AML Conversations: Steve Gurdak - The importance of SAR narratives
In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Steve Gurdak, Group Supervisory of the Northern Virginia Financial Initiative, to discuss the work of his SAR Review team, the importance of law enforcement collaboration when working SARS, and the value of effective SAR narratives.
National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing Webinar Recap
In this installment of AML Voices, Elliot Berman and John Byrne of AML RightSource are joined by Chip Poncy from K2 Intelligence / Financial Integrity Network to discuss the National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing. In this selection from the original livestream in the 1st quarter of 2020, our panelists discuss the three goals of the 2020 Strategy, its implications for identifying beneficial ownership of client accounts, and its focus on risk-based supervision.
AML Conversations: The Economics Of Violence - An interview with Gary Shiffman
In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Gary Shiffman, Founder and CEO of Giant Oak and professor at Georgetown University, to discuss his recent publication, “The Economics of Violence.” Shiffman explains how social science can be used to improve national security strategies and gives his views on how to address true AML reform.
Red Flags Associated with the Illegal Gold Rush
In 2016, illegal gold mining operations in Peru accounted for an estimated $2.6 billion in black market trading, surpassing cocaine as the country’s most valuable illicit export1. The bulk of this illegal mining is conducted in the depths of the Amazon by ramshackle teams of criminals; human trafficking, drug trafficking, child labor, and vast environmental destruction follow in their wake. The illegal miners use an unsophisticated method of processing, utilizing mercury to form flecks of gold into an amalgam chunk, then removing the gold by boiling and dumping the mercury wastewater back into the wild at a detriment to the local flora and fauna.
AML Conversations: AML Oversight featuring Nicolas Burbidge
Welcome to another installment of the AML Conversations video podcast series. In this episode Nicolas Burbidge, AMLRS Advisory Board member and former OSFI official, joins AML RightSource Vice Chairman, John Byrne, to discuss AML oversight in Canada, COVID-19 challenges and how FATF reviews a country’s AML laws and regulations. Now sit back and enjoy AML Conversations.
The April 2020 Updates to the FFIEC BSA/AML Manual
“Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings” [i] As the AML community clearly knows, the Federal Financial Examination Council (FFIEC) has been working for quite some time on the updates to the last iteration from 2014. Now we have the first in what promises to be a series of updates, released on tax day. The changes in wording and other modifications are encouraging, but only time will tell regarding their impact in practice.
Challenges for Community FIs Participating in the PPP Loan Program
A mixture of government assistance, and exponential increase in need on behalf of customers, and the continuous need to remain compliant has left many financial institutions (FIs) stretched thin, and scrambling. As I have written several times recently, the COVID-19 pandemic is creating a very complex operating environment for financial services companies and their customers.
AML Conversations: Chip Poncy - The Upgraded US FATF Status
Welcome back to another episode of AML Conversations. With the recent upgrade to the US evaluation by FATF because of the 2018 CDD rule, there has been a debate on the appropriateness of the rating given other areas of concern. Today, John Byrne and Chip Poncy, former FATF lead from the US, discuss the criticism, and Chip offers insight into FATF, their processes and where the US stacks up with their counterparts.
Pandemic Scams - Profiting from Panic
The world is currently facing a viral pandemic that threatens personal health, employment, and financial markets. Local and national news media are tasked with issuing public service warnings and updating citizens on continuously changing rules that affect everyday life and liberty. In short, it’s an unprecedented and at times, stressful situation.
