FinCEN updates FATF-identified jurisdictions with AML/CFT deficiencies

Financial Crimes FinCEN FATF Of Interest to Non-US Persons

On November 6, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory to inform financial institutions of updates to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-identified jurisdictions with “strategic deficiencies” in their anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and counter-proliferation financing deficiencies. The advisory notes that in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, FATF gave identified-jurisdictions the option to report their progress at the October 2020 meetings or defer reporting, leaving their February statements in place. Additionally, the advisory reminds members that its February 2020 statement High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action remains in effect and urges “all jurisdictions to impose countermeasures on Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to protect the international financial system from significant strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes.” The advisory also notes that FATF updated its Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring document, removing Iceland and Mongolia. The advisory also outlines AML program risk assessment considerations, as well as suspicious activity report filing guidance.