Nairobi August 1, 2017: ABC Bank has enhanced its anti-money laundering program with a new anti-money laundering software which is a fully automated and robust application that features sophisticated architecture that shields it against risks associated with criminal financial dealings by automatically monitoring and blocking suspicious transactions on a real time basis.
The software design combines all major functions of anti-money laundering systems, making it highly effective in helping the Bank comply more comprehensively not only with the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Act 2017 but also with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), a US regulation that requires foreign financial Institutions to report on foreign assets held by their American account holders. It is also effective in preventing terrorism financing globally.
“The nature of banking is rapidly changing, and this makes monitoring of unusual transactions or verifying a customer’s identity complex and time-consuming. That is why we have upgraded to more superior software that will result in greater efficiency and reduced risks for the bank,” Group Head of Risk and Compliance John Rioba said.
With enhanced real-time transaction monitoring capability, the application identifies any suspicious account activity and also patterns, thus enhancing compilation of real-time filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) or Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs). It also features a Cash Transaction Reporting (CTR) system, which identifies and reports large cash transactions of Sh1 million ($10,000) and over, as per regulatory requirement.
Mr. Rioba added: “To achieve optimum efficiency in the implementation of our AML program, we have reviewed all our policies and processes to ensure they are efficient and in line with current requirements, the methodology and technology are sound, and our personnel well trained in line with internationally accepted best practices besides the compliance application from Infrasofttech through its local partner Innovative Software Technologies limited, ISTL in Kenya”.
