UK fines Commerzbank over money laundering failures

Agence France-Presse

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UK fines Commerzbank over money laundering failures

AFP

Commerzbank is ordered to pay a fine of almost £38 million ($47.9 million)

LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain’s financial watchdog said on Wednesday, June 17, that it had fined German bank Commerzbank almost £38 million for failing to implement adequate checks to prevent money laundering.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in a statement that the penalty, worth 42.4 million euros or $47.9 million, relates to anti-money laundering failures at Commerzbank’s London division over a near 5-year period.

The FCA’s investigation concluded that Commerzbank did not conduct timely checks on clients, nor address weaknesses in its controls and procedures from October 2012 to September 2017.

The watchdog noted that Commerzbank previously failed to take “reasonable and effective steps” when it had notified the German lender about the concerns in 2012, 2015, and 2017.

“Commerzbank London’s failings over several years created a significant risk that financial and other crime might be undetected,” said Mark Steward, head of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA.

“Firms should recognize that [anti-money laundering] controls are vitally important to the integrity of the UK financial system,” he added.

Commerzbank meanwhile avoided a higher fine of £54 million for cooperating finally. – Rappler.com

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