Region

Jurisdiction

Regulator

2023-03-24

FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Vision Bank Ltd.

FINTRAC imposed a $33,000 administrative monetary penalty on Vision Bank Ltd., a Markham-based money services business, for non-compliance with Canada’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations. The sanction addresses the institution's failure to submit requested compliance program documentation during a regulatory examination as required by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. Issued to encourage corrective behavior rather than as punishment, the penalty underscores FINTRAC’s enforcement of compliance obligations across regulated financial sectors.

Canada

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre Canada

News release

March 24, 2023—Ottawa— Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

FINTRAC announced today that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Vision Bank Ltd., also operating as Vision Bank (Canada). This money services business in Markham, Ontario, was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $33,000 on March 8, 2023, for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.

Vision Bank Ltd. was found to have committed the following violation:

Failure to provide, in accordance with a notice, the requested compliance program documentation for purposes of a compliance examination.

Quote

“Canada’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime is in place to protect the safety of Canadians and the security of Canada’s economy. FINTRAC will continue to work with businesses to help them understand and comply with their obligations under the Act. We will also be firm in ensuring that businesses continue to do their part and we will take appropriate actions when they are needed.”

Quick facts

As Canada's financial intelligence unit and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulator, FINTRAC ensures that businesses subject to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act comply with their obligations under the Act and its Regulations. The Centre also analyzes information and discloses financial intelligence to police, law enforcement and national security agencies to assist their investigations of money laundering, terrorist activity financing and threats to the security of Canada.

Casinos, financial entities, money services businesses, real estate brokers and sales representatives and several other business sectors are required under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to keep certain records, identify clients, maintain a compliance regime and report certain financial transactions to FINTRAC.

Under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, administrative monetary penalties are meant to be non-punitive and are issued to encourage change in the non-compliant behaviour of businesses.

In 2021–22, FINTRAC issued 15 Notices of Violation of non-compliance to businesses for a total of $3,497,176.

FINTRAC has imposed more than 120 penalties across most business sectors since it received the legislative authority to do so in 2008.