This special briefing contains articles intended to give the executive audience a heads-up on important anti-money laundering issues, as well as insight into an important PATRIOT Act provision on employment references. We would appreciate it if you would please forward this briefing to anyone at your institution who may benefit.

Hiring an experienced banker who has left your competition may feel like a coup, and often it can be. Knowledge of the community, lots of contacts, and banking experience are valuable assets in a new hire. But how quickly your mood will change if you find out your "lucky catch" was actually fired by your competition for embezzlement or taking kickbacks. Mary Beth Guard discusses a little-known provision of the USA PATRIOT Act that allows bankers to protect one another from such rude awakenings, when she asks
Are You Hiring a Crook?


Taking BSA/AML Seriously
There's a really tired old joke that involves a stubborn donkey, a two-by-four, and a punch line about getting the donkey's attention. We don't advocate such cruelty, but the joke comes to mind every time we think about how serious regulators are about BSA/AML compliance. Read why John Burnett thinks the regulators have already swung their version of the two-by-four several times, in his article
BSA: Regulators are Playing for Keeps

The BSA TopGun Conference is fast approaching (February 26th-28th, 2008) and it's time to make sure you've registered. In addition to the "SAR or No SAR" presentation, you'll have more than a dozen sessions covering BSA from every angle. And for those of you who have not yet signed up, we've received some good news! The special room rate for the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco has been extended through Wednesday, January 30th. Don't miss your chance to attend. Act Fast: Room Block Extended Through January, 30th! Check out the details and register today!

What are Other Banks Doing?
Whenever BSA/AML professionals get together, they compare notes and tell war stories. It's one of the best ways to keep up with industry developments and pick up ideas they can use to improve their banks' BSA/AML compliance programs. When BankersOnline hosted its 2007 Top Gun BSA Conference, we took notes when 180 attendees gave us anonymous feedback on how they handle the challenges of BSA/AML compliance. Mary Beth Guard shares what we, and the attendees, learned from each other. Read about
BSA: What Your Peers Do and Say.

Don't miss this year's Top Gun conference

We have plenty in store for you!