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Agencies issue MRMG; seek comments on BSA/AML compliance
On April 9, the Federal Reserve Board, FDIC, and OCC, in consultation with FinCEN and the NCUA, issued a joint statement on the use of risk management principles outlined in the agencies’ “Supervisory Guidance on Model Risk Management” (known as the “model risk management guidance” or MRMG) as it relates to financial institutions’ compliance with Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) rules. While the joint statement is “intended to clarify how the MRMG may be a useful resource to guide a bank’s [model risk management] framework, whether formal or informal, and assist with BSA/AML compliance,” the agencies emphasized that the MRMG is nonbinding and does not alter existing BSA/AML legal or regulatory requirements or establish new supervisory expectations. In conjunction with the release of the joint statement, the agencies also issued a request for information (RFI) on the extent to which the principles discussed in the MRMG support compliance by financial institutions with BSA/AML and Office of Foreign Assets Control requirements. The agencies seek comments and information to better understand bank practices in these specific areas and to determine whether additional explanation or clarification may be helpful in increasing transparency, effectiveness, or efficiency. Comments on the RFI are due within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register.
FinCEN seeks comments on beneficial ownership reporting
On April 1, FinCEN issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comments on a range of issues related to the implementation of the beneficial ownership information requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). As previously covered by InfoBytes, the CTA is included within the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2021, which was enacted in January as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Among other things, the ANPRM requests comments on reporting procedures and standards for entities to submit information to FinCEN about their beneficial owners, as well as input on FinCEN’s implementation of related CTA provisions “that govern FinCEN’s maintenance and disclosure of beneficial ownership information subject to appropriate protocols.” According to FinCEN, the CTA amended the Bank Secrecy Act “to require corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities to report certain information about their beneficial owners (the individual natural persons who ultimately own or control the companies).” The CTA also requires FinCEN to develop a secure, non-public database to house collected beneficial ownership information, and authorizes FinCEN to disclose beneficial ownership information to several categories of recipients, including federal law enforcement. Moreover, FinCEN is required to revise existing financial institution customer due diligence regulations concerning beneficial ownership to incorporate the new direct reporting of beneficial ownership information.
Comments on the ANPRM should be submitted by May 5.
FinCEN Exchange discusses BSA suspicious activity reporting statistics
On March 23, FinCEN convened a virtual FinCEN Exchange event with representatives from depository institutions, money services businesses, and law enforcement to discuss Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) filing statistics for certain low-dollar, voluntarily-filed suspicious activity reports containing a transaction nexus to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. As previously covered by InfoBytes, FinCEN launched the exchange program in 2017 to create opportunities for regular briefings between FinCEN, law enforcement, and financial institutions, and to assist financial institutions meet their BSA compliance obligations while filing “high-quality BSA reports,” which aid law enforcement in detecting, preventing, and prosecuting criminals and other bad actors.
FinCEN announces upcoming rulemaking on beneficial ownership reporting requirements
On March 22, FinCEN Director Kenneth A. Blanco spoke at the Florida International Bankers Association AML Compliance Conference, and discussed the upcoming advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning new beneficial ownership reporting requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2021 (AML Act). As previously covered by InfoBytes, the AML Act was enacted in January as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and made significant changes to BSA and AML laws. Included within the AML Act is the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which defines a beneficial owner as an entity or individual “who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise. . .exercises substantial control over the entity” or “owns or controls not less than 25 percent of the ownership interests of the entity,” with limited exceptions. Blanco did not provide a timeline for when the ANPRM would be issued, but emphasized that implementing the AML Act is FinCEN’s “number one priority.” Blanco also noted, among other things, that FinCEN is taking steps to develop a secure database to house collected beneficial ownership information, and is currently in the process of developing the use and confidentiality protocols that will control access to the database.
FinCEN issues antiquities and art warning
On March 9, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory notice alerting financial institutions with existing Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) obligations about illicit activity associated with trade in antiquities and art. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AML Act) was enacted in January as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, and made significant changes to BSA and AML laws, including amending the definition of “financial institution” under the BSA to include persons “engaged in the trade of antiquities.” Among other things, FinCEN’s advisory notice updates financial institutions on AML Act measures related to the regulation of antiquities, noting in particular that the Department of Treasury, in coordination with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney General, and Homeland Security, “will perform a study of the facilitation of money laundering and the financing of terrorism through the trade in works of art.” The notice further warns financial institutions that crimes related to the trade of antiquities “may involve their institution” and could include the “sale of stolen or counterfeit objects,” as well as money laundering and sanctions violations. The advisory notice also provides suspicious activity report filing instructions related to trade in antiquities and art.
FFIEC updates BSA/AML examination manual
On February 25, the FFIEC published updated versions of four sections of the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual (Manual), which provides examiners with instructions for assessing a bank’s or credit union’s BSA/AML compliance program and compliance with BSA regulatory requirements. The revisions can be identified by a 2021 date on the FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase and include the following updated sections: Assessing Compliance with Bank Secrecy Act Regulatory Requirements, Customer Identification Program, Currency Transaction Reporting, and Transactions of Exempt Persons. The FFIEC notes that the “updates should not be interpreted as new instructions or as a new or increased focus on certain areas,” but are intended to “offer further transparency into the examination process and support risk-focused examination work.” In addition, the Manual itself does not establish requirements for financial institutions as these requirements are found in applicable statutes and regulations. (See also FDIC FIL-12-2021 and OCC Bulletin 2021-10.)
FDIC assesses bank $12.5 million BSA penalty
On January 29, the FDIC released a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in December. During the month, the FDIC issued 10 orders consisting of “three consent orders, one termination of consent order, three section 19 orders, two removal and prohibition orders and two orders to pay civil money penalties.” Among the orders, the FDIC issued a $12.5 million civil money penalty order against a New York-based bank resolving allegations that the bank violated the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and its implementing regulations from April 2014 through September 2018, including failing to comply with the FDIC’s December 2015 consent order, which required the bank to strengthen its BSA/anti-money laundering oversight. The $12.5 million civil money penalty is reflective of the “the financial resources and good faith of the [bank], the gravity of the violations by the [bank], the history of previous violations by the [bank], and such other matters[.]”
SBA addresses BSA compliance obligations in updated PPP FAQs
On January 29, the Small Business Administration (SBA) updated its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) frequently asked questions to further address borrower and lender questions. Among other things, the updated FAQs clarify that FinCEN’s April 2020 PPP FAQs are applicable to Second Draw PPP loans. In addition, for purposes of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/anti-money laundering compliance, SBA states that PPP lenders can rely on the same information received from a borrower during a First Draw loan application for a Second Draw PPP loan provided the borrower is an existing customer. Accordingly, FinCEN, as administrator of the BSA, published updates to its FAQs to include SBA’s newest clarifications. Additionally, SBA notes that FAQs 1-53 are currently being revised and do not reflect changes made by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act enacted on December 27, 2020 (covered by InfoBytes here).
Fed proposes SAR filing exemptions
On January 22, the Federal Reserve Board published a notice of proposed rulemaking, which would modify the requirements to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for state member banks, Edge and agreement corporations, U.S. offices of foreign banking organizations supervised by the Federal Reserve, and bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries. The proposal would amend the Board’s SAR regulations to allow for the issuance of exemptions from the requirements of those regulations. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in December, the FDIC and the OCC issued similar proposals. As with the OCC and the FDIC proposals, the Board’s proposal is intended “to facilitate supervised institutions in meeting Bank Secrecy Act requirements more efficiently and effectively, including through development of innovative solutions.” Comments on the proposed rule are due February 22.
FinCEN reaches $390 million settlement with bank for BSA violations
On January 15, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a $390 million civil money penalty against a national bank for allegedly violating the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations. The settlement resolves an investigation into the bank’s alleged failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program. According to FinCEN, the bank’s check-cashing business unit failed to file thousands of suspicious activity reports (SARs) and currency transaction reports (CTR). As a result, suspicious transactions were not reported in a timely and accurate manner. FinCen noted that while the bank was allegedly aware of several compliance and money laundering risks associated with its check-cashing business unit, its process for investigating suspicious transactions was insufficient. The bank also allegedly failed to file SARs even though it had actual knowledge of criminal charges against specific customers and continued to process transactions for these customers’ businesses. In determining the penalty, FinCEN considered the bank’s significant remediation efforts—including taking remedial measures related to its SARs and CTR filing systems and enhancing its AML program over the past several years—as well as its cooperation with the agency’s investigation.