Money services businesses get online help to meet legal obligations, manage risk

Released on = February 1, 2007, 10:02 am

Press Release Author = MSB Compliance, Inc.

Industry = Financial

Press Release Summary = MSB Compliance, Inc. has launched a website to assist money
services businesses with Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering compliance. The
site features compliance guides, news, advice and forums to help members meet their
legal obligations. Membership is free.

Press Release Body = Atlanta, GA February 1, 2007 - MSB Compliance, Inc., today
announced a new web portal to help money services businesses (MSBs) with their top
concerns: compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering laws and
maintaining banking relationships. The website, www.MoneyServicesBusiness.com,
provides members with compliance guides, news, experts' advice, and peer forums to
avoid potential civil and criminal penalties, meet ongoing training requirements,
and retain a good banking relationship. Membership is free.

MSBs are financial institutions under the law, subject to regulatory oversight by
the Internal Revenue Service and various state banking departments. The financial
services they provide may include check cashing, money transfer and bill payment,
prepaid stored value cards, money orders, travelers' checks, currency exchange and
tax preparation. Most MSBs provide such services to supplement their primary
products and services; such businesses include convenience, grocery, liquor and
hardware stores, among others. Like banks and credit unions, MSBs must adhere to
the Bank Secrecy Act in order to protect their business, customers, communities and
the nation from criminal money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

"Keeping up with the latest compliance requirements is a headache for the largest
financial institutions, but it's a total nightmare for the small and medium-sized
money services businesses," said Jay Postma, a former bank executive and Bank
Secrecy Act Officer who founded MSB Compliance. "With the information and forums we
provide online, our members can take steps to avoid fines and jail, better manage
risk, maintain their vital banking relationships, and stay in business. We've
demystified how to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act."

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has fined a number of MSBs for
violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. Typically, fined money services businesses did
not register with FinCEN in a timely manner and failed to establish and implement an
adequate anti-money laundering program. "The very few MSBs that recklessly
disregard the law cast a shadow of illegitimacy over similar, law-abiding businesses
and such conduct will earn them severe penalties," said FinCEN Director Robert W.
Werner.


About MSB Compliance, Inc.

MSB Compliance, Inc., provides regulatory compliance products and services to money
services businesses and to their banking partners. Established in 2006 by Jay
Postma, President, the company offers written Bank Secrecy Act compliance
documentation, business compliance templates and forms, guidance and training
materials, and consulting services to MSBs and their banking partners. The company
also is the founder and lead sponsor of the MSB industry's Internet information
portal www.MoneyServicesBusiness.com.

Postma has 25 years experience is the banking, financial services and software
development industries. He has held positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta's New Orleans and Atlanta branches, MCI Telecommunications, Towne Services,
and El Banco Financial Corporation. He then served as Vice President, Division
Operations Manager, and Bank Secrecy Act Officer with Flag Bank in Atlanta. He is a
graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Certified Anti-Money
Laundering Specialist (CAMS).


Web Site = http://www.MoneyServicesBusiness.com

Contact Details = Jay Postma, President
MSB Compliance, Inc.
2526 Mount Vernon Rd, Suite B-352
Atlanta, GA 30338
(404) 510-4858
Jay.Postma@MSBComplianceInc.com
www.MoneyServicesBusiness.com

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