Introduction to U.S. AML, CFT & Financial Crime Prevention

Introduction to U.S. AML, CFT & Financial Crime Prevention is Course 1 of 6 in the StudyAML United States Series, designed to establish a strong foundation in U.S. financial crime compliance. It introduces how U.S. laws, regulators, and institutions work together to protect the financial system from misuse. The course focuses on risk, responsibility, and regulatory expectations that apply across financial services roles. Understand the framework. Apply judgement. Protect the system.

20 - 25 minutes

Certificate Included

United States

Description

This self-paced course provides a foundational introduction to anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CFT), and financial crime prevention in the United States, and can be completed in approximately 20 to 25 minutes. The course is designed for professionals working in compliance, risk management, operations, governance, and customer-facing roles within banks, fintechs, money services businesses, and other regulated financial institutions. It focuses on the U.S. regulatory framework, including the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and related regulatory expectations administered by FinCEN and enforced by federal and state regulators. Learners will explore how U.S. requirements align with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), while also understanding where U.S. obligations go further or apply differently in practice. The course emphasises risk-based decision-making, the importance of professional judgement, and the need for timely escalation when activity does not align with expected behaviour. Through practical explanations and realistic scenarios, learners will gain clarity on how AML and CFT controls operate day to day, what regulators expect to see in practice, and how individual actions support effective financial crime prevention.

What will you learn?

Module 1 — Setting the Context for AML, CFT & Financial Crime Prevention
Understand how AML, CFT, and broader financial crime prevention function as a unified framework in the United States, and why professional judgement and accountability are central to effective compliance.
Module 2 — Why AML/CFT Matters in the U.S.
Explore the financial crime threats facing the U.S. financial system, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud, and understand the real-world impact of these risks on institutions, markets, and society.
Module 3 — Core Legal Framework
Learn the purpose and scope of key U.S. AML laws, including the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act, and how these laws establish minimum standards aligned with FATF principles.
Module 4 — Regulators & Their Roles
Understand the roles of FinCEN, federal functional regulators, and state authorities, and how regulatory expectations are communicated, supervised, and enforced in practice.
Module 5 — Obligations of Financial Services Businesses
Examine what regulated firms are expected to do to manage AML and CFT risk, including applying a risk-based approach, protecting customers, and escalating concerns appropriately.
Module 6 — Core Elements of an AML/CFT Program
Identify the required elements of an effective AML/CFT program, including governance, internal controls, independent testing, designated responsibility, and training.
Module 7 — Red Flags: The Basics
Recognise common behavioural, transactional, and geographic red flags, understand the importance of context, and learn how to respond through escalation rather than investigation.