The US Congress passed the USA Patriot Act (Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) and it became effective on 25 December, 2001. This act contains anti-money laundering provisions, which require American banks (AB) and their correspondent partners to act. The first prohibits covered financial institutions (American banks) from providing correspondent accounts to "shell banks" (except shell banks that are "regulated affiliates"). Please see the attached certification for clarification of what constitutes the physical presence necessary to avoid classification as a "shell bank". The required certification covers three points: 1) AB are now required, as a covered financial institutions, to have in their files from each foreign correspondent a certification that it is not, in itself, a shell bank, and that it either does not deal with shell banks, or will not route transactions involving shell banks through its account with AB. 2) AB are now required, as a covered financial institution, to have in their files from each foreign correspondent a certification listing an owner or owners who either directly or indirectly own or control 25 percent or more of the voting shares in any classification of stock in the bank as such interests are defined and clarified in the attached blank certification. 3) AB are now required, as a covered financial institution, to have in their files from each foreign correspondent a certification listing an agent appointed in the United States to accept service of legal process from the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to Section 5318(k) of Title 31, United States Code. AB do not act as an agent for purposes of the US Patriot Act, as this is not a function customarily provided by banks. There are many firms, however, in the United States whose major lines of business include acting as agent as required under the US Patriot Act. Once you have concluded an agreement with a registered agent, that same agent should be listed in the attached certification, and in similar certifications for any of your other U.S. correspondents.
· By the return e-mail (or simply using the form provided below) please provide mail address of you financial institution and list of contacts (please keep us informed of any changes).
· Please provide the name, address and contact list of your American Correspondent Bank(s).
· Please make you payment in accordance with the provided invoice.
· By return e-mail please inform us of the day of remittance of your payment, the chosen period of service, preferred way of delivery, and amount remitted.
· By receiving your payment we will notify you by e-mail that you can inform your American Correspondent Bank(s) that you appointed Agent Service, Inc. as your Agent for legal process under the provision of USA Patriot Act.
Upon receiving your payment we will send you by regular mail signed by us Agreement (you will get a few originals: one for your files, one for you to sign and return to us, and for each of your American Correspondent Banks).
Please note, if you want to receive documents by Courier service you should increase the amount of your payment on USD 70.00 and put in the field “Details of Payment” letters “FedEx” (please see Invoice).
If you need any of our signed documents for you bookkeeping please provide you fax number. The originals you will get by mail.
If you have any questions please send them to us by e-mail.