Examkin

Question

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

A registered representative observes a newly opened account receiving multiple cashier's checks totaling $6,500, followed immediately by an instruction to wire the entire balance to an offshore entity in a high-risk jurisdiction without any clear financial rationale. The broker-dealer determines that this activity is suspicious and requires regulatory reporting. According to Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations and FINRA rules, what is the mandatory requirement for filing a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)?

  1. The firm must file the report with FinCEN within 30 calendar days of initial detection for suspicious transactions involving $5,000 or more.Answer
  2. B
    The firm must file the report with FinCEN within 15 calendar days of the transaction date for suspicious transactions involving $5,000 or more.
  3. C
    The firm must file the report with FinCEN within 15 calendar days of initial detection only if physical currency deposits exceed $10,000.
  4. D
    The firm must file the report with FinCEN within 30 calendar days of initial detection only if aggregate transactions exceed $10,000.

Answer

The firm must file the report with FinCEN within 30 calendar days of initial detection for suspicious transactions involving $5,000 or more.
Under Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) provisions and FINRA guidelines, broker-dealers are obligated to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with FinCEN whenever a transaction (or series of transactions) involves $5,000 or more and the firm suspects illegal activity, money laundering, or lack of legitimate business purpose. The firm must submit the SAR within 30 calendar days of initial detection. Additionally, SAR filings are strictly confidential and firm personnel must never inform the customer that a SAR has been filed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the type of activity and appropriate regulatory report.
The customer's pattern of rapid wire transfers using cashier's checks with no business rationale indicates potential money laundering, requiring a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR).
Broker-dealers must monitor for and report suspicious financial transactions under Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) rules.
2
Evaluate the monetary threshold triggering a SAR requirement for broker-dealers.
The threshold is $5,000 or more in suspicious funds or assets.
The transaction amount of 6,500exceedsthe6,500 exceeds the 5,000 statutory reporting minimum.
3
Determine the mandatory filing timeline.
The member firm has 30 calendar days from the date the suspicious activity is first detected to file the SAR with FinCEN.
Federal AML regulations mandate a 30-calendar-day deadline following initial detection by the firm.

Key Concept

Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Thresholds and Filing Deadlines
Rate this question

Topics

Anti-Money Laundering (AML), KYC, and Sanctions Compliance