Defendant Name: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Defendant Type: Subsidiary of Public Company

Document Reference: 34-105790-s

Document Details

Legal Case Name In the Matter of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Document Name SEC Institutes Settled Order Against Merrill Lynch for Failing to File Suspicious Activity Reports
Document Date 29-Jun-2026
Document Format Administrative Proceeding
File Number 3-22652
Allegation Type Broker Dealer
Document Summary On June 29, 2026, the SEC "announced settled charges against registered broker-dealer Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for failing to file numerous Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from April 2020 through September 2024 in violation of broker-dealer reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Merrill agreed to pay a $7.5 million civil penalty to settle the charges."

Disgorgement & Penalty Information

Resolutions
Cease and Desist Order
Censured
Monetary Penalties:

Civil Penalty

Individual:     $7,500,000.00 Shared:    

Related Documents:

34-105790 29-Jun-2026 Administrative Proceeding
Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 15(b) and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 203(e) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order
On June 29, 2026, the SEC instituted settled administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, stating: "From at least April 8, 2020 through September 10, 2024 (the "Relevant Period"), Merrill failed to file certain Suspicious Activity Reports ("SARs") with the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") in violation of the broker-dealer reporting and recordkeeping provisions of Section 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 17a-8 thereunder."