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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

FINRA reminds firms of their obligation to supervise digital signatures

Agency Rule-Making & Guidance Federal Issues FINRA Compliance Risk Management

Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

Recently, FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 22-18 reminding member firms of their obligation to supervise for digital signature forgery and falsification. FINRA reported it has received a rising number of reports claiming registered representatives and associated persons have been forging or falsifying customer signatures, as well as those of colleagues or supervisors in some instances. Issues have been flagged in “account opening documents and updates, account activity letters, discretionary trading authorizations, wire instructions and internal firm documents related to the review of customer transactions.” FINRA advised member firms to review outlined methods and scenarios for identifying digital signature forgery or falsification in order to mitigate risk and meet regulatory obligations.