The Superintendency of Banks (SIB) and the Special Verification Intendance (IVE) began the preparation of the regulations for the future entry into force of Decree 15-2026, Comprehensive Law for the Prevention and Repression of Money Laundering or Other Assets and the Financing of Terrorism, whose validity is expected for the second half of the year.
Currently, in accordance with articles 177 and 178 of the Political Constitution of the Republic, Congress must send Decree 15-2026 to the Executive Body within a period of no more than ten days after its approval.
Subsequently, President Bernardo Arévalo will have 15 days from its receipt to sanction it, promulgate it and publish it in the Central American Journal.
“In general terms, the regulation that is in the process of being drafted will contain a considering part and will be structured in chapters, which will describe the articles that will develop the aspects that the law deserves to be regulated,” reported the SIB and the IVE in response to a query from Free press.
Regarding the date on which the regulation will be available, The authorities indicated that Decree 15-2026 establishes that the law will enter into force three months after its publication in the Central American Journal.
Likewise, they indicated that the regulations provide that the Superintendence of Banks, through the Special Verification Intendancy, must prepare the regulations and submit them to the knowledge and consideration of the President of the Republic within a maximum period of six months, counted from the entry into force of the decree.
Regulation will follow FATF standards
When asked about the technical elements and criteria that will be included to guarantee the effectiveness of the law, the authorities stressed that “the regulation will develop eminently technical provisions and criteria for the application of Decree 15-2026, which are aligned with compliance with the international standards of the Financial Action Task Force (Gafi), as well as with addressing the gaps identified in the latest Mutual Evaluation Report of Guatemala issued by the Latin American Financial Action Task Force (Gafilat) in the 2016”.
They added that Decree 15-2026 has the technical elements that, when implemented by the competent authorities and obligated persons, contribute to the effectiveness of the system for the prevention and repression of money laundering and the financing of terrorism (ML/FT).
They prepare anti-money laundering regulations
For the preparation of the regulations of the law, it was reported that the Superintendency of Banks (SIB), through the Special Verification Intendance (IVE), formed a multidisciplinary technical team that is in the process of drafting the regulations, which will be submitted to the knowledge and consideration of the President of the Republic within the period established by law.
Likewise, as part of the efforts to implement Decree 15-2026, training will be provided to socialize the content of the law and its regulations. In addition, prudential regulations aimed at obligated persons will be updated to comply with their obligations.
Guatemala prepares for evaluation
- The new anti-laundering law modernizes financial controls and removes Guatemala from the risk of entering the gray list with Decree 15-2026, Comprehensive Law for the Prevention and Repression of Money Laundering or Other Assets and the Financing of Terrorism.
- The regulatory framework to prevent and combat money laundering in Guatemala was modernized in accordance with international standards, with a risk-based approach and the obligation to identify the final beneficiary.
- Now the implementation and compliance phase of the new regulations will begin.
- Starting in 2027, Guatemala will be subjected to the fifth round of Mutual Evaluations of the International Financial Action Task Force (Gafi) and the Latin American Financial Action Task Force (Gafilat).
- This consists of a review of the country’s system to prevent and combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (ML/FT).
- The country receives a rating that determines whether its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system is effective. Additionally, the process provides recommendations to correct identified deficiencies and strengthen the system.