FinCEN flags $9 billion in Iranian shadow-banking activity, citing SARs filings from U.S. banks
Approximately $9 billion of potential shadow-banking flows tied to Iranian networks in 2024, according to a new analysis from FinCEN. The report highlights how illicit funds are making their way through financial institutions as they meet the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
CFPB ends probe into Meta’s financial advertising practices
Meta says it is no longer under investigation by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the latest instance of the agency scaling back enforcement under President Donald Trump.
Navigate SEC cautiously during shutdown, experts advise
The U.S. government shutdown has brought most operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to a screeching halt, but that doesn’t mean compliance teams should be taking a breather, experts advised.
Role for compliance as FCA urges U.K. asset managers to take up tokenization tech
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has opened a consultation on its plans to support “tokenization” – the digital representation of assets on distributed ledger technology (DLT). It is calling for firms to respond to the consultation before November 21.
CFPB scraps bad-actor registry, citing cost-benefit issues
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shut down a registry of non-bank financial firms that broke consumer laws. The agency cites the costs being ”not justified by the speculative and unquantified benefits to consumers.”
Assessing the impact of the DOJ’s monitorship policy six months in
It has been nearly six months now since the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division released its memorandum on the selection of compliance monitors. This article provides a critical analysis of the monitorships that received early terminations, those that remain in place, and the broader compliance lessons they impart.
Binance’s Changpeng Zhao receives presidential pardon from Trump
The founder of crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao, received a pardon from President Donald Trump. This pardon comes almost two years after Zhao signed a plea agreement and was sentenced to a four-month prison sentence.
Q&A with Olga Kozak-Anlar of Robinhood Markets
Compliance Week Editor-in-Chief Aaron Nicodemus recently interviewed Olga Kozak-Anlar, Compliance AI Lead at Robinhood Markets Incorporated, about her role at Robinhood and the company’s use of AI.
Canada to launch new federal office targeting financial crime and fraud
Canada is creating a new federal office to lead efforts against financial crime. The initiative marks the government’s most significant move yet to modernize its approach to fraud and money laundering.
Soaring costs of car loan compensation in U.K. highlight global risks from poor sales practices
U.K. motor finance companies are preparing to pay billions in compensation after a Supreme Court ruling found they sold unfair car loans over many years, failing to disclose key information and denying consumers the chance to compare deals or negotiate.
U.S. targets southeast Asian “pig butchering”, human trafficking, forced labor empire
This week, U.S. authorities took coordinated action against Cambodian multinational conglomerate Prince Holding Group and its 37-year-old founder Chen Zhi, who is accused of running forced-labor camps in Cambodia where captives were forced to conduct pig butchering scams that defrauded U.S. and global victims out of billions of dollars.
AMLA: What difference will the agency make in the EU’s fight against moneylaundering?
Europe’s massive financial sector has become a magnet for illicit money flowing through its banks and markets. A new EU agency will be taking the problem head-on to fight against money laundering.
Nasdaq: A majority of financial firms plan to use AI in compliance this year
About 36 percent of financial firms are using artificial intelligence in compliance, and most firms intend to ramp up their reliance on AI in compliance in the next 12 months, according to a new survey by Nasdaq.
U.K. FCA establishes framework for unlisted companies to trade shares on a ‘buyer-beware’ basis
Private companies that are keen to trade their shares but do not wish to become listed have gained another way to trade their shares. The U.K. government completed its initial review and published rules for the system in June.
CFPB Ends Oversight of Washington Federal and Planet Home Lending
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) terminated two consent orders with mortgage lenders in September as the agency’s enforcement power shrinks under Trump-era cuts.
U.K. enforcement appetite over off-channel comms grows as U.S. wanes
The U.K’.s financial regulator has given a strong indication that financial firms’ use of unauthorized devices and apps is under scrutiny and that policies around off-channel communications need to be tightened up.
FinCEN seeks to lighten the regulatory load on casinos
Regulatory relief from anti-money laundering rules is in the cards for casinos, insurance companies and other non-bank financial institutions, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said Monday.
Australian banks’ record fines for compliance failures highlight role of culture in compliance
Two of the biggest banks in Australia are under fire for major compliance and cultural failings. ANZ and National Australia Bank are facing intense scrutiny over misconduct ranging from mistreating customers to underpaying staff.
Bank of America Securities avoids prosecution over market manipulation case
The DOJ announced Thursday that it has declined to prosecute Bank of America Securities over lapses related to a spoofing scheme conducted by two former employees that went on for almost seven years.
Trump wants SEC to toss quarterly reporting requirement
President Donald Trump is pushing for a shake-up in corporate reporting rules, calling on companies to file earnings with the SEC only twice a year instead of every quarter.
U.K. delays audit reforms even as regulator piles on financial pressure
Delays to the U.K.’s Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill and creation of the ARGA regulator have sparked criticism. On Sept. 8, 66 MPs sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging reforms be returned to the Parliamentary agenda.
Hong Kong securities regulator hits repeat offender Deutsche Bank with $3M fine
Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay a $3 million fine and has returned $5 million in fee overcharges to customers as part of a resolution with Hong Kong’s financial services regulator.
Digital wallets should speed up compliance, but companies must focus on trust and security
The EU has one, the U.K. is getting one, many U.S. states are working with Google and Apple to provide one, and now industry sectors are developing their own digital wallet.
DOJ, SEC charge owner of Pennsylvania companies of running $770M Ponzi scheme
The majority owner of a Pennsylvania investment firm faces 100 years of prison time and huge fines for allegedly running a $770 million Ponzi scheme centered on an ATM company he also owned.
Cross-border compliance: Lessons from the UAE for a globalized financial system
Financial ecosystems are no longer confined within national boundaries. Money, technology, and risks flow seamlessly across jurisdictions, creating unprecedented challenges for compliance officers. From sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) obligations to the rise of virtual assets, the compliance function must now navigate a complex, cross-border landscape where regulators, institutions, and ...
Chinese money-laundering networks moved $312B in dirty money through the U.S.
Suspicious activity reports filed by U.S. financial institutions show that Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers are laundering dirty funds through Chinese money laundering networks (CMLNs) operating in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
U.K. prepares to prosecute firms under new Failure to Prevent Fraud rules
The U.K. will start cracking down on companies under the new Failure to Prevent Fraud law on Sept. 1, with the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office ready to enforce it.
Federal Reserve Governor sues Trump over attempted removal
President Donald Trump announced he would fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday. On Thursday, Cook filed a lawsuit claiming Trump cannot remove her from office and is violating federal law.
FinCEN again delays U.S. ban on three Mexican financial institutions
The order barring three Mexican financial institutions from doing business with U.S. financial institutions has been delayed until October.
SEC taps military judge as Enforcement Division Director
The SEC has named Margaret “Meg” Ryan, a senior military judge and Harvard Law lecturer, as its next Enforcement Division Director—an unconventional pick that could signal changes in enforcement strategy.
CFPB makes move to stake a claim against bankrupt Synapse, the fintech software company
Synapse Financial Technologies, the troubled California fintech software provider, has agreed to let the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) eventually file a claim on its bankrupt estate.
CPE Webcast: Banking Compliance in 2025: Key Trends and Future-Proofing Strategies
In addition to a loosening of traditional banking regulation and supervision in areas like capital requirements, stress testing and liquidity, U.S. banking regulators have indicated they will be more receptive to innovation than the previous administration, particularly in the use of Artificial Intelligence, and in digital assets.
‘Extraordinary cooperation’ pays off for PFS Investments
As regulators shift toward rewarding transparency, self-regulation and self-reporting, the way PFS Investments handled a longstanding problem serves as an example of how proactive remediation can turn a costly compliance error into a manageable regulatory outcome.
Nine regulatory initiatives under SEC’s “Project Crypto” aim to redefine crypto market rules
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins has launched “Project Crypto,” a major regulatory overhaul aimed at shifting the agency from enforcement to innovation. Atkins’ address outlined as many as nine Commission-wide initiatives to revamp the SEC’s rulebook for the digital finance era.
CFPB could run out of money by fall, report says
The Trump administration declawed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from the very beginning of his second term. It now appears the agency might be running out of money.
U.K. proposes streamlining regime meant to hold fin serve executives to account
When growth slows, governments often cut rules to attract investment, as the U.K. has in its financial services sector, which contributes 8.8% of GDP, but easing the “compliance burden” raises concerns about oversight, governance, and prioritizing profits over safety.
U.K. regulator urges auditors to explain AI use in audits
Plans to push audit firms to disclose how they use AI in audits have been broadly welcomed, but concerns remain over how corporate data is used, secured, retained, and potentially exposed.
SEC dodges commitment on climate rule enforcement
The SEC refused to say whether it would enforce its landmark Climate-Related Disclosure Rules in a status report filed Wednesday, deepening uncertainty as the regulation faces legal challenges.
Interactive Brokers to pay $11.8M to settle thousands of U.S. sanction violations
A brokerage and investment firm will pay $11.8 million for providing services to individuals under U.S. sanctions, as well as people located in countries sanctioned by the U.S.
U.K. extends bullying and harassment rules to 37,000 financial services firms
Serious bullying and harassment count as misconduct in regulated financial services firms, per a July 1 clarification by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which said non-financial misconduct rules now applied only to banks will extend to 37,000 more firms starting September 1, 2026.
Florida alleges that Robinhood Crypto’s fee disclosures are inaccurate
The state of Florida is investigating Robinhood Crypto for falsely claiming it charges the lowest fees for processing crypto transactions.
U.K. updates pension and asset manager rules, but internal auditors flag governance gaps
Will “taking an axe to” red tape and onerous reporting commitments free up trillions invested in U.K. pensions and increase the value of assets managed by regulated financial services firms?
CFPB drops $95M enforcement action against Navy Federal, without explanation
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dropped a $95 million enforcement action against Navy Federal Credit Union, the latest regulatory pullback by the agency under President Donald Trump.
FCA drops ‘naming and shaming’ approach – except in ‘exceptional circumstances’
The UK’s financial regulator has had a rough ride over the past couple of years as its strategy to “name and shame” firms it opened investigations into was widely slammed by the industry and lawmakers over concerns that companies could be unfairly maligned.
Atkins says SEC to embrace innovation, criticizes regulatory uncertainty around tokenization
SEC Chair Paul Atkins pointed to the growth of tokenized shares as a key development reshaping private markets, suggesting the agency is preparing to update its rules to keep pace with new forms of digital asset trading and settlement.
FHFA chief orders Fannie and Freddie to consider crypto assets in mortgage assessments
In another sign of President Donald Trump’s focus on cryptocurrency, the head of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to create proposals to consider crypto assets for a single-family home mortgage.
UK’s Failure to Prevent Fraud law may expose firms to unlimited fines and prosecution, says Moody’s compliance risk expert
Fraud now accounts for around 40% of all crime in the U.K., posing a major problem for banks and consumers. Ted Datta, head of industry practice for financial crime compliance at Moody’s, warns that the risk is growing fast.
OFAC hits GVA Capital with $216M penalty for servicing sanctioned Russian oligarch
A San Francisco venture capital firm will pay a $216 million fine to the U.S. Treasury for violating U.S. sanctions by managing investments for a Russian oligarch.
SEC Chair Atkins signals end to ‘regulation by enforcement’ in line with Trump’s pro-crypto agenda
The Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins explained his agency’s shift on cryptocurrency regulation to a Senate committee as legislators bargain over President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the GENIUS Act, which would have the federal government invest heavily in cryptocurrency.
DOJ says BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street pressed ESG goals to lower U.S. coal output
The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have bolstered a conservative legal effort to dismantle environmental, social, and governance-based investment strategies from three large asset managers by claiming they illegally conspired to artificially raise energy prices.