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Clearing the Air for Banking Marijuana-Related Businesses

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Originally published in the November 2019 edition of Great Lakes Banker Magazine.

Many bankers have never experienced a more vexing issue in their entire careers as whether or not to bank marijuana-related businesses (MRBs). In no other aspect in banking are the theoretical risks so high, and yet the confusion among regulators, law enforcement, and lawmakers so manifest. As more states in the Great Lakes region, and around the country, liberalize their approach to marijuana, this article attempts to clear the air, so to speak, and give bankers some practical guidance regarding how to approach this constantly evolving area.

Evaluation of New Products & Services

As a threshold matter, banks considering whether to onboard MRB customers should undertake a comprehensive process of ensuring that marijuana banking activities comport with their risk tolerance and risk management capabilities. In that regard, banks should consider reviewing applicable general regulatory guidance about engaging in new products and services, like the OCC’s “New, Modified, or Expanded Bank Products and Services: Risk Management Principles.” Such guidance typically provides that an effective risk management process will include the following:

This approach provides a useful methodology to help banks and their boards of directors carefully and thoughtfully consider new significant initiatives, such as banking MRBs, and determine their appropriateness for their institutions. Moreover, by documenting their evaluation of marijuana banking activities using that guidance, banks can help demonstrate to their regulators that they are approaching marijuana banking in a disciplined and comprehensive manner.

Regulatory Expectations

If a bank decides to engage in some form of marijuana banking, it must understand the expectations of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which have been echoed by the banking agencies, with respect to compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and related anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) requirements for banks that maintain relationships with MRBs. In that regard, the February 2014 FinCEN guidance entitled, “BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses” (FinCEN Guidance) clarifies how banks can provide services to MRBs in a manner consistent with their BSA/AML obligations. Elements of the FinCEN Guidance are summarized below.

Marijuana Laws & Law Enforcement Priorities

Although many states have legalized certain marijuana-related activity, it remains illegal under federal law to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana. Despite this federal prohibition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) previously issued guidance directing its prosecutors to focus their enforcement resources on certain priorities enumerated in its so-called “Cole Memo,” which was issued in February 2014 (after similar guidance in August 2013). In the Cole Memo, the DOJ stated that, while it is committed to enforcing the illegality of marijuana, it is also committed to using its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats, as enumerated in the priorities outlined below, in the most effective, consistent, and rational way.

The Cole Memo priorities, which are a core element of the FinCEN Guidance, include preventing: (i) the distribution of marijuana to minors; (ii) marijuana revenue from migrating to criminal elements; (iii) the diversion of marijuana into states where it remains illegal; (iv) marijuana activity being used as a pretext to engage in illegal activity; (v) violence and the use of firearms in connection with marijuana-related activity; (vi) drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences; (vii) the growing of marijuana on public lands; and (viii) marijuana possession or use on federal property. It should be highlighted that the absence of these factors does not guarantee immunity from criminal prosecution, and these priorities have evolved over time, as described below.

In January 2018, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo entitled “Marijuana Enforcement” that rescinded the Cole Memo and stated, “In deciding which marijuana activities to prosecute under these laws with the Department’s finite resources, prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions.” That posture appears to have shifted under current Attorney General William Barr, who has stated in congressional testimony that he generally accepts the principles in the Cole Memo, especially because banks and others have relied on its guidance since it was issued. FinCEN and the banking agencies have informally said that notwithstanding these evolving DOJ policy shifts, the FinCEN Guidance (including any references to the Cole Memo) remains applicable.

Providing Financial Services to Marijuana-Related Businesses

Generally. FinCEN defers to each bank as to whether to provide services to MRBs, depending on the bank’s business objectives, risk evaluation, and risk management. Nonetheless, FinCEN expects banks to conduct significant initial and ongoing due diligence on its MRB customers, and to determine whether the activities of those customers could implicate any of the Cole Memo priorities described above.

Direct vs. Indirect Involvement. The FinCEN Guidance does not describe in detail the implications for a bank regarding how “directly” any customers are involved with MRBs, except to say that those customers with indirect marijuana relationships (such as commercial landlords that lease space to MRBs) may not require the same specific marijuana-related Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filings described below. FinCEN further states that the extent to which a bank decides to provide services to an indirect MRB is a risk-based decision that depends on several factors specific to that bank, and on the relevant circumstances. Similarly, banking agencies generally also defer to the FinCEN Guidance and each bank’s risk tolerance in this regard.

Filing Suspicious Activity Reports on Marijuana-Related Businesses

Generally. Banks are required to file the following types of SARs on their MRB customers:

Red Flags. The FinCEN Guidance provides “red flags” to help banks determine whether a marijuana-related business may be engaged in activity that implicates the Cole Memo priorities, including: (i) evidence of money laundering; (ii) insufficient licensure documentation; (iii) concealment of involvement in MRBs; (iv) enforcement actions and other negative information; (v) interstate or international activity; and (vi) proximity to schools or public lands.

Other Considerations

In addition to the considerations described above, banks engaged with MRBs should work with experienced counsel regarding the following additional considerations, among others:


Regardless of any particular state law, marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Accordingly, banks cannot eliminate the risk of criminal prosecution or other administrative punishment, including seizure and forfeiture remedies, if they maintain relationships with MRBs. If banks nevertheless decide to have such relationships after evaluating all relevant risks, they should comport with applicable regulatory guidance and industry standards, which are complicated and continue to evolve. Although banking MRBs can be a profitable endeavor for banks who do it correctly, it’s certainly not easy being green.

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