Informational only. Always verify at FinCEN.gov before making compliance decisions. Last refreshed: 2026-10-18.

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Superseded
money services businesses
Renewal #4

Geographic Targeting Order - Southwest Border Money Services Businesses (March 2026)

“Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties, Arizona; specific ZIP codes in Imperial and San Diego Counties, California; Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and San Juan Counties, New Mexico; Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, Maverick, and Webb Counties, Texas”

Threshold

$1,000

Effective

March 7, 2026

Expires

September 2, 2026

Geography

ZIP code

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Order Summary

This GTO ran from March 7 through September 2, 2026 and has since been replaced by the September 2026 reissue. It required money services businesses in border counties of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas to file Currency Transaction Reports for cash transactions between $1,000 and $10,000. The threshold was raised from $200 to $1,000 and coverage expanded to include Bernalillo and San Juan counties in New Mexico. MSBs that were not previously covered had until April 6, 2026 to begin filing. It is preserved here as a historical record.

Geographic Coverage

14 areas shown
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO
Maricopa County, AZ
Pima County, AZ
Santa Cruz County, AZ
Yuma County, AZ
Imperial County, CA (ZIP codes)
San Diego County, CA (ZIP codes)
Bernalillo County, NM
Doña Ana County, NM
San Juan County, NM
Cameron County, TX
El Paso County, TX
Hidalgo County, TX
Maverick County, TX
Webb County, TX

Formal Geographic Text (from order)

“Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties, Arizona; specific ZIP codes in Imperial and San Diego Counties, California; Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and San Juan Counties, New Mexico; Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, Maverick, and Webb Counties, Texas”

Expanded from Sept 2025 order. New additions: Bernalillo County NM (Albuquerque) and San Juan County NM. AZ now county-level (not ZIP). CA remains ZIP-code level. TX unchanged. Note: Injunctions may create temporary exemptions in some TX and CA jurisdictions.

Reporting Requirements

Who Must Report

Money services businesses (currency dealers/exchangers, check cashers, money transmitters) with a physical presence in covered counties/ZIP codes

What Must Be Reported

File Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for cash transactions of $1,000–$10,000; verify customer identity; retain records for 5 years; file within 30 days of transaction. Compliance deadline for newly covered MSBs: April 6, 2026.

Threshold

$1,000

All-cash transactions at or above

Source Agency

FinCEN

FinCEN news release | Federal Register

Change Log

IssuedMarch 6, 2026

Expanded order published in Federal Register (FR Doc. 2026-04641).

IssuedMarch 7, 2026

Order became effective. Threshold raised from $200 to $1,000. Added Bernalillo and San Juan counties in NM. AZ coverage expanded to county-level.

ModifiedApril 6, 2026

Compliance deadline for newly covered MSBs.

ExpiredSeptember 2, 2026

Order period ended. Superseded by the September 2, 2026 reissue (91 FR 56776), effective September 3, 2026.

Renewal Chain

Replaces:gto-msb-sw-border-2025-02· Renewal #4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this specific GTO, with answers grounded in the official order text.

These answers are for informational purposes only and are grounded in the official FinCEN order text. They do not constitute legal advice.

Analyst Notes

HISTORICAL, this order ended September 2, 2026 and was replaced by the September 2026 reissue (gto-msb-sw-border-2026-02). Threshold was raised from $200 to $1,000 versus prior orders. New NM counties added: Bernalillo (Albuquerque) and San Juan. Legal injunctions may create temporary exemptions in some TX and CA (Imperial/San Diego) jurisdictions. Federal Register citation: FR Doc. 2026-04641.

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