From AML screening to AML decisioning. What is the difference?

Financial crime governance has become a board-level issue as regulators increasingly expect senior leaders to understand the risks facing their organisations, challenge management where necessary, and make informed decisions about resources, controls, accountability, and oversight. Many boards receive AML reports, dashboards, risk assessments, training updates, and regulatory summaries throughout the year. Yet important questions about control weaknesses, ownership, escalatio

In April 2026, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a proposed rule with a clear message. In the words of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the current system asks financial institutions to measure success "by the volume of paperwork rather than their ability to stop illicit finance threats." The proposed rule calls for AML/CFT programs that are "risk-based" and "reasonably designed," and puts supervisory focus squarely on effectiveness - on whethe

In August 2025, FinCEN - the US bureau of the U.S department of the Treasury - released an advisory warning financial institutions about...

Most regulated companies have an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program. At least, on paper. But having a AML program isn’t the same as...