meta_id 3460386

On September 2, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) requiring money services businesses along the southwest border of the United States to report and retain records of currency transactions between $1,000 and $10,000. The GTO applies to money services businesses located in specified zip codes across Texas (Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, Maverick, and Webb counties) and New Mexico (Bernalillo, Dona Ana, and San Juan counties). According to FinCEN's press release , the reissued GTO aims to provide law enforcement with actionable data to combat the flow of drugs into the United States and associated money laundering activity, and to deny individuals and entities associated with drug trafficking organizations access to the U.S. financial system. Covered businesses must file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) with FinCEN within 30 days of each covered transaction and verify the identity of persons presenting such transactions, recording specific identifying information on the report. Covered businesses must also continue filing CTRs for transactions exceeding $10,000 and Suspicious Activity Reports where appropriate. Reports must be submitted electronically through the BSA E-Filing System . FinCEN encourages voluntary filing of Suspicious Activity Reports for transactions designed to evade the $1,000 reporting threshold. Covered businesses must retain all compliance records for five years from the order's expiration and make them available to FinCEN and other law enforcement agencies upon request. The order becomes effective September 3, 2026, and expires March 1, 2027. The compliance date for money services businesses not covered under FinCEN's previous GTO published March 10, 2026, is October 3, 2026. Covered businesses must transmit the order to officers, directors, employees, agents, and chief executives located in the covered geographic area. Noncompliance may result in civil or criminal penalties.