty levied by the department which shall be not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000. The officers of a corporation shall be liable for such penalty if the offense is committed by a corporation. This section shall be enforced by the department.\n(c) Civil action.--Within 30 days after the department has received notice of an alleged violation of this section, the department shall determine whether a violation of this section exists. After the department has made its determination, a credit union, Federal credit union, out-of-State credit union or an association of these institutions may institute a civil action arising out of a violation of this section.","path":["Title 17 - CREDIT UNIONS","CHAPTER 1 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=17\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=1\u0026sctn=4\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2024-03-04 (Statute Update stamp, 17 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:23Z","sha256":"0d8ee5ec32d04e7c71c1575072e5b5e01aa8e5fe71ea18725803bb162fe88226","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/17-pa.c.s.-103","next":"us-pa/17-pa.c.s.-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}