Regulatory Alerts2023-03-06 | 29731Added · Updated
Updated Guidance for the Application of Simplified Due Diligence for Basic Banking Accounts
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has revised the Simplified Due Diligence Guidance for Basic Banking Accounts to reflect the increase in the personal income tax allowance from TT $84,000 to TT $90,000 per annum, effective January 1, 2023. The Circular mandates that commercial banks review these accounts annually to ensure transactional activity remains within established thresholds. If thresholds are exceeded, institutions must conduct standard due diligence and either migrate the customer to a regular savings account or terminate the relationship and file a suspicious transaction report.
March 6, 2023 Circular Letter To: Commercial Banks licensed under the Financial Institutions Act, 2008 REF: CB-OIFI-630/2023 UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR THE APPLICATION OF SIMPLIFIED DUE DILIGENCE FOR BASIC BANKING ACCOUNTS (“SDD GUIDANCE”) The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (“Central Bank / Bank”) refers to Circular Letter CB-OIFI-2167-2021 dated September 13, 2021, regarding the subject at caption. We note that the Finance Act 2022 increased the personal income tax allowance from TT $84,000 to TT $90,000 per annum, effective January 1, 2023 [See attached clause 8(a) of the Finance Act]. Consequently, we advise that the SDD Guidance has been revised to take the increased tax allowance into account. Further, the Central Bank has taken the opportunity to clarify the minimum standards for ongoing risk based monitoring of these basic banking accounts. At a minimum, these accounts should be reviewed annually to determine whether transactional activity is within the established thresholds. Where thresholds have been exceeded and on the basis of risk, financial institutions should conduct standard customer due diligence on the customer, and determine whether:
- the customer should be migrated to a regular savings account; or
- the relationship should be terminated and a suspicious transaction or activity report be filed with the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago. The updated SDD Guidance can be located at the following address: https://www.central-bank.org.tt/sites/default/files/page-file-uploads/ssd-requirements-forbasic-banking-account-march2023-20230803.pdf. The Central Bank expects that all commercial banks will adopt the revised parameters as far as possible in order to promote an inclusive financial system. Please be guided accordingly. Yours sincerely Patrick Solomon INSPECTOR OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Cen t r al Ban k o f Tr i n i d ad & To bag o Eric Williams Plaza, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago Postal Address: P.O. Box 1250 Telephone: (868) 621-CBTT (2288), 235-CBTT (2288); Fax: (868) 612-6396 E-Mail Address: info@central-bank.org.tt Website: www.central-bank.org.tt