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Scope & reliance — Threshold and filing rules reflect FinCEN regulations and guidance current as of mid-2025. This tool does not constitute legal advice and does not replace a qualified BSA Officer review. SAR filing determinations must be made by appropriately trained and designated compliance personnel. Verify thresholds and guidance citations against current primary sources before relying on outputs for regulatory submissions or enforcement defense.

Institution & Activity Profile

Institution Type

Activity Type

Transaction Amount Involved ($)

Number of Transactions in Pattern

Subject Known

Was Law Enforcement Notified?

Activity Date Range

Prior SARs Filed on Same Subject

Has the Subject Been Tipped Off?

SAR Narrative Content Checklist

Check each element that is present and adequately described in your SAR narrative. FinCEN guidance requires the “5 Ws + How” framework for a complete, usable narrative (31 CFR §1020.320(b)(2)).

Who — Subject name, address, date of birth, identification number(s), and relationship to institution20 pts What — Specific suspicious activity described clearly, accurately, and with sufficient detail20 pts When — Dates and times of suspicious transactions or activity included15 pts Where — Location, branch, account number, product, or delivery channel involved10 pts Why — Explanation of why the activity is suspicious relative to the known customer profile and expected behaviour20 pts How — Method of transaction: cash, wire transfer, ACH, check, cryptocurrency, money order, etc.10 pts Prior Activity — Reference to prior SARs or related filings on same subject, including BSA ID numbers and dates (if applicable)5 pts Law Enforcement Contact — Reference to any prior law enforcement notification, subpoena, or coordination (if applicable)noted

Regulatory Sources

Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311–5336 — foundational anti-money laundering framework authorising FinCEN SAR requirements and defining covered institutions.
31 CFR Part 1020 (Banks) and 31 CFR Parts 1021–1025 — FinCEN SAR filing requirements by institution type, including transaction thresholds, narrative content standards, and 30/60-day timeliness rules.
FinCEN SAR Activity Review — Trends, Tips & Issues — periodic guidance on SAR narrative quality, filing best practices, and law enforcement utility of SAR content.
FinCEN Advisory FIN-2007-A003 — guidance on structuring detection, transaction pattern analysis, and SAR narrative requirements for structured transactions under 31 U.S.C. §5324.
31 U.S.C. § 5318(g) — SAR confidentiality provision and anti-tipping-off requirements; criminal penalties apply for unauthorised disclosure of SAR existence or content to the subject of a SAR.

BSA/SAR Filing Adequacy Checker