Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is responsible for tracking suspicious financial conduct and deterring financial crime. FinCEN coordinates with federal regulators and foreign financial intelligence units (FIUs) to report, analyze, and serve as a watchdog over the global economic systems.

When a bank reports suspicious activity to its FIU, FinCEN follows the money to locate the perpetrators.

The Egmont Group is an inclusive body that oversees and facilitates collaboration between international FIUs. There is growing concern that major banks cannot successfully discourage criminals from laundering money or financing terrorism.

Banks have cleared more than $2 trillion in transactions they later flagged as suspicious.

FinCEN obtains transaction data and translates that data for law enforcement purposes so that the authorities can have actionable insights. The goal is to achieve cooperation with domestic and international counterparts to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorist organizations.