Moody’s Talks: KYC Decoded

One year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so much has changed – particularly around sanctions. In this episode, host Alex Pillow is joined by Hera Smith, former Global Sanctions Compliance Officer, sanctions expert and Moody’s Analytics KYC Industry Practice Lead. Topics addressed in this conversation include:The growth of sanctioned entities over the last yearDifficulties KYC and AML sanctions professionals face navigating ownership and control data in this pressurized environmentLessons learned for both regulators and practitionersTools and methods compliance teams can use to address new sanctions packages efficiently and effectivelyThe heightened enforcement actions being taken, with a couple of recent examplesVisit the links below for additional sanctions resources:US Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) – Sanctions Programs and InformationUK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)Sanctions Law, Practice and guidance website KYC Decoded sanctions miniseries:Part 1: The Pen is Mightier than the SwordPart 2: Going Beyond the ListsPart 3: Networks Defeat NetworksPart 4: Sanctions & CryptoGo beyond the lists and visit our website to find out how Moody’s Analytics can enhance your organization's sanctions compliance program.

AML effectiveness. AML efficiency.What do these words really mean and what difference do they really make in the fight against financial crime? In this episode of KYC Decoded, host Alex Pillow is joined by Natasha Vernier, co-founder and CEO of the regtech firm, Cable. Their lively and informative discussion covers:How to interpret the loose definition of AML effectivenessWhy AML effectiveness mattersTop reasons organizations are fined and how that continues to evolveThe role technology plays in creating efficiency & automated workflowsFor additional resources on AML effectiveness, check out:Cable's "The Effectiveness of Financial Crime Controls" white paper seriesThe OCC's 2023 Bank Supervision Operating PlanLearn more about Cable's automated assurance tool here and increasing regulatory expectations on partner banks here.To get a demo of Moody’s Analytics AML solutions, visit our website.

In the final installment of our investigative journalism miniseries, host Alex Pillow is joined by The Sentry’s Michelle Kendler-Kretsch, Investigative Coordinator and Data Specialist, and Debra LaPrevotte, Senior Investigator and former FBI supervisory special agent. Their engaging, dynamic conversation drives home how investigative journalism plays a critical role in the anti-financial crime ecosystem. A few of the many highlights include:How deeply concentrated insight from investigative journalists strengthen due diligence processes in the private sectorWhat signs to look for when assessing shell companiesWhy data transparency is paramount for an AFC network to defeat bad actorsVisit The Sentry’s website to learn about the work it is doing to defeat predatory networks. You will find all their reports, including the recent report Michelle mentions, Constructing Corruption: Identifying the Enablers Helping Build Violent Kleptocracies.Additional resources about investigative journalism include the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Greed. Scandal. Fraud. Our investigative journalism miniseries continues with an epic true story of one of the biggest, most harrowing heists in history.This hair-raising episode welcomes Bradley Hope, one of the co-authors of Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World.This amazing book is available in all good stores, and if you still can’t get enough financial crime literature, we’ve identified our top picks here.To learn more about the projects Bradley is developing, visit the Project Brazen website.

Multi-billion-dollar fraud. Fake bank accounts. Hackers. Spies. Whistleblowers. In this episode, Dan McCrum, Financial Times investigative reporter, brings to life his book Money Men: A Hot Startup, A Billion Dollar Fraud, A Fight for the Truth. This entry into our investigative journalism miniseries dissects the too-good-to-be-true German tech startup, Wirecard, and the role Dan played in exposing its darkest secrets.Be sure to purchase your copy of his book and check out the Netflix documentary film, Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard. For further reading, we’ve curated a list of our favorite financial crime books.

Since our sanctions mini-series earlier this year, further packages of sanctions have been released. And most recently, the EU issued a set of FAQs on account openings and deposits. In this bonus episode of KYC Decoded, sanctions expert and Moody's Analytics industry practice lead, Ted Datta, makes a return appearance to shed light on what exactly is in those FAQs and what firms need to do next...

The tables have turned. In this episode of KYC Decoded, our usual host Alex Pillow sits down as a guest with Jody Houton, UK Content Marketing Manager at IDnow, an identity proofing and fraud prevention platform.Topics unpacked include:The importance of a holistic KYC approach utilizing the right expertsRisk-based vs. ‘one-size’ AML strategiesCompliance best practices and technology that scale with regulatory changesGet the full interview notes by visiting IDnow’s website. And, find out how Moody’s Analytics can transform your risk and compliance program with a comprehensive solution - check out the website.

In this episode of KYC Decoded, Alex Pillow is joined by founder at Arctic Intelligence, Anthony Quinn. Their discussion sheds light on the current state of risk assessment frameworks and practices that aren't necessarily keeping up with the rapidly accelerating rate of stricter regulations and heightened criminal activity.Visit the Arctic Intelligence website to discover more about their innovative RegTech solutions, and download a free copy of their 2022 AML Industry Benchmarking report. 

Alex Pillow, host of the KYC Decoded podcast, caught up with Head of Financial Crime at Featurespace, Annegret Funke, and journalist from Compliance Week, Aaron Nicodemus, to get their standout moments from ACAMS Vegas. Here are their thoughts on the things you need to know.US Beneficial ownership: the registry is coming, what do you need to understand and how do you prepare?Crypto exposure: every institution has exposure through their customers, so where is yours?Encouraging innovation: regulators and law enforcement are actively fostering innovation in the industry and strengthening communication and collaboration.Inclusivity in banking: bringing small and community banks into the financial crime fold to give criminals a smaller target.There’s much more, so listen to this bonus episode of KYC Decoded and unlock ACAMS Vegas ’22 in less than 22 minutes.

This episode welcomes Jean-Paul Eaton, Global Community Director of FINTRAIL’s Fintech Fincrime Exchange (FFE), who takes listeners through the story of how FFE originated. What started as a small roundtable, FFE has now matured into a global community that shares information on how to detect and deal with financial crime.Listen along to learn more about FFE and FFECON, its annual conference for FinTechs and financial crime professionals to understand and share developments in the industry.Hear about FFE and its activities by visiting its LinkedIn page, and check out the FINTRAIL website for research from a network of talented financial crime fighters.