FINTRAC fines four credit unions $816,750 over compliance failures
FINTRAC fined four credit unions a combined $816,750 for anti-money laundering compliance failures, including missed suspicious-transaction reports; the penalties were imposed from June through August and are now paid.
OTTAWA, September 24, 2026 — Canada’s financial intelligence agency imposed 10 administrative violations on four credit unions over deficiencies in compliance policies, risk assessments, high-risk controls and suspicious-transaction reporting.
The largest penalty, $676,500, was imposed on Caisse populaire acadienne ltée, which operates as UNI Financial Cooperation. FINTRAC found that the New Brunswick credit union failed to report four transactions for which it had reasonable grounds to suspect links to money laundering or terrorist financing offenses. It also cited failures involving written compliance policies and documented risk assessments.
Three Ontario credit unions received penalties ranging from $16,500 to $82,500. Caisse populaire Alliance limitée, operating as Caisse Alliance, was penalized for four violations involving compliance policies, special measures for high-risk activities, risk assessment and a required biennial review of its compliance program.
Pathwise Credit Union was cited for deficiencies in its written policies and risk assessment, while Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Limited was penalized for failing to develop and apply up-to-date written policies approved by a senior officer.
All four institutions were cited for failures involving written compliance policies. Three were also cited for shortcomings in assessing and documenting money laundering or terrorist financing risks.
The penalties were imposed between June 4 and Aug. 10 under Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and associated regulations. FINTRAC disclosed them Sept. 24 after each credit union paid in full, closing all four cases.
FINTRAC says administrative monetary penalties are intended to change noncompliant behavior and encourage future compliance rather than punish businesses.
Regulatory Actions
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Sources
Primary Documents
Annexes & Supporting Documents
- FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Caisse populaire Alliance limitée
- FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Limited
- FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Pathwise Credit Union
- FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Caisse populaire acadienne ltée
- Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
- Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act
- Reviews and Appeals
- Public notice of administrative monetary penalties