As 2021 draws to a close, we look ahead to the trends and new requirements that we may see over the next twelve months for financial institutions (FIs) in the white collar crime sphere as regulators, legislators and individuals continue to adapt to the pandemic and prevailing public opinion. 1. An increase in fraud-related investigations … Continue Reading
On 14 December 2021, Transparency International UK (a UK independent anti-corruption organisation) issued a report that explores certain money laundering risks associated with electronic money institutions (EMIs). The report also sets out certain recommendations including that the FCA should conduct a new thematic risk review of the sector. The report also recommends that the FCA’s … Continue Reading
On 19 November 2021, HM Treasury published it latest annual report for the period 2019 to 2020 on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing supervision. The report provides information about the performance of UK anti-money laundering / countering the financing of terrorism supervisors between 6 April 2019 – 5 April 2020 and fulfils the Treasury’s obligation, … Continue Reading
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has made it clear: fighting corporate crime is one of the administration’s top priorities. This week, as part of DOJ’s coordinated roll-out of a suite of new corporate-related policies, deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco issued a memorandum that significantly revises DOJ corporate criminal enforcement policies and practices. In … Continue Reading
On 1 November 2021, there was published on the legislation.gov.uk website The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (No. 3) (High-Risk Countries) Regulations 2021 together with an explanatory memorandum. These Regulations amend the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 by substituting the list of high risk third … Continue Reading
On 28 October 2021, HM Treasury (HMT) published its latest advisory notice concerning money laundering and terrorist financing controls in higher risk jurisdictions. The advisory notice follows two statements that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published on 21 October 2021 identifying jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering / counter terrorist financing regimes. … Continue Reading
On 28 October 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published updated guidance for a risk-based approach for virtual assets (VA) and virtual asset service providers (VASP). This guidance mentions how the FATF plans to closely monitor the VA and VASP sector for any material changes that necessitate further clarification of the FATF standards. This … Continue Reading
On 20 October 2021, the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) published a paper, Anti-Money Laundering Transaction Monitoring in the Markets Sector. Firms have already established Anti-Financial Crime programmes designed to detect suspicion of money laundering, supported by anti-money laundering (AML) transaction monitoring (TM). This has been a regulatory requirement for financial services firms across Europe … Continue Reading
On 23 September 2021, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) published: A revised sectoral piece in part II of its guidance – Sector 15 (Trade Finance). The new text, which has been submitted to HM Treasury for approval, may be accessed under “Revisions” within the “Guidance” tab. Proposed revisions to Part I Chapter 5.7 … Continue Reading
On 31 August, the FCA published a statement on its website reminding firms about the financial crime risks linked to Afghanistan. The FCA reminds firms that they must establish and maintain systems and controls to mitigate the risk that they could be used to further financial crime. The FCA also cites the obligations under the … Continue Reading
On 10 August 2021, the FCA published a letter that it had sent to the Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Committee, Mel Stride MP, regarding the freezing of bank accounts of certain vulnerable customers. In the letter the FCA explains, among other things, what customer service standards it expects from banks when they … Continue Reading
On 11 August 2021, the European Commission changed the closing date of the following consultations from 17 September 2021 to 6 October 2021: Revision of EU rules on Anti-Money Laundering (recast) Revision of EU rules on Anti-Money Laundering (recast of a former instrument) EU Anti-money laundering supervisor Revision of EU rules on Anti-Money Laundering (new … Continue Reading
This Treasury’s consultation invites views and evidence on the steps that the government proposes to take to amend the MLRs. The amendments are required to ensure that the UK continues to meet international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force, whilst also strengthening and ensuring clarity on how the anti-money laundering regime operates, following … Continue Reading
On 20 July 2021, the European Commission published a package of legislative proposals designed to strengthen the EU’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) rules. The legislative package consists of a: Regulation establishing a new EU AML/CFT Authority. In the financial sector, this new European Authority directly supervise financial sector entities that … Continue Reading
On 20 July 2021, the European Commission published a draft Directive as regards access of Member State competent authorities to centralised bank account registries through the single access point. Article 32a of the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive requires Member States to put in place centralised automated mechanisms, such as central registers or central electronic data … Continue Reading
On 7 July 2021, the UK Home Office published a circular (the Circular) setting out the Government’s position on the use of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) in civil litigation. There is a tension between the fact that SARs can be disclosable in civil litigation (see previous blog here) and that disclosing that a SAR has … Continue Reading
On 12 July 2021, there was published on the legislation.gov.uk website The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (No. 2) (High-Risk Countries) Regulations 2021. These Regulations amend the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRS) by substituting the list of high-risk third countries in Schedule 3ZA for … Continue Reading
On 12 July 2021, HM Treasury issued an updated advisory notice regarding the risks posed by jurisdictions with unsatisfactory money laundering and terrorist financing controls. The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (No.2) (High-Risk Countries) Regulations 2021 will come into force on 13 July 2021 and will amend the list of High-Risk Third Countries specified … Continue Reading
On 1 July 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published: A stocktake report that examines commercially available or emerging technologies that facilitate advanced anti-money laundering / countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) analytics within regulated entities or collaborative analytics between financial institutions, while respecting data privacy and protection. A report that highlights the necessary … Continue Reading
On 30 June 2021, there was published: Report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on ethnically or racially motivated terrorism financing. The report, which is based on inputs from around 30 jurisdictions, focuses on the funding behind ethnically or racially motivated terrorism, also referred to as extreme right-wing terrorism. The report highlights the challenges … Continue Reading
On 29 June 2021, the FCA published a Dear CEO letter that it had issued detailing common themes coming out of its recent assessments of retail banks’ financial crime systems and controls. In the Dear CEO letter the FCA reminds firms that the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) places a responsibility on all senior … Continue Reading
On 29 June 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published guidance on proliferation financing risk assessment and mitigation. The guidance seeks to develop a common understanding about the impact of the changes that FATF made in October last year to Recommendation 1 and its Interpretative Note to require countries and private sector entities to … Continue Reading
On 28 June 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published: A press release concerning the outcomes of the FATF Plenary held on 20-25 June 2021. The press release for the plenary reports that delegates finalised work in a number of important areas. These include a report that details the financial flows linked to environmental … Continue Reading
On 2 June 2021, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) updated its guidance on prosecuting failure to report cases under s330 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). Prior to the update, the CPS did not charge failure to report offences under s330 POCA where there was insufficient evidence to establish that money laundering was in fact … Continue Reading
