With time it is getting difficult for institutions to comply with Anti Money Laundering (AML) as the transactions are moving to a global level and there is too much money moving around. AML screening processes help FIs with this compliance as they are great at recognizing and putting a stop to the crimes happening around them or within them. The old and traditional methods are not very effective and take too much time therefore, it is becoming important to smoothen out or streamline the AML screening process as it can bring in more efficiency.

Read this blog to find out the 8 steps using which financial institutions can streamline their AML screening processes. 

Understand AML Regulations

Before running any process it is very important to have a good understanding of it so that you know what you are doing and why you are doing it. You must find out about  AML regulations applying to the area where you work. To find out more about them and have in depth knowledge, it is also a good idea to read laws like the BSA or regulations put by FinCEN or FATF. When you understand them, it will become easy for you to create or run an AML program. 

Assess AML Risks

Go for performing an in-depth analysis of the AML risks that may target your bank. You can know this by realizing what product or service is being offered if you are working in a risky location or if your clients have an irregular history. This can help in recognizing areas that may need to be improved. 

Review AML Program

With the help of auditing on an everyday basis it will become easier to update the AML program with what is currently going on in the market so you are ready to deal with any new regulations or a new risk. It is important to have an idea of how well the current strategies are doing and if they are helping in eliminating risks of money laundering or not. 

Invest in AML Services

Third-party service providers always have more to offer like advanced screening and expertise with AML Complince. By using their services, financial institutions can make their screening process better and make the most out of it. Some more of their AML services can be giving solutions for monitoring transactions, making it easy to verify the identity of clients, etc.

Automate AML Checks

Automation is completely changing the way banks worked in the past and can help in reducing crimes. Therefore, you must automate the AML checks as this will make it easy to go through huge amounts of information and see any unusual patterns. Moreover, when there is automation, the need for manual work is also reduced which increases the speed of AML screening. 

Enhance Customer Due Diligence

Customer due diligence can never be ignored as this is at many times the first way risky clients can be identified. But to make this process efficient, financial institutions must have information that is accurate and up to date. By making use of this process, you can get rid of fraud in your organization. If there is more need for diligence, it is always possible to go for enhanced due diligence which makes it easy for institutions to focus on high-risk clients first and then on others. 

 

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Utilize Anti Money Laundering Solutions

If institutions want to make their Anti Money Laundering Solutions more effective and better than before they can go for advanced technologies like machine learning. The algorithms can make it easy to track crimes by filtering through data and identifying money laundering and help in eliminating it too. 

Regular Audits and Reviews

Performing audits very often and always reviewing your screening processes makes it easy to know if they are still working well and are up to date. This also helps in looking for areas that may be weak and need improvement like internal controls.  When you are going through details you can also find out if the screening results are what you desire and accurate. 

Ready To Streamline Your AML Screening Process?

All in all, streamlining AML screening processes is important for FIs as they can help them in fighting money laundering while maintaining the efficiency of their operations. Institutions can improve their compliance and protect themselves from crimes by making full use of AML services, automating checks, and having a clear understanding of the regulations.