Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), is tasked with the mission of safeguarding the U.S. financial system from money laundering, terrorist financing, and other abuses. In fulfilling this mission, FinCEN performs analysis in support of law enforcement; issues regulations and enforces compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA); facilitates information-sharing of BSA data; and coordinates with foreign counterparts.

FinCEN relies extensively on its own information systems, as well as on systems located at the Treasury components of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Communications System (TCS) to manage, store, and disseminate the data that financial institutions are required to report under the BSA.

These data contain sensitive information, including transaction amounts, account numbers, and social security numbers, and are used by law enforcement agencies investigating financial crimes, including terrorist financing and money laundering. The computer systems that support FinCEN’s mission must be properly protected through strong information security controls because a security breach could place sensitive financial and personally identifiable information at risk and allow criminals to subvert law enforcement’s ability to detect illegal activity.