Webinar: Determining When to File a SAR
August 5, 2025 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
To SAR or not to SAR? That is indeed the question.
Using decades of experience and real-world scenarios, David Reed will illustrate effective methods to accurately sort out when to file a SAR – even with those close calls. Join this high-energy program to ensure you are fully compliant with the growing BSA/AML/CFT responsibilities.
AFTER THIS WEBINAR YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:
- Explain the underlying logic of the BSA/AML/CFT requirements
- Identify enumerated SAR triggers
- Fine tune your technique to handle borderline cases
- Create an effective internal escalation process
- Train staff on their roles in the AML/CFT process
- Use detailed regulatory guidance
- Appreciate SAR confidentiality and associated risks
- Understand current regulatory expectations and enforcement trends
WEBINAR DETAILS
Every financial institution needs to establish a system to identify suspicious behavior, investigate the underlying facts, and initiate a Suspicious Activity Report in the appropriate circumstances. And don’t forget to take time to fine tune your BSA/AML/CFT processes. If one step fails, the entire process is compromised, and you are at risk of potential BSA violations – which could include monetary penalties or even criminal charges.
What if you’ve looked at a suspicious set of facts over and over again and cannot decide if it rises to the level of a SAR? Your financial institution needs to have an effective process of identification, evaluation, and reporting of suspicious activities. But once you get past the enumerated events which require a filing, there are still vast possibilities. This session will review the primary components of the SAR decision, while also uncovering the hidden landmines using real-world experience, regulatory examinations, and FinCEN enforcement actions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This session is designed for executives, managers, BSA officers, internal auditors, IT managers, branch staff, compliance officers, and anyone involved in the BSA and risk management processes.
TAKE-AWAY TOOLKIT
- SAR filing decision tree
- Red flags reference guide
- SAR quality checklist
- SAR escalation protocol template
- Regulatory guidance
- Detailed AML/CFT examination resources
- Employee training log
- Interactive quiz
- PDF of slides and speaker’s contact info for follow-up questions
- Attendance certificate provided to self-report CE credits
Speaker: David A. Reed, Reed & Jolly, PLLC
Attorney, author, consultant, and nationally recognized trainer, David Reed is a partner in the law firm of Reed & Jolly, PLLC. He provides guidance to financial institutions on establishment and revision of policies and procedures, organizational compliance, collections, security, contractual agreements, regulatory matters, and corporate governance. His engaging speaking style has made him a nationwide lecturer on regulatory compliance, consumer lending, bankruptcy, and collections.
A former trial attorney and vice president and general counsel of a large regional financial institution, David is also a Certified Fraud Examiner. He is particularly known as an expert in the areas of operations, bankruptcy, and collections. He has trained state and federal examination staff on numerous issues, including BSA, ID theft red flags, SAFE Act, third-party contract management, and bankruptcy.