Manama: In line with the newly introduced requirements by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) hosted a workshop to discuss the "Legal Professionals Account Opening Guidance" paper issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The session focused on showcasing the process retail banks are expected to follow when opening accounts for lawyers or law firms. According to Bahrain News Agency, under the updated requirements, legal professionals must have dedicated bank accounts for client payments, which may only be opened upon receiving a no-objection certificate from the Ministry. The letter must also include relevant Know Your Client (KYC) information, aligning the process with established compliance and transparency standards. The workshop was attended by nearly 60 representatives from the CBB, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, and various retail banks. The opening remarks were delivered by Nawaf Ahmed Bubshait, Director of the Compliance Directorate a t CBB, followed by Salman Al Ameri, General Registrar at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf. The CBB's Compliance team followed with a detailed presentation and opened the floor to questions posed by the participants. Nawaf Ahmed Bubshait stated that the CBB remains committed to strengthening cooperation with relevant entities and maintaining open channels of communication with public and private sector organizations. The aim is to support licensees as they navigate evolving developments in money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. The publication of the guidance paper for legal professionals stems from a proactive approach to ensuring financial institutions align with relevant international compliance standards. Salman Al Ameri expressed that through the joint workshop, the Ministry is pleased to collaborate with the CBB to support the implementation of the new regulatory framework. These guidelines represent a significant milestone towards enhancing oversight and a ccountability in the banking sector, and he commended the Bank's efforts in ensuring the implementation of these standards. The CBB continues to issue guidance papers and hosts workshops, seminars, and roundtable discussions annually to keep licensees informed about ongoing regulatory developments and supervisory expectations.
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