2026-03-25 | CDMF-XII-5-26The Monetary and Financial Council of Nicaragua issued Resolution CDMF-XII-5-26 to update the regulatory framework for insurance intermediaries by aligning fine units with national minimum wages and establishing specific sanctions for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing violations. The resolution amends Articles 1 and 41 to define the fine unit based on the average national minimum salary and sets monetary penalties ranging from 0.01 to 100 units depending on the severity of infractions. Additionally, it introduces Article 38 Bis, which details light, moderate, and grave offenses related to PLD/FT/FP compliance, including failures in reporting, inadequate training, and breach of confidentiality, with grave offenses potentially leading to the revocation of authorization.
Page 1 of 5 CERTIFICATION OF RESOLUTION RUTH ELIZABETH ROJAS MERCADO, Secretary of the Monetary and Financial Board, CERTIFIES: that in Ordinary Session number twelve of the Monetary and Financial Board, held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Resolution No. CDMF-XII-5-26 was unanimously approved, which literally states: Monetary and Financial Board Ordinary Session No. 12 Wednesday, March 25, 2026 RESOLUTION CDMF-XII-5-26 THE MONETARY AND FINANCIAL BOARD CONSIDERING I That in accordance with Article 105 of the "Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua," banks and other financial institutions, both private and state-owned, are supervised, regulated, and audited by the Superintendence of Banks and Other Financial Institutions, in accordance with the relevant laws. II That Article 148 of Law No. 1232, "Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System," published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 241, of December 30, 2024, established a new range of fines to be imposed on persons other than those mentioned in Article 147 of the same Law. III That Article 146 of Law No. 1232, "Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System," establishes that "For the application of the fines contemplated in this Law and related laws concerning the functions of the Central Bank and the Superintendence, the net worth and the fine unit will be used as reference. The value of each fine unit will correspond to the average national minimum wage on the date of imposition of the fine, which is the simple average calculated based on the Minimum Wage Table by Activity Sector determined by the relevant law." IV That in accordance with the above consideration and based on the power granted by Article 17, letter A, numbers 1), 3) and 10), and letter C, number 1), of Law No. 1232, "Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System." In exercise of its powers, HAS ISSUED
Page 2 of 5 The following: STANDARD REFORMING ARTICLES 1, 38, 41 AND ADDING ARTICLE 38 BIS TO THE STANDARD FOR THE AUTHORIZATION AND OPERATION OF INSURANCE INTERMEDIARIES FIRST: Amend letter l) of Article 1 and Article 41 of the "Standard for the Authorization and Operation of Insurance Intermediaries," contained in Resolution No. CD-SIBOIF-719-2-MAR14-2012, of March 14, 2012, published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 79, of May 1, 2012, which shall read as follows: "Article 1. Concepts.- For the purposes of this Standard, the concepts indicated in this article, whether in uppercase or lowercase, singular or plural, shall have the following meanings: (...) l) Fine Unit: As established in Article 146 of Law No. 1232, Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System, published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 241, of December 30, 2024, the value of each fine unit will correspond to the average national minimum wage on the date of imposition of the fine, which is the simple average calculated based on the Minimum Wage Table by Activity Sector determined by the relevant law." "Article 41. Sanctions applicable to insurance intermediaries.- In accordance with what is established in Article 148 of Law No. 1232, "Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System," published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 241, of December 30, 2024, for infractions committed by insurance intermediaries, the Superintendent may impose the following sanctions: a) Reprimand; b) Monetary sanctions:
Page 3 of 5 SECOND: Add Article 38 bis to the "Standard for the Authorization and Operation of Insurance Intermediaries," contained in Resolution No. CD-SIBOIF-719-2-MAR14-2012, of March 14, 2012, published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 79, of May 1, 2012, which shall read as follows: "Article 38 bis. Infractions of insurance intermediaries in matters of AML/CFT/CPF.- As indicated in Article 148 of Law No. 1232, Law on the Administration of the Monetary and Financial System, with respect to the prevention of money laundering, asset or property laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, insurance intermediaries shall be sanctioned by the Superintendent for each of the infractions they commit against the legal and regulatory obligations in this matter, in accordance with the following: Minor Infractions:
Page 4 of 5 Absence of Information of Interest (RAII), which must be submitted in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable in this matter when there are no transactions that meet the threshold. 3) Not having an AML/CFT Program with its respective Internal Policies and Procedures Manual of AML/CFT or not being updated in accordance with the laws and regulations in this matter. 4) When the intermediary does not comply with the obligation to report to the competent authority according to the law in this matter, the unusual operations or transactions that are suspected of constituting the crime of money laundering and/or terrorist financing and/or financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The maximum of this sanction will be applied when an ostensibly suspicious operation is not reported. 5) When the director, manager, official, or any other employee of the intermediary discloses or informs the client that their transaction is being analyzed or considered for a possible Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) or informs them that such report has been filed. In the case of grave infractions or their recurrence, the Superintendent may additionally order the definitive removal from office of the offender or the cancellation of the authorization to operate." THIRD: Repeal number 5, of letter a) of Article 38 of the "Standard for the Authorization and Operation of Insurance Intermediaries," contained in Resolution No. CD-SIBOIF-719-2-MAR14-2012, of March 14, 2012, published in La Gaceta, Official Journal No. 79, of May 1, 2012. FOURTH: This standard will enter into force from its notification by the Superintendence of Banks and Other Financial Institutions. Publish it in the media determined by the Superintendence. (f) legible, Ovidio Reyes R. President of the Board; (f) Illegible, Luis Ángel Montenegro Espinoza, Vice President of the Board; (f) Illegible, Nicolás Espinoza Rivera, Deputy Minister of Finance, Substitute Member; (f) Illegible, Roberto Rivas, Executive Member; (f) Illegible, Hugo Ortega, Executive Member. (End of the Resolution text). It conforms with its original which was duly collated, and based on the powers conferred in Article 40 of the Internal Regulations of the Monetary and Financial Board, issues this Certification with reason of rubric, signature and seal, in the city of Managua on March 26, 2026. Ruth Elizabeth Rojas Mercado Secretary of the Board