Specialties
Model Governance
Data Integrity
Model Output and Performance
Helping you meet regulators’ demands for independent AMS model reviews
We bring the people and know-how to conduct rigorous, risk-based AMS model validations to assess how well your model governance, data integrity, and parameter thresholds adhere to regulatory guidance.
Conducting an AMS model validation is both an art and a science.
Hundreds of banks and credit unions view us as trusted artists and scientists and count on us to bring insightful regulatory intelligence during AMS model validations.
With real-world experience as former bankers, we understand the effect of increased regulatory pressure on your team. Relying on plug-and-play settings, for example, is a path to frustration, and we know how it feels to be overwhelmed by alerts and struggle to discern what warnings to heed or ignore.
Members of our team have done everything from examining data integrity and its quality and conducting “above the line” and “below the line” testing to assessing a model’s design and how well it’s tailored to your risk profile.
We also bring a solid track record in understanding the quirks of various AMS solutions in the marketplace and performing system validations on them.
Our assessments consider both IT and BSA perspectives, and we focus on three areas:
- Model governance
- Data integrity
- Model output and performance
Throughout each engagement, we communicate with you to keep you informed on our progress and findings. At the conclusion, our exit meeting and written report document our scope, methodology, findings, and recommendations.
Once our AMS Validation is complete, you can be confident that your model is sound and meet examiners’ escalating expectations.
TCA gives you A Better Way to gauge whether your AMS model meets its objectives and protects you from money-laundering risks.
Key Deliverables Include:
- Testing administrative controls, data import, and data integrity.
- Reviewing system parameters to be sure they’re functioning correctly and identifying suspicious activity.
- Ensuring that your model has been calibrated to your bank's risk profile.
- Analyzing exams, reviews, and monitoring reports to trace the resolution of issues requiring corrective action.
- Providing exceptional service that respects your time.
AMS Insights
What is the Cloud Part 2: Risk Appetite Discussion
The goal of my last article was to eliminate the mystery of the “Cloud” by breaking it into easy‐to‐understand building blocks. A key takeaway is that the cloud is not a single operating option; it has many building blocks. The blocks or choices have a significant impact on your bank’s risk exposure. To make it […]
FinCEN Issues Highly Anticipated CDD Beneficial Ownership FAQs
On April 3, 2018, FinCEN issued a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, FIN‐2018‐G001, discussing the Beneficial Ownership Rules which go into effect on May 11, 2018. The FAQ addresses the following topics, among others: Beneficial Ownership Threshold Interaction of the beneficial ownership threshold with other AML program obligations Collection of beneficial ownership information for direct […]
HUD Issues Revised SCRA Notice
Thanks to an eagle‐eyed client for sharing with us a best‐kept secret that HUD released an updated SCRA Notice. As you know, the old form expired in December 2017. From what we can tell, the only changes to the notice are dates and the reference to 50 USC 3901‐4403, which was changed from the former […]
CFPB Issues Updated Prepaid Card Compliance Guide
On March 13, 2018, the CFPB issued an updated Small Entity Compliance Guide (SEG) to incorporate recent 2018 changes to the Regulation E Prepaid Card rules which take effect on April 1, 2019. The Bureau released guidance for completing the short‐form disclosure for prepaid accounts, which includes not only a line‐by‐line how‐to but specifics on […]
HMDA: Getting it Right Lives Again!
On February 21, 2018, the FFIEC released a revised HMDA: Getting It Right guide (GIR) for Regulation C changes which took effect on January 1, 2018. The GIR is in the same format as previous guides and it includes the regulation, appendices and commentary in 12 CFR §1002 plus the CFPB tools. The GIR is […]
FinCEN Finalizes New SAR
FinCEN announced updates to the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing format in a notice to e‐filers. The announcement says that the revisions adhere to the changes listed in FinCEN’s February 2, 2017 Federal Register notice and will be live in June 2018. In these new filings, batch submissions will have to be made in an […]
