Enable accessibility Home (current) About Us Join Our Team Products Consumers Producers News Contact Us Login cfglife.com >> Producers >>Advisories >> Anti-Money Laundering Producer's Guide to Anti-Money Laundering Columbian’s anti-money laundering program is designed to comply with federal regulations for insurance companies and to prevent any activity that facilitates money laundering or the funding of terrorist or criminal activities. While many of the processes involved are conducted at our offices, you have an important role to play in the program. As a person who deals directly with customers, you are in a critical position to obtain information regarding the customer, their source of funds, and their reasons for purchasing an insurance product. To help prevent money laundering, you must understand how it works, be able to recognize suspicious activities, and comply with your responsibilities within the program. How Money Laundering Works Money Laundering is a process by which illegally obtained money is filtered through a series of transactions that eventually make the money appear to be obtained from “clean,” or legal, activities. Insurance products with an investment feature or cash value such as whole life, universal life, or annuities are sometimes used in money laundering schemes, where a policy or contract may be purchased and then canceled in the free-look period. Recognizing Suspicious Activities You should be alert to suspicious activities, because ignoring warnings to money laundering can implicate you in the crime. Some “red flags” to watch for include: The purchase of an insurance product that appears to be inconsistent with the customer’s needs or appears to exceed the customer’s known income or liquid assets. Little or no concern by a customer for product features, other than the early termination features. Reluctance by a customer to reveal information normally provided in the application, or is unwilling to provide photo ID or other documentation that will enable proper identification. Attempted unusual payment methods, such as cash, foreign currency, foreign accounts, or cash-like instruments such as money orders, traveler’s checks, cashier’s checks, starter checks or credit card advance checks. An attempt to purchase several small policies rather than one large policy for no valid reason. Payment of a large amount broken into small amounts. A large pour-in to a contract, followed by an immediate withdrawal. A customer who requests a maximum loan on a single premium policy shortly after purchase. Early termination of a product, especially at a cost to the customer or where payment is made by, or the refund check is directed to, an apparently unrelated third party. The return of a policy that refunds a large amount of premium during the free-look period with no apparent reason for not wanting the policy. Insistence on speedy issue or service without the required paperwork or medical requirements. The transfer of the benefit of a product to an apparently unrelated third party. Repeated policy cancellations in a short period of time for significant amounts of money. Your Responsibilities In order to sell life insurance or individual annuities, the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program requires you to: Read this document in its entirety. Verify the identity of every customer through a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Obtain and include the following information on the application: Name, Date of Birth, Physical Address (not a P.O. Box, commercial mailbox or company address) and Social Security or Tax ID#. Verify the need for the insurance that is being purchased. Ensure that all information on the application and associated documents is accurate and complete. Create a client profile for each client, documenting verification of identity and the need for the insurance. Include information on all policies or annuities purchased by the individual. Files must be retained for five years after termination of the policy or contract. State insurance regulations may require certain documentation to be retained for a longer period. Report transactions of more than $10,000 that are paid in cash or cash-like instruments, such as money orders, traveler’s checks or cashier’s checks. Report suspicious transactions of $5,000, whether conducted in an individual transaction or aggregate related transactions. Report any money laundering red flags so that the Company can determine whether a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) must be filed with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The USA PATRIOT Act holds agents and brokers liable for reporting suspicious activities. Failure to do so can result in charges of willful blindness. To report suspicious transactions or activities, contact your Regional Sales Director or Columbian Representative. DO NOT inform the client that you have suspicions or are making a report; and DO NOT disclose the fact that a SAR has been field or considered; and DO NOT disclose the contents of a SAR to the subject of a SAR or any third party Responsibility does not end when the sale is made. If any interactions seem suspicious, contact Columbian. COLUMBIAN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Home Office: Binghamton, NY COLUMBIAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Home Office: Chicago, IL Administrative Service Offices: Binghamton, NY • Syracuse, NY 800-423-9765 Columbian Life Insurance Company is not licensed in every state. Product availability may vary by state. 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