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The Treasury Department yesterday reported that OFAC has taken additional action against Iranian military revenue generation, targeting Oceanlink Maritime DMCC for facilitating the shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. OFAC also identified 13 vessels managed by Oceanlink Maritime DMCC as blocked property.

For identification information on the designated company and vessels, see BankersOnline's April 4, 2024, OFAC Update.

The OCC has reported that Acting Comptroller of the Currency yesterday discussed the importance of fairness in remarks given at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition Just Economy Conference 2024.

Mr. Hsu highlighted bank progress in overdraft protection program reforms since the OCC issued guidance last April and provided an update on Project REACh accomplishments regarding credit invisibles, minority depository institutions and affordable housing. Additionally, he discussed the importance of ensuring fairness as it relates to artificial intelligence and fraud.

The NCUA has announced it issued two prohibition notices and one consent order in March 2024, permanently prohibiting individuals from participating in the affairs of any federally insured depository institution.

• Sarah C. Conley, a former employee of Summit Federal Credit Union, Rochester, New York, received a notice of prohibition, having been convicted of grand larceny in connection with illegal activities at the credit union
• Carlene Bartley, formerly employed by Municipal Credit Union, New York, New York, was issued a notice of prohibition, having pleaded guilty to, and having been convicted on, charges of grand larceny
• Esther A. Olson, a former assistant branch manager of Educational Employees Credit Union, Fresno, California, received a consent order of prohibition, after a finding that she had embezzled funds from member accounts, including the withdrawal of over $60,000 from four different members' share accounts

FDIC Financial Institution Letter FIL-15-2024, issued yesterday in coordination with today's FinCEN Federal Register request for information and comment, is an advisory to reemphasize the requirements under the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule as it relates to collecting identifying information from customers. The advisory reminds institutions of the information required to be collected from the customer prior to account opening. The CIP rule has been in effect for more than 20 years (since October 1, 2003).

• The CIP Rule requires a bank to implement a program that includes risk-based verification procedures that enable the bank to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of its customers. These requirements exist regardless of whether the bank establishes this relationship directly with the customer or through an intermediary.
• These procedures must include collecting, at a minimum, the customer’s name, date of birth (for an individual), address, and identification number.
• A bank is required to collect the taxpayer identification number (TIN) from a customer that is a U.S. person prior to account opening or another approved identification from a non-U.S. person. This applies to all accounts with the exception of credit card accounts.

Yesterday, the Treasury Department announced that OFAC, in coordination with the Republic of Korea (ROK), has sanctioned six individuals and two entities based in Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates that generate revenue and facilitate financial transactions for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Funds generated through these actors are ultimately funneled to support the DPRK’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.

The Department also reported OFAC has designated two individuals and three entities as key financial facilitators involved in fundraising for Hamas.

For the names and identification information of the designated parties, see ourMarch 27, 2024, BankersOnline OFAC Update.

The Treasury Department has reported that the Financial Action Task Force—the global standard-setting body for anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF)—announced that the United States has been upgraded to “largely compliant” with FATF Recommendation 24, which relates to beneficial ownership transparency for legal persons.

The FATF published the updated rating in the Seventh Enhanced Follow-Up Report of the United States, recognizing Treasury’s historic efforts to increase beneficial ownership transparency and address key vulnerabilities in the U.S. AML/CFT framework.

Yesterday, the Treasury Department reported that OFAC had sanctioned six entities, one individual and two tankers that are based or registered in Liberia, India, Vietnam, Lebanon, and Kuwait that have engaged in facilitating commodity shipments and financial transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), the Houthis, and Hizballah.

Treasury also reported that OFAC had sanctioned 11 individuals and entities supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad through the facilitation of illicit financial transfers and trafficking of illegal drugs, as well as the extraction and export of Syrian commodities.

For the names and identification information of the designated individuals, entities, and vessels, see our March 26, 2024, BankersOnline OFAC Update.

Yesterday, the Treasury Department reported that OFAC had sanctioned thirteen entities and two individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy including persons developing or offering services in virtual assets that enable the evasion of U.S. sanctions. Five entities were designated for being owned or controlled by OFAC-designated persons.

Treasury also reported that OFAC had sanctioned Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, Limited (Wuhan XRZ), a Wuhan, China-based Ministry of State Security (MSS) front company that has served as cover for multiple malicious cyber operations. OFAC also designated Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, two Chinese nationals affiliated with Wuhan XRZ, for their roles in malicious cyber operations targeting U.S. entities that operate within U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, directly endangering U.S. national security.

For the names and identification information of all the designated parties, see the March 25, 2024, BankersOnline OFAC Update.

On Friday, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo announced, alongside local leaders and law enforcement in Arizona, that OFAC had sanctioned operatives in a Black Market Peso Exchange scheme to launder millions in illicit fentanyl proceeds for the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC designated 15 Sinaloa Cartel members—several of whom are fugitives—and six Mexico-based businesses pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059. The Sinaloa Cartel, which is one of the most notorious and pervasive drug trafficking organizations in the world, is responsible for a significant portion of the illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States.

For the names and identification information of the designated parties, see the March 22, 2024, BankersOnline OFAC Update.

Yesterday, the Treasury Department announced that OFAC had targeted three procurement networks –– based in Iran, Türkiye, Oman, and Germany –– that have supported Iran’s ballistic missile, nuclear, and defense programs.

The Treasury Department also reported that OFAC had designated two individuals and two entities for services they provided the Government of the Russian Federation in connection with a foreign malign influence campaign, including attempting to impersonate legitimate media outlets.

For the names and identification information of the designated parties, see the March 20, 2024, BankersOnline OFAC Update.