COMMENT LETTER

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Programs

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Regulatory and Strategic Affairs Division
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
P.O. Box 39
Vienna, VA 22183
Docket No. FINCEN-2026-0034
RIN 1506-AB72

Chief Counsel’s Office
Attention: Comment Processing
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
400 7th Street SW
Suite 3E-218
Washington, DC 20219
Docket No. OCC–2024–0005
RIN 1557-AF14

Jennifer M. Jones, Deputy Executive Secretary
Attention: Comments/Legal OES 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th Street NW 
Washington, DC 20429
RIN 3064-AF34

Melane Conyers Ausbrooks, Secretary of the Board
National Credit Union Administration
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428
Docket No. NCUA-2024-0033
RIN 3133-AG08

Re: Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Programs

Dear Sir or Madam:

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (“CSBS”)1 provides the following comments on the parallel proposals from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”)2 and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”) (collectively, the “agencies”)3 to reform anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (“AML/CFT”) program requirements (“program rule”). 

The proposal aims to modernize Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) requirements, promote a principles- and risk-based AML/CFT regime, and bring greater supervisory consistency, and focus on material AML/CFT program risks. CSBS supports these objectives and offers the following considerations and recommendations:

  • Formally distinguishing between and separately evaluating AML/CFT program design and program implementation would benefit financial institutions and supervisors.
  • A risk-based AML/CFT regime should support both the prioritization of higher risk activities and deemphasis of lower risk activities.
  • An optional FinCEN consultation process for AML/CFT enforcement actions and significant supervisory actions balances consistency with examination efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Read the full comment letter.