Amelia Rowntree
Amelia Rowntree writes for Kredo Review and other Independent Journal publications, covering bank regulation and consumer credit. Reporting under this byline is prepared by the Independent Journal editorial desk from primary sources, with AI assistance, and reviewed under our editorial policy.
6 articles
OCC's $750M Bank of America Penalty Raises AML Compliance Bar
The OCC fined Bank of America, N.A. $750 million for Bank Secrecy Act violations, the largest penalty in the agency's history. What it means for AML compliance.
Financial literacy strategy 2026 sets four priorities, OCC says
The 2026 update to the U.S. National Strategy for Financial Literacy sets four priorities: youth capability, saving and investing, digital literacy and scams.
How credit scores work: factors, reports and consumer rights
How credit scores work: what goes into a credit report, which factors move a score, who uses scores and what consumer credit regulation lets you dispute.
The Bank Secrecy Act and AML rules explained
The Bank Secrecy Act and AML rules explained: what the BSA requires, how SARs and CTRs work, who must comply, and how FinCEN guidance shapes AML compliance.
Bank enforcement action bars ex-lending chief over altered appraisals
The Fed barred a former Illinois chief lending officer from banking over altered appraisals and loans backed by unlicensed appraisers that hurt a later owner.
Treasury sanctions Rwandan gold refinery over conflict minerals
On June 25, 2026, OFAC sanctioned Gasabo Gold Refinery, two executives and three mining firms over gold allegedly sourced from M23-held areas of eastern DRC.