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KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER
GUIDELINES
FOR
LICENSED FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
Central Bank of Barbados March 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword
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Introduction |
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3 |
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Purpose of Guidelines |
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International Background |
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Definition of Money Laundering |
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Legislation and Regulatory Framework
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Legislation |
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Offences |
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Scope of Guidelines |
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3 |
Identification Procedures |
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Direct Applications: Personal Client |
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Direct Applications: Body Corporate |
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Indirect Applications |
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Exemptions |
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Trust, Nominee and Fiduciary Customers |
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Internal Controls and Procedures |
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Record Keeping |
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Reporting |
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Training and Awareness |
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23 |
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Appendices |
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- FATF Member Countries and Observer Bodies/Organizations
- The Forty Recommendations
- CFATF Member Countries; Cooperating/Supporting Nations; Observers
- The Nineteen Recommendations
- Basle Statement of Principles
- Customer Reference Request Form
- Identification Exemption
- Large Transaction Report
- Examples of Suspicious Transactions
- Suspect Transaction Report
CENTRAL BANK OF BARBADOS
KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER GUIDELINES FOR LICENSED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Issued in
conjunction with the Anti-Money Laundering Authority pursuant to its
powers under the
Money Laundering (Prevention & Control) Act.
FOREWORD
The Central Bank of Barbados first issued
guidelines on this subject to financial institutions licensed under the
Offshore Banking Act and the Financial Intermediaries Regulatory Act
(now Financial Institutions Act) in April 1991 following the issuance of
the Forty Recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force [1] (FATF)
a year earlier. In association with regional Central Banks, the Central
Bank of Barbados revised and reissued new guidelines in March 1995.
These notes provided guidance to financial institutions on the
requirements for effective systems and controls in the fight against
money laundering. Barbados has actively participated in the work of the
Caribbean Financial Action Task Force [2] (CFATF), the regional chapter
of the FATF. The Government of Barbados has enacted comprehensive
legislation to address the issue of money laundering. More recently, the
Money Laundering (Prevention And Control) Act, 1998-38 (the Act) was
proclaimed and an Anti-Money Laundering Authority[3] (the Authority)
and Financial Intelligence Unit were established. In light of the
enactment of new legislation in April 2000 and ongoing international
developments to improve regulatory standards, the Central Bank of
Barbados is now revising its anti-money laundering guidelines. Financial
institutions should ensure that the guidelines are also applied to their
branches and subsidiaries abroad, especially in countries which do not
or insufficiently apply similar recommendations, to the extent that
local applicable laws and regulations permit. Financial institutions
should inform the Central Bank of Barbados (Central Bank) and the
Authority when the local applicable laws and regulations prohibit the
implementation of these guidelines. The guidelines will be used by the
Central Bank in the assessment of the adequacy of anti-money laundering
systems in place at licensed financial institutions.
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
1.01 Purpose of Guidelines
In order to preserve the viability and reputation of Barbados financial
sector, financial institutions must be vigilant to guard against money
laundering. Financial institutions may be attractive to money launderers
in light of the variety of their services and instruments that can be used
to conceal the source of money. The placement and transfer of cash in the
financial system are stages at which money laundering is most easily
detected. These guidelines represent good industry practice and compliance
will assist institutions in identifying attempts to launder criminal
proceeds through the financial system. Financial institutions that have
adequate prevention systems in place are best able to recognise and detect
efforts to launder money. One of the most effective methods to combat
money laundering is a sound knowledge of a customers business and pattern
of financial transactions and commitments. The adoption of
know-your-customer rules does not only make good business sense but is
an essential tool to avoid legitimising the proceeds of criminal activity.
The main concepts of know-your-customer are:
(a) Identification procedures and monitoring;
(b) Suspicious transaction reporting (allied to adequate record keeping);
and
(c) Controls and communication (allied to training and awareness).
In recent times, the concept of know-your-customer has
been extended to ensure that institutions know those with whom they are
doing business, including employees, correspondent banks and regulators.
The overriding goal remains unchanged, that is, the financial
institutions ability to review their customers activities for unusual
activity. Persons and entities other than financial institutions are also
vulnerable to money launderers. To this end, those engaged in any of the
following activities should be aware of the guidelines and are encouraged
to use this document to safeguard their operations: -
(1) Financial service providers and consultants;
(2) Money exchange houses such as bureaux de change, cheque encashment;
(3) Money transmission services including wire transfers;
(4) Bookmaking/gaming services;
(5) Dealers in motor vehicles, jewellery, art and antiques;
(6) Professional accountants and other persons engaged in accounting and
bookkeeping services;
(7) Management services including investment management;
(8) Services relating to company registration and incorporation, the
provision of company secretary services and registered offices for
companies;
(9) Trustee services including the provision of trust investment advice;
and
(10) Advice, administration and other services provided in the course of
business relating to real estate.
Notwithstanding the definition of a financial institution in section 2 of
the Act, entities such as domestic trusts, partnerships, attorneys-at-law,
management companies, and post offices should consider the issues embodied
in these guidelines. This would serve to protect them from the possibility
of committing an offence of money laundering.
1.02 International Background
Regulators worldwide share a common goal in the fight against money
laundering. Guidance notes and principles have been issued by several
regulatory agencies in an effort to harmonise supervisory standards and
more effectively combat criminal activity. The know-your-customer
principle is a fundamental requirement for an effective anti-money
laundering programme and its importance is emphasised in all regulatory
guidelines. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an
inter-governmental body which develops and promotes policies to combat
money laundering. The FATF was established by the G-7 Summit in Paris in
1989 and currently has 29 member countries and two regional organisations.
The current members are listed at Appendix 1. In 1990, the FATF
issued 40 Recommendations to be implemented to fight money laundering and
these were subsequently revised in 1996. The 40 Recommendations have
become the internationally accepted anti-money laundering standard.
(See Appendix 2).
The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) is an organisation of
states and territories of the Caribbean basin which has agreed to
implement common counter-measures against money laundering. The CFATF
originated in early 1990 and holds observer status with the FATF. Barbados
is a member of this body whose membership currently stands at 26. (See
Appendix 3). In June 1990, the CFATF issued 19 Recommendations to
complement the FATFs 40 Recommendations by presenting a regional
perspective to the issue. (See Appendix 4).
In order to assess the status of the anti-money laundering framework of
their member countries, both the FATF and the CFATF undertake detailed
reviews referred to as mutual evaluations. A CFATF mutual evaluation of
Barbados was completed in September 1997.
In September 1997, the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision issued a
paper entitled the Core Principles For Effective Banking Supervision
which includes a requirement (principle 15) that supervisors determine
that banks have adequate policies, practices and procedures in place,
including strict know-your-customer rules, that promote high ethical and
professional standards in the financial sector and prevent the bank being
used, intentionally or unintentionally, by criminal elements. The
Committee also issued a Statement of Principles in December 1988 entitled
Prevention of Criminal Use Of The Banking System For The Purpose Of Money
Laundering. (See Appendix 5). Recently, there has been increased
pressure from such bodies as the FATF, the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the U.S. Treasury for countries to
strengthen their anti-money laundering framework. Barbados remains
committed to implementing adequate measures to combat money laundering.
1.03 Definition of Money Laundering
Money laundering is the process by which criminals attempt to conceal the
true origin and ownership of the proceeds of criminal activities. If
undertaken successfully, the money can lose its criminal identity and
appear to be legitimately derived.
In simple terms, the money launderers goal is to: -
(1) Place the money in the financial system, without arousing suspicion;
(2) Move the money around, within or across multiple jurisdictions, and
often in a series of complex transactions, so that it becomes difficult to
identify its original source;
(3) Then move the money back into the financial and business system, so
that it appears as legitimate funds or assets.
There is no one method of laundering money. Initially, however in the case
of drug trafficking and other serious crimes, the proceeds usually take
the form of cash which needs to enter the financial system by some means.
The laundering process involves three sometimes overlapping stages: -
(1) Placement: Physically disposing cash proceeds derived from
illegal activities;
(2) Layering: Separating the proceeds from criminal activity from their
origins through layers of complex financial transactions;
(3) Integration: Providing an apparent legitimate explanation for the
illicit proceeds.
The three basic steps occur as separate and distinct
stages but may occur simultaneously or, more commonly, they may overlap.
The available laundering mechanisms and requirements of the criminal
organization shape how these stages are employed.
SECTION 2
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
2.01 Legislation
Between 1990 and 2000, the Government of Barbados enacted several pieces
of legislation aimed at preventing and detecting drug trafficking, money
laundering and other serious crimes. These are the: -
(a) Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act, 1990;
(b) Proceeds of Crime Act, 1990-13;
(c) Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 1992; and
(d) Money Laundering (Prevention and Control) Act, 1998-38. (the Act)
The Money Laundering (Prevention and Control) Act, 1998-38 confers
responsibility for the supervision of financial institutions to the
Anti-Money Laundering Authority (the Authority) which was officially
established in August 2000. A Financial Intelligence Unit has been
established to carry out the Authoritys Anti-Money Laundering supervisory
function over financial institutions including the functions of
collecting, analyzing and disseminating suspect transaction reports. Where
the Authority believes on reasonable grounds that a transaction involves
proceeds of crime the Authority sends the report to the Commissioner of
Police. A Financial Investigations Unit has been established within the
Royal Barbados Police Force to investigate reports referred to it by the
Authority.
The Act establishes a mandatory threshold of BDS$10,000 (or its equivalent
in foreign currency) for the retention of business transaction records.
This requirement will facilitate a system to help identify money
launderers.
This framework is supported by the Central Bank of Barbados which is
responsible for financial institutions licensed under the Financial
Institutions Act, 1996 and the Offshore Banking Act, 1979. The Bank
Supervision Department has included know-your-customer verification within
the scope of onsite examinations since 1997.
2.02 Offences
Section 3(1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Control) Act states
that a person engages in money laundering where:
(1) The person engages, directly or indirectly, in a transaction that
involves money or other property, that is proceeds of crime; or
(2) The person receives, possesses, conceals, disposes of, or brings into
or sends out of Barbados, any money or other property that is proceeds of
crime.
It is not necessary for the original offence from which the proceeds stem
to be committed in Barbados, so long as it would have been an offence had
it taken place within Barbados. See sub-section 3(4).
The offences and their associated penalties appear in Sections 12, 20, 21
and 22 of the Act and are summarized as follows:
A person who has been convicted of an indictable offence is not permitted
to be licensed to carry on the business of a financial institution; and
where the person is a financial institution the licence will be revoked.
See Section 12(1).
Engaging in the act of money laundering is punishable on conviction to a
maximum of 25 years imprisonment, a fine of $2.0 million or both. See
Sub-section 20(3).
Aiding, abetting, counseling or conspiring to engage in a transaction
involving money or property that is or is suspected to be the proceeds of
crime is punishable on conviction to a maximum of 15 years imprisonment, a
fine of $1.5 million or both. See Sub-section 20(4).
Where an offence is committed under Section 20 by a body of persons,
whether corporate or unincorporated, every person acting in an official
capacity for or on behalf of such a body at the time of the commission of
the offence, is guilty of that offence and will be tried and punished
accordingly. See Section 21.
(a)Tipping off the target or third party about an investigation or pending
investigation into money laundering or freezing order; disposing,
destroying or falsifying material evidence all of which may result in the
investigation being prejudiced. See Sub-section 22(1); or
(b) Falsifying, concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of, or
causing or permitting the falsification, concealment, destruction or
disposal of any document or thing that is likely to be material to the
execution of a freezing order. See Sub-section 22(2); or
(c) Disclosing the existence of a freezing order (on the property of, or
in the possession or under the control of a person suspected of money
laundering) to an unauthorised person as defined in the Act. See
Sub-section 22(3);
(d) Is punishable on conviction to a maximum of 2 years imprisonment a
fine of $50,000 or both.
2.03 Scope of Guidelines
Although the Money Laundering (Prevention And Control) Act applies to all
persons and businesses, additional administrative requirements are placed
on financial institutions which are defined as:
(1) Any persons carrying on business under the Financial Institutions Act;
and
(2) Includes
· A deposit taking institution
· A credit union within the meaning of the Co-operatives Societies Act
· A building within the Building Societies Act
· A friendly society within the meaning of the Friendly Societies Act
· An insurance business within the meaning of the Insurance Act
· An offshore bank within the meaning of the Offshore Banking Act
· An exempt insurance company within the meaning of the Exempt Insurance
Act
· An international business company within the meaning of the
International Business Companies Act
· A society with restricted liability within the meaning of the Societies
with Restricted Liability Act, 1995
· A foreign sales corporation within the meaning of the Barbados Foreign
Sales Corporation Act
· A mutual fund, mutual funds administrator and a mutual fund manager
· International trusts within the meaning of the International trusts Act,
1995.
SECTION 3 IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Financial institutions are required to document and implement effective
procedures to prevent money laundering. Employees should be aware of these
procedures and apply them in order to verify and adequately document the
identity of the customer or account holder.
Financial institutions should reassess their requirements pertaining to
identification records to ensure that all customer records conform to the
new requirements. In addition, customer identification records should be
verified periodically to ensure that identification information remains
current. Any change in the name and address of any customer from that
given when the business relationship was first established should be
recorded.
A customer or account holder refers to any nominee, agent, beneficiary or
principal engaged in a business transaction as defined in Section 2 of the
Act.
Financial institutions should not keep anonymous accounts or accounts in
obviously fictitious names. It is a requirement to identify, on the basis
of an official or other reliable identifying document, and record the
identity of clients, either occasional or usual, when establishing
business relations or conducting transactions (in particular opening of
accounts or passbooks, entering into fiduciary transactions, renting of
safe-deposit boxes, the use of safe custody facilities, performing of
business transactions in excess of the $10,000 threshold).
Financial institutions should exercise extreme caution in their business
relations and transactions with persons, including companies and financial
institutions from other countries. Where possible, contact should be made
with appropriate persons in these countries as part of know-your-customer
procedures.
At a minimum, there should be adherence to the following guidelines: -
3.01 Direct Applications: Personal Client
1. Institutions are required to obtain relevant identification records of
a customer as indicated in
Section 2 of the Act. The following information should be ascertained:
(1) Full name(s) and aliases;
(2) Permanent address*;
(3) Date and place of birth;
(4) Nationality;
(5) Reason for opening the account;
(6) Nature and place of business/occupation;
(7) Expected account turnover and source of funds; and
(8) Any other information deemed appropriate by the institution.
2. At a minimum, valid photo-bearing identification should be obtained,
e.g.
(1) Passport; or
(2) National identification card; or
(3) Drivers licence; and Where the applicant is non-resident,
(4) Social security number
In instances where original documents are not available, copies should
only be acceptable if certified by a notary public (e.g. justice of the
peace). Identification documents which do not bear a photograph or
signature and which are easily obtainable (e.g. birth certificate) should
not be accepted as the sole means of identification. The financial
institution is ultimately responsible for verifying the name and address
of the applicant.
* Any address referred to in the guidelines relates to a permanent
address. Temporary addresses, post office boxes and in-care-of addresses
are not acceptable under know-your-customer rules.
The Act does not recognise introduction or referrals in whole or in part,
as an alternative to proper identification procedures. The onus remains on
the institution to separately verify the identity of the customer. Where
references are used as one of the means of verification, the information
should be documented to form part of the identification record. See
specimen format at Appendix 6. An account holders identify should not be
established solely on the basis of a referral.
References should be considered from:
- A financial institution as defined in Section 2(1) of the Act; or
- A reputable financial institution which the bank has satisfied itself by
way of reasonable measures.
Financial institutions undertaking business transactions with persons from
these approved countries are required to exercise the appropriate due
diligence that is consistent with good banking practice.
3.02 Direct Applications: Body Corporate
The relevant requirements in 3.01 are also applicable to a body corporate.
Financial institutions should verify the identity of the directors,
shareholders, officers, account signatories and beneficial owners. In the
latter instance, an affidavit should be obtained confirming the beneficial
ownership.
In addition to the requirements for a certificate of incorporation,
certificate of continuance and certificate of registration (see Section 2
of the Act), certified copies of the following should also be obtained at
a minimum:
(1) Partnership agreement;
(2) Memorandum and articles of association;
(3) Certificate of good standing; and
(4) By-laws;
3.03 Indirect Applications
All prospective applicants are subject to the same proof of identification
and verification as outlined in 3.01 and 3.02 regardless of the manner in
which the application is submitted to a financial institution.
An account should not be opened by any means other than by establishing in
person the identity of a customer through the account holders own
identity documents. Where due diligence on a prospective customer has been
completed by a branch or banking subsidiary/affiliate of the financial
institution and that process meets the criteria of the Barbados
guidelines, then copies of the relevant documentation must be obtained
before the account is opened. In the case of an international bank engaged
in intra group treasury operations, written confirmation of the source of
funds must be obtained from the parent company.
3.04 Exceptions to Identification Requirements
Section 7(5) of the Act permits the exception of the production of any
evidence of identification only where the applicant is itself a financial
institution subject to Part ll of the Act or where a series of
transactions occur in a business relationship for which the applicant has
already produced satisfactory evidence of identity. A definition of a
financial institution appears in sub-section 2(1) of the Act is reproduced
in Section 2.03 of the guidelines.
The institution is expected to document those instances where this section
of the Act is applied. See Appendix 7 for a specimen format.
3.05 Trust, nominee and fiduciary customers
Financial institutions should take reasonable measures to obtain
information about the true identity of the persons on whose behalf an
account is opened or a transaction is conducted if there are any doubts as
to whether these clients or customers are not acting on their own behalf,
in particular, in the case of domiciliary companies (i.e. institutions,
corporations, foundations, trusts, etc. that do not conduct any commercial
or manufacturing business or any form of commercial operation in the
country where their registered office is located).
At a minimum, the financial institutions should obtain and verify the
following information: -
(1) Evidence of the appointment of trustees (e.g. extracts from Deed of
Trust);
(2) Nature and purpose of the trust;
(3) Verification of the identity of the trustee, settlor, protector;
person providing the funds; controller or similar person holding power to
appoint or remove the trustee; and
(4) Source of funds.
SECTION 4 INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Financial institutions should develop and document an anti-money
laundering program to ensure compliance with the Act. It is required that
institutions:
(i) Develop and apply internal policies, procedures and controls to combat
money laundering. Sub-section 8(1)(e)(i).
(ii) Develop audit functions to evaluate such policies, procedures and
controls. Sub-section 8(1)(e)(ii); and
(iii) Develop a procedure to audit compliance with section 8 of the Act.
Sub-section 8(1)(g).
Programs should be implemented which are applicable for the size and
nature of the institutions operations and include, as a minimum:
(a) Adequate internal policies, procedures and controls which include -
- Opening of accounts and documentation requirements;
- Designating a local compliance officer(s) at the management level to
coordinate and monitor the compliance program, receive internal reports
and issue external reports to the Authority (see Section 9 of the Act);
- Establishing management information/reporting systems to facilitate the
timely detection and reporting of suspicious activity within the
institution and to the Authority;
- Screening procedures to ensure high standards not only when hiring
employees but on an ongoing basis.
(b) An ongoing employee training program (see Section 10 of the Act).
Refer to section 7 of the guidelines.
(c) An effective risk-based audit function to test and evaluate the
compliance program. This should include assessments of compliance with
internal reporting, record keeping and reporting to the Authority. See
sub-section 8(1)(e) and (g).
Section 8 of the Act establishes a threshold level of BDS$10,000 or its
equivalent in foreign currency for document retention. Financial
institutions are expected to be vigilant in their monitoring to ensure
that linked transactions, which are individually below the BDS$10,000
limit but with an aggregate value exceeding the threshold are monitored
and appropriately recorded.
4.01 Complex Transactions/Wire Transfers
All institutions should review and properly document the background and
purpose of all complex, unusual, large transactions, and all unusual
patterns of transactions, which have no apparent economic or visible
lawful purpose. Institutions should exercise caution in accepting funds
from non-account holders and non-correspondent banks for wire transfers to
unknown third parties. The name and address of the ordering and
beneficiary customers should be included on all domestic and international
transfers. Each institution that participates in a business transaction
via wire transfer should relay this identifying information about the
transfer to any other financial institution participating in the
transmittal. Procedures should be identified to detect suspicious activity
in all types of business transactions undertaken by the institution
including cash, wire transfers, cheques, credit and debit cards, automatic
teller machine transactions and on-line banking.
SECTION 5 RECORD KEEPING
Financial institutions should maintain for a minimum of five years, all
business transaction records (both domestic and international) of all
transactions exceeding $10,000 to enable them to comply swiftly with
information requests from the Authority. It may be necessary for
institutions to retain business transaction records for a period exceeding
the date of termination of the last business transaction where certain
circumstances predate this event, for example:
(a) Date of closure of an account;
(b) Date of termination of the business relationship; or
(c) Date of insolvency.
Where there has been a report of a suspicious transaction or there is an
on-going investigation relating to a transaction or client, the
institution should retain the documentation until such time as advised by
the Authority or High Court.
Financial institutions should ensure that their document retention policy
conforms with the stipulations of the Act. Business transaction records
must be kept in sufficient form to permit reconstruction of individual
transactions (including the amounts and types of currency involved, if
any) so as to provide, if necessary, evidence for prosecution of criminal
behaviour. See Sections 8(1)(a) and (3) of the Act. These documents should
be available to domestic law enforcement authorities in the context of
relevant criminal prosecutions and investigations.
Documentation refers inter alia to any part of a document, reproduction,
copies, microfiche, computerised or electronic form. See sub-section 2(2).
Institutions should retain customer identification records, account files
and business correspondence since it may be necessary to establish a
financial profile of any suspected account as part of an investigation. To
satisfy this requirement, additional information such as the following may
be sought:
- Volume of funds flowing through the account;
- Origin of the funds;
- Form in which the funds were offered or withdrawn e.g. cash, cheque;
- Identity of the person undertaking the transaction;
- Form of instruction and authority; and
- Name and address of the counterparty.
Financial institutions should document a formal anti-money laundering
policy including evidence of compliance with provisions of section 8 of
the Act relating to audit and training. At a minimum, records should be
maintained on the following:
(a) Details and contents of the training programme ;
(b) Names of staff receiving training;
(c) Dates of training sessions; and
(d) Assessment of training.
It is important for institutions to ensure that the retrieval of relevant
documentation is achieved within a reasonable time in order to comply with
instructions issued by the Authority, High Court or regulator.
SECTION 6 REPORTING
Financial institutions are required to submit reports to the Authority in
compliance with any instructions issued by that body. See sub-sections
6(a) and 8(1)(c) of the Act. Appropriate reports must therefore be devised
under the direction of the Authority.
As part of its internal control system, financial institutions should, at
minimum, introduce management reports which, depending on the nature of
each institutions operations, cover the following:
(a) Cash volumes by branch;
(b) Wire transfers by country;
(c) Transactions secured by cash;
(d) Large transaction reports (i.e. for transactions exceeding BDS$10,000
or its foreign currency equivalent);
(e) Suspicious transaction reports.
Appropriate information systems must therefore be in place to facilitate
such reporting.
6.01 Large Transaction Reporting
Financial institutions must establish and maintain reporting procedures to
ensure compliance with Sections 9(1)(a) and 9(2) of the Act. As mentioned
in section 4.0 of the guidelines, appropriate procedures should be
developed to ensure the timely and effective delivery of internal reports.
Although not a requirement under the Act, the Central Bank recommends that
financial institutions continue the practice of using large transaction
reports to record and give special attention to transactions over the
BDS$10,000 threshold. However, institutions must be cognizant that such
information can only be reported to the Authority under sub-section
8(1)(b) of the Act which deals with suspicious transactions and
sub-section 8(1)(c). Where such a report is being made, the Act does not
allow an institution to notify the customer as this may constitute an
offence under sub-section 22(1) of the Act. To this extent, the internal
procedures and forms adopted by institutions to record large transactions
must comply with the Act and should not for example require the customers
written consent to disclose information to the Authority. Where a
financial institution has developed a business relationship with a
customer and determines that the nature of the business generates
legitimate transactions in excess of the BDS$10,000 threshold, then
completion of a declaration form will not always be necessary.
Institutions should clearly document their policy for the granting of such
internal reporting waivers including the qualifying criteria for
exemption, officers responsible for preparing and authorizing exemptions,
basis for establishing threshold limits, review cycle of exempt customers
and procedures for processing transactions. Each institution is required
to maintain authorized lists of exempt customers showing threshold limits
established in each case. A specimen large transaction reporting format
appears at Appendix 8.
6.02 Suspicious Transaction Reporting
If a financial institution suspects that any transaction by a customer may
involve proceeds of crime or is of an unusual nature, they must report
their suspicions to the Authority forthwith. (See Sub-section 8(1)(b) of
the Act). Consequently, appropriate internal reporting to the compliance
officer must therefore be in place. A suspicious activity is often one
which is inconsistent in amount and origin with a customers known,
legitimate business or personal activities. The first step to recognition
is knowing enough of the customers business to recognise that a
transaction, or series of transactions, is unusual. Examples of suspicious
transactions appear at Appendix 9. A record should be kept of all internal
reports to management and reports made by the financial institution to the
Authority. In the event that a financial institution declines to establish
a business relationship with a prospective customer or to undertake a
business transaction because of inadequate identification or
documentation, a report should be sent to the Authority. Reports should be
in the format determined by the Authority (see Appendix 10) and addressed
to:
The Director
Anti-Money Laundering Authority
P.O. Box 1372
Bridgetown
Barbados

Financial institutions, their directors and employees, should not warn
their customers when information on suspicious activities relating to them
is being reported to the law enforcement authorities. This may constitute
an offence under sub-section 22(1) of the Act.
Financial institutions that report their suspicions, should follow the
instructions from and otherwise cooperate fully with the Authority and law
enforcement authorities in accordance with sub-sections 6(d) and 8(1)(c)
of the Act.
SECTION 7 TRAINING AND AWARENESS
An appropriate training programme should be developed in accordance with
the institutions size, resources and type of operation. This should
formally documented and form part of the anti-money laundering policy
document. Sub-section 6(c) of the Act states that the Authority will
establish training requirements and provide such training for any
financial institution in respect of the business transaction record
keeping and reporting obligations... It is a legal requirement for
financial institutions to comply with these requirements sub-section
8(1)(f) and for financial institutions to provide their employees with
appropriate training in the recognition and handling of money laundering
transactions - sub-section 10(b). All directors and employees should be
aware of the Act and anti-money laundering guidelines. There may be a
tendency to concentrate training efforts on front line staff but financial
institutions should be cognizant of the fact that criminal activity may
impact on various products and services throughout their operations.
Training programs should be tailored for various audiences including:
(a) Front-line staff (e.g. tellers, customer service representatives,
branch management);
(b) Wire transfer employees;
(c) Loans officers;
(d) Accounting staff;
(e) Internal audit;
(f) Compliance officer(s);
(g) Senior management and directors; and
(h) New employees.
Training topics should generally cover:
- Laws and guidelines;
- Policies and procedures;
- Know-your-customer requirements;
- Know-your-business relationships;
- The identification of possible types of suspicious activities in all
departments;
- Case studies of traditional schemes and new money laundering
typologies;
- Reporting procedures; and
- Personal obligation and liability under the Act.
Financial institutions should ensure that the compliance officer(s)
receive in-depth training on all aspects of the legislation and regulatory
framework. Specific training should include:
- Policies and procedures to prevent money laundering;
- Customer identification, record keeping and other procedures;
- Recognition and handling of suspicious transactions; and
- New trends in criminal activity.
All training should be undertaken on a regular basis to ensure that there
is a clear understanding of and adherence to internal policies and
procedures as well as laws and guidelines.
CONCLUSION
The exact size of money laundering worldwide is unknown - in 1996, a range
of US$ 590 billion to US$1.5 trillion was suggested. Despite the inability
to accurately measure its size, money laundering is recognized as a threat
of international proportions. Such unwanted criminal activity can have
severe economic repercussions on Barbados economy. It is therefore
critical that our jurisdiction enforces strict measures to combat money
laundering.
While the Authority is the body charged with the responsibility of
coordinating this fight, the battle must be supported by all of the major
players in our financial sector. Financial institutions are likely to
remain the focus of anti-money laundering attention, however the enormity
of this threat reinforces the need for a broad-based defense for the sake
of national interest.
APPENDIX 1
FATF MEMBER COUNTRIES
Argentina
Italy
Australia
Japan
Austria
Luxembourg
Brazil
Mexico
Belgium
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Canada
New Zealand
Denmark
Norway
European
Commission Portugal
Finland
Singapore
France
Spain
Germany
Sweden
Greece
Switzerland
Gulf Co-operation Council
Turkey
Hong Kong, China
United Kingdom
Iceland
United States
Ireland
OBSERVER BODIES AND ORGANISATIONS
Asia / Pacific Group on Money Laundering
Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Council of Europe PC-R-EV Committee
Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group
Intergovernmental Task Force against Money Laundering in Africa

Further information can be obtained from the FATF at
http://www:fatf.oecd.org/fatf
APPENDIX 2
THE FORTY RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) is an
inter-governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of
policies to combat money laundering - the processing of criminal proceeds
in order to disguise their illegal origin. These policies aim to prevent
such proceeds from being utilised in future criminal activities and from
affecting legitimate economic activities. The FATF currently consists of
29 countries1 and two international organisations2 . Its membership
includes the major financial centre countries of Europe, North and South
America, and Asia. It is a multi-disciplinary body - as is essential in
dealing with money laundering - bringing together the policy-making power
of legal, financial and law enforcement experts. This need to cover all
relevant aspects of the fight against money laundering is reflected in the
scope of the Forty FATF Recommendations - the measures which the Task
Force have agreed to implement and which all countries are encouraged to
adopt. The Recommendations were originally drawn up in 1990. In 1996 the
forty Recommendations were revised to take into account the experience
gained over the last six years and to reflect the changes which have
occurred in the money laundering problem3. These Forty Recommendations set
out the basic framework for anti-money laundering efforts and they are
designed to be of universal application. They cover the criminal justice
system and law enforcement; the financial system and its regulation, and
international co-operation. It was recognised from the outset of the FATF
that countries have diverse legal and financial systems and so all cannot
take identical measures. The Recommendations are therefore the principles
for action in this field, for countries to implement according to their
particular circumstances and constitutional frameworks allowing countries
a measure of flexibility rather than prescribing every detail. The
measures are not particularly complex or difficult, provided there is the
political will to act. Nor do they compromise the freedom to engage in
legitimate transactions or threaten economic development.
Footnote:
1 Reference in this document to "countries" should be taken to apply
equally to "territories" or "jurisdictions". The
twenty-nine FATF member countries and governments are: Argentina;
Australia; Austria; Belgium; Brazil; Canada;
Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong, China; Iceland;
Ireland; Italy; Japan; Luxembourg;
Mexico; the Kingdom of the Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal;
Singapore; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland;
Turkey; the United Kingdom; and the United States.
2 The two international organisations are: the European Commission and the
Gulf Cooperation Council.
3 During the period 1990 to 1995, the FATF also elaborated various
Interpretative Notes which are designed to clarify
the application of specific Recommendations. Some of these Interpretative
Notes have been updated in the
Stocktaking Review to reflect changes in the Recommendations. The FATF
adopted a new Interpretative Note
relating to Recommendation 15 on 2 July 1999.
FATF countries are clearly committed to accept the discipline of being
subjected to multilateral surveillance and peer review. All member
countries have their implementation of the Forty Recommendations monitored
through a two-pronged approach: an annual self-assessment exercise and the
more detailed mutual evaluation process under which each member country is
subject to an on-site examination. In addition, the FATF carries out
cross-country reviews of measures taken to implement particular
Recommendations. These measures are essential for the creation of an
effective anti-money laundering framework.
GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
Each country should take immediate steps to ratify and to implement fully,
the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (the Vienna Convention).
Recommendation 2
Financial institution secrecy laws should be conceived so as not to
inhibit implementation of these recommendations.
Recommendation 3
An effective money laundering enforcement program should include increased
multilateral co-operation and mutual legal assistance in money laundering
investigations and prosecutions and extradition in money laundering cases,
where possible.
ROLE OF NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEMS IN COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING
Scope of the Criminal Offence of Money Laundering
Recommendation 4
Each country should take such measures as may be necessary, including
legislative ones, to enable it to criminalise money laundering as set
forth in the Vienna Convention. Each country should extend the offence of
drug money laundering to one based on serious offences. Each country would
determine which serious crimes would be designated as money laundering
predicate offences.
Recommendation 5
As provided in the Vienna Convention, the offence of money laundering
should apply at least to knowing money laundering activity, including the
concept that knowledge may be inferred from objective factual
circumstances.
Recommendation 6
Where possible, corporations themselves - not only their employees -
should be subject to criminal
liability.
Provisional Measures and Confiscation
Recommendation 7
Countries should adopt measures similar to those set forth in the Vienna
Convention, as may be necessary, including legislative ones, to enable
their competent authorities to confiscate property
laundered, proceeds from, instrumentalities used in or intended for use in
the commission of any money laundering offence, or property of
corresponding value, without prejudicing the rights of bona fide third
parties.
Such measures should include the authority to: (1) identify, trace and
evaluate property which is subject to confiscation; (2) carry out
provisional measures, such as freezing and seizing, to prevent any
dealing, transfer or disposal of such property; and (3) take any
appropriate investigative measures.
In addition to confiscation and criminal sanctions, countries also should
consider monetary and civil penalties, and/or proceedings including civil
proceedings, to void contracts entered into by parties, where parties knew
or should have known that as a result of the contract, the State would be
prejudiced in its ability to recover financial claims, e.g. through
confiscation or collection of fines and penalties.
ROLE OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM IN COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING:
Recommendation 8
Recommendations 10 to 29 should apply not only to banks, but also to
non-bank financial institutions. Even for those non-bank financial
institutions which are not subject to a formal prudential supervisory
regime in all countries, for example bureaux de change, governments should
ensure that these institutions are subject to the same anti-money
laundering laws or regulations as all other financial institutions and
that these laws or regulations are implemented effectively.
Recommendation 9
The appropriate national authorities should consider applying
Recommendations 10 to 21 and 23 to the conduct of financial activities as
a commercial undertaking by businesses or professions which are not
financial institutions, where such conduct is allowed or not prohibited.
Financial activities include, but are not limited to, those listed in the
attached annex. It is left to each country to decide whether special
situations should be defined where the application of anti-money
laundering measures is not necessary, for example, when a financial
activity is carried out on an occasional or limited basis.
Customer Identification and Record Keeping Rules
Recommendation 10
Financial institutions should not keep anonymous accounts or accounts in
obviously fictitious names: they should be required (by law, by
regulations, by agreements between supervisory authorities and financial
institutions or by self-regulatory agreements among financial
institutions) to identify, on the basis of an official or other reliable
identifying document, and record the identity of their clients, either
occasional or usual, when establishing business relations or conducting
transactions (in particular opening of accounts or passbooks, entering
into fiduciary transactions, renting of safe deposit boxes, performing
large cash transactions).
In order to fulfil identification requirements concerning legal entities,
financial institutions should, when necessary, take measures:
(i) to verify the legal existence and structure of the customer by
obtaining either from a public
register or from the customer or both, proof of incorporation, including
information concerning
the customers name, legal form, address, directors and provisions
regulating the power to bind the entity.
(ii) to verify that any person purporting to act on behalf of the customer
is so authorised and identify that person.
Recommendation 11
Financial institutions should take reasonable measures to obtain
information about the true identity of the persons on whose behalf an
account is opened or a transaction conducted if there are any doubts as to
whether these clients or customers are acting on their own behalf, for
example, in the case of domiciliary companies (i.e. institutions,
corporations, foundations, trusts, etc. that do not conduct any commercial
or manufacturing business or any other form of commercial operation in the
country where their registered office is located).
Recommendation 12
Financial institutions should maintain, for at least five years, all
necessary records on transactions, both domestic or international, to
enable them to comply swiftly with information requests from the competent
authorities. Such records must be sufficient to permit reconstruction of
individual transactions (including the amounts and types of currency
involved if any) so as to provide, if necessary, evidence for prosecution
of criminal behaviour. Financial institutions should keep records on
customer identification (e.g. copies or records of official identification
documents like passports, identity cards, driving licenses or similar
documents), account files and business correspondence for at least five
years after the account is closed. These documents should be available to
domestic competent authorities in the context of relevant criminal
prosecutions and investigations.
Recommendation 13
Countries should pay special attention to money laundering threats
inherent in new or developing technologies that might favour anonymity,
and take measures, if needed, to prevent their use in money laundering
schemes.
Increased Diligence of Financial Institutions
Recommendation 14
Financial institutions should pay special attention to all complex,
unusual large transactions, and all unusual patterns of transactions,
which have no apparent economic or visible lawful purpose. The background
and purpose of such transactions should, as far as possible, be examined,
the findings established in writing, and be available to help supervisors,
auditors and law enforcement agencies.
Recommendation 15
If financial institutions suspect that funds stem from a criminal
activity, they should be required to report promptly their suspicions to
the competent authorities.
Recommendation 16
Financial institutions, their directors, officers and employees should be
protected by legal provisions from criminal or civil liability for breach
of any restriction on disclosure of information imposed by contract or by
any legislative, regulatory or administrative provision, if they report
their suspicions in good faith to the competent authorities, even if they
did not know precisely what the underlying criminal activity was, and
regardless of whether illegal activity actually occurred.
Recommendation 17
Financial institutions, their directors, officers and employees, should
not, or, where appropriate, should not be allowed to, warn their customers
when information relating to them is being reported to the competent
authorities.
Recommendation 18
Financial institutions reporting their suspicions should comply with
instructions from the competent authorities.
Recommendation 19
Financial institutions should develop programs against money laundering.
These programs should include, as a minimum :
(i) the development of internal policies, procedures and controls,
including the designation of
compliance officers at management level, and adequate screening procedures
to ensure high
standards when hiring employees;
(ii) an ongoing employee training programme;
(iii) an audit function to test the system.
Measures to Cope with the Problem of Countries with No or Insufficient
Anti-Money Laundering Measures
Recommendation 20
Financial institutions should ensure that the principles mentioned above
are also applied to branches and majority owned subsidiaries located
abroad, especially in countries which do not or insufficiently apply these
Recommendations, to the extent that local applicable laws and regulations
permit. When local applicable laws and regulations prohibit this
implementation, competent authorities in the country of the mother
institution should be informed by the financial institutions that they
cannot apply these Recommendations.
Recommendation 21
Financial institutions should give special attention to business relations
and transactions with persons, including companies and financial
institutions, from countries which do not or insufficiently apply these
Recommendations. Whenever these transactions have no apparent economic or
visible lawful purpose, their background and purpose should, as far as
possible, be examined, the findings established in writing, and be
available to help supervisors, auditors and law enforcement agencies.
Other Measures to Avoid Money Laundering
Recommendation 22
Countries should consider implementing feasible measures to detect or
monitor the physical cross-border transportation of cash and bearer
negotiable instruments, subject to strict safeguards to ensure proper use
of information and without impeding in any way the freedom of capital
movements.
Recommendation 23
Countries should consider the feasibility and utility of a system where
banks and other financial institutions and intermediaries would report all
domestic and international currency transactions above a fixed amount, to
a national central agency with a computerised data base, available to
competent authorities for use in money laundering cases, subject to strict
safeguards to ensure proper use of the information.
Recommendation 24
Countries should further encourage in general the development of modern
and secure techniques of money management, including increased use of
checks, payment cards, direct deposit of salary checks, and book entry
recording of securities, as a means to encourage the replacement of cash
transfers.
Recommendation 25
Countries should take notice of the potential for abuse of shell
corporations by money launderers and should consider whether additional
measures are required to prevent unlawful use of such entities.
Implementation and Role of Regulatory and Other Administrative Authorities
Recommendation 26
The competent authorities supervising banks or other financial
institutions or intermediaries, or other competent authorities, should
ensure that the supervised institutions have adequate programs to guard
against money laundering. These authorities should co-operate and lend
expertise spontaneously or on request with other domestic judicial or law
enforcement authorities in money laundering investigations and
prosecutions.
Recommendation 27
Competent authorities should be designated to ensure an effective
implementation of all these Recommendations, through administrative
supervision and regulation, in other professions dealing with cash as
defined by each country.
Recommendation 28
The competent authorities should establish guidelines which will assist
financial institutions in detecting suspicious patterns of behaviour by
their customers. It is understood that such guidelines must develop over
time, and will never be exhaustive. It is further understood that such
guidelines will primarily serve as an educational tool for financial
institutions personnel.
Recommendation 29
The competent authorities regulating or supervising financial institutions
should take the necessary legal or regulatory measures to guard against
control or acquisition of a significant participation in financial
institutions by criminals or their confederates.
STRENGTHENING OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
Administrative Co-operation
Exchange of General Information
Recommendation 30
National administrations should consider recording, at least in the
aggregate, international flows of cash in whatever currency, so that
estimates can be made of cash flows and reflows from various sources
abroad, when this is combined with central bank information. Such
information should be made available to the International Monetary Fund
and the Bank for International Settlements to facilitate international
studies.
Recommendation 31
International competent authorities, perhaps Interpol and the World
Customs Organisation, should be given responsibility for gathering and
disseminating information to competent authorities about the latest
developments in money laundering and money laundering techniques. Central
banks and bank regulators could do the same on their network. National
authorities in various spheres, in consultation with trade associations,
could then disseminate this to financial institutions in individual
countries.
Exchange of Information Relating to Suspicious Transactions
Recommendation 32
Each country should make efforts to improve a spontaneous or "upon
request" international information exchange relating to suspicious
transactions, persons and corporations involved in those transactions
between competent authorities. Strict safeguards should be established to
ensure that this exchange of information is consistent with national and
international provisions on privacy and data protection.
Other Forms of Co-operation
Basis and means for co-operation in confiscation, mutual assistance and
extradition.
Recommendation 33
Countries should try to ensure, on a bilateral or multilateral basis, that
different knowledge standards in national definitions -- i.e. different
standards concerning the intentional element of the infraction -- do not
affect the ability or willingness of countries to provide each other with
mutual legal assistance.
Recommendation 34
International co-operation should be supported by a network of bilateral
and multilateral agreements and arrangements based on generally shared
legal concepts with the aim of providing practical measures to affect the
widest possible range of mutual assistance.
Recommendation 35
Countries should be encouraged to ratify and implement relevant
international conventions on money laundering such as the 1990 Council of
Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the
Proceeds from Crime.
Focus of Improved Mutual Assistance on Money Laundering Issues
Recommendation 36
Co-operative investigations among countries appropriate competent
authorities should be encouraged. One valid and effective investigative
technique in this respect is controlled delivery related to assets known
or suspected to be the proceeds of crime. Countries are encouraged to
support this technique, where possible.
Recommendation 37
There should be procedures for mutual assistance in criminal matters
regarding the use of compulsory measures including the production of
records by financial institutions and other persons, the search of persons
and premises, seizure and obtaining of evidence for use in money
laundering investigations and prosecutions and in related actions in
foreign jurisdictions.
Recommendation 38
There should be authority to take expeditious action in response to
requests by foreign countries to identify, freeze, seize and confiscate
proceeds or other property of corresponding value to such proceeds, based
on money laundering or the crimes underlying the laundering activity.
There should also be arrangements for co-ordinating seizure and
confiscation proceedings which may include the sharing of confiscated
assets.
Recommendation 39
To avoid conflicts of jurisdiction, consideration should be given to
devising and applying mechanisms for determining the best venue for
prosecution of defendants in the interests of justice in cases that are
subject to prosecution in more than one country. Similarly, there should
be arrangements for co-ordinating seizure andconfiscation proceedings
which may include the sharing of confiscated assets.
Recommendation 40
Countries should have procedures in place to extradite, where possible,
individuals charged with a money laundering offence or related offences.
With respect to its national legal system, each country should recognise
money laundering as an extraditable offence. Subject to their legal
frameworks, countries may consider simplifying extradition by allowing
direct transmission of extradition requests between appropriate
ministries, extraditing persons based only on warrants of arrests or
judgements, extraditing their nationals, and/or introducing a simplified
extradition of consenting persons who waive formal extradition
proceedings.

Annex to Recommendation 9: List of Financial Activities undertaken by
business or professions which are not financial institutions
1. Acceptance of deposits and other repayable funds from the public.
2. Lending1.
3. Financial leasing.
4. Money transmission services.
5. Issuing and managing means of payment (e.g. credit and debit cards,
cheques, travellers cheques and bankers drafts.)
6. Financial guarantees and commitments.
7. Trading for account of customers (spot, forward, swaps, futures,
options) in:
(a) Money market instruments (cheques, bills, CDs, etc);
(b) Foreign exchange;
(c) Exchange, interest rate and index instruments;
(d) Transferable securities;
(e)Commodity futures trading.
8. Participation in securities issues and the provision of financial
services related to such issues.
9. Individual and collective portfolio management.
10. Safekeeping and administration of cash or liquid securities on behalf
of clients.
11. Life insurance and other investment related insurance.
12. Money changing.
Footnote: * Including inter alia: consumer credit; mortgage credit;
factoring, with or without recourse and finance of commercial transactions
(including forfaiting).
APPENDIX 3
CFATF MEMBER COUNTRIES
Anguilla Jamaica
Antigua & Barbuda
Montserrat
Aruba
Netherlands Antilles
Bahamas
Nicaragua
Barbados
Panama
Belize St. Kitts & Nevis
Bermuda
St. Lucia
British Virgin Islands
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Cayman Islands
Suriname
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
Dominican Republic
Turks & Caicos Islands
Grenada
Venezuela
Guatemala
Guyana
CO-OPERATING AND SUPPORTING NATIONS
Canada
France
Netherlands
Spain
United Kingdom
United States of America
OBSERVERS
Asia/Pacific Group Secretariat FATF Secretariat
Caribbean Customs and Law Enforcement Council UN Global Programme on Money
Laundering
Caribbean Development Bank Inter-American Development Bank
CARICOM Interpol
CARIFORUM Offshore Group of Banking Supervisors
Commonwealth Secretariat Organization of American States /
European Commission Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission
United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention
Further information can be obtained from the CFATF at
www.cfatf.org
APPENDIX 4
THE NINETEEN RECOMMENDATIONS
Anti-Money Laundering Authority
1. Adequate resources need to be dedicated to fighting money laundering.
In countries where experience in combating money laundering is limited,
there need to be competent authorities that specialize in money laundering
investigations and prosecutions and related forfeiture actions,
advise financial institutions and regulatory authorities on anti-money
laundering measures, and receive and evaluate suspicious transaction
information from financial institutions and regulators and currency
reports which are filed by individuals or institutions.
Crime of Money Laundering
2. Consistent with recommendation 5 of the Financial Action Task Force and
recognizing
that the objectives of combating money laundering are shared by CFATF
members, each country in determining for itself what crimes ought to
constitute predicate offences,
should be fully aware of the practical evidentiary complications that may
arise if money laundering is made an offence only with respect to certain
very specific predicate offences.
3. In accordance with the Vienna Convention, each country should, subject
to its constitutional principles and the basic concepts of its legal
system, criminalize conspiracy or association to engage in, and aiding and
abetting drug trafficking, money laundering and other serious offences and
subject such activities to stringent criminal sanctions.
4. When criminalizing money laundering, the national legislature should
consider:
a. extend money laundering predicate offences beyond narcotics trafficking
to include all serious crimes;
b. whether money laundering should only qualify as an offence in cases
where the offender actually knew that he was dealing with funds
derived from crime or whether it should also qualify as an offence in
cases where the offender ought to have known that this was the case;
c. whether it should be relevant that the predicate offence may have been
committed
outside the territorial jurisdiction of the country where the laundering
occurred;
d. whether it is sufficient to criminalize the laundering of illegally
obtained funds, or whether other property that may serve as a means of
payment should also be covered.
5. Where it is not otherwise a crime, countries should consider enacting
statutes that criminalize the knowing payment, receipt or transfer, or
attempted payment, receipt or transfer of property
known to represent the proceeds of drug trafficking, serious crimes or
money laundering where the recipient of the property is a public official,
political candidate, or political party. In countries
where it is already a crime, countries should consider the imposition of
enhanced punishment or other sanctions, such as forfeiture of office.
Privilege
6. The fact that a person acting as a financial advisor or nominee is an
attorney, accountant, stockbroker or other professional, should not in and
of itself be sufficient reason for such person to invoke an
attorney-client privilege, or any other confidentiality clauses.
Confiscation
7. Confiscation measures should provide for the authority to seize,
freeze, and confiscate, at the request of a foreign state, property in the
jurisdiction in which such property is located regardless of whether the
owner of the property or any persons who committed
the offence making the property subject to confiscation are present or
have ever been present within the jurisdiction.
8. Countries should provide for the possibility of confiscating any
property that represents assets that have been directly or indirectly
derived from drug offences or related money laundering offences (property
confiscation),
and may also provide for a system of pecuniary sanctions based on an
assessment of the value of assets that have been directly or indirectly
derived from such offences. In the latter case, the pecuniary sanctions
concerned might
be recoverable from any asset of the convicted person that may be
available (value confiscation).
9. Confiscation measures may provide that all or part of any property
confiscated be transferred directly for use by competent authorities, or
be sold and the proceeds of such sales deposited into a fund dedicated to
the use
by competent authorities in anti-narcotics and anti-money laundering
efforts.
10. Confiscation measures should also apply to narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, precursor and essential chemicals, equipment and
materials used or destined for the illicit manufacture, preparation,
distribution and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Administrative Authorities
11. In order to implement effectively the recommendations of the Financial
Action Task Force, each country should have a system that provides for
bank and other financial institution supervision, including:
1) licensing of all banks, including offices, branches, and agencies of
foreign banks whether or not they take deposits or otherwise do business
in the country (so-called offshore shell banks), and
2) the periodic examination of institutions by authorities to ensure that
the institutions have adequate anti-money laundering programs in place and
are following the implementation of other recommendations of the Financial
Action Task Force.
Similarly, in order to implement the recommendation of the Financial
Action Task Force, there needs to be effective regulation, including
licensing and examination, of institutions and businesses such as services
that make them vulnerable to money laundering.
12. Countries need to ensure that there are adequate border procedures for
inspecting merchandise and carriers, including private aircraft, to detect
illegal drug and currency shipments.
Record-keeping
13. In order to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the
Financial Action Task Force, countries should apply appropriate
administrative, civil, or criminal sanctions to financial institutions
and also businesses or professions which are not financial institutions
that fail to maintain records for the required retention period. Financial
institution supervisory authorities as well as supervisory authorities
for businesses and professions which are not financial institutions must
take special care to ensure that adequate records are maintained.
Currency Reporting
14. Countries should consider the feasibility and utility of a system that
requires the reporting of large amounts of currency over a certain
specified amount received by businesses
other than financial institutions either in one transaction or in a series
of related financial transactions. These reports would be analyzed
routinely by competent authorities in the same manner as any
currency report filed by financial institutions. Large cash purchases of
property and services such as real estate and aircraft are frequently made
by drug traffickers and money launderers and, consequently, as of similar
interest to law enforcement. Civil and criminal sanctions would apply to
businesses and persons who fail to file or falsely file reports or
structure transactions with the intent to evade the reporting
requirements.
Administrative Co-operation
15. In furtherance of recommendation 30 of the Financial Action Task
Force, information acquired about international currency flows should be
shared internationally and disseminated, if possible through the services
of appropriate international or regional organizations,
or on existing international networks. Special agreements may also be
concluded for this purpose.
16. Member States of the OAS should consider signing the OAS Convention on
Extradition, concluded at Caracas on February 25, 1981.
17. Each country should endeavour to ensure that its laws and other
measures regarding drug trafficking and money laundering, and bank
regulation as it pertains to money laundering,
are to the greatest extent possible as effective as the laws and other
measures of all other countries in the region.
Training and Assistance
18. As a follow-up, there should be regular meetings among competent
judicial, law enforcement, and supervisory authorities of the countries of
the Caribbean and Central American region
in order to discuss experience in the fight against money laundering and
emerging trends and techniques.
19. In order to enable countries with small economies and limited
resources to develop appropriate money laundering prevention programs,
other countries should consider widening
the scope of their international technical assistance programs, and to pay
particular attention to the need of training and otherwise strengthening
the quality and preserving the integrity of judicial, legal and law
enforcement systems.
APPENDIX 5
BASLE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
I. Purpose
Banks and other financial institutions may unwittingly be used as
intermediaries for the transfer or deposit of money derived from criminal
activity. The intention behind such transactions is often to hide the
beneficial ownership of funds. The use of the financial system in this way
is of direct concern to police and other law enforcement agencies; it is
also a matter of concern to banking supervisors and banks managements,
since public confidence in banks may be undermined through their
association with criminals. This Statement of Principles is intended to
outline some basic policies and procedures that banks managements should
ensure are in place within their institutions with a view to assisting in
the suppression of money-laundering through the banking system, national
and international. The Statement thus sets out to reinforce existing best
practices among banks and, specifically, to encourage vigilance against
criminal use of the payments system, implementation by banks of effective
preventive safeguards, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
II. Customer Identification
With a view to ensuring that the financial system is not used as a channel
for criminal funds, banks should make reasonable efforts to determine the
true identity of all customers requesting the institutions services.
Particular care should be taken to identify the ownership of all accounts
and those using safe-custody facilities. All banks should institute
effective procedures for obtaining identification from new customers. It
should be an explicit policy that significant business transactions will
not be conducted with customers who fail to provide evidence of their
identity.
III. Compliance with Laws
Banks management should ensure that business is conducted in conformity
with high ethical standards and that laws and regulations pertaining to
financial transactions are adhered to. As regards transactions executed on
behalf of customers, it is accepted that banks may have no means of
knowing whether the transaction stems from or forms part of criminal
activity. Similarly, in an international context it may be difficult to
ensure that cross-border transactions on behalf of customers are in
compliance with the regulations of another country. Nevertheless, banks
should not set out to offer services or provide active assistance in
transactions which they have good reason to suppose are associated with
money-laundering activities.
IV. Cooperation with Law Enforcement Authorities
Banks should cooperate fully with national law enforcement authorities to
the extent permitted by specific local regulations relating to customer
confidentiality. Care should be taken to avoid providing support or
assistance to customers seeking to deceive law enforcement agencies
through the provision of altered, incomplete or misleading information.
Where banks become aware of facts which lead to the reasonable presumption
that money held on deposit derives from criminal activity or that
transactions entered into are themselves criminal in purpose, appropriate
measures, consistent with the law, should be taken, for example, to deny
assistance, sever relations with the customer and close or freeze
accounts.
V. Adherence to the Statement
All banks should formally adopt policies consistent with the principles
set out in this Statement and should ensure that all members of their
staff concerned, wherever located, are informed of the banks policy in
this regard. Attention should be given to staff training in matters
covered by the Statement. To promote adherence to these principles, banks
should implement specific procedures for customer identification and for
retaining internal records of transactions. Arrangements for internal
audit may need to be extended in order to establish an effective means of
testing for general compliance with the Statement.
Further information can be obtained from at www.bis.org
APPENDIX 6
CUSTOMER REFERENCE REQUEST FORM (SPECIMEN)
In accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering Guidelines for Licensed
Financial Institutions, we hereby request your confirmation of the
identity of our prospective customer.
Full Name of Customer:
..
Known Aliases:
.................................
Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms):
...............................
Permanent Address:
.. (as given by
customer)
Date of Birth:
. Account
Number:
...................................
Specimen Customer Signature:
...............................
Please respond by returning the lower portion of this form.
***************************************************************************************
To: (Sender) From: (Referee)
Request for reference regarding :
.................................
With reference to your enquiry dated
..we:
1. Confirm that the above customer is / is not known to us.
2. Confirm/cannot confirm the address shown in your enquiry.
3. Confirm/cannot confirm that the signature reproduced in your enquiry
appears to be that of the above customer.
The above information is given in strict confidence, for your private use
only, and without any guarantee or responsibility on the part of this
financial institution or its officials.
APPENDIX 7
IDENTIFICATION EXCEPTION (SPECIMEN)
DATE OF TRANSACTION:
1. EXEMPT CUSTOMER NAME (last ,first, middle) OR BUSINESS
2. TRADING NAME
3. PERSON COMPLETING TRANSACTION (last , first, middle)
4. PERMANENT ADDRESS
5. BASIS FOR EXEMPTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
(specify)
LINKED TRANSACTION
DATE OF ORIGINAL TRANSACTION :
EFFECTIVE DATE:
REFERENCE # :
6. EFFECTIVE DATE OF EXEMPTION
7. AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION
DESCRIPTION / NATURE OF BUSINESS TRANSACTION:
Deposit Draft/Money Order Purchase Currency Exchange Travellers
Cheques Purchase
Wire Transfer Credit/Debit Card ATM Other (Specify)
TRANSACTION TAKEN BY AUTHORISING OFFICER COMPLIANCE OFFICE (Signature &
Title) (Signature & Title) (Signature & Title)

APPENDIX 8
LARGE TRANSACTION REPORT (SPECIMEN)
[NAME & ADDRESS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION]
DATE OF TRANSACTION:
1. CUSTOMER NAME (last first, middle) OR BUSINESS
7. NAME OF PERSON CONDUCTING TRANSACTION ,if different from previous
2. PERMANENT ADDRESS
8. PERMANENT ADDRESS
3. DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
9. DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
4. NATIONALITY
10. NATIONALITY
5. OCCUPATION
11. OCCUPATION
6. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER
WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER
12. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER
WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER
13. A/C NUMBER
14. AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION & CURRENCY:
FORM OF VERIFICATION
ISSUER & DATE
NUMBER
15. NATIONAL I.D.
16. PASSPORT
17. DRIVERS LICENCE
18. SOCIAL SECURITY
19. OTHER (Specify)
DESCRIPTION / NATURE OF BUSINESS TRANSACTION:
Deposit Draft/Money Order Purchase Currency Exchange Travellers
Cheques Purchase
Wire Transfer Credit/Debit Card ATM Other (Specify)
Source of Funds:
....................................
.....................
.....................
Transaction Approved? Yes No
If No, state reason:
...........
.......................
OFFICER COMPLETING TRANSACTION AUTHORISING / COMPLIANCE OFFICER
(Signature & Title) (Signature & Title)
APPENDIX 9
EXAMPLES OF SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS
Money laundering is a global and dynamic phenomenon. The Financial Action
Task Force meets annually to discuss money laundering trends and methods
(referred to as typologies). These examples of suspicious transactions
are not exhaustive and financial institutions are advised to keep abreast
of any developments that would assist in their fight against money
laundering.
(a) Customers whose transactions are in size, type or nature not in
accordance with their apparent source of wealth.
(b) Unusual large cash deposits made by an individual or company whose
ostensible business activities would normally be generated by cheques and
other instruments.
(c) Customers seeking to exchange large quantities of cash of low
denomination notes for those of higher denomination.
(d) Frequent exchange of cash into other currencies.
(e) Customers transferring large sums of money to or from overseas
locations with instructions for payment in cash.
(f) Large cash deposits using night safe facilities, thereby avoiding
direct contact with staff of licensed financial institutions.
(g) Customers whose explanation of the source of funds is unclear and who
decline to provide a satisfactory explanation.
(h) Matching of payments out with credits paid in cash on the same or
previous day.
(i) Large cash withdrawals from a previously dormant or inactive account.
(j) Greater use of safety deposit facilities. The use of sealed deposit
and withdraw packets.
(k) Substantial increase in deposits of cash or negotiable instruments by
a professional firm or company, using client accounts or in-house company
or trust accounts, especially if the deposits are promptly transferred
between other client, company or trust accounts.
(l) Large number of individuals making payments into the same account
without adequate explanation.
(m) Buying and selling of a security with no discernible purpose or in
circumstances which appear unusual.
(n) Building up of large balances, not consistent with the known turnover
of the customers business, and subsequent transfer to overseas
account(s).
(o) Frequent requests for travellers cheques, foreign currency drafts or
other negotiable instruments.
(p) Request to borrow against an asset held by a financial institution or
a third party, where the origin of the assets is not known or the assets
are inconsistent with the customers standing.
(q) Customers introduced by an overseas branch, affiliate or other bank
based in
countries where production of drugs or drug trafficking may be prevalent.
(r) Use of letters of credit and other methods of trade finance to move
money
between countries where such trade is not consistent with the customers
usual business.
(s) Unexplained electronic fund transfers by customers, foreign currency
drafts
or other negotiable instruments to be issued.
(u) Frequent paying in of travellers cheques or foreign currency drafts
particularly if originating from overseas.
APPENDIX 10
SUSPECT TRANSACTION REPORT
IMPORTANT: Complete using information obtained during normal course of the
transaction. The report should be completed as soon as practicable AFTER
the dealing, and a copy forwarded to:
THE DIRECTOR
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AUTHORITY
P.O. BOX 1372 Bridgetown, Barbados
FACSIMILE NO. (246) 436-4756
Email: amla@sunbeach.net
For urgent reporting Tel. (246) 436-4734/5
SUSPECT
TRANSACTION
REPORT
PLEASE WRITE IN BLOCK LETTERS
PART A Identity of customers PART B Name of account holder
involved in transaction (To be completed only if transaction was conducted
on behalf of another person other than those mentioned in part A
(Given names and surname)
CUSTOMER 1
1.:
8.:
........
(Date of birth) (Given names and surname)
2.:
9.:
.........
.......
(Address) (Address)
3.:
10.:
..............
(Nationality if not Barbadian) (Nationality if not Barbadian)
4.:
11.:
.......
(Occupation) (Occupation)
5.:
12.:
..........................
(Date of birth) (Date of birth)
6.: Type and number of affected accounts 13.: Type and number of affected
accounts
.................................
....................................
7.: Particulars of ID, e.g. National ID no., bank account no. 14.:
Particulars of ID, e.g. National ID no., bank account no.
........................................
CUSTOMER 2 (if more than one customer at counter) PART C Transaction
details
1.:
15.: Type of transaction (e.g. deposit,
purchase travellers chq)
(Given names and surname)
2.:
16: Date of transaction
...........
(Address)
3.:
17: Amount of transaction ($BC)
.
........
(Nationality if not Barbadian)
4.:
18. If foreign currency involved, name
.......
(Occupation)
5.:
19. Cheque/transfer/money order/etc.
(Date of birth)
(Name of drawer/Ordering customer)
6.: Type and number of affected accounts
.
.
(Name of payee/beneficiary)
.
20. Other bank involved (if applicable) name/branch/country
7.: Particulars of ID, e.g. National ID no., bank account no.
....
.
...
IMPORTANT: Complete using information obtained during normal course of the
transaction. The report should be completed as soon as practicable AFTER
the dealing, and a copy forwarded to:
THE DIRECTOR
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AUTHORITY
P.O. BOX 1372 Bridgetown, Barbados
FACSIMILE NO. (246) 436-4756
Email: amla@sunbeach.net
For urgent reporting Tel. (246) 436-4734/5
SUSPECT
TRANSACTION
REPORT
PLEASE WRITE IN BLOCK LETTERS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The FATF develops and promotes policies to combat money laundering.
Refer to section 1.02 of the guidelines.
[2] The CFATF presents a regional perspective to the money laundering
issue. Refer to section 1.02 of the guidelines.
[3] The Authority was established in August 2000 and its responsibilities
are shown in section 2.0 of the guidelines.

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