Money laundering

Financial institutions and authorities could better track money launderers if legalized-marijuana-related businesses were not included in SARs.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and enhanced data sharing among lenders could go a long way toward spotting suspicious patterns in daily financial activity and bad actors, experts say.

The news media investigation of transactions by nefarious actors puts certain large banks in a negative light, but it also points to inefficient use of suspicious activity reports and other anti-money-laundering issues that the industry has decried for years.

With lawmakers weighing changes to Bank Secrecy Act requirements, the Government Accountability Office urged the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to establish written policies for expanding use of the agency’s database.

A new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists says JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and several other global institutions kept moving illicit funds after receiving warnings from U.S. officials.

The future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Fed’s supervisory regime for the biggest financial institutions, reform of the Community Reinvestment Act and a host of other industry-related issues are on the ballot this November.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is seeking to create a better-defined standard for effective AML compliance programs and is considering whether to impose formal requirements that banks assess their laundering risk.

The federal banking agencies clarified that minor violations of Bank Secrecy Act rules will typically not result in a cease-and-desist order.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., was finally declared the winner weeks after election day, while Rep. Lacy Clay of Missouri was defeated by a progressive challenger.

Lexicon Bank in Las Vegas, whose chairman was a professional gambler, is actively courting poker players to open deposit accounts for their tournament winnings.

Legislation that would force transparency around company ownership would be better than another burdensome anti-money-laundering rule.

After the House passed a defense spending bill that included the provision ahead of negotiations with the Senate, industry representatives are optimistic Congress will finally shift the burden of reporting true-owner information from banks to their business clients.

Quantexa, which uses artificial intelligence to detect money laundering and other financial crime, is already being used by HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank.

The National Defense Authorization Act, approved in a vote late Tuesday, includes measures to require companies to disclose their true owners at the point of incorporation and to improve information-sharing between banks and the government.

Banks' fear of big penalties, the changing tactics of nimble criminals and a greater openness among regulators to new approaches are among the factors driving big investments.

Unity Bancorp must improve its policies and procedures and increase staff training on following Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering laws.

Deutsche Bank says it’s on track to meet its financial targets while Commerzbank's top two executives resign; recent Fed stress test results show European banks' poor performance in U.S. continues.

The Supreme Court ruled the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's leadership structure is unconstitutional and refused to hear a lawsuit over the NCUA's field of membership rule. Credit unions are watching to see what happens now.

The Fed stopped short of banning payouts entirely following bank stress tests; banks get greater freedom to invest in venture capital funds and reduced collateral on swap trades.

A key Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney has a slim lead over a primary challenger, Suraj Patel, a progressive political activist and New York University professor.