The Essential Guide to AML Program Effectiveness

Keeping an AML programme in a constant state of exam readiness is difficult—especially when daily operational pressures collide with regulatory expectations around alert handling, SAR timelines, and board reporting. This white paper provides practical guidance on what “effective” looks like, how to avoid common exam-prep pitfalls, and how to build a stronger, more resilient AML framework that stands up to scrutiny.

It walks through the five core components of an AML compliance programme—designated AML Compliance Officer, policies/procedures/controls, employee training, independent testing, and robust customer due diligence—then goes deeper into where institutions often fall short and how to correct course.

Key takeaways you’ll learn:

• The real consequences of poor exam readiness—from fines and enforcement actions to reputational damage and increased regulatory scrutiny.
• The most common pitfalls, including insufficient training and documentation, weak or outdated risk assessments, poor resourcing, and inconsistent policies and procedures.
• Best practices that strengthen readiness, such as internal audit and quality assurance reviews, data validation, and clear governance processes.
• A detailed AML exam checklist covering programme oversight, transaction monitoring, CDD/KYC, training, QA, business continuity, and exam management controls

Download the white paper to benchmark your AML readiness, identify gaps before regulators do, and build a repeatable approach to AML programme effectiveness.

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