| FOR RELEASE at 12:00 Noon EDT | For further information | ||||
| Friday, July 28, 2006 | Contact: Katie Fitzgerald | ||||
| OTS 06-034 | 202/906-6677 | ||||
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today released the revised Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual (manual). The revised manual reflects the ongoing commitment of the federal banking agencies and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to provide current and consistent guidance on risk-based policies, procedures, and processes for banking organizations to comply with the BSA and safeguard operations from money laundering and terrorist financing. The manual has been updated to further clarify supervisory expectations and incorporate regulatory changes since the manual’s 2005 release. The revisions also draw upon feedback from the banking industry and examination staff.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Office of Thrift Supervision revised the manual in collaboration with FinCEN, the delegated administrator of the BSA. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors served in a consultative role. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) collaborated on the revisions made to the section that addresses compliance with regulations enforced by OFAC.
Revisions to the 2006 version of the manual are noted in the table of contents. The manual is located on the FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase at: www.ffiec.gov/bsa_aml_infobase/default.htm. Questions about the manual should be directed to your primary federal regulator.
Media Contacts:
| Federal Reserve | Deborah Lagomarsino | (202) 452-2955 |
| FDIC | David Barr | (202) 898-6992 |
| NCUA | Cherie Umbel | (703) 518-6337 |
| OCC | Kevin Mukri | (202) 874-5770 |
| OTS | Katie Fitzgerald | (202) 906-6677 |
The Office of Thrift Supervision, an office of the Department of the Treasury, regulates and supervises the nation's thrift industry. OTS's mission is to ensure the safety and soundness of, and compliance with consumer protection laws by, thrift institutions, and to support their role as home mortgage lenders and providers of other community credit and financial services. OTS also oversees the activities and operations of thrift holding companies that own or control thrift institutions. Copies of OTS news releases and other documents are available at the OTS web page at www.ots.treas.gov.
Created: Friday, 7/28/2006