The Treasury Department and financial crime-fighting agency Financial Crimes Enforcement Network sought to assuage critics who say their blunt enforcement actions against money laundering have caused banks to cut ties with entire business sectors, such as check cashers. The regulators said banks should evaluate the risks associated with opening their doors to money service businesses on a case-by-case basis. Critics say the money-laundering enforcement, along with the so-called "Operation Chokepoint" fraud crackdown, have fueled the "de-risking" trend. Treasury has promised a deeper level of engagement with the banking industry on the enforcement actions, including a Jan. 13 public forum on money services businesses and banking access.