AML Conversations

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne unpack the latest developments in financial crime compliance. They discuss the U.S. Court of Appeals decision upholding the Corporate Transparency Act, new guidance from France’s TracFin on detecting shell companies, and FATF’s mutual evaluation of Belgium under its updated regime. The conversation also covers global civic space con...

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne discusses the evolving landscape of communication in the context of anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crime prevention with experts Justin Cole (First Pitch Communication) and Joe McNamara (AML RightSource). They explore the paradigm shift in how communication is integrated into investigations, the importance of legal considerations, the rol...

In this episode of AML Conversations, host John Byrne sits down with Dr. Gabriel Velez, associate professor at Marquette University and author of Making Meaning of Justice and Peace: A Developmental Lens. They explore how peace education and restorative practices shape young people’s understanding of justice, belonging, and community—both in Colombia and Milwaukee. Dr. Velez shares insights on con...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne dive into International Anti-Corruption Day and explore contrasting approaches to corruption and financial crime across the globe. From the UK’s ambitious anti-corruption strategy and new FCA tools to the Basel AML Index findings, AUSTRAC’s compliance updates, and EU fraud crackdowns, the discussion highlights global trends and chal...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne unpack a pile of developments across the globe. From the EU’s decision to add Russia to its AML blacklist and phase out Russian gas imports, to major enforcement action against a crypto mixer, the conversation dives deep into the evolving financial crime landscape. They also cover Canada’s updated guidance on politically exposed per...

In this special Thanksgiving edition of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break from tradition to spotlight the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its three 2025 plenaries. They explore key developments, including updates to FATF standards, mutual evaluations, financial inclusion initiatives, and the evolving global stance on virtual assets. The episode also covers jurisdictional...

In this episode of AML Conversations, Joe McNamara speaks with David Lutz, Associate Director of the AML RightSource Financial Crime Advisory group about the evolving Crypto landscape, recent milestones in the space, and how recent legislation has opened the door to further legitimacy and regulation. The cryptocurrency industry is experiencing its fintech moment - trading the freedom of the Wild W...

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne speaks with Thalia Malmberg and Sangeeta Goswami from the Human Security Collective about the ripple effects of global AML/CFT frameworks on nonprofit organizations. The discussion explores FATF Recommendation 8, recent revisions aimed at reducing harm, and the challenges of striking a balance between security and financial inclusion. Learn why unin...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a wide range of pressing financial crime topics. They discuss FATF’s latest report on combating online child exploitation, the UK’s Economic Crime Survey findings on sanctions awareness and fraud, and updates from FinCEN on cartel-linked gambling establishments. Other highlights include enforcement actions against elder fraud,...

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Dan Tannebaum, Partner at Oliver Wyman and global leader in anti-financial crime, for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving landscape of sanctions. From the EU’s post-Ukraine enforcement challenges to the U.S.'s shifting approach under different administrations, Dan offers sharp insights into the effectiveness, limitations, and un...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne dive into a wide range of developments shaping financial crime compliance worldwide. From controversial U.S. pardons and their implications for corruption cases, to Australia’s staggering $82 billion organized crime costs, and the UK’s new anti-fraud campaign targeting crypto scams—there’s plenty to unpack. The discussion also cover...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a wide range of global developments impacting financial crime compliance. Topics include new OFAC sanctions targeting North Korean cybercrime and updates from New York's Department of Financial Services on cybersecurity compliance. They also discuss the UN's new Cybercrime Convention, the closure of sanctioned Mexican banks, a...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne dive into the latest global developments in anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance. They unpack the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia, discuss the GAO’s critique of U.S. sanctions effectiveness, and explore FATF’s October plenary outcomes—including new guidance on asset recovery and AI-related risks. The conve...

In this episode of AML Conversations, Ferko Spits sits down with Dheeraj Maken, Practice Director at Everest Group, and Brad Breslin, Chief Delivery Officer at AML RightSource, to discuss the findings from Everest Group's 2025 Financial Crime Compliance Operating Services research. Dheeraj explains how the assessment criteria have evolved from emphasizing scale and cost arbitrage to focusing on op...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne dive into a packed agenda of financial crime compliance developments across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. They discuss the newly introduced bipartisan Senate bill proposing changes to SAR and CTR reporting thresholds, the troubling budget cuts at CISA, and New York’s latest cybersecurity guidance. The conversation also explores open...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a wide range of pressing topics in the anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance space. They discuss the UK’s latest sanctions targeting Russian energy giants, the European Banking Authority’s report on crypto asset risks, and the Charity & Security Network’s concerns about IRS scrutiny of nonprofits. The hosts also...

In this timely episode, John Byrne sits down with security experts Mark Freedman and Rick Mercuri to explore the evolving landscape of physical security in corporate and financial institutions. From the rise in workplace violence and executive targeting to the challenges of securing facilities against active shooters and ATM attacks, the conversation dives deep into the realities of 2025’s threat...

In this episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman cover a wide range of developments in the financial crime and compliance landscape. They look at international enforcement actions, including record AML fines for UK law firms and Switzerland’s updated typology report. The conversation spans topics such as life insurance vulnerabilities, cultural heritage protection, Rabobank’s comp...

In this compelling episode, John Byrne welcomes banking law expert and author Tom Vartanian for his third appearance to discuss the evolving threats and challenges in financial technology, cybersecurity, and cryptocurrency regulation. Vartanian offers a sobering look at online scams, the fragility of the Internet, and the role of financial institutions in consumer protection. The conversation also...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne unpack a range of pressing developments in the financial crime prevention space. They begin with reflections on the U.S. government shutdown and its ripple effects, then dive into the newly released Trafficking in Persons Report—highlighting the disturbing use of AI in human trafficking. The conversation continues with FinCEN’s rece...

In this episode, John Byrne returns from the Missouri Bankers AML Conference to join Elliot Berman for a wide-ranging discussion on the latest developments in financial crime compliance. Topics include FinCEN’s proposed delay of investment advisor AML rules, the GENIUS Act’s digital asset regulation, and the Bank of Canada’s call for stablecoin oversight. The hosts also explore OFAC’s controversia...

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and Joe McNamara cover a wide range of global financial crime compliance updates. Topics include the U.S. Treasury’s initiative to simplify SAR filings, BIS entity list implications, FINTRAC’s new ID verification rules for Canadian real estate, and Russia’s barter-based sanctions evasion. The hosts also discuss crypto regulation developments in th...

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne unpack the latest regulatory developments. They begin with FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki’s recent testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, highlighting key takeaways on beneficial ownership data, SAR/CTR streamlining, and real estate’s role in money laundering. The conversation then shifts to new FinCEN guidanc...

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne speaks with Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery, Acting Director of the Charity & Security Network, about the complex intersection of counterterrorism policy, financial regulation, and humanitarian work. They explore the implications of recent sanctions changes in Syria, the unintended consequences of FATF Recommendation 8, and the challenges posed by d...

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a wide range of breaking developments in the financial crime compliance space. From congressional scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein’s financial records and FinCEN’s website overhaul to the DOJ’s seizure of fraudulent ID marketplaces, the conversation highlights the growing intersection of policy, enforcement, and technology....