FinCEN updates Bank Secrecy Act FAQs

Financial Crimes FinCEN Bank Secrecy Act Department of Treasury Federal Reserve

Recently, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) updated its “Answers to Frequently Asked Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Questions.” The December update provided the following, among other things: (i) “depository institutions are not required to file a Designation of Exempt Person form . . . with respect to the transfer of currency to or from any of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks” (in accordance with amended 31 CFR 1020.315); (ii) guidelines for filing the Designation of Exempt Person form; and (iii) guidance concerning the types of identifying information financial institutions should obtain when a federal, state or local government official engages in a transaction over a certain amount in an official capacity. FinCEN stated that “the answers are not meant to be comprehensive, apply to all factual situations, or to replace or supersede the BSA regulations.”