Treasury Offers Bounties for Financial Crime Tipsters!
Published Date: 4/1/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
FinCEN is rolling out a new whistleblower program to reward and protect people who report shady financial crimes like money laundering and terrorist financing. This program affects anyone with insider info on violations of key laws and aims to keep our financial system safe. Comments on the proposed rules are open until June 1, 2026, and whistleblowers could earn cash rewards for their tips!
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Award Percentages: 10% Minimum, Up to 30%
The statute allows awards of up to 30 percent of monetary sanctions collected in certain cases. For violations added by the AML Whistleblower Improvement Act (IEEPA, TWEA, Kingpin Act), eligible whistleblowers are guaranteed a minimum award of 10 percent of monetary sanctions.
New FinCEN Whistleblower Program
FinCEN is proposing a new whistleblower program that offers cash rewards and legal protections for individuals who report possible violations of the BSA, IEEPA, TWEA, or the Kingpin Act. The program applies to natural persons (U.S. or non‑U.S.) who provide original information to Treasury, DOJ, or their employer and seeks to boost tips that help enforce those laws.
Monetary Threshold for Awards: $1,000,000
A whistleblower can receive an award only if the related judicial or administrative action results in monetary sanctions exceeding $1,000,000. If the enforcement action does not exceed $1,000,000 in monetary sanctions, it will not qualify as a "covered action" for awards.
Must Provide "Original Information" Elements
To be eligible for an award, whistleblowers must provide "original information" that meets four elements: derived from the whistleblower's independent knowledge or independent analysis; not already known to Treasury or DOJ (unless the whistleblower is the original source); not exclusively from public sources; and provided to Treasury or DOJ within the statute's date limits.
Anti-Retaliation Protections with Statutory Exclusions
Section 5323 includes anti-retaliation protections that prohibit employers (with certain statutory exclusions) from retaliating against whistleblowers who provide information, testify, or cooperate. The protections do not apply with respect to any employer that is subject to 12 U.S.C. 1831j or 12 U.S.C. 1790b or 1790c.
Awards Funded by Revolving Fund for Timely Payments
The AML Whistleblower Improvement Act created a revolving fund that receives penalty deposits so eligible whistleblowers can receive awards without the need for further appropriations. This is intended to allow timely payments of awards.
What Counts: Monetary Sanctions vs. Non‑Monetary Items
For calculating awards, "monetary sanctions" include monies like penalties, fines, settlements, disgorgement, and interest. They do not include blocked property, forfeiture, restitution, or victim compensation payments (including amounts deposited to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund).
FinCEN Can Aggregate Multiple Actions
FinCEN may treat two or more judicial or administrative actions that arise from substantially the same facts and are successfully enforced at substantially the same time as a single "covered action," allowing aggregation of monetary sanctions to meet the $1,000,000 threshold.
Eligibility Dates for Original Tips
To qualify as "original information" for awards, tips about BSA violations must be first provided after January 1, 2021. Tips about IEEPA, TWEA, the Kingpin Act, or conspiracies to violate those statutes must be first provided after December 29, 2022.
120-Day Waiting Period for Some Submissions
Certain whistleblowers who obtained information because they meet criteria specified in the proposed rule must wait at least 120 calendar days from the date they obtained the information before providing it to FinCEN to be eligible for an award. The waiting period is intended to give entities time to use internal compliance programs.
Submission Process: Form TCR and Anonymity Allowed
Whistleblowers must initially submit original information to FinCEN using FinCEN's "Tip, Complaint, or Referral" form (Form TCR) through a secure online portal, although FinCEN may authorize other methods. Individuals may submit anonymously and may use an attorney; each whistleblower must submit their own Form TCR and must certify the submission is true and complete.
Only Natural Persons Can Be Whistleblowers
Under the proposed rule, a "whistleblower" is any individual or two or more individuals acting jointly; legal entities like corporations, LLCs, and trusts cannot be whistleblowers and cannot receive awards under the program.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-05199 — Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement Revision and Deadline Extension
FinCEN is making it easier for U.S. companies by only requiring foreign companies to report who really owns them. Domestic companies don’t have to report or update their ownership info anymore. Plus, foreign companies get more time—30 days—to file or fix their reports, and they don’t have to share info about U.S. owners, saving time and hassle.
2026-04641 — Geographic Targeting Order Imposing Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements on Certain Money Services Businesses Along the Southwest Border
Starting March 7, 2026, certain money services businesses along the U.S. southwest border must keep records and report cash transactions between $1,000 and $10,000. They also have to check the ID of anyone making these transactions. If you’re a business not covered before, you have until April 6, 2026, to get compliant—so get ready to track and report!
2026-04033 — Proposal of Special Measure Regarding MBaer Merchant Bank AG as a Financial Institution Operating Outside of the United States of Primary Money Laundering Concern
FinCEN is proposing new rules to stop MBaer Merchant Bank AG, a Swiss bank, from using U.S. financial systems because it’s linked to serious money laundering risks. U.S. banks would have to block MBaer from opening accounts and be extra careful with any transactions involving them. Comments on this plan are open until April 1, 2026, so the public can weigh in before it becomes official.
2025-11990 — Imposition of Special Measure Prohibiting Certain Transmittals of Funds Involving Intercam Banco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple
FinCEN is blocking some money transfers involving Intercam Banco, a bank outside the U.S. linked to illegal opioid trafficking. This means people and businesses can’t send certain funds through Intercam anymore. The change starts right away to stop dirty money and protect the financial system.
2025-11993 — Imposition of Special Measure Prohibiting Certain Transmittals of Funds Involving CIBanco S.A., Institución De Banca Multiple
FinCEN is blocking some money transfers involving CIBanco, a bank outside the U.S. linked to illegal opioid trafficking. This means people and businesses can’t send certain funds through CIBanco starting now, aiming to stop dirty money from moving around. If you deal with this bank, watch out for these new rules—they could affect your transactions and timing.
2026-03707 — Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group; Solicitation of Application for Membership
FinCEN is looking for new members to join the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group, which helps shape rules to stop financial crimes. If you work at a bank, trade group, regulator, or law enforcement agency in the U.S., you can apply by March 27, 2026, for a three-year term. This is a great chance for especially community banks and smaller institutions to have their voices heard—no cost to join, just your ideas!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-06254 — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 110 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA is updating a safety rule to help self-driving vehicles that don’t have a traditional driver’s side. Instead of the usual spot, these vehicles can put their tire and load info placard on the left side, making it easier to follow the rules without risking safety. This change affects vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less and invites public comments by May 1, 2026—no big costs, just smarter rules for smart cars!
Next: 2026-06295 — Filing of Color Additive Petition From the International Association of Color Manufacturers; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Methylene Chloride, Trichloroethylene, and Ethylene Dichloride
The International Association of Color Manufacturers asked the FDA to update rules by removing three solvents—methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, and ethylene dichloride—because no one uses them anymore in making color additives. This change affects companies that make or regulate color additives and could simplify safety rules. Comments on this proposal are open until June 1, 2026, so speak up if you have thoughts!
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in