FINRA Fines Former Interactive Brokers AML Compliance Officer

He was blamed for severe lapses and ignorance in performing his duty.

He has already agreed to the order of the regulator.

Additionally, he has been suspended by the self-regulatory organization for two months from holding principal capacity roles with any FINRA member firms. Further, he needs to be coached on AML responsibilities by taking a complete 10 hours of continuous education.

Incompetent？

Feist was the AMLCO at Interactive Brokers from July 2006 until August 2018. He first registered with FINRA in 1984 and remained registered through Interactive Brokers until April 30, 2020.

He was fully responsible for maintaining the company‘s anti-money laundering (AML) programs that include day-to-day operations. In addition, he needed to review the firm’s monthly surveillance reports and ensure that there were no lapses in analysts works.

But, the agency alleged that Feist failed to establish and implement a reasonably designed AML program at Interactive Brokers. “From January 2013 through August 2018, while he was Interactive Brokers' AMLCO, Feist failed to implement and monitor the firm's AML program,” the FINRA stated.

Moreover, the regulator alleged that Feist failed to properly familiarize himself with Interactive Brokers AML program and did not even supervise AML analysts. Further, he did not even take any steps to understand how the firm was implementing its AML program.