Canada's Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada has imposed an administrative monetary penalty of C$601,139.80 on First Nations Bank of Canada, with the penalty dated 22 September 2025 and publicly announced by the regulator on 16 October 2025. The action targets the Saskatoon-based bank and covers a series of distinct violations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
The violations identified by FINTRAC include failure to submit Suspicious Transaction Reports as required under the Act, failure to develop and apply written compliance policies and procedures that are kept up to date and approved by a senior officer, failure to assess and document the bank's exposure to money laundering and terrorist financing risk, failure to implement the prescribed special measures applicable to high-risk clients and business relationships, and failure to conduct ongoing monitoring of established business relationships at the frequency and depth required by the regulations.
ABOUT THE BANK
First Nations Bank of Canada, which primarily serves Indigenous communities, is headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The violations were identified during a FINTRAC compliance examination.
FOLLOWS FINTRAC'S RECORD ENFORCEMENT YEAR
The action follows a record 2024–25 fiscal year in which FINTRAC issued 23 Notices of Violation, the most in a single year in its history, for a total of more than C$25 million.
FINTRAC chief executive Sarah Paquet said the Centre works with businesses to help them comply, but is "firm in ensuring that businesses continue to do their part". FINTRAC said the penalty has been paid in full and the case is closed.
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