Question

Difficulty: EasyAnti-Money Laundering (AML), KYC, and Sanctions Compliance

Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and FINRA Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules, within how many calendar days must a broker-dealer file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) after initially detecting a suspicious transaction?

  1. 30 calendar daysAnswer
  2. B
    15 calendar days
  3. C
    45 calendar days
  4. D
    60 calendar days

Answer

30 calendar days
Under federal AML guidelines and FINRA regulations, member firms must file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) within 30 calendar days of initial detection when encountering suspicious activity involving $5,000 or more.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the regulatory reporting tool mandated for suspicious activities under FINRA and FinCEN rules.
Broker-dealers must file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) for transactions of $5,000 or more whenever money laundering or illegal activity is suspected.
The Bank Secrecy Act requires prompt reporting of suspicious transactions to aid law enforcement agencies.
2
Determine the mandatory calendar-day filing deadline for a SAR.
The firm must submit the SAR to FinCEN within 30 calendar days of detecting the activity.
30 calendar days is the official regulatory limit established by federal AML regulations.

Key Concept

Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Filing Requirements
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