OCC 2000-19

Subject: Suspicious Activity Report
Date: June 19, 2000

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

Description: New SAR Form

Pursuant to 12 CFR 21.11, all national banks, as well as all federal branches and agencies of foreign banks licensed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) when they detect a known or suspected violation of federal law or a suspicious transaction related to a money laundering activity or a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. Beginning immediately, national banks and federal branches and agencies may begin using the new SAR form attached to this bulletin. The revisions to the SAR form reflect efforts to make the form easier to complete and to have the form provide more useful and timely information. One of the important substantive changes to the form is the addition of a box to check for computer intrusions.

Banks and federal branches and agencies may continue to use the existing SAR form while their procedures and systems are updated to make use of the new SAR form. However, all banks and branches and agencies must start using the new SAR form by December 31, 2000.

In addition to the new SAR form, new software has been developed and is available to assist in the preparation and filing of SAR forms. The new SAR software and the new SAR form are available on the OCC Website at www.occ.treas.gov.

Robert B. Serino
Deputy Chief Counsel

News and Issuances

Description: New SAR Form

Related Links

Toolbox