Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties
FinCEN adjusts civil monetary penalties for inflation; new maximums apply to violations occurring after January 17, 2025.
Aforeworn detected this change in the Money Services & Money Transmitters space on July 30, 2026 and published this briefing so affected operators are forewarned rather than caught off guard. It is rated Medium urgency. All money services businesses (MSBs), money transmitters, crypto/virtual-currency firms, remittance providers, fintech wallets, and other entities subject to FinCEN enforcement. should confirm how it applies to their specific situation before acting. There is a time constraint attached: Effective January 17, 2025; applies to violations occurring after that date.. Acting after that point can mean penalties, a lapsed licence, or lost eligibility — exactly the kind of surprise Aforeworn exists to prevent. Aforeworn monitors Money Services & Money Transmitters continuously and turns every detected change into a plain-English briefing like this one, so you always know first. Forewarned is forearmed.
What changed
FinCEN increased the maximum civil monetary penalties for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and other FinCEN-administered statutes to account for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act.
Who it affects
All money services businesses (MSBs), money transmitters, crypto/virtual-currency firms, remittance providers, fintech wallets, and other entities subject to FinCEN enforcement.
What you must do
Review updated penalty amounts and ensure compliance programs are robust to avoid violations that could trigger these higher maximum penalties.
Deadline
Effective January 17, 2025; applies to violations occurring after that date.
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- Prohibited Terms and Conditions in Agreements for Consumer Financial Products or Services (Regulation AA)
- Registry of Nonbank Covered Persons Subject to Certain Agency and Court Orders; Proposed Rescission
- Authority of States To Enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010; Rescission
- Electronic Fund Transfers Through Accounts Established Primarily for Personal, Family, or Household Purposes Using Emerging Payment Mechanisms; Withdrawal
- Guidance on Referrals for Potential Criminal Enforcement