1 September 2011
Customers of financial institutions and casinos can expect more
stringent identity checks in the lead up to 30 June 2013 when
anti-money laundering legislation comes fully into force.
Businesses now have access to guidance on the standard those
identity checks should meet.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism
Act 2009 places obligations on New Zealand's financial institutions
and casinos to detect and deter money laundering and terrorism
financing.
An Identity Verification Code of Practice (
website link) has been Gazetted (1 Sept) that applies to all
reporting entities being supervised by the Reserve Bank of New
Zealand, the Financial Markets Authority and the Department of
Internal Affairs.
The code sets out an acceptable practice for verifying the name
and date of birth of customers (people, not corporations) whom the
reporting entities have assessed as low to medium risk. The code
details acceptable forms of identification, and outlines when
secondary or supporting identification is required - for example, a
passport on its own, or a New Zealand Driver Licence with an Eftpos
card.
Although the code is not mandatory, it constitutes a 'safe
harbour' - a reporting entity that fully complies with the code is
deemed to be compliant with the relevant parts of the legislation.
If a reporting entity decides to opt out of the code, it must adopt
practices that are equally effective, otherwise it risks
non-compliance.
Media contact:
Department of Internal Affairs: Trevor Henry 04 495 7211 or 0275
843 679
Financial Markets Authority: Nick Stride on 09 985 4868 or 021 739
052
Reserve Bank of New Zealand: Mike Hannah 04 471 3671; Sonia Speedy
04 471 3846 or 021 663 082
Background information:
The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism
Act 2009 (AML/CFT) will come fully into force on 30 June 2013 under
a commencement order Gazetted on 30 June 2011. Reporting entities
now have less than two years to establish and implement their
AML/CFT programme and comply fully with their obligations under the
Act.
Money laundering is how criminals disguise the illegal origins of
their money. Financers of terrorism use similar techniques to money
launderers to avoid detection by authorities and to protect the
identity of those providing and receiving the funds.
The AML/CFT Act requires reporting entities to obtain identity
information about their customers and verify that
information.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand supervises banks, life insurers,
and non-bank deposit takers.
The Financial Markets Authority supervises issuers of securities,
trustee companies, futures dealers, collective investment schemes,
brokers, and financial advisers.
The Department of Internal Affairs supervises casinos, non-deposit
taking lenders, money changers, and any other financial
institutions not supervised by The Reserve Bank or The Financial
Markets Authority.
Examples of financial activities include (but are not limited
to):
- accepting deposits or other repayable funds from the public
- making a loan to or for a customer
- issuing a debit or credit card
- managing the means of payment
- supplying goods through a finance lease (other than for consumer products)
- providing remittance services which transfer money or property
- issuing or accepting liability under life insurance policies
- issuing or selling securities and derivatives
- safekeeping or administering cash or liquid securities on behalf of other persons
- exchanging foreign currency.