On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a proposed rule aimed at strengthening and modernizing financial institutions’ anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs. This proposed rule seeks to amend existing regulations to explicitly mandate that AML/CFT programs be effective, risk-based, and reasonably designed, aligning resources with risk profiles to better protect national security and the integrity of the U.S. financial system. The amendments stem from changes to the Bank Secrecy Act enacted by the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and are part of Treasury’s efforts to create a more efficient AML/CFT regulatory and supervisory framework. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo emphasized the importance of this initiative in addressing critical threats, including illicit financing linked to various national security issues. FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki highlighted that the proposed rule is crucial for combating longstanding threats such as corruption and fraud, as well as emerging dangers like domestic terrorism and cybercrime. The proposal outlines requirements for financial institutions to establish risk-based AML/CFT programs, incorporate government-wide priorities, and modernize their approaches while managing illicit finance risks. The rule was developed in consultation with key financial regulatory agencies and is open for public comment for 60 days following its Federal Register publication.
Read the proposed rule here: Proposed Rule