The United States is one of the first countries to combat money laundering. Money laundering has been considered a crime in the United States since 1986. Money laundering is a serious crime in the USA, and the United States effectively fights against money laundering.
It is estimated that 2 trillion dollars of money are laundered through financial systems every year. Money laundering activity causes great damage to the world economy. The USA, one of the most developed countries in the economy, aims to combat money laundering effectively. Effective methods to prevent financial crimes have been established with Anti-Money Laundering regulations in the USA. In addition, penalties are imposed on individuals and institutions that do not comply with AML regulations.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) was established in 1990 by the Secretary of the Treasury. FinCEN serves as the U.S. Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in the USA. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is the U.S. Treasury Department office collecting and analyzing financial transactions on domestic and international money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. Financial institutions report suspicious activity reports to FinCEN.
What Are AML Laws in The USA?
Bank Secrecy Act
and the
Patriot Act
form the basis of the
AML policies.
BSA is the main authority that creates regulations and policies to combat financial crime in the USA. Financial institutions and U.S. citizens have been held responsible for the
bank secrecy act and the patriot act 2001
. Financial institutions are required to create their AML programs by making necessary checks in accordance with the bank secrecy act and the patriot act. These controls aim to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing by financial institutions. The scope and details of regulatory requirements vary for each financial institution that must meet BSA requirements in the USA.
AML Requirements in the USA
There are some requirements that financial institutions must meet according to AML regulations. Financial institutions that do not meet AML requirements face penalties.
AML Programs
Firms must fight effectively to detect and prevent financial crimes. Financial institutions have to create their AML programs according to BSA requirements. An effective fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is achieved through AML programs.
Know Your Customer
Companies operating under the AML obligation have to implement the Know Your Customer procedures. According to KYC procedures, customer information must be collected during customer account opening, and the accuracy of customer information must be checked.
Customer Due Diligence
Companies have to apply risk assessment to customers according to the risk-based approach. One of the methods used in risk assessment is a sanction, PEP, and adverse media scanning. Our AML Name Screening Software makes the risk assessment processes of companies automatic and easy. Sanction Scanner's AML database contains sanction, PEP, and adverse media data from more than two hundred countries. You can apply your risk assessment according to AML regulations in the USA with AML Name Screening Software.
Currency Transaction Reporting
Under BSA regulations, financial institutions must file and store customer currency transactions. These files must be presented to supervisory agencies during the audits. Transactions worth more than $ 10,000 must be reported to FinCEN.
Suspicious Transaction Reporting
Financial institutions that detect suspicious transactions during AML controls must prepare a Suspicious Transaction Report. Suspicious Transaction Reports are reported to FinCEN. FinCEN examines these reports in detail.
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Recordkeeping
Financial institutions must keep all records and reports for at least five years to ensure BSA compliance. In addition, the qualifications of the records must be such that they meet BSA requirements.
