Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Basics for MSBs
Money Services Businesses play a vital role in providing financial services to the "unbanked" and "self-banked" in communities across the United States. Click on the headings below to learn more!What is an MSB?
Money Services Businesses (MSBs) are a type of
financial institution under the law.
They are subject to regulatory oversight by
the
Internal Revenue
Service
and various state banking departments. They must
comply with the
Bank Secrecy
Act
as well as various state laws and regulations.
Your business may be an MSB if...
The business offers one or more of the following services:
The business:
The business:
Your business may be an MSB if...
The business offers one or more of the following services:
- money orders
- traveler's checks
- check cashing
- currency dealing or exchange
- stored value
The business:
- Conducts more than $1,000.00 in money services business activity with the same person (in one type of activity) on the same day
The business:
- Provides money transfer services in any amount.
Challenges
MSBs provide necessary services to their clients
such as check cashing, money transfer, money
orders, and prepaid value cards at convenient
times and competitive rates.
MSBs operate within the law as excellent citizens
in order to protect their business, their
customers, their communities, and our nation from
criminal money laundering and terrorist financing
activities. They vary in size and scope from
small operations offering financial services as a
minor side business to multi-national
corporations offering financial services as their
core business. And...like all financial
institutions, MSBs are potentially at risk of
being used to facilitate money laundering and/or
terrorist financing.
As the nation continues its efforts to guard against potential terrorist activities and its efforts to protect communities from illegal activities, the expectations for compliance by MSBs and the institutions serving them are continuing to increase. Civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance can be substantial. Unnecessary fear of the risk of doing business with MSBs has made it difficult for MSBs to maintain existing banking relationships or to find new relationships when necessary.
It is more important than ever for MSBs to have sound, risk-based policies and procedures in place and to actively manage their banking relationships. MSB Compliance can help your business do just that.
As the nation continues its efforts to guard against potential terrorist activities and its efforts to protect communities from illegal activities, the expectations for compliance by MSBs and the institutions serving them are continuing to increase. Civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance can be substantial. Unnecessary fear of the risk of doing business with MSBs has made it difficult for MSBs to maintain existing banking relationships or to find new relationships when necessary.
It is more important than ever for MSBs to have sound, risk-based policies and procedures in place and to actively manage their banking relationships. MSB Compliance can help your business do just that.
FinCEN Registration
A Principal MSB must register with the
Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
and maintain certain records regarding its Agent
and/or foreign counterparty relationships.
An MSB may provide a variety of financial services as a Principal, as the Agent of another MSB, or as both Principal and Agent. A Principal must perform appropriate due diligence of any agents, maintain agent files documenting their contractual relationships with agents and must register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). A registration form must be completed accurately and then be mailed to the IRS' Detroict Computing Center. Registrations may need to be updated periodically depending upon certain triggering events and must be renewed by the second December 31st following initial registration and every two years thereafter.
An MSB may provide a variety of financial services as a Principal, as the Agent of another MSB, or as both Principal and Agent. A Principal must perform appropriate due diligence of any agents, maintain agent files documenting their contractual relationships with agents and must register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). A registration form must be completed accurately and then be mailed to the IRS' Detroict Computing Center. Registrations may need to be updated periodically depending upon certain triggering events and must be renewed by the second December 31st following initial registration and every two years thereafter.
State Registration
Most state governments require registration or
licensing of firms providing check cashing, check
sales or money transmittal; such requirements are
in addition to those under Federal
law.
It is important for each MSB to ensure that it obtains and maintains appropriate state registration(s) and licensing in addition to registration with FinCEN as an MSB. Banks are required to confirm that their MSB customers have obtained necessary state licenses as part of managing their BSA risk. State law often contains specific requirements outside the scope of the Bank Secrecy Act such as record keeping, pricing and marketing constraints. A best practice is for the Independent Review for BSA compliance to also review and confirm compliance with state requirements for the MSB's financial services.
It is important for each MSB to ensure that it obtains and maintains appropriate state registration(s) and licensing in addition to registration with FinCEN as an MSB. Banks are required to confirm that their MSB customers have obtained necessary state licenses as part of managing their BSA risk. State law often contains specific requirements outside the scope of the Bank Secrecy Act such as record keeping, pricing and marketing constraints. A best practice is for the Independent Review for BSA compliance to also review and confirm compliance with state requirements for the MSB's financial services.
Name BSA Officer
Each financial institution (including MSBs) must
designate an appropriate employee to be
responsible for compliance with the Bank Secrecy
Act, i.e. a "BSA Officer".
The person should have sufficient knowledge, training and authority to ensure the MSB's risks are managed appropriately. The person should be named in a manner appropriate to the type of entity with the appointment renewed annually.
The person should have sufficient knowledge, training and authority to ensure the MSB's risks are managed appropriately. The person should be named in a manner appropriate to the type of entity with the appointment renewed annually.
Risk Assessment
Each money services business should identify and
assess the money laundering risks that may be
associated with its unique products, services,
customers, and geographic
locations.
Regardless of where risks arise, money services businesses must take reasonable steps to manage them. Each money services business should focus resources on the areas of its business that management believes pose the greatest risks, and the level of sophistication of the associated internal controls should be appropriate for the size, structure, risks, and complexity of the money services business.
Regardless of where risks arise, money services businesses must take reasonable steps to manage them. Each money services business should focus resources on the areas of its business that management believes pose the greatest risks, and the level of sophistication of the associated internal controls should be appropriate for the size, structure, risks, and complexity of the money services business.
Policies and Procedures
All MSBs are expected to develop written,
risk-based policies, procedures and controls
covering their responsibilities under the Bank
Secrecy Act.
Operations should then be managed to conform to
the written compliance policies and tested
periodically via the Independent Review process.
MSB Compliance helps you comply by evaluating your risks and providing a written Risk Assessment. The risk assessment is then used to help tailor a written BSA/AML and OFAC policies and procedures document. We can also review and update your existing procedures for you. Businesses may also choose to do the "tailoring" themselves starting with the templates provided with the MSB BSA/AML Compliance Guide package. This option can help an MSB to get compliant quickly at low cost.
MSB Compliance helps you comply by evaluating your risks and providing a written Risk Assessment. The risk assessment is then used to help tailor a written BSA/AML and OFAC policies and procedures document. We can also review and update your existing procedures for you. Businesses may also choose to do the "tailoring" themselves starting with the templates provided with the MSB BSA/AML Compliance Guide package. This option can help an MSB to get compliant quickly at low cost.
Periodic Training
MSBs are required to provide appropriate training
for their employees annually.
Such training helps the MSB to ensure an
effective implementation of its policies and
procedures thereby helping to protect the
business, community and nation from the ill
effects of money laundering and terrorist
financing.
FinCEN provides some free training resources to MSBs through their MSB.gov website. Principal MSBs typically provide training and materials to their Agents too, that should be used. Please see the Compliance Products tab for compliance materials available from MSB Compliance Inc. at a fee and MoneyServicesBusiness.com for additional free information.
The main thing is that your employees need to have sufficient knowledge to understand their responsibilities and accurately follow your written compliance procedures. Training should be documented to demonstrate that an MSB is meeting the training requirement.
MSB Compliance can provide compliance training and coaching during consulting engagements. We are also available to assist larger MSBs in developing tailored training programs.
FinCEN provides some free training resources to MSBs through their MSB.gov website. Principal MSBs typically provide training and materials to their Agents too, that should be used. Please see the Compliance Products tab for compliance materials available from MSB Compliance Inc. at a fee and MoneyServicesBusiness.com for additional free information.
The main thing is that your employees need to have sufficient knowledge to understand their responsibilities and accurately follow your written compliance procedures. Training should be documented to demonstrate that an MSB is meeting the training requirement.
MSB Compliance can provide compliance training and coaching during consulting engagements. We are also available to assist larger MSBs in developing tailored training programs.
Independent Review
The Bank Secrecy Act requires money services
businesses to establish anti-money laundering
programs that include "an independent audit
function to test programs." The primary purpose
of the independent review is to monitor the
adequacy of the money services business'
anti-money laundering program. The review should
determine whether the business is operating in
compliance with the requirements of the Bank
Secrecy Act and of the business' own policies and
procedures.
Inquire at this link for assistance in performing your company's Independent Review.
Inquire at this link for assistance in performing your company's Independent Review.
MSB Compliance, Inc. can help you to comply with the BSA and maintain your vital banking relationship.
We are dedicated to helping MSBs meet their Bank Secrecy Act compliance obligations, protect their communities, and maintain their vital banking relationships through effective Bank Secrecy Act Anti-Money Laundering programs, guidance and best practices.
MSB Compliance, Inc. - We help you protect your business, your community and our nation!
Finally, an outstanding guidebook to help MSBs understand and comply with the Bank Secrecy Act. The book comes with templates, forms and guidance to help you tailor an effective compliance program to the needs of your business.
Click on the image to learn more then order from the Products page.