Patriot Act Background Check: OFAC, SDN, OIG, SAM and FINRA Search
A Patriot Act background check screens a name against sanctions, exclusion, and watch lists.
It simultaneously searches OFAC, SDN, OIG, SAM, FINRA, Interpol, FBI, and DEA data sources.
Moreover, results arrive instantly in most cases.
What Is a Patriot Act Background Check?
Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions to verify customer identity.
It also directs them to consult government lists of known or suspected terrorists.
Separately, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) enforces U.S. sanctions.
Those sanctions bind all U.S. persons, including every business in the United States.
Therefore, employers and businesses in every industry screen against the OFAC SDN list.
Our search combines these sources into one report.
As a result, one order covers sanctions, exclusions, debarments, and fugitive lists.
The search also forms part of compliance for banks and money transmitter services (MSB).
Search at a glance
- Key sourcesOFAC, SDN, OIG, SAM, FINRA, Interpol, FBI, DEA
- Also coversFederal regulators, international lists, state healthcare lists
- Match basisName match; review identifiers before you act
- Our price$8 per name
- TurnaroundInstant in most cases
Lists Covered by Our OFAC and Sanctions Screening
The search queries a prohibited parties and terrorist database in one pass.
Specifically, it draws on six groups of data sources.
U.S. Treasury and Trade Sanctions
First, it covers Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.
It also covers the Denied Persons List and State Department sanctions.
Federal Exclusions and Debarments
Additionally, it searches SAM excluded parties and Health and Human Services lists.
It also searches FDA debarment and TRICARE sanctions lists.
Financial Regulator Actions
The search then checks FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC, and NCUA enforcement actions.
It also checks the FinCEN money services businesses list.
Law Enforcement and Fugitives
Furthermore, it covers FBI most wanted lists and DEA division fugitives.
It also covers U.S. Marshals, ICE, and Secret Service lists.
International Lists
Similarly, it searches Interpol and Bank of England lists.
It also searches Canadian, Australian, and World Bank lists.
State Healthcare Lists
Finally, it includes Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists from several states.
View the full data source list
- Air Force Fugitives
- Alabama Medicaid Exclusion List
- America Most Wanted Fugitives
- Australian Consolidated List
- Australian Reserve Bank Sanctions List – Burma
- Australian Reserve Bank Sanctions List – Former Yugoslavia
- Australian Reserve Bank Sanctions List – Iran
- Australian Reserve Bank Sanctions List – North Korea
- Australian Reserve Bank Sanctions List – Zimbabwe
- Bank of England Consolidated List
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
- Canadian Sanctions List – Entities
- Canadian Sanctions List – Individuals
- Connecticut Medicare Administrative Action List
- DEA Atlanta Division
- DEA Boston Division
- DEA Caribbean Division
- DEA Chicago Division
- DEA Dallas Division
- DEA Denver Division
- DEA Detroit Division
- DEA Diversion Control Administrative Actions Against Doctors
- DEA El Paso Division
- DEA Houston Division
- DEA Los Angeles Division
- DEA Miami Division
- DEA New Jersey Division
- DEA New Orleans Division
- DEA New York Division
- DEA Philadelphia Division
- DEA Phoenix Division
- DEA San Diego Division
- DEA San Francisco Division
- DEA Seattle Division
- DEA St. Louis Division
- DEA Washington Division
- Denied Persons List
- Department of State – Non Proliferation Sanctions
- Department of Treasury Debarred List
- Excluded Parties – Nonprocurement List
- Excluded Parties – Procurement List (SAM)
- Excluded Parties – Reciprocal List
- FBI Crime Alerts
- FBI Crimes Against Children
- FBI Criminal Enterprises
- FBI Cyber Crime
- FBI Domestic Terrorists
- FBI Terrorism-Most Wanted
- FBI Top 10 Most Wanted
- FBI Violent Murders
- FBI Violent Offender
- FBI White Collar Criminal
- FDA Clinical Investigators Compliance List
- FDA Clinical Investigators Disqualified List
- FDA Clinical Investigators No Longer Restricted List
- FDA Clinical Investigators Notice of Initiation
- FDA Clinical Investigators Presiding Officer Report List
- FDA Clinical Investigators Restricted List
- FDA Debarment List
- FDIC – Failed Bank List
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Enforcement Actions
- Federal Reserve Enforcement Actions
- Health & Human Services
- ICE Most Wanted Criminal Aliens
- ICE Most Wanted Fugitives
- Idaho Medicare Excluded Providers
- IL Provider Sanction List
- Interpol
- Money Services Businesses FINCEN List
- National Credit Union Administration
- NJ Debarment List
- NY Medicaid Inspector Exclusion List
- OCC Bank Enforcement Actions
- OCC Institution Affiliated Parties Enforcement Actions
- Office of Thrift Supervision – Enforcement Actions
- Ohio Sanctioned/Terminated Medicare Providers
- Ohio Suspended Medicaid Providers
- OIG – Most Wanted Health Care Fugitives
- ORI Findings of Research Misconduct and Administrative Actions
- Palestinian Legislative Council List
- Pennsylvania Medicheck List
- Politically Exposed Persons List
- SC Excluded Providers
- Secret Service Most Wanted
- Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons
- Terrorism Knowledge Base
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission Medicaid and Title XX Provider Exclusion List
- TN Dept of Health Abuse Registry
- TRICARE Sanctions List
- U.S. Marshals Service Major Fugitive Cases
- UK Disqualified Directors
- US Department of Commerce
- US Marshals Most Wanted
- US Postal Service Most Wanted
- World Bank Debarred List
Who Must Screen, and What the Law Requires
Several federal rules drive sanctions and watch list screening.
Therefore, know which ones apply to your organization.
OFAC Sanctions
All U.S. Persons
OFAC sanctions apply to every U.S. citizen, permanent resident, and business.
Moreover, OFAC can impose civil penalties on a strict liability basis.
The current maximum is the greater of $377,700 or twice the transaction value.
31 CFR 1020.220
Banks and Financial Institutions
Banks must run a Customer Identification Program under Section 326.
Additionally, the program must address federal lists of known or suspected terrorists.
31 CFR 1022.210
Money Services Businesses
Each MSB must maintain an effective anti-money laundering program.
Consequently, many MSBs screen owners, agents, and employees.
42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a and FAR 52.209-6
Healthcare and Federal Contractors
Healthcare providers face penalties when they employ an excluded person.
Similarly, federal contractors must avoid debarred and suspended parties.
How to Review a Possible Sanctions Match
Most records returned from the USA Patriot data sources are based on NAME MATCH ONLY.
Therefore, review every result carefully before you act.
First, compare the date of birth, middle name, and address with your subject.
Next, read the full list entry, because it often names a location or program.
OFAC publishes steps for assessing a name match.
Additionally, the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies when you screen a job applicant.
Consequently, you need a standalone disclosure and a signed authorization first.
Finally, complete pre-adverse action steps before you reject a candidate.
Match review checklist
- Does the full name match, including the middle name?
- Does the date of birth match?
- Does the address or location match?
- Which list reported the record, and why?
- Did you document your decision?
How to Order a Patriot Act Background Check
Open an Account
First, open a business account online.
You can also add optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security for every user.
Collect the Authorization
Next, provide the FCRA disclosure and collect a signed authorization.
This step applies whenever you screen for employment.
Enter the Name
Then enter the full legal name and date of birth.
Additionally, include the middle name when you have it.
Review the Results
Finally, review each record against your subject’s identifiers.
One-time users can also order without an account.
USA Patriot Act Report Sample
The sample below uses fictitious subjects to show the report layout.
DOE, JOHN A
Record 1: Excluded Parties – Reciprocal List
Record 2: System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusion
Record 3: MD Medicaid Program Sanctioned Providers
Reviewer note
Records match on name only, so confirm each one against the subject’s identifiers.
Sample only. The subjects and records shown are fictitious.
Patriot Act Background Check: Questions and Answers
What is a Patriot Act background check?
A Patriot Act background check searches a name against sanctions, exclusion, and watch lists.
For example, it covers the OFAC SDN list, SAM exclusions, and FBI fugitive lists.
As a result, you identify prohibited parties before you hire or transact.
Which lists does the search include?
The search covers U.S. Treasury sanctions, federal exclusions, and financial regulator actions.
Additionally, it covers law enforcement fugitive lists and international sanctions lists.
It also includes several state healthcare exclusion lists.
Who must run OFAC sanctions screening?
OFAC sanctions apply to all U.S. persons, including every business in the United States.
Moreover, banks and money services businesses carry added federal duties.
Therefore, organizations in every industry screen employees, customers, and vendors.
What should I do when a name matches a list?
First, remember that most records match on name only.
Next, compare the date of birth, middle name, and address with your subject.
Finally, follow FCRA adverse action steps before you make an employment decision.
How much does the search cost, and how fast is it?
Each search costs $8 per name.
Moreover, results arrive instantly in most cases.
Run a Patriot Act Background Check Today
Open your account now, and screen every name against sanctions and watch lists.
Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com.
BCS Background Screening LLC provides this page for general information only, and it is not legal advice. Therefore, consult qualified counsel about your sanctions, anti-money laundering, and Fair Credit Reporting Act duties.