UTAH INSURANCE DEPARTMENT  
BULLETIN 2002-4   
 

TO:  All Insurers and Licensees

FROM:  Merwin U. Stewart
                Insurance Commissioner   

RE:  USA PATRIOT ACT OF 2001 

On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed into law the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001” (the Act).  This law, enacted in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 strengthens our Nation’s ability to combat terrorism and   prevent and detect money-laundering activities. 

The purpose of this Bulletin is to advise persons or entities regulated by the Utah Insurance Department of important new responsibilities under the Act.  In particular, Section 352 of the Act amends the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) to require that all financial institutions establish an anti-money laundering program, and Section 326 amends the BSA to require the Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury) to adopt minimum standards for financial institutions regarding the identity of customers that open accounts.   

Section 352 – Establishing Anti-Money Laundering Programs 

Section 352 of the Act requires the establishment of an anti-money laundering program, including, at a minimum: 

·        The development of internal policies, procedures, and controls; these should be appropriate for the level of risk of money laundering identified.

·        The designation of a compliance officer; the officer should have appropriate training and background to execute their responsibilities.  In addition, the compliance officer should have access to senior management.

·        An ongoing employee training program; a training program should match training to the employees’ roles in the organization and their job functions.  The training program should be provided as often as necessary to address gaps created by movement of employees within the organization and turnover.

·        An independent audit function to test the programs.  The independent audit function does not require engaging outside consultants.  Internal staff that is independent of those developing and executing the anti-money laundering program may conduct the audit. 

Treasury is currently drafting a regulation describing the anti-money laundering compliance program for insurers.  The regulation may borrow from the anti-money laundering compliance program rule recently proposed by the NASD for broker-dealers, and is expected to be promulgated in late spring or early summer. 

Insurance companies are included in the BSA’s definition of financial institution, and should be prepared to comply with the new law and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  Section 352 of the Act was originally to be effective on April 24, 2002.  However, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an interim final rule on April 23, 2001 deferring application of Section 352 to insurance companies.  The Department of Treasury has indicated that it intends to issue proposed final regulations applicable to insurance companies by June 1, 2001 and to have all final regulations relating to the Act in place by October 26, 2002.  All insurance companies must immediately evaluate their circumstances as they relate to the Act.  When the Department of Treasury issues its final rule relating to Section 352 of the Act the scope of the department's financial examinations will cover whether a company is in compliance with the Act.  

As part of its rulemaking process, Treasury is determining the extent to which other insurance entities will be considered financial institutions for purposes of the regulation.  It is anticipated that the regulation could cover all other persons and entities engaged in the business of insurance, including brokers, agents, and managing general agents, and may also include other regulated entities.  These insurance entities will be required to comply with the regulation by the regulation’s effective date.   

Anti-money laundering programs are not anticipated to be “one size fits all.”  Rather, it is expected that they will be developed using a risk-based approach.  Development of an anti-money laundering program should begin with identification of those areas, processes and programs that are susceptible to money laundering activities.  The practices and procedures implemented under the program should reflect the risks of money laundering given the entity’s products, methods of distribution, contact with customers and forms of customer payment and deposits.  

Section 326 – Customer Identification 

Section 326 of the Act amends the BSA to require that Treasury issue regulations setting forth minimum standards for financial institutions regarding the identity of their customers in connection with the purchase of a policy or contract of insurance.  This program must set forth customer identity verification and documentation procedures, as well as procedures the insurer will employ to notify its customers about this requirement and determine whether the customer appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations.  

Final regulations regarding this requirement are to be issued by the Department of the Treasury by October 26, 2002.  Proposed regulations will be published in the Federal Register later in the year.  Through the rulemaking process, Treasury will determine which insurance entities will be subject to the regulations.  Insurance entities subject to the rules will be required to comply when the final Treasury regulations become effective. 

Requests for additional information or questions regarding:

·        this bulletin may be directed to M. Gale Lemmon of the Utah Insurance Department at (801) 538-3872 or glemmon@utah.gov.

·        state requirements in the reporting of suspected money-laundering activities should be directed to Kirk Torgensen of the Utah office of the Utah Attorney General at (801) 538-1800 or ktorgensen@utah.gov.

·        The Act may be directed to Linda L. Duzick, Office of Thrift Supervision, serving as insurance industry liaison for the Department of the Treasury, at (202) 906-6565 or linda.duzick@ots.treas.gov. 

DATED this 20th day of May, 2002.