Two federal agencies that oversee Bank Secrecy Act requirements have notified financial institutions they will agree to “reasonable delays” in the filing of required reports if institutions can show the delays are necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic.
AML
Study: Europe blows U.S. away in financial crime spending
A new report found financial institutions spent $181 billion on financial crime compliance worldwide last year, with European firms spending three to four times more than their counterparts in North America.
Swedish regulator delays SEB money laundering probe
Sweden’s financial regulator announced it will wait until June to conclude its money laundering investigation into Scandinavian Enskilda Banken AB (SEB) due to the coronavirus pandemic.
DOJ indicts Venezuela President Maduro, others in regime
The DOJ unsealed indictments against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and several high-ranking former and current members of his regime for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering crimes, as well as violations of the FCPA.
Swedbank cuts ex-CEO’s severance following AML probe
Swedbank has canceled the severance pay of its former CEO and accepted a record fine of 4 billion Swedish Krona (U.S. $390 million) in the wake of the findings of an independent investigation into its anti-money laundering deficiencies.
U.K. AML report: Data analysis of risks lacking
Implementation of risk-based processes and the data analysis that sits behind them are among the biggest weaknesses laid out in a review of AML efforts in the accounting and legal sectors conducted by the U.K.’s financial watchdog.
Swedish regulator fines Swedbank record $390M for AML deficiencies
Swedbank AB has been issued a record 4 billion Swedish Krona (U.S. $390 million) administrative fine for what Sweden’s financial watchdog called “serious deficiencies in its management of the risk of money laundering in its Baltic operations.”
Swedbank announces new risk chief as probe nears end
Swedbank announced the appointment of Rolf Marquardt as chief risk officer just over a week prior to the expected announcement of the findings of a probe into its AML shortcomings conducted by law firm Clifford Chance.
Ex-Alstom exec gets 15 months in prison on money-laundering charges
Lawrence Hoskins, a former executive of French power and transportation company Alstom, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for his role in a money-laundering scheme that prosecutors say was designed to promote violations of the FCPA.
Former U.S. Bank risk officer pays $450K for AML compliance failures
The former chief operational risk officer at U.S. Bank has agreed to pay a $450,000 penalty for his role in the bank failing to implement and maintain an effective anti-money laundering compliance program.


