Financial Crimes Enforcement Network July 21, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (``FinCEN''), a bureau of the Department of the Treasury (``Treasury''), is revising the regulations implementing the Bank Secrecy Act (``BSA'') regarding money services businesses (``MSBs'') to clarify which entities are covered by the definitions. The changes more clearly delineate the scope of entities regulated as MSBs, so that determining which entities are obligated to comply is more straightforward and predictable. This rulemaking amends the current MSB regulations by: ensuring that certain foreign-located persons engaging in MSB activities within the United States are subject to the BSA rules; updating the MSB definitions to reflect past guidance and rulings, current business operations, evolving technologies, and merging lines of business; and separating the provisions dealing with stored value from those dealing with issuers, sellers, and redeemers of traveler's checks and money orders.