Writing Effective SAR Narratives

Law enforcement officials and financial institution examiners often say that Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) narratives are inadequate. The narrative portion of a SAR is critical to understanding the nature and circumstances of the suspicious activity. The care with which the narrative is completed may determine whether the described activity and its possible criminal nature are clearly understood by investigators. Filers must provide a clear, complete, and concise description of the activity, including what was unusual or irregular that caused suspicion.

This session will explain what information should be included in the narrative, the level of information needed and how the information should be presented. We’ll also discuss some tips from law enforcement officials to help craft narratives that provide the most effective snapshots of the activity and transactions being reported.

What You Will Learn

• Thresholds for Filing SARs
• The Importance of the SAR Narrative
• Answering the 5 W’s (and the How’s)
• What to Leave In, What to Leave Out
• Using Descriptive Terms
• Documentation
• Tips from Law Enforcement
• Confidentiality of SARs

Who Should Attend
This session will be beneficial for Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Officers, Compliance Officers, CEOs, and staff responsible for reporting suspicious activity.

Presenter Bio
Jamin Carlisle has 15 years of experience in banking and credit union compliance as well as the Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) and BSA Compliance Specialist (BSACS) certifications. His primary areas of expertise include BSA/AML, vendor management, disaster recovery, and staff training. In addition to in-house credit union compliance experience, he has served on planning committees for fraud awareness and elder abuse conferences and given presentations to local community colleges, high schools, and community groups. Jamin has developed and provided compliance and BSA training for groups as large as 350 people.

Prior to beginning his career in compliance, Jamin completed his BA and MA at The University of Tennessee Knoxville and worked as a graduate lecturer.

Registration Options

Live Access, 30 Days OnDemand Playback, Presenter Materials and Handouts $279

• Available Upgrades:
  • 12 Months OnDemand Playback + $110
  • 12 Months OnDemand Playback + CD + $140
  • Additional Live Access + $85 per person