What should the 'What' section describe in a SAR narrative?

What should the 'What' section describe in a SAR narrative?

• A. The weather
• B. Describe in detail the activity and types of transactions involved
• C. The suspect's favorite color
• D. The bank's marketing policy

Answer: (B)

In a SAR narrative, the 'What' section should describe in detail the activity and types of transactions involved. This means laying out exactly what happened: the nature of the transactions (deposits, withdrawals, wires, transfers, purchases), the amounts, dates, accounts, and counterparties, as well as the channels used (online banking, in-person, ATM). It should show the sequence and pattern of activity, such as multiple small deposits to evade thresholds, rapid movement of funds between accounts, or unusual fund destinations. The goal is to present a clear, factual picture of the observed behavior so reviewers can understand why it stands out and how it relates to the customer profile or risk indicators, without inferring intent. Include supporting details like transaction IDs, dates, and references to accompanying documents or statements so the reader can verify. Irrelevant details, such as weather, a person’s favorite color, or the bank’s marketing policy, do not illuminate what happened and should be omitted.

In a SAR narrative, the 'What' section should describe in detail the activity and types of transactions involved. This means laying out exactly what happened: the nature of the transactions (deposits, withdrawals, wires, transfers, purchases), the amounts, dates, accounts, and counterparties, as well as the channels used (online banking, in-person, ATM). It should show the sequence and pattern of activity, such as multiple small deposits to evade thresholds, rapid movement of funds between accounts, or unusual fund destinations. The goal is to present a clear, factual picture of the observed behavior so reviewers can understand why it stands out and how it relates to the customer profile or risk indicators, without inferring intent. Include supporting details like transaction IDs, dates, and references to accompanying documents or statements so the reader can verify. Irrelevant details, such as weather, a person’s favorite color, or the bank’s marketing policy, do not illuminate what happened and should be omitted.