Section 671. False statements or rumors as to banking institutions

Any
  person who wilfully and knowingly  makes,  circulates  or  transmits  to
  another or others any statement or rumor, written, printed or by word of
  mouth,  which  is  untrue  in  fact  and  is  directly  or  by inference
  derogatory to  the  financial  condition  or  effects  the  solvency  or
  financial  standing  of  any bank, private banker, savings bank, banking
  association, building  and  loan  association  or  trust  company  doing
  business  in  this  state,  or who knowingly counsels, aids, procures or
  induces another to start, transmit or circulate any  such  statement  or
  rumor, is guilty of a misdemeanor.