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BSA Timeline

TimeLine Header Image
1970Large currency deposits of illicit profitsBank Secrecy Act (BSA) enacted
1974Constitutionality of Bank Secrecy Act questionedU.S. Supreme Court holds BSA to be constitutional
1986Law Enforcement looks for new weapons to combat drug traffickingEnact Money Laundering Control Act
1990Insufficient intelligence analysis and resources to support financial investigationsCreate Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
1992Law enforcement needs more information on suspicious transactions to support financial investigationsEnact Annunzio-Wylie Money Laundering Suppression Act
-Suspicious activity reporting
  required
1994Law enforcement focuses on criminal abuse of MSBs CTR exemption process is a burden for financial communityEnact Money Laundering Suppression Act
- MSB registration CTR filing
  required
1994Improve cooperation and coordination between regulatory,financial and law enforcement communitiesMerge Treasury’s Office of Financial Enforcement with FinCEN
- FinCEN’s Mission expanded
  to include regulatory
  authority
1998Improve coordination of federal, state and local efforts and resources to combat financial crimesEnact Money Laundering &  Financial Crimes Strategy Act
- National Money Laundering
  strategy established
- HIFCA system created
2000Law enforcement needs more information on money transmitters, and issuers, sellers and redeemers of moneyMSBs required to file suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
2001Terrorists attack the World Trade Center & Pentagon; President announces Financial War on Terror at FinCENEnact PATRIOT Act
- Information Sharing
- Registration requirements for
  underground money
  transmitters
2002Institutions are front line against money laundering and terrorist financingMost financial institutions receive a new or amended AML Program requirement
2002Law enforcement needs more information on casinosCasinos required to file SARs
2002Importance of information sharing recognizedSharing between institutions is protected, and between institutions and government is required
2002Foreign shell banks recognized as threatTermination of accounts for shell banks and certification by foreign correspondents required
2002Financial institutions seek to expedite reporting process, reduce costs in complying with BSA requirementsPATRIOT Act Communications System (PACS) launched
- Financial institutions can file
  BSA reports electronically
2002PATRIOT Act expands regulatory definition of "financial institution"Brokers and dealers in securities must file SARs
2003Need to protect more MSBs from financial crimesCurrency Dealers and Exchangers required to file SARs
2003Identification requirement strengthenedCustomer Identification Programs required for most financial institutions
2003Need to protect casinos from money launderersCasinos and card clubs required to file SARs
- includes those operated
  on tribal lands
2003FinCEN expands regulatory definition of "financial institution"Futures commission merchants, introducing brokers in commodities required to report suspicious transactions
2004U.S. financial system needs additional protection from risks of financial crime posed by foreign agentsMSBs receive guidance for dealing with foreign agents and foreign counterparts
2005Certain account services need greater scrutinyDue diligence requirements for private banking and foreign correspondent
2005Improve management of BSA data, from filing and storage to retrieval and analysisPACS renamed as BSA E-Filing
- 25% of BSA filings and 40%
  of SARs are e-filed as of
  March 2005
2005Improve collaboration and information sharing between federal and state agenciesFinCEN, 29 states sign Memoranda of Under- standing (MOU)
-established information
  sharing agreements
2005Jewelry industry needs protection against financial crimeJewelers, dealers in precious metals and stones required to establish anti-money laundering (AML) programs
2005Increased international effort to combat money laundering, terrorist financingEgmont Group of financial intelligence units exceeds 100-member mark
2005Need to ensure consistent application of BSA to all banking organizationsFederal banking agencies release BSA/AML Examination Manual
2005Need to protect insurance industry from financial crimesCertain insurance companies required to establish AML programs, file SARs
2006Need to protect mutual funds from financial crimesMutual funds required to file SARs
2007Certain account services need greater scrutinyEnhanced due diligence is required for certain foreign correspondent banks
2009Need to simplify requirements for depository institutions to exempt their eligible customers from currency transaction reportingFinal Rule on CTR Exemptions takes effect (Jan. 5, 2009)
2011Need to enhance efficiency and effectivenessTransfer of FinCEN’s regulations to 31 CFR Chapter X
2011MSB rules amended to establish a more comprehensive regulatory approach for prepaid accessFinCEN issues prepaid access Final Rule (Effective Date: September 27, 2011; Compliance Date: January 29, 2012)
2012Need to combat fraud in the non-bank residential mortgage sectorFinal Rule defines non-bank residential mortgage lenders and originators (RMLOs) as loan or finance companies. RMLOs required to establish AML programs and file SARs (Effective Date: April 16, 2012; Compliance Date: August 13, 2012)
2014Law enforcement and regulators need more complete and timely information on suspected mortgage fraud and money launderingHousing GSEs required to develop AML programs and file SARs (Effective Date: April 28, 2014; Compliance Date: August 25, 2014)
2016Need to clarify and strengthen customer due diligence requirements for banks; brokers or dealers in securities; mutual funds; and futures commission merchants and introducing brokers in commoditiesFinal Rule contains explicit customer due diligence requirements and includes a new requirement to identify and verify the identity of beneficial owners of legal entity customers, subject to certain exclusions and exemptions (Effective Date: July 11, 2016; Compliance Date: May 11, 2018)