Transaction Monitoring, Recordkeeping & Reporting

Transaction Monitoring, Recordkeeping & Reporting is Course 3 of 6 in the StudyAML United States Series, focusing on the operational AML controls that underpin effective compliance programs. This course explains how monitoring, documentation, and regulatory reporting work together to identify, assess, and escalate financial crime risk. Designed for U.S. regulatory expectations and aligned with international standards, it bridges policy with real-world execution. Practical controls. Defensible decisions. Regulatory confidence.

20 - 25 minutes

Certificate Included

United States

Description

This self-paced course explores the core operational components of an effective Anti-Money Laundering program within the United States regulatory framework. Designed to be completed in approximately 20 to 25 minutes, the course is suitable for professionals working in compliance, risk management, operations, and financial crime prevention. Learners will examine how transaction monitoring, recordkeeping, and regulatory reporting function in practice under U.S. AML requirements, while remaining aligned with international expectations set by the Financial Action Task Force. The course explains how suspicious activity is identified through behavior and transaction patterns, how records support decision-making and regulatory review, and how escalation leads to appropriate reporting through SARs, CTRs, and information-sharing mechanisms. Through practical explanations and realistic scenarios, learners will develop sound judgment around when to escalate concerns, how to document decisions, and what regulators expect to see during examinations. The course emphasizes consistency, accountability, and the role of effective controls in protecting both institutions and the financial system.

What will you learn?

Module 1 – Why Monitoring & Reporting Matter
This module explains why transaction monitoring and reporting are foundational AML obligations in the United States. Learners explore how these controls support a risk-based AML framework, align with regulatory expectations, and translate policy into operational action.
Module 2 – Recordkeeping Obligations
This module focuses on AML recordkeeping requirements, including funds transfer rules and retention timeframes. Learners gain practical insight into how documentation supports investigations, regulatory examinations, and defensible decision-making.
Module 3 – Suspicious Activity Monitoring
This module examines how suspicious activity is identified using behavioral indicators, transaction patterns, and contextual risk factors. Learners develop judgment in distinguishing routine activity from activity requiring escalation.
Module 4 – SARs, CTRs & Information Sharing
This module explains when and how regulatory reports must be filed, including SAR and CTR obligations. Learners also explore information-sharing mechanisms and confidentiality requirements that support law enforcement and national security efforts.
Module 5 – Escalation & Decision-Making Workflow
This module brings the AML lifecycle together by focusing on escalation, review, and decision-making processes. Learners understand how alerts move through review stages and how consistent documentation supports regulatory expectations and governance.