BSA News & Analysis

U.S. Treasury Pushes for Citizenship Data Collection by Banks

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that U.S. banks may be required to collect citizenship data from customers, stating, "It's their job" if mandated by regulators. This follows an executive order currently in process aimed at enhancing immigration policies through data collection. Key aspects include potential requirements for banks to verify the legal status of account holders, similar to practices in other countries. Concerns have been raised about the economic impact on those potentially excluded from banking services, as well as the increased administrative costs for financial institutions.