AML Conversations

AI is everywhere in financial crime compliance - but is it delivering on its promises?

In this episode of AML Conversations, host Joe McNamara sits down with Mark Sully, Managing Director of Commercial Affairs (EMEA & APAC), to cut through the hype surrounding AI in AML, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and KYC. Drawing on conversations with banks across the globe, Mark shares what compliance leaders are actually experiencing as they attempt to roll out AI-driven solutions.

Together, Joe and Mark explore the growing gap between AI’s promised efficiency gains and the operational realities banks face today - from data readiness and regulatory constraints to delayed implementations and rising alert volumes. The conversation emphasizes a critical question many institutions overlook: what happens when AI doesn’t arrive on time or perform as expected?

Listeners will gain practical insight into:

Why AI is not a silver bullet for compliance challenges

The risks of betting everything on a single technology rollout

How leading institutions are building contingency plans to stay compliant

What “successful” AI adoption really looks like for teams and headcount

Why starting with the use case - not the technology - is essential

Whether you’re mid-implementation, evaluating AI solutions, or planning your next compliance investment, this session offers a grounded, real-world perspective on how to pursue innovation without putting your program at risk.

This week on This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman unpack a rapidly evolving risk landscape—from the ongoing war with Iran and its implications for terrorism threats, to new DOJ enforcement policies and global fraud trends reshaping financial crime compliance.

They discuss OFAC’s latest Russia-related license, concerns about the lack of updated DHS threat advisories, and the implications of conflict-driven risks for financial institutions. The conversation also covers major developments in fraud and AML, including new SAR guidance, DOJ updates on voluntary disclosure, AI-enabled fraud, human trafficking trends, and critical reports from Interpol, Nasdaq, and MONEYVAL.

The episode closes with updates from Europe on fraud enforcement and AMLA’s supervision plans, as well as breaking news from the U.S. national security community—offering essential insights for compliance, risk, and financial crime professionals.

A must‑listen for compliance professionals looking to stay current in a rapidly shifting environment.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break down a wide-ranging set of developments shaping the financial crime landscape. They begin with the U.S. Treasury’s three newly released national risk assessments—money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing—highlighting key findings on fraud trends, shell companies, NPO vulnerabilities, and geopolitical threats.

Elliot and John also discuss emerging insights from the IRS on the value of CTRs, the White House’s new cybersecurity strategy, upcoming AMLA public hearings in the EU, and AUSTRAC’s expanded compulsory examination powers. Additional topics include recent enforcement actions targeting illicit Iranian oil networks, covert Russian vessel-protection teams, and FATF’s updated consolidated assessment ratings.

A must‑listen for compliance professionals looking to stay current in a rapidly shifting environment.

In this timely and eye-opening conversation, John Byrne sits down with leaders from the Charity & Security Network, EarthRights International, and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to explore how the current U.S. AML/CFT environment is reshaping the operating reality for nonprofits.

With the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) beginning its mutual evaluation of the United States, the stakes for civil society have never been higher. The guests unpack Recommendation 8, the rise of de-risking, expanding state and federal investigations, and how banks’ compliance decisions—sometimes based on misinformation—can delay humanitarian assistance, hinder environmental advocacy, and even jeopardize lives.

From faith-based organizations facing surprise information demands to environmental groups navigating criminalization and “eco‑terrorism” labels, this episode exposes the real-world consequences when financial regulations drift from a risk-based approach. The discussion closes with concrete takeaways for AML/CFT practitioners, emphasizing communication, due diligence, and the need for a deeper understanding of nonprofit missions.

This week, Elliot and John unpack a whirlwind of global developments impacting financial crime compliance. They break down a major OCCRP report on how Russia, North Korea, and Iran are exploiting cryptocurrency for sanctions evasion and illicit finance—alongside new Chainalysis insights on post-strike crypto movements in Iran. The conversation explores FATF’s latest reports on stablecoins, cyber-enabled fraud, and the evolving risk-based approach.

On the U.S. regulatory front, they cover the effective date of FinCEN’s residential real estate reporting rule, the OCC’s proposed stablecoin framework under the GENIUS Act, and the ongoing debate over rollbacks to the Corporate Transparency Act. Across the Atlantic, they examine the FCA’s push to strengthen AML supervision for professional bodies.

The episode also examines the liquidation of Swiss bank MBaer under U.S. enforcement pressure and amid concerns about recent counterintelligence cuts.

In this week’s episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a wide-ranging set of developments reshaping the global AML landscape. They open by marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine before diving into new regulatory, enforcement, and geopolitical stories affecting financial crime professionals.

John highlights the Federal Reserve’s request for comment on removing “reputation risk” from bank supervision and discusses ongoing litigation involving JPMorgan and the Trump Organization. The conversation then turns international: OCCRP’s newly announced Anti-Corruption Hero Awards, revelations of European-made parts ending up in Russian military drones, and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law’s work on financial access for human rights defenders.

Elliot and John also examine Australia’s transition to a new AML/CFT regime and Canada’s new financial intelligence initiative focused on extortion. Additional topics include the Treasury Inspector General’s audit of FinCEN, IRS-CI’s latest BSA data usage report, and U.S. cases involving cyber intrusions and tax fraud.

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Sarah Beth Felix—AML expert and author of Dirty Money Weekly—to break down the biggest storylines shaping financial crime compliance this month.

Sarah offers a practical, forward-looking take on the Epstein files and why community and midsize banks must rethink their approach to adverse media screening. She and John also unpack the confusion surrounding the administration’s de-risking Executive Order, the impact of FinCEN’s recent CDD “exceptive relief,” and the optics behind the agency’s decision to rescind its advisory on the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship‑by‑Investment program.

They dive deeper into IRS‑CI’s newly released data proving the value of BSA reporting—and what rising CTR/SAR thresholds could mean for law enforcement. To close, Sarah responds to emerging rumors that banks should be required to capture and track customer citizenship status, explaining why such a shift would have massive operational implications.

This is a must-listen for AML professionals navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape and looking for actionable insight, context, and clarity.

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break down the major developments from the February FATF Plenary, including Kuwait and Papua New Guinea joining the Grey List and updates on evaluations for Austria, Italy, and Singapore. They also explore FATF leadership changes and the reiteration of Russia’s suspension.

The conversation moves into rising crypto-enabled human trafficking networks highlighted in a new report from Chainalysis, Cambodia’s large-scale crackdown on fraud centers, and several key U.S. regulatory updates. These include FinCEN’s new CDD “exceptive relief,” the rollout of a whistleblower portal, and the OCC’s proposed changes to the bank appeals process.

Elliot and John also discuss recent law enforcement actions, Supreme Court efforts to strengthen conflict-of-interest checks, and a Federal Reserve governor’s insight into how AI may reshape the labor market.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot and John unpack a wide-ranging set of global developments impacting financial crime compliance. They preview key agenda items from the FATF Plenary in Mexico City, including new mutual evaluations and technology-focused initiatives. The conversation also examines Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting troubling downward trends among high-scoring democracies, including the U.S.

Elliot and John also explore the EU’s proposed sanctions package targeting Russian crypto activity, the FTC’s latest ransomware oversight report, new OFAC actions related to Hezbollah, recent enforcement in the crypto fraud space, and ongoing gaps in U.S. regulation of the antiquities market. Additional topics include global efforts to combat illicit gold trafficking, Jersey’s move toward comprehensive modern slavery legislation, and seasonal warnings about romance‑investment scams.

In this episode of Third Party Risk Perspectives, host Chris Sindik, Senior Director of Third-Party Risk and Due Diligence at Blue Umbrella, sits down with Sakshi Sharma, Assistant Manager and leader of Blue Umbrella’s monitoring team, to explore the fast-evolving world of terrorist financing.

Sakshi shares frontline insights into both traditional funding methods—such as counterfeit goods, drug trafficking, charity fraud, and illicit oil sales—and the next-generation tactics reshaping the threat landscape. Together, they discuss how terrorist groups now exploit social media, online gaming, digital payments, deepfakes, and AI-powered propaganda to recruit vulnerable youth, launder money, and spread misinformation.

Listeners will learn:

• How modern online platforms enable covert recruitment and financial flows

• Why deepfakes and AI increase the effectiveness of terrorist propaganda

• How scammers manipulate youth culture through “easy money” schemes

• What organizations and individuals can do to stay vigilant

• Why awareness, skepticism, and strong internal controls are more critical than ever

This is an essential conversation for compliance professionals, risk leaders, parents, and anyone navigating today’s hyperconnected world.