Page 1 

     Most financial institutions will face, at some time, a governmental subpoena requesting customer information. Responding to a subpoena, which entails digging up, compiling, and mailing the requested information, is time-consuming and takes staff away from regular duties. Two separate North Dakota statutes provide that banks can charge for the work done in response to government subpoenas. N.D.C.C. § 6-03-76 addresses subpoenas by state or federal agencies or any branch of the state or federal government; however, the payment rates set out in N.D.C.C. § 6-03-76 are twenty years old and financial institutions might be better off bypassing the statute with the rather paltry reimbursement schedule.