This site provides information on the most recent efforts of FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, to address money laundering and terrorist financing risks under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Section 311) grants the Secretary of the Treasury the authority, upon finding that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that a foreign jurisdiction, foreign financial institution, class of transaction, or type of account is of “primary money laundering concern,” to require domestic financial institutions and financial agencies (e.g., banks) to take certain “special measures” against the entity identified as a primary money laundering concern.

January 29, 2024

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates.

On January 29, 2024, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued a notice of proposed rule imposing a special measure against Al-Huda Bank, as a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311). The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, Al-Huda Bank. In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide Al-Huda Bank, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we become aware that Al-Huda Bank is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging, we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.

October 25, 2019

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates.  

On October 25, 2019, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued a Final Rule imposing Special Measures against the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311).  The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of an Iranian financial institution.  In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide an Iranian financial institution, including any of its agencies, branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo.  If we find that your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging has processed any prohibited transactions involving an Iranian financial institution, we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.

February 13, 2018

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates.

On February 13, 2018, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued a Proposed Rulemaking imposing Special Measures against ABLV Bank, located in Latvia, a financial institution of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311). The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, ABLV Bank. In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide ABLV Bank, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we find that ABLV Bank is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.

November 2, 2017

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates.

On November 2, 2017, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued a Final Rule imposing Special Measures against Bank of Dandong, located in Dandong, China, a financial institution of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311). The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, Bank of Dandong. In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide Bank of Dandong, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we find that Bank of Dandong is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.

June 29, 2017

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates. 

On June 29, 2017, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued a proposed ruling naming Bank of Dandong, located in Dandong, China, a financial institution of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311).  The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, Bank of Dandong.  In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide Bank of Dandong, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo.  If we find that Bank of Dandong is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo. 

November 9, 2016

This notice applies to all non-U.S. banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Relationship Management Applications (RMAs) of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and non-U.S. clients and RMAs of Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates. 

On November 9, 2016, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury issued a final rule imposing a Special Measure against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311). The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, a North Korean financial institution. In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide a North Korean financial institution, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we find that a North Korean financial institution is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.

May 27, 2016

This notice applies to all non-U.S. Correspondent Banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates, and SWIFT Messaging users.

On May 27, 2016, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury named the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT ACT (Section 311). The full notice can be viewed on the Treasury site:

Wells Fargo is prohibited from establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, a North Korean financial institution. In addition, your Wells Fargo correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with Wells Fargo may not be used to provide a North Korean financial institution, including any of its branches, offices, or subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we find that a North Korean financial institution is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo. 

March 31, 2016

This notice applies to all non-U.S. Correspondent Banks that are clients of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo & Company subsidiaries and affiliates, and SWIFT Messaging users.

On March 31, 2016, FinCEN, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, found that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that FBME Bank Ltd. (FBME), formerly known as the Federal Bank of the Middle East Ltd., is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Section 311). On July 29, 2015, FinCEN published in the Federal Register a final rule imposing the fifth special measure, which the United States District Court for the District of Columbia subsequently enjoined before the rule’s effective date of August 28, 2015. FinCEN is issuing this final rule imposing a prohibition on U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining a correspondent account for, or on behalf of, FBME in place of the rule published on July 29, 2015. The full notice can be viewed on the FinCEN site. 

To view the Federal Register, visit this link.

Your Wells Fargo Correspondent account or SWIFT messaging with us may not be used to provide FBME Bank Ltd. (FBME), formerly known as the Federal Bank of the Middle East Ltd., or any of their branches, offices, and subsidiaries with access to Wells Fargo. If we find that FBME Bank Ltd. (FBME) is indirectly using your Wells Fargo account or SWIFT messaging we will take appropriate steps to prevent such access, including possible termination of your relationship with Wells Fargo.