June 18 (Reuters) - Toronto-Dominion Bank ( MLWIQXX ),

Canada's second-largest bank, launched a new business focused on

providing banking and financing services to technology companies

in its domestic market.

The bank, which has been facing regulatory push back for

alleged non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations,

intends to boost its presence in a highly saturated local market

by expanding its reach to tech firms through the new unit, TD

Innovations Partners.

Shez Samji, a tech banker hired from the Canadian arm of

failed U.S. lender Silicon Valley Bank last year, will head the

new unit.

"We're focused on enhancing and curating the banking

experience for technology companies and their founders so they

can spend more time creating and growing their business," Samji

said in a statement.

The business will also work with TD Wealth, the bank's

wealth management and financing planning arm, to provide private

banking and wealth management services.

TD has been under scrutiny in recent months as it faces

anti-money laundering probes. It had set aside $450 million in

April to cover potential fines for one of three regulatory

probes and expects more monetary penalties.

The lender was fined C$10 million ($7.27 million) by the

Canadian financial intelligence unit for administrative

violations earlier this year.

($1 = 1.3746 Canadian dollars)