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Fed probes Morgan Stanley’s international wealth management practices

At issue is how the bank vets foreigners and the origins of their money before taking them on as customers

Wealth management is a critical source of revenue for Morgan Stanley that helps offset droughts in deal making and trading
Wealth management is a critical source of revenue for Morgan Stanley that helps offset droughts in deal making and trading Photo: Angus Mordant/Getty Images

Morgan Stanley’s wealth-management arm is being scrutinised by the Federal Reserve, which is looking into whether the bank has sufficient controls in place to prevent rich foreign customers from laundering money.

The Fed has been probing how Morgan Stanley vets foreigners and the origins of their money before taking them on as customers, according to people familiar with the matter. What started out as a routine review a few years ago escalated after regulators found the bank’s due diligence on clients and anti-money-laundering efforts lacking.

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