Records and Reports on Monetary Instruments Transactions, s. 5318 to s. 5321

Section 5318§Sections Compliance, exemptions, and summons authority

(a) General Powers of Secretary.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may (except under section 5315 of this title and regulations prescribed under section 5315)—

(1) except as provided in subsections (b)(2) and (h)(4), delegate duties and powers under this subchapter to an appropriate supervising agency and the United States Postal Service;

(2) require a class of domestic financial institutions or nonfinancial trades or businesses to maintain appropriate procedures, including the collection and reporting of certain information as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe by regulation, to ensure compliance with this subchapter and regulations prescribed under this subchapter or to guard against money laundering, the financing of terrorism, or other forms of illicit finance;

(3) examine any books, papers, records, or other data of domestic financial institutions or nonfinancial trades or businesses relevant to the recordkeeping or reporting requirements of this subchapter;

(4) summon a financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business, an officer or employee of a financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business (including a former officer or employee), or any person having possession, custody, or care of the reports and records required under this subchapter, to appear before the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate at a time and place named in the summons and to produce such books, papers, records, or other data, and to give testimony, under oath, as may be relevant or material to an investigation described in subsection (b);

(5) exempt from the requirements of this subchapter any class of transactions within any State if the Secretary determines that—

(A) under the laws of such State, that class of transactions is subject to requirements substantially similar to those imposed under this subchapter; and

(B) there is adequate provision for the enforcement of such requirements;

(6) rely on examinations conducted by a State supervisory agency of a category of financial institution, if the Secretary determines that—

(A) the category of financial institution is required to comply with this subchapter and regulations prescribed under this subchapter; or

(B) the State supervisory agency examines the category of financial institution for compliance with this subchapter and regulations prescribed under this subchapter; and

(7) prescribe an appropriate exemption from a requirement under this subchapter and regulations prescribed under this subchapter. The Secretary may revoke an exemption under this paragraph or paragraph (5) by actually or constructively notifying the parties affected. A revocation is effective during judicial review.

(b) Limitations on Summons Power.—

(1) Scope of power.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may take any action described in paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a) only in connection with investigations for the purpose of civil enforcement of violations of this subchapter, section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, section 411 1 1 See References in Text note below. of the National Housing Act, or chapter 2 of Public Law 91–508 (12 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.) or any regulation under any such provision.

(2) Authority to issue.—

A summons may be issued under subsection (a)(4) only by, or with the approval of, the Secretary of the Treasury or a supervisory level delegate of the Secretary of the Treasury.

(c) Administrative Aspects of Summons.—

(1) Production at designated site.—

A summons issued pursuant to this section may require that books, papers, records, or other data stored or maintained at any place be produced at any designated location in any State or in any territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States not more than 500 miles distant from any place where the financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business operates or conducts business in the United States.

(2) Fees and travel expenses.—

Persons summoned under this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage for travel in the United States that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States.

(3) No liability for expenses.—

The United States shall not be liable for any expense, other than an expense described in paragraph (2), incurred in connection with the production of books, papers, records, or other data under this section.

(d) Service of Summons.—

Service of a summons issued under this section may be by registered mail or in such other manner calculated to give actual notice as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.

(e) Contumacy or Refusal.—

(1) Referral to attorney general.—

In case of contumacy by a person issued a summons under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a) or a refusal by such person to obey such summons, the Secretary of the Treasury shall refer the matter to the Attorney General.

(2) Jurisdiction of court.—

The Attorney General may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which—

(A) the investigation which gave rise to the summons is being or has been carried on;

(B) the person summoned is an inhabitant; or

(C) the person summoned carries on business or may be found,

to compel compliance with the summons.

(3) Court order.—

The court may issue an order requiring the person summoned to appear before the Secretary or his delegate to produce books, papers, records, and other data, to give testimony as may be necessary to explain how such material was compiled and maintained, and to pay the costs of the proceeding.

(4) Failure to comply with order.—

Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.

(5) Service of process.—

All process in any case under this subsection may be served in any judicial district in which such person may be found.

(f) Written and Signed Statement Required.—

No person shall qualify for an exemption under subsection (a)(5) 1 unless the relevant financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business prepares and maintains a statement which—

(1) describes in detail the reasons why such person is qualified for such exemption; and

(2) contains the signature of such person.

(g) Reporting of Suspicious Transactions.—

(1) In general.—

The Secretary may require any financial institution, and any director, officer, employee, or agent of any financial institution, to report any suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation.

(2) Notification prohibited.—

(A) In general.—

If a financial institution or any director, officer, employee, or agent of any financial institution, voluntarily or pursuant to this section or any other authority, reports a suspicious transaction to a government agency—

(i)

neither the financial institution, director, officer, employee, or agent of such institution (whether or not any such person is still employed by the institution), nor any other current or former director, officer, or employee of, or contractor for, the financial institution or other reporting person, may notify any person involved in the transaction that the transaction has been reported or otherwise reveal any information that would reveal that the transaction has been reported,; 2 2 So in original. and

(ii) no current or former officer or employee of or contractor for the Federal Government or of or for any State, local, tribal, or territorial government within the United States, who has any knowledge that such report was made may disclose to any person involved in the transaction that the transaction has been reported, or otherwise reveal any information that would reveal that the transaction has been reported, other than as necessary to fulfill the official duties of such officer or employee.

(B) Disclosures in certain employment references.—

(i) Rule of construction.—

Notwithstanding the application of subparagraph (A) in any other context, subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as prohibiting any financial institution, or any director, officer, employee, or agent of such institution, from including information that was included in a report to which subparagraph (A) applies—

(I) in a written employment reference that is provided in accordance with section 18(w) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in response to a request from another financial institution; or

(II) in a written termination notice or employment reference that is provided in accordance with the rules of a self-regulatory organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,

except that such written reference or notice may not disclose that such information was also included in any such report, or that such report was made.

(ii) Information not required.—

Clause (i) shall not be construed, by itself, to create any affirmative duty to include any information described in clause (i) in any employment reference or termination notice referred to in clause (i).

(3) Liability for disclosures.—

(A) In general.—

Any financial institution that makes a voluntary disclosure of any possible violation of law or regulation to a government agency or makes a disclosure pursuant to this subsection or any other authority, and any director, officer, employee, or agent of such institution who makes, or requires another to make any such disclosure, shall not be liable to any person under any law or regulation of the United States, any constitution, law, or regulation of any State or political subdivision of any State, or under any contract or other legally enforceable agreement (including any arbitration agreement), for such disclosure or for any failure to provide notice of such disclosure to the person who is the subject of such disclosure or any other person identified in the disclosure.

(B) Rule of construction.—

Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as creating—

(i) any inference that the term “person”, as used in such subparagraph, may be construed more broadly than its ordinary usage so as to include any government or agency of government; or

(ii) any immunity against, or otherwise affecting, any civil or criminal action brought by any government or agency of government to enforce any constitution, law, or regulation of such government or agency.

(4) Single designee for reporting suspicious transactions.—

(A) In general.—

In requiring reports under paragraph (1) of suspicious transactions, the Secretary of the Treasury shall designate, to the extent practicable and appropriate, a single officer or agency of the United States to whom such reports shall be made.

(B) Duty of designee.—

The officer or agency of the United States designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall refer any report of a suspicious transaction to any appropriate law enforcement, supervisory agency, or United States intelligence agency for use in the conduct of intelligence or counterintelligence activities, including analysis, to protect against international terrorism.

(C) Coordination with other reporting requirements.—

Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as precluding any supervisory agency for any financial institution from requiring the financial institution to submit any information or report to the agency or another agency pursuant to any other applicable provision of law.

(5) Considerations in imposing reporting requirements.—

(A) Definitions.—

In this paragraph, the terms “Bank Secrecy Act”, “Federal functional regulator”, “State bank supervisor”, and “State credit union supervisor” have the meanings given the terms in section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.

(B) Requirements.—

In imposing any requirement to report any suspicious transaction under this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, appropriate representatives of State bank supervisors, State credit union supervisors, and the Federal functional regulators, shall consider items that include—

(i) the national priorities established by the Secretary;

(ii) the purposes described in section 5311; and

(iii) the means by or form in which the Secretary shall receive such reporting, including the burdens imposed by such means or form of reporting on persons required to provide such reporting, the efficiency of the means or form, and the benefits derived by the means or form of reporting by Federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community in countering financial crime, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

(C) Compliance program.—

Reports filed under this subsection shall be guided by the compliance program of a covered financial institution with respect to the Bank Secrecy Act, including the risk assessment processes of the covered institution that should include a consideration of priorities established by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 5318.

(D) Streamlined data and real-time reporting.—

(i) Requirement to establish system.—

In considering the means by or form in which the Secretary of the Treasury shall receive reporting pursuant to subparagraph (B)(iii), the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and in consultation with appropriate representatives of the State bank supervisors, State credit union supervisors, and Federal functional regulators, shall—

(I) establish streamlined, including automated, processes to, as appropriate, permit the filing of noncomplex categories of reports that—

(aa) reduce burdens imposed on persons required to report; and

(bb) do not diminish the usefulness of the reporting to Federal law enforcement agencies, national security officials, and the intelligence community in combating financial crime, including the financing of terrorism;

(II) subject to clause (ii)—

(aa) permit streamlined, including automated, reporting for the categories described in subclause (I); and

(bb) establish the conditions under which the reporting described in item (aa) is permitted; and

(III) establish additional systems and processes as necessary to allow for the reporting described in subclause (II)(aa).

(ii) Standards.—

The Secretary of the Treasury—

(I) in carrying out clause (i), shall establish standards to ensure that streamlined reports relate to suspicious transactions relevant to potential violations of law (including regulations); and

(II) in establishing the standards under subclause (I), shall consider transactions, including structured transactions, designed to evade any regulation promulgated under this subchapter, certain fund and asset transfers with little or no apparent economic or business purpose, transactions without lawful purposes, and any other transaction that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(iii) Rule of construction.—

Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to preclude the Secretary of the Treasury from—

(I) requiring reporting as provided for in subparagraphs (B) and (C); or

(II) notifying Federal law enforcement with respect to any transaction that the Secretary has determined implicates a national priority established by the Secretary.

(6) Sharing of threat pattern and trend information.—

(A) Definitions.—

In this paragraph—

(i) the terms “Bank Secrecy Act” and “Federal functional regulator” have the meanings given the terms in section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020; and

(ii) the term “typology” means a technique to launder money or finance terrorism.

(B) Suspicious activity report activity review.—

Not less frequently than semiannually, the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network shall publish threat pattern and trend information to provide meaningful information about the preparation, use, and value of reports filed under this subsection by financial institutions, as well as other reports filed by financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act.

(C) Inclusion of typologies.—

In each publication published under subparagraph (B), the Director shall provide financial institutions and the Federal functional regulators with typologies, including data that can be adapted in algorithms if appropriate, relating to emerging money laundering and terrorist financing threat patterns and trends.

(7) Rules of construction.—

Nothing in this subsection may be construed as precluding the Secretary of the Treasury from—

(A) requiring reporting as provided under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (6); or

(B) notifying a Federal law enforcement agency with respect to any transaction that the Secretary has determined directly implicates a national priority established by the Secretary.

(8) Pilot program on sharing with foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates.—

(A) In general.—

(i) Issuance of rules.—

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue rules, in coordination with the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, establishing the pilot program described in subparagraph (B).

(ii) Considerations.—

In issuing the rules required under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that the sharing of information described in subparagraph (B)—

(I) is limited by the requirements of Federal and State law enforcement operations;

(II) takes into account potential concerns of the intelligence community; and

(III) is subject to appropriate standards and requirements regarding data security and the confidentiality of personally identifiable information.

(B) Pilot program described.—

The pilot program described in this paragraph shall—

(i) permit a financial institution with a reporting obligation under this subsection to share information related to reports under this subsection, including that such a report has been filed, with the institution’s foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates for the purpose of combating illicit finance risks, notwithstanding any other provision of law except subparagraph (A) or (C);

(ii) permit the Secretary to consider, implement, and enforce provisions that would hold a foreign affiliate of a United States financial institution liable for the disclosure of information related to reports under this section;

(iii) terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, except that the Secretary of the Treasury may extend the pilot program for not more than 2 years upon submitting to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(I) a certification that the extension is in the national interest of the United States, with a detailed explanation of the reasons that the extension is in the national interest of the United States;

(II) after appropriate consultation by the Secretary with participants in the pilot program, an evaluation of the usefulness of the pilot program, including a detailed analysis of any illicit activity identified or prevented as a result of the program; and

(III) a detailed legislative proposal providing for a long-term extension of activities under the pilot program, measures to ensure data security, and confidentiality of personally identifiable information, including expected budgetary resources for those activities, if the Secretary of the Treasury determines that a long-term extension is appropriate.

(C) Prohibition involving certain jurisdictions.—

(i) In general.—

In issuing the rules required under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the Treasury may not permit a financial institution to share information on reports under this subsection with a foreign branch, subsidiary, or affiliate located in—

(I) the People’s Republic of China;

(II) the Russian Federation; or

(III) a jurisdiction that—

(aa) is a state sponsor of terrorism;

(bb) is subject to sanctions imposed by the Federal Government; or

(cc) the Secretary has determined cannot reasonably protect the security and confidentiality of such information.

(ii) Exceptions.—

The Secretary is authorized to make exceptions, on a case-by-case basis, for a financial institution located in a jurisdiction listed in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i), if the Secretary notifies the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives that such an exception is in the national security interest of the United States.

(D) Implementation updates.—

Not later than 360 days after the date on which rules are issued under subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the designee of the Secretary, shall brief the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives on—

(i) the degree of any information sharing permitted under the pilot program and a description of criteria used by the Secretary to evaluate the appropriateness of the information sharing;

(ii) the effectiveness of the pilot program in identifying or preventing the violation of a United States law or regulation and mechanisms that may improve that effectiveness; and

(iii) any recommendations to amend the design of the pilot program.

(9) Treatment of foreign jurisdiction-originated reports.—

Information related to a report received by a financial institution from a foreign affiliate with respect to a suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation shall be subject to the same confidentiality requirements provided under this subsection for a report of a suspicious transaction described in paragraph (1).

(10) No offshoring compliance.—

No financial institution may establish or maintain any operation located outside of the United States the primary purpose of which is to ensure compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act as a result of the sharing granted under this subsection.

(11) Definitions.—

In this subsection:

(A) Affiliate.—

The term “affiliate” means an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another entity.

(B) Bank secrecy act; state bank supervisor; state credit union supervisor.—

The terms “Bank Secrecy Act”, “State bank supervisor”, and “State credit union supervisor” have the meanings given the terms in section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.

(h) Anti-Money Laundering Programs.—

(1) In general.—

In order to guard against money laundering and the financing of terrorism through financial institutions, each financial institution shall establish anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism programs, including, at a minimum—

(A) the development of internal policies, procedures, and controls;

(B) the designation of a compliance officer;

(C) an ongoing employee training program; and

(D) an independent audit function to test programs.

(2) Regulations.—

(A) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the appropriate Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), may prescribe minimum standards for programs established under paragraph (1), and may exempt from the application of those standards any financial institution that is not subject to the provisions of the rules contained in part 103 of title 31, of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor rule thereto, for so long as such financial institution is not subject to the provisions of such rules.

(B) Factors.—

In prescribing the minimum standards under subparagraph (A), and in supervising and examining compliance with those standards, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the appropriate Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (12 U.S.C. 6809)) shall take into account the following:

(i) Financial institutions are spending private compliance funds for a public and private benefit, including protecting the United States financial system from illicit finance risks.

(ii) The extension of financial services to the underbanked and the facilitation of financial transactions, including remittances, coming from the United States and abroad in ways that simultaneously prevent criminal persons from abusing formal or informal financial services networks are key policy goals of the United States.

(iii) Effective anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism programs safeguard national security and generate significant public benefits by preventing the flow of illicit funds in the financial system and by assisting law enforcement and national security agencies with the identification and prosecution of persons attempting to launder money and undertake other illicit activity through the financial system.

(iv) Anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism programs described in paragraph (1) should be—

(I) reasonably designed to assure and monitor compliance with the requirements of this subchapter and regulations promulgated under this subchapter; and

(II) risk-based, including ensuring that more attention and resources of financial institutions should be directed toward higher-risk customers and activities, consistent with the risk profile of a financial institution, rather than toward lower-risk customers and activities.

(3) Concentration accounts.—

The Secretary may prescribe regulations under this subsection that govern maintenance of concentration accounts by financial institutions, in order to ensure that such accounts are not used to prevent association of the identity of an individual customer with the movement of funds of which the customer is the direct or beneficial owner, which regulations shall, at a minimum—

(A) prohibit financial institutions from allowing clients to direct transactions that move their funds into, out of, or through the concentration accounts of the financial institution;

(B) prohibit financial institutions and their employees from informing customers of the existence of, or the means of identifying, the concentration accounts of the institution; and

(C) require each financial institution to establish written procedures governing the documentation of all transactions involving a concentration account, which procedures shall ensure that, any time a transaction involving a concentration account commingles funds belonging to 1 or more customers, the identity of, and specific amount belonging to, each customer is documented.

(4) Priorities.—

(A) In general.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), relevant State financial regulators, and relevant national security agencies, shall establish and make public priorities for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism policy.

(B) Updates.—

Not less frequently than once every 4 years, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), relevant State financial regulators, and relevant national security agencies, shall update the priorities established under subparagraph (A).

(C) Relation to national strategy.—

The Secretary of the Treasury shall ensure that the priorities established under subparagraph (A) are consistent with the national strategy for countering the financing of terrorism and related forms of illicit finance developed under section 261 of the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 934).

(D) Rulemaking.—

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Treasury establishes the priorities under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and in consultation with the Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)) and relevant State financial regulators, shall, as appropriate, promulgate regulations to carry out this paragraph.

(E) Supervision and examination.—

The review by a financial institution of the priorities established under subparagraph (A) and the incorporation of those priorities, as appropriate, into the risk-based programs established by the financial institution to meet obligations under this subchapter, the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107–56; 115 Stat. 272), and other anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism laws and regulations shall be included as a measure on which a financial institution is supervised and examined for compliance with those obligations.

(5) Duty.—

The duty to establish, maintain and enforce an anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism program as required by this subsection shall remain the responsibility of, and be performed by, persons in the United States who are accessible to, and subject to oversight and supervision by, the Secretary of the Treasury and the appropriate Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)).

(i) Due Diligence for United States Private Banking and Correspondent Bank Accounts Involving Foreign Persons.—

(1) In general.—

Each financial institution that establishes, maintains, administers, or manages a private banking account or a correspondent account in the United States for a non-United States person, including a foreign individual visiting the United States, or a representative of a non-United States person shall establish appropriate, specific, and, where necessary, enhanced, due diligence policies, procedures, and controls that are reasonably designed to detect and report instances of money laundering through those accounts.

(2) Additional standards for certain correspondent accounts.—

(A) In general.—

Subparagraph (B) shall apply if a correspondent account is requested or maintained by, or on behalf of, a foreign bank operating—

(i) under an offshore banking license; or

(ii) under a banking license issued by a foreign country that has been designated—

(I) as noncooperative with international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization of which the United States is a member, with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization concurs; or

(II) by the Secretary of the Treasury as warranting special measures due to money laundering concerns.

(B) Policies, procedures, and controls.—

The enhanced due diligence policies, procedures, and controls required under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, ensure that the financial institution in the United States takes reasonable steps—

(i) to ascertain for any such foreign bank, the shares of which are not publicly traded, the identity of each of the owners of the foreign bank, and the nature and extent of the ownership interest of each such owner;

(ii) to conduct enhanced scrutiny of such account to guard against money laundering and report any suspicious transactions under subsection (g); and

(iii) to ascertain whether such foreign bank provides correspondent accounts to other foreign banks and, if so, the identity of those foreign banks and related due diligence information, as appropriate under paragraph (1).

(3) Minimum standards for private banking accounts.—

If a private banking account is requested or maintained by, or on behalf of, a non-United States person, then the due diligence policies, procedures, and controls required under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, ensure that the financial institution takes reasonable steps—

(A) to ascertain the identity of the nominal and beneficial owners of, and the source of funds deposited into, such account as needed to guard against money laundering and report any suspicious transactions under subsection (g); and

(B) to conduct enhanced scrutiny of any such account that is requested or maintained by, or on behalf of, a senior foreign political figure, or any immediate family member or close associate of a senior foreign political figure, that is reasonably designed to detect and report transactions that may involve the proceeds of foreign corruption.

(4) Definitions.—

For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) Offshore banking license.—

The term “offshore banking license” means a license to conduct banking activities which, as a condition of the license, prohibits the licensed entity from conducting banking activities with the citizens of, or with the local currency of, the country which issued the license.

(B) Private banking account.—

The term “private banking account” means an account (or any combination of accounts) that—

(i) requires a minimum aggregate deposits of funds or other assets of not less than $1,000,000;

(ii) is established on behalf of 1 or more individuals who have a direct or beneficial ownership interest in the account; and

(iii) is assigned to, or is administered or managed by, in whole or in part, an officer, employee, or agent of a financial institution acting as a liaison between the financial institution and the direct or beneficial owner of the account.

(j) Prohibition on United States Correspondent Accounts With Foreign Shell Banks.—

(1) In general.—

A financial institution described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 5312(a)(2) (in this subsection referred to as a “covered financial institution”) shall not establish, maintain, administer, or manage a correspondent account in the United States for, or on behalf of, a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country.

(2) Prevention of indirect service to foreign shell banks.—

A covered financial institution shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any correspondent account established, maintained, administered, or managed by that covered financial institution in the United States for a foreign bank is not being used by that foreign bank to indirectly provide banking services to another foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country. The Secretary of the Treasury shall, by regulation, delineate the reasonable steps necessary to comply with this paragraph.

(3) Exception.—

Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not prohibit a covered financial institution from providing a correspondent account to a foreign bank, if the foreign bank—

(A) is an affiliate of a depository institution, credit union, or foreign bank that maintains a physical presence in the United States or a foreign country, as applicable; and

(B) is subject to supervision by a banking authority in the country regulating the affiliated depository institution, credit union, or foreign bank described in subparagraph (A), as applicable.

(4) Definitions.—

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) the term “affiliate” means a foreign bank that is controlled by or is under common control with a depository institution, credit union, or foreign bank; and

(B) the term “physical presence” means a place of business that—

(i) is maintained by a foreign bank;

(ii) is located at a fixed address (other than solely an electronic address) in a country in which the foreign bank is authorized to conduct banking activities, at which location the foreign bank—

(I) employs 1 or more individuals on a full-time basis; and

(II) maintains operating records related to its banking activities; and

(iii) is subject to inspection by the banking authority which licensed the foreign bank to conduct banking activities.

(k) Bank Records Related to Anti-Money Laundering Programs.—

(1) Definitions.—

For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) Appropriate federal banking agency.—

The term “appropriate Federal banking agency” has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(B) Covered financial institution.—

The term “covered financial institution” means an institution referred to in subsection (j)(1).

(C) Incorporated term.—

The term “correspondent account” has the same meaning as in section 5318A(e)(1)(B).

(2) 120-hour rule.—

Not later than 120 hours after receiving a request by an appropriate Federal banking agency for information related to anti-money laundering compliance by a covered financial institution or a customer of such institution, a covered financial institution shall provide to the appropriate Federal banking agency, or make available at a location specified by the representative of the appropriate Federal banking agency, information and account documentation for any account opened, maintained, administered or managed in the United States by the covered financial institution.

(3) Foreign bank records.—

(A) Subpoena of records.—

(i) In general.—

Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General may issue a subpoena to any foreign bank that maintains a correspondent account in the United States and request any records relating to the correspondent account or any account at the foreign bank, including records maintained outside of the United States, that are the subject of—

(I) any investigation of a violation of a criminal law of the United States;

(II) any investigation of a violation of this subchapter;

(III) a civil forfeiture action; or

(IV) an investigation pursuant to section 5318A.

(ii) Production of records.—

The foreign bank on which a subpoena described in clause (i) is served shall produce all requested records and authenticate all requested records with testimony in the manner described in—

(I) rule 902(12) of the Federal Rules of Evidence; or

(II) section 3505 of title 18.

(iii) Issuance and service of subpoena.—

A subpoena described in clause (i)—

(I) shall designate—

(aa) a return date; and

(bb) the judicial district in which the related investigation is proceeding; and

(II) may be served—

(aa) in person;

(bb) by mail or fax in the United States if the foreign bank has a representative in the United States; or

(cc) if applicable, in a foreign country under any mutual legal assistance treaty, multilateral agreement, or other request for international legal or law enforcement assistance.

(iv) Relief from subpoena.—

(I) In general.—

At any time before the return date of a subpoena described in clause (i), the foreign bank on which the subpoena is served may petition the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the related investigation is proceeding, as designated in the subpoena, to modify or quash—

(aa) the subpoena; or

(bb) the prohibition against disclosure described in subparagraph (C).

(II) Conflict with foreign secrecy or confidentiality.—

An assertion that compliance with a subpoena described in clause (i) would conflict with a provision of foreign secrecy or confidentiality law shall not be a sole basis for quashing or modifying the subpoena.

(B) Acceptance of service.—

(i) Maintaining records in the united states.—

Any covered financial institution that maintains a correspondent account in the United States for a foreign bank shall maintain records in the United States identifying—

(I) the owners of record and the beneficial owners of the foreign bank; and

(II) the name and address of a person who—

(aa) resides in the United States; and

(bb) is authorized to accept service of legal process for records covered under this subsection.

(ii) Law enforcement request.—

Upon receipt of a written request from a Federal law enforcement officer for information required to be maintained under this paragraph, a covered financial institution shall provide the information to the requesting officer not later than 7 days after receipt of the request.

(C) Nondisclosure of subpoena.—

(i) In general.—

No officer, director, partner, employee, or shareholder of, or agent or attorney for, a foreign bank on which a subpoena is served under this paragraph shall, directly or indirectly, notify any account holder involved or any person named in the subpoena issued under subparagraph (A)(i) and served on the foreign bank about the existence or contents of the subpoena.

(ii) Damages.—

Upon application by the Attorney General for a violation of this subparagraph, a foreign bank on which a subpoena is served under this paragraph shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty in an amount equal to—

(I) double the amount of the suspected criminal proceeds sent through the correspondent account of the foreign bank in the related investigation; or

(II) if no such proceeds can be identified, not more than $250,000.

(D) Enforcement.—

(i) In general.—

If a foreign bank fails to obey a subpoena issued under subparagraph (A)(i), the Attorney General may invoke the aid of the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the investigation or related proceeding is occurring to compel compliance with the subpoena.

(ii) Court orders and contempt of court.—

A court described in clause (i) may—

(I) issue an order requiring the foreign bank to appear before the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General to produce—

(aa) certified records, in accordance with—

(AA) rule 902(12) of the Federal Rules of Evidence; or

(BB) section 3505 of title 18; or

(bb) testimony regarding the production of the certified records; and

(II) punish any failure to obey an order issued under subclause (I) as contempt of court.

(iii) Service of process.—

All process in a case under this subparagraph shall be served on the foreign bank in the same manner as described in subparagraph (A)(iii).

(E) Termination of correspondent relationship.—

(i) Termination upon receipt of notice.—

A covered financial institution shall terminate any correspondent relationship with a foreign bank not later than 10 business days after the date on which the covered financial institution receives written notice from the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General if, after consultation with the other, the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General, as applicable, determines that the foreign bank has failed—

(I) to comply with a subpoena issued under subparagraph (A)(i); or

(II) to prevail in proceedings before—

(aa) the appropriate district court of the United States after challenging a subpoena described in subclause (I) under subparagraph (A)(iv)(I); or

(bb) a court of appeals of the United States after appealing a decision of a district court of the United States under item (aa).

(ii) Limitation on liability.—

A covered financial institution shall not be liable to any person in any court or arbitration proceeding for—

(I) terminating a correspondent relationship under this subparagraph; or

(II) complying with a nondisclosure order under subparagraph (C).

(iii) Failure to terminate relationship or failure to comply with a subpoena.—

(I) Failure to terminate relationship.—

A covered financial institution that fails to terminate a correspondent relationship under clause (i) shall be liable for a civil penalty in an amount that is not more than $25,000 for each day that the covered financial institution fails to terminate the relationship.

(II) Failure to comply with a subpoena.—

(aa) In general.—

Upon failure to comply with a subpoena under subparagraph (A)(i), a foreign bank may be liable for a civil penalty assessed by the issuing agency in an amount that is not more than $50,000 for each day that the foreign bank fails to comply with the terms of a subpoena.

(bb) Additional penalties.—

Beginning after the date that is 60 days after a foreign bank fails to comply with a subpoena under subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General may seek additional penalties and compel compliance with the subpoena in the appropriate district court of the United States.

(cc) Venue for relief.—

A foreign bank may seek review in the appropriate district court of the United States of any penalty assessed under this clause and the issuance of a subpoena under subparagraph (A)(i).

(F) Enforcement of civil penalties.—

Upon application by the United States, any funds held in the correspondent account of a foreign bank that is maintained in the United States with a covered financial institution may be seized by the United States to satisfy any civil penalties that are imposed—

(i) under subparagraph (C)(ii);

(ii) by a court for contempt under subparagraph (D); or

(iii) under subparagraph (E)(iii)(II).

(l) Identification and Verification of Accountholders.—

(1) In general.—

Subject to the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations setting forth the minimum standards for financial institutions and their customers regarding the identity of the customer that shall apply in connection with the opening of an account at a financial institution.

(2) Minimum requirements.—

The regulations shall, at a minimum, require financial institutions to implement, and customers (after being given adequate notice) to comply with, reasonable procedures for—

(A) verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account to the extent reasonable and practicable;

(B) maintaining records of the information used to verify a person’s identity, including name, address, and other identifying information; and

(C) consulting lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the financial institution by any government agency to determine whether a person seeking to open an account appears on any such list.

(3) Factors to be considered.—

In prescribing regulations under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the various types of accounts maintained by various types of financial institutions, the various methods of opening accounts, and the various types of identifying information available.

(4) Certain financial institutions.—

In the case of any financial institution the business of which is engaging in financial activities described in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (including financial activities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission), the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed jointly with each Federal functional regulator (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission) appropriate for such financial institution.

(5) Exemptions.—

The Secretary (and, in the case of any financial institution described in paragraph (4), any Federal agency described in such paragraph) may, by regulation or order, exempt any financial institution or type of account from the requirements of any regulation prescribed under this subsection in accordance with such standards and procedures as the Secretary may prescribe.

(6) Effective date.—

Final regulations prescribed under this subsection shall take effect before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001.

(m) Applicability of Rules.—

Any rules promulgated pursuant to the authority contained in section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1829b) shall apply, in addition to any other financial institution to which such rules apply, to any person that engages as a business in the transmission of funds, including any person who engages as a business in an informal money transfer system or any network of people who engage as a business in facilitating the transfer of money domestically or internationally outside of the conventional financial institutions system.

(n) Reporting of Certain Cross-Border Transmittals of Funds.—

(1) In general.—

Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring such financial institutions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network certain cross-border electronic transmittals of funds, if the Secretary determines that reporting of such transmittals is reasonably necessary to conduct the efforts of the Secretary against money laundering and terrorist financing.

(2) Limitation on reporting requirements.—

Information required to be reported by the regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall not exceed the information required to be retained by the reporting financial institution pursuant to section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, unless—

(A) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary jointly determine that a particular item or items of information are not currently required to be retained under such section or such regulations; and

(B) the Secretary determines, after consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, that the reporting of such information is reasonably necessary to conduct the efforts of the Secretary to identify cross-border money laundering and terrorist financing.

(3) Form and manner of reports.—

In prescribing the regulations required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, subject to paragraph (2), determine the appropriate form, manner, content, and frequency of filing of the required reports.

(4) Feasibility report.—

(A) In general.—

Before prescribing the regulations required under paragraph (1), and as soon as is practicable after the date of enactment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives that—

(i) identifies the information in cross-border electronic transmittals of funds that may be found in particular cases to be reasonably necessary to conduct the efforts of the Secretary to identify money laundering and terrorist financing, and outlines the criteria to be used by the Secretary to select the situations in which reporting under this subsection may be required;

(ii) outlines the appropriate form, manner, content, and frequency of filing of the reports that may be required under such regulations;

(iii) identifies the technology necessary for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to receive, keep, exploit, protect the security of, and disseminate information from reports of cross-border electronic transmittals of funds to law enforcement and other entities engaged in efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing; and

(iv) discusses the information security protections required by the exercise of the Secretary’s authority under this subsection.

(B) Consultation.—

In reporting the feasibility report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group established by the Secretary, and any other group considered by the Secretary to be relevant.

(5) Regulations.—

(A) In general.—

Subject to subparagraph (B), the regulations required by paragraph (1) shall be prescribed in final form by the Secretary, in consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, before the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004.

(B) Technological feasibility.—

No regulations shall be prescribed under this subsection before the Secretary certifies to the Congress that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has the technological systems in place to effectively and efficiently receive, keep, exploit, protect the security of, and disseminate information from reports of cross-border electronic transmittals of funds to law enforcement and other entities engaged in efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing.

(o) Testing.—

(1) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the head of each agency to which the Secretary has delegated duties or powers under subsection (a), shall issue a rule to specify with respect to technology and related technology internal processes designed to facilitate compliance with the requirements under this subchapter, the standards by which financial institutions are to test the technology and related technology internal processes.

(2) Standards.—

The standards described in paragraph (1) may include—

(A) an emphasis on using innovative approaches such as machine learning or other enhanced data analytics processes;

(B) risk-based testing, oversight, and other risk management approaches of the regime, prior to and after implementation, to facilitate calibration of relevant systems and prudently evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of their implementation;

(C) specific criteria for when and how risk-based testing against existing processes should be considered to test and validate the effectiveness of relevant systems and situations and standards for when other risk management processes, including those developed by or through third party risk and compliance management systems, and oversight may be more appropriate;

(D) specific standards for a risk governance framework for financial institutions to provide oversight and to prudently evaluate and monitor systems and testing processes both pre- and post-implementation;

(E) requirements for appropriate data privacy and information security; and

(F) a requirement that the system configurations, including any applicable algorithms and any validation of those configurations used by the regime be disclosed to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the appropriate Federal functional regulator upon request.

(3) Confidentiality of algorithms.—

(A) In general.—

If a financial institution or any director, officer, employee, or agent of any financial institution, voluntarily or pursuant to this subsection or any other authority, discloses the algorithms of the financial institution to a government agency, the algorithms and any materials associated with the creation or adaption of such algorithms shall be considered confidential and not subject to public disclosure.

(B) Freedom of information act.—

Section 552(a)(3) of title 5 (commonly known as the “Freedom of Information Act”) shall not apply to any request for algorithms described in subparagraph (A) and any materials associated with the creation or adaptation of the algorithms.

(4) Definition.—

In this subsection, the term “Federal functional regulator” means—

(A) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

(B) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;

(C) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

(D) the National Credit Union Administration;

(E) the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

(F) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

(p) Sharing of Compliance Resources.—

(1) Sharing permitted.—

In order to more efficiently comply with the requirements of this subchapter, 2 or more financial institutions may enter into collaborative arrangements, as described in the statement entitled “Interagency Statement on Sharing Bank Secrecy Act Resources”, published on October 3, 2018, by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

(2) Outreach.—

The Secretary of the Treasury and the appropriate supervising agencies shall carry out an outreach program to provide financial institutions with information, including best practices, with respect to the collaborative arrangements described in paragraph (1).

(q) Interagency Coordination and Consultation.—

(1) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury shall, as appropriate, invite an appropriate State bank supervisor and an appropriate State credit union supervisor to participate in the interagency consultation and coordination with the Federal depository institution regulators regarding the development or modification of any rule or regulation carrying out this subchapter.

(2) Rules of construction.—

Nothing in this subsection may be construed to—

(A) affect, modify, or limit the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the methods or forms of interagency consultation and coordination; or

(B) require the Secretary of the Treasury or a Federal depository institution regulator to coordinate or consult with an appropriate State bank supervisor or to invite such supervisor to participate in interagency consultation and coordination with respect to a matter, including a rule or regulation, specifically affecting only Federal depository institutions or Federal credit unions.

(3) Definitions.—

In this subsection:

(A) Appropriate state bank supervisor.—

The term “appropriate State bank supervisor” means the Chairman or members of the State Liaison Committee of the Financial Institutions Examination Council.

(B) Appropriate state credit union supervisor.—

The term “appropriate State credit union supervisor” means the Chairman or members of the State Liaison Committee of the Financial Institutions Examination Council.

(C) Federal credit union.—

The term “Federal credit union” has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752).

(D) Federal depository institution.—

The term “Federal depository institution” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(E) Federal depository institution regulators.—

The term “Federal depository institution regulator” means a member of the Financial Institutions Examination Council to which is delegated any authority of the Secretary under subsection (a)(1).

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 999; Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1356(a), (b), (c)(2), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–23, 3207–24; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §§ 6185(e), 6469(c), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4357, 4377; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, §§ 1504(d)(1), 1513, 1517(b), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4055, 4058, 4059; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330017(b)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2149; Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, §§ 403(a), 410, 413(b)(1), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2245, 2252, 2254; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, §§ 312(a), 313(a), 319(b), 325, 326(a), 351, 352(a), 358(b), 359(c), 365(c)(2)(B), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 304, 306, 312, 317, 320, 322, 326, 328, 335; Pub. L. 108–159, title VIII, § 811(g), Dec. 4, 2003, 117 Stat. 2012; Pub. L. 108–458, title VI, §§ 6202(h), 6203(c), (d), 6302, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3746–3748; Pub. L. 109–177, title IV, § 407, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 245; Pub. L. 112–74, div. C, title I, § 118, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 113–156, § 2(a), Aug. 8, 2014, 128 Stat. 1829; Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXI, §§ 6101(b), 6102(c), title LXII, §§ 6202, 6206, 6209(a), 6212, 6213(a), title LXIII, §§ 6301, 6308(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4550, 4553, 4566, 4571, 4573, 4576, 4579, 4584, 4590.)

In the section, before clause (1), the words “have the responsibility to assure compliance with the requirements of this chapter” in 31:1054(a) are omitted as unnecessary because of section 321 of the revised title. The words “(except under section 5315 of this title and regulations prescribed under section 5315)” are added because 31:1141–1143 was not enacted as a part of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act that is restated in this subchapter. In clause (1), the words “duties and powers” are substituted for “responsibilities” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “bank supervisory agency, or other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the words “by regulation” and “as he may deem” are omitted as surplus. The words “and regulations prescribed under this subchapter” are added because of the restatement. In clause (3), the word “prescribe” is substituted for “make” in 31:1055 for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The words “otherwise imposed”, 31:1055(1st sentence), and the words “in his discretion” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1), (m), and (n)(2), is classified to section 1829b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 411 of the National Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), which was classified to section 1730d of Title 12, was repealed by Pub. L. 101–73, title IV, § 407, Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 363.

Chapter 2 of Public Law 91–508 (12 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (b)(1), probably means chapter 2 (§§ 121 to 129) of title I of Pub. L. 91–508, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1116, which is classified generally to chapter 21 (§ 1951 et seq.) of Title 12. For complete classification of chapter 2 to the Code, see Tables.

Subsection (a)(5), referred to in subsec. (f), was redesignated subsection (a)(6) by section 410(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–325.

Section 18(w) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(B)(i)(I), is classified to section 1828(w) of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (g)(5)(A), (6)(A)(i), (11)(B), is section 6003 of Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4548, which is set out as a note under section 5311 of this title.

The date of enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsecs. (g)(8)(A)(i), (B)(iii), and (h)(4)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–283, which was approved Jan. 1, 2021.

Section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, referred to in subsecs. (h)(2), (4)(A), (B), (D), (5) and (l)(4), is classified to section 6809 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Section 261 of the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 934), referred to in subsec. (h)(4)(C), probably means section 261 of title II of Pub. L. 115–44, Aug. 2, 2017, 131 Stat. 934, which is not classified to the Code.

The USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107–56; 115 Stat. 272), referred to in subsec. (h)(4)(E), is Pub. L. 107—56, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 272, also known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2001 Amendment note set out under section 1 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and Tables.

The Federal Rules of Evidence, referred to in subsec. (k)(3)(A)(ii)(I), (D)(ii)(I)(aa)(AA), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, referred to in subsec. (l)(4), is classified to section 1843(k) of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

The date of enactment of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, referred to in subsec. (l)(6), is the date of enactment of title III of Pub. L. 107–56, which was approved Oct. 26, 2001.

The date of enactment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, referred to in subsec. (n)(4)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 108–458, which was approved Dec. 17, 2004.

The date of enactment of the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, referred to in subsec. (n)(5)(A), probably means the date of enactment of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, title I of Pub. L. 108–458, which was approved Dec. 17, 2004.

For provisions relating to the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group, referred to in subsec. (n)(4)(B), see section 1564 of Pub. L. 102–550, which is set out as a note under section 5311 of this title.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6101(b)(1), substituted “subsections (b)(2) and (h)(4)” for “subsection (b)(2)”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6102(c), inserted “, including the collection and reporting of certain information as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe by regulation,” after “appropriate procedures” and “, the financing of terrorism, or other forms of illicit finance” after “money laundering”.

Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6212(b)(1), inserted “or otherwise reveal any information that would reveal that the transaction has been reported,” after “transaction has been reported”.

Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6212(b)(2), inserted “or otherwise reveal any information that would reveal that the transaction has been reported,” after “transaction has been reported,”.

Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6202, added par. (5).

Subsec. (g)(6), (7). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6206, added pars. (6) and (7).

Subsec. (g)(8) to (11). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6212(a), added pars. (8) to (11).

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6101(b)(2)(A), inserted “and the financing of terrorism” after “money laundering” and “and countering the financing of terrorism” after “anti-money laundering” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6101(b)(2)(B), inserted subpar. (A) designation and heading and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (h)(4), (5). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6101(b)(2)(C), added pars. (4) and (5).

Subsec. (k)(1)(B), (C). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6308(a)(1), added subpar. (B) and redesignated subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6308(a)(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par (3), which related to foreign bank records, including summons or subpoena of records, acceptance of service, and termination of correspondent relationship.

Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6209(a), added subsec. (o).

Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6213(a), added subsec. (p).

Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6301, added subsec. (q).

2014—Subsec. (a)(6), (7). Pub. L. 113–156 added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

2011—Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 112–74, § 118(1), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “the financial institution, director, officer, employee, or agent may not notify any person involved in the transaction that the transaction has been reported; and”.

Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 112–74, § 118(2), substituted “no current or former officer or employee of or contractor for” for “no officer or employee of” and inserted “or for” before “any State”.

2006—Subsec. (n)(4)(A). Pub. L. 109–177 substituted “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004” for “National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004” in introductory provisions.

2004—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6202(h), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 107–56, § 325. See 2001 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (i)(3)(B). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(c)(1), inserted comma before “that is reasonably designed”.

Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(c)(2), substituted “Definitions” for “Definition” in heading.

Subsec. (k)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(d), substituted “section 5318A(e)(1)(B)” for “section 5318A(f)(1)(B)”.

Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6302, added subsec. (n).

2003—Subsecs. (l), (m). Pub. L. 108–159 redesignated subsec. (l), relating to applicability of rules, as (m).

2001—Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B)(ii), inserted “or nonfinancial trades or businesses” after “financial institutions”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B)(i), inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution” in two places.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B)(i), inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B)(i), inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 107–56, § 351(b), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A financial institution, and a director, officer, employee, or agent of any financial institution, who voluntarily reports a suspicious transaction, or that reports a suspicious transaction pursuant to this section or any other authority, may not notify any person involved in the transaction that the transaction has been reported.”

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 351(a), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Any financial institution that makes a disclosure of any possible violation of law or regulation or a disclosure pursuant to this subsection or any other authority, and any director, officer, employee, or agent of such institution, shall not be liable to any person under any law or regulation of the United States or any constitution, law, or regulation of any State or political subdivision thereof, for such disclosure or for any failure to notify the person involved in the transaction or any other person of such disclosure.”

Subsec. (g)(4)(B). Pub. L. 107–56, § 358(b), substituted “, supervisory agency, or United States intelligence agency for use in the conduct of intelligence or counterintelligence activities, including analysis, to protect against international terrorism” for “or supervisory agency”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–56, § 352(a), reenacted heading without change and amended text of subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(1) In general.—In order to guard against money laundering through financial institutions, the Secretary may require financial institutions to carry out anti-money laundering programs, including at a minimum

“(A) the development of internal policies, procedures, and controls,

“(B) the designation of a compliance officer,

“(C) an ongoing employee training program, and

“(D) an independent audit function to test programs.

“(2) Regulations.—The Secretary may prescribe minimum standards for programs established under paragraph (1).”

Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 325, as amended by Pub. L. 108–458, § 6202(h), added par. (3).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–56, § 312(a), added subsec. (i).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 107–56, § 313(a), added subsec. (j).

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 107–56, § 319(b), added subsec. (k).

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 107–56, § 359(c), added subsec. (l) relating to applicability of rules.

Pub. L. 107–56, § 326(a), added subsec. (l) relating to identification and verification of accountholders.

1994—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 103–325, § 410(a), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 103–325, § 410(b), inserted “under this paragraph or paragraph (5)” after “revoke an exemption” in penultimate sentence.

Pub. L. 103–325, § 410(a)(2), redesignated par. (5) as (6).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330017(b)(1), and Pub. L. 103–325, § 413(b)(1), amended directory language of Pub. L. 102–550, § 1517(b), identically. See 1992 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 103–325, § 403(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330017(b)(1), and Pub. L. 103–325, § 413(b)(1), amended directory language of Pub. L. 102–550, § 1517(b), identically. See 1992 Amendment note below.

1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1504(d)(1), substituted “supervising agency and the United States Postal Service” for “supervising agency or the Postal Inspection Service and the Postal Service”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1513, inserted before semicolon “or to guard against money laundering”.

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1517(b), as amended by Pub. L. 103–322, § 330017(b)(1), and Pub. L. 103–325, § 413(b)(1), added subsecs. (g) and (h).

1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6469(c), inserted “or the Postal Inspection Service” after “appropriate supervising agency”.

Pub. L. 100–690, § 6185(e), inserted “and the Postal Service” after “appropriate supervising agency”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–570, § 1356(c)(2), substituted “Compliance, exemptions, and summons authority” for “Compliance and exemptions” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1356(a)(1)–(5), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), added subsec. heading, inserted “except as provided in subsection (b)(2),” in par. (1), added pars. (3) and (4), and redesignated former par. (3) as (5).

Subsecs. (b) to (e). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1356(a)(6), added subsecs. (b) to (e).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1356(b), added subsec. (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by sections 6202(h) and 6203(c), (d) of Pub. L. 108–458 effective as if included in Pub. L. 107–56, as of the date of enactment of such Act, and no amendment made by Pub. L. 107–56 that is inconsistent with such amendment to be deemed to have taken effect, see section 6205 of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 1828 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–159 subject to joint regulations establishing effective dates as prescribed by Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission, except as otherwise provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–159, set out as a note under section 1681 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 312(b)(2), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 306, provided that: “Section 5318(i) of title 31, United States Code, as added by this section, shall take effect 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001], whether or not final regulations are issued under paragraph (1) [set out below], and the failure to issue such regulations shall in no way affect the enforceability of this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note below] or the amendments made by this section. Section 5318(i) of title 31, United States Code, as added by this section, shall apply with respect to accounts covered by that section 5318(i), that are opened before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.”

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 313(b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 307, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect at the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001].”

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 352(b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 322, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect at the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001].”

Amendment by section 358(b) of Pub. L. 107–56 applicable with respect to reports filed or records maintained on, before, or after Oct. 26, 2001, see section 358(h) of Pub. L. 107–56, set out as a note under section 1829b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330017(b)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2149, and Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, § 413(b)(1), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2254, provided that the identical amendments made by those sections are effective Oct. 28, 1992.

Regulations

Secretary of the Treasury required to consult with State supervisory agencies in issuing rules to carry out subsec. (a)(6) of this section, see section 2(c) of Pub. L. 113–156, set out as a Consultation with State Agencies note under section 1958 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 312(b)(1), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 305, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001], the Secretary [of the Treasury], in consultation with the appropriate Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act [15 U.S.C. 6809]) of the affected financial institutions, shall further delineate, by regulation, the due diligence policies, procedures, and controls required under section 5318(i)(1) of title 31, United States Code, as added by this section.”

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 352(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 322, provided that: “Before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001], the Secretary [of the Treasury] shall prescribe regulations that consider the extent to which the requirements imposed under this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note above] are commensurate with the size, location, and activities of the financial institutions to which such regulations apply.”

Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXII, § 6213(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4579, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] may not be construed to require financial institutions to share resources.”

[For definition of “financial institution” as used in section 6213(b) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out above, see section 6003 of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a Definitions note under section 5311 of this title.]

Law Enforcement Feedback on Suspicious Activity Reports

Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXII, § 6203, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4568, provided that: “(a) Feedback.— “(1) In general.— FinCEN [Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of Department of the Treasury] shall, to the extent practicable, periodically solicit feedback from individuals designated under section 5318(h)(1)(B) of title 31, United States Code, by a variety of financial institutions representing a cross-section of the reporting industry to review the suspicious activity reports filed by those financial institutions and discuss trends in suspicious activity observed by FinCEN. “(2) Coordination with federal functional regulators and state bank supervisors and state credit union supervisors.— FinCEN shall provide any feedback solicited under paragraph (1) to the appropriate Federal functional regulator, State bank supervisor, or State credit union supervisor during the regularly scheduled examination of the applicable financial institution by the Federal functional regulator, State bank supervisor, or State credit union supervisor, as applicable. “(b) Disclosure Required.— “(1) In general.— “(A) Periodic disclosure.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), FinCEN shall, to the extent practicable, periodically disclose to each financial institution, in summary form, information on suspicious activity reports filed that proved useful to Federal or State criminal or civil law enforcement agencies during the period since the most recent disclosure under this paragraph to the financial institution. “(B) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to require the public disclosure of any information filed with the Department of the Treasury under the Bank Secrecy Act. “(2) Exception for ongoing or closed investigations and to protect national security.— FinCEN shall not be required to disclose to a financial institution any information under paragraph (1) that relates to an ongoing or closed investigation or implicates the national security of the United States. “(3) Maintenance of statistics.— With respect to the actions described in paragraph (1), FinCEN shall keep records of all such actions taken to assist with the production of the reports described in paragraph (5) of section 5318(g) of title 31, United States Code, as added by section 6202 of this division, and for other purposes. “(4) Coordination with department of justice.— The information disclosed by FinCEN under this subsection shall include information from the Department of Justice regarding— “(A) the review and use by the Department of suspicious activity reports filed by the applicable financial institution during the period since the most recent disclosure under this subsection; and “(B) any trends in suspicious activity observed by the Department.”

[For definition of terms used in section 6203 of Pub. L. 116–283, set out above, see section 6003 of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a Definitions note under section 5311 of this title.]

Update of Manual

For requirement that Financial Institutions Examination Council manual be updated to reflect the rulemaking required by subsec. (o) of this section, as added by Pub. L. 116–283, see section 6209(b)(1) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note under section 3305 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Grace Period

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 319(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 314, provided that: “Financial institutions shall have 60 days from the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 2001] to comply with the provisions of section 5318(k) of title 31, United States Code, as added by this section.”

“Federal Functional Regulator” Includes Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 321(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 315, provided that: “For purposes of this Act [probably should be “title”, see Short Title of 2001 Amendment note set out under section 5301 of this title] and any amendment made by this Act to any other provision of law, the term ‘Federal functional regulator’ includes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.”

Reporting of Suspicious Activities by Securities Brokers and Dealers; Investment Company Study

Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 356(a), (b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 324, provided that: “(a) Deadline for Suspicious Activity Reporting Requirements for Registered Brokers and Dealers.— The Secretary [of the Treasury], after consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, shall publish proposed regulations in the Federal Register before January 1, 2002, requiring brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.] to submit suspicious activity reports under section 5318(g) of title 31, United States Code. Such regulations shall be published in final form not later than July 1, 2002. “(b) Suspicious Activity Reporting Requirements For Futures Commission Merchants, Commodity Trading Advisors, and Commodity Pool Operators.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, may prescribe regulations requiring futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, and commodity pool operators registered under the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.] to submit suspicious activity reports under section 5318(g) of title 31, United States Code.”

Reports

Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, § 403(b), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2246, provided that: “(1) Reports required.— The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit an annual report to the Congress at the times required under paragraph (2) on the number of suspicious transactions reported to the officer or agency designated under section 5318(g)(4)(A) of title 31, United States Code, during the period covered by the report and the disposition of such reports. “(2) Time for submitting reports.— The 1st report required under paragraph (1) shall be filed before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994 [Sept. 23, 1994] and each subsequent report shall be filed within 90 days after the end of each of the 5 calendar years which begin after such date of enactment.”

Designation Required To Be Made Expeditiously

Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, § 403(c), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2246, provided that: “The initial designation of an officer or agency of the United States pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be made before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 23, 1994].”

Improvement of Identification of Money Laundering Schemes

Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, § 404, Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2246, provided that: “(a) Enhanced Training, Examinations, and Referrals by Banking Agencies.— Before the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 23, 1994], each appropriate Federal banking agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and other appropriate law enforcement agencies— “(1) review and enhance training and examination procedures to improve the identification of money laundering schemes involving depository institutions; and “(2) review and enhance procedures for referring cases to any appropriate law enforcement agency. “(b) Improved Reporting of Criminal Schemes by Law Enforcement Agencies.— The Secretary of the Treasury and each appropriate law enforcement agency shall provide, on a regular basis, information regarding money laundering schemes and activities involving depository institutions to each appropriate Federal banking agency in order to enhance each agency’s ability to examine for and identify money laundering activity. “(c) Report to Congress.— The Financial Institutions Examination Council shall submit a report on the progress made in carrying out subsection (a) and the usefulness of information received pursuant to subsection (b) to the Congress by the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. “(d) Definition.— For purposes of this section, the term ‘appropriate Federal banking agency’ has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1813].”

Section 5318A§Sections Special measures for jurisdictions, financial institutions, international transactions, or types of accounts of primary money laundering concern

(a) International Counter-Money Laundering Requirements.—

(1) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may require domestic financial institutions and domestic financial agencies to take 1 or more of the special measures described in subsection (b) if the Secretary finds that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts is of primary money laundering concern, in accordance with subsection (c).

(2) Form of requirement.—

The special measures described in—

(A) subsection (b) may be imposed in such sequence or combination as the Secretary shall determine;

(B) paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) may be imposed by regulation, order, or otherwise as permitted by law; and

(C) subsection (b)(5) may be imposed only by regulation.

(3) Duration of orders; rulemaking.—

Any order by which a special measure described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) is imposed (other than an order described in section 5326)—

(A) shall be issued together with a notice of proposed rulemaking relating to the imposition of such special measure; and

(B) may not remain in effect for more than 120 days, except pursuant to a rule promulgated on or before the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of issuance of such order.

(4) Process for selecting special measures.—

In selecting which special measure or measures to take under this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury—

(A)

shall consult with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, any other appropriate Federal banking agency (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) 1 1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. the Secretary of State, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the National Credit Union Administration Board, and in the sole discretion of the Secretary, such other agencies and interested parties as the Secretary may find to be appropriate; and

(B) shall consider—

(i) whether similar action has been or is being taken by other nations or multilateral groups;

(ii) whether the imposition of any particular special measure would create a significant competitive disadvantage, including any undue cost or burden associated with compliance, for financial institutions organized or licensed in the United States;

(iii) the extent to which the action or the timing of the action would have a significant adverse systemic impact on the international payment, clearance, and settlement system, or on legitimate business activities involving the particular jurisdiction, institution, class of transactions, or type of account; and

(iv) the effect of the action on United States national security and foreign policy.

(5) No limitation on other authority.—

This section shall not be construed as superseding or otherwise restricting any other authority granted to the Secretary, or to any other agency, by this subchapter or otherwise.

(b) Special Measures.—

The special measures referred to in subsection (a), with respect to a jurisdiction outside of the United States, financial institution operating outside of the United States, class of transaction within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts are as follows:

(1) Recordkeeping and reporting of certain financial transactions.—

(A) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may require any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency to maintain records, file reports, or both, concerning the aggregate amount of transactions, or concerning each transaction, with respect to a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts if the Secretary finds any such jurisdiction, institution, class of transactions, or type of account to be of primary money laundering concern.

(B) Form of records and reports.—

Such records and reports shall be made and retained at such time, in such manner, and for such period of time, as the Secretary shall determine, and shall include such information as the Secretary may determine, including—

(i) the identity and address of the participants in a transaction or relationship, including the identity of the originator of any funds transfer;

(ii) the legal capacity in which a participant in any transaction is acting;

(iii) the identity of the beneficial owner of the funds involved in any transaction, in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary determines to be reasonable and practicable to obtain and retain the information; and

(iv) a description of any transaction.

(2) Information relating to beneficial ownership.—

In addition to any other requirement under any other provision of law, the Secretary may require any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency to take such steps as the Secretary may determine to be reasonable and practicable to obtain and retain information concerning the beneficial ownership of any account opened or maintained in the United States by a foreign person (other than a foreign entity whose shares are subject to public reporting requirements or are listed and traded on a regulated exchange or trading market), or a representative of such a foreign person, that involves a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts if the Secretary finds any such jurisdiction, institution, or transaction or type of account to be of primary money laundering concern.

(3) Information relating to certain payable-through accounts.—

If the Secretary finds a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, or 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States to be of primary money laundering concern, the Secretary may require any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency that opens or maintains a payable-through account in the United States for a foreign financial institution involving any such jurisdiction or any such financial institution operating outside of the United States, or a payable through account through which any such transaction may be conducted, as a condition of opening or maintaining such account—

(A) to identify each customer (and representative of such customer) of such financial institution who is permitted to use, or whose transactions are routed through, such payable-through account; and

(B) to obtain, with respect to each such customer (and each such representative), information that is substantially comparable to that which the depository institution obtains in the ordinary course of business with respect to its customers residing in the United States.

(4) Information relating to certain correspondent accounts.—

If the Secretary finds a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, or 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States to be of primary money laundering concern, the Secretary may require any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency that opens or maintains a correspondent account in the United States for a foreign financial institution involving any such jurisdiction or any such financial institution operating outside of the United States, or a correspondent account through which any such transaction may be conducted, as a condition of opening or maintaining such account—

(A) to identify each customer (and representative of such customer) of any such financial institution who is permitted to use, or whose transactions are routed through, such correspondent account; and

(B) to obtain, with respect to each such customer (and each such representative), information that is substantially comparable to that which the depository institution obtains in the ordinary course of business with respect to its customers residing in the United States.

(5) Prohibitions or conditions on opening or maintaining certain correspondent or payable-through accounts.—

If the Secretary finds a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, or 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States to be of primary money laundering concern, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, may prohibit, or impose conditions upon, the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or payable-through account by any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency for or on behalf of a foreign banking institution, if such correspondent account or payable-through account involves any such jurisdiction or institution, or if any such transaction may be conducted through such correspondent account or payable-through account.

(c) Consultations and Information To Be Considered in Finding Jurisdictions, Institutions, Types of Accounts, or Transactions To Be of Primary Money Laundering Concern.—

(1) In general.—

In making a finding that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that a jurisdiction outside of the United States, 1 or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts is of primary money laundering concern so as to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to take 1 or more of the special measures described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

(2) Additional considerations.—

In making a finding described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider in addition such information as the Secretary determines to be relevant, including the following potentially relevant factors:

(A) Jurisdictional factors.—

In the case of a particular jurisdiction—

(i) evidence that organized criminal groups, international terrorists, or entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or missiles have transacted business in that jurisdiction;

(ii) the extent to which that jurisdiction or financial institutions operating in that jurisdiction offer bank secrecy or special regulatory advantages to nonresidents or nondomiciliaries of that jurisdiction;

(iii) the substance and quality of administration of the bank supervisory and counter-money laundering laws of that jurisdiction;

(iv) the relationship between the volume of financial transactions occurring in that jurisdiction and the size of the economy of the jurisdiction;

(v) the extent to which that jurisdiction is characterized as an offshore banking or secrecy haven by credible international organizations or multilateral expert groups;

(vi) whether the United States has a mutual legal assistance treaty with that jurisdiction, and the experience of United States law enforcement officials and regulatory officials in obtaining information about transactions originating in or routed through or to such jurisdiction; and

(vii) the extent to which that jurisdiction is characterized by high levels of official or institutional corruption.

(B) Institutional factors.—

In the case of a decision to apply 1 or more of the special measures described in subsection (b) only to a financial institution or institutions, or to a transaction or class of transactions, or to a type of account, or to all 3, within or involving a particular jurisdiction—

(i) the extent to which such financial institutions, transactions, or types of accounts are used to facilitate or promote money laundering in or through the jurisdiction, including any money laundering activity by organized criminal groups, international terrorists, or entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or missiles;

(ii) the extent to which such institutions, transactions, or types of accounts are used for legitimate business purposes in the jurisdiction; and

(iii) the extent to which such action is sufficient to ensure, with respect to transactions involving the jurisdiction and institutions operating in the jurisdiction, that the purposes of this subchapter continue to be fulfilled, and to guard against international money laundering and other financial crimes.

(d) Notification of Special Measures Invoked by the Secretary.—

Not later than 10 days after the date of any action taken by the Secretary of the Treasury under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate of any such action.

(e) Definitions.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, for purposes of this section and subsections (i) and (j) of section 5318, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Bank definitions.—

The following definitions shall apply with respect to a bank:

(A) Account.—

The term “account”—

(i) means a formal banking or business relationship established to provide regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions; and

(ii) includes a demand deposit, savings deposit, or other transaction or asset account and a credit account or other extension of credit.

(B) Correspondent account.—

The term “correspondent account” means an account established to receive deposits from, make payments on behalf of a foreign financial institution, or handle other financial transactions related to such institution.

(C) Payable-through account.—

The term “payable-through account” means an account, including a transaction account (as defined in section 19(b)(1)(C) of the Federal Reserve Act), opened at a depository institution by a foreign financial institution by means of which the foreign financial institution permits its customers to engage, either directly or through a subaccount, in banking activities usual in connection with the business of banking in the United States.

(2) Definitions applicable to institutions other than banks.—

With respect to any financial institution other than a bank, the Secretary shall, after consultation with the appropriate Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), define by regulation the term “account”, and shall include within the meaning of that term, to the extent, if any, that the Secretary deems appropriate, arrangements similar to payable-through and correspondent accounts.

(3) Regulatory definition of beneficial ownership.—

The Secretary shall promulgate regulations defining beneficial ownership of an account for purposes of this section and subsections (i) and (j) of section 5318. Such regulations shall address issues related to an individual’s authority to fund, direct, or manage the account (including, without limitation, the power to direct payments into or out of the account), and an individual’s material interest in the income or corpus of the account, and shall ensure that the identification of individuals under this section or subsection (i) or (j) of section 5318 does not extend to any individual whose beneficial interest in the income or corpus of the account is immaterial.

(4) Other terms.—

The Secretary may, by regulation, further define the terms in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), and define other terms for the purposes of this section, as the Secretary deems appropriate.

(f) Classified Information.—

In any judicial review of a finding of the existence of a primary money laundering concern, or of the requirement for 1 or more special measures with respect to a primary money laundering concern, made under this section, if the designation or imposition, or both, were based on classified information (as defined in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act (18 U.S.C. App.),2 2 So in original. A second closing parenthesis probably should precede the comma. such information may be submitted by the Secretary to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera. This subsection does not confer or imply any right to judicial review of any finding made or any requirement imposed under this section.

(Added Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 311(a), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 298; amended Pub. L. 108–177, title III, § 376, Dec. 13, 2003, 117 Stat. 2630; Pub. L. 108–458, title VI, § 6203(e), (f), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3747; Pub. L. 109–293, title V, § 501, Sept. 30, 2006, 120 Stat. 1350.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(A), is classified to section 1813 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 19(b)(1)(C) of the Federal Reserve Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(C), is classified to section 461(b)(1)(C) of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), is classified to section 6809 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is section 1(a) of Pub. L. 96–456, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (c)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 109–293, § 501(1), substituted “or entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or missiles” for “or both,”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 109–293, § 501(2), inserted “, including any money laundering activity by organized criminal groups, international terrorists, or entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or missiles” before semicolon at end.

2004—Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(e), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, catchline read as follows: “Special measures for jurisdictions, financial institutions, or international transactions of primary money laundering concern”.

Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(f)(1), substituted “(as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act)” for “, as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act,”.

Subsec. (a)(4)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(f)(2), substituted “class of transactions, or type of account” for “or class of transactions”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(f)(3), substituted “class of transactions, or type of account to be” for “or class of transactions to be”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6203(f)(4), inserted “or subsection (i) or (j) of section 5318” after “identification of individuals under this section”.

2003—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 108–177 added subsec. (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–458 effective as if included in Pub. L. 107–56, as of the date of enactment of such Act, and no amendment made by Pub. L. 107–56 that is inconsistent with such amendment to be deemed to have taken effect, see section 6205 of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 1828 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Determination With Respect to Primary Money Laundering Concern of Russian Illicit Finance

Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XCVII, § 9714(a)–(e), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4838, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXI, § 6106(b)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2387, provided that: “(a) Determination.— If the Secretary of the Treasury determines that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that one or more financial institutions operating outside of the United States, or 1 or more classes of transactions within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, or 1 or more types of accounts within, or involving, a jurisdiction outside of the United States is of primary money laundering concern in connection with Russian illicit finance, the Secretary of the Treasury may, by order, regulation, or otherwise as permitted by law— “(1) require domestic financial institutions and domestic financial agencies to take 1 or more of the special measures described in section 5318A(b) of title 31, United States Code; or “(2) prohibit, or impose conditions upon, certain transmittals of funds (to be defined by the Secretary) by any domestic financial institution or domestic financial agency, if such transmittal of funds involves any such institution, class of transaction, or type of account. “(b) Classified Information.— In any judicial review of a finding of the existence of a primary money laundering concern, or of the requirement for 1 or more special measures with respect to a primary money laundering concern made under this section, if the designation or imposition, or both, were based on classified information (as defined in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act (18 U.S.C. App.), such information may be submitted by the Secretary to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera. This subsection does not confer or imply any right to judicial review of any finding made or any requirement imposed under this section. “(c) Availability of Information.— The exemptions from, and prohibitions on, search and disclosure provided in section 5319 of title 31, United States Code, shall apply to any report or record of report filed pursuant to a requirement imposed under subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of section 552 of title 5, United States Code, this subsection shall be considered a statute described in subsection (b)(3)(B) of that section. “(d) Penalties.— The penalties provided for in sections 5321 and 5322 of title 31, United States Code, that apply to violations of special measures imposed under section 5318A of title 31, United States Code, shall apply to violations of any order, regulation, special measure, or other requirement imposed under subsection (a) of this section, in the same manner and to the same extent as described in sections 5321 and 5322. “(e) Injunctions.— The Secretary of the Treasury may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of any order, regulation, special measure, or other requirement imposed under subsection (a) of this section in the same manner and to the same extent as described in section 5320 of title 31, United States Code.”

[Section 9714 of Pub. L. 116–283 consists of subsecs. (a) to (g). Subsecs. (a) to (e) are set out above. Subsecs. (f) and (g), formerly (b) and (c), are not classified to the Code.]

“Federal Functional Regulator” Includes Commodity Futures Trading Commission

For purposes of Pub. L. 107–56 and any amendment by Pub. L. 107–56, the term “Federal functional regulator” includes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, see section 321(c) of Pub. L. 107–56, set out as a note under section 5318 of this title.

Section 5319§Sections Availability of reports

The Secretary of the Treasury shall make information in a report filed under this subchapter available to an agency, including any State financial institutions supervisory agency, United States intelligence agency or self-regulatory organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, upon request of the head of the agency or organization. The report shall be available for a purpose that is consistent with this subchapter. The Secretary may only require reports on the use of such information by any State financial institutions supervisory agency for other than supervisory purposes or by United States intelligence agencies. However, a report and records of reports are exempt from search and disclosure under section 552 of title 5, and may not be disclosed under any State, local, tribal, or territorial “freedom of information”, “open government”, or similar law.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 999; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1506, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4055; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 358(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 112–74, div. C, title I, § 119, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXI, § 6109(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4561.)

The words “upon such conditions and pursuant to such procedures as he may by regulation prescribe” and “set forth” in 31:1061, and the word “specifically” in 31:1052(j), are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 inserted “search and” before “disclosure”.

2011—Pub. L. 112–74 inserted “, and may not be disclosed under any State, local, tribal, or territorial ‘freedom of information’, ‘open government’, or similar law” after “section 552 of title 5”.

2001—Pub. L. 107–56 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of the Treasury shall make information in a report filed under section 5313, 5314, or 5316 of this title available to an agency, including any State financial institutions supervisory agency, on request of the head of the agency. The report shall be available for a purpose consistent with those sections or a regulation prescribed under those sections. The Secretary may only require reports on the use of such information by any State financial institutions supervisory agency for other than supervisory purposes. However, a report and records of reports are exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5.”

1992—Pub. L. 102–550 substituted “to an agency, including any State financial institutions supervisory agency,” for “to an agency” in first sentence and inserted after second sentence “The Secretary may only require reports on the use of such information by any State financial institutions supervisory agency for other than supervisory purposes.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–56 applicable with respect to reports filed or records maintained on, before, or after Oct. 26, 2001, see section 358(h) of Pub. L. 107–56, set out as a note under section 1829b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 5320§Sections Injunctions

When the Secretary of the Treasury believes a person has violated, is violating, or will violate this subchapter or a regulation prescribed or order issued under this subchapter, the Secretary may bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States or appropriate United States court of a territory or possession of the United States to enjoin the violation or to enforce compliance with the subchapter, regulation, or order. An injunction or temporary restraining order shall be issued without bond.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 999.)

The words “has violated, is violating, or will violate this subchapter” are substituted for “has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in any acts or practices constituting a violation of the provisions of this chapter” in 31:1057 and “failed to submit a report required under any rule or regulation issued under this subchapter or has violated any rule or regulation issued hereunder” in 31:1143(b)(words before last comma) to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “or a regulation prescribed” are added because of the restatement. The words “in his discretion” are omitted as surplus. The word “civil” is added because of rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 App. U.S.C.). The word “possession” is substituted for “other place subject to the jurisdiction” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “or to enforce compliance with the subchapter, regulation, or order” are substituted for 31:1057(last sentence) and the words “a mandatory injunction commanding such person to comply with such rule or regulation” in 31:1143(b)(words before last comma) to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “and upon a proper showing . . . permanent or” are omitted as surplus.

Section 5321§Sections Civil penalties

(a)

(1) A domestic financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business, and a partner, director, officer, or employee of a domestic financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business, willfully violating this subchapter or a regulation prescribed or order issued under this subchapter (except sections 5314, 5315, and 5336 of this title or a regulation prescribed under sections 5314, 5315, and 5336), or willfully violating a regulation prescribed under section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or section 123 of Public Law 91–508, is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than the greater of the amount (not to exceed $100,000) involved in the transaction (if any) or $25,000. For a violation of section 5318(a)(2) of this title or a regulation prescribed under section 5318(a)(2), a separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues and at each office, branch, or place of business at which a violation occurs or continues.

(2) The Secretary of the Treasury may impose an additional civil penalty on a person not filing a report, or filing a report containing a material omission or misstatement, under section 5316 of this title or a regulation prescribed under section 5316. A civil penalty under this paragraph may not be more than the amount of the monetary instrument for which the report was required. A civil penalty under this paragraph is reduced by an amount forfeited under section 5317(b) of this title.

(3) A person not filing a report under a regulation prescribed under section 5315 of this title or not complying with an injunction under section 5320 of this title enjoining a violation of, or enforcing compliance with, section 5315 or a regulation prescribed under section 5315, is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.

(4) Structured Transaction Violation.—

(A) Penalty authorized.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may impose a civil money penalty on any person who violates any provision of section 5324.

(B) Maximum amount limitation.—

The amount of any civil money penalty imposed under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the amount of the coins and currency (or such other monetary instruments as the Secretary may prescribe) involved in the transaction with respect to which such penalty is imposed.

(C) Coordination with forfeiture provision.—

The amount of any civil money penalty imposed by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by the amount of any forfeiture to the United States in connection with the transaction with respect to which such penalty is imposed.

(5) Foreign financial agency transaction violation.—

(A) Penalty authorized.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may impose a civil money penalty on any person who violates, or causes any violation of, any provision of section 5314.

(B) Amount of penalty.—

(i) In general.—

Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the amount of any civil penalty imposed under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $10,000.

(ii) Reasonable cause exception.—

No penalty shall be imposed under subparagraph (A) with respect to any violation if—

(I) such violation was due to reasonable cause, and

(II) the amount of the transaction or the balance in the account at the time of the transaction was properly reported.

(C) Willful violations.—

In the case of any person willfully violating, or willfully causing any violation of, any provision of section 5314—

(i) the maximum penalty under subparagraph (B)(i) shall be increased to the greater of—

(I) $100,000, or

(II) 50 percent of the amount determined under subparagraph (D), and

(ii) subparagraph (B)(ii) shall not apply.

(D) Amount.—

The amount determined under this subparagraph is—

(i) in the case of a violation involving a transaction, the amount of the transaction, or

(ii) in the case of a violation involving a failure to report the existence of an account or any identifying information required to be provided with respect to an account, the balance in the account at the time of the violation.

(6) Negligence.—

(A) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may impose a civil money penalty of not more than $500 on any financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business which negligently violates any provision of this subchapter (except section 5336) or any regulation prescribed under this subchapter (except section 5336).

(B) Pattern of negligent activity.—

If any financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business engages in a pattern of negligent violations of any provision of this subchapter (except section 5336) or any regulation prescribed under this subchapter (except section 5336), the Secretary of the Treasury may, in addition to any penalty imposed under subparagraph (A) with respect to any such violation, impose a civil money penalty of not more than $50,000 on the financial institution or nonfinancial trade or business.

(7) Penalties for international counter money laundering violations.—

The Secretary may impose a civil money penalty in an amount equal to not less than 2 times the amount of the transaction, but not more than $1,000,000, on any financial institution or agency that violates any provision of subsection (i) or (j) of section 5318 or any special measures imposed under section 5318A.

(b) Time Limitations for Assessments and Commencement of Civil Actions.—

(1) Assessments.—

The Secretary of the Treasury may assess a civil penalty under subsection (a) at any time before the end of the 6-year period beginning on the date of the transaction with respect to which the penalty is assessed.

(2) Civil actions.—

The Secretary may commence a civil action to recover a civil penalty assessed under subsection (a) at any time before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the later of—

(A) the date the penalty was assessed; or

(B) the date any judgment becomes final in any criminal action under section 5322 in connection with the same transaction with respect to which the penalty is assessed.

(c)

The Secretary may remit any part of a forfeiture under subsection (c) or (d) 1 1 So in original. Section 5317 does not contain a subsec. (d). of section 5317 of this title or civil penalty under subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(d) Criminal Penalty Not Exclusive of Civil Penalty.—

A civil money penalty may be imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any violation of this subchapter notwithstanding the fact that a criminal penalty is imposed with respect to the same violation.

(e) Delegation of Assessment Authority to Banking Agencies.—

(1) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury shall delegate, in accordance with section 5318(a)(1) and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may impose in accordance with paragraph (3), any authority of the Secretary to assess a civil money penalty under this section on depository institutions (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) to the appropriate Federal banking agencies (as defined in such section 3).

(2) Authority of agencies.—

Subject to any term or condition imposed by the Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (3), the provisions of this section shall apply to an appropriate Federal banking agency to which is delegated any authority of the Secretary under this section in the same manner such provisions apply to the Secretary.

(3) Terms and conditions.—

(A) In general.—

The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe by regulation the terms and conditions which shall apply to any delegation under paragraph (1).

(B) Maximum dollar amount.—

The terms and conditions authorized under subparagraph (A) may include, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, a limitation on the amount of any civil penalty which may be assessed by an appropriate Federal banking agency pursuant to a delegation under paragraph (1).

(f) Additional Damages for Repeat Violators.—

(1) In general.—

In addition to any other fines permitted under this section and section 5322, with respect to a person who has previously violated a provision of (or rule issued under) this subchapter, section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1829b), or section 123 of Public Law 91–508 (12 U.S.C. 1953), the Secretary of the Treasury, if practicable, may impose an additional civil penalty against such person for each additional such violation in an amount that is not more than the greater of—

(A) if practicable to calculate, 3 times the profit gained or loss avoided by such person as a result of the violation; or

(B) 2 times the maximum penalty with respect to the violation.

(2) Application.—

For purposes of determining whether a person has committed a previous violation under paragraph (1), the determination shall only include violations occurring after the date of enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.

(g) Certain Violators Barred From Serving on Boards of United States Financial Institutions.—

(1) Definition.—

In this subsection, the term “egregious violation” means, with respect to an individual—

(A) a criminal violation—

(i) for which the individual is convicted; and

(ii) for which the maximum term of imprisonment is more than 1 year; and

(B) a civil violation in which—

(i) the individual willfully committed the violation; and

(ii) the violation facilitated money laundering or the financing of terrorism.

(2) Bar.—

An individual found to have committed an egregious violation of the Bank Secrecy Act, as defined in section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, or any rules issued under the Bank Secrecy Act, shall be barred from serving on the board of directors of a United States financial institution during the 10-year period that begins on the date on which the conviction or judgment, as applicable, with respect to the egregious violation is entered.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 999; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 901(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2135; Pub. L. 99–570, title I, §§ 1356(c)(1), 1357(a)–(f), (h), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–24—3207–26; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6185(g)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4357; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, §§ 1511(b), 1525(b), 1535(a)(2), 1561(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4057, 4065, 4066, 4071; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330017(a)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2149; Pub. L. 103–325, title IV, §§ 406, 411(b), 413(a)(1), Sept. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 2247, 2253, 2254; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2223(3), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–415; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, §§ 353(a), 363(a), 365(c)(2)(B)(i), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 322, 332, 335; Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 821(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1586; Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXIII, §§ 6309, 6310(a), title LXIV, § 6403(b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4594, 4595, 4623.)

In subsection (a)(1), the words “or a regulation prescribed under this subchapter” are added because of the restatement. The words “(except section 5315 of this title or a regulation prescribed under section 5315)” are added because 31:1141–1143 was not enacted as a part of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act that is restated in this subchapter. The words “is liable to the United States Government for” are substituted for “the Secretary may assess upon” in 31:1056(a) for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “the purposes of both civil and criminal penalties for” in 31:1054(b)(last sentence)(related to civil penalties) are omitted, and the words “or a regulation prescribed under section 5318(2)” are added, because of the restatement. The words “the violation continues” are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The word “separate” before “office” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a)(2), the word “impose” is substituted for “assess” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The word “additional” is substituted for 31:1103 (last sentence words before last comma) to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “or a regulation prescribed under section 5316” are added because of the restatement. The words “amount of this”, “to be filed”, and “actually” are omitted as surplus.

Subsection (a)(3) is substituted for 31:1143(a) and (b)(words after last comma) for clarity and consistency and because of the restatement.

In subsection (b), the words “in the discretion of”, “in the name of the United States”, and “of any person” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c), the words “in his discretion” and “upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable and just” are omitted as surplus. The word “civil” is added for clarity.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (f)(1), is classified to section 1829b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Section 123 of Public Law 91–508, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (f)(1), is classified to section 1953 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

The date of enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), is the date of enactment of div. F of Pub. L. 116–283, which was approved Jan. 1, 2021.

Section 6003 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), is section 6003 of div. F of Pub. L. 116–283, which is set out as a note under section 5311 of this title. Such section 6003 defines terms, including the Bank Secrecy Act, as used in div. F of Pub. L. 116–283.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6403(b)(1)(A), substituted “sections 5314, 5315, and 5336” for “sections 5314 and 5315” in two places.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6403(b)(1)(B), inserted “(except section 5336)” after “subchapter” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6309, added subsec. (f).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6310(a), added subsec. (g).

2004—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–357 amended heading and text of par. (5) generally, inserting provisions changing the penalties for violating section 5314 of this title and providing a reasonable cause exception.

2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–56, §§ 353(a), 365(c)(2)(B)(i), inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution” in two places, “or order issued” after “subchapter or a regulation prescribed”, and “, or willfully violating a regulation prescribed under section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or section 123 of Public Law 91–508,” after “sections 5314 and 5315)”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B)(i), inserted “or nonfinancial trade or business” after “financial institution” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 107–56, § 363(a), added par. (7).

1996—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–208 struck out par. (7) which read as follows:

“(7) Financial institution identification violations.—

“(A) Penalty authorized.—The Secretary may impose a civil money penalty on any person who willfully violates any provision of section 5327 or any regulation prescribed under such section.

“(B) Maximum amount limitation.—The amount of any civil money penalty imposed under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $10,000 per day for each day during which a report remains unfiled or a report containing a material omission or misstatement of fact remains uncorrected.”

1994—Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Pub. L. 103–325, § 411(b), struck out “willfully” before “violates”.

Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330017(a)(1) and Pub. L. 103–325, § 413(a)(1), amended subpar. (A) identically, inserting “any violation of” after “causing”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–325, § 406, added subsec. (e).

1992—Subsec. (a)(4)(C). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1525(b), struck out “under section 5317(d)” after “forfeiture to the United States”.

Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1535(a)(2), inserted “or any person willfully causing” after “willfully violates”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1561(a), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: “Negligence.—The Secretary of the Treasury may impose a civil money penalty of not more than $500 on any financial institution which negligently violates any provision of this subchapter or any regulation prescribed under this subchapter.”

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 102–550, § 1511(b), added par. (7).

1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “(if any)” after “transaction”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–570, §§ 1356(c)(1), 1357(b), substituted “sections 5314 and 5315” for “section 5315” in two places, substituted “5318(a)(2)” for “5318(2)” in two places, and substituted “the greater of the amount (not to exceed $100,000) involved in the transaction or $25,000” for “$10,000”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(c), added par. (5).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(d), added par. (6).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(e), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “The Secretary may bring a civil action to recover a civil penalty under subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section that has not been paid.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(h), substituted “subsection (c) or (d) of section 5317” for “section 5317(b)”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–570, § 1357(f), added subsec. (d).

1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–473 substituted “$10,000” for “$1,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 821(b), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1586, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to violations occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 2004].”

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1561(b), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4072, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to violations committed after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1992].”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by section 1357(a) of Pub. L. 99–570, applicable with respect to violations committed after the end of the 3-month period beginning Oct. 27, 1986, see section 1364(b) of Pub. L. 99–570, set out as a note under section 5317 of this title.

Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1364(c), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–34, provided that: “The amendments made by section 1357 (other than subsection (a) of such section) [amending sections 5321 and 5322 of this title] shall apply with respect to violations committed after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 27, 1986].”

Construction of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXIII, § 6310(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4595, provided that: “Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be construed to limit the application of section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1829).”