AUSTRAC Updates
AUSTRAC responds to Russian sanctions with dedicated team and FIU working group 27 June 2022 Earlier this year, the Australian Government imposed sanctions on a range of individuals, companies, organisations and officials supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade […]
AUSTRAC accepts enforceable undertaking from National Australia Bank 2 May 2022 AUSTRAC has accepted an enforceable undertaking from National Australia Bank (NAB) to uplift its compliance with Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. The action follows an AUSTRAC enforcement investigation which identified concerns about NAB’s AML/CTF program, systems and […]
AUSTRAC statement 2021: de-banking 29 Oct 2021 The issue of de-banking is a complex global problem. Over the past decade, the range of businesses impacted by a loss or limitation of access to banking services has expanded. Money transfer (remitters), digital currency exchanges, not-for-profit organisations (NPO) and financial technology (FinTech) […]
AUSTRAC has a page of the risk assessments they’ve issued for use by the public. They go all the way back to 2015, when AUSTRAC issued a strategic analysis of de-risking of remittance businesses. Here’s 2021’s publications (the link to the full list is below): Foreign bank branches in Australia […]
A little old, but instructive… AUSTRAC issues remedial direction to Australian Military Bank 4 May 2021 AUSTRAC has issued a remedial direction to Australian Military Bank Ltd (AMB) requiring the mutual bank to review and uplift its compliance with Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. The action follows ongoing […]
Be aware of scams impersonating AUSTRAC 4 August 2021 We are receiving reports of scammers sending emails to reporting entities and members of the public pretending to be from AUSTRAC and seeking payment of fines, taxes or other financial transfers. We will never demand a payment via email. These scams […]
Customer due diligence: Source of wealth and source of funds considerations 28 June 2021 Know your customer (KYC) procedures, including where appropriate, taking reasonable measures to identify the source of a customer’s wealth and the source of a customer’s funds are an important part of your AML/CTF program. When undertaken […]
New financial crime guide explains cuckoo smurfing 28 June 2021 AUSTRAC’s Fintel Alliance has released a financial crime guide to help remittance service providers, banking and financial services businesses detect and report cuckoo smurfing. Organised criminals use ‘cuckoo smurfing’ as a method of laundering money to disguise and integrate their […]
Consultation now open on Rules for AML/CTF reforms 27 January 2021 Reforms have been made to strengthen Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The reforms, known as Phase 1.5, will increase the resilience of our financial system against criminal threats, while making it easier for businesses to understand and […]
AUSTRAC applies for civil penalty orders against Westpac 20 Nov 2019 AUSTRAC, Australia’s anti money-laundering and terrorism financing regulator, has today applied to the Federal Court of Australia for civil penalty orders against Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac). The civil penalty orders relate to systemic non-compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and […]
Mr. Watchlist 