All developments
Federal ReserveBSA / AMLJuly 9, 2026

Fed Proposes Updated AML/CFT Program Rules for Banks Under AML Act of 2020

The Federal Reserve is proposing to update AML/CFT program requirements for the banks it supervises, aligning with FinCEN's own proposed rulemaking and parallel proposals from the OCC, FDIC, and NCUA — all stemming from the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. The rule would require supervised banks to maintain risk-based programs designed to identify, assess, and mitigate illicit finance risks and generate more useful information for law enforcement. Banks with crypto or fintech partnerships should pay close attention, as updated AML/CFT program standards will likely flow through to vendor and correspondent relationships.

What to do

  • Review the Fed's proposed rule text once published, compare it against your current AML/CFT program documentation, and prepare a gap analysis — particularly around risk assessment methodology and the 'effectiveness' standard — before the comment period closes.

Who this affects

Bank / Credit UnionTrust CompanyFintech / Neobank

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Source

Read the official publication

This radar entry is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and grounded in the linked official source; always verify against the primary source and consult qualified legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

Related developments

Federal Reserve

OCC, Fed, FDIC & NCUA Propose Unified Third-Party Risk Management Guidance

Four federal banking regulators are jointly proposing updated third-party risk management guidance that emphasizes risk-proportionate oversight and replaces existing agency-specific guidance. The proposal encourages institutions to tailor their vendor management programs to the actual risk level of each relationship, size, and complexity of the organization. This is directly relevant to any bank or fintech that relies on third-party technology providers, crypto rails, or payment processors.

Federal Reserve

Fed Proposes Third-Party Risk Management Guide for Community Banks

The Federal Reserve is seeking comment on a proposed guide specifically for community banking organizations on managing third-party relationship risks. The guide draws on supervisory experience and addresses key risk categories most common to smaller institutions. Compliance officers at community banks or fintechs partnering with them should note this could reshape due diligence and oversight expectations for vendor relationships.

FinCEN

FinCEN GTO: Southwest Border MSBs Must Report Cash Transactions $1K–$10K

FinCEN has issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) requiring certain money services businesses operating along the U.S. southwest border to report and retain records of cash transactions between $1,000 and $10,000 — well below the standard $10,000 CTR threshold — and to verify the identity of customers presenting such transactions. This is a significant AML/BSA escalation for covered MSBs in the targeted geography, effectively lowering the transaction monitoring and KYC trigger point for cash dealings. Non-compliance with a GTO carries the same penalties as violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

OCC

Regulators Clarify What Banks Can (and Can't) Tell Customers About SARs

Five federal regulators — OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, FinCEN, and NCUA — jointly clarified the rules around SAR confidentiality when institutions communicate with customers about potentially fraudulent transactions. The statement addresses a persistent compliance tension: institutions must protect SAR confidentiality (including not 'tipping off' subjects) while still being able to warn or question customers about suspicious activity without inadvertently disclosing a SAR has been filed. Compliance officers should review customer-facing fraud communication workflows to ensure staff are not crossing the tipping-off line.

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