International Programs

FinCEN works to establish and strengthen mechanisms for the exchange of information globally, and to engage, encourage, and support international partners in taking necessary steps to construct regimes to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. FinCEN responds to requests from financial intelligence units (FIUs) that are members of the Egmont Group, and acts as a conduit for requests from domestic law enforcement to foreign FIUs. FinCEN also issues strategic products for law enforcement agencies and FIUs on topics of international interest.

FinCEN works with foreign governments to provide policy recommendations and guidance, analytical training, technological advice, and staff support in order to foster the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regimes worldwide. FinCEN supports U.S. bilateral and multilateral efforts to join with other nations in a concerted fashion to combat transnational crime.

International Engagements and Liaison Activity

International Information Exchange and Analysis

As the nation’s FIU, FinCEN is part of a worldwide network of agencies designed to exchange financial intelligence derived largely from financial industry reporting. FinCEN makes requests for information on behalf of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. At the same time, FinCEN responds to requests for research from counterpart FIUs in other jurisdictions around the world. In addition, FinCEN and other FIUs send and receive spontaneous disclosures of information based on proactive internal analysis.

FinCEN is one of the most active FIUs in the world in terms of exchanging information with counterpart FIUs. The demand for FinCEN’s services from foreign FIUs has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

In addition to supporting foreign FIUs, FinCEN also obtains information from foreign FIUs to support investigations by U.S. law enforcement and regulatory agencies. FinCEN works with its counterparts to obtain information relevant to these requests, often working with multiple FIUs on a given request. FinCEN has experienced an increase in outgoing requests in support of U.S. law enforcement investigations, which reflects FinCEN’s efforts to encourage criminal investigator and prosecutors to more actively use this unique service. FinCEN continues its efforts in the area of strategic analysis on international topics, with a particular emphasis on joint work with other FIUs.

Combating Transnational Organized Crime

FinCEN recognizes that financial crime is a global phenomenon transcending geographic borders. Partnerships with other nations and international bodies are essential in the detection of criminal proceeds. FinCEN plays a significant role in the U.S. Government’s efforts to combat transnational organized crime. FinCEN carries out its mission by providing investigative support to law enforcement, intelligence, and regulatory agencies, cooperating globally with counterpart FIUs, and using its regulatory authorities to make it more difficult for organized criminal groups to move money through the financial system. FinCEN exercises its authority under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which allows for the imposition of special measures for jurisdictions, financial institutions, or international transactions of primary money laundering concern. FinCEN supports the detection and deterrence of transnational organized crime by providing products and services to law enforcement agencies, the intelligence community, foreign FIUs, and other authorities.

Internationally Focused Speeches by FinCEN Officials

Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery at the Florida International Bankers Association Anti-Money Laundering Conference (02/20/2014) HTML | PDF
Statement of Jennifer Shasky Calvery Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Upon Signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission (10/24/2013) PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Deputy Director Peter Alvarado, delivered at the Association of Mexican Banks 14th Anti-Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism International Seminar (10/05/2012) HTML | PDF
Message from Director Freis: OAS/CICAD Adopts Principles and Best Practices for the Use and Protection of FIU Information when Shared with Third Parties (09/20/2012) HTML | PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director Freis, delivered at the Florida International Bankers Association’s 12th Annual Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Conference (02/23/2012) HTML | PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director Freis, delivered at the 2011 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Conference in Sydney, Australia (11/07/2011) HTML | PDF
FinCEN Director Freis discusses sharing and protecting information to promote AML effort at the Association of Mexican Banks AML & Terrorism International Seminar (09/29/2011) HTML | PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Associate Director Bess Michael, Delivered at the Institute of International Bankers Annual Anti-Money Laundering Seminar (05/23/2011) HTML | PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director Freis on Global Initiatives to Combat Transnational Crime (04/25/2008) HTML | PDF
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director William J. Fox on the Occasion of FinCEN Hosting the 13th Plenary Session of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (06/30/2005) HTML | PDF

Egmont Group Plenary Meetings

Egmont Archive