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Interview conducted 13 August 2026 with Danny McGlynn, former Principal Deputy Asst Secretary (PDAS) of Treasury Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) discusses FININT - Financial Intelligence.

Interviewer and Co-Host: AFIO Chairman Everette Jordan, former senior DOD, Treasury, Army Officer. 

Financial intelligence is a national-security tool. Investigators use financial records, suspicious activity reports, bank-account information, and transaction patterns to map terrorist and criminal networks. The interview cites post-9/11 efforts to uncover financial connections between a global hawala network and al-Qaeda. The private sector is essential. Banks and other financial institutions are often the first to detect suspicious transactions and report them to government authorities. This creates much of the raw information that becomes financial intelligence. Major challenges are cost, culture, and consistency. Financial institutions spend enormous amounts on anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance. McGlynn explains that following the money provides a powerful way to understand, disrupt, and influence adversaries. FININT connects intelligence collection with concrete tools—especially sanctions, asset freezes, law enforcement actions, and diplomatic pressure. Its importance has grown dramatically since 9/11, while new technologies such as AI are creating both opportunities and new threats.