FinCEN Advisory

WITHDRAWAL

This Advisory is being issued to inform banks and other financial institutions operating in the United States that Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Advisory Issue 15, regarding the Cook Islands, is hereby withdrawn.

Since the issuance of Advisory 15, the Cook Islands has enacted significant reforms to its counter-money laundering system, addressing the points noted in Advisory 15, and has taken concrete steps to bring these reforms into effect. Because of the enactment of new laws and the beginning of effective implementation, enhanced scrutiny with respect to transactions involving the Cook Islands, as called for in Advisory 15, is no longer necessary. The Cook Islands now has in place a counter-money laundering system that generally meets international standards, as reflected in the February 11, 2005, decision of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering to remove the Cook Islands from its list of countries that are noncooperative in the fight against money laundering.

The withdrawal of Advisory 15 does not relieve institutions of their preexisting and on-going obligation to report suspicious activity, as set forth in regulations issued by FinCEN and by the federal bank supervisory agencies, as well as their obligation to comply with all other applicable provisions of law.

William J. Fox
Director