The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has imposed a fine of £7.6 million on Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited for failing to implement appropriate anti-money laundering standards designed to safeguard and regulate financial services industry in the country.

FCA revealed this development in a press release published on its website Tuesday and reiterated its commitment to continue to uphold relevant control systems “to ensure the market for financial services is safe, clean and trusted with robust systems and controls in place to stymie financial crime”.

Stating the reasons that informed the imposition of the penalty on the Nigerian-owned bank, the financial standards regulator said, “During the relevant period, GT Bank failed to undertake adequate customer risk assessments, often not assessing or documenting the money laundering risks posed by its customers.”

READ ALSO: Strep A Infection Has Killed Half a Dozen UK Children

The statement pointed out that the bank did not dispute the FCA’s findings but opted for a settlement. By agreeing to a settlement, the statement revealed, the bank “has qualified for a 30% discount. Without this discount, the financial penalty would have been £10,959,700”.

In 2013, the bank was fined £525,000 for similar reasons.

FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT

FCA fines Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited £7.6 million for further failures in its anti-money laundering systems and controls

During the relevant period, GT Bank failed to undertake adequate customer risk assessments, often not assessing or documenting the money laundering risks posed by its customers.

The bank also failed to monitor customer transactions and business relationships to the required standard.

These weaknesses were repeatedly highlighted to GT Bank by internal and external sources, including the FCA, but despite this, GT Bank failed to take appropriate action to fix them.

From early 2018, GT Bank stopped taking on new customers. Later that year, GT Bank agreed to wider voluntary restrictions on business, given the FCA’s ongoing concerns. Requirements remained in place until the middle of 2021 when they were lifted after the bank completed a remediation plan, checked by an independent third party.

GT Bank’s conduct is particularly egregious as this is not the first time that the bank has faced enforcement action in relation to its AML controls, with the FCA fining GT Bank £525,000 in August 2013 for serious and systemic failings.

The FCA requires firms to have in place effective AML controls to mitigate the risk of individuals and organisations using financial institutions to circumvent restrictions designed to prevent them benefitting from assets obtained by illegal means.

Mark Steward, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, said:

‘GT Bank should have acted quickly to put in place adequate AML controls following its fine in 2013 but it failed to do so. GT Bank did not develop a plan that was capable of addressing its AML weaknesses, exposing it and the broader market to financial crime risks for a prolonged period.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Woman Found Dead in UK Lake

‘Firms must protect themselves and those dealing with them from financial crime risks, especially money laundering. The FCA is determined to ensure the market for financial services is safe, clean and trusted with robust systems and controls in place to stymie financial crime. The FCA will continue to take action when these standards are not met.’

GT Bank has not disputed the FCA’s findings and agreed to settle, which means it has qualified for a 30% discount. Without this discount, the financial penalty would have been £10,959,700.