An official website of the United States Government
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has established a FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSHOTLINE, 1-866-556-3974, for financial institutions to voluntarily reportto law enforcement suspicious transactions that may relate to recent terroristactivity against the United States. The purpose of the HOTLINE is to facilitate the immediate transmittal of this information to law enforcement and it will beoperational 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Information pertaining to the Office ofForeign Assets Control’s (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals List, orquestions concerning the financial institution’s compliance with OFACregulations, should be directed to OFAC at its existing hotline at1-800-540-6322.
Financial institutions identifying suspicioustransactions under 31 CFR Part 103 or under the regulations of their federalfinancial institution regulators are required to report such transactions byfiling a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) in accordance with applicable agencyregulations, even if they provide information over the FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSHOTLINE. Institutions should file the SAR with the IRS Detroit ComputingCenter as soon as possible. This HOTLINE is intended to provide to lawenforcement and other authorized recipients of SAR information the essence ofthe suspicious activity in an expedited fashion. The HOTLINE use is voluntaryand does not negate an institution's responsibility to file a SAR in accordancewith applicable regulations.
Even if not currently covered by thesuspicious activity reporting requirements in Title 31, institutions such asmoney services businesses, casinos and card clubs, and securities firms areencouraged to use the FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HOTLINE to report suspiciousactivity that may relate to recent terrorist activity and to file a SAR form.
Financial institutions identifying suchsuspicious financial activity on a SAR can assist law enforcement by (i)capturing the information on the SAR accurately and completely; (ii)explaining the suspicious transaction as completely as possible in thenarrative section; and (iii) including the following informationif applicable – any correspondent bank name/account information;names/locations of business entities; names of cities, countries and foreignfinancial institutions linked to the transaction, especially if funds transferactivity is involved; and account numbers and beneficiary names. In addition,institutions preparing SARs on Form TD F 90-22.47 are asked to check the"Other" box on Part III, Line 35(s) of the SAR form and to type in "terrorism"immediately following the box. Casinos and card clubs may choose to use theSARC Form (TD F 90-22.49) and check the "Other" box on Part III, Line32(n) and type in "terrorism".
Nothing in this announcement precludes afinancial institution from directly contacting law enforcement or theinstitution’s federal regulator concerning these issues.
10/11/01