This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0585c.SAT
DATE: 1/25/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 585 Access to Financial Institution Customer Accounts
SPONSOR(S): Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, Rommel
TIED BILLS: HB 587 IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Insurance & Banking Subcommittee 15 Y, 3 N, As CS Fletcher Lloyd
2) State Administration & Technology
Appropriations Subcommittee
10 Y, 0 N Perez Topp
3) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The federal Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) establishes reporting, recordkeeping, and related requirements for federal
and state-chartered financial institutions to help detect and prevent money laundering. Under the BSA,
financial institutions are required to report suspicious activity that might signify money laundering, tax evasion,
or other criminal activities. These types of reports are known as “suspicious activity reports” (SARs) and are
filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Florida’s codification of the BSA is the Florida Control of Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing in
Financial Institutions Act (Act). The Act requires financial institutions to submit to the Office of Financial
Regulation (OFR) certain reports and maintain certain records of customers, accounts, and transactions
involving currency or monetary instruments or suspicious activities in accordance with the policies of the BSA.
Subject to limited exceptions, the bill requires financial institutions to file a report with OFR whenever the
financial institution suspends, terminates, or takes similar action restricting access to a customer’s or member’s
account.
In connection with the termination-of-access report, the bill also:
Requires OFR to investigate the report to determine whether the financial institution’s action was made
in bad faith;
Requires OFR to report a bad faith determination to the Department of Financial Services, the Attorney
General, and the customer or member;
Creates a private right of action for the recovery of damages against the financial institution if a bad
faith determination is made, including award of attorney fees; and
Provides that a qualified public depository’s (QPD) bad faith suspension, termination, or similar action
restricting account access is grounds for suspension or disqualification from the QPD program, as well
as grounds for the Chief Financial Officer to impose an administrative penalty on the QPD in lieu of a
suspension or disqualification.
The bill has no impact on state revenues or local government revenues and expenditures, but has an
indeterminate negative impact on state expenditures and an indeterminate positive impact on the private
sector.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Financial Institutions Codes
Florida’s Financial Institutions Codes are codified under Title XXXVIII of the Florida Statutes.
1
The
Financial Institutions Codes apply to all state-authorized and state-chartered financial institutions and to
the enforcement of all laws relating to state-authorized and state-chartered financial institutions.
2
A
primary purpose of the Financial Institutions Codes is to provide for and promote the safe and sound
conduct of the financial services industry in Florida.
3
The specific chapters under the Financial Institutions Codes are:
Ch. 655, F.S. – Financial Institutions Generally
Ch. 657, F.S. – Credit Unions
Ch. 658, F.S. – Banks and Trust Companies
Ch. 660, F.S. – Trust Business
Ch. 662, F.S. – Family Trust Companies
Ch. 663, F.S. – International Banking
Ch. 665, F.S. – Associations
Ch. 667, F.S. – Savings Banks
Office of Financial Regulation
The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) is the regulatory authority for Florida’s financial services
industry.
4
OFR reports to the Financial Services Commission (Commission) which is made up of the
Governor and the members of the Florida Cabinet: the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Attorney General
(AG), and Agriculture Commissioner.
5
OFR enforces and administers the Financial Institutions Codes;
is responsible for supervising banks, credit unions, savings associations, and international bank
agencies; and licenses and regulates non-depository finance companies and the securities industry.
6
Bank Secrecy Act
The federal Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)
7
establishes reporting, recordkeeping, and related requirements
for federal and state-chartered
8
financial institutions to help detect and prevent money laundering.
9
Specifically, the BSA and other anti-money laundering regulations (BSA/AML) require financial
institutions to, among other things, keep records of cash purchases of negotiable instruments and file
reports of cash transactions exceeding $10,000 (daily aggregate amount).
10
1
S. 655.005(1)(k), F.S.
2
S. 655.001(1), F.S.
3
S. 655.001(2), F.S.
4
Florida Office of Financial Regulation, About Our Agency, https://flofr.gov/sitePages/AboutOFR.htm (last visited Dec. 4,
2023).
5
Id.
6
Florida Department of Financial Services, Financial Services Commission, https://www.myfloridacfo.com/about/about-
dfs/commission (last visited Dec. 4, 2023). See also, s. 655.012, F.S.
7
31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq.
8
See, 12 C.F.R. § 326.8 (sets forth requirements for state-chartered banks to establish and maintain procedures to
ensure and monitor their compliance with the BSA). See also, 12 C.F.R. § 353 (establishes requirements for state-
chartered banks to file a suspicious activity report under certain circumstances).
9
U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, FinCEN’s Legal Authorities,
https://www.fincen.gov/resources/fincens-legal-authorities (last visited Dec. 6, 2023).
10
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Under the BSA/AML laws, financial institutions must also:
establish effective BSA compliance programs;
establish effective customer due diligence systems and monitoring programs;
screen against Office of Foreign Assets Control lists and other government lists;
establish an effective suspicious activity monitoring and reporting process; and
develop risk-based anti-money laundering programs.
11
The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency regularly conducts examinations of national banks,
federal branches, federal savings associations, and agencies of foreign banks in the U.S. to determine
compliance with BSA/AML laws.
12
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTS
In addition to the other requirements under the BSA/AML laws, financial institutions are also required to
report suspicious activity that might signify money laundering, tax evasion, or other criminal activities.
13
These types of reports are known as “suspicious activity reports” (SAR) and are filed with the Financial
Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, using
FinCEN’s BSA E-filing system.
14
Under this requirement, a financial institution is required to file an SAR no later than 30 calendar days
after the date of initial detection of facts that may constitute a basis for filing an SAR.
15
For instances
where no suspect was identified on the date of the incident requiring the filing, a financial institution
may delay filing an SAR for an additional 30 calendar days to identify a suspect.
16
However, in no case
shall reporting be delayed more than 60 calendar days after the date of initial detection of a reportable
transaction.
17
Florida Control of Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Financial Institutions Act
The purpose of the Florida Control of Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Financial
Institutions Act
18
(Act), s. 655.50, F.S., is to require submission to OFR of certain reports and the
maintenance of certain records of customers, accounts, and transactions involving currency or
monetary instruments or suspicious activities if:
19
such reports and records deter using financial institutions to conceal, move, or provide proceeds
obtained from or intended for criminal or terrorist activities; or
such reports and records have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory
investigations or proceedings.
The Act requires financial institutions to designate and retain a BSA/AML compliance officer, which is
defined as an officer that is responsible for the development and implementation of the financial
institution’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the Act and BSA/AML
laws.
20
Any change in a financial institution’s BSA/AML compliance officer must be reported to OFR.
21
11
U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Bank Secrecy Act, https://www.occ.treas.gov/topics/supervision-and-
examination/bsa/index-bsa.html (last visited Dec. 5, 2023).
12
Id.
13
U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, supra note 9.
14
U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Suspicious Activity Report Program,
https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/forms/sar-program/index-sar-program.html (last visited Dec. 5,
2023).
15
Id.
16
Id.
17
Id.
18
S. 655.50, F.S.
19
S. 655.50(2), F.S.
20
S. 655.50(4), F.S.
21
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Additionally, the Act requires financial institutions to maintain:
22
full and complete records of all financial transactions, including all records required by the
BSA/AML laws, for a minimum of 5 years;
a copy of all reports filed with OFR as required under the Act for a minimum of 5 years after
submission of the report; and
a copy of all records of exemption for each qualified business customer
23
for a minimum of 5
calendar years after termination of exempt status of such customer.
The Act also requires financial institutions to keep a record of each financial transaction which involves
currency or other monetary instrument that has a value greater than $10,000, involves the proceeds of
specified unlawful activity, or is designed to evade the reporting requirements of the Act or other state
or federal laws, or which the financial institution reasonably believes is suspicious activity.
24
A financial institution, or officer, employee, or agent thereof, which files a report in good faith pursuant
to the Act is not liable to any person for loss or damage caused in whole or in part by the making, filing,
or governmental use of the report, or any information contained therein.
25
OFR ENFORCEMENT
In addition to any other powers conferred by the Financial Institutions Codes, OFR may bring an action
in court to enforce or administer the Act, as well as issue and serve upon any person an order of
removal if OFR determines such person is violating, has violated, or is about to violate any provisions of
the Act or any similar state or federal law.
26
OFR may also impose and collect an administrative fine against any person found to have violated any
provision of the Act or similar state or federal law in an amount up to $10,000 per day for each willful
violation or $500 per day for each negligent violation.
27
VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT
A person who willfully violates the Act commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
28
unless the violation
involves financial transactions of certain amounts, in which case the criminal penalties vary by first,
second, and third-degree felonies depending on the amount and timing of such transactions.
29
In addition to the criminal penalties, a person who violates the Act may be subject to a fine of up to
$250,000 or twice the value of the financial transaction, whichever is greater, and a subsequent
violation could result in a fine up to $500,000 or quintuple the value of the financial transaction,
whichever is greater.
30
22
S. 655.50(8), F.S.
23
See, 31 U.S.C. § 5313(e), providing that the U.S. Secretary of Treasury (Secretary) may exempt a depository institution
from BSA/AML reporting requirements for transactions between the institution and a “qualified business customer” (QBC)
of the institution on the basis of information submitted to the Secretary. QBC is defined as a business that:
maintains a transaction account at the depository institution;
frequently engages in transactions with the institution which are subject to BSA/AML reporting requirements; and
meets criteria which the Secretary determines is sufficient to ensure the purposes of the BSA/AML laws are
carried out without requiring a report for such transactions.
24
S. 655.50(5), F.S.
25
S. 655.50(5)(c), F.S.
26
Ss. 655.50(9)(a)-(c), F.S.
27
S. 655.50(9)(d), F.S.
28
S. 655.50(10)(a), F.S.
29
S. 655.50(10)(b), F.S. See also, s. 775.082, F.S. A person who willfully violates or knowingly causes another to violate
the Act and the violation involves financial transactions of certain amounts:
financial transactions totaling or exceeding $300 but less than $20,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony
of the third degree;
financial transactions totaling or exceeding $20,000 but less than $100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a
felony of the second degree; or
financial transactions totaling or exceeding $100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the first degree.
30
S. 655.50(10)(c), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0585c.SAT PAGE: 5
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A person or financial institution who violates the Act may also be liable for a civil penalty of not more
than the greater of the value of the financial transaction involved or $25,000.
31
Effects of Banks’ Termination of Account Access
In 2022, banks filed over 1.8 million SARs, which is a 50% increase in two years.
32
Multiple SARs often
result in a financial institution terminating, suspending, or otherwise restricting a customer’s account
access.
33
A New York Times study of over 500 cases of financial institutions “dropping” their
customers, including interviews with current and former bank industry staffers, revealed the negative
effects of a bank’s decision to remove a customer’s account access:
Individuals can’t pay their bills on time. Banks often take weeks to send them
their balances. While the institutions close their credit cards, their credit scores
suffer. Upon cancellation, small businesses often struggle to make payroll – and
must explain to vendors and partners that they don’t have a bank account for the
time being… [And] once customers have moved on, they don’t know whether
there is a black mark somewhere on their permanent records that will cause a
repeat episode at another bank. If the bank has filed an SAR, it isn’t legally
allowed to tell you, and the federal government prosecutes only a small fraction
of the people whom the banks document in their SARs.
34
As a result, customers do not know why they were ever under suspicion.
35
Interviews with individuals
who had lost access to their accounts revealed behaviors that may have caused their banks to “drop”
them.
36
Specifically, a few of the interviews revealed the following:
37
Unusual Cash Deposits: When a bar owner’s weekly cash deposits fell just below the federal
currency reporting thresholds, the bank closed the bar’s account and the personal checking and
credit card accounts of the owner and his spouse.
A Marijuana Connection: A married couple’s accounts at a bank were shut down after the
husband started receiving direct deposits from a cannabis company that had recently acquired
his employer.
Criminal History: A man who had served 5 years in prison for stealing a car from a dealership
and using a counterfeit bill (among other crimes) had his accounts shut down at three different
banks. His personal banker from the third bank hinted it was because of his criminal record.
31
Ss. 655.50(10)(d)-(e), F.S.
32
Ron Lieber and Tara Seigel Bernard, Why Banks Are Suddenly Closing Down Customer Accounts, Thomson Reuters
(Nov. 5, 2023), https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/business/banks-accounts-close-
suddenly.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8Uw.udoQ.0cmUgCSuo6eS&smid=nytcore-android-share (last visited Dec. 5,
2023).
33
Id.
34
Id.
35
Id.
36
Id.
37
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Qualified Public Depositories
Unless a specific exemption applies, state and local governments must deposit public funds in a bank
or savings association that has been designated as a qualified public depository (QPD) under the
Florida Security for Public Deposits Act (FSPD).
38
To be designated as a QPD by the CFO, a bank, savings bank, or savings association must:
Have a federal or state charter;
Have authority to accept deposits in Florida;
Have its principal place of business in Florida, or a branch office in Florida;
Have deposit insurance pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
39
Have procedures and practices for accurate identification, classification, reporting, and
collateralization of public deposits;
Annually attest to the CFO that the QPD has not engaged in an “unsafe and unsound practice”
by denying or cancelling services based on environmental, social, or governance factors, as
required by s. 280.025, F.S.; and
Meet all the requirements of ch. 280, F.S., relating to security for public deposits.
40
Under the FSPD, a QPD may be suspended or disqualified or both if the CFO determines that the QPD
has engaged in certain activities that are listed in s. 280.051, F.S.
Additionally, if the CFO finds that one or more grounds exist for the suspension or disqualification of a
QPD, the CFO may, in lieu of suspension or disqualification, impose an administrative penalty upon the
QPD.
41
Specifically, with respect to any knowing and willful violation by the QPD of a lawful order or
rule, the CFO may impose a penalty not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.
42
Currently, only failure to
timely file the attestation required under s. 280.025, F.S., is deemed a knowing and willful violation by a
QPD.
43
Effect of the Bill
Termination-of-Access Reports
The bill amends Florida’s Financial Institutions Codes to require a financial institution that terminates,
suspends, or takes similar action restricting a customer’s or member’s account to file a termination-of-
access report with OFR, unless such termination, suspension, or similar action was due to:
The customer or member initiating the access change themselves;
A lack of activity in the account; or
The property is presumed unclaimed pursuant to ch. 717, F.S.
44
The bill provides that the termination-of-access report shall be filed at such time and must contain such
information as the Commission requires by rule.
38
S. 280.01, F.S. The Florida Security for Public Deposits Act is codified under ch. 280, F.S.
39
12 U.S.C.A. Ch. 16.
40
S. 280.02(26), F.S.
41
S. 280.054(1), F.S.
42
S. 280.054(1)(b), F.S.
43
Id.
44
Ch. 717, F.S. is the Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (FDUP Act). Unclaimed property is a financial asset
that is unknown or lost, or has been left inactive, unclaimed, or abandoned by its owner. Under the FDUP Act, unclaimed
property is held by business or government entities (known as “holders”) for a set period of time, usually 5 years. If the
holder is unable to locate the owner, re-establish contact, and return the asset, it is reported and remitted to the Florida
Department of Financial Services’ Division of Unclaimed Property. See, Florida Department of Financial Services, Division
of Unclaimed Property, About, https://fltreasurehunt.gov/UP-Web/sitePages/About.jsp (last visited Dec. 5, 2023). STORAGE NAME: h0585c.SAT PAGE: 7
DATE: 1/25/2024
OFR INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINATION
Within 90 days after receipt of a termination-of-access report, OFR must investigate the financial
institution’s action and determine whether the action was taken in bad faith as substantiated by
competent and substantial evidence that was known or should have been known to the financial
institution at the time of the termination, suspension, or similar action.
Within 30 days after making a bad faith determination, OFR must report to the AG and the CFO such
bad faith termination, suspension, or similar action. The report to the AG must describe the findings of
the investigation, provide a summary of the evidence, and state whether the financial institution violated
the Financial Institutions Codes. Upon sending the report to the AG, OFR must also send a copy of the
report to the aggrieved customer or member by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The bill provides that a financial institution’s termination, suspension, or similar action restricting a
customer’s or member’s account access in bad faith (as determined by OFR), or a financial institution’s
failure to timely file a termination-of-access report altogether, constitutes a violation of Florida’s
Financial Institutions Codes and subjects the financial institution to the applicable sanctions and
penalties provided therein.
The bill requires OFR to provide any filed termination-of-access report, and any information contained
therein, to any federal, state, or local law enforcement or prosecutorial agency, and any federal or state
agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions, if the provision of such
report is otherwise required by law.
PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION
The bill provides a private cause of action to the aggrieved customer or member against the financial
institution that, pursuant to a finding by OFR, acted in bad faith in terminating, suspending, or taking
similar action restricting account access. The aggrieved customer or member may recover damages in
any court of competent jurisdiction, together with costs and reasonable attorney fees to be assessed by
the court.
To recover damages, however, the customer or member must establish that, beyond a reasonable
doubt, the financial institution acted in bad faith in terminating, suspending, or taking similar action
restricting access to the customer’s or member’s account.
The bill provides that a customer’s or member’s failure to initiate a cause of action within 12 months of
OFR making a bad faith determination shall bar recovery of any filed claims thereafter.
Qualified Public Depositories
The bill also amends the list of activities that are grounds for suspension or disqualification or both for a
QPD. Specifically, the bill provides that a QPD who is found by OFR to have acted in bad faith when
terminating, suspending, or taking similar action restricting a customer’s or member’s account, or who
has failed to timely file a termination-of-access report altogether, is grounds for suspension or
disqualification or both.
The bill provides that, with respect to administrative penalties imposed in lieu of suspension or
disqualification, a QPD’s bad faith termination, suspension, or similar action restricting a customer’s or
member’s account access (as determined by OFR), or a QPD’s failure to timely file a termination-of-
access report altogether, are each deemed a knowing and willful violation by the QPD. STORAGE NAME: h0585c.SAT PAGE: 8
DATE: 1/25/2024
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1. Amends s. 280.051, F.S., relating to grounds for suspension or disqualification of a
qualified public depository.
Section 2. Amends s. 280.054, F.S., relating to administrative penalty in lieu of suspension or
disqualification.
Section 3. Creates s. 655.49, F.S., relating to termination-of-access reports by financial institutions;
investigations by the Office of Financial Regulation.
Section 4. Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
The bill may have an indeterminate negative impact on OFR given the investigatory obligations
imposed upon OFR by the bill. See Fiscal Comments, below.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive economic impact on the private sector. The bill may lead to
fewer financial institutions suspending, terminating, or taking similar action restricting customers’ or
members’ account access in bad faith.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The bill could increase the workload of OFR, depending on how many termination-of-access reports
are filed with OFR. It is currently unknown whether additional resources would be needed to address
the additional workload. However, if additional resources are needed, the OFR could include the
required resources in their FY 2025-2026 Legislative Budget Request, due to the Legislature and the
Governor, October 15, 2024.
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III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. The bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
Not applicable.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill provides rule-making authority to the Commission. Specifically, the bill provides that the
termination-of-access report required under the proposed s. 655.40, F.S., shall be filed at such time
and must contain such information as the Commission requires by rule.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On December 13, 2023, the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee considered the bill, adopted one
amendment, and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment clarifies that a
financial institution’s bad faith termination, suspension, or other action restricting account access is a
violation of the financial institutions codes.
The analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as passed by the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee.