Reasons for Using Phase II Exemptions

33.
About how many NEW Phase II exemptions did your financial institution file in each of the following calendar years? (If you did not file any exemptions in a particular year enter "0")
 
 
a. 2004:   CTRs
 
b. 2005:   CTRs
 
c. 2006:   CTRs
   

34.
What was the TOTAL number of Phase II exemptions your financial institution reviewed in each of the following calendar years? (If you did not file any exemptions in a particular year enter "0")
 
 
a. 2004:   exceptions
 
b. 2005:   exceptions
 
c. 2006:   exceptions
   

35.
What key factors, contributed to any changes in the number of Phase II exemptions your institution filed in calendar years 2004-2006?

36.
On average, how many minutes per Phase II exemption does it take your financial institution to complete each of the following steps? (Enter 0 if not applicable)
 
 
a. Determine customer eligibility for Phase II exemption   minutes
 
b. Fill out the exemption form   minutes
 
c. Compliance officer or approving official reviews the exemption form   minutes
 
d. File the exemption form with FinCEN or Treasury   minutes
 
e. Complete the annual review of eligibility   minutes
 
f. Complete the biennial recertification of eligibility   minutes
 
g. Other steps your institution requires   minutes
   

 
h. If you mentioned other steps, please describe them.

37.
At your institution are the following parts of the Phase II exemption filing process done manually or are they automated?
    Fully manual Mostly manual Equally manual and automated Mostly automated Fully automated Not applicable
 
a. Determine Customer eligibility for Phase II exemption
 
b. Fill out the exemption form
 
c. Compliance officer or approving official reviews the exemption form
 
d. File the exemption form with FinCEN or Treasury
 
e. Complete the annual review of eligibility
 
f. Complete the biennial recertification of eligibility
   

38.
Do you have any comments you'd like to make about your institution's Phase II exemption filing process; for example, software used to help with the automation, additional steps that you take, etc.?

39.
In 2006, how important were each of the following factors in your financial institution's decision to exempt a customer eligible for the Phase II exemption?
    Very great importance Great importance Moderate importance Some importance Little or no importance Don't know
 
a. Nature of client base provided opportunities to exempt Phase II customers
 
b. Ease of determining a customer's Phase II exemption eligibility
 
c. Guidance in the BSA examination manual was clear for Phase II exemptions
 
d. Cost effectiveness of filing exemptions rather than CTRs for eligible customers
 
e. Opportunity to file fewer CTRs
 
f. Availability of automation to identify eligible Phase II customers
 
g. Minimal concern about compliance risk (that is, that examiners would find a basis for a violation)
 
h. Regulator recommended we apply Phase II exemption
 
i. Other factor - Please describe below.
   

 
j. If you mentioned another factor, please describe it.

40.
How simple or complex is it for your financial institution to file Phase II exemptions?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

41.
In 2006, did your institution exempt most or all customers that you believe were eligible for the Phase II exemption?
1. (Click to go to Question 45.)
2.
3.


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