On May 18, 2004, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) designated the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS) as a financial institution of “primary money laundering concern,” pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. For purposes of this document and unless the context dictates otherwise, reference to CBS includes Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, and any other branch, office, or subsidiary of CBS.

Treasury, acting through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), is issuing a proposed rule to impose special measures against CBS. The proposed rule would prohibit U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent or payable-through accounts in the U.S. for, or on behalf of, CBS, unless operation of those accounts is not prohibited by Executive Order 13338. This proposed prohibition extends to correspondent or payable-through accounts maintained for other foreign banks when such accounts are used by the foreign bank to provide financial services to CBS indirectly.

Treasury is soliciting written comments regarding this proposed rule. The proposed rule can be found on the Federal Register Web site at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-11102.htm.

Comments must be submitted on or before June 17, 2004, to Treasury via electronic mail at regcoments@fincent.treas.gov. Include RIN 1506-AA64 in the subject line of the message. Comments may also be submitted by paper mail to FinCEN, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, Virginia 22183, Attn: RIN 1506-AA64. Please distribute this information to the appropriate personnel in your institution.

For your reference, FDIC Financial Institution Letters may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2004/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Financial Institution Letters through e-mail, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

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Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters may be obtained through the FDIC’s Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200).