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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

Big Bank Agrees to $41 Million Fine by Federal Reserve Over Lax AML Controls

Financial Crimes Anti-Money Laundering Bank Secrecy Act Federal Reserve

Financial Crimes

On May 26, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (Board) and a multinational bank agreed on a settlement over allegations of anti-money laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations. The settlement, which only relates to the bank’s U.S. operations, includes a $41 million fine and a cease and desist order. The agreement was reached after the most recent Board examination of the bank’s AML program identified “significant deficiencies” in the bank’s transaction monitoring capabilities as well as its risk management and compliance with BSA/AML requirements. According to the Board, among other things, the resulting regulatory compliance deficiencies prevented the bank from properly assessing potentially suspicious transactions between 2001 and 2015. Under the settlement, the bank must provide written plans to the Board within 60 days, which include the methodology and target date for enhancement of their transaction monitoring system. Within the same 60 days, the bank also must submit a strategy to “strengthen its oversight of anti-money laundering compliance across its U.S. operations.”