Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Encyclopedia
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (or FinCEN) is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury
that collects and analyzes information about financial transactions in order to combat money laundering
, terrorist financiers, and other financial crimes.
As reflected in its name, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is a network, a means of bringing people and information together to fight the complex problem of money laundering. Since its creation in 1990, FinCEN has coordinated the sharing of information with law enforcement agencies and its other partners in the regulatory and financial communities. FinCEN uses cooperation and partnerships in a network approach to combat money laundering domestically and internationally.
FinCEN was established by order of the Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury Order Numbered 105–08) on April 25, 1990. In May 1994, its mission was broadened to include regulatory responsibilities and the Treasury Department's Office of Financial Enforcement (OFE) was merged with FinCEN in October 1994. On September 26, 2002, after Title III
of the USA PATRIOT Act
was passed, Treasury Order 180-01 made it an official bureau in the Department of the Treasury
.
The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, §314(a) requires the Secretary of the Treasury to create a secure network for the transmission of information to enforce the relevant regulations.
FinCEN’s regulations under Section 314(a) enable federal law enforcement agencies, through FinCEN, to reach out to more than 45,000 points of contact at more than 27,000 financial institutions to locate accounts and transactions of persons that may be involved in terrorist financing
and/or money laundering. This cooperative partnership between the financial community and law enforcement allows disparate bits of information to be identified, centralized, and rapidly evaluated.
This web interface allows the person(s) designated in §314(a)(3)(A) to register and transmit information to FinCEN.
s" referencing United States v. Banki
and Hawala
.
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
that collects and analyzes information about financial transactions in order to combat money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, terrorist financiers, and other financial crimes.
As reflected in its name, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is a network, a means of bringing people and information together to fight the complex problem of money laundering. Since its creation in 1990, FinCEN has coordinated the sharing of information with law enforcement agencies and its other partners in the regulatory and financial communities. FinCEN uses cooperation and partnerships in a network approach to combat money laundering domestically and internationally.
FinCEN was established by order of the Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury Order Numbered 105–08) on April 25, 1990. In May 1994, its mission was broadened to include regulatory responsibilities and the Treasury Department's Office of Financial Enforcement (OFE) was merged with FinCEN in October 1994. On September 26, 2002, after Title III
USA PATRIOT Act, Title III
The USA PATRIOT Act was passed by the United States Congress in 2001 as a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It has ten titles, each containing numerous sections...
of the USA PATRIOT Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
was passed, Treasury Order 180-01 made it an official bureau in the Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
.
314 Program
FinCEN’s regulations under Section 314(a) enable federal law enforcement agencies, through FinCEN, to reach out to more than 45,000 points of contact at more than 27,000 financial institutions to locate accounts and transactions of persons that may be involved in terrorist financing
Terrorist Financing
Terrorist financing came into limelight after the events of terrorism on 9/11. The US passed the USA PATRIOT Act to, among other reasons, attempt thwarting the financing of terrorism and anti-money laundering making sure these were given some sort of adequate focus by US financial institutions...
and/or money laundering. This cooperative partnership between the financial community and law enforcement allows disparate bits of information to be identified, centralized, and rapidly evaluated.
This web interface allows the person(s) designated in §314(a)(3)(A) to register and transmit information to FinCEN.
Hawala
On September 1, 2010, FinCEN issued an advisory on "informal value transfer systemInformal value transfer system
An informal value transfer system refers to any system, mechanism, or network of people that receives money for the purpose of making the funds or an equivalent value payable to a third party in another geographic location, whether or not in the same form...
s" referencing United States v. Banki
United States v. Banki
On January 7, 2010, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that naturalized U.S. citizen Mahmoud Reza Banki, born in Iran, had been arrested for criminal violations of the Iran Trade Embargo. On March 17, 2010, the US Attorney filed an indictment in United States...
and Hawala
Hawala
Hawala is an informal value transfer system based on the performance and honor of a huge network of money brokers, which are primarily located in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and South Asia...
.
See also
- Currency Transaction ReportCurrency transaction reportA currency transaction report is a report that U.S. financial institutions are required to file for each deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency, or other payment or transfer, by, through, or to the financial institution which involves a transaction in currency of more than $10,000...
- FINTRAC - CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's equivalent to FinCEN - HawalaHawalaHawala is an informal value transfer system based on the performance and honor of a huge network of money brokers, which are primarily located in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and South Asia...
- Suspicious Activity ReportSuspicious activity reportIn United States financial regulation, a suspicious activity report is a report made by a financial institution to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network , an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury, regarding suspicious or potentially suspicious activity.The purpose of a...