Israeli banking authorities imposed a record $2.1 million fine for AML violations on Bank Hapoalim, Ltd., citing the bank's failure to report suspicious activity, collect or maintain beneficial ownership information and freeze accounts with incomplete customer identification data.
Israel's Security Cabinet designated 35 groups linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban as terrorists. They are the first of many new sanctions aimed at global terrorist groups that focus their attacks on other countries. The designations bring Israel more in line with U.S. and European sanctions regimes.
Israel's chief financial regulator ordered the country's third largest bank to pay nearly $1 million Monday over the institution's poor anti-money laundering controls.
Israeli anti-money laundering regulations fail to address gaps in identifying beneficial owners and threats to non-bank financial institutions, a global watchdog group said Wednesday.
Compliance costs tied to two civil money penalties totaling $20.5 million reached more than $30 million and could go higher if federal regulators determine the institution illegally allowed transactions linked to Iran, according to a third quarter filing by the bank.
print