Which of the following statement is true regarding personal bankers’ responsibilities in anti-money laundering?

Personal bankers play a crucial role in anti-money laundering (AML) efforts, and one of their primary responsibilities is to build trust with clients while ensuring compliance with the law. They interact with clients regularly, gaining insights into their financial behavior, which helps them detect unusual or suspicious activity that might indicate money laundering.

Building trust is essential because it fosters open communication, allowing clients to feel comfortable discussing their financial needs and concerns. However, this trust must be balanced with vigilance and adherence to AML regulations. This means that personal bankers must be proactive in monitoring client activities and reporting any suspicious transactions, regardless of the amounts involved. This dual responsibility is critical in preventing money laundering and ensuring financial institutions remain compliant with regulatory requirements.

In contrast, having limited interaction with clients would undermine the ability to identify suspicious behaviors, and only monitoring transactions above a certain threshold fails to address the full spectrum of potential money laundering activities. Additionally, the idea that transactions under $5,000 do not need to be reported is misleading; all suspicious transactions should be reported, regardless of their amount, as money laundering can occur in smaller transactions that evade detection.