Questions Flashcards
In general, the three phases of money laundering are said to be: placement and A. structuring and manipulation. B. layering and integration. C. layering and smurfing. D. integration and infiltration.
B. layering and integration.
A financial institution branch manager who has been in place for over 10 years has not taken a vacation
for almost four years. The company does not allow employees to roll vacation over from year to year.
An AML compliance officer has noticed unusual activity in several accounts at the branch location.
What should the AML officer do?
A. Fire the manager for violation of bank policy.
B. Report the manager to authorities for engaging in suspicious activity.
C. Conduct an investigation to establish whether the manager has engaged in transactions in the
accounts where the unusual activity has occurred.
D. Conduct a background check to see if the manager has been convicted of criminal activity.
C. Conduct an investigation to establish whether the manager has engaged in transactions in the
accounts where the unusual activity has occurred.
The compliance officer is trying to put together a set of procedures for handling the decision of whether
or not to file an STR. What should the compliance officer include as part of these procedures?
A. The officer should recommend that the decision as to whether or not to file an STR be subjected to
a quality assurance review.
B. The officer should recommend decentralizing the decision in order to speed up the process and to
ensure that the decision is made closest to where the activity occurred.
C. The officer should recommend that STRs only be filed once they have been authorized by the board
of directors of the bank.
D. The officer should recommend that STRs only be filed once they have received a thorough legal
review.
A. The officer should recommend that the decision as to whether or not to file an STR be subjected to
a quality assurance review.
Which of the following controls would most effectively minimize the need to correct failures to collect
required customer information in the account opening process?
A. A quality review staff that checks paper applications to ensure all fields are complete
B. An automated account-opening platform that requires data entry prior to allowing the account to be
opened
C. Requiring that a manager review and approve all new account applications
D. Documenting a procedure that sets forth the steps required to open an account
B. An automated account-opening platform that requires data entry prior to allowing the account to be
opened
An AML compliance officer is investigating unusual activity that she has noticed in a customer’s
accounts. The customer has a retirement account, a savings account in trust for his son, a joint
checking account with his wife, a company checking account and an individual brokerage account. The
compliance officer believes the customer may be embezzling funds from his business. Which is the best
path for her to follow up on her suspicions?
A. Focus on the checking accounts, as the checking accounts allow the fastest movement of funds.
B. Ignore the savings and brokerage accounts, as these are not used in the placement stage of money
laundering.
C. Look at the movement of funds in all the accounts, as the customer may be using all of them to
launder money.
D. Focus on the business account, as the customer is embezzling money from the company.
C. Look at the movement of funds in all the accounts, as the customer may be using all of them to
launder money.
When a financial institution is responding to a formal criminal investigation by a law enforcement
agency, what is the primary purpose of requiring information going through a central point within the
institution?
A. Ensure that nothing damaging to the financial institution gets released.
B. Ensure that responses are timely and thorough and that privileged material is not inadvertently
handed over.
C. Ensure that the employees of the institution do not divulge information that would breach the
privacy rights of customers.
D. Ensure that there is one person who can adequately and thoroughly apprise the Board of Directors
of the progress of the investigation.
B. Ensure that responses are timely and thorough and that privileged material is not inadvertently
handed over.
- A financial institution is concerned about the possibility of the proceeds from human trafficking being
funneled through the institution. What are three things the institution should look out for?
A. Multiple wire transfers, often below the reporting thresholds, sent from foreign countries
B. Multiple, unrelated individuals sending wires to the same beneficiary
C. Accounts for foreign workers for which the employment agency is the custodian for the accounts
D. A group of four women who come into the financial institution to open separate accounts
A. Multiple wire transfers, often below the reporting thresholds, sent from foreign countries
B. Multiple, unrelated individuals sending wires to the same beneficiary
C. Accounts for foreign workers for which the employment agency is the custodian for the accounts
Which statement is true in respect to the Wolfsberg Group?
A. It is a castle in Belgium where members of national FIUs meet to monitor global AML trends.
B. This group is responsible for making international laws to combat anti-money laundering and
counter terrorist financing.
C. The major international banks meet in this group to develop global guidelines for anti-money
laundering and counter terrorist financing.
D. The governors of central banks meet in this group to discuss global trends in anti-money laundering
and counter terrorist financing.
C. The major international banks meet in this group to develop global guidelines for anti-money
laundering and counter terrorist financing.
What are three developments that should cause a financial institution to conduct an internal
investigation?
A. When the institution receives a grand jury subpoena with regard to transactions that have occurred
within several accounts at the institution
B. When several employees of the institution alert senior management or the compliance officer that
there are some suspicious transactions within an account
C. When the institution’s auditor identifies an omission in the AML policy
D. When a small local business starts engaging in overseas activity involving numerous, unexplained
wire transfers
A. When the institution receives a grand jury subpoena with regard to transactions that have occurred
within several accounts at the institution
B. When several employees of the institution alert senior management or the compliance officer that
there are some suspicious transactions within an account
D. When a small local business starts engaging in overseas activity involving numerous, unexplained
wire transfers
Identify three methods of laundering money using lawyers. A. Creating trusts for clients B. Buying and selling property C. Setting up and managing a charity D. Litigating a civil case for a client
A. Creating trusts for clients
B. Buying and selling property
C. Setting up and managing a charity
As part of their role in fighting money laundering, financial institutions should
A. designate a compliance officer.
B. depend solely on the state’s staff for combating money laundering.
C. refuse small cash deposits under the reporting threshold.
D. not open accounts for people from high-risk jurisdictions.
A. designate a compliance officer.
Which of the following statements is true? Correspondent banking is most vulnerable to money
laundering when the correspondent account is
A. maintained for foreign financial institutions that are banks.
B. not used to provide services directly to third parties.
C. maintained for a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country.
D. maintained for a foreign private bank that is publicly traded and is a qualified intermediary.
C. maintained for a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country.
According to the EU Directives, an independent legal professional is obligated to report suspicion of
money laundering in a client relationship when
A. representing a client in a legal matter.
B. ascertaining the legal position for a client.
C. participating in financial or corporate transactions.
D. obtaining information associated with a judicial proceeding.
C. participating in financial or corporate transactions.
Identify three risks to financial institution employees for violations of AML laws. A. Civil penalties B. Termination of employment C. Criminal penalties D. Loss of passport
A. Civil penalties
B. Termination of employment
C. Criminal penalties
An AML compliance officer is looking to establish a suspicious activity reporting process at her small
institution. Which of the following should be incorporated into the procedures?
A. Allow employees to refer suspicious activity directly to the government authorities to file as quickly
as possible.
B. Have employees refer all unusual activity to the internal independent audit department to assess
whether the activity should be reported.
C. Have employees refer all unusual activity to senior management to ensure they are aware of all
unusual activity within the organization.
D. Have employees refer all unusual activity to her so that she may conduct an investigation into what
needs to be reported to authorities.
D. Have employees refer all unusual activity to her so that she may conduct an investigation into what
needs to be reported to authorities.
When should a financial institution consider retaining an experienced outside counsel for assistance?
A. Whenever the institution receives a subpoena from any law enforcement agency
B. When the institution itself appears to be the target of a criminal investigation
C. When law enforcement appears to be focused on the accounts of a very good and long-standing
customer of the institution
D. When the banking agencies criticize the adequacy of the institution’s AML monitoring procedures
B. When the institution itself appears to be the target of a criminal investigation
After receiving an STR regarding a customer account, the relevant law enforcement agency requests
permission to interview the bank personnel who are familiar with the underlying transaction. What
action should the compliance officer take?
A. The officer, in consultation with bank counsel, should cooperate, to the extent possible, and give
permission for the relevant interviews.to take place.
B. The officer should deny permission for any such interviews without the creation of a grand jury or a
formal court-ordered investigation.
C. The officer should only allow those employees who are comfortable to be interviewed by law
enforcement.
D. The officer should allow the employees to be interviewed only if they are given immunity by law
enforcement.
A. The officer, in consultation with bank counsel, should cooperate, to the extent possible, and give
permission for the relevant interviews.to take place.
In most money laundering international standards, it is stated that
A. financial institutions are not responsible for money laundering or suspicious transactions taking
place within their accounts until the government places the customer on a watch list.
B. informing customers that their accounts and/or transactions are the subject of an AML investigation
is not punishable.
C. the dirty money undergoing money laundering will not be confiscated because of privacy laws.
D. the institution should identify the beneficial owner(s) of the account.
D. the institution should identify the beneficial owner(s) of the account.
When a bank receives a subpoena for information about a specific account, what two steps should the
compliance officer take?
A. The compliance officer should ensure that the staff investigate and collect all documents
responsive to the subpoena.
B. The compliance officer should insist on law enforcement explaining why the subpoena was issued
and what law enforcement is looking for.
C. The compliance officer should ensure that the subpoena is reviewed by senior management and/or
counsel and be responded to in a timely manner.
D. The compliance officer should only comply with the subpoena after first getting approval from the
bank’s external legal counsel.
A. The compliance officer should ensure that the staff investigate and collect all documents
responsive to the subpoena.
C. The compliance officer should ensure that the subpoena is reviewed by senior management and/or
counsel and be responded to in a timely manner.
A compliance officer is looking to improve a compliance program for a financial institution that
operates in several countries. The institution has developed consistent customer due diligence
(CDD) requirements for all customers of the institution that exceed each of the individual country’s
requirements. When looking to provide management reporting on the CDD compliance efforts of the
institution, which of the following would make the most sense?
A. Report by each country’s compliance with the legal requirements within their country.
B. Report on compliance with the company’s stated requirements.
C. Report on compliance with each country’s requirements only for those customers that are
serviced by branches in multiple countries; all others should be reported on the company’s stated
requirements.
D. Report on the level of monitoring performed on the activity in the accounts.
B. Report on compliance with the company’s stated requirements.
What is willful blindness defined as?
A. Failing to file a suspicious transaction report for dealing with companies or financial institutions
from offshore tax havens
B. Not following customer identification procedures as set out in the institution’s procedures
C. Deliberate avoidance of knowledge of the facts or ignoring obvious money laundering red flags
D. Deliberate avoidance of a customer based on the assumption that his or her behavior suggested a
potential threat as money launderer and/or terrorist
C. Deliberate avoidance of knowledge of the facts or ignoring obvious money laundering red flags
What is the best way to establish compliance as a key responsibility for every employee of a financial
institution?
A. Have senior management require compliance as a condition of employment.
B. Have auditors conduct testing on employee compliance.
C. Point out the regulatory consequences of non-compliance in training.
D. Have the AML officer personally tell associates of their responsibilities.
A. Have senior management require compliance as a condition of employment.
What are three factors with regard to how and when to report an STR to the senior management and/or
the board of directors of a financial institution?
A. Whether the STRs filed are in excess of the previous year’s filings
B. Whether the STR raises significant issues, especially in terms of reputational risk
C. Whether the STR indicates any compliance deficiencies
D. Whether the STR is indicative of any significant AML trends
B. Whether the STR raises significant issues, especially in terms of reputational risk
C. Whether the STR indicates any compliance deficiencies
D. Whether the STR is indicative of any significant AML trends
A longtime customer of the bank comes into the bank a number of times over a series of weeks
and deposits a large amount of cash and, the next day, asks for the amount to be wired to a thirdworld
country. This behavior is not in keeping with his normal business practices. What should the
compliance officer recommend?
A. Contact the board of directors as soon as possible and inform them of this activity.
B. Immediately contact law enforcement by phone and tell them of the potential money laundering
activity.
C. Open an internal investigation, collect all the appropriate documentation and review it in order to
decide on whether to file an STR.
D. Make a note of the activity but do not file an STR to avoid the risk of losing a longtime customer.
C. Open an internal investigation, collect all the appropriate documentation and review it in order to
decide on whether to file an STR.