4th Quarter 2024 Contents:

Case #1 – The waiting is the hardest part. M&A transactions at community banks are commonly held up by regulators’ concerns about BSA risk ratings.  If your bank is hoping to sell in the next 3-5 years, get your BSA operations in order now.

Case #2 – Make that connection. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2020 strengthened FinCEN’s authority to impose and revise anti-money laundering (AML) rules.  As we get further from the start of the 2020 pandemic, expect the rules to connect to more vigorous enforcement actions.  Simple, consistent BSA reporting will go a long way.