In U.S. Migrant Crackdown, a Renewed Focus on Cross-Border Remittances
The United States is tightening its oversight of the tens of billions of dollars resident and undocumented migrants send home each year through Western Union, MoneyGram, and other money services businesses (MSBs), according to a recent U.S. Treasury Department warning.
Mexico’s Banks Look to Tighten AML Controls after U.S. Crackdown
Mexico’s banking lobby is urging lenders to adopt tougher rules on illicit finance that go beyond current law, after U.S. authorities moved to sever three Mexican firms from the American financial system for allegedly laundering money for fentanyl traffickers, according to Bloomberg.
FinCEN Flags $9-Billion Iranian ‘Shadow Banking’ Network
The U.S. Treasury Department disclosed the existence of roughly $9 billion in 2024 financial activity tied to Iranian “shadow banking,” mapping a web of front companies and intermediaries used to sell sanctioned oil, launder illicit proceeds, and procure banned technology.
Senate GOP Bill Would Raise BSA Reporting Thresholds and Tie Them to Inflation
Proposed legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate would increase dollar-thresholds triggering reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act for the first time since 1970 and require periodic adjustments to account for inflation, Republican lawmakers said. The “Streamlining Transaction Reporting and Ensuring Anti-Money Laundering Improvements for a New Era Act”, or STREAMLINE Act, would raise the […]
FinCEN Ban on Three Mexican Firms Formally Takes Effect After Reshaping Industry
An unprecedented U.S. Treasury order cutting three Mexican financial institutions off from the American financial system took effect Monday, after already forcing asset sales, client flight and heightened compliance across Mexico’s banking sector, Bloomberg reported.
Bessent Says FinCEN’s New SAR Guidance Will Ease ‘Pain Points’ for Banks
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said new federal guidance on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) is intended to ease banks’ “pain points” and shift U.S. anti-money laundering oversight toward measurable effectiveness.
FinCEN Pushes Real-Estate Reporting Enforcement to 2026
The U.S. Treasury Department has postponed enforcement of its new residential real-estate reporting rule until March 1, 2026, issuing a temporary exemptive order to give the industry more time to prepare.
FinCEN to Delete Ownership Info on U.S. Companies from CTA Registry
FinCEN Files investigation revealed how U.S. banks helped move illicit money worldwide, U.S. authorities are rolling back key reforms enacted in its aftermath, sparking alarm among transparency advocates.
Mexico Launches Crackdown on Cross-Border Fuel Theft
Mexico’s attorney general has vowed to issue more arrest warrants—potentially targeting government officials—in connection with sprawling fuel theft operations that siphon billions of dollars from the country.