Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
FinCEN administers the Bank Secrecy Act, collects suspicious activity and currency transaction reports, and sets AML programme requirements for financial institutions.
Americas · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in the United States
The United States regulates AML/CTF through FinCEN under the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for the United States
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUFinancial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Department of the Treasury
FATF statusFATF member
Primary legislationBank Secrecy Act (1970); USA PATRIOT Act (2001); Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in the United States.
The United States regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act, administered by FinCEN, which collects suspicious activity reports and sets AML programme requirements for financial institutions and designated businesses.
Regulated entities must run a risk-based AML programme, identify and verify customers and beneficial owners, screen against OFAC sanctions lists, monitor transactions, and file suspicious activity reports with FinCEN. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, independent testing, sound recordkeeping, and ongoing staff training.
MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against OFAC and global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.
Regulation
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act
The BSA established the core reporting and recordkeeping regime; the PATRIOT Act expanded customer identification and due diligence requirements after 2001.
Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020
Modernised the US AML framework, introduced beneficial ownership reporting via the Corporate Transparency Act, and raised penalties for violations.
FATF 40 Recommendations
As a founding FATF member, the US aligns its regime with the international standards that shape expectations for financial institutions and designated businesses worldwide.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Establish a written, risk-based AML compliance programme
- Apply customer identification and due diligence (CIP/CDD)
- Identify beneficial owners of legal entity customers
- File suspicious activity reports (SARs) with FinCEN
- Screen against OFAC sanctions lists
- Maintain records and provide ongoing staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in the United States?
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the US Department of the Treasury, administers the Bank Secrecy Act and receives suspicious activity reports, alongside federal and state banking, securities, and gaming regulators.
What is the main AML law in the United States?
The Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act form the core of the US framework, requiring customer identification, due diligence, recordkeeping, and suspicious activity reporting from financial institutions.
Is the United States a member of FATF?
Yes. The United States is a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in the United States?
MemberCheck screens customers and entities against OFAC and global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.
Screen customers for the United States risk with MemberCheck.
Book a walkthrough with our compliance team and screen a real case in the first session.