For the purposes of this subpart, the following definitions shall apply:

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Customer means any person or authorized representative of that person who uses any service of a financial institution, or for whom a financial institution acts or has acted as a fiduciary in relation to an account maintained in the person’s name. Customer does not include corporations or partnerships comprised of more than five persons.

Financial institution means any office of a bank, savings bank, card issuer as defined in section 103 of the Consumers Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1602(n)), industrial loan company, trust company, savings association, building and loan, or homestead association (including cooperative banks), credit union, or consumer finance institution, located in any State or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands.

Financial record means an original or copy of, or information known to have been derived from, any record held by a financial institution pertaining to a customer’s relationship with the financial institution.

Government authority means any agency or department of the United States, or any officer, employee or agent thereof.

Person means an individual or a partnership of five or fewer individuals.

[Reg. S, 61 FR 29640, June 12, 1996]