Regulatory Alerts2022-01-01
Circular No. 255/2022 - Operational Events and Risks for Money Changers
The Palestine Monetary Authority issued Circular No. 255/2022 to mandate money changers in Palestine to mitigate operational risks by maintaining valid insurance coverage commensurate with cash holdings and installing fire alarm and suppression systems linked to police and civil defense. The directive strictly requires synchronization of surveillance camera timestamps with local accounting system time, daily reconciliation and documentation of cash balances against accounting records, and immediate reporting of any operational incidents via designated email channels. Compliance with these operational safeguards and reporting protocols is enforced to ensure the stability and security of the Palestinian money exchange sector.
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[Logo of the Palestine Monetary Authority]
Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY
Circular No. (255/2022) To All Money Changers Operating in Palestine Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Subject: Operational Events and Risks
In order to ensure the safety and stability of the banking sector in Palestine, and to mitigate the operational risks that money exchange offices and companies may face, along with any resulting risks, we emphasize the necessity of the following:
- Ensuring the provision of a valid insurance policy commensurate with the volume of cash funds held by the money changer.
- Ensuring the provision of fire alarm and suppression systems, and connecting them with the police and civil defense authorities.
- Strict compliance with the following: a. The requirements of Instructions No. (1) of 2021 regarding cameras, and ensuring that camera recording times are synchronized with the time set on the accounting system according to local time. b. Inventorying and reconciling cash balances with the accounting system balances at the end of each business day, and documenting the results, with any discrepancies explained and resolved in accordance with accounting standards. c. Immediate reporting to the Palestine Monetary Authority of the details and circumstances of any operational events faced by the money changer, as outlined in the attached reporting form, via the following email addresses: - Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Department: AML-CFT@pma.ps - Money Changers Supervision Department: mchangers@pma.ps
Supervision Group Palestine Monetary Authority
Attachment: Operational Events and Risks Reporting Form.
www.pma.ps Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate - Palestine P.O. Box 452 | Tel: +970 2 2415251 | Fax: +970 2 2415310 | info@pma.ps Gaza - Palestine P.O. Box 4026
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Operational Events and Risks Reporting Form
To: The Esteemed Palestine Monetary Authority. Date: / /
| - Money Changer Name: | |
| - Nature of the Event: | |
| - Location and Date of the Event: | |
| - Date of Event Discovery: | |
| - Event Status (Resolved/Ongoing). | |
| - Event Description: | |
| - Consequences and Losses Resulting from the Event: | |
| - Administrative and Legal Measures, Controls, and Procedures Taken or to be Taken to Address the Event: |
Company Stamp