Membership of State Banking Institutions in the Federal Reserve System; International Banking Operations; Bank Holding Companies and Change in Bank Control — 1998-12-07 [98-32332]

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is requesting comments on proposed regulations requiring domestic and foreign banking organizations supervised by the Board to develop and maintain ``Know Your Customer'' programs. As proposed, the regulations would require each banking organization to develop a program designed to determine the identity of its customers; determine its customers' sources of funds; determine, understand and monitor the normal and expected transactions of its customers; and report appropriately any transactions of its customers that are determined to be suspicious, in accordance with the Board's existing suspicious activity reporting regulations. By requiring banking organizations to determine the identity of their customers, as well as to obtain knowledge regarding the legitimate activities of their customers, the proposed regulations will reduce the likelihood that banking organizations will become unwitting participants in illicit activities conducted or attempted by their customers.