AL 2002-8 	  	
ADVISORY LETTER		
	
Subject:  U.S. Department of Treasury FinCEN Patriot Act 
          Communication System (PACS)	

Date:     October 29, 2002

To:       Chief Executive Officers and Compliance Officers of 
          National Banks and Federal Branches, Department and 
          Division Heads, and Examining Personnel

This advisory letter transmits a U.S. Department of Treasury, 
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) news release, dated 
October 1, 2002.  The attached news release announces FinCEN’s new 
electronic communications system, the Patriot Act Communication 
System (PACS).  PACS allows participating financial institutions to 
file Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports 
quickly and securely over the Internet.  To participate, financial 
institutions must receive a digital certificate from a government-
approved certificate authority.  Information regarding PACS and how 
to participate can be found on the FinCEN Web site at 
http://www.treas.gov/fincen.

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisory office 
or the Compliance Division at (202) 874-4428.


__________________

David G. Hammaker
Deputy Comptroller for Compliance


Attachment
[ http://www.treas.gov/fincen/newsreleasepacs10012002.pdf ]