An In-depth Look at the FATF Forty Recommendations
Recommendation 13: Correspondent Banking
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Forty Recommendations provide veryĀ detailed guidelines to financial institutions. Recommendation 13 which explores Correspondent Banking does the same.
The definition of correspondent banking as provided by the FATF is āthe provision of banking services by one bank (the ācorrespondent bankā) to another bank (the ārespondent bankā).ā Therefore, a larger international bank may provide a wide array of services to local banks. These services may include international wire transfers. Transactions for the local banks are processed by the large international banks.Ā
As a result, correspondent banks (financial institutions) are required to conduct customer due diligence on the respondent bank prior to entering into any transaction. This is to satisfy itself about the integrity and reputation of the respondent bank. There should be a clear understanding about the quality of supervision at the respondent bank, to include uncovering whether the bank has been the subject of any sanctions due to money laundering or terrorist financing breaches. It is also important to determine the quality of the anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism controls that the respondent bank has in place. Recommendation 13 also prohibits financial institutions from entering into or continuing a correspondent relationship with a shell bank. A shell bank is one with no meaningful mind and management located in the country in which it is incorporated and licensed. It is also unaffiliated with a regulated financial group, which is supervised.Ā Correspondent banks may opt not to conduct business with any respondent bank that is found wanting, as they may be exposed to money laundering and terrorist financing risks through the respondent bank. It should be noted that the respondent bank must also conduct customer due on correspondent banks.
The Money Laundering (Prevention) Act, Cap.12.20 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia in section 94 captures several responsibilities of financial institutions when undertaking correspondent banking. These include but are not limited to: ā(a) Obtaining authenticated/certified copies of Certificates of Incorporation and Articles of Incorporation (and any other company documents to show registration of the institution within its identified jurisdiction of residence); (b) Obtaining authenticated/certified copies of banking licences or similar authorization documents, as well as any additional licences needed to deal in foreign exchangeā
From September 16-27, 2019, assessors from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) which is the regional styled body to the FATF will come on-site and seek to determine Saint Luciaās compliance with the Forty Recommendations. Financial institutions are therefore encouraged to acquaint themselves with the Recommendations which can be found on the CFATFās website at https://www.cfatf-gafic.org.
Editorās note: The preceding is Part 15 of a series by The Attorney Generalās Chambers and the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC) which will in the weeks to come shed light on the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force.