The Kyckr Podcast

In this episode of Registries Revealed, we ask a question that’s on the mind of every KYB and AML professional right now: what on earth is going on with UBO register access?Kyckr CEO Steve Lamb is joined by beneficial ownership transparency expert Stephen Abbott Pugh to unpack the shifting landscape around access to UBO registers worldwide. They explore:How we got from the early push for open beneficial ownership data to today’s more restrictive environmentWhat recent legal and policy changes mean for banks, fintechs, and corporate transparency advocatesThe practical impact on customer due diligence, adverse media checks, and ongoing KYC/KYB monitoringEmerging models for 'legitimate interest' access – and what “good” could look like in the next 5–10 yearsIf you rely on UBO data for onboarding, screening, or investigations, this episode will help you make sense of the chaos and plan for what’s coming next.

Navigating France's complex business registry landscape just got easier. Join Steve Lamb as he sits down with Vasco Alexandre, co-founder and CEO of Dotfile, to decode the French registry system that has evolved from 141 scattered commercial courts to today's centralised approach.Discover how France's ambitious registry modernisation through INPI and the transition from fragmented RCS courts to a unified system creates both opportunities and challenges for AML professionals. Vasco shares insider insights on accessing reliable company data, understanding the crucial differences between Infogreffe and INPI, and navigating the post-CJEU landscape for UBO information.Key Topics Covered:France's historic registry transformation from 141 courts to centralized RNE systemINPI vs Infogreffe: Understanding which source to trust for KYB verificationThe essential KBIS document and why it's France's "company ID card"UBO registry access post-CJEU ruling and legitimate interest requirementsReal-world challenges with foreign ownership structures and data gapsWhy almost a third of French entities failed UBO filing obligationsWhether you're conducting cross-border due diligence or need to verify French business entities, this episode provides the practical guidance AML and compliance professionals need to navigate France's registry ecosystem effectively.Listen now and discover how technology bridges France's registry complexity.Want to learn how to use the French registry system in your verification workflow?Grab your copy of our 'Company Register Guide: France' to receive the step-by-step guide to UBO and business verification - download your copy here.

Dive into Hong Kong's corporate registry transformation with our host and COO of Kyckr, Steve Lamb, and Ficoal Dong of Asia Verify, a compliance veteran with 20 years of experience. Discover how Hong Kong's complete system revamp in December 2023 balances enhanced UBO transparency with data privacy, introducing a unified business identifier while restricting access to sensitive director information. Ficoal reveals how AML professionals now face new challenges in beneficial ownership discovery and explains how OCR technology and AI algorithms are helping navigate complex ownership structures between Hong Kong and mainland China. "The Hong Kong registry environment is evolving, but cultural factors and implementation challenges mean UBO transparency still requires specialist knowledge," notes Ficoal, highlighting the ongoing tension between international compliance demands and local privacy concerns. Whether you're conducting KYB investigations, managing AML compliance, or tracking beneficial ownership across Asian jurisdictions, this episode provides critical insights for navigating Hong Kong's modernised but complex registry landscape. Listen now to enhance your cross-border compliance toolkit!  Want to know more about ICRIS? Discover Kyckr's 'Company Register Guide: Hong Kong' - your ultimate resource for navigating Hong Kong’s ICRIS.   What's inside? A comprehensive introduction to Hong Kong's Companies Registry (ICRIS) Six business types registered in Hong Kong and their structures Step-by-step guide to searching the e-Search Services Portal Availability of documents, APIs and open data sets Hong Kong's beneficial owner register and privacy considerations Data reliability and quality initiatives Integration and global access with KyckrDownload your copy here: https://bit.ly/3G4SJMW  

Could the complex ownership structures behind your favourite football club be hiding more than just business strategy? In this bonus episode of Registries Revealed, we dive into the murky world of Premier League football ownership with the University of Manchester criminologists Nicholas Lord and Peter Duncan who reveal how opaque corporate structures and secretive jurisdictions in club ownership present significant money laundering and financial crime risks. Discover how multiple layers of limited companies, partnerships, and trusts in high-risk jurisdictions create the perfect environment for potential illicit financial flows. The researchers highlight real examples, such as Aston Villa's complex ownership chain, which spans Luxembourg, the US, Portugal, and ultimately the Cayman Islands. These chains display classic red flags that financial crime specialists are trained to identify. "We see features or warning signs that are common elsewhere with money laundering cases where these same mechanisms can be used for illicit purposes to obscure the individuals involved and the source of finance," explains Nicholas Lord. Listen in to understand the regulatory gaps in football governance, the limitations of beneficial ownership registries, and what the proposed independent football regulator could mean for transparency in the game. Read the full report on Premier League Football Regulations from Nicholas Lord and Peter Duncan here:  https://blog.policy.manchester.ac.uk/posts/2025/01/protecting-premier-league-football-clubs-through-tighter-regulation/  

Recognised globally for its innovative corporate registry and anti-money laundering (AML) practices, Singapore has set the gold standard in transparency and compliance.   Our host and COO of Kyckr, Steve Lamb is joined by Oonagh van den Berg, CEO and Founder of Virtual Risk Solutions (VRS) and RAW Compliance, to explore Singapore's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).     Key topics discussed:  How ACRA ensures transparency, accuracy, and trust through the BizFile portal   The pivotal roles of ACRA and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in regulating and overseeing corporate and financial practices.  Singapore’s robust and risk-based AML strategy, focusing on prevention, detection, and enforcement. The application of AI and machine learning to monitor financial and corporate activities. The importance of collaboration between regulators, law enforcement, and the private sector to combat financial crime. The role of corporate service providers (CSPs) in enhancing corporate transparency and accountability. Registries Revealed, the podcast which deep dives into the complex world of company registers, across ten global financial centres.   Hosted by Kyckr's COO, Steve Lamb, this podcast features local experts all working toward a financial crime free world.     Registries Revealed is proudly produced by Kyckr.   Want to know more about ACRA?     Discover Kyckr's 'Company Register Guide Singapore' - your ultimate resource for navigating Singapore's ACRA.    What's inside?     A comprehensive introduction to ACRA  Business types and registration requirements  How to access and utilise company information   Data reliability and quality initiatives  Integration and global access with Kyckr  Download your copy here - https://bit.ly/40N6arH GLEIF - https://bit.ly/3WO9DVS

Welcome back to Registries Revealed, the podcast which deep dives into the complex world of company registries. In Episode four, Steve is joined by Justin Hygate, Vice President of Registry Solutions at Foster Moore - The Registry People, to discuss New Zealand's Companies Office. Together they deep dive on: - Transparency vs. Privacy - The role of the registry as a service provider - Triage or verification of data - Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Don't miss the opportunity to equip yourself with knowledge to tackle business verification challenges with confidence. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Justin Hygate Justin's career in registries spans an impressive 26 years at the New Zealand Companies Office before joining Foster Moore, where he currently serves as the Vice President of Registry Solutions. During his tenure at the Companies Office, he played a significant role in developing its international reputation for innovative service delivery and best practice registry management. At Foster Moore, Justin leverages his extensive knowledge to provide registry consulting services and lead registry innovation initiatives. His approach to business is characterised as honest, pragmatic, and focused on utilising technologies to enhance public services. ‍ Steve Lamb Steve is a recognised authority in Know Your Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices and serves as Kyckr’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees, Product, Marketing, Sales and Delivery functions, ensuring the company’s commercial development and the enhancement of our award-winning global services. Want to know more about New Zealand's Company Register? Check out Kyckr's comprehensive guide to New Zealand's Companies Register which is available to download now!

Welcome back to Registries Revealed, a new podcast which deep dives into the complex world of company registers. In episode three, Steve is joined by Ben Cronin, one of Kyckr's original founders, to discuss the Ireland's Companies Registration Office, or CRO. Together they attempt to answer key questions including: How does Ireland's company registry system compare to the UK and Australia? What types of data is available through the CRO and RBO? How reliable is the data, particularly for UBO filings? How has Ireland responded to the 2022 CJEU ruling? Don't miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge to tackle business verification challenges with confidence. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Ben Cronin Ben is a 15-year veteran in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions, having worked with hundreds of clients across accountancy, law, banking, and insurance. He founded GBR Direct, Kyckr, and UBO Service, and currently serves as Managing Director at AML HQ, developing a SaaS AML solution for accountants and solicitors. Ben is closely connected to global Government Registries across the world and understands the value of primary source data, particularly in the context of Anti-Money Laundering, Supply Chain and Know Your Business. Previously, Ben was a professional rugby player for Munster and Ireland. Steve Lamb Steve is a recognised authority in Know Your Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices and serves as Kyckr’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees Product, Marketing, Sales, and Delivery functions, ensuring the company’s commercial development and the enhancement of our award-winning global services.   Want to know more about the Irish Company Registers? Check out Kyckr’s comprehensive guide to the Irish registry system, which is available to download now! Why you need this guide? Learn how to effectively use the CRO and its CORE platform to access vital company information. Discover the filing requirements for beneficial ownership. Find out how to retrieve essential documents and utilise APIs for streamlined data access. What’s inside? Step-by-step instructions on registering companies and accessing public records through the CRO Key information on the UBO register and who can access beneficial ownership information and how it impacts your business. Learn about Kyckr's integration with 300 global registries, providing you with up-to-date company data at your fingertips. Click this link to fill out the form to download your copy of the guide.

Welcome back to Registries Revealed, a new podcast series which deep dives into the complex world of company registers. In episode two, Steve is joined by our very own Alex Beck, Head of Product at Kyckr to discuss Australia's registers. Together they attempt to answer key questions including:​Why are three different Australian business registers and what purpose do they serve? ​What role do ‘information brokers’ play in the Australian system? ​Was it fair for a recent independent review to describe Australia’s registry system as providing a ‘poor digital experience’? ​Is Australia likely to have a public beneficial ownership register anytime soon? Don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge to tackle business verification challenges with confidence. Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Alex BeckProduct leader specialising in financial compliance and regulatory technology, with expertise in developing effective AML/KYC and entity verification solutions. Alex has led the transformation of complex banking compliance workflows from 3 hours to 3 minutes, while delivering successful ASIC and PPSR solutions for commercial lending.Steve LambSteve is a recognised authority in Know Your Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices and serves as Kyckr’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees Product, Marketing, Sales, and Delivery functions, ensuring the company’s commercial development and the enhancement of our award-winning global services.  Want to know more about the Australian Company Register?Check out Kyckr’s comprehensive guide to the Australian registry system, which is available to download now!Kyckr’s 'Company Register Guide: Australia' provides critical insights in ASIC, giving you clear information to support your business verification efforts. Why download our guide? ​Uncover the true power of ASIC’s database ​Learn to navigate regulatory hurdles with ease ​Gain a competitive advantage in due diligence processes ​Streamline your workflow with expert-level knowledge Click this link to fill out a form to download the copy of the guide.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Registries Revealed, a new podcast series which deep dives into the complex world of company registers. Across ten episodes, our host, Steve Lamb, COO of Kyckr, will investigate the national registers in ten global financial centres, accompanied by local experts from each region. Get ready for insightful discussion and expert analysis that explores key topics relevant to Financial Crime, including: ​The legal framework that underpins each register​The register’s usefulness as a tool for Financial Crime and AML teams ​What data and filings are open to the public ​Whether the data can be relied upon for KYC In the first episode of Registries Revealed, Steve is joined by Graham Barrow, host of The Dark Money Files podcast and director of RiskAlert247 to discuss the UK’s Companies House. Together, they attempt to answer key questions including: ​Does the UK deserve plaudits for having an open UBO register? ​Are the UK’s company registration rules being exploited by criminals? ​Is the latest ‘Strategic Intelligence Assessment’ as shocking as it initially appears? ​Can additional sources be used to improve verification of UK companies?  Don’t miss out: subscribe to Registries Revealed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to stay updated with the latest episodes. Meet Our Experts Graham Barrow Graham is a veteran of the banking world who advises both the public and private sectors on how to improve financial crime detection and reduce fraud. He is a regular media commentator and hosts ‘The Dark Money Files’ podcast, a must-listen for those in Financial Crime. Graham is well-known for his social media posts which bring to light unusual company registrations, along with his role as Co-Founder and Director RiskAlert247, which combats the fraudulent use of personal information to create fake businesses. Steve Lamb Steve is a recognised authority in Know Your Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices and serves as Kyckr’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees, Product, Marketing, Sales and Delivery functions, ensuring the company’s commercial development and the enhancement of our award-winning global services.  Want to know more about the UK Company Register? Don’t miss Kyckr’s comprehensive guide, which is available to download now.   Navigating company registers can be challenging due to varying rules and accessibility constraints across different countries. Are you confident in your ability to get accurate information in a timely manner? Kyckr’s ⁠⁠‘Company Register Guide: United Kingdom’ ⁠⁠provides critical insights into Companies House, giving you clear information to support your business verification efforts. Why Download Our Guide? ​Improve your knowledge: Master differences in company registration rules with ease  ​Ensure Accuracy: Gain insights into the reliability of various registers. ​Stay Informed: Keep up with changing regulations and best practices in compliance. Download your copy⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ and verify businesses with ease today.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/12eceygkzzspiif/Gregory%20Dellas.mp3?dl=0 In today’s episode of the Future of KYC Compliance, Ian is joined by Gregory Dellas, Chief Compliance and Innovation Officer at ECOMMBX. Gregory highlights the importance of staying current with regulatory changes, being one step ahead of criminals, and properly utilizing technology in the fight against financial crime. Gregory, founder and Chair of the ACAMS Cyprus Chapter, is a certified CAMS and GCI certified trainer, a Fellow of the International Compliance Association and a long-standing member of the Anti-Money Laundering Professionals Forum. He shares how these organizations enabled him to join forces with fellow anti-financial crime professionals to achieve efficient and effective KYC and AML compliance. Topics discussed: - What drew Gregory to a career in AML and fighting financial crime - The reasons why organizations fail to implement successful AML programs - AML and financial crime related risks Gregory has seen emerge in the recent years - The common reporting mistakes that are now starting to occur because of the shift in the way we engage with clients - Trends Gregory has seen AML professionals have used to try and remove data error points - The primary challenges faced by frontline compliance teams and institutions - The importance of having the right culture within an institution in KYC compliance - Advantages of joining AML organizations - Key pillars that underpin an effective AML compliance program - Gregory’s advice for professionals to win the battle against financial crime

In this episode of the Future of KYC Compliance, Ian joins Nelson Yiannakou, Regional Money Laundering Reporting Officer ( APAC ) at Revolut, as he shares his views on the current state of AML obligations and compliance in Australia. We touch on some of the bigger financial crime monitoring challenges faced by regulators today, and Nelson gives us a fresh perspective on the importance of having a sound AML environment and a robust financial crime prevention system. Topics discussed: - Nelson’s three-decade long career in financial risk management and financial crime prevention - A brief intro to Revolut and the services it offers - Financial crime challenges Revolut has faced globally - Nelson’s view on the state of AML obligations and compliance in Australia today - The importance of investing in financial crime prevention capabilities and technologies - Why financial crime syndicates always seem to be one step ahead of regulators - Specific challenges faced by digital-only fintech companies - What excites Nelson most with his work in financial crime risk management - Nelson’s advice for KYC and AML professionals to ensure their success in the field

In today’s episode of the Future of KYC Compliance, Ian is joined by Joel Lange, General Manager of Risk and Compliance at Dow Jones.  Topics Discussed:  What drew Joel into the world of financial crime prevention The scope of Joel’s work with Dow Jone’s risk and compliance management Key AML and financial crime risks we have today The shift from KYC to KYB Primary trends in risk management and financial crime compliance Main challenges financial organizations  face in mitigating risks How to maintain a successful AML program The importance of continuing education and training for organizations to effectively navigate the compliance sector on a global scale Common regulatory compliance mistakes made by organizations Joel’s tips and advice to ensure full AML compliance

Investigative journalism has been key to discovering illicit financial flows, tax heavens and the challenges of reforming the international financial infrastructure. Every investigation and every leak brings progress in the search for transparency, it raises the bar for financial institutions, and the pressure against financial crime actors. In today’s episode we are joined by Will Fitzgibbon, a senior reporter with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Will has reported on ICIJ projects, including West Africa Leaks, Paradise Papers and Panama Papers and he also coordinates ICIJ’s partnerships with journalists in Africa and the Middle East. Topics discussed in this episode: - What drew Will to the world of investigative journalism. - Views on the current Russia-Ukraine conflict. - Why stopping and reforming the international financial infrastructure has been a challenge. - How Will sees the role of investigative journalism in the context of financial crime. - Top discoveries from the Pandora Papers. - What has changed for better and for worse since the Pandora Papers. - How financial crime control fines should broaden up to include other actors beyond financial institutions. - What attributes financial criminals look for when they choose jurisdictions. - Why there will always be loopholes in the financial sector that bad actors can exploit. - 3 Pieces of advice for industry professionals.

Technology is a double edged sword. On the one hand it gives compliance professionals better tools to catch the bad actors, but it also empowers criminals to perpetrate their actions successfully.  Today we are joined by Dan Stipano, Partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell, who has extensive regulatory and enforcement experience including more than 30 years at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).  Dan helped us understand how our anti-money laundering frameworks have been struggling mightily to keep up with developments and we reflect on the challenges to improve in our fight against financial crime. Topics discussed in this episode: - The dual effect technology has over financial crime  - Why information sharing is critical to combat financial crime - How regulatory expectations are much higher today - How anti money laundering frameworks are outdated on a global scale - How sanctions can shape AML compliance programs - How sanctions are not political agnostic - The real obstacles for information sharing and what we can do to overcome them - 3 Pieces of practical advice for compliance officers looking to combat financial crime

Whether it is laws, regulations, guidance, or issuances, the processes that make our regulatory regimes more effective are slow. By the time we reach consensus and refine our standards, criminals are doing something else. Lauren Kohr has been in the anti-financial crime sector for over 16 years. She currently serves as Senior Director of AML at ACAMS, the largest international membership organization for Anti-Financial Crime professionals. In today’s episode, she helped us reflect on how AML professionals experience the compliance process, the role of AI in AML and the B-side of disclosing sensitive financial crime information. Topics discussed in this episode: - How 9/11 drew Lauren to the world of financial crime to help prevent illicit financial flows. - How the work of a compliance officer changes in small and large financial institutions. - The value of public-private initiatives to prevent financial crime. - Reflections on typical financial penalties. - The importance of bringing NGO and Academia sectors to the fight against financial crime. - AML tech: where we are standing and where we need to go. - The challenges of training AI in AML. - Big takeaways from recent financial crime investigations. - 3 Pieces of advice for AML and KYC professionals looking to succeed in the future.

We’ve repeatedly seen how large financial institutions are fined for AML compliance failures and breaches that other organizations have experienced in the past.  What’s the role these sanctions truly play in preventing financial crime recurrence? In today’s episode, we are joined by Anton Moiseienko, a Lecturer at the ANU College of Law who not only has been studying the legal and policy aspects of targeted sanctions but also but also has extensively researched on emerging technological risks and the financial footprint of cybercrime. Topics discussed in this episode: - What drew Anton to the world of financial crime. - How the nature of financial crime has changed in recent years. - Why targeted sanctions are ineffective to prevent financial crime. - Implication of the use of cryptocurrencies on compliance officers’ work. - How blockchain analytics can help with financial crime prevention. - Other types of cybercrime and the challenges these impose over financial institutions. - Reflections on the most recent AML fine cases. - Obstacles for cross border collaboration and international standard setting. - Advice for AML/Compliance professionals

Edmund McCormack is the founder of Dchained and has been in the crypto-blockchain space since 2011. From a starting point where lack of transparency was a fact, the industry has evolved now to a state where it’s extremely difficult to move money without being traced. How can we leverage blockchain, biometrics, and other types of technology to advance our AML and KYC capabilities? In today’s episode, Ed joined us to debunk a few myths around the role of cryptocurrencies in financial crime and to open the discussion on what blockchain technology can bring in to the fight against bad actors. Topics discussed in this episode: - How Ed came to the world of crypto and how the space was it like in 2011. - How law enforcement agencies are leveraging blockchains and their transactional nature. - What the future of cryptocurrency regulation is. - Biggest misconceptions associated with cryptocurrencies. - Obstacles to launder money in the crypto space. - The role of cybercrime and top areas of concern. - How bad actors exploit areas of weakness where the spotlight is not being shown. - How the regulatory landscape will progress and why it could start with stablecoins.

Although it’s truth that some of the most well established terrorist organizations tend to mirror organized crime and money laundering techniques, there are many misconceptions around the level of innovation, involved mechanisms and detectability of these activities. Jessica Davis is the President of Insight Threat Intelligence and in today’s episode she deep dives into the world of terrorist financing, what we are lacking to detect this type of crimes, and how terrorist financing activities differ depending on where bad actors are operating. Topics discussed in this episode: - How Jessica got into the world of CTF. - Why AML gets more attention that CTF - How AML and CTF differ in terms of scope, mechanisms involved and detectability. - Why Jessica wrote ’Illicit Money Financing Terrorism in the Twenty First Century’. . How terrorists manage, use and hide their illicit money. - What trends she has seen evolve in terrorist financing. - Terrorist’s real use of cryptocurrencies. - What technologies the financial sector is leveraging to combat terrorist financing. - What we need to know about insider threats. - Other resources financial institutions can deploy to track terrorist financing.

What are the skills that make a compliance officer successful? Willem Wellinghoff is PMA Media Group’s Global Chief Compliance and UK MLRO Officer and he achieves over 15 years of experience in the financial services, financial crime and technology sectors. What makes Willem’s insights unique is the combination of his compliance skills with the lessons learned from mentoring startup accelerators and bringing these lessons to his daily job. If you’d like to know how you can help making compliance engaging and interesting in your organization, this is the episode for you. Topics discussed in this episode: - Willem’s background and career synopsis. - The state of money laundering and financial crime prevention. - How technology benefits and challenges the work of compliance officers. - How financial crime has evolved along with financial services digital transformation. - Sanctions and fines as a deterrent to financial crime. - How accelerators are opportunities to look at innovation and technology coming out in the market. - Lessons learned from mentoring new fintech businesses. - Skills for compliance officers to be successful in the future.

The financial industry is plagued with systemic failures and new ways of committing crime seem to be accelerating rather than decelerating. Are we doing enough to prevent fraud and money laundering? Or are we building solutions that are mainly focused on detection? Is there a one-to-one correlation with the amount of money that you spend on these tools? Or is it rather more important the type of technology you are using? João Moura is the CEO of Fraudio, an Amsterdam based tech company that leverages AI, vast data sets and real time signals to detect and prevent customer/ merchant initiated fraud and money laundering.  In today‘s episode, he joined us to reflect on how we can be more effective at combating financial crime.  Topics discussed: - What sets Fraudio apart from than their competitors - The state of money laundering and fraud prevention - Why we need to democratize access to detection tools - The impact of digitalization on financial crime - An overview of the three generations of fraud and AML solutions - Regulatory frameworks in the fight against fraud - Why compliance has transformed into a box-ticking exercise - 3 Pieces of practical advice for AML and fraud prevention professionals.

If financial criminals are always one step ahead, what should organizations be doing to catch up with the bad actors? Today‘s guest has one simple yet powerful answer: working together. If fraudsters and financial criminals are cooperating with each other by sharing technology, analytics and information to succeed in their schemes, wouldn‘t it be logical for organizations to do the same? Dave Excell is the founder of Featurespace, a company using machine learning and Adaptive Behavioral Analytics in the fight against complex fraud and money laundering. In today‘s episode, he shines a light on why organizations should join their efforts to prevent financial crime. Topics discussed in this episode: - How the world of money laundering has evolved over the years - How effective regulatory engagement is at present - Why we should enable information sharing between institutions - The potential dilemma between data privacy and data sharing to prevent financial crime - How AML and fraud prevention teams are working much closer - What the world of financial crime prevention will look like in the near future - Key points organizations are looking to improve in the fight against financial crime - 3 Pieces of practical advice for fraud prevention and AML professionals

Technology is taking the lead in the world of KYC compliance and onboarding clients, safely, is and will remain a challenge. What are the tools criminals use to fabricate an online persona? How do we make sure we are onboarding a real person when we ask for a selfie? Vanessa Williams is the Global Chief Compliance Officer and AML/CFT Officer of CrossTower, a digital asset capital markets firm with offices in Bermuda, the US, and India. In today‘s episode, Vanessa touches on the most pressuring challenges when onboarding clients and how technology is creating benefits as well as new risks to prevent money laundering and other forms of financial crime. Topics discussed in this episode: - Digital finance and cryptocurrencies and money laundering. - KYC compliance challenges in a mobile world. - How criminals have developed tools to fabricate an online persona. - The role of regulators and the difference between jurisdictions. - Why institutions are being fined in spite of colossal investments in financial and regulatory technology - What financial crime prevention will look like in the next few years. - The benefits of the blockchain to follow assets - How automation can help to mitigate risks and put focus on the most important alerts

Fraudsters and financial criminals operate globally and the only way to fight this network is with a network. Tracy Manning has over 25 years of experience driving data strategy, innovation and growth efforts within companies like AT&T, Cox, Twitter, Cincinnati Bell, and GroundTruth. She is now Director of Financial Crime Compliance at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. In this episode, she shines a light on the challenges that KYC compliance teams have to catch up with current market trends and to move from controls that are largely manual, retroactive, and fully reliant on physical identity. Topics discussed in this episode: - How the controls related to KYC have not kept pace with changes in the marketplace - The influence of digital adoption and transaction acceleration on new financial risks particularly sanctions risks - The burden that alert volume and false positives exert on compliance teams - How senior management understands the role of data in financial crime prevention and how they are integrating data into their strategies - How banks and financial institutions are doing at implementing KYC processes - Advice to compliance teams to future-proof their practices and what they should do to meet regulatory requirements - Physical and digital identities: the importance of understanding the linkage between these two

Megan Prendergast Millard has an outstanding record in the world of AML and financial crime compliance. During her almost 15 years at the New York State Department of Financial Services, she supervised investigations of licensed institutions in a wide range of areas including BSA/AML, OFAC sanctions, market manipulation, virtual currency as well as all other banking and insurance matters. She was the recipient of the Superintendent’s Award in 2012, 2016, and 2017 for her work on investigations including the Standard Chartered Bank, Société Générale and BNP Paribas for U.S. sanctions and anti-money laundering violations. As Senior Managing Director at Guidepost Solutions, she is now dedicated to helping design and develop effective BSA/AML and financial crime compliance programs that also deliver a best-in-class customer experience. Topics discussed in this episode: - Megan’s background in the world of financial crime and her experience working for the New York State Department of Financial Services - Types of financial crime in small and large enterprises. - How terrorist financing has changed over the years - What criminals look for when targeting banks and financial institutions. - The role of regtech and regulators to close the gap on the biggest weaknesses the financial system has. - Cryptocurrencies vs Fiat currencies: opportunities and regulation needs - How firms have evolved after enforcement actions and financial penalties - The challenges of holding senior management accountable - The contribution of whistleblower programs in the fight against financial crime - 3 Pieces of practical advice to those actively engaged in AML.

Bala Kumar is Chief Product Officer at Jumio, an end-to-end identity verification and eKYC platform that helps businesses protect against fraud, money laundering, and financial crime.  Bala brings over 20 years of product innovation experience to the world of KYC compliance. A true believer in the power of data, he offers insights on the role of product and technology in addressing the problems of financial crime.  Want to know how your company can free up some time, stress less over compliance and penalties, and work more on your core business? Then this episode is a must-listen. Topics discussed in this episode: - Products and technical solutions to enhance risk management - Fraudsters‘ skills, behaviors, and way of thinking - What can be done to fight fraudsters more effectively? - How identity technology is making it more difficult for fraudsters to complete their schemes - How leveraging data allows identifying patterns that indicate what a good or bad customer looks like - Challenges for long-established financial organizations: legacy systems and siloed business units - The main reason behind companies‘ penalties and poor compliance Senior management understanding of financial crime technology - What defines a successful technology solution to fight financial crime - Why having the right onboarding process helps companies save effort and invest more time in their core business

Sherbir Panag is the chair of Panag & Babu, an internationally acclaimed and highly respected Compliance and Investigations Practice.  Sherbir‘s experience in defending multinational companies and conducting internal investigations in matters involving criminal and regulatory proceedings has earned him the reputation of a ”brilliant lawyer” and an ”amazing problem solver”. These matters have involved allegations of bribery and other misconduct under Indian and foreign anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Bribery Act; financial and regulatory fraud; procurement fraud; infrastructure fraud; violation of sanctions laws; and violation of corporate governance and corporate policy norms. Today‘s episode is a deep dive into corporate white-collar crime, compliance, and governance issues by one of the best experts in the field. Topics discussed in this episode: - Sherbir‘s background and the work Panag & Babu is doing - How legal systems and law practice have evolved in India over time - How disruptive economic events lead to corporate criminal misconduct and changes in compliance policies and procedures - India‘s approach to money laundering cases compared to other countries - Reasons behind the low rate of global white-collar crime convictions - The awareness shift on compliance and governance matters that’s occurring among corporate leaders - Practical advice for senior and corporate management.

David Schwartz is a lawyer by training with more than 30 years of experience in the banking world. He is the President and CEO of the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA), a nonprofit trade association dedicated to fostering the growth of international banking through education, advocacy, and networking with a strong focus on compliance. David‘s trajectory and his deep knowledge of the international banking landscape give great insights into today‘s problems and challenges for financial institutions and what he sees as raising in the near future. Topics discussed in this episode: - FIBA‘s mission and emphasis on reaching out beyond borders and stopping money laundering at its source. - What challenges financial institutions are facing today - Complexities of the regulatory system - Financial penalties: effectiveness and international approaches - Regulators and their focus on bank and financial senior management - Why innovation is important in financial services - How collaboration is needed across small and medium organizations - The role global networks and cybercrime will play in money laundering and financial crime in the near future. - How education is vital to prevent financial crime

John Cassara began his 26 year U.S. government career as an intelligence officer during the Cold War. He later served as a Treasury Special Agent in both the U.S. Secret Service and US Customs Service, where he investigated money laundering, trade fraud and international smuggling. He was an undercover arms dealer for two years. Assigned overseas, he developed expertise in Middle East money laundering, value transfer and underground financial systems. Concerned about trade-based money laundering, he invented the concept of Trade Transparency Units (TTUs). He also worked six years for Treasury’s FinCEN and was detailed to the Department of State. Mr. Cassara‘s final assignment was with Treasury‘s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). Since his retirement, he has lectured in the United States and around the world on a variety of transnational crime issues. He has been a consultant for government and industry. He is on the Board of Directors of Global Financial Integrity. He has testified numerous times as an expert witness before Congressional committees. Mr. Cassara has authored numerous articles and five books, including Trade-Based Money Laundering: The Next Frontier in International Money Laundering Enforcement and the 2020 release of Money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows: Following the Money and Value Trails. Join our CEO, Ian Henderson as he finds out from John: - How terrorist financing has evolved in the past few years. - What were the most impactful experiences from his days as a special agent and how did these shape his path as an AML and terrorist financing expert. - What metrics matter when evaluating our success to combat money laundering. - What can we do to combat illicit financial flows.

Kevin Sullivan, CAMS, CCI spent 21 years with the New York State Police, where he saw the correlation between crime and money laundering on his first detail in undercover narcotics. He followed the money moving to a major crimes unit which led to an assignment with the FBI led Hudson Valley White Collar Crimes Task Force. For his last 9 years with the State Police Kevin was assigned to the New York HIFCA (High Intensity Financial Crimes Area) of the ICE led El Dorado Task Force in Manhattan, where he was the NY State Money Laundering Investigations Coordinator. This is one of the largest AML task forces in the world consisting of members from the FBI, ICE, US Secret Service, DEA, Postal Inspectors, NYPD, NYSP, Manhattan DA and US Attorney. High-profile organised crime and terrorist financing were the usual case load. It was here that Kevin became a lead instructor for ICE’s Operation Cornerstone providing a liaison between private financial institutions and law enforcement. Kevin’s education and certification includes a masters degree in Financial Crimes Compliance Management from Utica College of Syracuse University, a Micro-MBA from the University of Buffalo, Leadership Program from Cornell University, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Professional (AMLP), Certified Cybercrime Currency Investigator (CCI). Kevin was the founding co-chair of the NY chapter of ACAMS. He also helped develop and teaches the CAMS exam prep course, Train the Trainer course, and numerous other ACAMS courses including Transaction Monitoring, SARs, Fraud, Know Your Customer, Risk Management and Investigations. Join our CEO, Ian Henderson as he finds out from Kevin: -How he describes the state of AML compliance today at the majority of organizations he works with - How he has seen AML compliance training evolve over the past 5 years - What he most commonly sees organisations get wrong about AML compliance - What’s the future of financial crime going to look like - What three pieces of advice he has for professionals working at banks to prevent money laundering?

Tim qualified and worked in the litigation department of what is now the City law firm, Dentons before joining the Standard Chartered Banking Group, where he held a number of senior operational legal and compliance positions in London, Singapore, India and the UAE. Tim now divides his time equally between Lessons Learned Ltd, his award-winning company specializing in the provision of integrity and financial crime business education and consulting services to an international client base, particularly for boards, senior management teams and staff in high risk business units and CDDPro Ltd, an AI start-up delivering intelligent customer onboarding and remediation solutions. Tim is a member of the EBRD’s panel of experts on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and the author of “Countering Terrorist Finance: A Training Handbook for Financial Services” and “Mastering Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing”, the 2nd edition of which was published by the Financial Times in January of 2020. Join our CEO, Ian Henderson who finds out from Tim: How he describes the state of compliance training today - How he has seen compliance training evolve over the past 5 years - What he most commonly sees organisations get wrong - What is the future of financial crime going to look like - What are three pieces of advice he has for Senior Managers at banks looking to better train their staff.

Graham has worked in financial services for the past twenty years, latterly providing subject matter expertise to a number of high-profile banks in relation to their financial crime control frameworks. He also works closely with a large number of investigative journalists helping them to identify and write about organised crime and corruption including both the FT and Berlingske (Danish newspaper) on the Danske Bank scandal and the ICIJ on the FinCEN Files. Graham regularly speaks at in-house and public events to raise awareness of the close links between financial crime and the organised criminal gangs and corrupt individuals who are responsible for so much of the dirty money entering the financial system. He also works with a number of NGOs (Global Witness, Corruption Watch, Transparency International) to help advocate for changes in policy at both a national and international level. Join our CEO, Ian Henderson who finds out from Graham: - What he thinks of the state of money laundering today - How he has seen the way criminals launder money evolve over the past 5-10 years - What methods of money laundering he has seen a rise in the past years - What he thinks UK banks are doing at preventing money laundering - How he would summarise what the future of money laundering prevention will look like in the next 3-5 years - What are three pieces of advice he has for professionals working at banks to prevent money laundering.

Bradley Hope is the co-author of Billion Dollar Whale and Blood and Oil. He spent seven years at the Wall Street Journal’s offices in New York and London. Before that, he covered the Arab Spring from Cairo, Tripoli, and Beirut. He is a Pulitzer finalist and a winner of the Gerald Loeb Award for International Reporting. Join our CEO, Ian Henderson who finds out from Bradley, the man, who uncovered one of the biggest financial scandals of all time: - Where did the idea for writing Billion Dollar Whale come from? - When it comes to how they went about money laundering, what did you learn that surprised you the most? What role did banks play in enabling those behind 1mbd? - The 1mbd scandal led to the biggest AML-related fines in history, do you think this is enough to deter financial crime? - What advice would you have for AML and KYC professionals working at banks to prevent financial crime? - What’s next for you and your career?