SAR study lessons
SAR Writing Workshop — 8 free, citation-backed lessons covering every exam domain. Read on any device, no login.
- 01Welcome: Why SAR Narratives Matter (and the Legal Duty)Start here. See why the SAR narrative — not the structured fields — is what law enforcement actually reads, understand the legal duty to file under 31 CFR 1020.320 and 31 USC 5318(g), and learn how to use this independent, educational workshop.6 min read
- 02The Filing Trigger and the Decision to FileLearn exactly when you must file: the $5,000 bank threshold, the 'know, suspect, or have reason to suspect' standard, and why it's suspicion, not proof. Plus how to document a defensible no-file decision, where under-filing hides.5 min read
- 03The Five Essential Elements: Who, What, When, Where, Why — Plus HowMaster the heart of SAR writing. Build a narrative around FinCEN's five essential elements (FIN-2003-G002) and the practical sixth — how — so the suspicion is stated and the money is traceable.5 min read
- 04Structuring the Narrative: Introduction, Body, ConclusionTurn six elements into one readable story. Open to orient the reader, tell the body chronologically with the money flow woven in, and close by stating the suspicion plainly — all in self-contained plain English.5 min read
- 05Common Narrative Failures (and the Fix for Each)Learn the mistakes reviewers and FinCEN flag most — conclusory statements, boilerplate, a missing 'how,' and unexplained jargon — and the concrete fix for each, including the two-sided too-thin/too-padded length error.5 min read
- 06Timing, Deadlines, and Confidentiality (No Tipping Off)Get the bright-line rules right: the 30-day deadline (60 if no suspect), continuing-activity reviews, the absolute no-tipping-off prohibition under 31 USC 5318(g)(2), and how the FinCEN SAR is filed via BSA E-Filing.5 min read
- 07SAR Quality Review: Reading Your Own Draft Like a ReviewerRun the same quality pass an examiner would: an elements check, the stranger and 'so what?' tests, accuracy and timeliness, and a confidentiality and tone review — so weaknesses are gone before anyone else sees them.5 min read
- 08Practical Recap: Your SAR-Writing ChecklistPull it all together into one repeatable routine — decide, gather, write, review, file — covering the trigger, the six elements, the structure, the four review passes, and the deadlines and confidentiality guardrails.5 min read
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