The European Commission has fined five major European banks a total of €344m as part of a long-running investigation into the foreign exchange (Forex) spot trading market. The Commission’s investigation focused on the trading of G10 currencies – the most […]
Regulators & Key Institutions
A top executive at Malaysia’s central bank has warned that increasingly sophisticated financial tools and products are creating new and growing challenges for the country’s anti-money laundering, combatting the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/PF) measures. Bank Negara Malaysia […]
Following a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary in February 2020, Mauritius was added to FATF’s list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, which is commonly referred to as the ‘grey list’. How did Mauritius find itself in this position, and […]
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has released a new guide aimed at tackling the increasing misuse of transaction payment text fields by criminals. The guide, Preventing misuse and criminal communication through payment text fields, aims to raise […]
Swiss regulator the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has reprimanded two banks for breaking money laundering rules during their dealings with Venezuelan entities. Wrapping up a five-year investigation into 30 banks suspected of breaches relating to Venezuela’s state oil company […]
Canadian police, working with the financial regulator and the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCEHT), has charged six people and located seven victims, in connection with human trafficking. The year-long investigation – dubbed Project Eonni – began after information was obtained […]
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) is urging the financial sector to take a risk-based, case by case approach to managing anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) concerns, as it issues new guidance around the “complex global problem” of de-banking. “Businesses vulnerable […]
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has updated its guidance for the virtual asset (VA) industry following a public consultation. The 111-page 2021 Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets and VASPs (virtual asset service providers) has been much-anticipated by regulatory […]
The European Union’s 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD) brought about four key changes that member states had to introduce into local legislation by June 3rd 2021. Broadly categorized under the themes of liability, punishment, cooperation and jurisdiction, these changes have implications for […]
Australian banks and fintechs are backing the closure of major loopholes in the country’s anti-money laundering legislation and have warned that gaps in the current framework impact the country’s international reputation. The Australian Banking Association, the Reserve Bank of Australia, […]
The criminal offense of money laundering (Section 261 of the German Criminal Code) was profoundly restructured by the “Act to Improve Criminal Law Combating Money Laundering” (Money Laundering Act) which came into effect on March 18th 2021. This new regulation […]
Luxembourg, labeled a tax haven following recent investigations, is taking steps toward tightening its AML systems, with new legislation aimed at sanctioning money laundering and tax evasion. While the details are still being confirmed, a new draft bill from the […]