How does your organization compare with competitorsand colleagues across the financial services industry? Staying compliant with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations is like dancing a jig on an icy slope whilejuggling a dozen rubber balls. It’s likely that some balls will be dropped, and each dropped ball could lead If you’re involved in AML and customer due diligence (CDD) activities for your organization, you’re aware ofthe challenge. You know you must navigate through a complex web of regulations. You understand that thetechnologies involved are rapidly changing. And you recognize that the laws with which you must comply, But what you might not know is just how your organization’s AMLand CDD efforts compare to those of your peers — and competitors— throughout the financial services industry. By gaining thisunderstanding, you can better evaluate the success of your approachto AML and CDD, as well as where you might need to do some currencies or tokens. As cryptocurrencies continue to evolve, thesefindings suggest that organizations remain unclear about theirapproach to monitoring the influence of digital currencies or tokens This year’s report also notes changes in the various processes usedto perform digital identity verifications. In one of the most significantfindings, the percentage of organizations performing mobile phoneauthentication increased from 23% in 2019 to 39% in 2021. The Every year since 2018 (with the exception of 2020), ThomsonReuters® has published an in-depth survey report detailing AMLand CDD efforts across the financial services industry. The purposeis to provide a sounding board for financial services organizations,helping them compare, contrast, and evaluate their own AML and In one of the most significant findings, the percentage oforganizations performing mobile phone authentication Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the key takeaways from Processes and procedures: Information collection and riskrating are changing slightly, and more organizations are Although financial services organizations participating in the surveyperformed AML and CDD activities in much the same way as inprevious years, there were some notable differences that may hint at And four new digital identity verification methodologies appeared for In 2021, the survey took a deeper dive into understanding how (andif) survey respondents’ vet prospective customers’ sources of fundsand wealth. Exactly half of the organizations reported that theydo seek information about the source offunds, excluding digital •ID capture services (22%)•Digital footprint validation (21%)•Biometric authentication (15%) These new methods are indicators of the shift to digital tools andmethodologies, which is significantly affecting all industry verticals,including financial services organizations. And these organizationsneed tools that accommodate both the necessities and theopportunities that accompany the move to digital. The four new Exactly half of the organizations reported that theydo seek information about the source of funds,excluding digital currencies or tokens. But far lessthan half sought information about the source of The processes by which organizations develop customer risk ratingswere not greatly changed in 2021; customer activity, geographic 2022 Thomson Reuters Anti-Money Laundering Insights Survey location, and transaction history continue as the top three criteriaused. However, geographic location was used substantially less in2021, and somewhat less reliance was placed on a number of risk Data solutions and decisions: Organizations are moredissatisfied with their data and are turning to technology for Data drives decisions, and the quality of an organization’s decision-making processes is inextricably linked to the quality of its data. Thisyear, survey respondents were asked how satisfied and confident •Political exposure•Associated persons•Estimated income Only one in five respondents (20%) reported that they wereextremely satisfied and confident with their primary data provider in2021 — that’s down from 26% in 2018. More than half (58%) of theorganizations offered a tepid “somewhat confident” rating of their Continuous post-screening customer monitoring remains common,with 70% of organizations continuously monitoring customers in2021. Compliance and regulatory requirements are driving the needfor continuous customer monitoring, and technology is helping tomeet that need. Technology also enables more in-depth forms of Unsurprisingly, the top three criteria that organizations evaluatewhen selecting a data provider for AML and CDD processes are all 1.Accuracy of the data2.How well-structured the data is 3.The reputation and credibility of the provider A significant change for 2021 is that many more surveyrespondents are now utilizing external third-party providers It also comes as no surprise that most organizations now use someform of technology to help manage AML programs. Nea