Learning objectives

• Familiarize yourself with America's Credit Union staff.
• Unveil what to expect during your educational journey
• Outline the essential steps to certification.
• Learn effective exam preparation techniques and gain insights into examination procedures.
• Identify and plan your next steps in the certification process.  
• Gain access to key curriculum resources.  

Learning objectives

• Uncover the broader significance of BSA/AML beyond compliance, as we explore its pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of the financial system and safeguarding national security.
• Demonstrate an understanding of role-specific competencies essential to your BSA/AML professional development.
• Align your professional development with your credit unions’ needs and strategic objectives.  

Learning objectives

• Understand the historical evolution of the BSA and the key statutes and regulations that shape its framework.
• Explore the roles and functions of key regulatory agencies and bodies, as well as industry resources involved in BSA compliance, including NCUA and the Federal banking agencies, FinCEN, OFAC, FFIEC, DHS, FBI, and FATF.
• Learn how a regulation comes to life, from its inception to its final implementation.
• Understand the importance of advocacy in the regulatory process.
• Describe the key stages of money laundering.
• Differentiate between money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Familiarize yourself with essential terms and acronyms commonly used in the BSA regulatory landscape, ensuring clarity and understanding.  

Learning objectives

• Understand the overarching requirements for BSA/AML compliance programs, focusing on the five pillars of BSA compliance.
• Learn about examiner expectations, as outlined in the FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual.
• Gain insights into the consequences of non-compliance with BSA regulations, including potential penalties and enforcement actions. 

Learning objectives

• Revisit key concepts learned thus far.
• Transition from a broad overview to a focused exploration of individual regulatory requirements.
• Understand what to expect in the next steps of your learning journey.

Learning objectives

• Understand the purpose of the risk assessment within the broader scope of BSA/AML compliance.
• Learn the importance of identifying specific risk categories and analyzing them in the context of the credit union’s operations.
• Understand the importance of considering third-party risks during the overall risk assessment process.
• Gain an understanding of examiner expectations regarding a credit union’s BSA/AML risk assessment.
• Learn about regulatory changes coming down the pike.

Learning objectives

• Learn about Customer/Member Due Diligence (CDD/MDD) requirements.
• Learn the key requirements for Customer/Member Identification Programs (CIP/MIP), including member verification, notification timing, required documentation, and record retention standards.
• Distinguish CIP and beneficial ownership requirements, identify relevant entities and verify beneficial owners, and understand the impact of the Corporate Transparency Act.
• Understand establishing risk profiles to identify suspicious activity and learn about applying enhanced due diligence (EDD) to higher-risk customers.  

Learning objectives

• Develop a solid grasp of BSA CTR reporting, including regulatory requirements and the impact of non-compliance.
• Comprehend the principles of structuring and aggregating transactions and enhance your learning through practical application.
• Learn about CTR filing exemptions and grasp the requirement for annual reviews.  

Learning objectives

• Understand SAR filing obligations, including mandatory reporting thresholds, and filing exceptions.
• Understand the safe harbor protection from civil liability under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
• Identify reportable suspicious activities, recognize associated red flags, and understand timing requirements for effective detection and reporting.
• Comprehend SAR documentation retention rules, protocols for responding to law enforcement requests for SAR supporting documentation, and confidentiality requirements.  

Learning objectives

• Outline the scope of monetary instrument recordkeeping, understand the rationale behind the requirements, and recognize the associated dollar amount thresholds.
• Understand monetary instrument recordkeeping and purchaser verification requirements for account holders versus non-account holders.
• Understand the importance of funds transfer recordkeeping, covered and excluded transactions, and the associated dollar amount threshold.
• Learn about the specific funds transfer record-keeping and Travel Rule requirements for originating, intermediary, and beneficiary financial institutions. 

Learning objectives

• Confirm understanding of key concepts and terminology by reviewing correct responses to curriculum review questions for Lessons 2-10.
• Reinforce comprehension through explanations of why each answer is correct.  
• Support independent study and exam preparation by providing structured answer verification and clarification.
• Identify knowledge gaps and determine areas that require additional independent review and study.  

Learning objectives

• Revisit and reinforce the key concepts you've learned so far.
• Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed for the next stages of your certification journey, with a clear view of what to expect moving forward.  

Learning objectives

• Gain insight into law enforcement inquiries generated by credit unions’ suspicious activity report (SAR) filings. Review the SAR safe harbor and confidentiality requirements.
• Learn how to respond to law enforcement requests for SAR supporting documentation.
• Understand how the Right to Financial Privacy Act plays a role in requests for information that go beyond the scope of the SAR filing.  
• Understand what information should be incorporated into policies and procedures guiding a credit union’s response to law enforcement requests.

Learning objectives

• Learn about the USA Patriots Act’s information-sharing provisions.  
• Gain an understanding of 314(a) requirements, including search criteria, reporting to FinCEN, documentation, security, and confidentiality requirements.
• Gain insight into 314(b) compliance requirements, including the Safe Harbor for information sharing, use restrictions, security, and confidentiality requirements.
• Understand permissible and impermissible information sharing under 314(b).  

Learning objectives  

• Understand the role and purpose of OFAC.
• Discuss examiner expectations and the components integral to an effective OFAC compliance program.
• Define different OFAC Lists and grasp the nuances of various sanctions programs.  
• Gain insight into OFAC requirements, including prohibited transactions, blocking assets, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Understand OFAC’s broad coverage of transactions and transaction parties.
• Learn about OFAC’s General and Specific Licenses and the relevant resources for further understanding.  

Learning objectives

• Confirm understanding of key concepts and terminology by reviewing correct responses to study guide questions for Lessons 14-16.
• Reinforce comprehension through explanations of why each answer is correct.
• Support independent study and exam preparation by providing structured answer verification and clarification.  
• Identify knowledge gaps and determine areas that require additional independent review and study. 

This exam is the first of two and assesses learner comprehension of the content outlined for Exam 1 in the Exam Content Chart. All learners must complete this exam, including any retakes, by October 31, 2026, so please plan preparation and scheduling accordingly.

This applied lesson challenges participants to connect regulatory expectations with practical skills in BSA/AML and Sanctions risk assessment. Through collaborative case analysis and guided exercises, students will evaluate inherent risks, assess controls, and articulate residual risk across products, geographies, members, and third-party relationships.  

Learners will gain experience in:  

• Aligning institutional risk categories with current regulatory priorities (e.g., fentanyl, virtual assets, sanctions evasion)
• Translating complex risk indicators into actionable compliance narratives for senior management
• Structuring risk documentation to support clarity, usability, and exam readiness

This lesson supports skill development in constructing defensible, operationally relevant risk assessments informed by real-world typologies.   

Learning objectives

• Understand the role and purpose of OFAC (review).  
• Review of the regulatory requirements regarding OFAC.
• Establishing a formal OFAC compliance program and performing risk assessments.
• Discuss the transactions that require OFAC scanning and related operational processes.
• Identifying and handling potential OFAC matches to ensure compliance with OFAC regulations.
• Beyond name matching: Potential OFAC match disqualification scenario.
• Block/Freeze or Rejecting Prohibited Transactions Scenario.  

BSA professionals are on the front lines of protecting the financial system, and effective communication is key. This lesson will walk through how to respond to law enforcement requests, the benefits and protections of information sharing, and practical techniques for writing clear, impactful SAR narratives. Participants will gain tools and confidence to strengthen their daily compliance work and support investigations.

Law Enforcement Requests

• Understand the different types of law enforcement requests (subpoenas, summons, NSLs, 314(a), etc.) and their compliance implications.
• Learn how to properly evaluate, document, and respond to requests while protecting member confidentiality.
• Gain confidence in communicating with law enforcement and escalating requests appropriately within the institutions.

Information Sharing (314(b) and beyond)

• Explain the purpose and scope of information sharing under Section 314(b) of the USA PATRIOT Act.
• Identify the requirements for safe harbor protections and how to establish an effective information-sharing program. 
• Apply practical steps for securely exchanging information with peer institutions to detect and report suspicious activity.  

SAR Writing Techniques

• Recognize the essential elements of a well-written Suspicious Activity Report (SAR).
• Practice structuring a SAR narrative to clearly convey the “who, what, when, where, why, and how.”  
• Avoid common pitfalls and strengthen SAR narratives to make them more actionable for law enforcement and regulators.  

Learning objectives

• Confirm understanding of key concepts and terminology by reviewing correct responses to curriculum review questions for Lessons 21-23.
• Reinforce comprehension through explanations of why each answer is correct.
• Support independent study and exam preparation by providing structured answer verification and clarification.
• Identify knowledge gaps and determine areas that require additional independent review and study.  

This exam is the second and final assessment. It evaluates learners’ ability to apply the knowledge, outlined for Exam 2 in the Exam Content Chart, to practical scenarios. All learners must complete this exam, including any retakes, by October 31, 2026, so please plan preparation and scheduling accordingly.

Elder Financial Exploitation and Abuse is a widespread issue and many cases still go unreported. Credit union professionals play a crucial role due to their unique position in preventing and reporting suspected exploitation. Understand more about how your role can contribute to understanding warning signs and take appropriate action to protect vulnerable members and reduce your credit union’s legal, reputational, and transaction risk.  

Learning objectives

• Review the Senior Safe Act
• Discuss guidance and recommendations to prevent and report elder financial exploitation
• Discuss scams and schemes red flags that target “elders”  

Learning objectives

• Debunk 4 common myths regarding human trafficking
• Review case studies to illustrate the many faces of human trafficking
• Identify risk factors & high-risk areas
• Learn to recognize trafficking red flags
• Discuss FinCEN’s 2020 updates  

FinCEN has released a number of advisories on when and how to file SARs related to cyber-events and cyber-related crime. Find out the agency’s expectations and recommendations related to this important aspect of BSA compliance, including trends in the new Administration.

Learning objectives

• Review the red flag indicators of various types of cyber-attacks (e.g., phishing, malware, DDoS attacks, etc.)
• Learn when and how to report cyber-enabled crime and cyber-events on SARs
• Learn what cyber-related information is helpful to law enforcement (e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) addresses with timestamps, virtual-wallet information, device identifiers)  

Learning objectives 

• Understand the role of the BSA/AML examiner
• Learn about your responsibilities when working with examiners
• Learn how to prepare proactively for BSA/AML exams
• Understand how to develop and sustain good working relationships with examiners  

Learning objectives

• Communicate the critical importance of AML protocols to peers and departments
• Build trust and foster cooperation across different areas of the organization
• Gain buy-in for AML initiatives
• Confidently advocate for compliance when faced with resistance  

Learning objectives

• Recall curriculum progress
• Update your Professional Goals Worksheet
• Identify next steps for applying resources and knowledge in the real world