Digital transformation across the banking sector in the UK has placed compliance software at the forefront of most modern AML strategies. As the landscape of financial crime continues to evolve, the compliance strategies of banking firms must do the same. Leveraging technology can help firms to ensure they not only meet regulatory requirements, but also protect their reputation, maintain customer trust, and safeguard operations.
As the banking sector turns to technological advancements to ensure they stay ahead of market trends, customer preferences, and changing regulation, we take a look at how these digital solutions are paving the way for AML success in the sector.
Advanced onboarding systems
One of the core strengths of modern compliance software is its ability to streamline customer onboarding journeys. By automatically screening applicants against parameters that reflect a firm’s risk appetite, businesses can simplify the onboarding process, making it easier for customers to access financial products and services from anywhere, at any time. And banking firms have the reassurance that their defined, rigorous AML processes are being adhered to.
Automated KYC procedures
As part of these advanced onboarding systems, Know Your Customer (KYC) processes can be significantly streamlined too. Automated data collection and verification systems ensure faster customer onboarding while adhering to strict AML requirements.
Enhanced due diligence (EDD) capabilities
Using the latest in data aggregation from global sources, registries, and regulators, compliance software platforms can quickly perform due diligence checks on new and existing customers. This includes verifying personal data, ID documents, assessing risk profiles, and cross-referencing against global watch lists and databases – all from one integrated system.
A single source for end-to-end compliance
Compliance software platforms can integrate seamlessly with external databases, including government watchlists, politically exposed persons (PEP) lists, and sanction lists. This ensures banks can quickly identify and act on transactions involving high-risk individuals or entities without having to navigate countless systems to access all of the information they need.
Complete audit trails
Most global AML regulations require firms to be able to demonstrate their due diligence processes in the event of suspected non-compliance. For example, the FCA handbook states that the regulator, “when considering whether a breach of its rules on systems and controls against money laundering has occurred, will have regard to whether a firm has followed relevant provisions…”
With an AML compliance solution, banking firms will be able to show regulators proof of comprehensive compliance through an audit trail and digitised records for every customer on its books, without the need to interrogate spreadsheets, paper-based records, and other physical documentation.
Simple dashboards for compliance at a glance
AML compliance software relieves teams of laborious manual analysis, spreadsheets, and hashed-together analytics. With intuitive dashboards, compliance teams can navigate through existing cases, workloads, alerts, performance, and more. To boot, dashboards are often completely customisable so that the information that matters most to your firm is readily available at-a-glance, simplifying the often complex process of compliance oversight.
Continuous regulatory updates
As AML regulations evolve, most compliance software solutions are also updated to reflect the latest requirements. This ensures that your firm always operates in line with current regulations, without the need for continuous manual system updates. An adaptable AML software solution ensures that when these regulations change, the system is updated or tweaked to ensure your firm remains compliant in light of the latest shifts in requirements, safeguarding your business from potential non-compliance.
Secure, cloud-based software
Many compliance software solutions operate on secure cloud platforms. This ensures scalability, real-time data analysis, and anytime, anywhere access, all while ensuring data integrity and security. These solutions can improve the robust protocols your firm already has in place to protect sensitive customer data, personal documents, and financial information.
