The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is notifying FDIC-supervised financial institutions that the seventh edition of The SAR Activity Review, which is published semiannually by the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), is now available.

The SAR Activity Review provides feedback to financial institutions about suspicious activity reported to FinCEN by the institutions. It contains Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) statistics; patterns and trends of suspicious activity that have been reported; tips and guidance for financial institutions on form preparation and filing; and information about investigative activity in which SAR information played an important role in a successful investigation and/or prosecution of criminal financial activity. The SAR Activity Review is available for review online or may be downloaded from FinCEN's Web site, www.fincen.gov/sarreviewissue7.pdf- PDF 1.2m (PDF Help).

This notification regarding the release of the latest edition of The SAR Activity Review is part of a continuing effort to assist FDIC-supervised banks in Bank Secrecy Act compliance, anti-money laundering efforts, and prevention and detection of other financial crimes.

Comments about The SAR Activity Review should be addressed to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Office of Strategic Analysis, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Suite 200, 2070 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, VA 22182. Comments may also be faxed to FinCEN at (703) 905-3698. E-mail comments may be addressed to David.Gilles@fincen.gov.

For your reference, FDIC Financial Institution Letters may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at http://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/about/subscriptions/index.html.

# # #

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).