Israel’s largest bank and its Swiss subsidiary will pay a total of $904 million in separate DOJ settlements related to (1) a massive tax-evasion scheme and (2) its role in a money-laundering conspiracy with FIFA.
Financial Services
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Industrial Bank of Korea to pay $86M for sanctions compliance failures
The Industrial Bank of Korea and its New York branch will pay a total of $86 million to resolve charges for systemic sanctions compliance failures that allowed more than $1 billion to be illegally transferred to the government of Iran.
Posted inAML
Westpac sets aside $570M to resolve money laundering violations
Westpac has set aside AUS$900 million (U.S. $570 million) for a potential fine with Australian enforcement authorities related to a money laundering scandal and for allegations of facilitating child exploitation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
Ex-exec charged, but Goldman Sachs avoids FCPA liability for due diligence efforts
The SEC announced charges against a former Goldman Sachs exec for violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA, but the firm was not charged in the case because of the due diligence measures it took.
Posted inRisk Management
Coronavirus pandemic, government money create perfect storm for financial fraud
A global pandemic, an unprecedented flow of government money, and a weakening of lending controls could create a perfect storm of opportunity for fraudsters.
Posted inInternal Controls
Fed grants Wells Fargo temporary relief from asset cap restriction
An asset cap imposed on Wells Fargo in response to systemic failures at the bank in recent years has been temporarily modified to reduce limitations on its ability to distribute loans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
FinCEN, OCC offer BSA compliance relief amid pandemic
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.
Posted inEurope
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.
Posted inEurope
Standard Chartered Bank fined $24.9M for Ukraine sanctions breaches
The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation hit Standard Chartered Bank for a record fine relating to loans the bank made to Russian financial institutions in violation of the EU’s sanction regime.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
CECL delayed amid U.S. government’s coronavirus response
FASB’s controversial standard on credit losses was dealt two significant blows Friday as the U.S. government scrambles to respond to the financial impact of the escalating coronavirus pandemic.
