Virginia Law

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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.

D. Any person violating the provisions of this section, either individually or as an interested party, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Code 1950, § 6-134; 1966, c. 584, § 6.1-112; 1972, c. 187; 1992, cc. 24, 136; 2000, c. 56; 2003, c. 592; 2010, c. 794.