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Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

Over 20 years of articles and reference material

A page dedicated to global, regional, UK and US anti-money laundering developments and initiatives.

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UK AAT’s 2024–25 AML Annual Report reveals major compliance gaps among accountancy firms and rising crypto and AI-fraud risks, urging stronger governance to combat evolving FC

October 17, 2025

The report provides a detailed overview of AAT’s monitoring activity during the year, including practice-assurance reviews, identified deficiencies, enforcement actions and monetary fines imposed on members who fail to meet AML obligations. It further outlines the supervisory approach, emerging threats and highlights resources and guidance made available by AAT to help members fulfil their obligations under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations…

AUSTRAC releases guidance for current and new reporting entities on AML/CTF reforms, effective 1 July 2026 – extending obligations to real estate, accounting, legal, and precious metals sectors

October 17, 2025

The guidance emphasizes a risk-based approach to AML/CTF programs, enhanced customer due diligence, and mandatory reporting of suspicious transactions to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. AUSTRAC aims to address evolving criminal tactics and support newly regulated sectors with resources and sector-specific guidance to strengthen financial crime prevention…

GAFILAT’s compliance report upgrades Bolivia for stronger proliferation sanctions, BO rules, and AML/CFT enforcement, leaving no non-compliant areas and only six partially compliant

October 16, 2025

Latest follow-up report notes significant enhancements to Bolivia’s legal and institutional framework, particularly through new regulations on targeted financial sanctions, beneficial ownership disclosure, and sanctions enforcement across reporting sectors. It also observes that while technical compliance has improved, further progress is needed to strengthen effectiveness, notably in non-profit oversight and individual accountability for ownership transparency…

ESMA’s 2025 Annual Sanctions Report reveals that EU authorities issued over 970 administrative sanctions and measures in 2024, totaling more than €100M in fines – mostly under MAR and MiFID II

October 16, 2025

Around 60% of actions involved fines and 10% were settlements exceeding €20 million. The report highlights significant variations in enforcement approaches across Member States, underscoring the need for greater supervisory consistency. ESMA emphasises that while sanctions alone do not determine supervisory effectiveness, increased transparency and data sharing are key to achieving more harmonised enforcement across the EU…

ESMA announces cyber risk and digital resilience as its 2026 supervisory priorities, focusing on DORA implementation and stronger EU coordination to boost financial system resilience

October 16, 2025

ESMA underscores that the activation of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) from January 2025 has sharpened its focus on enhancing ICT risk-management and digital operational resilience across the EU securities sector, noting strong engagement by national competent authorities (NCAs) to date. It further indicates that for 2026 the NCAs will build on their 2025 work on ESG disclosures and other priority themes, while ESMA remains ready to trigger supervisory action on additional emerging risks identified at Union-level…

OECD’s 10-year review of the BEPS initiative highlights major gains in tax transparency and global cooperation, indirectly reinforcing AML efforts by curbing profit-shifting and reducing avenues for illicit financial flows

October 15, 2025

The report reflects on ten years of international tax reform, noting stronger frameworks for transparency, information exchange, and fairer global taxation. These developments enhance the integrity of the financial system by narrowing gaps that enable corporate tax abuse and by complementing AML measures aimed at tracing and deterring illicit cross-border flows.

EBA’s 2024 Annual Report on Supervisory Convergence highlights progress to harmonise EU supervision across prudential and AML/CFT areas, strengthening consistency and oversight

October 15, 2025

The Report details the EBA’s extensive efforts to strengthen the alignment of supervisory approaches across Member States and across all dimensions of its activities: prudential, resolution, consumer protection, digital finance and, until the end of 2025, AML/CFT. This is also a first step in implementing the recommendations set out in the EBA’s Report on the efficiency of the regulatory and supervisory framework…

Swiss Federal Council opens consultation on draft legislation to combat ML, outlining plans for a BO register and extending AML obligations to consultancy activities – feedback until 30 Jan 2026

October 15, 2025

On 15 October 2025, the Swiss Federal Council initiated a public consultation on draft ordinances implementing the register of beneficial owners and expanding the Anti‑Money Laundering Act to cover certain legal and consultancy services. The consultation period runs until 30 January 2026, enabling stakeholders to provide input on the detailed regulatory framework…

 

EBA’s report on white-labelling reveals that about 35% of banks use this model, offering innovation opportunities but posing significant AML/CTF, fraud, transparency, and consumer protection risks

October 14, 2025

The EBA warns that the rapid growth of white-labelling often involving non-bank and unregulated partners such as online marketplaces undermines regulatory oversight, blurs consumer accountability, and heightens fraud and AML/CTF risks due to gaps in onboarding, monitoring, and data-sharing. To address these issues, the EBA plans supervisory convergence in 2026 to better map, regulate, and enhance transparency around white-labelling models across the EU…

EBA’s 2025 Final Report on AML/CFT Implementation Reviews shows EU supervision has strengthened, yet gaps in tools and enforcement remain, with AMLA set to ensure consistent FC oversight

October 13, 2025

The report highlights that national competent authorities have improved risk-based supervision, enhanced cooperation with domestic and international partners, and made better use of supervisory tools. It also identifies ongoing challenges, including staff shortages, limited resources, and uneven implementation of AML/CFT measures across jurisdictions, which could affect the effectiveness of the EU’s anti-money laundering framework…

Europol launches the EU’s Digital Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamps with biometric checks to strengthen security, curb cross-border crime and support AML efforts – full rollout by Apr 2026

October 12, 2025

The system aims to detect visa overstays, prevent identity and document fraud, and strengthen border security while enabling faster, automated crossings. During its six-month rollout, both passport stamping and digital registration will operate in parallel, with full implementation expected by 10 April 2026. Emphasising data protection, the system complies with GDPR standards and includes strict safeguards on personal data use and retention…

FinCEN renews its Residential Real Estate GTOs, requiring title insurance companies to identify individuals behind shell companies used in non-financed purchases – expires 28 Feb 2026

October 10, 2025

Effective from October 10, 2025, to February 28, 2026, the renewal maintains the existing geographic coverage and purchase thresholds—$300,000 in most areas and $50,000 in Baltimore City and County. The extension bridges the gap until the new Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule (RRE Rule) takes effect on March 1, 2026, reinforcing efforts to curb illicit finance in the real estate sector…

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