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Documentary Credit World

Documentary Credit World (DCW) - Nov/Dec 2023 Vol. 27 No.10 section - Government report

U.S. Office Of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 973

973. I am a U.S. individual or company that maintains an account at a foreign financial institution sanctioned pursuant to Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024. What are my obligations?

With respect to foreign financial institutions subject to the prohibitions of Directive 2 under E.O. 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive), including Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia, obligations under this directive apply to U.S. financial institutions only. U.S. individuals and companies that are not “U.S. financial institutions,” as defined in the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, are not prohibited from processing transactions involving foreign financial institutions solely subject to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive.

With respect to the Russian financial institutions blocked on February 22 and 24, 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024, General Licenses (GLs) 3 and 11 authorized U.S. persons to engage in transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to terminate their relationship with specified blocked Russian financial institutions, including withdrawing funds and securities, cancelling letters of credit, and amending or cancelling performance guarantees. For additional information, please see FAQ 975. Upon the respective expiration of GLs 3 and 11, U.S. persons were prohibited from transacting with the blocked Russian financial institutions, unless exempt or authorized by OFAC.

Date Updated: December 22, 2023

Date Released: February 24, 2022

OFAC of the U.S. Department of the Treasury posts on its website answers to questions of general applicability frequently asked by the public.