Any person who shall willfully and maliciously make, circulate or transmit to another or others any false, libelous or slanderous statement, rumor or suggestion written, printed or by word of mouth which is directly or by inference derogatory to the financial condition, or affects the solvency or financial standing of any bank, or who shall counsel, aid, procure or induce another to start, transmit or circulate any such statement or rumor shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Ala. Code § 5-5A-46 (1975)