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Federal Reserve and New York DFS Take Action Against Canadian Bank for Deficiencies Relating to AML Compliance
On November 10, the Federal Reserve and the New York DFS announced an enforcement action against a Canadian bank for alleged deficiencies relating to its BSA/AML compliance program. In order to resolve the allegations, the bank agreed to prepare various written policies and procedures, including (i) a written plan that provides for a sustainable governance framework, including improving the management information systems reporting of compliance with BSA/AML requirements, OFAC regulations, and State Regulations; (ii) a revised written BSA/AML compliance program; (iii) a revised written program for conducting customer due diligence; (iv) a written program that ensures that any suspicious activity is timely reported; and (v) a written plan to improve compliance with OFAC regulations. All policies must be submitted for approval within 60 days of the agreement’s issuance date.
FinCEN Issues Final Civil Money Penalty Against U.S.-based Casino Over BSA Violations
On November 6, FinCEN issued a final assessment of civil money penalty against a Las Vegas-based casino and its branch offices for violating the BSA by failing to develop and implement a sufficient AML program and report suspicious activity in connection with its private gaming areas. As FinCEN previously announced on September 8, the terms of the assessment require the casino to pay an $8 million civil monetary penalty, hire an independent auditor to test its BSA/AML compliance program, and conduct a look-back review of all transactions through branch offices in Asia and California for recordkeeping and reporting compliance. FinCEN’s final assessment follows approval on October 19 of the settlement from the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, as the casino remains a debtor in its bankruptcy case.
Texas Department of Banking Issues Supervisory Memorandum to Money Services Business License Holders
On October 29, the Texas Department of Banking (the Department) issued a supervisory memorandum to Money Services Business (MSB) license holders. The purpose of the memorandum “is to provide license holders with industry best practices regarding the documentation of [authorized delegate] and agent compliance monitoring efforts.” According to the Department, agents and Authorized Delegates (AD) pose substantial compliance risks to MSBs, with agent and AD file review comprising “a significant component of the examination process for assessing compliance with AML Program requirements and Texas law.” The memorandum provides MSBs with industry guidance on how to meet regulators’ expectations for maintaining documentation in compliance with agent and AD oversight. The Department identifies various documents that support effective agent and AD on-boarding due diligence, including: (i) agent and AD BSA policies and procedures; (ii) approval by foreign regulators to conduct money transmission; (iii) evidence of initial AML/BSA training; and (iv) credit review and approval documents, such as financials and credit reports. Moreover, the memorandum indicates that on-going due diligence requires MSBs to maintain, among other things, evidence to support (i) periodic BSA training; (ii) agent compliance with independent AML review requirements; and (iii) the license holder’s review of updated BSA/AML Program policies and procedures.
OFAC Authorizes Certain Transactions and Activities to Liquidate Honduras-Based Bank
On October 21, following the October 7 designation of a Honduras-based bank as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker, OFAC announced that it granted a General License authorizing certain transactions and activities to help with the liquidation and wind down of the same bank. Pursuant the General License, transactions and activities that are otherwise prohibited by OFAC during a bank’s liquidation process will be permitted through 12:01 a.m. ET on December 12, 2015, with the following exceptions: (i) the unblocking of any party pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations; and (ii) transactions or dealings that are limited by Executive Order, or are with an individual or entity, other than the Honduras-based bank, that is on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons. Any U.S. persons involved in the bank’s liquidation process must file a report with OFAC’s Licensing Division to include the parties involved, and the type, scope, and dates of the activities conducted.
OFAC Announces Honduras-Based Bank as Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker
On October 7, OFAC announced the designation of a Honduras-Based bank (the Bank) as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker. According to the Department of the Treasury, this announcement “marks the first time that OFAC has designated a bank pursuant to the [Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act].” OFAC alleged that the Bank was an integral part of a money laundering operation that “facilitated the laundering of narcotics proceeds for multiple Central American drug trafficking organizations.” In addition to the Bank’s designation, OFAC announced the designation of three Honduran businessmen for supporting, via money laundering and other services, the international trafficking of narcotics for the same Central American criminal organizations. The Government of Honduras informed OFAC on October 10 that the liquidation process for the Bank was in effect. Non-U.S. persons involved in the Bank’s liquidation process will not be subject to OFAC designations or enforcement actions, with the understanding that “they do not undertake such transactions with knowledge that such transactions involve or benefit, directly or indirectly, any individual or entity other than [the Bank] that is listed on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons or that otherwise constitutes a person whose property and interests in property are blocked.” Liquidation transactions involving U.S. persons or financial institutions are prohibited, unless the individual or entity applied for and received OFAC authorization.
Leading Casino Settles with FinCEN for $8 Million for BSA Violations
On September 8, FinCEN announced the assessment of an $8 million civil money penalty against a leading U.S.-based casino for its willful violations of the BSA’s requirements to develop and implement a reasonably designed AML program and to report suspicious activity. Among other things, FinCEN alleged that the casino failed to implement adequate internal controls, conduct adequate independent testing of AML compliance, provide adequate training, and file SARs. Of note were private gaming salons that cater to wealthy patrons and allowed such patrons to gamble anonymously. In addition to the $8 million penalty, which will be allowed as a general unsecured claim in the casino’s bankruptcy proceeding (pending approval of the consent by the bankruptcy court), the casino must also, among other things, hire an independent third party to test its BSA/AML compliance program, annually provide its implementation plan and training program to FinCEN for a period of three years, and conduct a look-back review of all transactions through branch offices in Asia and California for SAR compliance.
FinCEN Issues NPRM Establishing BSA/AML Requirements for Investment Advisers
On August 25, FinCEN issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to adopt minimum Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) standards that would be applicable to investment advisers. Under the proposal, investment advisers would be required to implement AML programs and report suspicious activity, among other safeguards. The NPRM states that the proposal would cover investment advisers registered or required to register with the SEC. The proposal would also add such investment advisers to the definition of “financial institution.” This would result in investment advisers being required to file currency transaction reports and to comply with recordkeeping and other requirements applicable to financial institutions. With respect to supervisory authority, FinCEN stated that it would delegate its authority to the SEC for purposes of examining investment advisers for compliance with the proposed requirements.
FinCEN Issues Final Rule Imposing Special Measure Five Against FBME Bank Ltd.
On July 23, FinCEN issued a final rule pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act to impose “special measure five” against FBME Bank Ltd. (“FBME”), formerly known as the Federal Bank of the Middle East. Special measure five prohibits U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts or payable through accounts for or on behalf of FBME. The action follows a July 17, 2014 notice of proposed rulemaking in which FinCEN stated that it had found FBME to be of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 and issued a related notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing the imposition of special measure five against FBME. Supporting the proposed rule were the following factors: (i) FBME is used by its customers to facilitate money laundering, terrorist financing, transnational organized crime, fraud, sanctions evasion, and other illicit activity internationally and through the U.S. financial system; (ii) FBME has systemic failures in its anti-money laundering controls that attract high-risk shell companies, that is, companies formed for the sole purpose of holding property or funds and that do not engage in any legitimate business activity; and (iii) FBME performs a significant volume of transactions and activities that have little or no transparency and often no apparent legitimate business purpose. The final rule will be effective August 28, 2015.
Federal Reserve Orders Chinese Bank to Overhaul its BSA/AML Compliance Program
On July 21, a leading China-based bank agreed to address deficiencies in connection with the BSA/AML risk management and compliance program of its New York branch office. The Agreement, entered into with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York State Department of Financial Services, requires the bank and its New York branch to (i) enhance the branch’s written BSA/AML compliance program and customer due diligence program; and (ii) develop a written program for the branch that is capable of identifying and reporting suspected violations of law and suspicious transactions to law enforcement and supervisory authorities. In addition, the bank must hire an independent third-party to review the Branch’s U.S. dollar clearing transaction activity “to determine whether suspicious activity involving high-risk customers or transactions at, by, or through the branch was properly identified and reported” to the appropriate federal banking authorities. No civil money penalty was imposed on the bank.
FDIC and California Department of Business Oversight Levy $140 Million Penalty Against California Bank for Ongoing BSA/AML Deficiencies
On July 22, the FDIC, along with the Commissioner of the California Department of Business Oversight (“DBO”), announced the assessment of a $140 million civil money penalty against a California state-chartered bank to resolve allegations that it failed to implement and maintain an adequate BSA/AML Compliance Program over an extended period of time. In 2012, the bank entered a consent order with the FDIC and the DBO (fka California Department of Financial Institutions), requiring that it “address the weaknesses and correct deficiencies” in its BSA and AML programs. According to the DBO, the bank has since failed to implement the corrective actions stipulated in the consent order, which required the bank to, among other things, (i) establish internal controls to “detect and report illicit financial transactions and other suspicious activities”; (ii) hire a qualified BSA officer and sufficient staff; (iii) provide adequate BSA training; and (iv) conduct effective independent testing. Additionally, since the 2012 consent order, the DBO and FDIC have discovered “new, substantial violations of the BSA and anti-money laundering mandates over an extended period of time.” Under terms of the joint order, the bank will pay $40 million to the DBO and $100 million to the Department of the Treasury to satisfy the full $140 million penalty.