FATF Jurisdictions Update: KYC/AML for Money Changers
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/321 · issued 22 Dec 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs authorized persons to factor in FATF's June 2010 statement on jurisdictions with AML/CFT deficiencies when dealing with individuals or businesses from those regions, updating earlier 2009 guidance.
The rule, in the simplest words
If you deal with money changing (swapping one country's money for another), you must check a list from FATF (a global group that fights bad money) to see if a customer's country has weak rules against money laundering (hiding dirty money).
Use the newest FATF list from June 25, 2010, not the old one from 2009, to decide if you need to be extra careful with customers from certain places.
Tell your boss in charge of following the rules (Principal Officer) that you got this update, and share it with all your branches and partners who do money changing.
If you don't follow these rules, you can get in trouble under FEMA (a law for foreign money) and PMLA (a law against money laundering).
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a KYC & compliance officer in Indore, receives a customer from a country on the new FATF list. He remembers the RBI update and asks for extra documents to prove where the customer's money comes from before exchanging their foreign cash for rupees, keeping his bank safe from penalties.
What changed
RBI has updated its earlier November 2009 circular by incorporating the latest FATF statement dated June 25, 2010, which identifies jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Authorized persons must now consider this new FATF information in their risk assessments for money changing activities.
What it means for you
Banks and authorized persons must integrate the updated FATF list into their KYC/AML risk frameworks, particularly for money changing transactions. This reinforces the need for enhanced due diligence on customers from flagged jurisdictions to avoid regulatory penalties under FEMA and PMLA.
What you must do
Review the enclosed FATF statement dated June 25, 2010, and update your internal AML/CFT risk assessment procedures accordingly.
Ensure your Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to confirm compliance.
Communicate the updated FATF guidance to all relevant branches and constituents involved in money changing activities.
Incorporate the identified jurisdictions into your transaction monitoring and customer due diligence systems.
Who it affects
All authorized persons (banks, money changers, forex dealers), Principal Officers responsible for AML compliance, Constituents dealing with money changing activities
❓ Common questions
What is the key change from the earlier November 2009 circular?
The earlier circular advised considering FATF statements generally; this one specifically references the June 25, 2010 FATF statement and requires authorized persons to consider its information for risk assessment.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Non-compliance with these guidelines may attract penal provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as amended.
Do I need to take any action for this circular?
Yes, your Principal Officer must acknowledge receipt, and you should update your AML/CFT procedures to reflect the latest FATF statement and inform relevant constituents.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/321
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27
A.P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No.08
December 22, 2010
To
All Authorized Persons
Madam/ Sir
Know Your Customer (KYC) norms/ Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/ Obligation of Authorised Persons under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009- Money changing activities
Attention of the Authorised persons (APs) is invited to Paragraph 4.10 (b) of F-Part-I, of the Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.17 {A.P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No. 4} dated November 27, 2009 in terms of which APs were advised to take into account risks arising from the deficiencies in AML/CFT regime of certain jurisdictions, as identified in FATF Statement (www.fatf-gafi.org), issued from time to time, while dealing with individuals or businesses from these jurisdictions.
2. As part of its ongoing review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has identified certain jurisdictions which have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies.
3. FATF, vide its statement dated June 25, 2010 ( copy enclosed ) has called upon jurisdictions listed in the statement to complete the implementation of their action plan within the timeframe. The FATF, in the statement, has called upon its members to consider the information given in the statement.
4. The Authorised Persons are accordingly advised to consider the information contained in the enclosed statement.
5. Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.
6. Please advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.
7. The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and also under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 and Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005, as amended from time to time. Non-compliance with the guidelines would attract penal provisions of the Acts concerned or Rules made there under.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/321 · issued 22 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Communicate the updated FATF guidance to all relevant branches and constituents involved in money changing activities.
💻 IT / Systems
Incorporate the identified jurisdictions into your transaction monitoring and customer due diligence systems.
📜 Compliance
Review the enclosed FATF statement dated June 25, 2010, and update your internal AML/CFT risk assessment procedures accordingly.
Ensure your Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to confirm compliance.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All authorized persons (banks, money changers, forex dealers), Principal Officers responsible for AML compliance, Constituents dealing with money changing activities), your first concrete step on “FATF Jurisdictions Update: KYC/AML for Money Changers” is: “Review the enclosed FATF statement dated June 25, 2010, and update your internal AML/CFT risk assessment procedures accordingly.” (RBI issued this 22 Dec 2010).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/321 -- FATF Jurisdictions Update: KYC/AML for Money Changers
Issued: 22 Dec 2010
Action required: Review the enclosed FATF statement dated June 25, 2010, and update your internal AML/CFT risk assessment procedures accordingly.
Action required: Ensure your Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to confirm compliance.
Action required: Communicate the updated FATF guidance to all relevant branches and constituents involved in money changing activities.
Action required: Incorporate the identified jurisdictions into your transaction monitoring and customer due diligence systems.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6158&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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