[Billing Code: 4810-02]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 21

[Docket No. 02-11]

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 208

12 CFR Part 211

[Docket No. R-1127]

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 326

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Thrift Supervision

12 CFR Part 563

[No. 2002-27]

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 748

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

31 CFR Part 103

RIN 1506-AA31

Customer Identification Programs for Banks, Savings Associations, and Credit Unions

AGENCIES: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Treasury; Office of the Comptroller

of the Currency, Treasury; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Federal Deposit
2

Insurance Corporation; Office of Thrift Supervision, Treasury; National Credit Union

Administration.

ACTION: Joint notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, through the Financial Crimes Enforcement

Network (FinCEN), together with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation (FDIC), the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), and the National Credit Union

Administration (NCUA) (collectively, the Agencies) are jointly issuing a proposed regulation to

implement section 326 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate

Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001(the Act).

Section 326 requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to jointly prescribe with each of

the Agencies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodity Futures

Trading Commission (CFTC), a regulation that, at a minimum, requires financial institutions to

implement reasonable procedures to verify the identity of any person seeking to open an account,

to the extent reasonable and practicable; maintain records of the information used to verify the

person's identity; and determine whether the person appears on any lists of known or suspected

terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the financial institution by any government

agency. The proposed regulation applies to banks, savings associations, and credit unions.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted on or before [INSERT

DATE 45 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: Because paper mail in the Washington area may be subject to delay,

commenters are encouraged to e-mail or fax comments. Comments should be sent by one

method only. Financial institution commenters are encouraged to submit comments only to their
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Federal functional regulator. Non-financial institution commenters are encouraged to submit

comments only to FinCEN. All comments will be considered by Treasury and the Agencies in

formulating the final rule.

OCC: Please direct your comments to: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E

Street, SW., Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Washington, DC 20219, Attention; Docket

No. 02-11; FAX number (202) 874-4448; or Internet address: regs.comments@occ.treas.gov.

Comments may be inspected and photocopied at the OCC's Public Reference Room, 250 E

Street, SW., Washington, DC. You can make an appointment to inspect comments by calling

(202) 874-5043.

Board: Comments should refer to Docket No. R-1127 and may be mailed to Secretary,

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20551; sent by FAX to (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102; or sent by e-mail to

regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Members of the public may inspect comments in Room

MP-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays pursuant to section 261.12 (except as

provided in section 261.14) of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR

261.12 and 261.14.

FDIC: Comments should be directed to: Executive Secretary, Attention:

Comments/OES, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, N.W., Washington,

DC 20429. Comments may be hand-delivered to the guard station at the rear of the 550 17th

Street Building (located on F Street), on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. In addition,

comments may be sent by fax to (202) 898-3838, or by electronic mail to comments@FDIC.gov.

Comments may be inspected and photocopied in the FDIC Public Information Center, Room

100, 801 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., on business days.
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OTS: Comments may be mailed to Regulation Comments, Chief Counsel’s Office,

Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20552, Attention: No. 2002-

27; FAX number (202) 906-6518, Attention: No. 2002-27; or Internet address

regs.comments@ots.treas.gov, Attention: No. 2002-27 and include your name and telephone

number. Comments may also be hand delivered to the Guard’s Desk, East Lobby Entrance,

1700 G Street, NW., from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on business days, Attention: Regulation

Comments, Chief Counsel’s Office, No. 2002-27. OTS will post comments and the related

index on the OTS Internet Site at www.ots.treas.gov. In addition, you may inspect comments at

the Public Reading Room, 1700 G St. NW, by appointment. To make an appointment for access,

you may call (202) 906-5922, send an e-mail to public.info@ots.treas.gov, or send a facsimile

transmission to (202) 906-7755. (Please identify the materials you would like to inspect to assist

us in serving you.) We schedule appointments on business days between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00

p.m. In most cases, appointments will be available the business day after the date we receive a

request.

NCUA: Direct comments to the Secretary of the Board. Mail or hand-deliver comments

to: National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428.

You may fax comments to (703) 518-6319, or e-mail comments to regcomments@NCUA.gov.

To inspect comments, please contact the Office of General Counsel, (703) 518-6540; or the

Office of Examination and Insurance, (703) 518-6360.

FinCEN: Comments may be mailed to FinCEN, Section 326 Bank Rule Comments,

P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183, or sent to Internet address regcomments@fincen.treas.gov with

the caption “Attention: Section 326 Bank Rule Comments” in the body of the text. Comments

may be inspected at FinCEN between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the FinCEN Reading Room in
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Washington, D.C. Persons wishing to inspect the comments submitted must request an

appointment by telephoning (202) 354-6400 (not a toll-free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

OCC: Office of the Chief Counsel (202) 874-3295.

Board: Enforcement and Special Investigations Sections: (202) 452-5235; (202) 728-

5829; or (202) 452-2961.

FDIC: Special Activities Section, Division of Supervision, and Legal Division at

(202) 898-3671.

OTS: Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 906-6012.

NCUA: Office of General Counsel, (703) 518-6540; or Office of Examination and

Insurance, (703) 518-6360.

Treasury: Office of the Chief Counsel (FinCEN), (703) 905-3590; Office of the

Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement (Treasury), (202) 622-1927; or the Office of the

Assistant General Counsel for Banking & Finance (Treasury), (202) 622-0480.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act

On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed into law the USA PATRIOT Act, Pub. L.

107-56. Title III of the Act, captioned "International Money Laundering Abatement and Antiterrorist Financing Act of 2001," adds several new provisions to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), 31

U.S.C. 5311 et seq. These provisions are intended to facilitate the prevention, detection, and

prosecution of international money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
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Section 326 of the Act adds a new subsection (l) to 31 U.S.C. 5318 that requires the

Secretary to prescribe regulations setting forth minimum standards for financial institutions that

relate to the identification and verification of any person who applies to open an account.

Section 326 applies to all "financial institutions." This term is defined very broadly in the

BSA to encompass a variety of entities including banks, agencies and branches of foreign banks

in the United States, thrifts, credit unions, brokers and dealers in securities or commodities,

insurance companies, travel agents, pawnbrokers, dealers in precious metals, check-cashers,

casinos, and telegraph companies, among many others. See 31 U.S.C. 5312(a)(2).

For any financial institution engaged in financial activities described in section 4(k) of

the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (section 4(k) institutions), the Secretary is required to

prescribe the regulations issued under section 326 jointly with each of the Agencies, the SEC,

and the CFTC (the Federal functional regulators). Final regulations implementing section 326

must be effective by October 25, 2002.

 Section 326 of the Act provides that the regulations must contain certain requirements.

At a minimum, the regulations must require financial institutions to implement reasonable

procedures for (1) verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account, to the extent

reasonable and practicable; (2) maintaining records of the information used to verify the person's

identity, including name, address, and other identifying information; and (3) determining

whether the person appears on any lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations

provided to the financial institution by any government agency.

In prescribing these regulations, the Secretary is directed to take into consideration the

various types of accounts maintained by various types of financial institutions, the various

methods of opening accounts, and the various types of identifying information available.
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The following proposal is being issued jointly by Treasury and the Agencies. It applies only to a

financial institution that is a "bank" as defined in 31 CFR 103.11(c) that is subject to regulation

by one of the Agencies,1 and any foreign branch of an insured bank. Regulations governing the

applicability of section 326 to other financial institutions, including section 4(k) institutions

regulated by the SEC and the CFTC, will be issued separately.

Treasury, the Agencies, the SEC, and the CFTC consulted extensively in the

development of all rules implementing section 326 of the Act. All of the participating agencies

intend the effect of the rules to be uniform throughout the financial services industry.

The Secretary has determined that the records required to be kept by section 326 of the

Act have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory investigations or proceedings,

or in the conduct of intelligence or counterintelligence activities, to protect against international

terrorism.

In addition, Treasury under its own authority is proposing conforming amendments to 31

CFR 103.34, which currently imposes requirements concerning the identification of bank

customers.

B. Codification of the Joint Proposed Rule

The substantive requirements of the joint proposed rule will be codified with other Bank

Secrecy Act regulations as part of Treasury’s regulations in 31 CFR Part 103. To minimize

potential confusion by affected entities regarding the scope of the joint proposed rule, each of the

Agencies is also proposing to add a nonsubstantive provision in its own regulations in 12 CFR

21, 208, 211, 326, 563, and 748 that will cross-reference the regulations in 31 CFR Part 103.

Although no specific text is being proposed at this time, the cross-references will be included in

 

1

 Published elsewhere in this separate part of this issue of the Federal Register is a separate Treasury proposal

implementing section 326 for banks that are not subject to regulation by a Federal functional regulator, including
8

individual final rules published concurrently with the joint final rule issued by Treasury and the

Agencies implementing section 326 of the Act.

II. Section-by-Section Analysis

A. Regulations Implementing Section 326

Definitions.

§ 103.121(a)(1) Account. The proposed rule's definition of "account" is based on the

statutory definition of "account" that is used in section 311 of the Act. "Account" means each

formal banking or business relationship established to provide ongoing services, dealings, or

other financial transactions. For example, a deposit account, transaction or asset account, and a

credit account or other extension of credit would each constitute an account.

 Section 311 of the Act does not require that this definition be used for regulations

implementing section 326 of the Act. However, to the extent possible, Treasury and the

Agencies propose to apply consistent definitions for each of the regulations implementing the

Act to reduce confusion. "Deposit accounts" and "transaction accounts," which as previously

noted, are considered "accounts" for purposes of this rulemaking, are themselves defined terms.

In addition, the term "account" is limited to banking and business relationships established to

provide "ongoing" services, dealings, or other financial transactions to make clear that this term

is not intended to cover infrequent transactions such as the occasional purchase of a money order

or a wire transfer.

§ 103.121(a)(2) Bank. As discussed above, the proposal adopts the definition of "bank"

already used in 31 CFR 103.11(c), which encompasses virtually all of the financial institutions

regulated by the Agencies, including banks, savings associations, and credit unions. Any branch,

agency, or representative office of a foreign bank in the United States, as well as any Edge

 certain state-chartered uninsured trust companies and non-federally insured credit unions.
9

corporation, would be subject to this joint regulation under the existing definition of "bank."2

However, the definition is modified to include "any foreign branch of an insured bank" to make

clear that the procedures required by this regulation must be implemented throughout the bank,

no matter where its offices are located. These procedures also apply to bank subsidiaries to the

same extent as existing BSA compliance program requirements. We note that securities brokerdealers, futures commission merchants, insurance companies, and investment companies will be

subject to forthcoming rules implementing section 326, whether or not they are affiliated with a

bank.

§ 103.121(a)(3) Customer. The proposed rule defines "customer" to mean any person

seeking to open a new account. Accordingly, the term "customer" includes a person applying to

open an account, but would not cover a person seeking information about an account, such as

rates charged or interest paid on an account, if the person does not actually open an account.

"Customer" includes both individuals and other persons such as corporations, partnerships, and

trusts. In addition, any person seeking to open an account at a bank, on or after the effective date

of the final rule, will be a "customer," regardless of whether that person already has an account at

the bank.

The proposed rule also defines a "customer" to include any signatory on an account.

Thus, for example, an individual with signing authority over a corporate account is a "customer"

within the meaning of the proposed rule. A signatory can become a "customer" when the

account is opened or when the signatory is added to an existing account.

 

2

 Section 103.11(c) defines bank to include "each agent, agency, branch, or office within the United States of any

person doing business in one or more of the capacities listed below: . . . (8) a bank organized under foreign law;

(9) any national banking association or corporation acting under the provisions of section [25a] of the [Federal

Reserve Act] (12 U.S.C. 611-32)."
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The requirements of section 326 of the Act apply to any person "seeking to open a new

account." Accordingly, transfers of accounts from one bank to another, that are not initiated by

the customer, for example, as a result of a merger, acquisition, or purchase of assets or

assumption of liabilities, fall outside of the scope of section 326, and are not covered by the

proposed regulation.3

§ 103.121(a)(4) Federal functional regulator. The proposed rule defines “Federal

functional regulator” by reference to § 103.120(a)(2). Accordingly, this term means each of the

Agencies (as well as the SEC and the CFTC)

§ 103.121(a)(5) Person. The proposed rule defines “person” by reference to § 103.11(z).

This definition includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates, joint stock

companies, associations, syndicates, joint ventures, other unincorporated organizations or

groups, certain Indian Tribes, and all entities cognizable as legal personalities.

§ 103.121(a)(6) U.S. Person. Under the proposed rule, for an individual, "U.S. person"

means a U.S. citizen. For persons other than an individual, "U.S. person" means an entity

established or organized under the laws of a State or the United States. A non-U.S. person is

defined in § 103.121(a)(7) as a person who does not satisfy these criteria.

§ 103.121(a)(8) Taxpayer identification number. The proposed rule continues the

provision in current § 103.34(a)(4), which provides that the provisions of section 6109 of the

Internal Revenue Code and the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service thereunder determine

what constitutes a taxpayer identification number.

 

3

 However, there may be situations involving the transfer of accounts where it would be appropriate for a bank to

verify the identity of customers associated with the accounts that it is acquiring. Therefore, Treasury and the

Agencies expect procedures for transfers of accounts to be part of a bank's existing BSA program.
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Customer Identification Program: Minimum Requirements.

§ 103.121(b)(1) General Rule. Section 326 of the Act requires Treasury and the

Agencies to jointly issue a regulation that establishes minimum standards regarding the identity

of any customer who applies to open an account. Section 326 then prescribes three procedures

that Treasury and the Agencies must require institutions to implement as part of this process: (1)

identification and verification of persons seeking to open an account; (2) recordkeeping; and (3)

comparison with government lists.

Rather than imposing the same list of specific requirements on every bank, regardless of

its circumstances, the proposed regulation requires all banks to implement a Customer

Identification Program (CIP) that is appropriate given the bank's size, location, and type of

business. The proposed regulation requires a bank's CIP to contain the statutorily prescribed

procedures, describes these procedures, and details certain minimum elements that each of the

procedures must contain.

 In addition, the proposed rule requires that the CIP be written and that it be approved by

the bank's board of directors or a committee of the board. This latter requirement highlights the

responsibility of a bank's board of directors to approve and exercise general oversight over the

bank's CIP.

Under the proposed regulation, the CIP must be incorporated into the bank's anti-money

laundering (BSA) program.4

 A bank's BSA program must include (1) internal policies,

procedures, and controls to ensure ongoing compliance; (2) designation of a compliance officer;

 

4

 All insured depository institutions currently must have a BSA program. See 12 CFR 21.21 (OCC), 12 CFR

208.63 (Board), 12 CFR 326.8 (FDIC), 12 CFR 563.177 (OTS), and 12 CFR 748.2 (NCUA). In addition, all

financial institutions are required by 31 U.S.C. 5318(h) to develop and implement an anti-money laundering

program.
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(3) an ongoing employee training program; and (4) an independent audit function to test

programs. Each of these requirements also applies to a bank's CIP.

Unlike other sections of 31 CFR 103, the proposed regulation explicitly states that the

CIP must be a part of a bank's BSA program. This language is included to make clear that the

CIP is not a separate program. However, this statement should not be read to create any negative

inference about a bank's need to establish and maintain a BSA program that is designed to ensure

compliance with all other sections of 31 CFR 103.

§ 103.121(b)(2) Identity Verification Procedures. Under section 326 of the Act, the

regulations issued by Treasury and the Agencies must require banks to implement and comply

with reasonable procedures for verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account,

to the extent reasonable and practicable. The proposed regulation implements this requirement

by providing that each bank must have risk-based procedures for verifying the identity of a

customer that take into consideration the types of accounts that banks maintain, the different

methods of opening accounts, and the types of identifying information available. These

procedures must enable the bank to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of the

customer.

Under the proposed regulation, a bank must first have procedures that specify the

identifying information that the bank must obtain from any customer. The proposed regulation

also sets forth certain, minimal identifying information that a bank must obtain prior to opening

an account or adding a signatory to an account. Second, the bank must have procedures

describing how the bank will verify the identifying information provided. The bank must have

procedures that describe when it will use documents for this purpose and when it will use other
13

methods, either in addition or as an alternative to using documents for the purpose of verifying

the identity of a customer.

 While a bank's CIP must contain the identity verification procedures set forth above,

these procedures are to be risk-based. For example, a bank need not verify the identifying

information of an existing customer seeking to open a new account, or who becomes a signatory

on an account, if the bank (1) previously verified the customer's identity in accordance with

procedures consistent with this regulation, and (2) continues to have a reasonable belief that it

knows the true identity of the customer. The proposal requires a bank to exercise reasonable

efforts to ascertain the identity of each customer.

Although the main purpose of the Act is to prevent and detect money laundering and the

financing of terrorism, Treasury and the Agencies anticipate that the proposed regulation will

ultimately benefit consumers. In addition to deterring money laundering and terrorist financing,

requiring every bank to establish comprehensive procedures for verifying the identity of

customers should reduce the growing incidence of fraud and identity theft involving new

accounts.5

§ 103.121(b)(2)(i) Information Required. The proposed regulation provides that a bank's

CIP must contain procedures that specify the identifying information the bank must obtain from

a customer. At a minimum, a bank must obtain from each customer the following information

prior to opening an account or adding a signatory to an account: name; address; for individuals,

date of birth; and an identification number, described in greater detail below. To satisfy the

 

5 Last year, over 86,000 complaints were logged into the Identity Theft Complaint database established by the

Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Forms of identity theft commonly reported included (1) credit card fraud, where

one or more new credit cards were opened in the victim's name; (2) bank fraud, where a new bank account was

opened in the victim's name; and (3) fraudulent loans, where a loan had been obtained in the victim's name. See

Statement of J. Howard Beales, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC, to the Senate Committee on the

Judiciary, Subcommittee on Technology, March 20, 2002.
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requirement that a bank obtain the address of a customer, Treasury and the Agencies expect a

bank to obtain both the address of an individual's residence and, if different, the individual's

mailing address. For customers who are not individuals, the bank should obtain an address

showing the customer's principal place of business and, if different, the customer's mailing

address.

For U.S. persons a bank must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number (e.g., social

security number, individual taxpayer identification number, or employer identification number).

For non-U.S. persons a bank must obtain one or more of the following: a taxpayer identification

number; passport number and country of issuance; alien identification card number; or number

and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or

residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard. The basic information that banks

would be required to obtain under this proposed regulation reflects the type of information that

financial institutions currently obtain in the account-opening process and is similar to the

identifying information currently required for each deposit or share account opened (see 31 CFR

103.34(a)(1)). The proposed regulation uses the term "similar safeguard" to permit the use of

any biometric identifiers that may be used in addition to, or instead of, photographs.

Treasury and the Agencies recognize that a new business may need access to banking

services, particularly a bank account or an extension of credit, before it has received an employer

identification number from the Internal Revenue Service. For this reason, the proposed

regulation contains a limited exception to the requirement that a taxpayer identification number

must be provided prior to establishing or adding a signatory to an account. Accordingly, a CIP

may permit a bank to open or add a signatory to an account for a person other than an individual

(such as a corporation, partnership, or trust) that has applied for, but has not received, an
15

employer identification number. However, in such a case, the CIP must require that the bank

obtain a copy of the application before it opens or adds a signatory to the account and obtain the

employee identification number within a reasonable period of time after an account is established

or a signatory is added to an account. Currently, the IRS indicates that the issuance of an

employer identification number can take up to five weeks. This length of time, coupled with

when the person applied for the employer identification number, should be considered by the

bank in determining the reasonable period of time within which the person should provide its

employer identification number to the bank.

§ 103.121(b)(2)(ii) Verification. The proposed regulation provides that the CIP must

contain risk-based procedures for verifying the information that the bank obtains in accordance

with § 103.121(b)(2)(i), within a reasonable period of time after the account is opened. Treasury

and the Agencies considered proposing that a customer's identity be verified before an account is

opened or within a specific time period after the account is opened. However, we recognize that

such a position would be unduly burdensome for both banks and customers and therefore

contrary to the plain language of the statute, which states that the procedures must be both

reasonable and practicable. The amount of time it will take an institution to verify identity may

depend upon the type of account opened, whether the customer is physically present when the

account is opened, and the type of identifying information available. In addition, although an

account may be opened, it is common practice among banks to place limits on the account, such

as by restricting the number of transactions or the dollar value of transactions, until a customer's

identity is verified. Therefore, the proposed regulation provides a bank with the flexibility to
16

use a risk-based approach to determine how soon identity must be verified.6

§ 103.121(b)(2)(ii)(A) Verification Through Documents. The CIP must contain

procedures describing when the bank will verify identity through documents and setting forth the

documents that the bank will use for this purpose. For individuals, these documents may

include: unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and

bearing a photograph or similar safeguard. For corporations, partnerships, trusts, and other

persons that are not individuals, these may be documents showing the existence of the entity,

such as registered articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license, partnership

agreement, or trust instrument.

§ 103.121(b)(2)(ii)(B) Non-Documentary Verification. The proposed regulation provides

that a bank's CIP also must contain procedures describing non-documentary methods the bank

will use to verify identity and when these methods will be used in addition to, or instead of,

relying on documents. For example, the procedures must address situations where an individual

is unable to present an unexpired government-issued identification document that bears a

photograph or similar safeguard; the bank is not familiar with the documents presented; the

account is opened without obtaining documents; the account is not opened in a face-to-face

transaction; and the type of account increases the risk that the bank will not be able to verify the

true identity of the customer through documents.

Treasury and the Agencies believe that banks typically require documents to be presented

when an account is opened face-to-face. Although customers usually satisfy these requirements

by presenting government-issued identification documents bearing a photograph, such as a

driver's license or passport, Treasury and the Agencies recognize that some customers

 

6 It is possible that a bank would, however, violate other laws by permitting a customer to transact business prior to

verifying the customer's identity. See, e.g., 31 CFR 500, prohibiting transactions involving designated foreign
17

legitimately may be unable to present those customary forms of identification when opening an

account. For example, an elderly person may not have a valid driver's license or passport.

Under these circumstances, Treasury and the Agencies expect that banks will provide products

and services to those customers and verify their identities through other methods. Similarly, a

bank may be unable to obtain original documents to verify a customer's identity when an account

is opened by telephone, by mail, and over the Internet. Thus, when an account is opened for a

customer who is not physically present, a bank will be permitted to use other methods of

verification, to the extent set forth in the CIP.

While other verification methods must be used when a bank cannot examine original

documents, Treasury and the Agencies also recognize that original identification documents,

including those issued by a government entity, may be obtained illegally and may be fraudulent.

In light of the recent increase in identity fraud, banks are encouraged to use other verification

methods, even when a customer has provided original documents.

Obtaining sufficient information to verify a customer's identity can reduce the risk that a

bank will be used as a conduit for money laundering and terrorist financing. The risk that the

bank will not know the customer's true identity will be heightened for certain types of accounts,

such as accounts opened in the name of a corporation, partnership, or trust that is created or

conducts substantial business in jurisdictions that have been designated by the United States as a

primary money laundering concern or have been designated as non-cooperative by an

international body. As a bank's identity verification procedures should be risk-based, they

should identify types of accounts that pose a heightened risk, and prescribe additional measures

to verify the identity of any person seeking to open an account and the signatory for such

accounts.

 countries or their nationals.
18

The proposed regulation gives examples of other non-documentary verification methods

that a bank may use in the situations described above. These methods could include contacting

a customer after the account is opened; obtaining a financial statement; comparing the

identifying information provided by the customer against fraud and bad check databases to

determine whether any of the information is associated with known incidents of fraudulent

behavior (negative verification); comparing the identifying information with information

available from a trusted third party source, such as a credit report from a consumer reporting

agency (positive verification); and checking references with other financial institutions. The

bank also may wish to analyze whether there is logical consistency between the identifying

information provided, such as the customer's name, street address, ZIP code, telephone number,

date of birth, and social security number (logical verification).7

§ 103.121(b)(2)(iii) Lack of Verification. The proposed regulation also states that a

bank’s CIP must include procedures for responding to circumstances in which the bank cannot

form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of a customer.

Generally, a bank should only maintain an account for a customer when it can form a

reasonable belief that it knows the customer's true identity.8 Thus, a bank should have

procedures that specify the actions that it will take when it cannot form a reasonable belief that it

knows the true identity of a customer, including when an account should not be opened. In

addition, a bank's CIP should have procedures that address the terms under which a customer

may conduct transactions while a customer's identity is being verified. The procedures also

 

7

 Treasury and the Agencies understand that most banks currently make use of technology that permits instantaneous

negative, positive, and logical verification of identity.

8

 There are some exceptions to this basic rule. For example, a bank may maintain an account, at the direction of a

law enforcement or intelligence agency, although the bank does not know the true identity of a customer.
19

should specify at what point, after attempts to verify a customer's identity have failed, a

customer's account that has been opened should be closed. Finally, if a bank cannot form a

reasonable belief that it knows the identity of a customer, the procedures should also include

determining whether a Suspicious Activity Report should be filed in accordance with applicable

law and regulation.

§ 103.121(b)(3) Recordkeeping. Section 326 of the Act requires reasonable procedures

for maintaining records of the information used to verify a person's name, address, and other

identifying information. The proposed regulation sets forth recordkeeping procedures that must

be included in a bank's CIP. Under the proposal, a bank is required to maintain a record of the

identifying information provided by the customer. Where a bank relies upon a document to

verify identity, the bank must maintain a copy of the document that the bank relied on that

clearly evidences the type of document and any identifying information it may contain.9

 The

bank also must record the methods and result of any additional measures undertaken to verify the

identity of the customer. Last, the bank must record the resolution of any discrepancy in the

identifying information obtained. The bank must retain all of these records for five years after

the date the account is closed.

Treasury and the Agencies emphasize that the collection and retention of information

about a customer, such as an individual’s race or sex, as an ancillary part of collecting

identifying information do not relieve a bank from its obligations to comply with antidiscrimination laws or regulations, such as the prohibition in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act

against discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion,

national origin, sex or marital status, age, or other prohibited classifications.

 

9

 The bank need not keep a separate record of the identifying information provided by the customer if this

information clearly appears on the copy of the document maintained by the bank.
20

 Nothing in this proposed regulation modifies, limits or supersedes section 101 of the

Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, Pub. L. 106-229, 114 Stat. 464 (15

U.S.C. 7001) (E-Sign Act). Thus, a bank may use electronic records to satisfy the requirements

of this regulation, as long as the records are accurate and remain accessible in accordance with

31 CFR 103.38(d).

§ 103.121(b)(4) Comparison with Government Lists. Section 326 of the Act also requires

reasonable procedures for determining whether the customer appears on any list of known or

suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the bank by any government agency.

The proposed rule implements this requirement and clarifies that the requirement applies only

with respect to lists circulated by the Federal government.

In addition, the proposed rule states that the procedures must ensure that the bank follows

all Federal directives issued in connection with such lists. This provision makes clear that a

bank must have procedures for responding to circumstances when the bank determines that a

customer is named on a list.

§ 103.121(b)(5) Customer Notice. Section 326 of the Act states that customers of

financial institutions shall be required to comply with the identity verification procedures

described above "after being given adequate notice." Therefore, a bank's CIP must include

procedures for providing bank customers with adequate notice that the bank is requesting

information to verify their identity. A bank may satisfy the notice requirement by generally

notifying its customers about the procedures the bank must comply with to verify their identities.

For example, the bank may post a sign in its lobby or provide customers with any other form of

written or oral notice. If an account is opened electronically, such as through an Internet

website, the bank may also provide notice electronically.
21

§ 103.121(c) Exemptions. Section 326 states that the Secretary (and, in the case of

section 4(k) institutions, the appropriate Federal functional regulator, as defined in section

103.120(a)(2)), may by regulation or order, exempt any financial institution or type of account

from the requirements of this regulation in accordance with such standards and procedures as the

Secretary may prescribe.

Under the proposed rule, the appropriate Federal functional regulator, with the

concurrence of Treasury, may by order or regulation exempt any bank or type of account from

the requirements of this section. In issuing such exemptions, the Federal functional regulator

and the Treasury shall consider whether the exemption is consistent with the purposes of the

Bank Secrecy Act, consistent with safe and sound banking, and in the public interest. The

Federal functional regulator and Treasury also may consider other necessary and appropriate

factors.

§ 103.121(d) Other Information Requirements Unaffected. This section provides that

nothing in section 103.121 shall be construed to relieve a bank of its obligations to obtain, verify,

or maintain information in connection with an account or transaction that is required by another

provision in part 103. For example, if an account is opened with a deposit of more than $10,000

in cash, the bank opening the account must comply with the customer identification requirements

in section 103.121, as well as with the provisions of section 103.22, which require that certain

information concerning the transaction be reported by filing a Cash Transaction Report (CTR).

B. Conforming Amendments to 31 CFR 103.34

Current section 103.34(a) sets forth customer identification requirements when certain

types of deposit accounts are opened. Generally, sections 103.34(a)(1) and (2) require a bank,

within 30 days after certain deposit accounts are opened, to secure and maintain a record of the
22

taxpayer identification number of the customer involved. If the bank is unable to obtain the

taxpayer identification number within 30 days (or a longer time if the person has applied for a

taxpayer identification number), it need take no further action under section 103.34 concerning

the account if it maintains a list of the names, addresses, and account numbers of the persons for

which it was unable to secure taxpayer identification numbers, and provides that information to

the Secretary upon request. In the case of a non-resident alien, the bank is required to record the

person’s passport number or a description of some other government document used to

determine identification. Treasury and the Agencies believe that the requirements of section

103.34(a)(1) and (2) are inconsistent with the intent and purpose of section 326 of the Act and

incompatible with proposed section 103.121. 

Section 103.34(a)(3) currently provides that a bank need not obtain a taxpayer

identification number with respect to specified categories of persons10 opening certain deposit

accounts. This proposed rule does not contain any exemptions from the CIP requirements.

Treasury and the Agencies are requesting comments on whether any of these exemptions

should apply in the context of the proposed CIP requirements in light of the intent and purpose of

section 326 of the Act.

 

10 The exemption applies to (i) agencies and instrumentalities of Federal, State, local, or foreign governments; (ii)

judges, public officials, or clerks of courts of record as custodians of funds in controversy or under the control of the

court; (iii) aliens who are ambassadors; ministers; career diplomatic or consular officers; naval, military, or other

attaches of foreign embassies and legations; and members of their immediate families; (iv) aliens who are accredited

representatives of certain international organizations, and their immediate families; (v) aliens temporarily residing in

the United States for a period not to exceed 180 days; (vi) aliens not engaged in a trade or business in the United

States who are attending a recognized college or university, or any training program supervised or conducted by an

agency of the Federal Government; (vii) unincorporated subordinate units of a tax exempt central organization that

are covered by a group exemption letter; (viii) a person under 18 years of age, with respect to an account opened as

part of a school thrift savings program, provided the annual interest is less than $10; (ix) a person opening a

Christmas club, vacation club, or similar installment savings program, provided the annual interest is less than $10;

and (x) non-resident aliens who are not engaged in a trade or business in the United States.
23

Section 103.34(a)(4) provides that section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code and the

rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) promulgated thereunder shall

determine what constitutes a taxpayer identification number. This provision is continued in

proposed section 103.121(a)(8). Section 103.34(a)(4) also provides that IRS rules shall

determine whose number shall be obtained in the case of multiple account holders. Treasury and

the Agencies believe that this provision is inconsistent with section 326 of the Act, which

requires that banks verify the identity of “any” person seeking to open an account.

For these reasons, Treasury, under its own authority, is proposing to repeal section

103.34(a).

Section 103.34(b) sets forth certain recordkeeping requirements for banks. Among other

things, section 103.34(b)(1) requires a bank to keep “any notations, if such are normally made, of

specific identifying information verifying the identity of [a person with signature authority over

an account] (such as a driver’s license number or credit card number).” Treasury and the

Agencies believe that the quoted language in section 103.34(b)(1) is inconsistent with the

requirements of proposed section 103.121. For this reason, Treasury, under its own authority, is

proposing to delete the quoted language.

C. Technical Amendment to 31 CFR 103.11(j)

Section 103.11(j), which defines the term “deposit account,” contains an obsolete

reference to the definition of “transaction account,” which is defined in section 103.11(hh).

Under its own authority, Treasury is proposing to correct this reference.

III. Request for Comments

Treasury and the Agencies invite comment on all aspects of this rulemaking, and

specifically seek comment on the following issues:
24

1. Whether the proposed definition of "account" is appropriate and whether other

examples of accounts should be added to the regulatory text.

2. How the proposed regulation should apply to various types of accounts that are

designed to allow a customer to transact business immediately.

3. Whether the definition of "bank" in the proposed regulation should be amended with

respect to the foreign branches of banks by (i) excluding foreign branches or (ii) clarifying that a

foreign branch must comply only to the extent that the bank's program does not contravene

applicable local law. Treasury and the Agencies request that commenters cite and describe any

potentially conflicting foreign laws that may apply to the foreign branches of banks.

Comment is requested on this issue because Treasury and the Agencies recognize that

interpreting the BSA to apply to the foreign branch of a U.S. depository institution could cause

practical and legal problems for that institution if the branch has a conflicting obligation under

applicable local law. The regulation, if adopted as proposed, may place a foreign branch in a

position of potentially violating local law by implementing aspects of its bank's CIP, which is

described more fully in the Supplemental Information, above.

4. Ways that banks can comply with the requirement that a bank obtain both the address

of an individual's residence, and, if different, the individual's mailing address in situations

involving individuals who lack a permanent address.

5. Whether non-U.S. persons that are not individuals will be able to provide a bank with

the identifying information required in section 103.121(b)(2)(i)(D)(2), or whether other

categories of identifying information should be added to this section to permit non-U.S. persons

that are not individuals to open accounts. Commenters on this issue should suggest other means

of identification that banks currently use or should use.
25

6. Whether the proposed regulation will subject banks to conflicting State laws.

Treasury and the Agencies request that commenters cite and describe any potentially conflicting

State laws.

7. The extent to which the verification procedures required by the proposed regulation

make use of information that banks currently obtain in the account opening process. Treasury

and the Agencies note that the legislative history of section 326 indicates that Congress intended

"the verification procedures prescribed by Treasury [to] make use of information currently

obtained by most financial institutions in the account opening process." See H.R. Rep. No. 107-

250, pt. 1, at 63 (2001).

8. Whether any of the exemptions from the customer identification requirements

contained in current section 103.34(a)(3) should be continued in section 103.121(c). In this

regard, Treasury and the Agencies request that commenters address the standards set forth in

proposed section 103.121(c) (as well as any other appropriate factors).

IV. Solicitation of Comments on Use of Plain Language

Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Pub. L. 106-102, sec. 722, 113 Stat. 1338,

1471 (Nov. 12, 1999), requires the OCC, Board, FDIC, and OTS to use plain language in all

proposed and final rules published after January 1, 2000. Therefore, these agencies specifically

invite your comments on how to make this proposal easier to understand. For example:

• Have we organized the material to suit your needs? If not, how could this

material be better organized?

• Are the requirements in the proposed regulation clearly stated? If not, how could

the regulation be more clearly stated?
26

• Does the proposed regulation contain language or jargon that is not clear? If so,

which language requires clarification?

• Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, use of headings,

paragraphing) make the regulation easier to understand? If so, what changes to the format would

make the regulation easier to understand?

• What else could we do to make the regulation easier to understand?

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

When an agency issues a rulemaking proposal, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

requires the agency to “prepare and make available for public comment an initial regulatory

flexibility analysis” unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a “significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small entities.” 5 U.S.C. 603, 605(b).11

The Agencies have reviewed the impact of this proposed rule on small banks. Treasury

and the Agencies certify that the proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities. The requirements of the proposed rule closely parallel the

requirements for customer identification programs mandated by section 326 of the Act.

Moreover, Treasury and the Agencies believe that banks already have implemented

prudential business practices and anti-money laundering programs that involve the key controls

that would be required in a customer identification program in accordance with the proposed

regulation. First, all banks already undertake extensive measures to verify the identity of their

customers as a matter of good business practice. In addition, banks already must have anti-

 

11 The RFA defines the term “small entity” in 5 U.S.C. 601 by reference to the definitions published by the Small

Business Administration (SBA). The SBA has defined a “small entity” for banking purposes as a bank or savings

institution with less than $150 million in assets. See 13 CFR 121.201. The NCUA defines “small credit union” as

those under $1 million in assets. Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement No. 87-2, Developing and Reviewing

Government Regulations (52 FR 35231, September 18, 1987).
27

money laundering programs that include procedures for identification, verification, and

documentation of customer information .

12

Second, banks already should have compliance programs in place to check lists provided

by the Federal government of known and suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations.

Currently, banks are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving certain foreign countries

or their nationals under rules issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). See 31

CFR 500. Banks should already have compliance programs in place to ensure that they do not

violate OFAC rules. Treasury and the Agencies understand that many banks, including small

banks, have instituted programs to check other lists provided to them by the Federal government

following the events of September 11, 2001. Treasury and the Agencies believe that all banks

have access to a variety of resources, such as computer software packages, that enable them to

check lists provided by the Federal government.

Third, Treasury and the Agencies believe the provision in the proposed rule that requires

a bank to provide adequate notice to its customers that it is requesting information to verify their

identity will impose minimal costs on banks. Banks may elect to satisfy that requirement

through a variety of low-cost measures, such as by posting a sign in the bank’s lobby or

providing any other form of written or oral notice.

The recordkeeping requirements similarly may impose some costs on banks, if, for

example, some of the information that must be maintained as a consequence of implementing

customer identification programs is not already retained. Treasury and the Agencies believe that

the compliance burden, if any, is minimized for banks, including small banks, because the

proposed regulation vests a bank with the discretion to design and implement appropriate

 

12 See footnote 3.
28

recordkeeping procedures, including allowing banks to maintain electronic records in lieu of (or

in combination with) paper records.

Finally, Treasury and the Agencies believe that the flexibility incorporated into the

proposed rule will permit each bank to tailor its CIP to fit its own size and needs. In this regard,

Treasury and the Agencies believe that expenditures associated with establishing and

implementing a CIP will be commensurate with the size of a bank. If a bank is small, the burden

to comply with the proposed rule should be de minimis.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

The proposed rule contains recordkeeping and disclosure requirements that are subject to

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). In summary, the proposed rule

requires banks to implement reasonable procedures to (1) maintain records of the information

used to verify the person’s identity and (2) provide notice of these procedures to customers.

These recordkeeping and disclosure requirements are required under section 326 of the Act.

The proposed rule applies only to a financial institution that is a "bank" as defined in 31

CFR 103.11(c),13 and any foreign branch of an insured bank. The proposed rule requires each

bank to establish a written CIP that must include recordkeeping procedures (proposed section

103.121(b)(3)) and procedures for providing customers with notice that the bank is requesting

information to verify their identity (proposed section 103.121(b)(5)).

 The proposed rule requires a bank to maintain a record of (1) the identifying information

provided by the customer, the type of identification document(s) reviewed, if any, the

identification number of the document(s), and a copy of the identification document(s); (2) the

means and results of any additional measures undertaken to verify the identity of the customer;

and (3) the resolution of any discrepancy in the identifying information obtained. These records
29

must be maintained at the bank for five years after the date the account is closed (proposed

section 103.121(b)(3)). Treasury and the Agencies believe that little burden is associated with

the recordkeeping requirements outlined in proposed section 103.121(b)(2), because such

recordkeeping is a usual and customary business practice. In addition, banks already must keep

similar records to comply with existing regulations in 31 CFR part 103 (see, e.g., 31 CFR

103.34, requiring certain records for each deposit or share account opened).

The proposed rule also requires banks to give customers “adequate notice” of the identity

verification procedures (proposed section 103.121(b)(5)). A bank may satisfy the notice

requirement by posting a sign in the lobby or providing customers with any other form of written

or oral notice. If the account is opened electronically, the bank may provide the notice

electronically. Treasury and the Agencies believe that nominal burden is associated with the

disclosure requirement outlined in proposed section 103.121(b)(5). This section requires a bank

to notify its customers about the procedures the bank has implemented to verify their identities.

However, a bank may choose among a variety of methods of providing adequate notice and may

select the least burdensome method, given the circumstances under which customers seek to

open new accounts.

A person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a

currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The collection of

information requirements contained in the proposed rule have been submitted to the OMB by

Treasury in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).

The institutions subject to these requirements include national banks and Federal

branches and agencies (OCC financial institutions); state member banks and branches and

agencies of foreign banks (Board financial institutions); insured state nonmember banks (FDIC

 13 This definition includes banks, thrifts, and credit unions.
30

financial institutions); savings associations (OTS financial institutions); and federally insured

credit unions (NCUA financial institutions).

Estimated number of OCC financial institutions: 2,289.

Estimated number of Board financial institutions: 1,188.

Estimated number of FDIC financial institutions: 5,500.

Estimated number OTS financial institutions: 1,020.

Estimated number of NCUA financial institution: 9,944.

Estimated average annual burden for the recordkeeping requirements of the proposed rule

per each financial institution respondent: 10 hours.

Estimated average annual burden for the disclosure requirements of the proposed rule per

each financial institution respondent: 1 hour.

Estimated total annual recordkeeping and disclosure burden: 219,351 hours.

Treasury and the Agencies request public comment on all aspects of the recordkeeping

and disclosure requirements contained in this proposed rule, including how burdensome it would

be for banks to comply with these requirements. Also, Treasury and the Agencies request

comment on whether the banks are currently maintaining the records requested in proposed

section 103.121(b)(2). Treasury and the Agencies also invite comment on:

(1) Whether the collections of information contained in the notice of proposed

rulemaking are necessary for the proper performance of each agency's functions, including

whether the information has practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of each agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information

collections;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
31

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of the information collections on respondents, including

the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

(5) Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and

purchases of services to provide information.

Comments concerning the recordkeeping and disclosure requirements in the proposed

rule should be sent (preferably by fax (202-395-6974)) to Desk Officer for the Department of the

Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,

Paperwork Reduction Project (1506), Washington, DC 20503 (or by the Internet to

jlackeyj@omb.eop.gov), with a copy to FinCEN by mail or the Internet at the addresses

previously specified.

VII. Executive Order 12866

Treasury, the OCC, and OTS have determined that this proposal is not a "significant

regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866. The rule follows closely the requirements of

section 326 of the Act.

Treasury, the OCC, and OTS believe that national banks and savings associations already

have procedures in place that fulfill most of the requirements of the proposed regulation. First,

the procedures are a matter of good business practice. Second, national banks and savings

associations already are required to have BSA compliance programs that address many of the

requirements detailed in this notice of proposed rulemaking. Third, banks and savings

associations should already have compliance programs in place to ensure they comply with

OFAC rules prohibiting transactions with certain foreign countries or their nationals.
32

Treasury, the OCC, and OTS invite national banks, the thrift industry, and the public to provide

any cost estimates and related data that they think would be useful in evaluating the overall costs

of the rule.

For these reasons, and for the reasons discussed elsewhere in this preamble, Treasury, the

OCC, and OTS believe that the burden stemming from this rulemaking will not cause the

proposed rule to be a "significant regulatory action."

Lists of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 103

Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations (Government agencies),

Banks, banking, Brokers, Currency, Foreign banking, Foreign currencies, Gambling,

Investigations, Law enforcement, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,

Securities.

Authority and Issuance

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 103 of title 31 of the Code of Federal

Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 103-FINANCIAL RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING OF CURRENCY AND

FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS

1. The authority citation for part 103 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1829b and 1951-1959; 31 U.S.C. 5311-5332; title III, sec. 312,

313, 314, 319, 326, 352 Pub L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 307, 12 U.S.C. 1818, 12 U.S.C. 1786(q).

2. Section 103.11(j) is amended by removing “paragraph (q)” and adding “paragraph

(hh)”.

3. Section 103.34 is amended as follows:

a. By removing paragraph (a);
33

b. By redesigating paragraph (b) introductory text and paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(13)

as introductory text and paragraphs (a) through (m), respectively.

c. In newly redesignated introductory text, by removing “, in addition,” in the first

sentence; and

d. In newly redesignated paragraph (a), by removing “, including any notations, if such

are normally made, of specific identifying information verifying the identity of the signer (such

as a driver’s license number or credit card number)”.

4. Subpart I of part 103 is amended by adding new section 103.121 to read as follows:

§ 103.121 Customer Identification Programs for banks, savings associations, and credit

Unions.

(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

(1) Account means each formal banking or business relationship established to provide

ongoing services, dealings, or other financial transactions. For example, a deposit account, a

transaction or asset account, and a credit account or other extension of credit would each

constitute an account.

(2) Bank means a bank, as that term is defined in §103.11(c), that is subject to regulation

by a Federal functional regulator, and any foreign branch of an insured bank.

(3) Customer means:

(i) Any person seeking to open a new account; and

(ii) Any signatory on the account at the time the account is opened, and any new

signatory added thereafter.

(4) Federal functional regulator has the same meaning as provided in § 103.120(a)(2).

(5) Person has the same meaning as provided in § 103.11(z).
34

(6) U.S. person means:

(i) A U.S. citizen; or

(ii) A corporation, partnership, trust, or person (other than an individual) that is

established or organized under the laws of a State or the United States.

(7) Non-U.S. person means a person that is not a U.S. person.

(8) Taxpayer identification number. The provisions of section 6109 of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6109) and the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service

promulgated thereunder shall determine what constitutes a taxpayer identification number.

(b) Customer Identification Program: minimum requirements.

(1) In general. A bank must implement a written Customer Identification Program

(Program) that, at a minimum, includes each of the components of this section. The Program

should be tailored to the bank's size, location and type of business. The bank's board of directors

or a committee of the board must approve the Program. The Program must be a part of the

bank's anti-money laundering program required under the regulations implementing 31 U.S.C.

5318(h), 12 U.S.C. 1818(s), and 12 U.S.C. 1786(q)(1).

(2) Identity verification procedures. The Program must include procedures for verifying

the identity of each customer, to the extent reasonable and practicable. The procedures must be

based on the bank's assessment of the risks presented by the various types of accounts

maintained by the bank, the various methods of opening accounts provided by the bank, and the

type of identifying information available, and must enable the bank to form a reasonable belief

that it knows the true identity of the customer.

(i) Information required. (A) In General. The Program must contain procedures that

specify the identifying information that the bank must obtain from each customer. Except as
35

permitted by paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) of this section, at a minimum, a bank must obtain the

following information prior to opening or adding a signatory to an account:

(1) Name;

(2) For individuals, date of birth;

(3) (i) For individuals, residence and, if different, mailing address; or

(ii) For persons other than individuals, such as corporations, partnerships, and trusts:

principal place of business and, if different, mailing address;

(4) (i) For U.S. persons, a U.S. taxpayer identification number (e.g., social security

number, individual taxpayer identification number, or employer identification number); or

(ii) For non-U.S. persons, one or more of the following: a U.S. taxpayer identification

number; passport number and country of issuance; alien identification card number; or number

and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or

residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.

(B) Limited exception. The Program may permit the bank to open or add a signatory to

an account for a person other than an individual (such as a corporation, partnership, or trust) that

has applied for, but has not received, an employer identification number. However, in such a

case, the bank must obtain a copy of the application before it opens or adds a signatory to the

account and obtain the employer identification number within a reasonable period of time after it

opens or adds a signatory to the account.

(ii) Verification. The Program must contain risk-based procedures for verifying the

information obtained pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this section within a reasonable time

after the account is established or a signatory is added to the account. A bank need not verify the

information about an existing customer seeking to open a new account or who becomes a
36

signatory on an account, if the bank previously verified the customer’s identity in accordance

with procedures consistent with this section, and continues to have a reasonable belief that it

knows the true identity of the customer.

(A) Verification through documents. The Customer Identification Program must contain

procedures describing when the bank will verify identity through documents and setting forth the

documents that the bank will use for this purpose. These documents may include:

(1) For individuals: unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or

residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard; and

(2) For corporations, partnerships, trusts and persons other than individuals: documents

showing the existence of the entity, such as registered articles of incorporation, a governmentissued business license, partnership agreement, or trust instrument.

(B) Non-documentary verification methods. The Program must contain procedures that

describe non-documentary methods the bank will use to verify identity and when these methods

will be used in addition to, or instead of, relying on documents. These procedures must address

situations where an individual is unable to present an unexpired government-issued identification

document that bears a photograph or similar safeguard; the bank is not familiar with the

documents presented; the account is opened without obtaining documents; the account is not

opened in a face-to-face transaction; and the type of account increases the risk that the bank will

not be able to verify the true identity of the customer through documents. Other verification

methods may include contacting a customer; independently verifying documentary information

through credit bureaus, public databases, or other sources; checking references with other

financial institutions; and obtaining a financial statement.
37

 (iii) Lack of verification. The Program must include procedures for responding to

circumstances in which the bank cannot form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of

a customer.

(3) Recordkeeping. (i) The Program must include procedures for maintaining a record of

all information obtained under the procedures implementing paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

The record must include:

(A) All identifying information provided by a customer pursuant to paragraphs

(b)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this section;

(B) A copy of any document that was relied on pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(A) of this

section that clearly evidences the type of document and any identification number it may contain;

(C) The methods and result of any measures undertaken to verify the identity of the

customer pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(B) of this section; and

(D) The resolution of any discrepancy in the identifying information obtained.

(ii) The bank must retain all records for five years after the date the account is closed.

(4) Comparison with government lists. The Program must include procedures for

determining whether the customer appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist

organizations provided to the bank by any federal government agency. The procedures must also

ensure that the bank follows all federal directives issued in connection with such lists.

(5) Customer notice. The Program must include procedures for providing bank

customers with adequate notice that the bank is requesting information to verify their identity.

(c) Exemptions. The appropriate Federal functional regulator with the concurrence of the

Secretary, may by order or regulation, exempt any bank or type of account from the requirements

of this section. In issuing such exemptions, the Federal functional regulator and the Secretary
38

shall consider whether the exemption is consistent with the purposes of the Bank Secrecy Act

and with safe and sound banking, and is in the public interest. The Federal functional regulator

and the Secretary also may consider other appropriate factors.

(d) Other information requirements unaffected. Nothing in this section shall be construed

to relieve a bank of its obligation to comply with any other provision in this part concerning

information that must be obtained, verified, or maintained in connection with any account or

transaction.

DATED: July 15, 2002

James F. Sloan

Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

DATED: July 2, 2002

John D. Hawke, Jr.

Comptroller of the Currency

By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, July 10, 2002

Jennifer J. Johnson

Secretary of the Board
39

By order of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation this 3rd day of

July, 2002

Valerie J. Best

Assistant Executive Secretary

DATED: July 5, 2002

In concurrence,

By the Office of Thrift Supervision

James E. Gilleran

Director

DATED: July 3, 2002

Becky Baker

Secretary of the Board

National Credit Union Administration