SAR Writing – The Four Key Paragraphs of a Good SAR

Suspicious Activity Reports are one of the most consequential documents your institution submits—yet they are also among the most challenging to write. Even experienced BSA/AML and lending professionals often struggle with how to structure a narrative, how much detail to include, and how to strike the right tone for federal reviewers. A poorly written SAR can hinder law-enforcement efforts, trigger examiner concerns, or fail to adequately protect your institution.

This focused, practical webinar demystifies the SAR-writing process by teaching you the four key paragraphs that form the backbone of a clear, defensible, and FinCEN-aligned SAR narrative. Whether you’re new to SARs or looking to sharpen your skills, this session will equip you with the confidence, structure, and tools you need to produce strong, high-quality reports every time.

What You’ll Learn

Participants will walk away able to:

• Apply the four essential SAR paragraphs that form the standard narrative structure investigators expect.

• Use clear, concise, defensible writing that improves readability and reduces examiner criticism.

• Accurately describe common suspicious mortgage-related activity, such as occupancy, income, employment, or identity misrepresentation.

• Write like a fraud investigator—chronological, factual, and free of legalese or unnecessary jargon.

• Craft narratives that both protect the institution and support law-enforcement analysis.

Attendees will receive a set of practical tools to support strong, consistent SAR writing long after the webinar ends. This includes pre-built Word SAR templates that follow the four-paragraph structure, a concise writing style guide to reinforce best practices, and a fully labeled example SAR that demonstrates how each paragraph functions in context. You’ll also get a one-page “Before You Submit a SAR” checklist to help ensure clarity, completeness, and defensibility with every filing.

This session is eligible for continuing education credits from the ABA. The registration fee includes live attendance AND a playback recording of the session, available once the session concludes.