12 C.F.R. § 1209.3
Definitions.
Cite as 12 C.F.R. § 1209.3 (2026)
For purposes of this part, unless explicitly stated to the contrary:
Adjudicatory proceeding
means a proceeding conducted pursuant to these rules, on the record, and leading to the formulation of a final order other than a regulation.
Agency
has the meaning defined in section 1303(2) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(2)).
Associated with the regulated entity
means, for purposes of section 1379 of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4637), any direct or indirect involvement or participation in the conduct of operations or business affairs of a regulated entity, including engaging in activities related to the operations or management of, providing advice or services to, consulting or contracting with, serving as agent for, or in any other way affecting the operations or business affairs of a regulated entity—with or without regard to—any direct or indirect payment, promise to make payment, or receipt of any compensation or thing of value, such as money, notes, stock, stock options, or other securities, or other benefit or remuneration of any kind, by or on behalf of the regulated entity, except any payment made pursuant to a retirement plan or deferred compensation plan, which is determined by the Director to be permissible under section 1318(e) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4518(e)), or by reason of the death or disability of the party, in the form and manner commonly paid or provided to retirees of the regulated entity, unless such payment, compensation, or such benefit is promised or provided to or for the benefit of said party for the provision of services or other benefit to the regulated entity.
Authorizing statutes
has the meaning defined in section 1303(3) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(3)).
Bank Act
means the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1421
et seq.
).
Board or Board of Directors
means the board of directors of any Enterprise or Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank), as provided for in the respective authorizing statutes.
Decisional employee
means any member of the Director's or the presiding officer's staff who has not engaged in an investigative or prosecutorial role in a proceeding and who may assist the Director or the presiding officer, respectively, in preparing orders, recommended decisions, decisions, and other documents under subpart C of this part.
Director
has the meaning defined in section 1303(9) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(9)); except, as the context requires in this part, “director” may refer to a member of the Board of Directors or any Board committee of an Enterprise, a Federal Home Loan Bank, or the Office of Finance.
Enterprise
has the meaning defined in section 1303(10) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(10)).
Entity-affiliated party
has the meaning defined in section 1303(11) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(11)), and may include an executive officer, any director, or management of the Office of Finance, as applicable under relevant provisions of the Safety and Soundness Act or FHFA regulations.
Executive officer
has the meaning defined in section 1303(12) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(12)), and may include an executive officer of the Office of Finance, as applicable under relevant provisions of the Safety and Soundness Act or FHFA regulations.
FHFA
means the Federal Housing Finance Agency as defined in section 1303(2) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(2)).
Notice of charges
means the charging document served by FHFA to commence an enforcement proceeding under this part for the issuance of a cease and desist order; removal, suspension, or prohibition order; or an order to assess a civil money penalty, under 12 U.S.C. 4631 through 4641 and § 1209.23. A “notice of charges,” as used or referred to as such in this part, is not an “effective notice” under section 1375(a) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4635(a)).
Office of Finance
has the meaning defined in section 1303(19) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(19)).
Party
means any person named as a respondent in any notice of charges, or FHFA, as the context requires in this part.
Person
means an individual, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, trust, joint venture, pool, syndicate, organization, regulated entity, entity-affiliated party, or other entity.
Presiding officer
means an administrative law judge or any other person appointed by or at the request of the Director under applicable law to conduct an adjudicatory proceeding under this part.
Regulated entity
has the meaning defined in section 1303(20) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(20)).
Representative of record
means an individual who is authorized to represent a person or is representing himself and who has filed a notice of appearance and otherwise has complied with the requirements under § 1209.72. FHFA's representative of record may be referred to as FHFA counsel of record, agency counsel or enforcement counsel.
Respondent
means any party that is the subject of a notice of charges under this part.
Safety and Soundness Act
means title XIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550, known as the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, as amended (12 U.S.C. 4501
et seq.
)
Violation
has the meaning defined in section 1303(25) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 4502(25)).
- Cross-references to the US Code
- 12:142112:450112:450212:451812:463112:463512:4637
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 1209.23.1209.72.