Tag: Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

The way customers are engaging in today's new digital world has changed and is still evolving rapidly. We use technology to open bank accounts, work online and buy products. Technologies empower people to behave differently, which has led to digital disruption and a much more empowered consumer.

Businesses that are considered as vulnerable to being abused for money laundering and terrorist financing purposes by criminals are listed as accountable institutions in terms of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 38 of 2001 (FIC Act). And, as such, these institutions must meet certain regulatory obligations that are designed to help combat financial crime.

Non-compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations can result in heavy financial penalties and could expose your clients and business to potential harm, with Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) fines of up to R10 million in your personal capacity and up to R50 million as a company.

Several extensive investigations around the globe into the activities of banks have revealed massive failings in the fight against money laundering. The research showed that more and more criminals are exploiting the financial system and laundering their black money by means of quick and immediate remittances.

Digitalisation was already a key theme in the growth strategies of financial services providers before the global COVID-19 pandemic struck. The need to innovate in response to shifting customer demands around engagement and experience, rising industry disruption from digital-native challenger banks or pivots from major digital-native businesses, and the need to respond to a dynamic regulatory environment has spurred digital transformation and entrenched an innovation agenda across the industry.

In the past 20 years, threats and incidents of terrorism have grabbed global headlines and urged nations to step up laws against not only the act but also the financing of terrorist activities. In South Africa more recently, the spotlight fell on the threat of terrorism after a spate of incidents in which alleged bombs were placed in shopping centres around Durban.