Stopping fraud and scams takes a community
Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance remains a critical responsibility for community banks, helping protect customers, communities, and the financial system from financial crime. As risks and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, banks need practical approaches to managing compliance effectively.
ICBA supports community bankers with the advocacy, education, resources, and expertise needed to strengthen compliance programs and manage risk with confidence.
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Gain in-depth knowledge, resources, and peer networks to effectively manage your BSA/AML function or audit this function properly.
ICBA Expert Contact
ICBA Community BSA/AML Group
Community bankers across the country use ICBA Community to share BSA/AML insights, compliance strategies, and real-world experiences.
Overview
Community banks play a vital role in safeguarding the financial system from money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, and other illicit activity. The BSA/AML framework establishes the requirements and processes banks use to identify suspicious activity, understand customer relationships, and provide useful information to law enforcement when potential illicit activity is detected.
At the same time, new technologies, payment methods, and criminal tactics continue to reshape the risk environment. Community banks must remain vigilant while balancing compliance obligations with operational efficiency and customer service.
ICBA supports a modern, risk-based approach to BSA/AML compliance that improves outcomes without imposing unnecessary burden. Through advocacy, education, industry collaboration, and practical resources, ICBA helps community banks strengthen their programs and adapt to a changing financial landscape.
What’s Happening in the Industry Right Now
Financial crime threats continue to evolve, creating new challenges for community bank BSA/AML programs. From synthetic identities and ransomware to virtual asset-related activity, banks are facing increasing pressure to identify risks and strengthen compliance efforts.
Simultaneously, policymakers and regulators are working to modernize the BSA/AML framework with continued focus on a more risk-based and effective regime as well as exploring ways to update outdated reporting thresholds.
For community banks, success depends on balancing strong compliance, operational efficiency, and customer service. Banks that stay informed, invest in expertise, and adapt to changing expectations will be best positioned for the future.
Resources Available for Community Banks
Bank Compliance Center
The ICBA Compliance Center serves as a trusted resource for community bankers, offering practical guidance, tools, and training to support day-to-day compliance and strengthen BSA/AML program effectiveness.
Enter the Compliance Vault
The Compliance Vault is a reliable search tool that helps you find answers to your regulatory compliance questions, with access to over 3,000 Q&As, select eLearning courses, and documents.
Hear from community bankers facing the same challenges.
Thousands of community bankers collaborate in ICBA Community, sharing real-time insights, playbooks, technology recommendations, and recovery tactics.
When policy decisions affect your bank, ICBA helps turn your experience into influence.
By sharing real-world experiences and participating in grassroots advocacy efforts, community bankers play an important role in informing policymakers and influencing the future of BSA/AML regulation.
Together, ICBA and community banks are helping drive meaningful reforms that support both effective compliance and strong community banking.
Comprehensive Compliance Training
A strong BSA/AML program depends on knowledgeable staff. Through ICBA Education, bankers can access BSA-focused training, resources, and certification opportunities that help them identify risks, meet compliance requirements, and support a successful BSA exam.
BSA/AML Institute & Certification
Build the expertise to identify and mitigate BSA/AML risks, strengthen compliance practices, and navigate evolving regulatory requirements with confidence. Through practical instruction and peer collaboration, you'll enhance your professional credibility and position yourself as a trusted compliance leader within your organization.
Key Certification: CBAP (Certified BSA/AML Professional)
Deploy solutions that work at community bank scale.
Effective BSA/AML compliance requires more than policies and procedures.
ICBA connects bankers with tools and technologies designed to improve efficiency, strengthen risk management, and support compliance at community bank scale.
Bank Compliance Check Up Program
The Bank Compliance Check Up Program provides a comprehensive system and checklists for monitoring and determining the bank’s compliance with deposit, lending, administrative regulations, and more.
Compliance Desk Book
The Compliance Desk Book is a compliance officer’s one-stop shop for accessing compliance regulations, important dates, agency guidance, questionnaires, updates, and other resources.
How ICBA Supports Community Bank BSA/AML Programs
ICBA helps community banks navigate the complexities of BSA/AML compliance through advocacy, expertise, and resources tailored to the community bank model. As requirements and risks continue to change, ICBA serves as a trusted partner in helping banks stay informed and prepared.
At the policy level, ICBA advocates for a more risk-based, effective, and efficient BSA/AML framework. This includes supporting reforms that modernize reporting requirements, improve the usefulness of information provided to law enforcement, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on community banks.
ICBA also provides practical guidance, education, and industry insights that help bankers address compliance challenges with confidence. By elevating the community bank voice and connecting bankers with tools, expertise, and peer perspectives, ICBA helps institutions strengthen their BSA/AML efforts while remaining focused on serving their customers and communities.
