BSA Compliance

Term from Pawn Brokerage industry explained for recruiters

BSA Compliance refers to following the rules set by the Bank Secrecy Act, which helps prevent money laundering in businesses that handle money or valuable items. For pawn shops, this means keeping detailed records of transactions, checking customer identification, and reporting any suspicious activities or large cash transactions. It's like having a safety checklist that helps businesses stay legal and avoid being used for illegal money activities. Similar terms you might see are "Anti-Money Laundering compliance" or "AML compliance."

Examples in Resumes

Managed BSA Compliance program for multi-location pawn shop chain

Conducted employee training on BSA and Bank Secrecy Act requirements

Developed and maintained BSA Compliance documentation and reporting procedures

Typical job title: "BSA Compliance Officers"

Also try searching for:

Compliance Officer BSA Officer AML Specialist Compliance Manager Risk Management Officer BSA/AML Compliance Officer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design a BSA compliance program for a multi-state pawn operation?

Expected Answer: Should explain creating comprehensive policies, training programs, audit procedures, and risk assessment methods. Should mention coordinating with different state regulations and managing a team of compliance staff.

Q: How do you handle complex suspicious activity investigations?

Expected Answer: Should describe the process of gathering evidence, documenting findings, determining if SAR filing is needed, and coordinating with law enforcement when necessary.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key components of BSA training for pawn shop employees?

Expected Answer: Should discuss customer identification procedures, record-keeping requirements, recognizing suspicious activities, and proper reporting of large cash transactions.

Q: How do you ensure daily BSA compliance in a busy pawn shop?

Expected Answer: Should explain regular transaction monitoring, customer ID verification processes, maintaining proper documentation, and daily reporting procedures.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) and when is it required?

Expected Answer: Should explain that CTRs are required for cash transactions over $10,000 and describe the basic information needed to complete the form.

Q: What forms of customer identification are acceptable under BSA rules?

Expected Answer: Should list valid government-issued photo IDs and explain basic ID verification procedures.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of BSA requirements
  • Customer identification procedures
  • Transaction reporting
  • Record keeping basics

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Training staff on compliance procedures
  • Suspicious activity monitoring
  • Regulatory reporting
  • Internal auditing

Senior (5+ years)

  • Compliance program management
  • Risk assessment and mitigation
  • Regulatory examination management
  • Policy development and implementation

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No knowledge of current BSA reporting requirements
  • Unfamiliarity with customer identification procedures
  • Lack of experience with compliance documentation
  • No understanding of suspicious activity reporting
  • Unable to explain basic money laundering concepts

Related Terms