Regulatory Alerts2026-02-12
Guide to the AML/CFT/CPF Ladder of Supervisory Intervention
The Central Bank of The Bahamas has issued a guide establishing a six-stage supervisory intervention ladder to enforce anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) compliance across all licensed financial institutions. Each stage escalates regulatory responses based on the severity and persistence of compliance failures, triggering specific actions such as remediation plans, administrative monetary penalties up to $200,000, targeted onsite examinations, and mandatory board oversight. Persistent non-remediation through Stage 4 culminates in Stage 5, where the regulator may suspend or revoke licenses, impose fines or imprisonment on responsible persons, and activate formal resolution plans to protect operational viability.