The saying goes that the only constant is change, which is true. In this post-pandemic environment, TCA continues to complete most engagements remotely. Technology advancements have made the process easier, but offsite engagements create different challenges. Please take a moment to review some tips for an efficient, effective TCA remote review. Ensuring a Successful Remote […]
Tips for a Successful Offsite Review Read More »
The Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering area of compliance is always evolving. As an example, we are currently transitioning the name of this specialized area of compliance from Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) to coincide with the term’s examiners are now using within their documents and reports.
TCA’s Top 5 BSA/AML Concerns Read More »
Answer: During independent audits, TCA tests for initial and annual due diligence reviews of exempt customers. There are four requirements for a Phase II exemption. Five transactions that exceed reporting thresholds in a 12-month period. The customer has a transaction account for at least 2 months. The customer is organized in a U.S. State. The
What is a common finding TCA sees in exempting eligible customers from CTR reporting? Read More »
As we continue to adjust with the evolving pandemic, FinCEN published two documents to keep awareness high. The May 18, 2020 Notice provides a current update to meet the various BSA reporting, recordkeeping and monitoring requirements. Here are a few of the key points: BSA Reporting Requirements – As noted in TCA’s earlier article BSA
FinCEN Guidance on Medical Scams and COVID-19 Read More »
Welcome to TCA’s BSA Back to Basics article series! Each month, our BSA experts will explore a section of the FFIEC BSA/AML Exam Manual, analyze the regulatory requirements, and offer insights to common findings in exams and audits. We will share best practices to help your BSA program continue to evolve. The first section of
Preparing a Bank Secrecy Act Risk Assessment Read More »
TCA’s January 21, 2020 “CTR 101 Webinar” highlighted one key change to the FinCEN CTR report – the evolving expectations on how to complete Part I Item 2. The original October 1, 2019 Notice published required a February 1, 2020 compliance date. The January 17, 2020 Notice extends the compliance date for files to September
Important CTR Update – Compliance Date Moves From February 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020 Read More »
FinCEN and the regulators kicked off the holiday season by providing the industry with some clarification on the BSA implications of banking hemp-related businesses. In the News Release and Guidance, FinCEN said: “Because hemp is no longer a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, banks are not required to file a Suspicious
FinCEN Issues Guidance on Providing Financial Services to Hemp-Related Businesses Read More »
The goal of my article is to help BSA staff have a clearer understanding of the differences between mandatory and voluntary information sharing. TCA’s BSA Action Team (BAT) wants to point out some key observations based on our BSA audits. In BSA, information requests are commonly referred to as sections 314(a) and 314(b) of the
314(a) and 314(b) Information Sharing: Is there a Difference? Read More »
The expectation for enhanced due diligence did not change with the passing of the 5th BSA pillar. However, examiner expectations for enhanced due diligence (EDD) continue to evolve because it is a critical component of your bank’s BSA Program. TCA® first addressed the EDD topic in a 2015 In Depth article. The November 2018 BAT
What do CDD and EDD Mean? Part II: Enhanced Due Diligence Read More »
The top BSA hotline question TCA has received in August inquired about an update to FinCEN’s May 16, 2018 Exceptive Relief (FIN‐2018‐R002) delaying the requirement to obtain a Certification of Beneficial Ownership for certificate of deposit and loan renewals. Since FinCEN considered these to be new accounts, financial institutions expressed concerns over the many challenges
FinCEN Issues Extension of Exceptive Relief for Certificate of Deposit and Loan Renewals Read More »
We’re here to review your current compliance strategy and help you find A Better Way to manage risk.
