MyComplianceOffice Blog

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Regulators, have issued a joint letter detailing their observations about how the banking industry has implemented measures to comply with the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR).

Singapore’s Parliament has passed the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Other Matters Bill, a crucial step in enhancing the nation’s defences against financial crimes. The Bill, introduced by Singapore’s Second Minister for Home Affairs, Josephine Teo, is designed to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) framework, ensuring it keeps pace with global standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Teo explains during her second reading of the Bill, “We have been distilling the learning points through careful studies of the changing modus operandi, as well as the new standards promulgated by FATF.”

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has undergone several initiatives over the last few years to make its standards and guidance simpler, clearer, and more adaptable.

In a culmination of these efforts, APRA has now launched its digital framework, taking shape as its digital “Prudential Handbook”.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is taking aim. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) are squarely in the regulator’s sights with three recent updates.

MAS’ latest enforcement report (January 2022 and June 2023) detailed $12.96m in civil penalties imposed and $7.88m in financial fines and compositions imposed - the highest since MAS Enforcement Reports began their publication in 2019.

The long-awaited Financial Accountability Regime (FAR Bill) will come into effect for the Australian banking industry on 15 March 2024 and for the Australian superannuation and insurance industries on 15 March 2025.