Silvergate Bank to pay $63M to Fed, California over BSA/AML deficiencies
Crypto-friendly Silvergate Bank will pay a total of $63 million penalties to California and the Federal Reserve Board to settle charges that its anti-money laundering program failed to properly monitor over $1 trillion worth of customer transactions.
FATF removes Jamaica, Türkiye from watchlist; adds Monaco, Venezuela
Jamaica and Türkiye made “significant progress” addressing deficiencies in their anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, warranting their removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list.
How fintechs can overcome major compliance hurdles in embedded finance
Margaret Holmes Tibbets, chief compliance officer at financial technology company Pipe, explains how firms are facing an existential compliance crisis, and to survive they’ll need to overcome not one but two hurdles.
Banks must bolster awareness of fintech partner risks, experts advise at Fordham
During a panel at Compliance Week’s Financial Crimes and Regulatory Compliance Summit, held June 10-11 in New York, experts discussed nuances in bank-financial technology partnerships, offering best practices for how banks should protect themselves.
Bank of England report: ’Need to improve’ private equity risk management
A Bank of England report warned of private equity risk management deficiencies as interest rates remain stagnant, with international coordination important.
FinCEN proposes additional risk assessments for AML/CFT programs
Financial institutions would be required to conduct more thorough risk assessments on their anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism programs under a new rule proposed by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
July 11 | GRC readiness: Your roadmap to effective integrated risk management
Taking on challenges from the always changing regulatory environment to cyber risks and data security requires a proactive, integrated approach to governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) management.
DOE offers supply chain cybersecurity guidance for energy, oil, gas industries
The U.S. Department of Energy released supply chain cybersecurity principles meant to help strengthen key technologies used to manage and operate electricity, oil, and natural gas systems.
Women in Compliance highlights: Mentorship driving DEI; fostering board buy-in
Keeping track of regulations and understanding how they affect your business can be a hot mess without proper organization and collaboration, experts said at Compliance Week’s Women in Compliance Summit, held June 3-4, in Atlanta.
OFAC sanctions nearly 50 entities for ‘shadow banking’ benefiting Iranian military
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nearly 50 entities connected with so-called “shadow banking” networks that help Iran’s military evade U.S. sanctions and to sell the country’s oil and petrochemical products.
Banking regs find flaws in resolution plans for BoA, JPM, Goldman Sachs, Citi
Two federal banking regulators found deficiencies with the sale of derivatives in the resolution plans of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase, while the regulators disagreed on the severity of an issue with Citigroup’s plan.
CPE Webcast: Risk management at the speed of business
Are your risk management operations keeping up with the speed of business? In today’s digitized and interconnected world, organizations face increasing risk at a rapid pace.
Citi report: GenAI revolution will bring increased need for compliance
A new report on the use of artificial intelligence in financial services predicts that the technology will drive profits, disruptions, and change over the next decade.
OCC emphasizes compliance’s role in FI’s operational resiliency
Compliance departments at financial institutions must become more involved in ensuring their firm’s operational resiliency to address emerging risks, the Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said in its semi-annual risk perspective.
CFTC awards whistleblower $8M despite involvement in misconduct
A whistleblower received an $8 million award from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for uncovering fraud—even though the agency deemed the whistleblower was culpable in the misconduct.
SEC, CFTC actively probe off-channel comms violations, top officials say
Two senior officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission described how both agencies are committed to rooting out off-channel communications among registered entities for the long term.
CPE Webcast: Digital Operational Resilience Act: Key provisions and best practices
This presentation will provide an overview of the key provisions of DORA and their implications for Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) teams, list best practices for DORA preparation and review key considerations for teams looking to implement the DORA framework.
Washington state importer ordered to hire CCO in response to Lacey Act violations
A Washington state importer has been ordered by the Department of Justice to pay a $360,000 fine and hire a chief compliance officer after imported wood items the company claimed to be from Malaysia were found to be from China.
Evolve Bank ordered by Fed to address AML, sanctions lapses
The Federal Reserve Board ordered an Arkansas bank that partnered with numerous financial technology companies to correct deficiencies in its anti-money laundering, sanctions, risk management, and consumer compliance programs.
CPE Webcast: Acting responsibly with generative AI: How to manage the risks and rewards in the workplace
Generative artificial intelligence has gained immense popularity, but its adoption by businesses introduces ethical risks. Organizations must prioritize responsible use of generative AI by ensuring it is accurate, safe, honest, empowering, and sustainable.
BIS’s Axelrod makes plea to financial services: ‘We want to work with you’
Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security, addressed efforts to reach financial services firms, working with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and more during his fireside chat at CW’s Financial Crimes Summit.
CFTC’s Pham critical of agency stances on CCO liability, self-disclosure credit
Caroline Pham, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said compliance officers have a lot to worry about if they or their firms are subject to CFTC enforcement during her fireside chat at CW’s Financial Crimes Summit.
Additions to UFLPA Entity List signal seafood supply chain risks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security added three China-based entities across the seafood, aluminum, and footwear industries to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.
Panelists break down robust sanctions landscape at TPRM Summit
Sanctions compliance officers face myriad challenges as complex geopolitical situations heighten risks worldwide, experts discussed during Compliance Week’s Third-Party Risk Management & Oversight Summit.
CPE Webcast: Compliance programs under scrutiny
Explore government expectations for compliance programs and how companies facing regulatory scrutiny design and implement programs to position themselves for the best possible outcome.
FinCEN BSA data: Fraud, money laundering top suspicious activities
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network published its latest collection of Bank Secrecy Act data, including number and type of suspicious activity reports.
Experts: AI risk mitigation second nature for compliance professionals
Compliance has been “sleeping on” artificial intelligence, two panelists discussed at Compliance Week’s Women in Compliance Summit. The profession should be positioned to lead on AI governance at the business level.
OCC’s Hsu encourages banks to apply guardrails to AI use
Warning of an “eventual reckoning” on artificial intelligence use by financial institutions, the acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said the industry should learn lessons on how similar disruptive technologies evolved from being helpful to dangerous.
‘Why us?’ SEC lists reasons it conducts examinations of broker-dealers
A risk alert from the Securities and Exchange Commission listed top reasons why a registered broker-dealer might be the subject of an examination.
EU agencies examine efforts to identify and monitor examples of greenwashing
The European Securities and Markets Authority, European Banking Authority, and European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority issued reports on greenwashing in the financial sector, describing how they plan to call out examples of false or misleading sustainability claims.
Reignited calls to tighten up AML in London, crown dependencies
Despite repeated interventions, fines, and negative publicity, money laundering is rife in U.K. financial services firms, according to Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell.
What to watch for as DOJ whistleblower program sprint ends
The Department of Justice’s 90-day sprint to developing and implementing a pilot whistleblower rewards program ended Wednesday, and many questions remain about what the program will entail.
Epoch Times CFO charged in $67M money laundering scheme
The chief financial officer of the Epoch Times was charged with laundering at least $67 million in illegally obtained funds to bolster the fortunes of the newspaper and himself.
Airbus U.S. unit dinged by BIS for antiboycott violations
Satellite communications company Airbus DS Government Solutions received a reduced penalty from the Bureau of Industry and Security for admitting self-disclosed violations of antiboycott regulations.
CPE Webcast: Operationalizing responsible AI: Developing a sustainable process to effectively manage risk
With recent advancements in generative technologies, the integration of AI into business operations has accelerated and thus, the concept of responsible AI has gained critical importance.
Ericsson completes DOJ-imposed compliance monitorship
Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson announced the conclusion of the independent compliance monitorship imposed on the company following its 2019 settlement for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Podcast: SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on regulatory demands, CCO input
Compliance Week’s Aaron Nicodemus sat down for an exclusive chat with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce covering the flood of new regulation emanating from the agency, stresses on compliance at smaller firms, CCO liability, and more.
Kanter says DOJ adapting antitrust enforcement for AI
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division is examining how its policies and enforcement mechanisms are suited to handle potential issues brought about by the proliferation of use of artificial intelligence.
Hyundai Motor caught in DOL complaint over child labor
The Department of Labor sued three Alabama businesses, including a Hyundai Motor manufacturing plant, for employing a 13-year-old worker on an auto parts assembly line.
SEC’s Grewal shares views on ‘Five Principles of Effective Cooperation’
Gurbir Grewal, director of the Enforcement Division at the Securities and Exchange Commission, spelled out plainly his view on the best path to earning cooperation credit during settlement negotiations with the agency.
BaFin relaxes growth restrictions on N26 following AML improvements
German financial regulatory authority BaFin lifted growth restrictions on N26, after the digital bank made improvements to its anti-money laundering program.
Lessons from Arthur Grand ‘whites only’ case
IT company Arthur Grand Technologies’ settlements with the Department of Justice and Department of Labor regarding a discriminatory “whites only” job posting offer key takeaways regarding company liability and reputation risks.
OCC’s Hsu advocates requiring mid-sized banks create ‘robust’ recovery plans
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said he favors requiring more mid-sized U.S. banks to conduct the same rigorous recovery planning as the largest banks, part of a lesson learned from the collapse of three mid-sized banks in 2023.
Revamped compliance processes key Albemarle win as Compliance Program of the Year
For successfully navigating thorny compliance issues related to self-disclosed violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Albemarle was named Compliance Program of the Year at the 2024 Excellence in Compliance Awards.
Gina Nese stays ahead of the curve as CCO of the Year
Gina Nese, head of compliance and privacy at Align Technology, jumps at the chance to share new ideas and ways to innovate, including regarding emerging technologies like AI. Her work earned her recognition as CCO of the Year at the 2024 Excellence in Compliance Awards.
TD Bank risk chief laments ‘procedural weaknesses’ in U.S. AML program
TD Bank Chief Risk Officer Ajai Bambawale said “procedural weaknesses” in the institution’s U.S. anti-money laundering program allowed bad actors to exploit its network.
Treasury, other agencies issue voluntary carbon market principles
The Treasury Department and other U.S. agencies announced a coordinated federal policy concerning carbon credits and other voluntary incentives to encourage businesses and agriculture to cut their carbon footprints.
Lifetime Achievement: Compliance lessons from a ‘Flea’
Felecia “Flea” Bowers, honored for Lifetime Achievement at the 2024 Excellence in Compliance Awards, shares advice for compliance professionals at every stage of their careers.
Creative engagement approach drives Compliance Innovators Johnson, Sudo
Through clever rhymes and real-life examples, Sharon Johnson and Heather Sudo of MODE Global have made it their mission to think outside the box when it comes to compliance awareness. Their approach earned them Compliance Innovator(s) of the Year at the 2024 Excellence in Compliance Awards.
Lemont National, Comerica Bank unit avoid penalties in separate OCC deals
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reached agreements with Lemont National Bank and Comerica Bank & Trust over concerns related to risk governance practices.