On May 23, 2025, FinCEN issued exceptive relief to covered financial institutions for requirements pursuant to its rule imposing special measures against the Commercial Bank of Syria. The exceptive relief permits covered financial institutions to open and maintain correspondent accounts for the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBoS) under certain conditions. 

On May 23, 2025, the OFAC issued immediate sanctions relief for Syria in line with the President’s announcement for the cessation of all sanctions on Syria. The Syria General License (GL) 25 authorizes transactions prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively lifting sanctions on Syria.

On May 1, 2025, FinCEN issued a finding and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act that identifies Cambodia-based Huione Group as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern and proposes to sever its access to the U.S. financial system.

In April 2025, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) issued a Consent Order against Hatch Bank requiring its Board of Directors to strengthen its supervision and direction of bank management, and its monitoring of the bank's AML/CFT program. Hatch Bank is a state-chartered, FDIC-insured, Banking as a Service (BaaS) sponsor bank.

On April 16, 2025, FinCEN updated its set of FAQs regarding its updated Geographic Targeting Order involving certain money services businesses in California and Texas on the southwest border. On March 24, 2025, FinCEN issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions in relation to the March 11 GTO requiring all money services businesses located in 30 ZIP Codes across California and Texas to file additional Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) with FinCEN for transactions above $200 but not more than $10,000.

On April 14, 2025, the FinCEN renewed its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) that require US title insurance companies to identify natural persons behind shell companies used in non-financed purchases of residential real estate. The terms of the GTOs are effective beginning April 15. 2025, and ending on October 9, 2025.

On April 2, 2025, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent led a public-private partnership event with 16 systemically important global financial institutions and federal law enforcement agencies, focused on denying Iran access to the global financial system. This event is part of FinCEN’s “Iran Maximum Pressure and Counter Terrorism” (or IMPACT) Exchange series. 

On April 9, 2025, FinCEN issued a Financial Trend Analysis focused on patterns and trends identified in BSA data linked to fentanyl-related illicit finance. The BSA data filed between January and December 2024 included 1,246 reports identifying suspected fentanyl-related activity including precursor chemical procurement, fentanyl trafficking, and fentanyl-linked money laundering.

On April 1, 2025, FinCEN issued an Advisory to assist financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activity related to the financing of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Advisory outlines how ISIS funds itself through international support and various money transfer methods and also provides red flags for financial institutions to identify suspicious activity.