ARTICLE
13 July 2026

Today’s Podcast Episode: Risk-Based AML/CFT Reform: What Financial Institutions Need To Know About The Joint Banking Agency And FinCEN Proposals

BS
Ballard Spahr LLP

Contributor

Ballard Spahr LLP—an Am Law 100 law firm with more than 750 lawyers in 18 U.S. offices—serves clients across industries in litigation, transactions, and regulatory compliance. A strategic legal partner to clients, Ballard goes beyond to deliver actionable, forward-thinking counsel and advocacy powered by deep industry experience and an understanding of each client’s specific business goals. Our culture is defined by an entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative environment, and top-down focus on service, efficiency, and results.
Federal banking agencies and FinCEN have issued coordinated proposals to modernize anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism compliance frameworks across financial services. This regulatory initiative represents a fundamental shift from traditional "check-the-box" compliance toward a risk-based, effectiveness-driven model that could reshape how institutions approach AML/CFT obligations. The proposals introduce new requirements for institutions to not only establish compliance programs
United States Government, Public Sector
Ballard Spahr LLP are most popular:
  • within Government, Public Sector and Insolvency/Bankruptcy/Re-Structuring topic(s)

The latest episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor podcast examines a significant and coordinated regulatory initiative that could reshape anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance across the financial services industry.

In this episode, host Alan Kaplinsky and guest Celia Cohen, a partner in Ballard Spahr’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Group, analyze the joint notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the federal banking agencies Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and National Credit Union Administration—alongside a parallel proposal from Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Together, these proposals represent one of the most important efforts in years to modernize AML/CFT compliance frameworks, moving the system toward a more risk-based, effectiveness-driven model.

Key Topics Discussed Include:

  • A Shift Away from “Check-the-Box” Compliance
  • “Establish and Maintain” — and Prove It Works
  • SAR Filings and the Challenge of Judgment Calls
  • Impact Across Financial Institutions
  • Regulatory Signals: A Coherent Direction
  • What Institutions Should Be Doing Now

The Consumer Finance Monitor podcast will continue tracking developments as the rulemaking process advances and will revisit the topic when final rules are issued.

Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

To listen to this episode, click here.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More