A Message from FinCEN Director Werner to the Users of BSA Data

August 29, 2006

PDF: 20060829.pdf

'Over the past few years, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has made significant progress in improving the availability of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) information for our various stakeholders in pursuit of our common mission to protect our financial system from the abuses of financial crime, including terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activity. In the wake of recent reports of data security breaches in both the private and public sector, we felt it appropriate to remind our customers of the importance of taking appropriate steps to safeguard BSA data and to uphold the confidentiality requirements associated with suspicious activity reporting. As you know, unauthorized release of information collected under the BSA may result in criminal or civil sanctions. Finally, please remember that if you have any reason to believe that the confidentiality, privacy, or use restrictions associated with BSA data have been violated, it is imperative to notify FinCEN in a timely manner. Thank you for your continued cooperation in safeguarding this valuable information.'