Issued by the Executive Board 2 December 2015. Last updated 17 Desember 2021.

1. Purpose

These principles have been laid down to ensure that Norges Bank fulfils its obligations under the Act relating to measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (Money Laundering Act) and appurtenant regulations (“money laundering provisions”).

2. Roles and responsibilities

The Governor of Norges Bank and the CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) are responsible for maintaining up-to-date guidelines and routines in the Governor’s area of responsibility and NBIM, respectively, for supplementing these principles and for ensuring that the Bank fulfils its obligations under the money laundering provisions. The internal guidelines and routines for these operational areas must ensure that risk-based customer due diligence measures, ongoing monitoring of customer relationships and other necessary measures are applied in the operational areas in accordance with the money laundering provisions.

The operational areas are responsible for identifying and assessing the risk of money laundering associated with their activities and implementing customer due diligence measures, if necessary, and for following up the routines on an ongoing basis. Risk assessment, incident reporting, documentation of controls, etc. must be included in general compliance and operational risk management.

These routines shall be adapted, if necessary, and followed up by Norges Bank’s foreign offices and through the exercise of ownership rights in majority-owned subsidiaries, with the necessary adaptations to foreign legal rules and statutory requirements.

3. Anti-money laundering officer

The Governor of Norges Bank appoints a member of the Bank’s staff ("anti-money laundering officer") with special responsibility for Norges Bank’s overall implementation of the Bank’s guidelines and routines in the area of money laundering.

The anti-money laundering officer is responsible for ensuring the implementation and follow-up of the routines in the organisation. The anti-money laundering officer shall also, as part of this, evaluate the need for and suggest updates and supplements to the routines and support the organisation in the understanding of and compliance with the money laundering provisions. The anti-money laundering officer is authorised to stop transactions that may be in violation of the money laundering provisions.

The anti-money laundering officer must notify the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway (ØKOKRIM) of Norges Bank’s reporting obligation pursuant to the money laundering provisions and verify that ØKOKRIM receives the information required.

The Governor of Norges Bank and the CEO of NBIM are responsible for ensuring that an adequate investigation is conducted and for clearly identifying who will conduct the investigation within their respective operational areas. Before ØKOKRIM is notified, the anti-money laundering officer must as far as possible consult and cooperate with the appropriate compliance function.

4. Internal reporting obligation 

Any member of staff who suspects that a transaction is associated with proceeds from a criminal act pursuant to money laundering legislation must without delay notify his or her immediate superior and the relevant compliance function. The Chief Compliance Officer must notify the anti-money laundering officer in accordance with Section 3 of these principles.

5. Staff training

The operational areas are responsible for ensuring that staff members receive the necessary training. Training should include identifying tasks performed by staff members that may involve a high risk of transactions linked to money laundering or terrorist financing. Staff members shall not make customers or third parties aware of internal investigations, submission of cases to ØKOKRIM or criminal investigations.

6. Reporting

The anti-money laundering officer shall ensure that the Executive Board is informed regarding money laundering risk and compliance with the money laundering provisions in  the organisation. The risk and compliance functions of the two operational areas shall regularly report on these topics for their areas to the anti-money laundering officer. The reporting to the Executive Board shall as a rule be integrated with the organisation’s consolidated reporting on risk and compliance. In addition, in cases pertaining to compliance with the Money Laundering Act, General Counsel has the right and duty to report directly to the Executive Board when General Counsel finds it necessary.

7. Authorisations

The Governor of Norges Bank and the CEO of NBIM are authorised to lay down further rules and procedures specific to their respective operational areas to ensure that Norges Bank’s obligations under the money laundering provisions are fulfilled.

8. Entry into force

As amended on 17 December 2021, these principles enter into force immediately.