Compliance Insights: Stay Ahead in the MSB Industry

Expert guidance, regulatory updates, and best practices to help Money Services Businesses navigate compliance, protect banking relationships, and streamline operations. 🚀

Compliance

Your Free MSB Compliance Check-Up: Catch Problems Before Regulators Do

Running an MSB is tough enough without guessing if your compliance program would pass an exam. ComplyCheck’s Free MSB Compliance Check-Up reviews your AML/BSA Manual, FinCEN registration, CTRs, corporate files, training, and more — all at no cost. You either find weaknesses or gain confidence that you’re doing things right. What do you have to lose? Schedule your free check-up today.

FinCEN

The SAR Balancing Act: Why FinCEN’s New FAQs Matter and Why You Need Experts Like ComplyCheck Published October 2025

FinCEN’s October 2025 FAQs on Suspicious Activity Reporting finally clear up years of confusion, but they also highlight why MSBs cannot afford guesswork. The new guidance emphasizes risk-based judgment over rote filing. That is where ComplyCheck’s experts come in, helping MSBs avoid both over- and under-compliance while staying fully aligned with FinCEN expectations.

Compliance

Why Reviewing and Updating Your AML/BSA Compliance Manual Every Year Isn’t Optional

Your AML/BSA Compliance Manual isn’t just a formality, it’s the backbone of your entire compliance program. Regulators from FinCEN, the IRS, and the state examiners all expect to see a manual that’s not only current, but accurately reflects how your business actually operates today. Whether your business has grown, added new products, or simply evolved over time, your manual must evolve with it. In this post, ComplyCheck explains why regulators expect at least an annual review, what triggers mid-year updates, and how outdated manuals can create unnecessary findings during Title 31 and state examinations. If you can’t remember the last time your AML/BSA Manual was reviewed, now’s the time.

Compliance

IRS Title 31 Examinations: What MSBs Need to Know Before It’s Too Late

IRS Title 31 examinations are not tax audits, they’re BSA/AML compliance reviews that can lead to serious civil and even criminal penalties if your MSB falls short. The IRS Internal Revenue Manual makes it clear: failures in CTRs, SARs, recordkeeping, or detecting structuring are violations examiners are trained to penalize. At ComplyCheck, we’ve guided more than 100 MSBs through the challenges of Title 31 compliance. We know what examiners look for and how to prepare you before they show up at your door.

News

When Compliance Goes Wrong: Lessons from the Galaxia Case

A New Jersey MSB owner recently admitted to filing more than $325 million in false CTRs and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The case highlights how quickly reporting errors and licensing gaps can escalate into criminal prosecution. For MSBs and check cashers, this is a stark reminder that compliance is not optional. At ComplyCheck, we help MSBs avoid these pitfalls with tools and oversight designed to keep your business safe.

Banking

Trump’s Executive Order on Depoliticizing Banking: Why MSBs Should Temper Expectations

President Trump’s recent Executive Order 14135, “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans” aims to eliminate politicized or unlawful debanking by requiring banks to base decisions on objective, risk-based criteria rather than politics or reputation. But for Money Services Businesses (MSBs), the order is unlikely to open the banking system’s doors any wider. The core challenges; high compliance costs, ongoing BSA/AML oversight, and risk appetite concerns, remain firmly in place. Banks must still weigh the burden of monitoring MSBs against their potential revenue, and for many, the equation continues to point toward caution. In this article, ComplyCheck explains why the EO won’t bring major change for MSBs and what steps operators and compliance officers can take to strengthen their chances of securing and maintaining banking access.

Compliance

Risk is in the Eye of the Beholder

In MSB compliance, risk is rarely black and white. What looks routine to one employee may be a red flag to another, which is exactly why regulators emphasize the importance of judgment and context. At ComplyCheck, we know that having another set of eyes can make all the difference. With experience working with over 100 MSBs, we bring the broader perspective regulators expect, helping you separate truly suspicious activity from transactions that just need clarification. Don’t leave your compliance program up to chance, let ComplyCheck give your business the oversight and expertise it needs to stay protected.

Compliance

Summer’s Over: Why Now Is the Time to Get Your MSB Compliance Program Back on Track

Summer is over, and if your compliance program slipped during the past few months, you’re not alone. But regulators, banks, and law enforcement won’t accept excuses. The final stretch of 2025 is the perfect time to reset, update your files, refresh AML training, and catch up on reporting so you can finish the year strong and start 2026 in complete compliance. Don’t wait until it’s too late: compliance isn’t getting easier, and your business can’t afford to fall behind.

Compliance

Two Start-Up MSBs, Zero Findings: How ComplyCheck Helped Florida Check Cashers Ace Their First Examination

At ComplyCheck, we help check cashing businesses launch strong, stay compliant, and pass state exams with confidence. Recently, two Florida startups — one in Broward County ($4M/month) and another in St. Lucie County ($5.5M/month) — underwent their first-ever Florida OFR examinations. ✅ No prior compliance experience ✅ Over 400 corporate customer files combined ✅ No findings in the areas we handled From AML/BSA program creation and CTR/SAR filings to corporate file maintenance and staff training, ComplyCheck provided the expertise they needed to avoid $7,500–$15,000 in fines and protect their licenses.

Compliance

Knowing When to File: SAR Decision-Making Tips for MSBs—and Why Expert Guidance Matters

Filing a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) isn’t always a clear-cut decision—especially for MSBs juggling complex transactions and unpredictable customer behavior. This post explores how MSBs can make better SAR decisions using context, internal documentation, and expert support. Most importantly, it explains why working with a qualified third-party compliance consultant—like ComplyCheck—can make all the difference between regulatory confidence and costly mistakes.

Contact Us

Ready to Simplify Your Compliance?

Have questions or want to learn more about how ComplyCheck can help your MSB stay compliant? Fill out the form below, and one of our experts will get in touch with you shortly. We’re here to provide personalized guidance for your compliance needs.