What Is a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)?
A suspicious activity report (SAR) is a tool provided under theBank Secrecy Act (BSA) of 1970 for monitoring suspicious activities that would not ordinarily be flagged under other reports (such as the currency transaction report). The SAR became the standard form to report suspicious activity in 1996.
SARs can cover almost any activity that is out of the ordinary. An activity may be included in the SAR if the activity gives rise to a suspicion that the account holder is attempting to hide something or make an illegal transaction.
Key Takeaways
- A suspicious activity report (SAR) is a tool provided under theBank Secrecy Act (BSA)of 1970 for monitoring suspicious activities that would not ordinarily be flagged under other reports (such as the currency transaction report).
- The SAR became the standard form to report suspicious activity in 1996.
- Activity may be included in the SAR if the activity gives rise to a suspicion that the account holder is attempting to hide something or make an illegal transaction.
Understanding a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
The SAR is filed by the financial institution that observes suspicious activity in an account. The report is filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, who will then investigate the incident. FinCEN is a division of the U.S. Treasury.
The financial institution has the responsibility to file a report within 30 days regarding any account activity they deem to be suspicious or out of the ordinary. An extension of no more than 60 days may be obtained, if necessary to collect more evidence. The institution does not need proof that a crime has occurred. The client is not notified that a SAR has been filed regarding their account.
FinCen requires the SAR forms filed by financial institutions to identify the five essential elements of the suspicious activity being reported:
- Who is conducting the suspicious activity?
- What instruments or mechanisms are being used?
- When did the suspicious activity take place?
- Where did it take place?
- Why does the filer think the activity is suspicious?
In addition, the method of operation (or, how is the activity being carried out?) is also required to be included in the report.
Importance of SARs
SARs are part of the United State's anti-money laundering statutes and regulations, which have become much stricter since 2001. The Patriot Act significantly expanded SAR requirements as part of an effort to combat global and domestic terrorism. The goal of the SAR and the resulting investigation is to identify customers who are involved in money laundering, fraud, or terrorist funding.
Disclosure to the customer, or failure to file a SAR, can result in very severe penalties for both individuals and institutions. SARs allow law enforcement to detect patterns and trends in organized and personal financial crimes. This way they can anticipate criminal and fraudulent behavior and counteract it before it escalates. The requirements under the anti-money laundering statutes were significantly expanded again, as of January 1, 2021, with the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.
In the United States, financial institutions must file a SAR if they suspect that an employee or customer has engaged in insider trading activity. A SAR is also required if a financial institution detects evidence of computer hacking or of a consumer operating an unlicensed money services business. SAR filings must be kept for five years from the date of the filing.
In numerous instances, SARs have enabled law enforcement authorities to initiate or pursue major investigations in money laundering or terrorist financing, and other criminal cases.
Common Patterns of Suspicious Activity
Some of the common patterns of suspicious activity identified by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network are as follows:
- A lack of evidence of legitimate business activity (or any business operations at all) undertaken by many of the parties to the transactions(s)
- Unusual financial nexuses and transactions occurring among certain business types (for example, a food importer dealing with an auto parts exporter)
- Transactions not commensurate with the stated business type or that are unusual compared with volumes of similar businesses operating locally
- Unusually large numbers and/or volumes of wire transfers, repetitive wire transfer patterns
- Unusually complex series of transactions involving multiple accounts, banks, and parties
- Bulk cash and monetary instrument transactions
- Unusual mixed deposits into a business account
- Bursts of transactions within short periods, especially in dormant accounts
- Transactions or volumes of activity inconsistent with the expected purpose of the account or activity level as mentioned by the account holder when opening the account
- Transactions attempting to avoid reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Example of a SAR
For example, Albert is an account holder at XYZ Financial Institution. Albert has been a client for nearly five years and has an established account history and very predictable transactions. Every month, he deposits $5,000 into the account and buys an index fund. One day, he starts to receive weekly transfers of $9,000 into the account. Almost as quickly as the money hits the account, it leaves again. This is out of the ordinary for Albert's account and usual activity. The financial institution may consider this to be suspicious activity and might file a Suspicious Activity Report.
FAQs
A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is a document that financial institutions, and those associated with their business, must file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) whenever there is a suspected case of money laundering or fraud.
What triggers the filing of a SAR? ›
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are crucial documents filed by financial institutions to report potentially illicit activities. Triggers for filing SARs include unusual transactions, patterns, or behaviors that raise suspicions of money laundering, fraud, or terrorist financing.
What does SAR stand for ___________ activity report? ›
Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR)
What is a suspicious activity report submitted to? ›
A suspicious activity report (SAR) is a disclosure made to the National Crime Agency (NCA) about known or suspected: money laundering – under part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
Which of the following amounts can trigger the following of a suspicious activity report? ›
Under 12 CFR 21.11, national banks are required to report known or suspected criminal offenses, at specified thresholds, or transactions over $5,000 that they suspect involve money laundering or violate the Bank Secrecy Act.
What triggers a suspicious transaction report? ›
Financial institutions must file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) whenever they notice any transaction activity that is out of the ordinary — for example, if an individual appears to be hiding information, such as the source of funds, or if they are making or attempting to make transactions that are abnormally ...
What are the requirements for filing a SAR? ›
A financial institution is required to file a SAR if it knows, suspects, or has reason to suspect a transaction conducted or attempted by, at, or through the financial institution involves funds derived from illegal activity, or attempts to disguise funds derived from illegal activity; is designed to evade regulations ...
What is a suspicious activity in SAR? ›
A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is a document that financial institutions, and those associated with their business, must file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) whenever there is a suspected case of money laundering or fraud.
What is the SAR report? ›
Your Student Aid Report (SAR) is an electronic or paper document that gives you some basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid.
What is included in a SAR report? ›
Reporters should include details of transactions that they know, suspect or believe to be related to the money laundering or terrorist financing in SARs. Reporters therefore need to decide on a case-by-case basis which transactions are relevant to the suspicion and thus should be included.
Suspicious activity is any observed behavior that may indicate pre-operational planning associated with terrorism or terrorism-related crime.
Which of the following may require filing SAR? ›
Dollar Amount Thresholds – Banks are required to file a SAR in the following circ*mstances: insider abuse involving any amount; transactions aggregating $5,000 or more where a suspect can be identified; transactions aggregating $25,000 or more regardless of potential suspects; and transactions aggregating $5,000 or ...
Why would someone file a Suspicious Activity Report? ›
The purpose of the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is to report known or suspected violations of law or suspicious activity observed by financial institutions subject to the regulations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
What are two triggers for a suspicious activity report SAR? ›
If a customer does something obviously criminal – such as offering a bribe or even admitting to a crime – the law requires you to file a SAR if it involves or aggregates funds or other assets of $2,000 or more.
When to submit a SAR? ›
When do I submit a SAR? As soon as you 'know' or 'suspect' that a person is engaged in money laundering or dealing in criminal property, you must submit a SAR.
What happens if a SAR is filed against you? ›
However, if there is sufficient evidence linking you to a potential crime, such as money laundering, it may result in a formal investigation by law enforcement authorities. In some cases, filing a SAR may also result in your assets being frozen or seized by law enforcement agents.
Which of the following are red flags that may trigger filing a SAR? ›
Common red flags include: Unusual transactions: Transactions that are unusual for a customer's profile, such as a large cash deposit or withdrawal from an account that has not previously made such transactions.
Under which of the following circ*mstances would you file a SAR? ›
In the United States, financial institutions must file a SAR if they suspect that an employee or customer has engaged in insider trading activity. A SAR is also required if a financial institution detects evidence of computer hacking or of a consumer operating an unlicensed money services business.
Who ultimately determines if a suspicious activity report SAR gets filed? ›
For example, the receipt of a grand jury subpoena should cause a financial institution to review relevant account activity and transactions. The financial institution should determine whether SAR filing is necessary based on its assessment of all information available and applicable regulatory requirements.
What warrants a SAR? ›
A suspicious activity report (SAR) is a report used by FIs to announce incidents of suspicious activity to the appropriate regulatory authorities. SARs can be filed for various purposes, but they are commonly used in relation to fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes.
