Beneficial Ownership Certification Form

Posted By: Candice

Beneficial Ownership Certification Form - 06/22/22 05:08 PM

I am currently in the process of getting a BSA/AML Program established for a new bank. I have a question on the Beneficial Ownership Certification form. I have seen these forms with 2 different versions of the signed acknowledgement:

I, ______________ (name of natural person opening account), hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that th3e information provided above is complete and correct.

AND

I, ______________ (name of natural person opening account), hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that th3e information provided above is complete and correct. I agree to notify the financial institution of any change in such information.

I personally like the second one, with the added statement; however, I don't think that is a required statement. Our Core system uses the first version and I don't think I can get them to change it unless I can tell them it is required by regulation.

I would appreciate any advice. Thank you!
Posted By: compgal21

Re: Beneficial Ownership Certification Form - 06/22/22 06:41 PM

Our forms have the exact verbiage as the second statement and have not had any issues.
Posted By: John Burnett

Re: Beneficial Ownership Certification Form - 06/22/22 07:31 PM

Whether or not the second sentence is included in the certification statement, the bank is responsible for recognizing events that might trigger the need for a recertification. I, too, like the second version, but I don't think it gives the bank an "out" if it fails to require a new certification if, for example, one of the beneficial owners of a business sells their interest to someone else, when that new owner is added as an authorized signer and the old owner is dropped as an authorized signer.
Posted By: Candice

Re: Beneficial Ownership Certification Form - 06/24/22 05:41 PM

Thank you!