WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of eight senators on Thursday formally introduced a bill to reform anti-money laundering laws that bankers and credit unions have argued are outdated.
The bill, which was initially floated as draft legislation in June, would require companies to disclose their true owners at the time of incorporation. The bill was initially supported by Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Doug Jones, D-Ala., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and now has four additional co-sponsors: Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Kennedy, R-La., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, questions Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) nominee for U.S. President Donald Trump, not pictured, during a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. Wray pledged strict independence if confirmed to head the FBI, as senators focused on his ability to pursue investigations independently amid revelations about a meeting the president's son held with a Russian lawyer during last years campaign. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
The introduction of the Illicit Cash Act in the Senate comes after the House Financial Services Committee advanced a similar measure, known as the Corporate Transparency Act, out of committee in June. Both bills would require companies to report their true owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the point of incorporation.
The industry has long pushed for Congress to shift the onus for reporting beneficial ownership information away from the financial institutions, arguing that it is too costly, though some Republicans and small businesses have raised concerns that the legislation would be overly burdensome.
Supporters of the legislation sought to alleviate small business concerns over burdensome new requirements at a hearing in June, describing some of the rhetoric as "over-the-top."
Bankers have also hoped for Congress to raise the thresholds for submitting Suspicious Activity Reports and Currency Transaction Reports, despite pushback from law enforcement. But the legislation introduced Thursday simply directs Treasury to review the thresholds and determine if they need to be updated.
A survey of bank executives conducted by fintech firm IntraFi found that an overwhelming majority of respondents think Federal Reserve Governors should only be removed by the president in cases of proven misconduct.
Susan Riel, who helped found Eagle Bancorp nearly three decades ago, will step down as CEO in 2026. The bank is embarking on a search for her successor.
The credit union partnered with Happy Money's digital lending and participations platform. TruMark has purchased, but not sold, participations for the past five years.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has seen a rapid drop in the effectiveness of its cybersecurity program, according to a new report from the Fed's Office of Inspector General.
In her first public appearance since President Trump moved to fire her from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Fed Gov. Lisa Cook reiterated her commitment to bringing inflation under 2% and said that the labor market remains "solid."
Financial literacy advocate John Hope Bryant has joined with a Los Angeles-based developer in an effort to raise up to $300 million from banks to preserve and construct low-income housing around the country.
